Hello again.I'd sent another message before the one yesterday.It disappeard.Anyway i said,2 on 2 and 100% upside down on your scedule.You came at my city Athens with Fred you went at Eichma by plain... U R THE BEST Alex,you make us feel your feeling when you ride. Be well man and keep up 🤟
Hi Alex! I think this is my first comment on youtube so I'll do my best. To help you with Donnie, before you take it apart do a couple of test (you need only an 25-30 cm screwdriver the longer the better, doesn't matter the head + or -) Do this test with cold engine and hot afterwards. Put the handle of screwdriver over your ear (search the perfect zone where you can hear best, near the scull and ear hole) 1 - put the tip of screwdriver on top of engine, you shuld hear an click noise, louder at cold and quiter at hot (for cams) check both top side of engine bc you have 2 of them. IF is too disturbing loud or almost no sound they need to be ajusted. You can compare with another engine of that CC or similar (bike or scooter) 2 - put the tip of screwdriver near the sparkplug or on lateral off engine, IF you hear an hight knock pitch is from bolt of the piston, you can try to rev a little bit to hear the difference of noise better, it should knock faster with higher rpm, and no knock sound in normal situation 3 - put the tip of screwdriver on top of crankshaft ax and below of it in the transmision box where the variator is (take it out), IF you hear a roaring noise like metal rolling sound (nu stiu daca este forma corecta dar este huruit in romana), it means it is from the bearing and is not good, you can try to check on the other side of engine the same zone and the same hearing, try to keep an higher rpm to hear if it is definetlly from him, to be honest with you I don't know normal situation but It should be similar to a fine sound of spinning balls. I don't know how to describe, it's just a smooth rolling sound. 4- you can test also direct on the injector and you should hear an normal soft click not knocking too loud or unnatural (compare with another bike or scooter) also you can take it out and let it connected (if you can) an crank and check if it releases a cloud of fine jets of gasoline, if he have an clear jet like window cleaner or similar you should clean it (never with wire brush) alcohool, gas or similar and an cotton cloth, compressed air. For the small hole I don't know the needle of the syringe or one wire from the wirebrush. After these test you will know if you need to dismantle only the top or entire engine. Anyway you need to start with top of engine 😁 TIP: I used Motul and after that RAVENOL full sintetic oil or something like that, I dont remember bc I don't have the bike anymore (more than 7 years) the consumption dropped and the engine was running smoother. 162 CC air cool If you have good compression and the engine is eating some oil, I think sometime it's from the third ring from piston. The thing is it is getting clogged up, it stays in one position and is not rinse off the exces of oil from cilinder walls. If the sparkplug is oily black the engine is eating too much oil, if it's dry black check (if you can) the air mix, or gap for spark to be blue, or is eating little oil. it should have the tip brown and blue spark. this test should allways be perfomed at hot engine. I know you already know a lot of things, but please allow me to help you as I know and can. Maybe someone else will want to learn something from this comment. By the way I enjoy watching your videos, God bless you and sorry for the long comment!
Very useful information for a lot of people, thank you for taking the time to write it. I allready went through the engine with a mechanics stetoscop and everything points to the crankshaft bearings. I thought it might be the bendix but I changed that and no difference in the sound. I am going to take it to someone I trust that has been working on scooters for 40 years and we'll get to the bottom of this. 😁
@@RideWithAlex I've just remember that you say in one video that when you changed once the oil you found on magnet some iron fillings. If they are shining is from bearing if they are gray - black is from piston rings and other components. Maybe you have the connecting rod bearings yellow so if you find yellow you know. Cleary you need to dismantle the hole engine apart and I recomand to check the gaps for piston rings, check the cylinder if is oval or conic the mechanis should have an dial gauge, and check and remake the valve seat if it needs. Also you can check connecting rod bearings if they are worn out is cleary visible, and the piston bolt if is moving freely from side to side on piston but fixed on rotating on it's own ax on connecting rod. Check the timing chain. Take it from the side and rise it in the air on his lateral side, if it's making an almost 90 degree curve is not good anymore. It should be like 20-30 degrees or ALMOST straight. I'm telling you this because most of mechanics are changing (reparing) the root of problem and that's it. Also this is you scooter and you do what you want with it, I'm just trying to help you and it is my joy to do that 😁 Can't wait to see Doonie in action!
New crank bearings, an oil pump and fresh cam/cylinder (because why not!) I reckon you will be good for thousands and thousands of miles 👌 My moneys on cam bearing though with the whine you mentioned. These GY6 based motors are hard on cam bearings.
I drive a Sym Symphony SR 125i 2020, which has 12,500 km on the clock and I haven't had any problems so far. As for engine oil, I wouldn't recommend the Motul oil you showed! Better switch to Ipone 5w-40 Full Synthetic, it is more adapted for use in scooters!
In terms of it running it still runs fine, starts up without any issue and still gets to it's top speed, it's just that constant noise that's bugging me.
As fellow scooter tourer. HUGE TIP.... ADD A STEERING DAMPER FOR CROSS WINDS . YOU WILL THANK ME AND RECOMMEND IT TO YOUR MEMBERS . DOES WONDERS ON WINDY DAYS
@@RideWithAlex why don’t you just borrow one of Quasimodo‘s scooters and pay him rent for it? It sounds a heck of a lot cheaper. I know If I were you, I would just started in California. The rest of America can be boring other than Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and the Pacific Northwest? I’ve got a Honda 919 out here in California or a Kawasaki 400 that you could borrow. better yet bring me that DYMOTO 125 And I’ll buy it off you
@@karlfonner7589 because I have a special attachment to my scooter, it's allready been through 14 countries on 2 continents. It's just so much more fulfilling for me to ship him over there and do the event with him.
Bonjour Alex, si le bruit fait un cognement c'est le roulement de la tête de bielle ! mon sym gts 300i evo de 2009 à fait le même à 75 000 kms ! => changement de vilbrequin😪
Hi Alex, I find that if you an find the email address of the big bosses of Gerbing Europe, as in the CEO etc. and hit them with an email about your problem and the treatment you have received from the company, it soon gets things done, big bosses do not like to hear or deal with problems from customers. just a thought.
Hello there Alex! First of all, I hope Donnie gets better as soon as possible!❤ On the other hand it seems you just read my mind about Fred's fuel consumption. I'd like to hear more and more fuel consumption data about riding him. Be bad!😊
Hello Alex I has sold my big ADV motorcycle and switch to Zontes e350. Currently waiting to be shipped... Did you changed tires in fred ? Or these CST are good enough? Best regards
Haven't changed them yet. They are a bit slippery in the wet but with ABS and Traction Control it's manageable. I will wear them down some more and then switch to Michelin City Grip 2
Maybe the Vest company have closed down...I was just about to buy a Sym ADX 125 from my local dealership (Saltires Edinburgh) only to discover they have gone out of business 2 weeks ago, looks like il be buying a Honda Forza 125 instead.
Hello. It is difficult for me to accept that the engine has problem. Here, in greece, i heard two (donnies) having mechanical problems but the owners told me that they fixed it by cleaning the ingection. I believe it is easier to check first. I hope it is that
Salut. Si eu am un scuter de 125 cc. A cedat saracul la 9000 rot/min pe autostrada la un drum de 400km. A mancat tot uleiul. Ideea e ca daca nu ai un senzor sau ceva sa te avertizeze nu prea ai ce face. Decat sa te tot opresti si sa verifici
@@RideWithAlex crezi ca se poate remedia? Sau trebuie alt motor? Momentan astept raspuns de la garantie. Banuiesc ca trebuie refacut motorul. Compresia mi-a iesit 6 si treb min 10. Acum nu ma preicep la piese cat sunt de scumpe.
@@copu7850 Depinde ce a picat la tine, daca sunt doar segmenti nu e atat de complicat, daca e si ambielajul afectat atunci trebuie desfacut tot motorul.
Pentru ca inca nu exista stocuri. Cand vor exista stocuri va fi public. Aceea prima unitate am reusit sa o filmez ca si un favor sau mai bine spus o sustinere din partea patronilor pentru canalul meu. :D
Interesting? And here I thought the spoiled kids in America were the only ones being dropped off & picked up @ school, only to learn you’re experiencing the same thing in Romania?! What has the world come to?! Sorry and concerned for Donnie & your upcoming butt buster next spring?! About not being being less “aggressive” in your riding(?)), ain’t gonna happen! You ride / drive the way I do & have. I’m 76 and have to laugh when I hear you’re trying to “settle down”. Yeah, you will here & there, but you won’t really change, it’s in your DNA, (live with it)?!😆 Best, Rola (Oregon / USA). PS: Good to be on board with FRED!👍🏻
Hi Alex, do you have a chance to do a full test drive of the sym hd 300? I'm looking at it as an alternative to the bv300/bv400, but unfortunately there are olny few reviews of the hd300. Your reviews are very informative and I would love to hear your opinion about the hd 300 scooter not only as a means of transportation in the city but also on highways. Greetings from Latvia.
Hello again.I'd sent another message before the one yesterday.It disappeard.Anyway i said,2 on 2 and 100% upside down on your scedule.You came at my city Athens with Fred you went at Eichma by plain...
U R THE BEST Alex,you make us feel your feeling when you ride.
Be well man and keep up 🤟
Thank you! 😁
Hi Alex!
I think this is my first comment on youtube so I'll do my best.
To help you with Donnie, before you take it apart do a couple of test (you need only an 25-30 cm screwdriver the longer the better, doesn't matter the head + or -)
Do this test with cold engine and hot afterwards.
Put the handle of screwdriver over your ear (search the perfect zone where you can hear best, near the scull and ear hole)
1 - put the tip of screwdriver on top of engine, you shuld hear an click noise, louder at cold and quiter at hot (for cams)
check both top side of engine bc you have 2 of them. IF is too disturbing loud or almost no sound they need to be ajusted. You can compare with another engine of that CC or similar (bike or scooter)
2 - put the tip of screwdriver near the sparkplug or on lateral off engine, IF you hear an hight knock pitch is from bolt of the piston, you can try to rev a little bit to hear the difference of noise better, it should knock faster with higher rpm, and no knock sound in normal situation
3 - put the tip of screwdriver on top of crankshaft ax and below of it in the transmision box where the variator is (take it out), IF you hear a roaring noise like metal rolling sound (nu stiu daca este forma corecta dar este huruit in romana), it means it is from the bearing and is not good, you can try to check on the other side of engine the same zone and the same hearing, try to keep an higher rpm to hear if it is definetlly from him, to be honest with you I don't know normal situation but It should be similar to a fine sound of spinning balls. I don't know how to describe, it's just a smooth rolling sound.
4- you can test also direct on the injector and you should hear an normal soft click not knocking too loud or unnatural (compare with another bike or scooter) also you can take it out and let it connected (if you can) an crank and check if it releases a cloud of fine jets of gasoline, if he have an clear jet like window cleaner or similar you should clean it (never with wire brush) alcohool, gas or similar and an cotton cloth, compressed air. For the small hole I don't know the needle of the syringe or one wire from the wirebrush.
After these test you will know if you need to dismantle only the top or entire engine. Anyway you need to start with top of engine 😁
TIP: I used Motul and after that RAVENOL full sintetic oil or something like that, I dont remember bc I don't have the bike anymore (more than 7 years) the consumption dropped and the engine was running smoother. 162 CC air cool
If you have good compression and the engine is eating some oil, I think sometime it's from the third ring from piston. The thing is it is getting clogged up, it stays in one position and is not rinse off the exces of oil from cilinder walls.
If the sparkplug is oily black the engine is eating too much oil, if it's dry black check (if you can) the air mix, or gap for spark to be blue, or is eating little oil. it should have the tip brown and blue spark. this test should allways be perfomed at hot engine.
I know you already know a lot of things, but please allow me to help you as I know and can.
Maybe someone else will want to learn something from this comment.
By the way I enjoy watching your videos, God bless you and sorry for the long comment!
Very useful information for a lot of people, thank you for taking the time to write it. I allready went through the engine with a mechanics stetoscop and everything points to the crankshaft bearings. I thought it might be the bendix but I changed that and no difference in the sound. I am going to take it to someone I trust that has been working on scooters for 40 years and we'll get to the bottom of this. 😁
@@RideWithAlex I've just remember that you say in one video that when you changed once the oil you found on magnet some iron fillings. If they are shining is from bearing if they are gray - black is from piston rings and other components. Maybe you have the connecting rod bearings yellow so if you find yellow you know.
Cleary you need to dismantle the hole engine apart and I recomand to check the gaps for piston rings, check the cylinder if is oval or conic the mechanis should have an dial gauge, and check and remake the valve seat if it needs. Also you can check connecting rod bearings if they are worn out is cleary visible, and the piston bolt if is moving freely from side to side on piston but fixed on rotating on it's own ax on connecting rod. Check the timing chain. Take it from the side and rise it in the air on his lateral side, if it's making an almost 90 degree curve is not good anymore. It should be like 20-30 degrees or ALMOST straight. I'm telling you this because most of mechanics are changing (reparing) the root of problem and that's it. Also this is you scooter and you do what you want with it, I'm just trying to help you and it is my joy to do that 😁
Can't wait to see Doonie in action!
Enjoy your videos Alex. Good luck with Donnie!
Thanks 👍
New crank bearings, an oil pump and fresh cam/cylinder (because why not!) I reckon you will be good for thousands and thousands of miles 👌
My moneys on cam bearing though with the whine you mentioned. These GY6 based motors are hard on cam bearings.
I drive a Sym Symphony SR 125i 2020, which has 12,500 km on the clock and I haven't had any problems so far. As for engine oil, I wouldn't recommend the Motul oil you showed! Better switch to Ipone 5w-40 Full Synthetic, it is more adapted for use in scooters!
honestly I'm kinda impressed you went 48k km with all the travels and never had any serious issues until now!
In terms of it running it still runs fine, starts up without any issue and still gets to it's top speed, it's just that constant noise that's bugging me.
Interesting,orobably electical problem,I think you need to open engine,to see what is going on,cylinder broken? Probably other.Who knows
@@EndritBs might be crankshaft bearings. The engine could be perfectly fine except for the crankshaft bearing. We will see in October :)
Great Video Alex,
Poor Doonie
Going to have surgery 🛵
Get well soon 🇹🇭🙏
On sidenote that's very poor customer service.
As fellow scooter tourer. HUGE TIP.... ADD A STEERING DAMPER FOR CROSS WINDS . YOU WILL THANK ME AND RECOMMEND IT TO YOUR MEMBERS . DOES WONDERS ON WINDY DAYS
I've hadn't had an issues with wind yet, but if you have the link to a damper kit for this model please leave a link! :D
@@RideWithAlex I HAD TO FAB MINE FOR SCOOTER BUT IT WORKS WONDERS 70 MPH SSIDE WINDS NOT A PROBLEM
@@RideWithAlex why don’t you just borrow one of Quasimodo‘s scooters and pay him rent for it? It sounds a heck of a lot cheaper. I know If I were you, I would just started in California. The rest of America can be boring other than Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and the Pacific Northwest? I’ve got a Honda 919 out here in California or a Kawasaki 400 that you could borrow. better yet bring me that DYMOTO 125 And I’ll buy it off you
@@karlfonner7589 because I have a special attachment to my scooter, it's allready been through 14 countries on 2 continents. It's just so much more fulfilling for me to ship him over there and do the event with him.
Bonjour Alex, si le bruit fait un cognement c'est le roulement de la tête de bielle ! mon sym gts 300i evo de 2009 à fait le même à 75 000 kms ! => changement de vilbrequin😪
Hi Alex, I find that if you an find the email address of the big bosses of Gerbing Europe, as in the CEO etc. and hit them with an email about your problem and the treatment you have received from the company, it soon gets things done, big bosses do not like to hear or deal with problems from customers. just a thought.
The Gerbing UK website curiously shows a UK number but an address in the Netherlands. It also has another email, maybe it's worth a try?
Hello there Alex!
First of all, I hope Donnie gets better as soon as possible!❤
On the other hand it seems you just read my mind about Fred's fuel consumption. I'd like to hear more and more fuel consumption data about riding him.
Be bad!😊
You can follow Fred's history here: www.spritmonitor.de/en/detail/1525264.html
@@RideWithAlexAlex you have an Audi 1.8T 😊..Hm.I like them.
@@RideWithAlex Forbidden.🤨
@@EndritBs used to have, it's gone now, got hit from behind and the car was totalled.
@@RideWithAlex The car that suits you is Seat.
Hello Alex
I has sold my big ADV motorcycle and switch to Zontes e350. Currently waiting to be shipped...
Did you changed tires in fred ? Or these CST are good enough?
Best regards
Haven't changed them yet. They are a bit slippery in the wet but with ABS and Traction Control it's manageable. I will wear them down some more and then switch to Michelin City Grip 2
CST are very slippery, i will also change them.
What's up with the new 368 engines that are to replace the 350 line from Zontes? Anything you heard or picked up somewhere you can tell us about?
No think on the 368. Probably just a small engine incress to get it past the euro 5+ emissions and a small bump up in power.
Maybe the Vest company have closed down...I was just about to buy a Sym ADX 125 from my local dealership (Saltires Edinburgh) only to discover they have gone out of business 2 weeks ago, looks like il be buying a Honda Forza 125 instead.
Thanks a lot Alex! do you have a link to that Top case?
It's the Givi B45+
Hello. It is difficult for me to accept that the engine has problem. Here, in greece, i heard two (donnies) having mechanical problems but the owners told me that they fixed it by cleaning the ingection. I believe it is easier to check first. I hope it is that
We will go into it slowly and find the source of the noise, it's going to be interesting.
Salut. Si eu am un scuter de 125 cc. A cedat saracul la 9000 rot/min pe autostrada la un drum de 400km. A mancat tot uleiul. Ideea e ca daca nu ai un senzor sau ceva sa te avertizeze nu prea ai ce face. Decat sa te tot opresti si sa verifici
Eu asa am facut mereu, oprit si verificat, in special la drum lung verificam la fiecare 300km.
@@RideWithAlex crezi ca se poate remedia? Sau trebuie alt motor? Momentan astept raspuns de la garantie. Banuiesc ca trebuie refacut motorul. Compresia mi-a iesit 6 si treb min 10. Acum nu ma preicep la piese cat sunt de scumpe.
@@copu7850 Depinde ce a picat la tine, daca sunt doar segmenti nu e atat de complicat, daca e si ambielajul afectat atunci trebuie desfacut tot motorul.
@@RideWithAlex vedem. Ideea e ca mie mi s-a oprit si nu a mai pornit. Si l-am dus cu platforma. Ramane de vazut.
Salut Alex!. Ceva vesti noi despre Sym ADX 300?. Inca nu e pe site nici la Sym Romania nici la dealeri.
Pentru ca inca nu exista stocuri. Cand vor exista stocuri va fi public. Aceea prima unitate am reusit sa o filmez ca si un favor sau mai bine spus o sustinere din partea patronilor pentru canalul meu. :D
@@RideWithAlex Multumesc, pentru raspuns!
Hi Alex, if the gerbing europe office is seated in FR or Belgium, they will not respond, thats normal 😂
😂😂😂
Interesting? And here I thought the spoiled kids in America were the only ones being dropped off & picked up @ school, only to learn you’re experiencing the same thing in Romania?! What has the world come to?!
Sorry and concerned for Donnie & your upcoming butt buster next spring?!
About not being being less “aggressive” in your riding(?)), ain’t gonna happen! You ride / drive the way I do & have. I’m 76 and have to laugh when I hear you’re trying to “settle down”. Yeah, you will here & there, but you won’t really change, it’s in your DNA, (live with it)?!😆 Best, Rola (Oregon / USA). PS: Good to be on board with FRED!👍🏻
I said I'm trying to settle down that doesn't mean I'm haven ing much succes with it 🤣
Yea ok,not Donnie.I forgot the name of the 350E
Fred :)
I didnt know scooter cannonball was a thing, is that something thats done only in the US?
Yes. I will be shipping my Sym Symphony to the states next year.
@@RideWithAlex thats really incredible, cant wait for the cannonball. What all states will you be riding the scooter there?
@@dab7805 from Oregon to Texas check my channel I have a playlist where all the videos relating to the cannonball will go. 2 videos allready there.
@@RideWithAlex Im so thrilled for that series, I hope you do daily vlogs of the trip
@@dab7805 yes, I plan to do a video for each day just like I did on my trip to Turkey. The videos might be long but they will be very detailed.
Sc Jetrun srl se pare ca e dealer pe Románia. Poate rezolvi ceva.
M-am uitat la aceea firma, se ocupe de centrale termince si solutii de incalzire industriala.
How come you name all your bikes male names?😊😊
I don't know 🤷
Hello, if you want i can help with an XT60 connector for your vest or any electric repair :)
It uses a different connector then the XT60. I'll try to source it locally I'm pretty sure I can find it.
@@RideWithAlex adapt improvize, overcome... Vezi la Conexelectronic ca au o selectie ok de conectori
Hi Alex, do you have a chance to do a full test drive of the sym hd 300? I'm looking at it as an alternative to the bv300/bv400, but unfortunately there are olny few reviews of the hd300. Your reviews are very informative and I would love to hear your opinion about the hd 300 scooter not only as a means of transportation in the city but also on highways.
Greetings from Latvia.
Unfortunately we've never had a registered unit in the showroom. If one comes along I will film it but it hasn't up to this point.
Hi Alex will a phonenumber help you out from the Gerbing guys
Would be helpful.