What to look for - X-Max 250 or high mileage T-Max

[Terry1100]

Hi guys,

I have someone looking at the K1100LT this weekend so I've been idly considering it's replacement.

Apart from the obvious/usual things, is there anything particular to look for on:

• 06 Plate 250 X-Max
  52 Plate T-Max (high mileage)

cheers

Terry

[TmaX9]

Condition of the brake callipers on the Tmax. Probably on both, being Yamahas. On any bike you are really looking for poor workmanship and bodged repairs. Early Tmax were less prone to electrical faults and had a simpler system but also tended to be very slow to warm up.
On the Tmax check the condition of the radiator matrix, they get caked up behind the front wheel and are almost impossible to clean out.

[michaelphillips]

any other scoots you interested in, being in london you have a wide choice, would a 125cc do the job???

2008 Xevo 125 One proud owner from new, regular service by main dealer (trans-city scooter in walthamstow) also going with large security chain. 29,000 miles , is frugral with a bigger scoot feel, up on gumtree for just over a grand after negotiating, im sure some of the lads have them, and can help with questions

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-moto ... 1013388665" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

i still think this scoot is worth a punt, its normally £99 to have a bike delivered these private tend to go for £1500 only 8000 miles and can ring the dealer MIKE 01935 701832 with questions
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221212752596? ... 1438.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


its in a lot better condition and probably stored in a garage in somerset, than this one http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-moto ... 1015739136" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Taipan]

Condition of the brake callipers on the Tmax. Probably on both, being Yamahas. On any bike you are really looking for poor workmanship and bodged repairs. Early Tmax were less prone to electrical faults and had a simpler system but also tended to be very slow to warm up.
On the Tmax check the condition of the radiator matrix, they get caked up behind the front wheel and are almost impossible to clean out.

Good call. My first Tmax would run almost in the red as soon as you got into traffic with the fan permanently on. that was due to the rad being clogged with mud and road crap. I soaked it and soaked it with buckets of water and blew it out from underneath (carefully) with an airline. Eventually i saw daylight through it and the bike ran with its temperature just on the midway mark. On my last tmax I did this fairly regularly to keep it clear and showed my father-in-law how to as well as it is a worsening problem on these if left.

All three of my Tmaxes suffered from seizing calipers. I replaced the last two with an R6 caliper which I've just stuck a thread up about.

[Terry1100]

Thanks all

Michael - those two just happen to be within 5 miles of home - London is so big that I can afford to be restricting with my geography. I may settle for a 125 but I don't want anything abused by a learner (and I don't want to make too much of a drop - I haven't owned anything smaller than 500cc since 1979 !)

[michaelphillips]

i personally would not touch the nexus in kilborn at £1500 its looking a bit tatty, the xevo 125 with one owner + regular service in same garage, is the way to go, its a big scoot for a 125 so you dont get the small scoot wind and the rain , good protection, good fuel and cheap insurance. but if i was looking , i would not change what i have... but the 250cc version thats on ebay could be a sensible buy its been at £510 with two days to go and no-one pushing the price up. maybe cos its in somerset , out of the way, but £100 would get it delivered
same tyres as on the 500cc and a cradle frame, check the review
http://www.bikeexpert.co.uk/gilera/nexu ... s-scooter/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

opinion
After some research I learnt that the Nexus 250 runs on the Piaggio’s new fuel injected 250 QUASAR (QUArter-liter Smooth Augmented Range) engine, which boasts an epic 10,000km service interval!

This engine has been used in a few other 250 scooters, which should make spares and serviceable parts easy to obtain. There was also a question of Italian reliability, particularly with electrics. After reading a bunch of reviews on Italian bikes I saw a disapointment pattern. A lot of the reviews I read from owners of pre-2006 bikes seemed to complain about faults. Most of the reviews for the bikes manufactured 2006-onwards seemed to show the Italians had ironed out the electrical gremlins with many pleased owners.
Take a trip to Reviewcentre.com and see for yourself.

OTHER SCOOTERS WHICH USE THE QUASAR ENGINE
APRILIA ATLANTIC 250, SCARABEO 250
MALAGUTI MADISON 250 2005
PIAGGIO X9 250 EVOLUTIO, BEVERLY 250
DERBI GP1 250
APRILIA SPORT CITY 250
PIAGGIO X8 250
PIAGGIO MP3 250
GILERA NEXUS 250
PEUGEOT GEOPOLIS 250
PEUGEOT SATELIS 250
Mods you could do
250 QUASAR Perfomance Mods
The basic ingredients to get some extra grunt out of the QUASAR engine for a minimal price is
Dr Pulley Sliders
K&N Pod Air Filter
I'm not looking to fully kit out the 250 motor.

ROLLER WEIGHTS
First thing I need to do is change out them stock 11.2g rollers and replace them with some 10g Dr Pulley Sliders. using the lighter weights because more focused on acceleration. If you wanted more top end then a heavier weight should be used. It's a lot like changing sprockets on a geared bike.

AIR FILTER
The pod air filter you will be looking for is the K&N RD-0600 univeral filter. The idea is to get more air into the engine. This task would require the removal of my standard air-box and some silicone sealant for the airtight joining of the airbox pipe and the pod filter.
Some people will say "you need to change jetting or FI mapping" but not really needed

[MrGrumpy]

Maybe going off at a slight tangent, but mk1 and 2 TMaxs (pre 2008) were made in Japan, whilst I think mk3s onwards are made in Spain. I think my used everyday in the salt and crap weather 30,000 miles old mk2 was in better nick when I lost it, than my pampered 18000 miles weekends only used mk3...
Yes...radiators on mk3s are a problem....not that you can do much about it.

[gn2]

What's the budget?

[Deeping]

Tmax, warm it up then listen for cam chain tensioner rattle, it might sound to come from the variator- but they should run quite as they sit in a grease pit. Yes I know the cam chain is on the left but with all the tupperware on the sound is louder on the right. It is an easy fix with the modified tensioner. The part number should end in 01, do not fit the old one that ends in 00 mine cost about £50 from Yamaha

[Terry1100]

I've looked at a Majesty 250 this morning - looks pretty good and "correct"

What are the particular pitfalls or areas of potential grief on a '01 250 Majesty ?

Thanks in advance