I just signed up for the chat room. I purchased a 250 Grandvista about 2 weeks ago, and I LOVE it. I did have a 650 motorcycle but I never got completely relaxed riding it. The Grandvista is more me. When I purchased it I didn't get a owners manual (it is on order). It is a 2009 that had only 2 miles on it. My question, if someone could please help. When I am at the last bar on my gas gauge and it is flashing. At what point should I panic and get to a gas station in a hurry. When the bar flashes it makes me nervous, but I know I have some miles but I don't know how many.

June

Welcome! Great to have another GV250 owner on site.

Fortunately, I have never let my tank get low enough to flash the bar.

But as a guess, there are 5 bars and the tank holds 10 liters or 2.6 gal US
Assume: 50 MPG as a worst case and 2.6 gal/5= 0.5 gal/bar

50 mpg*0.5 gal= 25 miles

So a guess of 20-30 miles until proven wrong.

NOTE: Don't wash the windshield with any product that is acetic or basic. Neutral pH only!
The UV protection will peel off with the wrong pH....


By the way, where are you located ?

Scoot safely,

_________________
New Rider in 2010
Grand Vista 250

Located in Southern New Hampshire. Looking forward to a long nice weather spring/summer/fall season. I've been taking my scooter to work all week, only 12 miles each way. I just want to hug my scooter, I'm just so happy I purchased it!!
Another question, if I may. Not sure what is going on....so when I hit the black switch to get the scooter going. there are times that it doesn't start right away, it doesn't turn over. When it happened the first time, I thought maybe I tried to much, my husband thought maybe I flooded it. This has happened a few times. I wonder if it the battery or something else. Any thoughts?

I have also joined http://www.kymcoforum.com/index.php
It is an active forum for all Kymco scooters. They may have answers to your questions.

Potential problems if the engine doesn't turn over when the start button is pushed:

1. Clean the electrical connections between the battery, the start relay, and the starter
a. Do all at once, or stepwise until you find the problem. cleaning involves polishing with fine sandpaper

2. Dirty start switch:
a. Use spray electrical contact cleaner (Auto parts store) and spray into switch area & exercise the switch (ignition OFF)
May take several applications

3. Weak Battery.
a. Remove the battery, charge it fully with a battery tender (Schumacher from Wal Mart; $20)
b. Take it to an auto parts store that will test the battery under load
c. Replace if faulty. (The battery in my 2009 is still good).

4. Faulty Starter Motor or Start Relay.... talk to dealer about warranty?

When the engine does not turn over, it has to be an electrical problem or hydrolock.

If you bought the scooter new, there is a 2-yr warranty that should still be valid.
Not sure what happens to a 2nd buyer, but you could contact the dealer and ask.
I bought my 2009 new in Sept 2010, so I still have a few months on warranty.

Scoot safely and have fun.

_________________
New Rider in 2010
Grand Vista 250

Welcome June! You are correct to pay attention to the flashing bar; I don't know the answer in numbers, but it's there to tell you to get to a gas station. One of the folks I ride with in Manchester also has a GV, and I'll see if he might know. He also commutes on his. Summers, we get together for rides in the Manchester/Seacoast/Rochester areas, up to the Kanc, along the coast, up into Maine. Some of us divas have also gotten together over at the Peterborough Diner for a lunch meet-up. Glad to have you on the forum!
Deb

It is nice to hear that there are others around my neighborhood. Perhaps I could join you guys. I'm no "youngen" going on 56.

Thanks
June

LOL, yes, that would make you a young 'un with some of the gang. Andy in Manchester thinks maybe the reserve is 5-10 miles, but he's never tempted fate and tried to measure it out.

Thanks. I'm looking forward to the warmer weather!!! Last week was so beautiful, I commuted back and forth to work all week! Can't wait to get on the scooter again.

Last weekend my fuel tank got to the last flashing bar. I rode about 10 miles after it started flashing.
When I filled, I put in 1.8 gal, so there was about 0.5 gal. left in the tank. I figure I never fill to the Max.

Scooter: Grand Vista 250 with about 2k miles.

_________________
New Rider in 2010
Grand Vista 250