New Kymco Rider

Yeomanguard · L Plate Warrior Joined: 08 Aug 2016 Karma :

Hey all,

I thought I'd just introduce myself and say hi. I'm new to biking (got my CBT in june) and got myself a 6 yr Kymco pulsar shortly after; who I quickly named "Archie"
I'm based on the border of nottinghamshire/derbyshire and I'm glad to finally expand my horizon after 26 years on foot.

Anybody got any advice on things to watch out for with kymco's? So far seems to be behaving himself, though he definitely likes to start with the choke on even in the summer.

Hope y'all having a good day!

ps: the attachment is just a photo of the bike - I tried to embed the image from instagram but failed Very Happy

Evil Hans · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Nov 2015 Karma :

Welcome!
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Triumph Sprint ST 1050. And it's Red.

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

NJD · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Mar 2015 Karma :

Big Jock · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 01 Aug 2016 Karma :

Hi. I did my CBT on a pulsar. Was a decent bike to ride. I don't feel like there's much of a difference between that and my Yamaha YBR.
I did find it really hard to find neutral on it though and had to use the kick start as the electric start didn't work after a short 5 minute stop.

carpe_diem · Trackday Trickster Joined: 28 Jul 2016 Karma :

I found neutral really hard to find on the YBR too. Spent ages switching from 1st to 2nd as I was clearly moving it too far.

Yeomanguard · L Plate Warrior Joined: 08 Aug 2016 Karma :

Thanks for the replies guys Very Happy

@big jock - so far neutral seems fairly easy to find on the kymco. tho the bike i did my CBT was really tough to find.

@NJD - Have had a little bit of jumping when going into first, but no cut outs so far. I tend to wiggle the clutch now before switching and it behaves itself

Thx

6r4h4m · Nova Slayer Joined: 26 Apr 2016 Karma :

Fellow Pulsar rider here. My only grumbles are:

- can't find a manual anywhere (…anyone got a copy?)
- exhaust heat shield: bolts need checking regularly. They like to loosen themselves out. And the bracket holding it to the exhaust had broken on mine, which I suspect is the result of many clumsy kick starts catching the edge.

Otherwise, it's been easy to maintain so far (Haynes generic Chinese/Taiwanese manual). The bike itself does the job. Enjoy! Cool

p.s. If you tape the L-plate to the clocks you get yourself a passable ersatz windshield. Everyone here will say "get your full licence, lose the L's and move up to a bigger bike". As you get blown about in windy days, like me you might decide "everyone" is right!

bamt · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Dec 2013 Karma :

Welcome.

WD Forte · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jun 2010 Karma :

One of my lads had a Pulsar for year before it was nicked
( the steering locks break easily so buy a big chain and /or alarm!!)
and it was a reliable wee thing after we fixed it up. see here
https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=301946

The only snags he had were the gear change linkage worked loose and fell off (briefly, we refitted it)
It had a annoying rattle at higher engine speeds which was due to the
inner downpipe tube shaking about inside
the downpipe was rusty anyway so I cut it and welded it tight

Parts were easy to get too
Among other places, david silver spares sell them

Edit:
Just remembered
As above it did have a tendecy to jump when first gear was selected, we didn't get round to fixing that
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