How many times have you broke down on the road?

[Skyliner70cc]

Hmmm,
These all happened about 7 years ago:
1. Clogged fuel filter that is integrated into the fuel valve...Solution: remove it and remove rust from tank prior to 1st use.

2. Broken spark plug: chinese plug failed internally. Solution: I still use the china plugs and carry a spare NGK plug

3. Blown intake gasket. Solution: cut my own using thicker gasket paper; results: no problems.

4. Piston ring doo hickey that prevents ring from rotating fell out. Solution: Pull out with long nose pliers and JB weld it into place. No issue with ring getting caught on an intake port causing instant engine stoppage/damage.

5. Derailleur mis-shift on shifter kit bike resulting in broken derailleur and bent chain and end of riding for day: solution: don't let idiot brother in law ride bike on long rides.

6. Engine seized from upper wrist pin bearing falling apart. Solution: replacement bearing of higher quality.

7. CDI failure. Solution: carry spare on all rides with quick connect (anderson powerpoles plugs) for replacement.

8. Magneto failed. Solution: carry spare on all rides.

9. 6 flat tires during a 40 mile ride. Solution: Use heavy duty tubes with slime, carry extra patches, and carry spare tubes. I had to hitchhike it back into town after I ran out of patches.

10. 415 chain failure causing chain to snap around and put a hole in the engine case. Solution: I no longer ride single speeds.

11. Engine died after refueling at gas station. Solution: don't add 2 stroke oil to tank first as it will settle and flow directly into carb when you open fuel cap. When I refuel on the road, I start engine and then add 2 stroke oil to fuel tank. The engine vibration will splash and mix fuel/oil up real good. Be careful and wear eye protection and put that cigarette out first.

 

[2stroker]

After my latest incident of breaking a motor mount stud I started thinking.
This is now my third bike. All were bought cheap and had problems which is why i got them so cheap. I have never had to walk home , but I have had to pedal home at least 10 times. Most times it was on test rides in my Cul-de-sac , but 5 were 2-3 miles from home. No big deal , but I have gotten leary and now carry a few tools.
I was wondering about every Else's experiences of breaking down and how you solved the problems on the fly.

Thats a bummer. The only problem i have had is a flat tire. My kit has not once broke down and left me stranded and i have 2,000miles on it!!!! The kit i had before this one made it to 4,000miles before i had a problem and all i had to do to fix my kit is adjust the carburator!!! i like my kit because its very reliable!!! I like the bumblebeebolton friction drive and i like the robin engines there good to a little more pricy but they go!

 

[mbatl]

My FD robin subaru bike has only broke down due to a flat tire and I had to limp it to walmart 5 miles and buy a tube. I stopped by Advance auto and bought slime on the way which worked for 5 mins, and then made an absolutely horrible green mess all over my rear rim and tire, which I'm sure was a peculiar sight for people to witness. I don't to use slime again due to the sticky mess it makes that was a pain to clean.


Now my HT bike...
-Broken engine stud
-Engine cut off and wouldn't start I think due to carb issues (it was years ago)
-Chain jumped off
-Pedals stripped threads inside cranks
-Nut that holds crank for shifter kit fell off and crank became very loose while in traffic. Not good experience.

The biggest reason I've been stranded on the HT bike is for running out of gas, because when the HT kit is running right its is just soo much fun being able to shift through 6 gears and having the weight of the engine centrally located! Its so much fun that I've lost track of my fuel usage and had to peddle back countless times, the last occurence was about 3 miles of peddling that heavy bike...with a full face helmet to hide my embarrasement!:helmet:

 

[2stroker]

My FD robin subaru bike has only broke down due to a flat tire and I had to limp it to walmart 5 miles and buy a tube. I stopped by Advance auto and bought slime on the way which worked for 5 mins, and then made an absolutely horrible green mess all over my rear rim and tire, which I'm sure was a peculiar sight for people to witness. I don't to use slime again due to the sticky mess it makes that was a pain to clean.


Now my HT bike...
-Broken engine stud
-Engine cut off and wouldn't start I think due to carb issues (it was years ago)
-Chain jumped off
-Pedals stripped threads inside cranks
-Nut that holds crank for shifter kit fell off and crank became very loose while in traffic. Not good experience.

The biggest reason I've been stranded on the HT bike is for running out of gas, because when the HT kit is running right its is just soo much fun being able to shift through 6 gears and having the weight of the engine centrally located! Its so much fun that I've lost track of my fuel usage and had to peddle back countless times, the last occurence was about 3 miles of peddling that heavy bike...with a full face helmet to hide my embarrasement!:helmet:

Thats why I bring an extra fuel bottle and put it in my water bottle holder. I like the robin engines to but the bumblebeebolton's are just as reliable. I like the one bolt thing they got going on. I thought that was very simple and easy. Not everyone is mechanically enclined ya know and it makes it easy. Bolt it on hook up your bungee cable hook up the throttle cable and you gotta install the neutral bracket Its just a u-bolt and your off. Takes about 15min

 

[Cavi Mike]

More times than I care to count.

 

[The_Aleman]

I've been riding these for 6 years and I can't possibly count how many times I've broken down. When I ran HTs, I had a breakdown at least every month.

With my 4-stroke, I can count the break-downs. 10. 4 were due to valve stem failure on tires, 4 were carburetor-related stoppages, and 2 breakdowns due to clutch drum failure.

Edit: I've run out of gas 3x, too, only with 4-stroke...hard to keep gas in the darn thing sometimes

 

[motorbikemike45]

Twice. Once with a flat rear tire 2 blocks from home. Easier to push the bike home to fix the flat than to fix it on a busy street. It was a Staton chain drive kit/Subaru Robin 35 and bullet proof, other than a hard time fixing a rear flat. Thorn proof inner liners, Armadillo Hemisphere kevlar cord tires, and slimed tubes went on the bike shortly after. No problems with flats since.

Once when a brand new geared motor hub motor failed on the second trial run 7 blocks from home. That kit was returned and I went back to direct drive moter kits with never a problem since.

4 gas engined bikes and 3 electrics, many thousands of miles traveled(usually WOT), and only 2 breakdowns. Not bad, I'd say. I have always used Subaru Robin 35 4 cycle gas engines on my gas bikes and high quality rack mount kits, never an HT China girl or cheap Chinese kit. 1 Staton Friction, the Staton chain drive mentioned above, and a golden Eagle belt drive used on 2 separate bikes. The 3 electrics I have built with direct drive hub motors from e-bikekits.com have been as reliable as a stone.

Quality cost more, but it works without a lot of tinkering, is reliable right out of the box, and lasts and lasts and lasts. I enjoy tinkering, but I do it for fun, to improve the bike, not because I have to. You get what you pay for. Pay the man now for good quality, or pay later for junk and pay and pay and pay.