Italjet Formula 125/Dragster 180
dlg...@my-deja.com
Any one out there had their hands on an Italjet Formula 125 yet. I've
two scooterist friends in Italy who have both said there are major
reliability problems with it. Overheating and excessive clutch wear in
only a few thousand K. Our local dealer can't get one yet. He says
Italjet informed him they won't pass US emissions (neither of us
believes this is the real reason). Italjet also will not set a US
price, even though they are supposed to be marketing them here. Very
curious. The reason I'm asking is I may have to settle for the F-125.
What I realy want, of course, is the Dragster-180; but I'm having
absolutely no luck in finding a way to get one over here legally.
Italjet has as much as said no way, not now, not ever. For a Dragster,
I'd put up with a lot; for a Formula, I won't.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave G.
[ends]
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Simon Evans
yet.>
<I've two scooterist friends in Italy who have both said there
are major reliability problems with it. Overheating and excessive
clutch wear in only a few thousand K.>
111's don't...
<Our local dealer can't get one yet. He says Italjet informed him
they won't pass US emissions (neither of us believes this is the
real reason).>
Formula 125 uses a very strange oil feed system which feeds oil
first into one pot, then the remainder into the other. It is
therefore exceptionally difficult to pass emission laws and the
reason why they smoke from one exhaust on start up. There is a
simple mod using a `y` splitter which diverts the oil feed
equally into each cylinder and which allows the pump to be set
more accurately, but it is an aftermarket mod, not a
factory-approved one.
--
Simon Evans
Mark Clay
quality, parts availability and good design come way down their list of
priorities. They look good and probably would be good if built well, but
shifting units seems to be more important to them working up repeat
custom.
If you've got money to burn by all means get one but to me they are the
scoot equivalent of a bic pen... throwaway.
I've had numerous problems with a Velocifero so I know what I'm talking
about.
I know Velos get a lot of flak but don't think for an instant that
Italjet sit there saying, 'Lets make a mess out of this one but we'll
make a real effort with the others!'
If they can't get one product right the same probably passes for
everything else.
Well thats my spleen vented so, adieu!
Pissed-off Velo owner
Malcolm White
over-stated. I've just taken delivery of a Dragster 180 in Fluoro Yellow
(sorry!). I'm finding that it takes quite a while to warm up on a trip
before it runs smoothly. Maybe once it's got a few miles on it, it'll sort
itself out. No point at looking at mixture settings etc until it's run in.
It is a very nice bike (apart from the tacky plastic chrome and lack of
reasonable storage). Once it's bedded in I'll also need to set the
suspension up a little firmer as it tends to wallow too much for my
liking. It's certainly not very chuckable in its factory configuration.
Having not ridden a bike for quite a few years, and not many two-strokes
at that, should I expect the Gilera 180 engine to take a long time to warm
up and run without missing?
dlg...@my-deja.com wrote:
> All scooterists:
>
> Any one out there had their hands on an Italjet Formula 125 yet. I've
> two scooterist friends in Italy who have both said there are major
> reliability problems with it. Overheating and excessive clutch wear in
> only a few thousand K. Our local dealer can't get one yet. He says
> Italjet informed him they won't pass US emissions (neither of us
Mark Clay
savvy with mechanics it'll be fine. I wasn't when I first got the Velo and
unfortunatly I've had to learn through expensive experience. [hence my
vitriol]
Keep a close eye on things as a lot of these bikes are so new faults and
flaws are not widely known and obviously Italjet are not going to broadcast
them. The sports scoots Italjet make seem to be fairly accessible so keep a
lookout for tubes and wires that are working loose, check that every thing is
tightened up properly, i.e. steering column on mine was loose. Finally look
long and hard for a good dealer. Mine were okay at simple stuff but weren't
brilliant at diagnosis.
GOD.
biased. They don't talk about reliability and do say that at the
moment this models are for off road use only. in english: not licensed
for road use, either because of emissions or safety.
I've also read many reviews on other motorcycle mags: Not good. on one
they said the dragster model is too slow on take off from dead stop.
on another, a group was leaving LA for Chicago on R.66 and Italjet
supplied them with TWO dragsters, 'because they are not confident of
the reliability at this time and did not want the embarrassment of
having a dead scoot on a long trip".
I feel the Italjet is probably ok, in Italian standards.
you figure out whatt this means!
Hans Hartman
>There's a review of these beasts on this month's SCOOT! mag. Very
>biased. They don't talk about reliability and do say that at the
>moment this models are for off road use only. in english: not licensed
>for road use, either because of emissions or safety.
>
>I've also read many reviews on other motorcycle mags: Not good. on one
>they said the dragster model is too slow on take off from dead stop.
I understood the Dragster is equiped with a Piaggio Runner 180 engine. This
engine has proven reliable up until now.
These Italjet won't manage to fuck up a basicly good engine, now will they?
The twin is another matter.
>I feel the Italjet is probably ok, in Italian standards.
>
>you figure out whatt this means!
No. it's not. These things can't compare with Piaggio or Aprilia products...
>On Tue, 08 Feb 2000 01:48:37 GMT, dlg...@my-deja.com wrote:
>
>>All scooterists:
>>
>>Any one out there had their hands on an Italjet Formula 125 yet. I've
>>two scooterist friends in Italy who have both said there are major
>>reliability problems with it. Overheating and excessive clutch wear in
>>only a few thousand K. Our local dealer can't get one yet. He says
>>Italjet informed him they won't pass US emissions (neither of us
>>believes this is the real reason). Italjet also will not set a US
>>price, even though they are supposed to be marketing them here. Very
>>curious. The reason I'm asking is I may have to settle for the F-125.
>>What I realy want, of course, is the Dragster-180; but I'm having
>>absolutely no luck in finding a way to get one over here legally.
>>Italjet has as much as said no way, not now, not ever. For a Dragster,
>>I'd put up with a lot; for a Formula, I won't.
Yes, the twin is not reliable, and handles like a train on it's track. As long
as you ride in straight lines, everything is OK. The first bend will be a
suprise, if you are used of japanese handling.
So the Dragster really is a good deal if you want that model so much. I'd
prefer the Runner anytime...
Cheers,
Hans Hartman
M Forsdike
12 years of riding scooters Runner included, it makes me smile every time I
use it. Nothing beats its acceleration and as for the looks (fluorescent
Orange) nobody misses it. Reliability wise, one new battery and front wheel
bearing so far in six months, Italjet UK are'nt the best when it comes to
customer service but I knew that before I brought it (four months to arrive,
told two weeks).
Best fun u can have on 2 wheels in a city, and nobody else here has got one!
Hans Hartman <ta...@xs4all.nl> wrote in message
news:87uubm$c5v$1...@news1.xs4all.nl...
APERTO
98 Velo desgn flaws.
break design
gas cap (thats right, even the gas cap sucks)
speedo cable (get ready to replace this constantly)
motor
I think you get the point. As an Italjet mechanic in Rome, Italy told me,
"what's wrong with a Velo is not the question, but what's right!!
Mark Clay
won't start"]
Mark Clay
rode...@spam.one.net.au
to the twin cylinder motor (and the dragsters good looks). 1000km in
two weeks and have had no problems so far. I tested the Runner and it
handled like a boat. The Italjet is a buzz everytime I ride it - I
have a Laverda 750S as well and have only just started riding that as
the Dragster is having its first service done!
Initial take off is a bit slow (my yam Jog 50cc is quicker to 30km/h)
but you can change this with different rollers and springs in the
transmission. Check out TAffspeed (www.taffspeed.ndirect.co.uk) -
they have done work to that motor in a Runner.
On Thu, 10 Feb 2000 17:12:24 GMT, 1...@psi.com (GOD.) wrote:
>There's a review of these beasts on this month's SCOOT! mag. Very
>biased. They don't talk about reliability and do say that at the
>moment this models are for off road use only. in english: not licensed
>for road use, either because of emissions or safety.
>
>I've also read many reviews on other motorcycle mags: Not good. on one
>they said the dragster model is too slow on take off from dead stop.
>
>on another, a group was leaving LA for Chicago on R.66 and Italjet
>supplied them with TWO dragsters, 'because they are not confident of
>the reliability at this time and did not want the embarrassment of
>having a dead scoot on a long trip".
>
>I feel the Italjet is probably ok, in Italian standards.
>
>you figure out whatt this means!
>
>
>
>On Tue, 08 Feb 2000 01:48:37 GMT, dlg...@my-deja.com wrote:
>
>>All scooterists:
>>
>>Any one out there had their hands on an Italjet Formula 125 yet. I've
>>two scooterist friends in Italy who have both said there are major
>>reliability problems with it. Overheating and excessive clutch wear in
>>only a few thousand K. Our local dealer can't get one yet. He says
>>Italjet informed him they won't pass US emissions (neither of us
>>believes this is the real reason). Italjet also will not set a US
>>price, even though they are supposed to be marketing them here. Very
>>curious. The reason I'm asking is I may have to settle for the F-125.
>>What I realy want, of course, is the Dragster-180; but I'm having
>>absolutely no luck in finding a way to get one over here legally.
>>Italjet has as much as said no way, not now, not ever. For a Dragster,
>>I'd put up with a lot; for a Formula, I won't.
>>