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Old 07-16-2008, 05:27 PM
jggally jggally is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 4
Thumbs up We bought 2 Lance Duke 250s - His and Hers

Customer Review Contest Entry by jggally

We bought 2 Lance Duke Touring 250s a couple months ago and they were delivered a few weeks later.

So far, I am reasonably happy with both of them and I am glad we bought them.

With just over 300 miles on both of them now, one of them is getting ~69 MPG, the other ~55 MPG. The latter tends to run hotter and had more engine tailings in the initial oil change, so I presume this engine has tighter tolerances and will require more TLC in the break-in (side note: Lance included an inspection doc that stated I was required to change the crankcase oil, gear oil and coolant prior to initial usage ... good thing too, the coolant looked like grainy watery green crap).

One of the mirrors was cracked upon delivery, but they were quick to replace it. Doesn't matter much, the mirrors are useless for the average American height (I am 5'9" and the mirrors do not at all adjust high enough to see behind me). I will be replacing these with after market mirrors soon.

Also, there was an oil leak at the crankcase cover joint with the oil pipe. They have sent me replacement crush copper washers to fix this.

And, both bikes make a discernible, albeit not worrisome, scraping noise in the front cowl as though something (wiring?) is catching/binding against the plastic when the handlebars are swung through the centerline. The noise is more pronounce when the front end is depressed (like while riding over a bump just as the handles are swung). If you experience this and root cause it please let me know. It does not appear effect the operation of the bike, but I am concerned that I may be, e.g., wearing through wiring over time.

BTW, getting the CVT cover back on was extremely frustrating until I figured out a couple tricks:
- I used masking tape to hold the rubber gasket while remounting the cover (and pulled the tape off readily afterward);
- getting the bolts lined up in their inner threaded holes was impossible with a ratchet. That was until I learned to seat them with a pair of pliers pointed directly straight through the outer hole and start threading them with the pliers. Works every time with absolutely no frustration.

Both scooters hold 3 gallons, but after 90 miles the gas gauge on both hits the top of the empty red zone. The have sent me a replacement for one (not installed yet) and I am expecting them to send another. I do not know if this is just bad installation, wrong part, or bad design. Anyone else notice this ? (I live by the trip odometer now, filling after ~150 miles)

I bought these online through motortoyshop.com in Oregon and I am very pleased with their responsiveness to questions/issues. Let them know I sent you.

http://img375.imageshack.us/my.php?image=duke250fh9.jpg

Admin Says "Thanks for your review. It can be improved with pictures and a follow-up covering maintenance or any modifications you might make. You are entered into the customer review contest to win a $100 gift certificate from PartsForScooters.com'

Last edited by jggally : 07-18-2008 at 11:55 AM. Reason: added photo
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