6 habits of drivers that can easily damage scooters

Seemingly harmless habits of drivers can easily damage scooters.

The trend of shifting from common manual transmission vehicles to scooters among Vietnamese consumers is getting faster and faster. Compared to other models, scooters have a fashionable, modern design and are equipped with many utilities... so they are increasingly popular.

However, according to Honda technical experts, the structure of some parts on scooters is different from that of regular manual transmission vehicles, so during use, some habits of the driver over time can easily damage and reduce the lifespan of parts on scooters.

Turn on the key and start the engine when the FI fuel injection light is not off.

Starting the engine right after turning on the key is a common habit among people who used to ride manual motorbikes when they first switched to using scooters.

However, unlike manual motorbikes, most scooters today are equipped with engines that integrate an electronic fuel injection system FI. Normally, right after turning on the key, the FI indicator light with the engine symbol on the central dashboard will light up for about 2-3 seconds, giving the vehicle time to activate, check the sensors as well as fuel the pump nozzle to get ready to start. If the driver turns on the key and starts the engine when the FI light is not off, in the long run it will affect the fuel pump system on the vehicle. Therefore, after turning on the ignition, pay attention to wait for the FI signal light to turn off and then press the engine start button.

The car just started and started working immediately.

Rushing to start the vehicle immediately after starting the engine is a habit of many motorbike and scooter users. This action over time will affect the engine, reduce smoothness and often leave noises accompanied by jerking when the vehicle is running. The reason is that the engine is running in a cold state, low temperature reduces the lubricating ability of the engine oil.

Normally, the engine on a scooter usually has a higher rpm than a manual transmission vehicle. Therefore, every morning after starting the engine, the vehicle should be left in Garanti mode (idle engine) for about 1 minute before operating. In addition, the driver should turn the throttle gently, when the engine feels smooth and the engine sound is even, the vehicle is ready to operate.

Accelerate and brake suddenly like... riding a motorbike

The habit of accelerating or braking suddenly when driving a manual motorbike, if repeated frequently when using a scooter, will quickly reduce the life of the clutch assembly, the drive belt and increase the vehicle's fuel consumption. Therefore, when using a manual motorbike, the driver should pay attention to maintaining speed, using a steady throttle to limit sudden braking situations. In addition, you should not accelerate and brake at the same time in traffic jams or at red lights, because this will reduce the life of the brake system and make the vehicle's engine jerk easily.

Front brake abuse

Instead of coordinating the front and rear brakes, many people using scooters often overuse the front brake when needing to reduce speed or encounter unexpected situations. Currently, most scooters use disc brakes on the front wheel. Continuously applying the front brake will cause the brake pads and brake discs to quickly heat up, leading to reduced braking efficiency and rapid wear.

In addition, overusing the front brake in unexpected situations or when moving at high speed can easily cause the vehicle to skid, due to the small diameter of the rim and short shock absorber travel. Therefore, with scooters, drivers should pay attention to coordinating the front and rear brakes to ensure safety.

Don't be afraid to wade through water

Unlike manual transmission vehicles, the engine system and air filter on scooters are placed quite low, the transmission has many vents so it is easy for water to enter when going through flooded areas. However, many people do not hesitate to let the vehicle wade through water. Flooded vehicles will affect the engine system. In addition, if not maintained promptly, the internal parts will rust.

Not paying attention to regular maintenance

Similar to motorbikes, every part of a scooter needs to be maintained and cared for periodically after a period of use. However, in reality, many scooter users today do not pay much attention to cleaning the injectors, fuel floats, or even changing the engine oil, differential oil, coolant, or cleaning the drive belt... as recommended by the manufacturer after a period of use. Meanwhile, regular maintenance is one of the important factors that determine the durability, smooth operation, and stability of the vehicle.

In addition to some parts that need to be cleaned periodically such as the radiator, injectors, fuel float... most of the details such as oil, air filter, spark plugs... have a certain lifespan after a period of use. According to Honda technicians, normally the oil on a scooter should be replaced after the vehicle has run about 1,000 - 1,500 km, after 3 times of changing the engine oil, change the differential oil. After about 10,000 km, the injectors should be cleaned, the air filter and coolant replaced.

To limit damage and help the scooter operate stably, users should pay attention to the regular maintenance schedule, limiting systemic damage that takes a lot of time and repair costs.