Bajaj Chetak- the new object of my scooter lust.

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Threegoofs
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Bajaj Chetak- the new object of my scooter lust.

Post by Threegoofs »

OK- I have been mulling the scooter decision in my head for too long now.. mostly because I havent had much time to actuallly GET the scooter.

I started out wanting a buddy 50, but you all talked me out of that. Then I figured maybe a 150, but I liked the Stella too, and I was torn between those. Your thoughts on that were VERY helpful.

NOW I just found an opportuniy to buy a used Bajaj Chetak - a vintage looking 4 stroke, manual, 150cc scoot used - complete with helmets and other stuff. Its got about 3,000 miles on it.

Im really leaning to this one - since it will be the cheapest option of all, plus I love the look and the manual trans.


Anyone know any practical pros and cons about this scooter? Got any advice for buying a used scooter?



Have I just disqualified myself from the Buddy Forum?

There is no Modern Chetak site...
I was told by my wife that I have too much money and not enough hobbies.... or something like that.
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Post by pcbikedude »

I know a few people that have Chetaks and they are generally happy with them. But, they do demand more attention (fixing) than a Buddy.

Bajaj no longer makes any scooters which means parts maybe a problem. However, many parts are interchangeable with the Vespa PXs and Stellas.

For my money, I prefer to get the Stella.

BTW, never get a helmet used. They could have damage that you cannot see rendering their safety ineffective. Helmets are like jock straps and bras. They only should have one owner.
Last edited by pcbikedude on Thu May 29, 2008 7:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by EP_scoot »

I think that reading your post with an Indian accent makes it that much more fun (given we are talking about a Chetak) :shock: :D

As far as disqualifying yourself from the forum, dude, you are riding a scooter, we are nice to other scooter people, specially if they host gatherings that involve free beer.

The Chetak has been around for a while. I think Columbus rode around in one. Seriously, I think you would be better off with the Stella, if anything else because most of their parts are interchangeable with the old Vespas and readily available.

The Chetak "looks" the same, but being a 4 stroke there are probably very few common parts between it is the Stella/Vespa bikes.

I also heard that the Chetak was going to be either discontinued or just not sold here anymore, but I can recall the source, so don't put much weight on this. I think Bala was going to focus on their other scooter models and the ventures with car companes in making their own car (Renault/Nissan, I think)

Hopefully some of the vintage guys will pipe in regarding having parts available for later repairs should you need them . . . which you will.

Salud !
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Post by NathanielSalzman »

I don't have direct experience with it, but I'm told that the 4-stroke 150 in the Chetak makes it a real dog compared with the zippy Stella 2-stroke. The Stella is also better looking IMO, and is available brand new with warranty, roadside assistance, and all that jazz.
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Post by Dooglas »

Well, there is no such thing as a modern Chetak of course, so maybe Modern Buddy is still okay. One drawback to the Bajaj 4 stroke is that it is a little down on power compared to the 2 stroke Stella. Of course, both give away a bit to a Buddy 150 or Vespa LX150. They sure have the classic look and feel though. Not sure what the parts situation will be like now that the Chetak is no longer imported but they are pretty simple and pretty sturdy. I assume many parts can also be shared among classic Vespas and Vespa clones.
Last edited by Dooglas on Thu May 29, 2008 7:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by jfrost2 »

Theres people putting P150/stella parts on the chetak body wise, it has the same frame on the front, so a p150/stella horn cast fits on there perfect, even cowls. People rewire the bike and turn signals and make a automatic P.
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Post by ericalm »

Bajaj still makes scooters, just not the Chetak.

Dig: http://www.bajajauto.com/kristal/
(be sure to turn your volume up for the AWESOME music)

Aside from the 4T pokiness others have mentioned, I've heard that the Chetaks imported in its last year had a number of quality control problems and that overall there were some quality variations by year and depending on where some parts were made. That's about as specific as I can get with that info!

There are a couple of really nice Chetaks in my area.
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Post by ericalm »

Gotta see the Kristal commercial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBjBwA6-vNA&fmt=18

With the awesome music!
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Post by illnoise »

Yeah, I would avoid the Chetak. It's a decent bike, but Bajaj sort of abandoned that direction right after they started it, so the 4-stroke Chetak engine never really caught on, and spares were hard to find since day one, on top of that they had some electrical components that were prone to failure and they're just kind of slow for a 150.

That said, it gets fantastic mileage, it's CA-legal, and I believe it's the only manual-transmission 4-stroke scooter ever sold in the U.S., definitely the only vintage-style metal-frame automatic. And, I believe they still have a warehouse full of 'em in california, so dealers should give you a good price on 'em. Still, I wouldn't buy one over a Stella, Argo/Bajaj USA is on its last legs, Bajaj is all but ignoring the scooter market now, and Genuine will almost surely be around for many years to come. Even if LML fails, the Stella is pretty much 100% compatible with the billons of P-series parts and accessories out there and you'll be able to keep it on the road forever. Unless you're in CA. : )

Bajaj parts compatability with the PX is actually pretty low. The engine's almost entirely different and the frame looks the same, but it's not as similar as you'd think.
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Post by jfrost2 »

Oh yeah, good luck finding parts for it, they dont produce them anymore. The old bajaj india which made the bike changed to bajajusa. Still making scooters, but not as cool looking.
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Post by Threegoofs »

Well, my deicsion is that a Stella and accessories will cost at least $4000,
while this Bajaj will cost $2000.

Argo USA SAYS that Bajaj will continue to make parts ( I think theyve sold millions of these things in India).

For $2000, I can deal with a loss of peppiness, and risk no warranty.

I am concerned about the mechanical stuff though... although I'm still confounded as to why the Stella or Bajaj should be any less reliable than a Buddy.
I was told by my wife that I have too much money and not enough hobbies.... or something like that.
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Post by EP_scoot »

While checking the Krystal commercial, look at the one for the PULSAR as well, pretty cool !
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN_H4buzNKQ&feature=related
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Post by DennisD »

Love the music.
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Post by NathanielSalzman »

Threegoofs wrote:Well, my deicsion is that a Stella and accessories will cost at least $4000,
while this Bajaj will cost $2000.

Argo USA SAYS that Bajaj will continue to make parts ( I think theyve sold millions of these things in India).

For $2000, I can deal with a loss of peppiness, and risk no warranty.

I am concerned about the mechanical stuff though... although I'm still confounded as to why the Stella or Bajaj should be any less reliable than a Buddy.
It's a 30-year jump in technology is why. You've got cable-powered brakes instead of hydraulic. You've got clutch cables, tubed tires, metal body panels, oil injection, turning the fuel petcock on and off, and other things. A Buddy is more simple because it's simply more advanced.

As for what to do with your $2000, if you're thinking the Chetak/Stella route, you'd be better off finding a vintage Vespa P-series. All the parts are still available, you can upgrade to Stella parts over time if you want to, and you can usually find Ps on craigslist in the $2000 range.

Don't short change yourself though. You're going to get what you pay for. See if you can find a Genuine dealer with an '07 still on the lot. You might pay $2000 for a Chetak now, but you'll spend money on it in the future - no doubt. If instead you drop $2,700 on an '08 Buddy 125, you get two years worth of warranty and roadside assistance. That's going to be cheaper in the long run and the Buddy is a scooter you can just hop on and go every time.
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Post by DennisD »

Threegoofs wrote:Well, my deicsion is that a Stella and accessories will cost at least $4000,
while this Bajaj will cost $2000.

Argo USA SAYS that Bajaj will continue to make parts ( I think theyve sold millions of these things in India).

For $2000, I can deal with a loss of peppiness, and risk no warranty.

I am concerned about the mechanical stuff though... although I'm still confounded as to why the Stella or Bajaj should be any less reliable than a Buddy.
New dealer west of town on Pine Forest has the Argo and Bajaj Chetak. Chetak is $3000 on sticker.

The Stella still calls out to me.
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Post by jrsjr »

Threegoofs wrote:For $2000, I can deal with a loss of peppiness, and risk no warranty.
You may have to hunt around a little to find one, but there is a POC exhaust system that'll speed the Chetak up a little and make it sound boss.
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Post by toddrw2251 »

jrsjr wrote:
Threegoofs wrote:For $2000, I can deal with a loss of peppiness, and risk no warranty.
You may have to hunt around a little to find one, but there is a POC exhaust system that'll speed the Chetak up a little and make it sound boss.
Thank you for using the word "Boss" in this forum. :P

FYI I know a guy with an 03?ish Chetak and the thing screams. Prolly not as quick off the line as the buddy, but he had no problem cruising in the 60 mph zone the other day.
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Post by jrsjr »

toddrw2251 wrote:Thank you for using the word "Boss" in this forum. :P
It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it. :wink:
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Post by ScootLemont »

Threegoofs wrote:Well, my deicsion is that a Stella and accessories will cost at least $4000,
while this Bajaj will cost $2000.

Argo USA SAYS that Bajaj will continue to make parts ( I think theyve sold millions of these things in India).

For $2000, I can deal with a loss of peppiness, and risk no warranty.

I am concerned about the mechanical stuff though... although I'm still confounded as to why the Stella or Bajaj should be any less reliable than a Buddy.
I assume you found this website?
http://www.bajajusa.com/
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Post by ericalm »

For $2,000 or maybe a little more you might be able to get a decent P200. It probably won't be the prettiest you've seen, though...
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Post by lou76 »

i have both (riding the bajaj daily now due to deathly illness of buddy)... i dig the bajaj(like the legend even more!!!)... yes, sluggish compared to the buddy, but it is in the same league as the stella, and i would take my chances with the 4T powerplant over the 2T in the long haul anyday... and yeah, it might take a minute to find parts, but i've waited "2 weeks" for buddy parts more than one time.... and if it makes any difference, the bajaj is ridiculously more efficient...
and here's your "modernbajaj":
http://retrobajaj.informe.com/index.php
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Post by jfrost2 »

Check scoot.net There are tons of p150 and p200's for sale everyday for 1500-2200. Some are running strong but have scratches, others are in original condition and have a low price.

You said back then you wanted to shift and you wanted a stella, this is the closest thing you will find to a stella, a p150 or 200, the legendary vespa.
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Post by motorhead »

I was at a ride over the weekend and someone had a bajaj, she said it was good bike, it was just really super heavy and the clutch had a tendency to stick
Everything louder than everything else!
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Post by motorhead »

I was at a ride over the weekend and someone had a bajaj, she said it was good bike, it was just really super heavy and the clutch had a tendency to stick
Everything louder than everything else!
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Post by jfrost2 »

Chetak is automatic, so there wouldnt be a clutch for your hands to use.
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Post by StL_Stadtroller »

jfrost2 wrote:Chetak is automatic, so there wouldnt be a clutch for your hands to use.
Negative. The Chetak is a 4-sp same as Stella, P-series, etc.
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Post by jfrost2 »

Ah i was confusing it being 4 stroke with it being automatic. :?
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Post by StL_Stadtroller »

FWIW, My 1st "modern" scooter was a '03 Bajaj Chetak.

My impression of it was that it was very well built, with very good fit & finish. (better paint than the Stella as well). It was very smooth, the anti-dive front end really works, and it was great economy with a lifetime average of 90mpg and no expensive 2T oil to buy. Maintenance was super-easy.

Power-wise I was able to keep up fine with stock Stellas of the time. It topped out at just under 55mph, though one of the guys in our club recently had one - stock - that he'd fine tuned (just jetting and such) and would go 60-65mph!

It's life was cut short in a really horrific t-bone accident that totalled the scoot and wrecked my right ankle for life. It had about 2,000 miles on it at the time, and was operating just as good as the day I brought it home. My longest ride was a 900-mile weekend riding to a rally from StL to Rockford Il and back. Never missed a beat. If it wasn't wrecked, I'd probably still be riding it today.

The Chetak tends to be extremely reliable, however if something ever does go wrong, it can get ugly really quick.

Let me also mention that:
1) they are 4-speed manuals, NOT automatic,
2) the cowls are NOT interchangeable from P-series/Stellas, etc
3) you can put a P/Stella horncast on it, but it looks like ass w/out a bunch of other work being done too.
4) parts will be available for quite some time - Indian law requires that a manufactuer supply parts for something like 10 years after a model is discontinued, not to mention that there were something like 3,323,125,123 of these things built in their production run!
5) last I heard, there aren't any left "in a warehouse" somewhere. All have been shipped. You might find a dealer somewhere with a new '06 still sitting around though. ETS here in StL had one until very recently.
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Post by Threegoofs »

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I hopefully will be able to score this Bajaj and start my scooterin'.
I was told by my wife that I have too much money and not enough hobbies.... or something like that.
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Post by charltons »

I know I keep going on about the Kymco agility 125, but I have one and really like it. It doesn't have the classic look, but it is reliable, very peppy, and right under $2000 w/ 2yr warranty.
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Post by teacherquinn »

It's a shifter and it does get great gas mileage but the gas tank is very small. Two things to consider. My friend rides one with us and she's always the first to need a fill-up.
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Did you get the Chetak?

Post by snoutmeat »

So did you end up getting the Chetak? I've been riding one as my primary scoot for six months now. Doesn't seem any slower than a stock 2-stroke 150. Mechanically, I haven't had any issues. Got mine used with 8K miles. There's a Chetak dealership in Portland Oregon (Columbia) that provides great support and has pretty much all of the parts in stock. There's a Yahoo group and the forum mentioned above. If you're looking for a metal-bodied manual-shift scooter, my experience says it's a great value. If you're looking to do a lot of mechanical mods to your scoot, stick with a Vespa or a Stella. If you're happy keeping your scooter mechanically stock, the Chetak is a great bet. If you care about emissions, the 4-stroke runs much cleaner than a 2-stroke.

BTW, if you decide you need the POC exhaust, let me know. My scooter came with a box of spare parts, including a custom exhaust, which I'm assuming is a POC pipe.

--Shane
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Post by pleasefeedthedog »

Threegoofs wrote:Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I hopefully will be able to score this Bajaj and start my scooterin'.
I don't know how bad you want one but not to long ago on cycletrader there was one. I think it was an 06 with almost no miles (demo maybe). It may have been in NC or VA though.

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Post by dru_ »

charltons wrote:I know I keep going on about the Kymco agility 125, but I have one and really like it. It doesn't have the classic look, but it is reliable, very peppy, and right under $2000 w/ 2yr warranty.
The problem with the Agility is that it, like the Piaggio Fly, is now built in mainland china, so while the design and QC are nominally Kymco's, there have been reports of some QC issues, though not to the degree as most Chinese built scooters.
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GOT IT!

Post by Threegoofs »

I am now the proud owner of a 2002 Bajaj Chetak. Used with a bit over 2000 miles. I got the license for it (who woulda think that Bajaj 1 was still available?) and have been tenatively taking it out.

After reading the all about Bajaj forum and riding, I see several things I need to do to make it more ridable... first, new tires! I have noticed instability at higher speeds and it cant handle wet pavement at all. Second, the indicator lights on the gauge is invisible during the day. Gotta swap out the lights for bright LEDs.

Its been fun though - the shifting thing is a learning curve.
I was told by my wife that I have too much money and not enough hobbies.... or something like that.
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Post by kmetta »

I just found a used bajaj chetak, on craigslist for 1000.
I think i might make this my second scooter.. its the 2 stroke model


\"Specs: 150cc. 2-stroke, air-cooled. Top speed approximately 55 mph (if you're skinny). Best thing is 80-100 mpg. Engine, brakes very strong. Comfortable seat, two nice storage compartments. Gear box cable needs a tune-up. Some cosmetic dings, but overall very nice condition. 3,220 kilometers / 2,005 miles on odometer. Only one proud owner.
$1,000 obo."

Any thoughts? Money Pit?

I am not REALLY mechanically inclined...
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Post by pcbikedude »

I spoke with a mechanic that works on all types of scooters including Bajaj. Guess what? Parts are getting hard to come by for the Chetaks.
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Post by Threegoofs »

pcbikedude wrote:I spoke with a mechanic that works on all types of scooters including Bajaj. Guess what? Parts are getting hard to come by for the Chetaks.
Havent heard this at all from all the Bajaj guys on the yahoo group and the Bajaj discussion boards.

The Chetak above sounds like a great deal- but I think the 2 strokes are the older bikes - what year is it?

From what I've been reading, 2K miles on a Chetak is just the break in period - and it seems like the mechanical stuff is not too involved - its a fairly simple machine.


After having my Bajaj all summer, this thing seems built like a tank. I would guess it will still be in my garage twenty years from now - like one of those old Lambrettas. I'm pretty weak with a wrench, but I was able to modify it easily.
I was told by my wife that I have too much money and not enough hobbies.... or something like that.
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Post by kmetta »

Threegoofs wrote:
pcbikedude wrote: The Chetak above sounds like a great deal- but I think the 2 strokes are the older bikes - what year is it?

From what I've been reading, 2K miles on a Chetak is just the break in period - and it seems like the mechanical stuff is not too involved - its a fairly simple machine.


After having my Bajaj all summer, this thing seems built like a tank. I would guess it will still be in my garage twenty years from now - like one of those old Lambrettas. I'm pretty weak with a wrench, but I was able to modify it easily.
THanks Threegoofs, i thought it sounded like a deal as well. Maybe i will head over to that yahoo page and see whats up.
I think the add said it was a 2001.

I think i'd really like having this scooter--i tested the 4 stroke version before i bought the buddy--and thought it was pretty cool but went with the buddy instead.


How do most people justify the SECOND scooter????
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Post by DennisD »

pcbikedude wrote:



How do most people justify the SECOND scooter????
"Too good of a deal to pass up and I really want you to ride with me. I did it for us."

After that, 3 and 4 is easy.
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Post by StL_Stadtroller »

kmetta wrote: I think the add said it was a 2001.
That should be 4-stroke then.... the old Bajaj 2-strokes look more like a Vespa Sprint.
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Post by ItalianBoy »

pcbikedude wrote:I spoke with a mechanic that works on all types of scooters including Bajaj. Guess what? Parts are getting hard to come by for the Chetaks.
Parts are hard to find right now for a majority of scooters. I can't even get accessories off of Scooterworks.
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Post by ericalm »

ItalianBoy wrote:
pcbikedude wrote:I spoke with a mechanic that works on all types of scooters including Bajaj. Guess what? Parts are getting hard to come by for the Chetaks.
Parts are hard to find right now for a majority of scooters. I can't even get accessories off of Scooterworks.
This issue (if it is an issue) is a bit different because the Chetak is no longer made. Also, it doesn't have as many parts that are interchangeable with the Vespa P-series as the Stellas do.
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Post by tjupille »

We own both a Bajaj Chetak and a Buddy. I usually ride the Chetak and my wife rides the Buddy. Comments in no particular order.

The Chetak has been bulletproof reliable (at 7600 miles). Regular maintenance is no worse than on the Buddy: change the oil regularly. mid-term maintence is similar: valve adjustment; squirt some oil in the cables; change the spark plug; blow out the air filter. Very long-term maintenance should be less: no CVT belt or rollers to wear out, and the clutch reportedly goes well over 10k miles. In general, I find the Chetak easier to work on. The cowls come off without tools, and you have more room to work.

Regular parts availability doesn't seem to be a problem. The US importer (Argo) is helpful and responsive, and there are a number of dealers who will mail-order parts. Yeah there are reports of back-orders sometimes, but it doesn't seem to be any worse (or better) than what I read about re the Buddy).

The Chetak is physically bigger (and much heavier) than the Buddy because of the steel body. The engine is tuned and geared more for low-end grunt than for speed (it's a manual-shift, remember), which means that you tend run the engine at lower rpm. End result is that the gas mileage is almost as good as the Buddy, despite the 100 pound or so weight difference. The Chetak is slower off the line, and tops out at about 55 mph indicated (the speedo is about as accurate as the Buddy's! :lol: ).

Propbably the biggest difference is in the carrying capacity. Mine has folding racks front and rear, each of which can hold the equivalent of a milk crate bungee'ed on. Maybe the best way to compare is to think of the Buddy as a sports car and the Chetak as a pickup truck.

If you want more of a feel for the Chetak, there are a couple of discussion groups:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/bajajscooter/
http://retrobajaj.informe.com/index.php

-- Tom Jupille
'07 red Buddy
'05 silver Chetak
'05 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Military (motorcycle)
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Threegoofs
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Location: Western Springs, IL

Post by Threegoofs »

[quote="tjupille"] The Chetak is slower off the line, and tops out at about 55 mph indicated (the speedo is about as accurate as the Buddy's! :lol: ).


Tom- Great summary.

I'll have to say that my Chetaks speedo is right on - at least up to 40MPH. I check it regularly against one of those police radar signs that goes up in random places in town. I havent tried to go faster then that on sidestreets.... :)
I was told by my wife that I have too much money and not enough hobbies.... or something like that.
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