My 1985 Yamaha Riva Scooter

by David Esrati on August 1, 2006

Bought on ebay- my 1985 Yamaha Riva gets about 85 mpg- and is a blast to ride.

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{ 37 comments… read them below or add one }

Jim August 15, 2006 at 12:54 am: Do you have any idea what these cost when new? We just bought one & I’m afraid we paid too much….

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David Esrati August 15, 2006 at 6:45 am: New- they are around $2300.
If they were made today-
You can buy a Stella for $2600 and it’s a 150cc
there are cheap Chinese scooters for $1500- but you get what you pay for.

Enjoy the ride.

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ricky sofserv July 8, 2007 at 9:16 pm: You are right. I have one (1985) exactly like yours with only 1503 miles on it. Terrific scooter. I also have a few much older Vespas as well as a Whizzer (1999). Cool stuff.

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Tammy March 12, 2008 at 5:57 pm: My dad has a 1985 Riva and is trying to find out where the oil drain is. He said he tipped it upside down and can’t find it. Any ideas?

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David Esrati March 12, 2008 at 6:22 pm: Hi Tammy- try this site: http://www.geocities.com/ferrisl/scooter/scooter.htm

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Tony June 10, 2008 at 12:03 am: Hey Tammy, I was thinking of buying one used. It needs a little work but is can ride. How much is this used?

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Tammy June 10, 2008 at 5:43 am: My dad is a wheeler-dealer and he traded them for something. He didn’t pay anything for two of them. One he is using for parts. I think he just got it put together and if I remember right, it came all apart. He’s been tinkering with it for a long time. His is quite old so I don’t know how long it may stay together. Sorry I couldn’t help on the price.

Tammy

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Kris June 23, 2008 at 8:12 pm: I have a 1985 riva 180. It will not charge the battery, all I need to find is a wiring diagram on the charging system. does anyone know of a website or a link I could use?

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David Esrati June 23, 2008 at 8:16 pm: Kris-
see Ferris’s site- owners manual:
http://www.geocities.com/ferrisl/scooter/manual.htm

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Viktor July 3, 2008 at 8:42 am: I got mine for 50 bucks lol. mint condition =)

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Nancy July 31, 2008 at 11:15 am: I have a 1985 Yamaha Scooter just like the one in the pic. I have 1900 miles on it and bought it new for $800.00 including tax. Loved it. It’s been thru 2 children (girls) and it still looks brand new!

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David Esrati July 31, 2008 at 11:21 am: Nancy-
I hope that’s a typo- 1900 miles…
mine has over 11,000 miles on it.

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Marco September 22, 2008 at 5:17 pm: I have a 19983 riva 180cc with 19,687 miles on it ,Still rides great and plenty of power to pull my 220lbs.around

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Ale October 21, 2008 at 8:13 pm: Hello,

I waas hoping someone knows the valve clearance for a 1985 Riva XC125 engine. I checked the manual but could not find it.

Thanks,

Ale

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justin tallman December 9, 2008 at 11:53 pm: i recently purchased a 1986 50cc riva and i am not getting spark the ignition is gone and kill switch is broken when i connect the brown and red wires that ran to the ignitions switch i get power and i can turn the engine over with the starter but still no spark am i over looking something. it does run so i know its an ignition problem i have a new ignition to replace it i just need to know which wires do what if anyone could anyone help me

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Tammy December 10, 2008 at 6:29 am: I’ll ask my dad and get back to you.

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jim dittmar April 17, 2009 at 5:05 pm: I PURCHASED A RIVA MOTOR SCOOTER IT RUNS ALRIGHT BUT THE CLUTCH DOES NOT SEEM TO ENGAGE. IS THERE ANY ADJUSTMENT ON THE CLUTCH. THERE IS A BILL OF SALE IN 2005 WHERE IT SAYS THEY PURCHASED A CENTRIFIGUL CLUTCH. IF YOU CAN HELP ME OUT LET ME KNOW

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David Esrati April 17, 2009 at 5:40 pm: @Jim- Can’t help you. I put a new clutch in mine- but didn’t do it myself.
Don’t know about adjustments.

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mike May 5, 2009 at 4:48 pm: i have a 1984 riva 50 in great shape with only 166 miles on it and looking to sell what price do i ask for it ?

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David Esrati May 5, 2009 at 5:56 pm: Hi Mike, I have no idea what it would bring. Depends on where you are.
If you are in Dayton – contact http://www.motoscooto.biz
He deals in old scoots.

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jim dittmar May 22, 2009 at 4:28 pm: dave i put 1 clutc plate did it myself cost me $50.00 now i have another problem when it is below 60 degrees the bike wont start i disconnected the fan but still to no avail when it warms up to over 70 it starts immediately

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Caleb May 25, 2009 at 7:26 pm: what is the top speed on the 1985 Yamaha Riva Scooter 180cc?

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David Esrati May 25, 2009 at 9:04 pm: Caleb, I have no idea. I have a 125. It gets up to 60mph- and I always tell people if I lost 10lbs I’d get to 65,
I imagine a 180, with a 200lb rider should hit close to 75 or 80- but, wouldn’t be a lot of fun.

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JB May 31, 2009 at 8:09 pm: I just got a 1983 Riva 180. It has been parked for over 13 years!
I just dropped the engine and need to rebuild the carb and replace the hoses. Is there good place in Dayton with a deal on it? Also what do I do about transmission and the tranny fluid? One more thing- headlight replacements? Thanks for any help!

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David Esrati May 31, 2009 at 8:27 pm: Hi JB-
Motoscooto just opened at 1400 Wayne ave- they have some pretty goor mechanics.
I get my headlights at Joe’s Yamaha on North Dixie.

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JB June 1, 2009 at 2:05 pm: Has anyone ever added or changed the transmission fluid? What’s the 411 on that.

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JB June 9, 2009 at 7:38 pm: I am cleaning out the fuel system and trying to find th petcock valve.
Anyone know where to look?

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sully June 10, 2009 at 12:50 am: ive got a 1989 125z with the gold accents (kinda lame) but the thing is great. a friend had it in their garage for years…they gave it to me…$350 later (battery and carb cleaning) and 2000 miles in the past year…the thing runs great. not cool like a vespa, but what the heck. i’m 17 again. amen to the
geocities ferris site.

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sully June 16, 2009 at 12:07 am: i spoke too soon. the the 89 riva’s got some problems (only 9000 miles). it shakes – big shakes – when I stop and go. after it gets going the ride is smooth until I stop at the next light or stop sign and then big shakes when I start again. i went to the geocities website to research and it looks like she may need a new clutch? looks like you had a clutch issue…does my diagnosis sound right? any idea what that part costs…how much to install? thanks.

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David Esrati June 16, 2009 at 1:18 pm: Sully- mine does the same if you don’t give it enough gas. I had the clutch replaced when I first got mine- but I’m not sure they did it right.

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James Gonzalez October 12, 2009 at 5:19 am: I am looking to buy a Yamaha riva scooter . 125 or 180

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jim dittmar October 12, 2009 at 6:49 pm: i have a 1983 180 riva for sale $600.00 12000 miles

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jason October 22, 2009 at 1:36 pm: I have a 1985 Riva I bought for $125 plus $200 bucks worth of carb work and an ignition coil at the local moto shop, it has 10K on it and rides great still, just bought it mid 2009. yamaha rocks.

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mike January 1, 2010 at 3:22 pm: i have a 1983 riva ca50 with only 166 miles on it. yes onily 166 and want to sell what should i ask for it

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David Esrati January 1, 2010 at 4:56 pm: @mike- depends on where you are- and what the market will bear. Try Craigslist- look at Ebay to see what they’ve gone for. I wouldn’t give you more than $400 for it- but, I look kinda silly on a 50 cc scooter.

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Scott Beach April 23, 2010 at 6:59 pm: My wife has a 1982 Riva 180. Cost us about $1,200 Canuckian dollars when we got it used 10 years ago. It’s a blast.

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raul segura May 17, 2010 at 12:27 pm: i just purchase 83 riva 180 and i cant find the serial number can someone tell were it is? thanks

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