Allllright. I fixed up my scooter and everything is now in working order once again. I was riding it all day today. Scooters rock! Cops suck!
My first bike i got was in the summer of 1972 350 SL Honda 350cc twin . dual purpose . motocross in 1974 "75 . did a some roadracing in 1980 and 1985 . been to daytona bike week many times and once as a mechanic crew for a friend racing the 200 miler.
very true but no way in hell im going to pay near $1.900.00 for a 49cc Honda scooter and much less $4.000.00 to $8.000.00 for the 250cc / 500cc twin they are just plain insane i could either get a nice used bike or even a new sportbike in the 500cc 600cc price range!.
The Kymco ZX50 retails for $1800, and Kymco's quality is about on a par with that of Honda. If that's still too much, MZ another company whose scooters are made in Taiwan sells its 49cc models in the $1300-$1700 range. Also, Bajaj and Stella make scooters based on old Vespa models with engines of 150cc that sell in the $2700-$2900 range. The only thing is that these scooters feature four-speed manual transmissions. Another thing that bothers me about some of these scooters is that they are made in countries whose policies are hostile to the US, such as communist China. Whenever possible, I try to avoid buying merchandise from such places.
Hi I'm new to this board. I saw this topic and had to reply. I have a scooter, a Motofino, one of the chinese brands you were warned about. It's an ok little bike. A 125cc and tops out at 60mph,and about 50mph uphill. I have had quite a few problems with registering the bike with the MVA. I had to register it as a motorcycle, since it's over 50cc. Also I'm just learning how to ride, I only have my motorcycle permit. So this bike it perfect for me. It was so cheap, that if I crash it i won't care too much. I doubt it could easily be repaired if I do crash it... considering most of the bike is plastic on the outside. I like my scooter for now. It's great on gas, 80mpg. I was surprised other people on the freeway didn't try to run me off of the road... I'm able to ride it all the way into Washington DC, about 20 miles away, without too many problems. Other problems i've has with the bike: - i was tld the bike was full assembled and the front tire was not on it. - the person that shipped it forgot to put the instructions on the seat cover, stating to open up the trunk for mirror assembly instructions, manual, and battery. - the trunk took me 3 hours to figure out how to open it. i thought i broke the key when i finally did open it.... and there was NO owners manual inside. - it took 3 days at the moto vehicle administration to register the bike. since they were not sure of the certificate of orginsa security features. they had to run several chemical tests and such. - the mirror assembly was improperly threaded and would not say on. the manufacturer has sent me replacement mirrors.... i have yet to fix it. - one of the metric nuts on the muffler fell off...makes the scooter louder, but faster. The bike is still operational, but I'm ready to get a bigger scooter soon, right now I'm looking at an aprilla
Welcome aboard! That would be a good make to buy if you can afford it. Do also consider the makes which I listed above. If you willing to learn how to drive a manual shift scoot, such as the Bajaj or Stella, these can be had for under $3g and the mileage will be in the 70-100mpg range or so. The re-released Vespa PX150, which was what the Bajaj and Stella were designed from, offers similar features. Unfortuantely, the price for one is about $4200
Well I'm looking for a bigger scooter actually, maybe a 250 cc or bigger. This scooter was ok to learn on. I went up to the vespa store in Gerogetown and took a few of their scoots for a test ride. Very smooth.... but I didn't get to go faster than 25mph. My neighbor has a honda silverwing 600cc, very nice scoot... BIG too. It goes 70mph comfortably, but it's not as good on gas as my little scoot. I guess you're wondering why et a scoot that's 600cc when you can get a real motorcycle with that displacemnt for half the price.... I think step thru's are alot safer than normal motorcycles, easier to jump off at the last minute if needed. I wish they made a scooter with a classic vespa look that was over 250cc. My husband has an old honda helix 80cc that he wants to restore... he took a nasty dive on it about 5 years ago. That scooter is so ugly... it got the nickname "the urinal" . LoL I would definately feel safer on a scooter with a full steel frame though...
Did you check out the Vespa Granturismo 200cc model or the Piaggio BV200 while there? They can achieve speeds of at least 70MPH. I don't know how good they are on gas, though. I can appreciate your concerns with regard to safety. Good luck! Though, you can always write the company. Honda deleted the Helix (now with a 250cc motor) and then brought it back for '05. Yeah, I'm not crazy about its styling-or lack thereof. Unfortunately except for the Stella, Bajaj and Vespa PX150, you're likely SOL.
It has come to my attention-much to my chagrin, that EPA regulations will not allow two stroke engines to be sold in the US beginning with the 2006 model year. This will affect most 49cc engines and a few larger engines as well including the Stella and Vespa PX150 models. What disturbing is that many of these engines can get mileage of over 100 mpg, and their effect on the environment is negligable!
Actually I was told that they are going to stop importing all 4 stroke scooters under 150 cc's along with many of the 2 stroke 50cc scoots.
Are You Aware That All Of You Are Posting In The Environment Forum, And U R Talking About A Shittybike??????????
Really? What makes Vespas and other scooters "shitty"? These vehicles are able to get as much as 100 miles per gallon (3.8 liters per 160 km)-sometimes more, their effect on the envirenment is neglidgeable (especially with a 49cc engine), and except for most of those built in or sourced from mainland China, many of them are well built. So on what basis do you make your claim?
sheesh! scooters are probably the most environmentally friendly vehicles aside from bicycling! what makes them "shittybikes"???
Another Taiwanese cmpany, TGB offers scooters beginning at about $1,600. http://www.cobrasales.com/ They feature a delivery model beginning at about $2,300. http://www.cobrasales.com/delivery.htm
Also while i have not keept track of many things . = Vespa were originaly design and built in Italy for many many years = Not China.
I rather have 1 with honda single piston 100cc to 175cc if possible cc engine . How ever the prices of japanase scooters "or anything are a joke" consider this even as late as 1972 1974 a CB 750 Honda a 4 cylinder 750 cc machine "super bike back then" was still under $2.000.00 . it seems like our dollar value is equal to a mexican peso this days. sure i count for inflation but is allready rediculus.
Yes, I'm very well aware that Vespas are manufactured in Italy. I wasn't attacking Vespa, Honda, Kymco, Bajaj or any other non-Chinese make. I was responding to a claim damning scooters and asked for that individual to back up that claim. Other than perhaps the Chinese branded or sourced scooters (such as Panda, Vento, United Motors and numerous off-brands), I find the claim that scooters are "shitty" to generally be false.
Don't forget that in those days, a Toyota Corolla cost only about $2,500-$2,800 by 1974; and a Ford Pinto or Chevy Vega were in the same ballpark! A Honda Shadow 750, Kawasaki Vulcan 750 or 800 today will set you back about $6,000-$6,600 or so while a new Chevy Cobalt or Ford Focus will cost you over $13,500! I thought that the smallest engine that Honda made for their motorcycles was the 235 cc in the Rebel. If you're talking scooters, however, they now offer nothing in the ranges that you specified. They now have an Elite model which features an 80cc motor and the next step up is the Helix model which features a 244cc engine. http://powersports.honda.com/index.asp?bhcp=1
