Edumacate me on scooters

[Z-man]

Ok - so I saw a little scooter for sale down my street - a 2007 Konced KT150T-11




150cc getting about 60mpg and top speed around 50mph with the wind to your back.

Did some quick calculations and found that I could save ~ $100 a month if I took this to work instead of my V8 Truck.

Anyone have thoughts on this type of scooter? Scooters in general? Is this a bad idea? How much should I pay for one of these?

Yeah, I know I shouldn't ride this bad boy to the local Harley waterin' hole, and the guys at work will have more fodder to make fun of me, but for some reason, it seems like a good idea....

What do you think?
-Z

[LakeCleElum]

I rode a Chinese made motorcycle in Australia about 5 years ago. It was a knock-off of a Honda XL125....Was very slow, shifted poorly and had crap suspension. Maybe they've made progress, but I'd buy Japanese.......

Also, you'll quickly outgrow something this slow. You can get a small, used motorcycle to deliver 60 mpg for similar money with careful shopping.

[speeder]

I have an Aprilia 150 scooter that rips. It's a blast to ride in the city and a lane-splitter's dream. Just follow my usual advice for being on 2 wheels: Assume that no one can hear or see you and you will stay alive. Don't "assume" that they saw you or heard you coming up on them. EVER.

Have fun.

[on2wheels52]

Stay away from the chinese ones unless it's just as a throw-away.
I'd expect better mileage than 60mpg, should be closer to 90. Lots of bikes get close to 60.
Jim

[Grog]

There are real motorcycles that get that kind of MPG or better and you can keep up with or pass traffic with ease. I think it was motorcyclist mag that did an article on a group of high MPG bikes. Do some research. I would feel safer on a bike that can get out of its own way. Kawasaki 250 ninja, honda cbr 250, brand new $3999 msrp. Or a small cruiser. Honda rebel ect. I don't know the advantage of having a scooter, insurance? motorcycle endorsement required?

Food for thought

[UconnTim97]

A few of my friends have them and love them for getting around the city. At times, they are much more convenient than a car or truck.

+ whatever it is up to on avoiding the Chinese made scooters.

[Z-man]

Side note: I used to ride a Yamaha Seca 750, so I understand the rules of the road in terms of not being seen or heard.

With a scooter, Mrs. Z-man could also use it -- a real bike - not so much.

-Z

[Laneco]

Go with the Yamaha Vino 125 or the Honda Metro 125. They will cost as much used as a chinese scooter costs new, but they are WORTH the extra money.

Most state will require a motorcycle endorsement for the 125.

angela

[on2wheels52]

"Most state will require a motorcycle endorsement for the 125."

AR say for anything > 49cc.
Jim

[masraum]

Sorry, first thing I thought of when I saw the subject.

[59GS]

Do not buy a Chinese product. You will regret it very quickly and forever. I have been riding a 250 CC Honda Reflex as my DD for 3 years. Right at 60 MPG; will do 85 or 90 mph. Starts every day ,,, get a trickle charger ,,, very reliable but they eat tires voraciuosly. 5000 miles is the best I've been able to do front or back.

They don't make the Reflex any longer or more accurately it doesn't come to the states. Honda does make a 150 now. Reflex's are available used but very hard to find.

There are a few good forums available go to some and ask questions.You will get years of experience very quickly.

This light a machine is very prone to front wheel washout when braking and altering direction save the cornering for the P-Car. Wanna' see the CT of my ribs and punctured lung? Didn't think so. Be extremely careful. They are really fun and convenient just pay attention to the caveats.

[Tishabet]

Originally Posted by on2wheels52

"Most state will require a motorcycle endorsement for the 125."

AR say for anything > 49cc.
Jim

Same for MA, plus registration is much cheaper and insurance not needed for anything under 50cc. That's why McQueen and I both roll on 26 vicious ccs of Solex power

[Steve Carlton]

I don't know a whole lot about scooters, but I'll contribute anyway. Back in '04 I bought my ex a Piaggio LT150 brand new for like $2,300. Same as a Vespa but different (worse) styling and (better) bigger wheels. They handle a lot better with bigger wheels. The Suzuki 650 Burgman is worth looking at. I actually like the Piaggio MP3s.

[jyl]

I buzz around, in good weather, on a 70s Vespa with a whopping 10 HP. As you can imagine, I stay on 35 mph speed limit roads, which actually is most everywhere in central PDX surface streets. It is convenient as far as parking goes, and fun, but I needed a m/c license, MSF training, and wear the gear (full face, armored jacket, gloves, long pants at very minimum) so it is not as convenient as all that - it's easier to hop in the car. Also, and this is kind of subjective, I feel I have to be focused and paranoid on the scooter, so often it is easier to daydream behind a steering wheel. Not that I'm sleeping behind the wheel, but I can think about what I'm going to do with the screws that I'm zipping to the hardware store to get, on the scooter I have to concentrate on what is potentially in that side street that I'm about to pass - lots of times, I'm just not up for that much mental re-gearing just to get a Phillips screw or a quart of milk.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by jyl

I feel I have to be focused and paranoid on the scooter, so often it is easier to daydream behind a steering wheel. Not that I'm sleeping behind the wheel, but I can think about what I'm going to do with the screws that I'm zipping to the hardware store to get, on the scooter I have to concentrate on what is potentially in that side street that I'm about to pass - lots of times, I'm just not up for that much mental re-gearing just to get a Phillips screw or a quart of milk.

Thank you for this. You have helped me make up my mind. I've virtually stopped riding my BMW for the reasons above. For some reason I was thinking a scooter would be different. Now - not so much.

[red-beard]

Other than the obvious having more HP than a bicycle, do you need to be any more observant? I bicycle a few thousand miles a year, but my wife is paranoid about me having a motorcycle. A Motorcycle in Houston isn't exactly good in the summer, but 8-9 months of the year could be a fuel savings, along with getting to use the HOV lanes.

[jyl]

Other than the obvious having more HP than a bicycle, do you need to be any more observant? I bicycle a few thousand miles a year, but my wife is paranoid about me having a motorcycle. A Motorcycle in Houston isn't exactly good in the summer, but 8-9 months of the year could be a fuel savings, along with getting to use the HOV lanes.

To me the issue is that even on a 10 HP scooter, you're moving at 30-40 mph, so 3X typical bicycle speed, and in traffic lanes rather than bike lane. Imagine if you were flying down a small street at 35 mph on a bicycle - that wouldn't be daydreaming time either.

Possibly I just don't do it enough to be able to easily switch the paranoia on/off. I know plenty of you do commute daily on motorcycles.

[red-beard]

I ride 17-20mph, so a scooter is not that much faster. But what are these "bike lanes" of which you speak?

I kid, we have a network of them in Houston, but most roads do not have bike lanes. And once you get more than 10 miles west of here, there are none. I expect you need to anticipate the side roads farther in advance, and debris and road hazards. Anything else. Sorry to hijack here...

[12own911]

I love my scooter and look forward to riding it around town come summer. I have a 2003 50cc Aprilia DiTech scooter and it hits 30 mph with no problems. This is not a highway scooter. It is an around town scooter.

[RPKESQ]

Scooters are a quite excellent solution for about 75% of my local motor vehicle transportation requirements.

I have a Vespa GTS 250cc which is good for 75-80 mph if need be and gets 75 mpg without a problem even two up. Liquid cooled, fuel injected, auto transmission and very little maintenance required.

It allows me to run errands in quick time when a bicycle is too slow. It carries two full sized adults effortlessly even on the hills. It allows you to ride with clean clothes not splashed by light rain or standing water. It carries a week's worth of groceries for the two of us. Parking is free in most places.

We have gone for weekend trips, the opera, theater, beach, dinner, etc.

Small motorcycles do not keep you clean and have little in the way of built-in storage. They have a higher center of gravity and are not as easy to handle for many. Also many small motorcycles are pretty tight for two full sized adults.

I have several motorcycles from 1200 cc to 125cc and use them all. But none are as easy or convenient as the Vespa for quick trips.