who owns a scooter?

glu · Post by **glu** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 8:09 pm

I don't want to buy another car, the one I have works okay, but I need something dependable to get around downtown Austin. A scooter/moped is a cheap solution, all the way around, and I won't need to be taking it on a highway, its just for town stuff. The girl has a car for travelling and groceries, so i couldn't imagine buying another car for no reason...

Who has a scooter or moped?

Which model? any tips on purchasing one...

thanx

g

hambone1 · Post by **hambone1** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 8:13 pm

Girls ride scooters!

Get a motorcycle. Weekend blasts down dirt trails or through the forest with an iPod blaring is tons of fun. They're really reasonable nowadays, and you won't be riding around at max throttle sounding like a hive of bumblebees.

Unless you get one of those big armchair scooters...

stinky · Post by **stinky** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 8:16 pm

Like this:

How about this?

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2006/ ... 3-scooter/

All kidding aside, why not get a 250cc scooter, and you won't have to limit yourself to non highway driving..

deva · Post by **deva** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 8:42 pm

I was just looking at scooters for a friend who has bad knees and cannot bicycle anymore.

This one looks interesting

Electric, quiet, 20MPH 25Mile range plugs in to a regular socket

glu · Post by **glu** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 8:46 pm

hambone1 wrote:Girls ride scooters!

Get a motorcycle. Weekend blasts down dirt trails or through the forest with an iPod blaring is tons of fun. They're really reasonable nowadays, and you won't be riding around at max throttle sounding like a hive of bumblebees.

Unless you get one of those big armchair scooters...

I would much rather get an MC, but they are too expensive...

I am soley looking at functionality and price. A moped is much cheaper. I would rather get a Harley or Honda, but then I might as well get a

But that won't get me to work or school....

Lo-Fi Massahkah · Post by **Lo-Fi Massahkah** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 8:47 pm

I'd get a scooter if I weren't such a bikerider. One like this...

-Mikael

hambone1 · Post by **hambone1** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 8:51 pm

What about a secondhand motorcycle? A dual-purpose 125 would get you into and around town, would survive on the highway, and would let you ride off-road, too. You could pick a decent one up for the cost of a new scooter.

Although you can't wear a skirt on it, like you can on a scooter...

glu · Post by **glu** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 9:09 pm

I used MC would be cool too, but I don't really want to ride one on a highway though, here on I35 in Austin it would be suicide. The commute to San Antonio from here is the deadiest corridor in the U.S. I would only ride it around town. I would just get a regular bike, but Austin has horribly hot weather, there is almost no winter in Texas (in central/south) so a ride to school would get me drenched in sweat, not cool when you have to sit in classes or at the jobby job.

My girl is against me getting one because of its feminine quality. We want a Harley, but its just too much $$ so a moped is a much cheaper solution for my basic downtown needs. I see guys on these all the time here, and they aren't gender-benders either. I don't really care for the stigma associated with mopeds versus 1450 CC harleys, I think one day we will all be surprised to see more people riding them, especially once gas hits another oil business profiting spike.

I sell insurance for boats, RVs, auto, and motorcycles part time when I am not in school, and to insure a moped is only $75 for 12 months.

Maybe an electric bike?

glu · Post by **glu** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 9:11 pm

Lo-Fi Massahkah wrote:I'd get a scooter if I weren't such a bikerider. One like this...

-Mikael

I really would like a Vespa. I think most are out of my price range.

D K · Post by **D K** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 9:16 pm

been thinking along these lines myself. driving the tour van around when home gets old. you could find an old cafe-style cycle, like a 125cc motobi....they used to race 'em...honda made some small ones to, all
really cool and easy to work on....although i can see a good argument for having an automatic rather than having to shift. pretty much the only argument, really....
well, i guess there's wheel size, too.
most scooters have small wheels, not the best for bad roads...

glu · Post by **glu** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 9:19 pm

I want an automatic for sure. I have been thinking about buying new because I want to make sure the moped has had all proper maintanence for its entire life. I would buy a car used, but not a two wheel that leaves me super exposed to the concrete.

Any good websites that you have found?

glu · Post by **glu** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 9:21 pm

Sicilian 150

http://lucky7motosports.com/scooters/index.html

hambone1 · Post by **hambone1** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 9:29 pm

I'd be careful with the Chinese products. Many of them are Japanese clones. They look like the real deal, but are substandard copies.

Many dealers won't warranty servicing, only parts for a short time. You'll have a hard time finding someone to work on it if something goes wrong.

My girlfriend considered buying a Chinese motorcycle, but after lots of internet research, bought a secondhand Honda instead for the same price.

glu · Post by **glu** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 9:41 pm

thanks for the advise. I will stay away from them. Time to look for Hondas. They probably have many more certified mechanics locally.

hambone1 · Post by **hambone1** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 9:46 pm

My gf picked up one of these today for £350 (about $650) with 22k miles, 9 years old. 120 miles per gallon, bombproof, and easy to work on.

http://www.wisebuyers.co.uk/motorcycles ... CG125/283/

Or maybe look out for one of these, which you can do light off-roading with:

http://www.wisebuyers.co.uk/motorcycles ... R125L/239/