Lets talk about Scooters

[Kompresshun]

So I got in a conversation with my neighbor tonight, which owns 2 scooters. He has a Honda PCX and some type of Suzuki that's larger than the PCX and is capable of 120mph and 48mpg. The PCX is what i'm interested in though, his gets around 68mpg but the new ones get 109mpg, according to Hondas website. I never have really talked to anybody about these, or even considered buying one, but after tonight i'm starting to entertain the idea at least. The Honda PCX has a 125cc motor and can be purchased for $3,399 brand new, which is a great deal to me. I was just wondering if anyone else has experience with these? Are you satisfied with commuting on them, are they pretty easy to handle, and do you feel like they're pretty safe?

I've never owned any type of motorcycle or scooter before, so this would be very new to me obviously. I know for sure that I have no interest in buying an actual motorcycle, i'm only considering one of these because my neighbor really likes his and I think it would be great for the spring, summer, and fall to ride to work on fair to nice weather days. I only travel about 15 miles a day, 5 days a week, so that would probably be the only time I would ride it. This is nothing that I plan on buying soon, but opinions are greatly appreciated

[Dattebayo]

If it's over 49cc's you have to register it as a motorcycle, which means you need to get the license too, and they still don't go very fast at all if over 49cc. If you're a heavy dude (over 200) then they're not good for traveling far distances.

Basically, if youre gonna get one over 49cc's don't even bother, you're probably gonna want a real motorcycle for all the hassle.

[AZ89two4Tsx]

For $3K + I'd just buy a used 600 sportbike that gets 40 or so mpg. Why even bother with a 125? Maybe a Ninja 250 or something at the least.

I don't think I could handle riding a motorcycle that can barely get out of its own way.

[Ace2cool]

I got my used 2005 GSX-R for 3500. I get ~35-40 mpg, and I like to take it up to at least 10K-12K rpm on the daily. A fill up from when the fuel light comes on costs $15 on premium, and will last about 150 miles. All you need to know is throttle control. Even a Ninja 250 gets about 50 mpg, and those can be had SUPER DUPER EXTRA cheap from people who bought it as a first bike, laid it down low speed once, and now want a 600.

I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY suggest you at least take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic rider course, even if you do just get a scooter. Teaches you so much about a bike it's not even funny. (saves $$$ on insurance too!)

[darens13]

i would totally rock a ruckus

[Jesda]

I'm also considering a scooter. How effectively will the suspension handle a 215lb asian with a basket full of bacon and kittens?

[Ace2cool]

No.



















Love you, Jesda.

[Razi]

I'm also considering a scooter. How effectively will the suspension handle a 215lb asian with a basket full of bacon and kittens?

I completely skipped over the basket part and thought you ate a bunch of bacon and kittens.

[Jesda]

I'm also considering a scooter. How effectively will the suspension handle a 215lb asian with a basket full of bacon and kittens?

I completely skipped over the basket part and thought you ate a bunch of bacon and kittens.

That's the plan for when I get my groceries home on the scooter.

[Razi]

[Kompresshun]

I should've made it clear in the first post: I DO NOT WANT A MOTORCYCLE, I see absolutely no benefit to owning one for myself personally, so i'm not even remotely interested in considering one. I'm only interested in something in this "Scooter" class and that's it.

If it's over 49cc's you have to register it as a motorcycle, which means you need to get the license too, and they still don't go very fast at all if over 49cc. If you're a heavy dude (over 200) then they're not good for traveling far distances.

Basically, if youre gonna get one over 49cc's don't even bother, you're probably gonna want a real motorcycle for all the hassle.

I'm very aware of that and I have no problem with it being classified as one. My neighbor has a 125cc PCX and he said that him and his wife can ride on it with no problems, he said it'll maintain 70mph just fine with just him and it'll do 60-65mph with both of them on it. 125cc is the minimum I would get though, but I only plan on riding it back and forth to work, which is 10 miles from my house, and the speed limit doesn't exceed 55mph.

I got my used 2005 GSX-R for 3500. I get ~35-40 mpg, and I like to take it up to at least 10K-12K rpm on the daily. A fill up from when the fuel light comes on costs $15 on premium, and will last about 150 miles. All you need to know is throttle control. Even a Ninja 250 gets about 50 mpg, and those can be had SUPER DUPER EXTRA cheap from people who bought it as a first bike, laid it down low speed once, and now want a 600.

I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY suggest you at least take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic rider course, even if you do just get a scooter. Teaches you so much about a bike it's not even funny. (saves $$$ on insurance too!)

See 40-50mpg isn't even remotely interesting to me, at that point i'd rather drive my car and enjoy the A/C, plus I hate sport bikes with a passion. I do agree that they're cheap and you get more power, but i'm not looking for speed by any means, i'm just looking for something to ride back and forth to work. I would of course go test them out first before buying one anyways, but my neighbors Suzuki scooter will hit 120mph and it's quick too, so I have no doubt that it'll be fast enough to get out of it's own way if I get one that size. Even at that though, i'm not 100% behind this idea, it's just something i'm considering at the moment. Fuel costs don't bother me at all, but for that drastic of an improvement, it's worth looking into at least.

I would definitely look into that course too, I briefly looked at it last night and it looked like a good idea to take.

I'm also considering a scooter. How effectively will the suspension handle a 215lb asian with a basket full of bacon and kittens?

Seeing as my neighbor weighs around 250lbs, I think it would handle a 215lb brown man with some chinese food just fine.

These things seem to be an excellent buy though, I never have had any interest in anything on two wheels but something about these I like. They get great fuel mileage, can be had for cheap, the maintenance is dirt cheap according to my neighbor, and they actually have a decent amount of on board storage too. I see nothing wrong with them honestly and it's an excellent alternative to a motorcycle.

[jdansmith]

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt ... 24&bih=547

[MinisterofDOOM]

The biggest problem I have with scooters is that small-diameter wheels get unstable at higher speeds. They're great around town, but if you want to exceed 45mph they get awkward even in a straight line. The question as far as top speed goes is NOT what the engine can push the bike up to, but whether you feel even remotely comfortable cruising at that speed for any length of time. If you plan on going above 45mph, get one with larger diameter wheels.

Honestly, if you're looking for something economical, easy to work on, and versatile that's also comfortable, I'd just get a mid-80s XL500 and call it a day. It's a tall bike with a wide seat which makes it really livable over long trips. It also makes monstrous torque, so it'll go anywhere. And the distance you can manage on a single tank is amazing. Hook a bag or basket over the rear of the seat and you're set.

[Jesda]

For me, it would be leisure parkway transportation during off-peak hours or something to fetch groceries and run errands in the neighborhood. It seems kind of silly firing up the car and going a few blocks just to buy cereal and milk. I mean, I enjoy doing that sort of thing, but it still seems silly. I could bike it, but I don't want to put a basket on my Trek, and it can get pretty hot here in the summer, so walking into a store dripping with sweat sounds unpleasant.

I'm wondering what else besides the Ruckus is a good buy? I've seen some used Honda and Yamaha stuff from the 80s for under a grand. I'm guessing the generic ones are to be avoided?

[raremotive]

I'm also considering a scooter. How effectively will the suspension handle a 215lb asian with a basket full of bacon and kittens?

Hell Jesda, you can lug a trailer full if you wanted.



..and I been to Thailand several times, I learned that there is no limit to what you carry on a bike.

[Kompresshun]

The biggest problem I have with scooters is that small-diameter wheels get unstable at higher speeds. They're great around town, but if you want to exceed 45mph they get awkward even in a straight line. The question as far as top speed goes is NOT what the engine can push the bike up to, but whether you feel even remotely comfortable cruising at that speed for any length of time. If you plan on going above 45mph, get one with larger diameter wheels.

Yes, that was a concern to me, so i'll have to inquire about that as well. The PCX has 14" wheels with a 90/90 tire on the front and a 100/90 on the rear, which doesn't tell me anything, but doesn't seem all that small either. Here's a link to the specs: http://powersports.honda.com/2011/pcx/s ... tions.aspx

For me, it would be leisure parkway transportation during off-peak hours or something to fetch groceries and run errands in the neighborhood. It seems kind of silly firing up the car and going a few blocks just to buy cereal and milk. I mean, I enjoy doing that sort of thing, but it still seems silly. I could bike it, but I don't want to put a basket on my Trek, and it can get pretty hot here in the summer, so walking into a store dripping with sweat sounds unpleasant.

I'm wondering what else besides the Ruckus is a good buy? I've seen some used Honda and Yamaha stuff from the 80s for under a grand. I'm guessing the generic ones are to be avoided?

That's more of what i'd use one for too, I probably wouldn't honestly ride it to work every day, but most stores are within 2 miles of us so like you said, firing up the car to go to Lowes or Walmart seems a little wasteful. Even my brother told me this morning that he had been looking into them too, which shocked me because he's always driven Mustangs and trucks for as long as I can remember, but he really likes them too. He said he has a few friends with them at work and they absolutely love them.

Honda has quite a few choices aside from the Ruckus, that cost either slightly more or they even have one that is less($2,049). I looked at Suzuki scooters too, but they weren't as cost effective IMHO.

[Oatmealman]

I get 91 in the city on my v-star 250,and about 103 on the highway holding 75.Why buy a small scooter and then when you realize how much fun riding is have to upgrade because 125 is not gonna be enough except for more than a week.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I get 91 in the city on my v-star 250,and about 103 on the highway holding 75.Why buy a small scooter and then when you realize how much fun riding is have to upgrade because 125 is not gonna be enough except for more than a week.

Agreed. Cruisers and bigger enduros are much more comfortable than scooters anyway.

[Jesda]

I wouldn't want to take a two-wheeled anything on the highway.

[Kompresshun]

I did take a look at the V-Star 250 and it's not bad, especially for the price, but I still don't like motorcycles regardless. I'm still not convinced the a 125+ cc scooter isn't going to be enough either, again i'm not looking for power or to get on the highway. Everything is very localized in my area, so there's no need for a more powerful bike.

Also, are any of you basing this on personal experience with a larger scooter, or are you just basing your opinions simply because you think motorcycles are better? It's coming across as the latter to me, seeing as i've talked to people that have went from motorcycles to larger scooters and have been perfectly satisfied with their choice for something to make small commutes on.

Don't get me wrong either, I appreciate the input guys. I'm not looking for why a motorcycle is a better choice though, i'm looking for experiences with scooters. If I come to the conclusion that a scooter is not a good choice, I will not be buying a motorcycle instead, because again I have absolutely no interest in motorcycles, so that is not an option at all.

[Oatmealman]

i rode a 125cc honda elite(i beleive) and it just wasn't enough to do anything on.sure i could get around town for about 3 miles but anything more than that i felt extremely uncomfortable,it hurt my a** to ride for more than about 20 minutes,and i follow the whole loud pipes save lifes.I was always worried when passing a car that they would be get over and crush me because they had no idea i was there.

The best way to choose a scooter/motorcycle is to go to a dealership and sit on them.I test rode a v-star 950 and the 250 at my dad shop and the 950 felt great but it was too fast and i knew i would wrap it around a pole within a week of riding.So i bought the 250 knowing that it would be plenty quick/and great on gas mileage

A buddy and I worked an exhaust up for it out of an old harley exhaust he had laying around and I gotta say it sounds badass and definatley turns a lot of heads.I always get thumbs up from harley guys even though its a metric cruiser.

[Dattebayo]

I should've made it clear in the first post: I DO NOT WANT A MOTORCYCLE, I see absolutely no benefit to owning one for myself personally, so i'm not even remotely interested in considering one. I'm only interested in something in this "Scooter" class and that's it.

See, the problem with this thinking is that to your local DMV, anything above 49cc is considered a motorcycle.

I dig a 250cc converted Ruckus sometimes, but only because of how neat they look, not because they are very comfortable or practical. I wouldn't want to try and drive one without the proper licensing and registration either, because the consequences can be pretty severe... (think driving a car without tags and no license, ugh)

Anyway, If you still feel that scooters are where it's at, good for you. But practicality is not on the menu for any small scooter. Neither is safety.

[95zenki man]

I had a 49cc zuma, it was a fun little thing, then i put it in a ditch a month after i payed it off :-(

[numbnuts240]

I know for sure that I have no interest in buying an actual motorcycle

I DO NOT WANT A MOTORCYCLE

If it's over 49cc's you have to register it as a motorcycle, which means you need to get the license too

I'm very aware of that and I have no problem with it being classified as one.

I did take a look at the V-Star 250 and it's not bad, especially for the price, but I still don't like motorcycles regardless....Don't get me wrong either, I appreciate the input guys. I'm not looking for why a motorcycle is a better choice though, i'm looking for experiences with scooters. If I come to the conclusion that a scooter is not a good choice, I will not be buying a motorcycle instead, because again I have absolutely no interest in motorcycles, so that is not an option at all.

maybe you should just get a motorcycle

[Razi]

Baaallin!

[twofortyesecks]

I picked up a Honda Ruckus about 4 months ago. I use it mainly for my commute through town and it has been working out great. It's a little 4.5hp 50cc but it gets the job done on my 20 mile a day roundtrip. I'm 155lbs and it can do a sweet 42 mph all day long with 100mpg. However, if you're not interested in customizing it there isn't much point in getting a Ruckus, but there are a thousand other scooter options.

With all the motorcycle talk I just want to say that I find riding a scooter more relaxing their is just too much to think about on a bike.