looking into scooters...

can anyone shed insight?

looking at these guys:
http://www.piaggiousa.com/scooters.p...20TOURER%20250

http://powersports.honda.com/2010/sh150i.aspx

TIA!

If I bought a scooter it would be a Vespa.

Originally Posted by jeff330i

can anyone shed insight?

looking at these guys:
http://www.piaggiousa.com/scooters.p...20TOURER%20250

http://powersports.honda.com/2010/sh150i.aspx

TIA!

Although nice, I think the Piaggio is horrendously over-priced. If I were buying a scooter I would go for the Honda Ruckus. I think its coo las hell.

Link --->http://powersports.honda.com/2009/ruckus.aspx

I likes the ruckus too, cept my legs be too long lol I can't turn it at all

I had a '08 Vespa GTS.

4 valve, water cooled, tons of storage.
Comfortable and unfatiguing at 65-80 mph.
70+ mpg
Did a few 250 mi day trips with my biker buddies - no problem.

Honestly it was much more comfortable at speed than my H-D.
Not kidding.

Scooters are the way to go.

Originally Posted by mullman

I had a '08 Vespa GTS.

4 valve, water cooled, tons of storage.
Comfortable and unfatiguing at 65-80 mph.
70+ mpg
Did a few 250 mi day trips with my biker buddies - no problem.

Honestly it was much more comfortable at speed than my H-D.
Not kidding.

You got rid of it

Originally Posted by Double-S

Scooters are the way to go.

Mine gets me to work back and forth here in Taipei

Originally Posted by stylinexpat

You got rid of it

Yep, got an offer I couldn't refuse.
I'll prob get a Vespa LX150 this summer though.

Originally Posted by mullman

Yep, got an offer I couldn't refuse.
I'll prob get a Vespa LX150 this summer though.

That was a nice scooter and now you want to downgrade to a LX150 You should have kept it. I want one of those for myself here in Taipei.

how much do used scooters go for? like.. the vespa gts? what size engine would i want? i don't want a slow poke but i'm not looking for a crotch rocket. something to just get around (most likely from home to the bridge to get into nyc).

Originally Posted by chivas

how much do used scooters go for? like.. the vespa gts? what size engine would i want? i don't want a slow poke but i'm not looking for a crotch rocket. something to just get around (most likely from home to the bridge to get into nyc).

The Vespa GTS 250 is probably the best for you.

Originally Posted by chivas

how much do used scooters go for? like.. the vespa gts? what size engine would i want? i don't want a slow poke but i'm not looking for a crotch rocket. something to just get around (most likely from home to the bridge to get into nyc).

A new GTS is $5999, LX150 $4199 (or so).
Check Craiglist though if you want to save a few bucks, tons of used stuff out there ...

People will say the Vespa cost too much, but the quality is excellent.

vespausa.com

what is the service like for a scooter? change oil often? suspension? any modifications so i can put a "trunk" even with 2 people?

Originally Posted by chivas

what is the service like for a scooter? change oil often? suspension? any modifications so i can put a "trunk" even with 2 people?

Piaggio/Vespa will be 600 'break-in' service then every 2500-5000 or so depending on model.

Y, I had a trunk on my GTS and my wife and I could ride it together. The trunk doubles as the passenger backrest.
Four rear suspension settings to preload for passenger, etc.

I used to take it to the grocery store all the time - very handy, could get 2 gal containers+ in the topcase (trunk), not to mention the underseat storage.
In addition you still have a lockable glovebox up front for small personal items.
Vespas are well thought out.

Originally Posted by chivas

what is the service like for a scooter? change oil often? suspension? any modifications so i can put a "trunk" even with 2 people?

Better yet, get one of these

http://vespausa.com/scooters.php#/ho...%20300%20Super

^^^ Yummy the Super!

anyone know anything about a Prego 150cc's? there's one by me but i'm not sure where or who makes it. I see a lot of Chinese scooters on craigslist but i'm skipping out on them even though the prices aren't bad and you can always haggle the "it's a pos chinese bike" angle. lol...

but i would like something durable as i am the durability tester kind of guy.

they seem rather pricey, but I suppose it's the norm ...

Originally Posted by TeamM3

they seem rather pricey, but I suppose it's the norm ...

Like the Mini Cooper S

Originally Posted by TeamM3

they seem rather pricey, but I suppose it's the norm ...

let's think about this for a sec since i too was like Hum... about the price.

4.4 gallons for some, just say 4.5

@2.50 a gallon =$11.25 to fill up to go about 60 mpg which is 270 miles... just say 250. (going on the low side here) for my 540 to go 250 miles, that's a $50 tank with a few miles left (i can get about 300 out of the 5) but we're going low on the scooters so i'm sure they can do 300 on a tank.

$38.75 savings a tank and i go though about a tank a week (sometimes more but on average). Just say here in NJ i can ride the scooter for 10 weeks out of the year, that's a $387.50 saved a year and that's assuming only 10 weeks. let's go for 20, a little spring and all of summer and fall. that's a $775.00 savings on gas per year for 20 weeks of riding. going hardcore and 30 weeks you'll break into the $1K a year savings. that's not bad but is it worth it to be in the elements for you?

How much is not getting soaking wet in a sudden thunderstorm or being able to carry 5 bags of groceries worth?

Actually, I was only thinking back 35 years ago to what a low end bike cost then. Seems like a decent way to get around in general depending on your situation. Not sure it would work that well for me on a daily basis, but that's mine.

Originally Posted by TeamM3

How much is not getting soaking wet in a sudden thunderstorm or being able to carry 5 bags of groceries worth?

Actually, I was only thinking back 35 years ago to what a low end bike cost then. Seems like a decent way to get around in general depending on your situation. Not sure it would work that well for me on a daily basis, but that's mine.

that's why you don't ride with an open face.

I wish the freeway legal ones were not so silly looking.
they look like sea doo's with wheels

Ok so after looking around at different scooters because of this thread, I have decided I am buying a Honda Ruckus. I found a few on Atlanta CL for ~$1400 asking price. That means $1k cash. I'm doing this.