Green Earth 150cc "Racer"

I think you did well Sppd. Good price.

RD

Thanks Rocketdog,

This will be our 2nd scooter in a month. I bought a basically new(82 miles) 2 year old Motobravo 150 for my wife a couple weeks back for $500 It had sat in a guys garage unused for basically that whole time(wouldn't start, gummed up carb, bad battery), so I had to spend about $150 in getting it purring. That put me up to $650ish and I still owed the back taxes and title/plates.
The Motobravo is made by "Bashan" and overall I have been satisfied with the Quality to Price ratio. When I discovered Green Earth (right here on ScootDawg) and found that I could get a brand new, in the box scooter w/ the larger rider weight capacity, 13in wheels, free shipping, and optional trunk for under $800 I was very pleased. I was also pleased with the fact that it is also made by "Bashan" which so far I have hade good luck with.



PDI is definately my priority. I have already started gathering all the parts, and I have the lubes already in stock from working on the Motobravo.

BTW: I dig your screen name! My wife put a "Scooter Trash" sticker on her melon pot(helmet) the first day she got it.


Anyhow, I just ordered it last night and recieved my order confirmation already. Just waiting to get my shipping confirmation and I can start really getting excited.

Anyone else care to chime in?
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly all input is welcome!

i got the same scooter and will hit 500 miles on it this weekend. so far it been great ride and i think for me im getting better gas mileage than they list on there web page. so far i can run back and forth to work for 10 days between refills. its around 9 miles round trip

i agree it irritates me when people call scooters mopeds, i own both and there are a big different, i also have the reverse of people calling my moped a scooter

I really could care less about wording or the way the company advertises on their website. Scooter, moped, bike, or as the dmv has classified it "motorcycle". The thing that matters to me is, I got a great deal for a new scooter, and so far I am pleased with the communication and customer service I have received.

SPPD

I hope you're not in for the surprise that we got from the DMV here and unless your not in Illinois like you state, you may have issues.

We got the same results in Lombard as in Naperville and from the Downstate facility via phone AND the Chicago facility by phone.


This quote on their site says it all.....

Classifying and Registering Mopeds and Scooters

With motorcycles, it’s pretty easy. You register your bike and take off on your merry motorcycle riding way.

However, street legal registration for mopeds and scooters is an extremely gray issue. If you're the owner of a scooter or a moped, check with at least two different DMV agents in your state for how to register your bike. Even DMV agents have difficulty pinpointing whether a moped or scooter requires motorcycle registration, vehicle registration or registration at all.

When it comes to classifying bikes as scooters, mopeds, or even motorcycles, engine size is often the determining factor. To further cloudy the situation, some states have different scooter categories with different registration requirements.

Note, though, that if your moped or scooter is classified as a motorcycle you'll probably face higher registration fees.

Don't rely on a scooter or moped dealer for your state's registration requirements. Contact your DMV. And when you receive an answer, call another DMV agent to confirm. Or better yet, confirm with your local police department or sheriff's department, as they're the ones who will be monitoring you.

1) we tried to register a Baja SC150 and they don't have it in their database so it has to go into the "gray area" division of the SOS. It will take approximately 2-5 months according to the reps I spoke with.

2) Don't even bother going to the local police as they don't care.

3)We had no problems at all registering our SYM and Tank/Xingyue because they were in the database.

4) While they take their own sweet time finding out whether it is DOT Street legal (the tag means NOTHING!!!!!!!!!) you will not get any kind of plates or temp tag, title ANYTHING until they are done.

I hope to HE!! you won't have the same issues and it all depends on the VIN.

For crying out loud they don't even know what country it is even made in even though the first three of the VIN state China and the factory. Our DMV won't even inspect it unless the end results of the "gray market" states a personal meeting with the SOS police and hearing officers in required and NO, you can't schedule it with them, THEY schedule it with you.

You want to know something that's even more messed up? The DMV stated that maybe we should go to a currency exchange to register it as they may have better "channels" than they do.

WTF is that??

BTW I (we) hope you don't have a VIN that starts with LWG or you're in for a very depressing reality. We are sitting on a brand new DOT, CARB, STREET LEGAL that cannot even be ridden OR sold because of a lack of title. The COA means absolutely NOTHING here.


we wish you good luck and BTW, where are you in the burbs? We're in Lisle/Naperville area.

Jeff and Lynn

Jeff and Lynn,

I am in Illinois and had a similar issue with my current scooter. Melrose park, and Niles originally denied me. I went to Lombard on a Saturday near closing time and killed them with kindness. I knew exactly what forms I needed and asked for them by form numbers which gave them the impression that I knew what I was doing. I then had to pay the taxes due which put my scooter into the system. I walked out 10 minutes later with plates and title applied for in hand. Basically they assume that you don't know anything. Once you show them that you know the process they pretty much rubber stamp you through the process.

The hard to track vin unit of the SOS is a dead end. I tried them first without success.

Is your baja new with MCO, and dealers bill of sale? If so it can be done. You just need to pay the IDOR their taxes and you will be all set.

Also, make sure you are registering it by the manufacturers name, and not the name on all the decals such as roketa baja. The name and model can be found on a metal plate attached somewhere on the frame (check under the seat). For example, my current scooter is a motobravo Paparazzi. It is really a Bashan mc-150-xxx-xx. That helped them figure it all out at the dmv.

I have a 150 and Illinois says its a motorcycle and so did the MCO. Did you try registering as a motorcycle? That might be the way to go.

BTW I am near O'Hare.


SPPD

sspd-- I used to repo vehicles from HD lawnmowers, cars, trucks and even a helicopter once so I know all the channels and proper way to register it. As a result of my findings and lack of support from the DMV, I decided to pull a legal string with a contact I have in the IL SOS police and she made a call to "them." ironically enough I received a call back about 30 minutes ago stating that they did find it in the DB afterall and it was an "oversight" as they thought I said the VIN started with an I instead of an L.

All of the correct forms were submitted the first time including dealer bill of sale, cash register receipt, MCO, ST-556 tax form, DOT, EPA and CARB approval and photos of the VIN and EPA plates. The person that called me back from downstate was shocked that "they" didn't get it right and especially the remark of going to the currency exchange. The Baja IS in the database and correctly designated. He apologized to me for the problems too. All of the paperwork is in the mail to him personally who will expedite the process. I guess that goes to show that you never, ever get to do things the easy way in this state

Hope all is well out there and hope you get your ride soon:)

Jeff