Reflex 250, Majesty 400, Scarabeo 500 or other?

[acbytesla]

Hi everybody, I'll give this a try. I am a moderately experienced Motorcycle rider but new to scooters. I've read the Let's get Realistic Post..which I think it great. Still I am hoping for more advice.

I live in the Seattle area..where it's wet a lot. It may not be raining in Seattle all the time but I swear the pavement is almost always wet and when I was in my 20s I used to ride a Honda 350 4 cylinder motorcycle daily which was lightning fast for a little cycle but I almost always arrived at my destination soaked and cold.

Right now I'm looking for Scooter that will provide me with the most protection from the elements, be an all around scooter for running errands, Saturday joy rides and maybe commuting. I've eliminated the 50 cc and probably the 150 cc Scooters from contention as well as the biggest Maxi Scoot Cruisers such as the Burgman 650 and probably it's little brother the 400. (I've read they are very expensive to maintain) I think a water cooled 250cc or 400cc Scoot probably is the right size.

Absolutely tired of the gas bills that come with driving my Ford F-150 pickup truck...(lucky if it gets 15 MPG) It has dual tanks and it costs $150 bucks to fill them both up. Ouch!!!!

My only issue is that I feel the need to be able to carry some cargo fairly often. (like a grocery bag or even 2 or 3,) I like the Honda Reflex and the Yamaha Majesty but I'm sure I'm going to add a top case. which from what I can tell is going add at least $400 to my tab..which seems exorbitant to me.

Is there a good 2nd or 3rd tier scoot that might fit the bill? Right now I'm leaning toward a used 2006 Majesty, a used 2005 Reflex or ..what I really like is the used 2006 Aprillia Scarabeo 500 that has saddlebags a top case and looks like a really sweet ride that fits my needs like a dream. Aprillia is considered a great brand, But I'm afraid of reliability issues with it, the availability of parts and the costs of an Italian bike. Am I over thinking this?

I'm tempted to buy one of the 250cc Chinese scooters..Some these seem perfect with both the protection from the elements and the ability to haul some cargo. I'm guessing that they are very generic and parts are very available. I'm cautiously optimistic that I could assemble a bike ...well sort of..but since I've never done it how would one know?

I am somewhat mechanically inclined. I have done brake jobs on cars, replaced starters, headers, mufflers, coils, radiators, clutches, oil changes, transmission and rear differential fluid changes , but I've never taken an engine apart or rebuilt a carburetor. I'm also not that confident in diagnostics.

So given that... Any suggestions? I'm nervous about picking the right scooter...but, I am really looking forward to getting back on 2 wheels again.

Help....Wet in Seattle.

[medman1952]

Best thing is to buy from a local dealer. You can also look for a scooter on the local craigslist.

The safest thing to get will be a Japanese scooter.

[rockynv]

How far are you from Moto International? They are in Washington state and have a very good reputation along with decent prices on their new Aprilia scooters.

www.motointernational.com/main.htm

The new 2009 Sport City 250 is $2,999 and the OEM 35L top case is about $125 for the 2009 model. Don't be confused and get the more expensive case for the 2007 and earlier bikes. The Puig Sport Fairing for the Sport City can be had for around $100 if you shop around. The Scarabeo 500 is $3,799 new from them and a good deal also.

Check out their Hot Deals page:
www.motointernational.com/HDB_7_05.htm

A good scooter, full face helmet and a $39 rain suit will get you to your destination in good condition. I ride the Sport City 250 daily at times in some of the worst Tropical downpours imaginable and arrive at my destination safe and dry.

www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/41/11791/ITEM/Dowco-Guardian-Deluxe-Rainsuit.aspx?WT.ac=SLIsearch

On the Puig Sport Fairing ,you may not see the model for the Sport City listed however most local dealers who sell Puig can get it to you for about $100 delivered. I got mine from the Super Bike Toy Store in Stuart Florida and it was $100.65 to my door. Just use their contact page and send an inquirey and they will get it for you at the best price available.

www.superbiketoystore.com/index.php

[ericrockstar]

With that kind of mechanical experience, I feel semi confident you can handle anything a Chinese scoot throws at you. Now, that being said; if you can afford a yamahondakawazuki, go for it. The difference in build quality is night and day. The important stuff is so much better, especially if your bike has to endure the elements. You must already know how hard rain and condensation can be on things like switches and lights. That's where a name brand bike tends to shine.

[jayhawk]

I wouldn't be scared off by the expense of maintaining an Italian or Japanese scooters. I've heard Suzuki has a rather frequent service interval, but on Vespas, and I'm pretty sure Aprilias...service intervals are like a car. The same is true of Honda's scooters. Chinese, Korean, and even excellent Taiwanese scooters have oil changes at 1,000 miles (my Vespa's every 3,500 miles), require more frequent valve adjustments, etc.

I've heard nothing but good about Aprilia, and if that used 500 is available...I think you'd be a happy camper. Another option is a used Vespa GTS 250 or 300. Newer ones are fuel injected, and you can buy this fuggly huge windscreen that would be ideal for Seattle's wet climate. Vespa fairings are wide, the windscreen will cover all of your upper body, and you can buy all sorts accessories to haul stuff (you don't have to buy Vespa brand, either, Cuppini and Falco make accessories at cheaper prices). On my ET4 (a 150), I hauled home 5 bottles of wine, a gallon of milk, a full grocery back beneath the seat in the carrier, a 24/bottle case of water, and another grocery bag on the bag hook that is in front of my seat. If I'd add a front rack (about $125), I could have carried a case of beer on front. My scooter does have a rear rack to hold a top case, but my milk crate holds a heck of a lot more than any top case.







Of course, if you prefer the sports bike look, Aprilia's your better option.

Eric

[acbytesla]

Actually, Rocknv, Thanks,... I'm pretty damn close...about 5 to 7 miles. Moto has some brand new 2009 Scarabeo 500ie's at about the same price as the used 2006 Scarabeo 500GT that I think would be perfect.

But frankly, the newer one doesn't look much like the 2006 at all. It doesn't have anywhere near the size fairing and windshield as the 2006. And the 06 model comes with detachable hard saddlebags. Not the same bike at all. I wonder why they changed it? The 2009 bike might be a better scooter but doesn't seem to have the same utility as the 2006....oh well, thanks for your help.

[mymomwantsatrike]

i like the Scarabeo myself but had the same reservation about size / stance on the highway. it looks very much like a scooter and not the tourer it used to look like. however this is why i like it and am pretty sure why i will choose it when i need a bigger scooter

why did they change it? idk....either design philosophy or marketing, it would seem.if the way Aprillia promotes it they would like it thought of as a "motorcycle," apparently. from their website:

Scarabeo i.e. is as comfortable as any motorcycle, but far, far easier to ride. Its compact dimensions make it the perfect vehicle for traffic-intensive routes and easy parking, while high performance engines guarantee nippy overtaking. Just open the throttle and watch the traffic retreat behind you! Scarabeo 500 i.e. is the lightest motorcycle in its class

[rockynv]

They went back to the original concept with the newer Scarabeo 500ie of a light motorcycle. The older Big Beo basically had to have the side cases and trunk as there was not room under the seat for more than a pair of gloves and the owners manual. Still it is a compelling design and most people who own them really like them a lot.

Watch out that some people break up the Big Beo and sell off the luggage seperately for big money so if you buy one without you can end up spending close to $1,000 replacing them with originals.

The newer Aprilia bikes 250cc and over are fuel injected and all have larger tires than the Vespa counterparts. The Sport City 250 has 15 inch tires while the newer style Scarabeo ie comes with 16 inch tires.

[dudley]

Do you have a kymco dealer nearby?

[jwalz1]

May 7, 2012 5:13:48 GMT -5 dudley said:

Do you have a kymco dealer nearby?

Seattle Cycle Center sells Kymco, I think.

I brought my new Downtown home on Friday. That was fun. Very nice product. It is supposed to get 75mpg and hold some stuff. Would be great with a top case. I was surprised how fast it was.

Had to hit 70-75 a couple times on the freeway to avoid getting bunched in a few semis and it was still not wheezing. Had plenty of power left. It also is a sharp looking scooter.

Here was the review in "Sound Rider" for the Northwesterners:

www.soundrider.com/archive/bikes/kymcoDowntown300i.htm

[acbytesla]

Thank you Rocknv, Everybody has been so cool about giving advice. I'm feeling more much comfortable about making a choice. I'm going out for a ride on the older BEO tomorrow. I also plan on checking out Kymco's this weekend. I don't want to just buy the first thing I see.... In addition there's almost a brand new BV500 for sale down the block so I'm also going to give that a whirl.

I'll keep everybody posted. And thanks a lot!!!