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Post by prodigit on Nov 17, 2012 2:19:47 GMT -5
That's the issue. Pleasure riding is less taxing than using it as your main form of transportation! If it's your main form of transportation, I'd either get a 50cc 2 stroke, or, if you can afford it, get a 100-150cc scoot; because they're just so much more suited for driving in town!
50cc is pleasure (and pain). It goes fast enough to drive around town with, however accelerating from 25MPH to 40MPH takes forever; and all cars behind you will be impatiently waiting until you get there.
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Post by waterboysh on Nov 17, 2012 10:59:55 GMT -5
I'm planning on getting a 150cc for exactly that reason. I don't want to be a traffic obstacle. I'll probably avoid the really busy roads anyway, but I want to be able to pull out and go and not worry about not being able to accelerate fast enough.
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Post by Globs on Nov 17, 2012 13:12:36 GMT -5
I've been seriously considering buying a scooter. Excellent choice! I think that getting a cheap scoot online is the best way for me to go. I think the opposite. My SYM GTS300/RV300 just ticked round to 6,000km on friday, it has a very very boring technical history of me putting fuel in, riding it, and putting a bit more in. It's been serviced twice (oil + valve check) - and that's it. It has however given me a solid and fun ride to work and back, to norfolk (2 hours each way) and France (700 miles each way) without missing a beat, with perfect lighting, excellent dials and controls, dependable braking and good power. While you may not be able to get a new one of those you can buy the reliability, handling and features of a top model in the second hand market: Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Kymco, SYM, or even get a Geniune! In your position I'd be scouring the small ads for a decent second hand scooter - you can get parts, support and the quality is top notch.
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Post by skuttadawg on Nov 17, 2012 13:23:21 GMT -5
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Post by inuyasha on Nov 17, 2012 15:15:37 GMT -5
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Post by waterboysh on Nov 18, 2012 16:49:35 GMT -5
I looked into who sells puma cycles in Gainsville. There's only one, and they have decent prices listed on their website, but there are a ton of really bad reviews for them on their Google+ page. They have a rating of 9 out of 30 which is "poor to fair" and the lowest rating category Google uses. There is one place in Gainesville that has a ton of really good reviews. I had dismissed them at first because on their website they only have a bunch of 50cc scoots listed, but I left a comment on their facebook and they said they can order 150cc scoots, so I might see what they have to offer. The reviews for pretty much all the scooter places around here are mostly bad. Reports of things breaking after only a few dozen miles, taking months and months to receive their title, parts breaking and the replacement parts taking 2 months to come in when ordered, even after being fixed the scooter breaks again in a month. Basically the same stuff I hear about chinese scoots, so I figure if I'm going to deal with all this anyway I might as well save some money in the process.
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Post by Globs on Nov 18, 2012 17:28:31 GMT -5
I figure if I'm going to deal with all this anyway I might as well save some money in the process. Stick with Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Kymco, SYM, Daelim or Geniune. I don't recommend you get anything from a Chinese company.
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Post by prodigit on Nov 18, 2012 19:54:30 GMT -5
I've read though, that some chinese scoots can be very long lasting (I mean, some people got 4k, 8k, and 12k+ miles on their TaoTao's, which many people loathed because of their 'unreliability'), with nothing more than a few oil changes, valve adjustments, and tire/belt and filter changes!
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Post by hardd1 on Nov 18, 2012 20:09:46 GMT -5
tao tao's are the bottom feeders of the scooter mfrs world
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Post by prodigit on Nov 18, 2012 20:49:29 GMT -5
Exactly! And if you pay $1k for a taotao that can drive you 10k miles and has perhaps $200-$300 on maintenance cost, compared to a $3k bike that gets you 20-30k miles, with about the same on maintenance cost, then what is more beneficial? You can buy 2 or 3 Tao's for the same price, that will ride you just as long (and if you're lucky, parts from one are interchangeable with the other, which will lower maintenance cost on the second bike).
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Post by scootnwinn on Nov 18, 2012 22:38:48 GMT -5
I'm not sure who decided a Japanese scoot would only go 30,000 but that doesnt seem to be the case maxi-scoots.com/scoot/index.php?topic=2485.0That's not a scientific fact but according to some 60000 is a fairly reasonable expectation
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Post by prodigit on Nov 18, 2012 23:01:49 GMT -5
At 60k miles, there's more than just changing a belt and some oil changes. Probably you'd have to fit a new exhaust pipe, belt, (possibly variator too), a couple of tires (not just 1 pair), and the maintenance cost go up that way!
Most motorcycles I've seen for sale as second hand, have between 20 and 40k miles on them. I'm sure they can go 100k miles, but it seems most people get rid of them well before they ever reach that number!
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Post by scootnwinn on Nov 18, 2012 23:09:29 GMT -5
Most Chinese scooters I see for sale have less than 2000 many less than 500 miles. what does the mileage of second hand motorcycles have to do with anything?
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Post by prodigit on Nov 18, 2012 23:36:45 GMT -5
Motorcycles are way bigger, and more reliable than scooters. Yet, it seems that even with these, owners get rid of them sooner than they actually wear out. Everyone likes a new shiny toy, especially when they've saved up the money! Even if it means getting a less reliable shiny toy, over a super reliable, but aging gas guzzler.
Technology moves on. It's sometimes better to buy a new bike every 4 to 6 years, so you'd have new technology, than have the same technology bike for the coming 100k miles / 15 years.
In the past 5 years, a lot has happened in the motorized 2 wheel world! China has grown lots in the scooter area, and scooters and even motorcycles now have Fuel injection. On motorcycles there's belt drive now (a replacement or addition to a chain drive), and most brands are creating motorcycles with alloy wheels instead of spoke wheels. Also they're creating more hard-tail looking bikes (that are soft tail). Replacing chrome for black matte.
Big differences, and only the last 3-5 years!
In the 60's and 70's, most motorcycles where looking just like the other in those days; different shape of mudguard, perhaps a different speedometer, but same engines, same basic looks, same wheels, same saddles, etc.
I think we're in a time where it makes more sense to get a short temp bike (scooter or motorcycle), that will last you a good 4 years, rather than going for the more expensive bike that will last you 15-20 years, because you'll be selling it off way before you actually get 100k miles on it!
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Post by scootnwinn on Nov 19, 2012 0:26:22 GMT -5
If the bike is still good when your done with it you can sell it to some guy that doesnt undetstand the benefits of riding new bikes. If your bike is trashed after your done you can't sell it for much
First production motorcycle with fuel injection was the 82 CX500 the Burgman has had it for 10 years now First belt drive was by HD in 1903 then they revived it in the mid 80's Motorcycles have had non-wire spoked wheels for a long time
Many things have changed but not enough to where a 4year old bike is considered too dated. Lets provide good information to people with little experience who are new to scooters. Old bikes are still decent rides. The tech isn't moving that fast. All the "recent" updates you listed are anything but recent. Lets not argue there are advantages to both, the ones you have listed just aren't supported by historical fact. The cost savings might be there but not in the extreme way you have figured the life of a Japanese bike.
Anyway I can't wait to see what the OP ends up with
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Post by Carolina Fun Machines on Nov 19, 2012 12:16:30 GMT -5
In the 4 years that I have been in the business I have not seen a TaoTao go 10,000 miles.
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Post by redhandmoto on Nov 19, 2012 12:22:13 GMT -5
In the 4 years that I have been in the business I have not seen a TaoTao go 10,000 miles. well, they do if you count the containerized ocean voyage from China... ;D ( apologies to Tao-Taoers; sorry - couldn't resist)
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Post by Carolina Fun Machines on Nov 19, 2012 16:21:59 GMT -5
Never looked at it that way, but you may have a point there!
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Post by prodigit on Nov 19, 2012 16:43:49 GMT -5
Most tao's (at least the ATM50 models) are 2008 models or later. It takes a few years to get to 10k, and they've gotten better, I believe (though not quite like Korean bikes yet). So far, I'm 1/9th along the way of the 10k!
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Post by waterboysh on Nov 19, 2012 17:47:25 GMT -5
I talked to two local dealers (one has excellent online ratings, and the other kinda so-so, but more positive than negative). Campus Scoots is the excellent ratings one. They don't stock 150cc scoots because in my college town they don't sell as well as 50cc, but he said he could order me a TaoTao CY150B and my price would be $1200 and I'd get a full one year parts and labor warranty from him. New Scooters 4 Less has kinda meh ratings. They are doing a pre-black friday sale and knocking $200 off the price of every scooter. They have a GMW V150. The normal price is $1,700 but for today and tomorrow it's $1,500. The guy I talked to was very nice (he wasn't the owner, but like a general manager I think). I told him about the other scoot for $1200, and he was very reasonable and after talking it over said that he could give me a special price of $1,200 for the scoot as long as I got it during the pre-black friday sale (today, which is pretty much over, or tomorrow). I would get a one year parts and labor warranty from them as well. TaoTao we've already discussed. What do y'all think about V150? I can't seem to find much information about Gorilla Motorworks, but they are based in Florida, which is where I am.
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Post by prodigit on Nov 19, 2012 18:03:49 GMT -5
Looks great! For $1200 you can find a lot of scoots, especially if you don't need to pay the extra shipping!
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Post by scootnwinn on Nov 19, 2012 18:30:39 GMT -5
TaoTao we've already discussed. What do y'all think about V150? I can't seem to find much information about Gorilla Motorworks, but they are based in Florida, which is where I am. What did the manufacturer's plates say the place of origin was did you notice?
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Post by waterboysh on Nov 19, 2012 19:06:24 GMT -5
TaoTao we've already discussed. What do y'all think about V150? I can't seem to find much information about Gorilla Motorworks, but they are based in Florida, which is where I am. What did the manufacturer's plates say the place of origin was did you notice? Oh, I don't know. I didn't look at that.
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Post by redhandmoto on Nov 19, 2012 19:54:25 GMT -5
What do y'all think about V150? I can't seem to find much information about Gorilla Motorworks, but they are based in Florida, which is where I am. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkwrNLPkJIo
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Post by prodigit on Nov 19, 2012 19:57:31 GMT -5
Just saying, it has a rear drum brake, like most of their scooters... I'm more fond of disc brakes.
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Post by Carolina Fun Machines on Nov 19, 2012 19:58:37 GMT -5
The V150 GMW is a Znen built F22 model. Good product.
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Post by scootnwinn on Nov 19, 2012 20:13:15 GMT -5
If its a Znen grab it. The rear brake only needs to lock up a drum will be adequate on a scoot that size. What color are you looking at?
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Post by waterboysh on Nov 19, 2012 20:23:36 GMT -5
The V150 GMW is a Znen built F22 model. Good product. I don't think they're quite the same. The guy at New Scooters 4 Less told me the brand is ZHNG, but I can't seem to find any info on that online either... What color are you looking at? Silver. Most of the silver scoots I've looked at I haven't liked much, but this model looks good in silver
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Post by prodigit on Nov 19, 2012 20:31:01 GMT -5
In florida the lighter colors make more sense! 1- Because you're more visible, especially at night! 2- Because it diffuses more light, thus is less hot under the sun.
If I could, I'd get a white one. Silver is nice too. Sometimes pearl-white, or pearl-yellow is nice, or silver is nice too
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Post by snugglebunny on Nov 19, 2012 20:53:25 GMT -5
i have a scoot made by this company it has this many trouble free miles bought it used a few years ago 141 miles real cheap have done basic maintenance on it { if it isn't broke, don't fix it} id recommend Cf but their dead, right? zhen, kyms, its all the luck of the draw. if mine would been crap, id be Btching u seem to have done your homework very well, most people just buy, then Btch most people don't report good service to the BBB, just expect it, but people who have a few problems do, right.? especially, people on the net alot. DOES sound like you wanna buy now cant wait a week or more and see what happens. so make the best decision you can. good luck EDIT :::::::::: the taller the wheels, the better the ride
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