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Post by jwalz1 on Jul 17, 2012 9:33:31 GMT -5
I have a friend and his wife are going to pick up a couple of scooters, and price is not a concern. They are also looking for a brand namer so the Japanese, Italian and Tiawan scooters are basically what they are looking at.
He is getting a Kymco People 300GT. She needs something that will keep up OK and is highway capable but needs a really low seat height. REALLY low seat height. She wants to flat foot. I have a Downtown which is much lower than the People and recommended it, but she still thinks that is too high. She also wants as small a bike to handle as possible. She used to own a Honda VTR250 a long time ago but seems intimidated by two wheels now as she has not ridden in 20 years.
I think I heard that a Grand Vista is really low. I am not sure if Vespa makes any low seat height bikes.
The price of the scooter does not seem to be a problem, but the idea of buying an expensive scooter and then paying for seat modification does for some reason.
Anything with a 28-29 inch seat height in a 250 +?
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Post by inkyben on Jul 17, 2012 9:57:38 GMT -5
could awlays try out a yamaha morpheus.
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Post by jwalz1 on Jul 17, 2012 10:21:20 GMT -5
could awlays try out a yamaha morpheus. Thanks for the rec, but ewwwwwwww.  I will pass it along but I don't think she will go for that or a Helix style. I know nothing about Vespa and their seat heights. It looks like the Piaggios are about 31 or higher. Too bad because that BV 350 is neat looking. It amazes me that the asian brands can be so high given the average asian height. |
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Post by inkyben on Jul 17, 2012 10:26:05 GMT -5
over in japan theres thousands of morpheus enthusiasts that have done alot of custom builds but yeah I agree theyre not pretty even when theyre a show bike. I made my own custom seat for my 150, I got tired of the whole banana seat style and I never rode with passengers so I got a harley bobber seat and lowered it.
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Post by chromestarhustler on Jul 17, 2012 12:22:52 GMT -5
sometimes what we want and what available dont intersect. the grand vista/grand dink is kinda low, and its 30.5 inches, the bet and win is 31,
only thing really left is the somewhat hard to find and expensive big ruckus.
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Post by jwalz1 on Jul 17, 2012 13:22:11 GMT -5
Big Ruckus could work maybe, but I think she wants shiny and new. The PCX 150 has a low seat height but probably wont do real highway duty.
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Post by chromestarhustler on Jul 17, 2012 18:03:46 GMT -5
I think she wants shiny and new. sometimes what we want and what is available dont intersect. the scooters mentioned in this thread are the only 250 or larger low slung scooters that can do some serious highway duty that i can think of, and they are all out of production. because seriously they didnt sell well. you can find an almost new big ruckus but just because something is on you want list doesnt mean its made or imported, i want them to start importing the ninja 400 since the 500cc went away, or a gsxr 400, or cbr 400. i want a cheaper more powerful miata that a 6'2" man can easily get in and out of for a fun track / around town racer. all the big vespa and piaggos have seat heights of 31 inches the (250-500cc) having ridden a grand vista i would not buy one, top heavy, too short of a wheel base, unstable at low speeds, and its not in production so shiny and new is not possible but under 3000 miles can be had for less than 2000 bucks. 359 pounds now cruiser bikes can easily be had in low height, the honda rebel 250 has a seat height of 26.7 inches. 306 pounds kymco venox 250 29 inches, gz250 27.8 inches 301 lbs kawaski 125 or 250 eliminator. vstar 250. 27 inches 323 pounds or lowering links and kits are made for the 250cbr and ninja 250, since both seats are a touch over 30 inches. |
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Post by SylvreKat on Jul 17, 2012 22:53:15 GMT -5
I will say this for Piaggio--their seat height isn't REALLY low, but they do have those cutaway floorboards now, which I guess make a HUGE difference! My old boards make me straddle more, which makes my heels not touch. I got stuck over the "ditch" backing out of my friend's driveway (I couldn't touch anymore). With the cutaway floors, I'll be able to flat-foot it. Yes, I'm hoping to upgrade here some day...after paying off gall bladder...and self-loan for tranny...and whatever stupid organ shoots stones next inside me....
Seriously, you might have your friend's wife try one.
>'Kat
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Post by nulldevice on Jul 18, 2012 23:49:33 GMT -5
Take a close look at the Suzuki Burgman models.
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Post by justbuggin on Jul 19, 2012 0:36:06 GMT -5
the honda reflex would be a good choice but no longer avaible new
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Post by skuttadawg on Jul 19, 2012 0:53:14 GMT -5
Since most are step through instead of having to lift leg over the seat like a motorcycle most should be easy to get on if short . Those with small tires like 10s may be lower than those with 16s , but IMO I prefer those with 130/60/tires for ride comfort and safety .
Not only should a rider be able to stay upright while stationary without having to be on tip toes , they should be able to pick it up if laid down on its side by themselves in case they wreck and if not too badly injured prevent gas from leaking out and catching the scooter on fire .
Wear boots as they have a thicker sole as my Timberlands make me a hair taller than when wearing shoes . A rider should also be able to reach the controls and see out of the mirrors with ease . I am 6ft 3 , and was too tall for my old TaoTao ATMa 50 with 10 inch wheels and shortcase body which I had to slump over and was not comfy . My Echarm and Rock Thunder ( 150s ) have 16 inch wheels and I sit up straight and in comfort . My Jonway Magnum has 13s as its very cozy almost glove like , very stable and I can even ride in a turn with no hands on the grips but my knees against the kick panel . Not only seat height but the design will determine if its a good long distance rider like the touring models or just a short trip toy .
If seat height is that much off an importance than I would sit on as many scooters as I can with them off of the centerstand prior to buying .
Is there a scooter rental shop in your area like Maine Peace or others like at the beach etc have . Being able to rent you can learn alot more than a lap in the parking lot as many dealers do not offer a test ride or if so very limited range
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Post by nulldevice on Jul 19, 2012 14:59:01 GMT -5
If seat hight is that critical, get something that's close and have a custom seat pan and seat made.
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Post by jwalz1 on Jul 19, 2012 18:02:36 GMT -5
Thanks for all the help. I see lots of motrcycles listed, and she used to have a small crotch rocket in her younger days , but hubby is getting a scooter and she wants a scooter. She may have to look at a MC IF she must flat foot, deal with custom seat work or tippy toe a little. She is only 5 feet tall.
My guess is she will have to compromise on her wants somewhere.
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Post by cpete1 on Jul 20, 2012 7:35:02 GMT -5
KYMCO'S NEW 300 DOWNTOWN, Will go 95mph, Kymco was at Americade in NY. I sat on the downtown, I'm 5'4" and could easily flatfoot, no problem. The factory reps rode them from North Carolina to Texas (1500 miles) averaging 78 miles to the gallon. Thinking about one myself..
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Post by derbi on Jul 20, 2012 7:56:47 GMT -5
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Post by WarrenS on Jul 20, 2012 9:15:53 GMT -5
The Burgman 400 has a seat height of 28" and curved in floorboards where you put your feet down.
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Post by mrnoitall on Jul 20, 2012 10:26:27 GMT -5
Honda Helix at about 26 inches has the about the lowest seat of any scooter ever made. The Morphous is also 26 inches but it's a bit wider. I've owned both.. The Helix is definitely lighter more flick-able and peppier. The Morphous is much more stable. Extremely smooth and a much better bike to ride on the highway if 65mph is about the fastest speed you want to maintain. The Morphous is a dog in terms of acceleration. It is embarrassingly slow and a complete pig up steep hills.. and forget about putting someone on the back.
The person who bought my brothers morphous said that his 150cc Chinese scooter has better acceleration. The person who bought my morhpous, after taking it for a test ride, said that it as the slowest 250cc scooter he's ridden. Both of those people ended up buying them..
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Post by jwalz1 on Jul 20, 2012 10:43:28 GMT -5
KYMCO'S NEW 300 DOWNTOWN, Will go 95mph, Kymco was at Americade in NY. I sat on the downtown, I'm 5'4" and could easily flatfoot, no problem. The factory reps rode them from North Carolina to Texas (1500 miles) averaging 78 miles to the gallon. Thinking about one myself.. Yeah see my sig, I own one and it is a great scooter. She has been on mine and when she got comfortable on the seat she was not flat footing, so she was not liking it, but I don't think she is going to be able to do any better quite frankly because the Downtown is on the low side of the scale. I have never done 78 mpg myself, been low seventies for the first three tanks and the last tank was 67. But I almost always just do full throttle starts ALL the time because it is fun, and not sure if the super hot weather had anything to do with the 67 mpg. A bunch of riding in high 90 to 100 degree temps. But it just hit 600 miles so it is due for its first factory service and I will see how it goes after an oil change. Someone on the Kymco board did a 2 up trip with a top box and about 350 pounds of people on it and said he got 76mpg and he has sliders on it for extra speed. It is a nice machine. Pricey, but nice. |
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Post by jwalz1 on Jul 20, 2012 10:46:22 GMT -5
Huh, did not even think that the swing or the burger would have a low height. Thanks for those, I will recommend she take a look. I think she is intimidated by heft though because she is five feet and about 90 pounds and not very strong. She is very petite.
I really think the PCX would be good if it can eke out 70 miles and hour. From what I read the PCX 125's were restricted by the ecu to a top speed of 60 or 65 even though there was a little more left in the engine. Not sure if that is the same on the new 150.
She is not gonna commute on it or anything, just some country back road riding around here and somehwere in South Dakota, but we live right next to a highway with a 65 mph limit and you find yourself doing a mile from one exit to another from time to time so 70 is probably a bare minimum for a short jaunt safety margin.
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Post by nulldevice on Jul 20, 2012 12:35:20 GMT -5
I've been to South Dakota. I remember Interstate highway exits onto gravel roads and it is a long, long way from any where to any where else. I really enjoyed the bad lands, Wall Drug, and Black Hills. You really need more than 70 MPH so you aren't running the scooter wide open to do 70 MPH -- until you hit a hill -- or a head wind -- or a side wind -- or any combination and lose 10 - 15 MPH top end.
Your wife needs to try straddling and holding up larger scooters. After all, small women manage 800 to 1200 pound Harleys easily enough around here in NE Ohio.
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Post by jwalz1 on Jul 20, 2012 12:53:33 GMT -5
I've been to South Dakota. I remember Interstate highway exits onto gravel roads and it is a long, long way from any where to any where else. I really enjoyed the bad lands, Wall Drug, and Black Hills. You really need more than 70 MPH so you aren't running the scooter wide open to do 70 MPH -- until you hit a hill -- or a head wind -- or a side wind -- or any combination and lose 10 - 15 MPH top end. Your wife needs to try straddling and holding up larger scooters. After all, small women manage 800 to 1200 pound Harleys easily enough around here in NE Ohio. Not my wife, just a friend of mine. My wife will not even get on a scooter, too chicken. Not sure where they are talking about riding in South Dakota. They visit some family a couple times a year on the far western side and apparently there are some winding roads in the woods somewhere. Most of my time in either of the Dakotas has been in the flat hell. I looked west as far as I could and all I could see was the back of my own head. |
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Post by cpete1 on Jul 20, 2012 17:44:03 GMT -5
My apologies jwalz for not seeing your sig. LOL. But I'm glad you commented on the downtown. I thought it was the same platform as the Exciting which is too high for me but couldn't get over the hieght difference when I sat on it. As far as your friends wife, maybe she should consider modifying the seat cause I agree with you, she's going to be hard pressed to find something lower. Thanks for the input on your bike though.
Chris
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I will pass it along but I don't think she will go for that or a Helix style.
