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Post by jarlaxle on Feb 17, 2013 11:28:39 GMT -5
...what do the experts here suggest? I am more or less resigned to needing more than the hoped-for 50cc to haul my 240lb self around...so I'm thinking of getting the MC licence and going 150cc. It would be a commuter, about 30 miles each way. (It's Nashua, NH to Billerica, MA and back, if you know the area.) What I want...
A 2-stroke would be vastly preferred!
Decent storage.
Disc brake in front absolutely required; a rear disc would be nice but not required.
At least 12" wheels and preferably 13's.
Ability to run 55+MPH and not bog down to 35 on hills.
Used is fine, Chinese is fine as long as it works. I am able to do the tweaks needed to get a new Chinese scoot running reliably.
Should be light enough to get up & down a relatively steep ramp solo without dropping it.
What sort of mileage will a typical 150cc scoot manage?
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Post by inuyasha on Feb 17, 2013 11:39:42 GMT -5
Hi The closest your going to get to a 2t 150 is the Stella genuinescooters.com/stella2.htmlTheres only a few 2t scoots over 50 ccs and most are a few years old , most are under 150 ccs unless your looking into a vintage scoot 1960 to 1980 models Your most likely going to have to settle for a 4 stroke Take care and ride safely Yours Hank |
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Post by prodigit on Feb 17, 2013 11:40:45 GMT -5
For 30 mile daily trips I'd recommend a 250cc.
A 150cc could do it, but isn't made to do daily trips like that. You'll accumulate miles very fast, and chances on a breakdown too.
Besides, chinese scooter reliability has been below average. You got to get lucky to actually get a good working model.
Either a 250cc or a Ninja/CBR, or motorcycle Cruiser (like Kawasaki Eliminator 125, Rebel 250, Vstar 250, or even a Suzuki S40 might be nice!
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Post by jarlaxle on Feb 17, 2013 12:04:11 GMT -5
Hi The closest your going to get to a 2t 150 is the Stella genuinescooters.com/stella2.htmlTheres only a few 2t scoots over 50 ccs and most are a few years old , most are under 150 ccs unless your looking into a vintage scoot 1960 to 1980 models Your most likely going to have to settle for a 4 stroke Take care and ride safely Yours Hank 10" wheels and $3600?!?! Not a chance! |
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Post by jarlaxle on Feb 17, 2013 12:05:37 GMT -5
For 30 mile daily trips I'd recommend a 250cc. A 150cc could do it, but isn't made to do daily trips like that. You'll accumulate miles very fast, and chances on a breakdown too. Besides, chinese scooter reliability has been below average. You got to get lucky to actually get a good working model. Either a 250cc or a Ninja/CBR, or motorcycle Cruiser (like Kawasaki Eliminator 125, Rebel 250, Vstar 250, or even a Suzuki S40 might be nice! I have absolutely zero interest in a regular motorcycle. I will get a scooter or just deal with driving my Jeep. |
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Post by inuyasha on Feb 17, 2013 12:10:36 GMT -5
Hi The closest your going to get to a 2t 150 is the Stella genuinescooters.com/stella2.htmlTheres only a few 2t scoots over 50 ccs and most are a few years old , most are under 150 ccs unless your looking into a vintage scoot 1960 to 1980 models Your most likely going to have to settle for a 4 stroke Take care and ride safely Yours Hank 10" wheels and $3600?!?! Not a chance! Hi Then you are definitely going to have to get a 4 stroke scoot then Take care and ride safely Yours Hank |
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Post by prodigit on Feb 17, 2013 12:13:16 GMT -5
Have you looked at the Linhai 200's?
Unless you are willing to work on a scoot, a jap scooter would be the way to go.
Or perhaps a Kymco Downtown.
Like Hank, I also recommend a 4 stroke.
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Post by jarlaxle on Feb 17, 2013 13:14:42 GMT -5
Why? I want a 2-stroke for the easier maintenance & more power. I might consider a Stella 150 if I can get one used.
And a Downtown is almost $6000! No, no, that is WAY out of my price range!
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Post by sharks06lly on Feb 17, 2013 13:16:51 GMT -5
because they are getting rid of alot of 2 strokes due to emmissions. you will be very hard pressed to find any 2 strokes over 50cc. and we are saying you should get a 250cc scooter because that long of a trip on a 150cc can cause problems they arent built to run everyday like that i only do 19 miles each way to work and i can tell if i did it everyday it would break
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Post by doomsday on Feb 17, 2013 13:42:28 GMT -5
Why? I want a 2-stroke for the easier maintenance & more power. I might consider a Stella 150 if I can get one used. And a Downtown is almost $6000! No, no, that is WAY out of my price range! Have you not figured it out yet? There are very few 2t 150cc scooters out there. The ones that are out there are expensive and out of your reach. So your quest for a 2t 150cc scooter is simply not going to happen unless you find a miracle person selling a used one. Everything that you are asking for is at the very top end of the 150cc scooter which means your going to be pushing it to hard. You are going to need either a 200cc or 250cc scooter (Although, if you can find a 150cc with efi like a cfmoto echarm or glory, that could possibly be enough). |
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Post by jarlaxle on Feb 17, 2013 20:06:29 GMT -5
Yes, I have figured it out, I think: To get a scooter that is reliable enough to commute on requires dropping far too much money, on the order of five times what I was hoping to spend. Therefore, I will more than likely scrap the whole idea and just drive my Jeep.
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Post by danno711 on Feb 17, 2013 20:12:42 GMT -5
Yes, I have figured it out, I think: To get a scooter that is reliable enough to commute on requires dropping far too much money, on the order of five times what I was hoping to spend. Therefore, I will more than likely scrap the whole idea and just drive my Jeep. You were wise to seek advice before making the plunge! |
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Post by jarlaxle on Feb 17, 2013 20:57:24 GMT -5
I should have realized it was a stupid idea from day one.
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Post by prodigit on Feb 17, 2013 21:09:04 GMT -5
I don't think so!
For $1600 you get an entry 4 stroke, 150cc.
For $1800 you could get a 250cc 4 stroke, which performs just about as good as a 100cc 2 stroke. They're very powerful!
On a rainy day you could spin the rear wheel with some practice.
You accelerate faster than most cars 'till about 50MPH, and can keep up easily with cars 'till 70 (after that acceleration will be slow).
You could use it every day, but you'd have to be rigid with maintenance, and do the PDI very well!
If it's 17 miles to, and 17 miles back, the 150cc 4 stroke could do the trick.
If it's 35 one way, times two, every day, a 250cc is adequate for the job!
And it's only $200 more than your asking price!
Put $700 more above that ($3000) and you have a fuel injected Suzuki Burgman clone, the BMS TBX 260 EFI (with 256cc Linhai engine), which together with the Aeolus is seen as the deluxe scooters of the chinese scooters!
The Aeolus is a bit better in reliability from the numbers I've seen; but both bikes are respectable and good bikes!
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Post by doomsday on Feb 17, 2013 21:13:46 GMT -5
It could only be a stupid idea if ya never wanted to ride one in the first place. Everything else is just wishing and hoping. You never said what your actual budget was though, You can get some very decent 250cc scooters for around 1800-2400 depending on what sale is going on.
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Post by doomsday on Feb 17, 2013 21:18:29 GMT -5
I don't think so! For $1600 you get an entry 4 stroke, 150cc. For $1800 you could get a 250cc 4 stroke, which performs just about as good as a 100cc 2 stroke. They're very powerful! On a rainy day you could spin the rear wheel with some practice. You accelerate faster than most cars 'till about 50MPH, and can keep up easily with cars 'till 70 (after that acceleration will be slow). You could use it every day, but you'd have to be rigid with maintenance, and do the PDI very well! If it's 17 miles to, and 17 miles back, the 150cc 4 stroke could do the trick. If it's 35 one way, times two, every day, a 250cc is adequate for the job! And it's only $200 more than your asking price! Put $700 more above that ($3000) and you have a fuel injected Suzuki Burgman clone, the BMS TBX 260 EFI (with 256cc Linhai engine), which together with the Aeolus is seen as the deluxe scooters of the chinese scooters! The Aeolus is a bit better in reliability from the numbers I've seen; but both bikes are respectable and good bikes! Riderswholesale has the aeolus 300 currently for $2499 That could be another option for him www.buyatvscheap.com/product-p/li300.htm |
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Post by jarlaxle on Feb 17, 2013 21:31:39 GMT -5
I don't think so! For $1600 you get an entry 4 stroke, 150cc. For $1800 you could get a 250cc 4 stroke, which performs just about as good as a 100cc 2 stroke. They're very powerful! On a rainy day you could spin the rear wheel with some practice. You accelerate faster than most cars 'till about 50MPH, and can keep up easily with cars 'till 70 (after that acceleration will be slow). You could use it every day, but you'd have to be rigid with maintenance, and do the PDI very well! If it's 17 miles to, and 17 miles back, the 150cc 4 stroke could do the trick. If it's 35 one way, times two, every day, a 250cc is adequate for the job! And it's only $200 more than your asking price! Put $700 more above that ($3000) and you have a fuel injected Suzuki Burgman clone, the BMS TBX 260 EFI (with 256cc Linhai engine), which together with the Aeolus is seen as the deluxe scooters of the chinese scooters! The Aeolus is a bit better in reliability from the numbers I've seen; but both bikes are respectable and good bikes! I just Mapquested it...on a scooter (staying off the 65MPH US highway 3), it's 22.5 miles. It's moot...a scooter was a stupid idea from minute one. I'll probably just end up dumping my Jeep for something cheap, economical, and soul-numbing, like a brown Corolla with an automatic. |
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Post by MEAN_MOTOFINO on Feb 17, 2013 23:12:42 GMT -5
im planning on swapping a 2t 750 triple into my 150 for daily commute. I realized running the 4stroke 150cc is just a temporary solution at best. Best of luck to you
Yours truly
Lefty3
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Post by jarlaxle on Feb 18, 2013 20:59:40 GMT -5
I have neither the skill nor the desire to do that.
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Post by scootnwinn on Feb 21, 2013 0:06:31 GMT -5
There are lots of great scoots I'm sure that will do what you need for the money you are looking to spend. They are all used but they're out there... Nothing stupid about scooter riding.
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Post by ericrockstar on Feb 21, 2013 6:56:08 GMT -5
I really never think about riding my scoot to work. That would be scary. I wish I could just ride it home from work.
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Post by prodigit on Feb 21, 2013 12:34:31 GMT -5
You know, sometimes there are websales that allow you to get a chinese 150 for under $1000.
Won't harm to buy one! It'll pay back just on repairs costs on the jeep!
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Post by ltdhpp on Feb 21, 2013 18:03:36 GMT -5
If I was doing a 40 mile commute, I'd want something Japanese/Italian and over 150cc if it was on 55mph roads.
My $600 used Chinese 150 is awesome but I could walk the rest of the way to work and not be terribly late if it ever quit on my commute.
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Post by jarlaxle on Feb 23, 2013 19:42:15 GMT -5
You know, sometimes there are websales that allow you to get a chinese 150 for under $1000. Won't harm to buy one! It'll pay back just on repairs costs on the jeep! My Cherokee has been stone-reliable with 196,000 miles. My only complaint is the 17MPG.  |
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Post by jarlaxle on Feb 23, 2013 20:48:41 GMT -5
There are lots of great scoots I'm sure that will do what you need for the money you are looking to spend. They are all used but they're out there... Nothing stupid about scooter riding. The problem being, I just do not know enough about scooters to tell if a used one is a good buy or a rolling disaster. |
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Post by ericrockstar on Feb 23, 2013 21:35:12 GMT -5
There is unfortunately no getting around it. If you buy Chinese scooter, you will eventually become a Chinese scooter master mechanic.
Easy to tell if scooter is good or not. Check functionality. Turn off and on a few times. See obvious damage, tire wear, lights, leaks, sounds when running.
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Post by scootnwinn on Feb 24, 2013 2:00:31 GMT -5
There are lots of great scoots I'm sure that will do what you need for the money you are looking to spend. They are all used but they're out there... Nothing stupid about scooter riding. The problem being, I just do not know enough about scooters to tell if a used one is a good buy or a rolling disaster. We do and we can help... There are solid Japanese machines out there to buy in your range that are nearly sure bets. Look for a used Reflex. There are more too... |
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Post by scootnwinn on Feb 24, 2013 2:14:20 GMT -5
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Post by jarlaxle on Feb 24, 2013 6:51:46 GMT -5
The problem being, I just do not know enough about scooters to tell if a used one is a good buy or a rolling disaster. We do and we can help... There are solid Japanese machines out there to buy in your range that are nearly sure bets. Look for a used Reflex. There are more too... None of you are close enough to do a pre-purchase inspection. I have pretty much accepted it was a stupid idea from the start, like every other idea I have ever had. |
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Post by prodigit on Feb 26, 2013 23:35:39 GMT -5
Man,
I bought a scooter from superiorpowersports, and they do a standard PDI, and aside from mounting 2 bolts on the exhaust, mounting a front wheel, and mounting a windshield and handlebars, I have not done anything else!
(yeah, except oil changes, but I was in luck, finding a youtube video showing me how to do it, and I did it myself. Turns out it's quite easy, and not worth going to a mechanic for)!
I knew nothing of scooters when I bought my first moped.
I had to fix a front wheel on there, and it pretty much was a piece of cake!
That is, if you have a garage (or personal space you can keep the cage for a few days).
I knew absolutely nothing of scooters when I purchased my first scooter.
It pretty much arrived in a cardboard box, with some wrenches and an installation DVD.
It shows you how to open the cage, how to mount the things, and you just follow, just like on the DVD!
All you need, is a friend to help you out on the basics, like keeping the bike straight, helping with removing the bike from the cage, lifting up the front wheel a bit by sitting on the saddle.
If you have someone like that, then it's just like mounting an ikea closet, or a plastic model airplane! Just fit the right parts in the right places; there are about 5 or 6 big parts, and about 2 ways for each to place them.
Look at the video for finding the right way to mount them.
Not hard at all.
Scary? In the beginning, yes.
Difficult? No.
When you look back once it's finished, perhaps when you're doing your second scoot, it'll be so much more easy!
I'm not a mechanic, and all my scoots are mounted without ever even looking at the DVD's or manuals. I just figure things out myself... Like doing a puzzle, pieces fit together.
Nothing hard!
Just takes some time, some tries, and some basic skills on how to tighten a nut or screw, and how to click plastic into the right place!
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