Help- Which Scooter to Buy?

[nicki445]

Hi all- new to the world of scooters. I'm looking to buy something for short distance commuting purposes, won't be used too heavily but I'd like to have fun riding around this spring and summer. I'm looking for something economical that isn't going to be junk.

Here's what I've found:

2012 Keeway Venus 49cc- brand new for $999
eriecountyscooters.com/Products.php?id=2

2011 Puma Songbird- 500 miles for $999
eriecountyscooters.com/Products.php?id=3

2005 Yamaha Vino Classic with 3000 miles for $700
binghamton.craigslist.org/mcd/3628790365.html

I'm assuming that any Tao Taos are out?? There is a Tao Tao for $650 with 2 miles on it...

Any advice and opinions would be greatly appreciated!!

[inuyasha]

Hi
Welcome aboard
Pleased to meet you
They are all great scoots with the Tao Tao being my last choice and any would be well suited to your needs
But ive owned a Puma in the past so my vote would be for that brand
Their scoots have excellent quality and their customer service is stellar
Take care and ride safely
Yours Hank

[nicki445]

Thanks- all very helpful. I'm going to go look at the Puma on Monday. May look at the Vino this weekend but the jury is still out...

[spandi]

Puma's tech folks go above and beyond to help you get parts and information. I would still PDI the scoot before riding.
x1scooters.com/pdi.html

[skuttadawg]

Yamaha would be the best one . Keeway is actually a good scooter as they are pricey where I live . TaoTao = POS and I hated mine .

If your tall like me then I would avoid the shortcase scooters with 10inch or smaller tires and get a scooter with 12 or 13 inch wheels as they not only ride and handle much better I was not slumped over like I was on my TaoTao with 10s . Even though that Keeway Venus may have 10s a 2T ( 2 stroke ) is always more fun to ride with less parts to service or tear up . A 2T never needs an oil change or has valves to adjust and they go faster . With a BBK , a pipe and upjetting can give you a smile as you pass cars .

My first two scooters were both 2T Hondas , an Elite and a Spree . I only had the Elite for 2 months and sold it as I bought and sold many two wheelers . I rode the Spree for 2 years trouble free . I bought it wrecked and replaced the forks and front tire , cleaned the airfilter , installed a NGK iridium and changed the gear lube and never took a wrench to it . I had so many fun adventures on it and I wanted to get a scooter to have more fun times plus I hated to spend 70 a week in gas for my van . Well The TaoTao was a 4T and was nothing close to Honda quality , cracked a piston on day 2 and blew it up 6 weeks later . I have had over 30 pedal mopeds to 650cc cruisers and not a one ever cracked a piston or blew up .

I saw they have 2 used CFMoto Echarms which are much better than most scooters with EFI , LC engine , disc brakes and around 12 HP where most 150s have 8 or 9 HP . The price is high as I paid 1,600 for mine new but the KBB is 1,200 since the MSRP was 2,600 . If it they had an authorized dealer perform its initial service at 300 miles and depending on when it was first purchased they may still have the 2 year full warranty as its transferable . I just hit 14,000 on my Echarm and only changed the oil , replaced the belt at 12,000 and is very reliable .

After I sold my TaoTao I bought a Jonway Magnum 2T 49cc to be my toy and I have enjoyed every mile on it and its much faster than the 4T 49cc scooters . With the BBK and other mods its a screamer .

Yamaha , Honda and Kymco are the better brands of scooters but parts cost more and limited upgrades . The China scooters have tons of optional upgrades as parts are by engine style rather than manufacturer brand or model

[hardd1]

buy the yamaha...you will be able to pass it on to your grandkids

[beachbum]

Yamaha all the way...reliability!

[bbold]

I've got a TaoTao CY50-B (metro clone) and I love it. I've had it since last October, absolutely NO ISSUES with it, I just keep up with the oil changes and maintenance. Most of these things have the same parts unless you spend upwards of $2K I've found, so just go with what you can afford and with your instincts. I purchased mine online at provenpowersports, it arrived halfway assembled, very easy to put together, and I spend about $5 a week in premium gas (if that) and it gets me all over town. Great purchase and I highly recommend a TaoTao, they're not as bad as some people moan about, just keep up with the maintenance. Good luck

[jade422]

Hi there and welcome I like out of all the Keeway and Yamaha but I also like Gorilla Motor Works I have one and the pic is on here very dependable scooter priced right for me but hey what ever you get enjoy the ride and upgrade to a 150cc can’t get with that slowww putttt