Lookin' to buy for the kid. I have no idea about this stuff but since this is gonna happen, I need some advice... New or used? How much should I pay? What make is trouble free and safe (good brakes, stable ride)? 45 mph is fast enough? (I will probably end up getting one myself a little later on) Thanks in advance! Reed
Used. How much can you afford? Reputable manufacturer. Honda, Yamaha, Aprilia, Vento, Kymco... Yes (and fun)
Just remember scooters are like guns they are not a toy but a tool. Yes they are fun but so is a 1911A1 a Winchester 1300 pump. My Dad bought me my first gun when I was 10 the SOB never would let me have a two wheeled vehicle while I lived in his house. Teach Your Children Well!
I am asking myself these questions: How important is the disk brake? Does the ABS really work? For how long? How much travel do I need in the suspension? Will I be able to get parts? I rode the little Ruckus today. I liked the smooth four stroke honda motor, but was a bit disappointed in the short suspension. I need to ride some more of these dandies. Perfect though for the 18 YOB. We are looking at the Vino in the AM. We are buying something tomorrow!
Id opt for the ruckus........lots of customizing can be done, both looks and performance. The fun never ends!!!!
did you say 18 year old male? DO not buy the Metropolitan. Especially not the Hybiscus. Big Ruckus!!!!!
Zuma. Bad ass look with the knobbies and the dual headlights. As he grows into the bike you can hop the thing up like crazy. 70cc kit, carb, pipe, variator, gear-up kit...
Another vote for the Zuma. It's tough, easily modded, cool-looking, can be thrashed down a dirt road or around the usual backyard dirt track, and commutes well. Huge following worldwide so there's lots of online support. They made two models, essentially--an earlier version with recessed headlights and the "bugeye" current model. Both owner groups argue incessantly which one is better. Honda, Yamaha, Kymco, Piaggio--all good brands. Vento is an excellent "clone" brand--great entry-level bike that's tough enough to stick around for a number of years. Most of these bikes are restricted to the moped-legal speed of 30mph, but usually a CDI and variator mod like a bushing swap (usually takes about 10 minutes) bumps them up to their original top ends of 40-45 mph. Just ask your dealer (or seller) if the bike is restricted or de-restricted. And find out from the DMV what that means in your state. Getting 6-10K miles out of the stock 2T motor like on the Vento, Zuma, etc. is easy assuming you aren't focused on destroying it, and a rebuild/upgrade is $400 and up for a 70cc kit that includes pipe, clutch/springs, variator upgrades, piston/rings, and cylinder. Many of the 2T bikes (particularly the clones, like UM, Vento, etc) are based on the Minarelli Horizonal (Min-H) motor which is reliable and tough. Honda has gone to their 4T motor, which is slower but much cleaner and has insanely long maintenance intervals. Kymco offers a 2-year warranty on their scoots. Budget for the right safety gear and the MSF class. On most 45mph roads, a cruise of 40-43 is fine for flow of traffic, and most 2T's can be modded to cruise at 45-50. Most 2stroke bikes have enough oomph off the line to leap ahead of traffic so that they get to the next stop light with the herd. I had a Vento Zip R3i that did about 40 on average and I had no trouble handling commutes and errands. On a scoot you'll learn to read traffic, manage your speed, and corner safely by depending on finesse, technique, and heads-up riding instead of depending on technology and displacement. I've never felt outgunned on my Vento--maybe underpowered, but never felt like I was on an incompetent bike. Ridden well, a scoot will carve through traffic like a hot knife through butter. The "ABS" on the Ventos and other similar clone bikes is actually some sort of overpressure valve--but it works in its own brute-simple way. ABS on the high end bikes is more in line with what we're used to for ABS--brain box, etc. For suburban zipping around the Ruckus is hard to beat. I think it's the cult bike of recent times. The numbers don't add up--price, top end--but in real life it's so damned endearing and mod-worthy that I'd give it a good look. For carrying books, groceries, and knocking around, it rocks.
Nothing here to argue with but I'll throw my $0.02 in for the Zuma. I just purchased one and have been very impressed with it. In its stock form I have no trouble with 35 mph areas but I've been a little hesitant to get on the 45 mph roads. I live in an urban area and in that environment the Zuma totally rocks! I'm nearing the end of my first tank of fuel.....which I purchased in August! The scoot is too much fun to merely dismiss it as efficient transportation though. BTW, the Vino has the same engine as the Zuma in certain years. I'm not sure which years because I think the Vino went 4-stroke at some point. Oh yeah, I avoided 4-strokes when I was shopping. My friend just bought a Vespa ET4 which I like very much though and I think maybe I wrote them off too quickly. But I love the 2-stroke power delivery, simplicity, and ofcourse the smell.
Well now... We got the Vento GT5!! Little two stroker with lots of extras. Anti theft, anti lock, disk, big alloy looking wheels and tires, three inches in the front suspension, nice informative RID, neat expando pipe w/silencer AND it even came with a nice cover. Fit and finish are impressive and that thing is fun to ride! I WANT one!! Anyone want to buy a really nice 328is?
Thanks everyone for the replies! This whole thing has been quite an enlightening experience. Tomorrow I will make the little Dancer read this whole thread. Thinks he knows everything...
Woo-hoo! The GT5 was to be my second scoot. The fit and finish on the Vento is great. Gorgeous wheels, too. My little Zip R3i was a little jewel. I wouldn't hesitate a nanosecond to buy another Vento. The neat thing about the Triton/GT5 is that the way the floorboard is designed, you've got MUCH more legroom than similiar large-frame scoots--you can hang your feet off the little footrests on the left and right side of the legshield. That Minarelli is a kickass little motor. Excellent Vento Yahoo Group
That's the exact one! A sexy little ride, and that little 49cc has a lot more snort than the four strokes I tried. The kid is beside hisself!! Thanks for the link Photog
Tell me more about your potential divestiture of the 495.... I am serious Now.... I bought my wife a Vento ZIP R3i (thanks Dave ). I put the mofo together Tuesday night, and aside from the stupid injector oil level sender leak that was a PITA to fix, she LOVES it. I rode the KTM 440EXC around the block with her, to the horror of the homeowner's association.