Any Scooter commuters?

[instigator]

Hi

As the question is posed in the title, do we have any Scooter commuters on this forum? Preferably input from those who currently have a big bike license and experience on larger machines but ride/have ridden small cc scooters.

Since I've been down in London, I've commuted on all sorts of machines, in this order:

GSXR-1000
CBR929RR
SV650
GPZ500
GSXR-600 SRAD
GSF1200
VFR400
VTR1000F
and finally back to a GSXR-1000.

I always loved my first GSXR and that's why I have another one - it's perfect for my lazy style of riding, be it out in the country side or motorway plodding up to Scotland. However, it is completely shit for commuting in central London and I need something else. I find it very frustrating sticking to 30mph, especially since it is down-geared. My commute is not long - 6 miles one way. I would cycle it if I could trust the other drivers but there are several junctions in the way that I would not wish to negotiate.

So, I want a scooter. I hate myself for it because the vast majority of scooter commuters are complete nobs. However, the attraction of a twist-and-go style ride on my commute would be great as would not caring if it got scuffed/dented.

Prerequisites

-> Cheap (<£700?- fixer uppers are fine)
-> Reliable
-> More than 50cc.
-> Not a 2 stroke. (I hate the sound of 2 stroke scooters so wouldn't want to inflict it on others)

I'm thinking Vespa ET4 125 but would appreciate others inputs.

https://www.urbanbikes.co.uk/acatalog/ET4_125_250x212.jpg

[lukamon]

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/upload/252078/images/01honda-c90.jpg

fake "vespas" are horrid
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killa wrote: Im an ass man myself

[instigator]

I am considering a C90 should one pop up for the right price.Would just prefer a Vespa as they 'appear' slightly less nickable. And they should be heavier which is good as it'll act as a ground anchor when chained to my gsxr.

[Al]

I commute on a Vespa PX125 Its a 2001 but one of the classic styled ones with gears.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/big_al/P1210041.jpg

2 stroke so probably not what your after but the gears do make riding a little more fun. Its really heavy though as everything is made of metal, which is probably the reason its so bloody slow
The build quality and paint is pretty poor, but they are simple to work on and parts are really cheap and easy to get hold of as the design is so old now.
It has a glove box but ideally I'd like underseat helmet storage aswell.

If you're used to riding motorbikes like me, that have a fairly even weight split, riding a scooter with all the weight over the back wheel and nothing over the front feels a bit scary! The front just feels really light like its going to washout all the time.
But for hacking through city centre traffic there the perfect tool.
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Yamaha FZR400RR 3tj
My Instagram Thingy

[Paivi]

Vespa GT125 for the past seven years. Beats a 620 Monster from the City to Parsons Green by about 10 minutes.

Commuting on anything but a scoot just doesn't make any sense to me.
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My other bike's a Monster...

[calyx]

honda lead must be the best bike for dodgy london roads.
Cheap and never asks for service. 2007 lead is air cooled and would be good for you.

Keeping a cheap scooter and a proper bike is not that expensive.
Yes, people will say "you are a homo" but dont worry, they are just jealous bikers in full leathers.
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Boris - London

[nowhere.elysium]

I have to admit, aside from pose factor, I can't honestly think of any good reason for having anything larger than a 125 in town anyway.

I was going to look at C90s on ebay for you just now, but I'd better not, in case I find one that I can afford...
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[Whosthedaddy]

I used to commute on a 2t 100cc ped when I was in Adelaide, South Australia.

It did me proud on the economy, nippiness between the lights and general toughness of dealing with all the pot holes and cracks thanks to its big wheels and suspension.

Never really had a chance to max it out as speed limits where a chore and Police shit hot. Soon got up to 80kph and kept pulling so more than enough for urban riding, not really a motorway bike but like I said, did me proud.
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Mark65]

If i had to use one it would be the yamaha city or x max i think its called but if money was tight the honda ps looks solid.
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07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650

[nick.h]

I brought a pug elyseo 125 for my daily commute, was continuing to ride my gsx600f for a few months but eventually sold it to buy a car (a sin I know). So I'm just on the scooter now but it does the job.

The bike itself was the cheapest thing I could find on eBay at the time, cost 190, mot was 50 and insurance is 100, and that's without using any ncb (I have 4). The bikes done almost 30k now and doubt it will see it's next mot.

My advice would be to just stay branded and try pick up something low milage, but personally I wouldn't worry about crash damage, obviously most of these machines have been owned by kids.
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[Italjet MM5A] ll [Rieju RS1 Evolution] ll [Suzuki GS500e] ll [Suzuki GSX600F] ll [Honda CG125] ll [Pug Elyseo 125] ll [Yamaha YZF750R] ll [Yamaha Thunderace] ll [Yamaha R6] ll [Triumph 955i] ll [Hayabusa RZK3] ll [Suzuki RGV250] ll

[neil.]

C90 - Chip pan oil FTW
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Peugeot's have slightly iffy immobilisers but it's easy to fix/work around and they do stop kids from riding it away on the spot.

C90's are generally over-inflated in price in London due to people wanting to use them for the knowledge and/or are dogs for what you pay so I'd avoid them unless you buy from far away.

[craigs23]

Why not get a CG or something?

More reliable, just as cheap to run, arguably easier to work on.

Only other bike which comes close (well, better really), is a C90 or similar.

Wouldn't go near a Vespa - I'd be worried my Dad would keep starting a fight with me for no reason.

[instigator]

[cannondale-rider]

what about something like the older gilera runners they do a 125 4 stroke it think but im not to sure

[sickpup]

The top non-geared 125 cc bike for courier use is the Honda Dylan these days. VERY reliable and cheap to run but not incredibly cheap to buy.

For a slightly larger capacity take a look at the Honda SH300.

[Paivi]

[instigator]

[G]

[Skynet-T800]

I've got me a chinese scooter which I commute on daily.
The R6 is a ball ache on my 6 mile commute but I live in cumbria so my ball ache would be your heavan!

This is what got me into biking and helped me build up confidence.

It's one year old and a rusty little git. Get what u pay for I suppose.

Passed DAS with no faults and now using the R6 as my toy never had issues with hopping from one to the other. Both are great fun scoot obvioulsy feels unstable if you give it some but it's all good.

[instigator]

[Paivi]

[G]

London does tend to be a bit busier for cars I admit. However, plenty of reasonably fast cars around in some parts of London and some do put their foot down - mine's still ok by today's standards, but nothing amazing really (at best a 125 2 stroke might keep level 'till 30 if they really tried).

As far as grunt goes - a 125 definitely limits what you can do, say when there's another space three cars in front and there's an oncoming car. I know with my zx9 that I can open it up and be in the gap hard on the brakes despite the 60mph closing distance in a situation you'd have no chance on a 125 commuter/road bike.

[instigator]

I could see your point if I lived further out in the sticks - a 125 would be the bare minimum with a preference for a 200 or 300cc.

However, Zone 2 to zone 1 commute = always less than 40mph anyway...and that's breaking the law by 10mph.

[G]

My 6.2mile commute is just over half 30mph. I am, I admit, tempted by to make my FX electric, which would probably be pretty slow, but would put even a CG down as expensive to run, presuming I could get a cheap source of dodgy batteries. Will probably save it for if/when I move a bit closer and aren't battling the A4 for the entire journey.

On that, electric push-bikes offer some very interesting possibilities, but you have questionable (well, none at all) legality to get decent speeds out of them and not have a numberplate.