I'm considering getting a scooter...

[Milo]

Yeah I know...
Well the XJ900's all well and good but I'm sure it's doing no long term good for the bike with many daily short journeys everywhere.
There's no way I'l be getting rid of this bike so I'm looking at getting a nice reliable 100+cc scooter that'll be good for the winter as the XJ's not exactly light for the slippery conditions!
I don't want a 50, or a cub and I can't be arsed to buy oil all the time.
The Honda Lead looks good and spot on for my needs but I don't want to buy new, even though it's cheaper new than most second hand 50's in dealers!

Obviously I want to spend as little as possible but it's something that I'll be keeping for a long time so I want it to last.

Cheers in advance for the info.

Adam
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Shaft drives rule.

[M1ke]

Ok in my opinion scooters are over rated especially for winter use.

Yes they are absolutely ideal for short journies but when you drop them they have fairing too... Plus with it been an automatic I find it makes the rear wheel spin easier in ice as you can't control the clutch slippage.

I recomend a cheap geared 125cc such as the cg125 or SR125. If you drop them nothing breaks. Plus you have that extra control on ice having a manual clutch and gears.

Thats my opinion anyway.

[Visitor Q]

[Frost]

i think 125 4 stroke is a good idea. No gears would be a good idea for inner city use.

[Bendy]

I had a little 100cc 2stroke scooter - rode it in all weathers for nearly 2 years and never had any problem in wet or ice, thing just gripped no matter what.

It was incredibly cheap to run, got knocked over by dopey parkers all the time but never sustained anything more than a few scuffs and was great in traffic cos it was 'nippy' and I really didn't care about dropping it.

I've since ridden a 4 stroke 125 scooter and it felt spectacularly gutless - not sure if that's just cos I'm used to the CBR or if they really have less poke than the 2 strokes. A guy I work with is picking up a new 2 stroke 125 Vespa ripoff next week and I'm quite interested to try it and see how it stacks up against the others I've tried.

[JonB]

I know you aren't looking for a 50cc, but I will give you this information. 4 Strokes last a lot longer and seem to go faster than my 2 stroke (though that could be my restrictor is better) but my mates 4 stroke struggles a great deal up hills, she could be doing nearly 50 down a hill then as soon as she comes to go up a hill she slows down to about 25? I end up overtaking her up the hills as mine travels up hills at about 35MPH.

I don't know if this is the samefor all 4strokes mind you.
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[Milo]

Cheers for the info but in theory and practice an auto bike would surely be nippier?
I know the power will be a huge drop but to work and back through the traffic it shouldn't be too much slower - though I will miss the tyre shredding catapult style jumps from gap to gap I love doing.
I wonder if I could blag a scooter from a local dealer on an extended test drive and see how I like it.
Unless anyone's got one going "spare" I could have a ride on?
I've only ever ridden bikes so I've no ideas about the little'uns and what they're like to drive.

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Shaft drives rule.

[Bendy]

You should easily get a test ride on any scooter from a dealer, it's not like you're an L-plater newbie who's just done his CBT.

Just remember, that lever on the left is the back brake. Not the clutch. I did some 'interesting' stops while re-adjusting to that concept when I was given an SH125 courtesy bike.

[headlamp]

Until quite recntly I had a Piaggio Vespa ET4. Single cylinder 4 stroke 125cc. The bodywork protects from the cold in winter and it was very manouverable. I miss it for my trips into the West End!
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[Marc_Buck]

I am not sure whether this is the same with all, but my derestricted 50cc piaggio zip sp 2 stroker is roughly the same speed as my friends yamaha maxster 125cc 4stroker (bearing in mind, 4 stroker peds hard to derestrict, so i have heard) and around the bends, hills and braking i am quicker. (Or am i just a better rider?).

[JonB]

[Harold_Shand]

If it's definetley a scooty you want and you've made your mind up on that, I would suggest a Gilera Runner 125. I've only got experience of this one machine, but it's been very reliable ( with regular servicing since new ) and brilliant to get about on... everything goes on the back wheel. £7 will fill the tank and for that you will get 100 miles around town.
A Cg125 would also be a good bet, but being used to an XJ900 I'm sure you won't take being done at the lights by an Escort full of spotty youths well at all. Runners are surprisingly quick off the mark and you can get a nice distance between you and following traffic. NB You will not beat a Mini Cooper S
Expect to pay £1000-1500 for a good second hand one, loads have had a good thrashing so watch out.
Exhausts rust quickly, but a bit of Hammerite every 6 months keeps it looking sweet and not corroding too much.
Expect to see the arrogant side of bikers... overtaking very closeley, wheelies at the lights, following right up your arse when filtering and worst of all NEVER returning a nod.
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Harold_Shand's theory might be the best explanation.

[Milo]

I think I do want a ped but something nippier than a 125 would be nice. Ok, so there's a two-stroke option but I really can't be arsed with the oil if there's a 4-stroke option for me.
I'm sure I'll have no probs getting a test drive (having just turnd 21), but what about a longer one - like a whole day? Hopefully I can scrounge one.

Any experience of 200cc+ scoots? I'd like enough power to seperate me from the ped boi's (no offence intended) but I don't want something as huge as a silverwing or bergman as they're heavy.

Also do larger wheels on scooters make that much difference? I'd assume so but has anyone got any experience?

cheers
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Shaft drives rule.

[Bendy]

[Harold_Shand]

Heavy and expensive too. Only experience I've had of a Runner VX200 was watching it dissappear in to the sunset. My Runner is a 2 stroke ( stopped making 2t in 2000, X reg ) and is nippy, had no idea the one that pulled up next to me was a 200 and watched in amazement as it kept on accelarating well past my 70mph comfort zone, must have been doing 90mph. I can hear the smiles forming, but to us with small wheels that is very impressive. Not that much in price difference either, but a bit harder to flog on. Why have a scooter if you have a full licence? Bloke at a garage near me doesn't have any thing to do with them.
If you really want bigger wheels that leaves you with the DNA (scooter/motobike 'hybrid') or the Honda Innova ( ) or some horrible Aprillia thing that appeals to city types. Best thing to do is watch where you're going and avoid pot holes etc If you do look at Runners, then good. But buy a BIG chain and be prepared also for things to go missing from it. (Mirrors, panels etc) Bastards. Little Bastards.
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BCF's 6th favourite poster 2009-2010

Harold_Shand's theory might be the best explanation.

[bikedudextrm]

You think the xj is bad in the wet, i've had 2 scooters and they are really dogey in the wet. My last one was a aprilia sr125 which i was using when my cagiva was being rebuilt, it was rubbish in the wet, all the weight is on the back and it used to like sliding out on me. I had to go round corners very slowly and stay as straight ( no) as i could in the wet.
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[Milo]