Hankering after a scooter...

[WD Forte]

One of my lads has a Street Triple but him and his mates with similar bikes all decided to buy 'cheap shitters' for summer laughs
( guess who's fixing it up though)
Its a Yiying Tommy aka Lexmoto Valencia and eleventy other names.
125 4 stroke, 152 QMI/GY6 lump, retro looking twist and go thing
Dead easy to get cheap parts for and simple things to work on.

I brought it back here to do the work on and I wouldn't mind a similar thing to hack about the city on, sod all that gear changing and clutchery when yer only off to the shops or part stores.
I know of a couple of bike shops that use them for just this purpose

you're not going burst into tears if you bash or scratch a cheap shitter are you?
Sod all that 'real biker' bollox, get yer legs akimbo on a scoot
gwan!
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bikers smell of wee

[mattyfattyboo...]

I had similar thoughts end of last summer, I've always had a scooter itch, since I was 13 and rode a Typhoon 80 around Crete.

I started looking about, I decided to go for something that had the biggest engine in the smallest bike. Looked at Runners, the 180/200 MK1 were too old and abused, the newer ones were still only 200 and not overly powerful. I didnt want a big touring type so in the end I went for a Piaggio BV350. It's a little larger than a Runner or a 125 size bike but not massive, still easy to chuck about and squeeze through traffic and has a 33bhp motor.

I got it end of September, not used it a huge amount but it's a right laugh to hoon about on. I just wack the throttle open, slight delay then it flies up the road, it's deceiving how fast you're going, I guess due to the lack of gears. It's returning 70mpg and thats with me ragging the nuts off it everywhere, sits at 80 easy, will do 90ish if you want it to. Loads of space for shit under the seat, I really enjoy it. The man maths was for it to be used for work through summer and save me some money but tbh even if I dont I'm still keeping it Yeah, some bikers will take the piss, but I dont care.

https://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y255/matt1chelski/Motorbikes/43E5546C-E3F0-450B-B9EF-BCB4B0F65ED2_zpsgkqkdzwo.jpg

My old man went and got a GTS300 which is good fun too, bit more nimble around town but not as quick or comfortable/stable as the BV at speed. We should have a laugh on them over summer.

https://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y255/matt1chelski/37E75739-9E10-4AED-B8A2-9FA6F1A1F8FC_zpsfdkr72nk.jpg

[oscar777]

I'd rather crawl through broken glass.
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Push bike with a 80cc jerry rigged 2 stroke---> CBR125R ---> GSXR600 ---> Ducati 1098SF

[grr666]

[daverave999]

Well I've got to say I'm surprised at the amount of love for scooters! So was my mrs.

I like the idea of biggest engine in smallest package, so will investigate stuff like the Piaggio BV350, thanks. Problem being that I've not really got enough room for another vehicle in the back garden, so it's going to have to be small to get into the front yard.

I'm feeling the same idea as others have mentioned that it's not something they want to care about. I think I just want something to nip to the shops on, and fancied an opportunity to play with an auto. Getting the V out is too much for that. Maybe even a 50 will do me, but if you're saying they're going to be ragged by the teens at my price range, I might look at something a bit different like the C90 or similar.

Will update if it goes anywhere...

[EDIT] I do like the more chavvy looking ones too, though I know that probably makes them more thievable. I'm just not keen on the Vespa look. Never saw myself as a Mod; it appears I'm quite happy with looking like a chav though.
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2007 Versys 650 2001 Yamaha XJ600S Diversion
HT: Imagine a bike......A bike designed by way of crude polls, assembled by cretins using the finest hammers that Lidl had on offer.

[Rogerborg]

[Shaft]

[stevo as b4]

I see plenty of people riding to work or just round town/to the shops on the more grown up sensible style of scooters at the moment. Its not just kids on noisy race piped 50's like it used to be.

I've grown up and changed too, and having a cheap little plastic simple fuel sipper that I don't particularly give the slightest shit about is appealing as a spare set or wheels or just a hack for fetching crap on, that I don't want to use my car for, which I'm too precious over to take out on every day A-B stuff anyway.

I'll keep one eye open for a 3-5year old cheap scooter of 100-250cc and get whatever comes up local and cheap, so I can use it when needed and leave it in the garden under a cover when I've got more exciting things to do like long awaited KMX tuning parts to fit and set up.

[mattyfattyboo...]

[haroman666]

[ScottT]

I understand your point about being conditioned into using a clutch lever, all i ever do at the lights is sit there with the back brake on and release the lever as i set off, just like using a clutch. I've never gone 5m and pulled my back brake to change gear though, and if i did its a cable operated rear drum its hardly likely to lock the wheel and throw me off!

[arry]

Can't say I had that issue riding a scooter. Don't have it riding a pushbike either.

[myvision]

I'm in the scooter club as well.
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VFR800FI, YZF600R Thundercat and FZS 1000

[Doink]

Scooters just feel too unstable for me, rode my mates PSX i think it was and he had some 300cc scooter too which was equally scary.

[andyscooter]

[kgm]

The only scooter I've ever ridden was a Forza 300 I rented in Mallorca. It felt more stable and was more comfortable with a pillion than my er6. Actually quite liked it. The suspension wasn't great with bumps though, quite jarring.

[daverave999]

Update: if I do eventually get one, it ain't going to have a small engine. This rules it out for the time being because of space constraints.

Tried a mate's CBF125 this weekend and OMFG those things are underpowered. Like riding a mountain bike powered by a sewing machine.
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2007 Versys 650 2001 Yamaha XJ600S Diversion
HT: Imagine a bike......A bike designed by way of crude polls, assembled by cretins using the finest hammers that Lidl had on offer.

[grr666]

My pal was just given a 2006 Yamaha Cygnus 125... For free. Was a runner and it even had some MOT.
We went and collected it on Saturday in my van.

Cygnus vs Xenter hijnks come the summer. Mate has to do his CBT first.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[myvision]

[thx1138]

I like my 50cc it's quite good fun.

[Marclev]

[thx1138]

I found with my 50 if I roll off the throttle on a steep hill it goes faster. I got 35 out of it with a closed throttle on a steep hill yesterday.

[barrkel]

[mattyfattyboo...]

[Adam80UK]

I'm on my second Honda SH300i, and I love it. But I expect something like that would be a larger footprint in your garage than you are looking for (when compared to a chav 50/125).
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Current: '07 Suzuki SV1000 & '07 Honda SH300i (again).
Previously owned: '08 Yamaha R1, '10 Kawasaki Z1000, '07 Honda SH300i, '04 Suzuki SV1000S, '11 Honda CB1000R, '09 Kawasaki ZX-10R, '08 Aprilia Tuono 1000R, '07 Triumph Daytona 675, '95 Honda CBR600F.