125 Scooters

[Globule]

Hi there.

Just saying hello and asking for a little advise.

Been riding for a few years, but I've always owned bigger engined bikes.

I'm thinking of getting a little 125 twist and go scooter as a fun commute to work. It's only about 10 miles and it'd be a fair weather/summer vehicle.

Don't fancy buying something new, as it would probably get nicked while I'm working, so was interested in something cheap and cheerful.

My main concern is, at what mileage would you guys consider a 125 scooter to be knackered?

I know it depends on how it's been treated and if it's been thrashed within an inch of it's life, but at what point does a little motor like that need a rebuild?

Any other insights into buying a small scooter are most welcome.

Thanks in advance.

[ThunderGuts]

Depends a bit on the scooter too and the age; some of the slightly older Jap stuff was still made in Japan, newer stuff is made all over the place. As you say, the life it's had and the servicing is probably the biggest factor. The problem is 125 scooters tend to be owned by a succession of inexperienced "don't care" youths who will thrash it from cold, never check the oil and generally abuse it before passing it to the next person for the same treatment. With those, I'd probably expect 20k miles and they'll be getting tired (generally too, not just the engine), perhaps even less. However, get something owned by some bloke who uses it to get the newspaper on a Sunday morning and has owned it for 10 years or something, and a similar mileage and it might be in excellent condition with loads of life left.

Other option is to get something less used by the CBT-bike-bashers, e.g. a Honda Wave with it's C90 style heel/toe gear change and semi-auto setup. I imagine these, because of their quirkiness, are far less likely to have the stereotypical 125 owner profile and will be a bit more "bike like" to ride too as you've got an engine mounted in the frame and some gears to play with. Probably less of a moped-crim target too as if they're using the scooters for crimes, you've got to mess about with gear changing (as opposed to twist-n-go which I imagine are better suited for the average scum).
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TG.

[Easy-X]

Hate to say it but you'd be better off with a 125 thrashed by a kid for a year while they wait for a car. Everything else will have been thrashed by Deliveroo dickheads
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[A100man]

[Weisse Schlange]

Next door has just bought a Honda 125 scoot from a D-D with 17k in it's 2 yrs.

I'll report back after I've given it the once over for him.

Generally, if you go down the twist and go 125 route, buy Japanese, or European.

Avoid Tiawanese and Chinese. Not because they are shit (most are) but because you'll never find a spare or a mechanic to work on it.
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Hing Oan

[WD Forte]

I was given a 2018 Honda vision 110cc that had done 42,000 miles
in 2 years doing Deliveroo
I had to fix damaged panels and neglect but basically it was sound
and the engine was sweet as a nut.
The guy now has a 2020 Honda SH125 and last time it was here it had clocked up well over 35,000 and you wouldn't have known it without looking at the clocks.
Probably at 40 thou now
I've had to fix road rash, drops, and theft attempt damage apart from service items but
TLDR: Honda, Yamaha or Suzuki

Vision 110cc a bit underpowered IMO
SH125 step through, good for constant on/off delivery
PCX125 leg over is sexier and wee bit nippier I'm told

If you have full license why not a bigger engined scoot?
a 250-300 will give you more get up and go and still be fairly economical and probably wont have suffered at the hands of yoofs and DDs
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bikers smell of wee

[ThunderGuts]

[Ayrton]

Just stay away from the Chinese scooters, I bought one for the girlfriend (AJS Modena) and it's been a bag of shite with something breaking every week. It's only got 3k miles on it and it's still awful.

I'd look for something Japanese under 20k miles.

Tbh they are a lot of fun to ride but they are just too slow so I'd at least try one before you put your money down on it.

[Globule]

Thanks for all the advice guys, some good info there.

I was looking to get a 125 because the missus will possibly want to use it occasionally, she thinks it will be fun.

I was considering a Honda/Yamaha 110cc , but thought they might be a bit under powered. Though I have seen a couple of nice ones advertised and they seem to attract the more 'mature' rider and are better looked after.

I'm also tempted to get one from a salvage dealer, I'd consider a bit of road rash an advantage, might put off potential 'tea leafs'

[jeffyjeff]

I had a Yamaha Riva 125 for a short time. That bike performed surprisingly well. It would get up to 60 easily. Occasionally you find them for sale at very reasonable price. Found this one on the second click. Needs work, not from being abused, but mainly from the neglect of sitting idle for 30 years. Really not a bad looking scooter.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52547654302_4b44b6c1ee_c.jpg
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History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of men - BOC

[arry]

When I go out to Greece I hire a 125 or a 150 Kymco Agility - all of them have 15k ish on the clocks and are invariably trouble free and ride well.

[ThunderGuts]

"Underpowered" is a relative term too remember. My C90 is 86cc and 8bhp, but on the road there's little in it between that and a modern CB125F, with the latter maybe able to rake in another 5-10mph top end at a push, but the C90 is still good for 55mph and never feels underpowered in urban environments. Just saying this before you discount 110cc bikes.
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TG.

[dave001]

if always figger scooters are for kids or those with a death wish

for the life of my why any one would chose one over a small bike say even a 125 or a 250 escapes me

lately round my way what is with sccoter rider hang the feet out on bends seems none of round here know what pegs or foot boards are for and dont seem to want to keep there feet and trainers

[Fat Angry Scotsman]

[chickenstrip]

I've only ever ridden a scooter once (and it was a 125), and I hated it.
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[dave001]

[chickenstrip]

My ride on a scooter was funny. Kept grabbing for the clutch, which made things interesting
But horrible, wobbly thing, like riding a child's toy.
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[WD Forte]

I'd never owned a scooter before and was asked if I'll get another bike and
that was hard to answer because I dont like what I can afford and cant afford what I'd like.
I'm not going into debt for some cool/sexy/sporty/real biker bullshit
I've done my time on 'real bikes' and too old to care anyway.

I don't do the big rides and rallies anymore so for a comfy, light biddable hack
this 250 Majesty ticks all the boxes and I actually enjoy riding it !
Its fun!

It's so easy and relaxing to ride in a city, no constant clutch grabs and slipping,
no tap dancing on the gear change, just twist and go
It'll do about 80-85 flat out and cruise at an easy 60 all day long and I estimate the mpg to be around 80 ish so not as frugal as a 125 but much comfier and enjoyable.
It has a shit ton of storage under the seat and I added some of my own gadgets like 12v and USB power sockets in the front pocket, the back rest is nice when cruising on say dual a carriageway

bikers smell of wee anyway

https://imgur.com/9G3AMwx.jpg
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bikers smell of wee

[chickenstrip]

[dave001]

[ThunderGuts]

I can't speak for scooters per se (as the Cub isn't one!) but the first time I hopped on the Cub it terrified me. It was wobbly, lethargic, I felt really vulnerable and immediately began to question if just giving the seller a wad of cash for this thing was a bad move. It wasn't. I just had to get used to it and relearn motorcycle handling. The wobbliness is actually agility, it's just if you're new to it it feels like instability - once used to it, it's like a mountain bike, you can get away with turns and antics a bigger bike could only dream of. The lethargy translates into learning to conserve speed and make the most out of what you've got. Think go-kart racing - that's fun even though most are pretty pedestrian. Once I was confident chucking it about and keeping the speed up, the vulnerability vanished too (apart from NSL dual carriageways; they can still be exciting).

To put it another way, if my Viffer is "thrilling", my Cub is "fun".
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TG.

[slowasyoulike]

Mileage isn't the be all and end all when looking at a 2nd hand machine. I'd be more interested in general condition - has it been abused to within an inch of it's life, or is there evidence of actual servicing etc?

Don't go near anything Chinese, even if the seller offers to pay you to take it away. I would not entertain anything 2-stroke either, as these will inevitably have been thrashed mercilessly, modified appallingly with 'race' parts and repeatedly thrown up the road by a whole generation of teenage scrotes.

For the sort of usage you're proposing I'd be looking at the Honda SH125 or the Wave/Innova (yes, I know the latter aren't scooters...). These are generally favoured by the more mature rider, so you've more chance of getting something that's had an easier life and actually been serviced once in a while. Buy a decent lock and chain, though, as scum will try and steal it.

I've had an older (pre-FI) Innova and it was pretty nippy for something with only 110cc at its disposal. It handles decently on its big wheels, and has better brakes and lights than the old Cub. It's only good for about 55mph but it gets there fairly quickly, and it's great for picking your way through city traffic. If I was in a position where I needed to commute to work again I'd have another one in a flash.