Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 28, 2013 12:27:24 GMT -5
Well guys and gals,
My little town has grown up overnight, and the lazy-cruise surface streets have been totally re-designed to speed traffic flow. 35 mph streets are now mostly 45-50 mph limit multi-lanes with access and exits to monster clover-leaf interchanges. This means traffic runs a steady 55 to 70+++ mph in ALL lanes, regardless of the speed-limit.
Even when I can get my Chinese 150 up past 50 mph, I'm a MAJOR impediment to surrounding traffic. Constant running 20 mph SLOWER than surrounding traffic is pure suicide. An impatient driver stuck behind me for more than a block gets SO ticked-off that he or she is VERY likely to simply run over me. That kind of vehicular-assault is getting common, and the police are NOT siding with the riders... Not to mention at 67 years old next month, I don't relish "eating pavement" at 50 mph. NOT good!
After six years of enjoying the cheap, simple air-cooled 150 experience, it's time to plan a way to move up to something that will at least "sorta" run with traffic. On a limited, fixed-income, that will be a challenge... Last week, I rode a Honda 600cc motorcycle to see if my arthritic old bones would take to a "climb-up-on" bike again, and it's no-go. From now on, I guess I'm a "step-through" scooter-jockey... And, I'm also partial to the no-shift CVT trannies.
I'm seeing vendors advertising here with 250 and bigger scoots for under $3,000 delivered. Also finding used scoots like the Honda 250 Reflex for similar prices. I have NOT been impressed with Chinese quality (though it's certainly great for the money spent) and I'm VERY leery about a Chinese 250... Adding liquid-cooling to the already-dismal quality equation seems like a guaranteed, sure-fire formula for all-wrenching, and no-riding.
Question is, Are the LATEST Chinese 250 and 300cc scoots ACTUALLY worth a try for serious transportation? Or, is it best to go with a mid-miles used Japanese 250 like the Honda Reflex? Something tells me the used Honda or similar is the safest bet, though the sweet NEW Chinese 250's are mighty tempting. I'm just getting too old and arthritic for constant wrenching like I did this summer, and, bigger water-cooled scooter parts are not as cheap and available as the air-cooled 150 GY6 parts.
My current ride is running SWEET right now, has everything "problematical-Chinese" replaced, and looks good. It should now be good for several seasons, so I'm thinking I might get $500 or so for it from a buyer looking for a sharp little "pre-wrenched" reliable ride on-campus, or strictly on low-speed side-streets. (Riding season here is nearly year-round, except for Christmas season). Over the winter, I may also be able to sell off some personal items (like firearms) to add to a "kitty" to shop with.
Bottom line is traffic around here is now to the point that it's just NOT safe to be on anything that won't cruise 65 and spurt to over 70 when necessary. I realize that situation is stretching the performance capabilities a little even with a 250, but I think a 250-300 while still VERY slow compared with 4-wheeled traffic, would at least be "useable" with caution. I'm under NO illusion that a 250 will run anything like the traffic, but hopefully, would run close enough to keep from getting run over. I just can't afford anything larger, and don't really want to mess with a bigger, heavier, expensive-to-insure bike either.
Times have changed radically since I first got "Lil Bubba" 6 years ago, when 50 mph was "useable" though marginal. Today, the crappiest, bottom-feeder grocery-getter car will do 0-60 in 7 seconds, and cruise WAY over 100 mph all day long. And drivers keep their right foot to the floor EVERYWHERE. If your scoot won't crawl along, hiding in the slow lane at a snail-pace of 65 mph, you are ROAD-KILL waiting to happen. Same goes NOW on city surface streets with 45 mph limits, where right-lane traffic runs a constant 60 and left-lane traffic at 70-80 mph.
Times have changed a LOT and traffic has gotten MEAN. It's time to get a scooter that will at least maintain a steady 65 mph, and accelerate fast enough to keep cars from driving over the right curb, and passing me on the grass. Yes, cars and trucks (especially trucks) WILL and DO that, tearing up the greenery and showering me with sod... Yup... They do that!
I'm planning NOW for next summer... Looking for advice: NEW Chinese or USED Japanese (or possibly Taiwanese) like Kymco. A NICE Kymco 250 low-miles scoot just ended on eBay with a $1,000 buy-it-now and NO buyer! Cheesh... THAT was a bargain even with $600 shipping from New York! Any scoot I consider, has got to be under $3,000 delivered, so it WILL be a challenge.
Any advice is most welcome!
Leo (trying to run with the burly soccer-moms) in Texas
My little town has grown up overnight, and the lazy-cruise surface streets have been totally re-designed to speed traffic flow. 35 mph streets are now mostly 45-50 mph limit multi-lanes with access and exits to monster clover-leaf interchanges. This means traffic runs a steady 55 to 70+++ mph in ALL lanes, regardless of the speed-limit.
Even when I can get my Chinese 150 up past 50 mph, I'm a MAJOR impediment to surrounding traffic. Constant running 20 mph SLOWER than surrounding traffic is pure suicide. An impatient driver stuck behind me for more than a block gets SO ticked-off that he or she is VERY likely to simply run over me. That kind of vehicular-assault is getting common, and the police are NOT siding with the riders... Not to mention at 67 years old next month, I don't relish "eating pavement" at 50 mph. NOT good!
After six years of enjoying the cheap, simple air-cooled 150 experience, it's time to plan a way to move up to something that will at least "sorta" run with traffic. On a limited, fixed-income, that will be a challenge... Last week, I rode a Honda 600cc motorcycle to see if my arthritic old bones would take to a "climb-up-on" bike again, and it's no-go. From now on, I guess I'm a "step-through" scooter-jockey... And, I'm also partial to the no-shift CVT trannies.
I'm seeing vendors advertising here with 250 and bigger scoots for under $3,000 delivered. Also finding used scoots like the Honda 250 Reflex for similar prices. I have NOT been impressed with Chinese quality (though it's certainly great for the money spent) and I'm VERY leery about a Chinese 250... Adding liquid-cooling to the already-dismal quality equation seems like a guaranteed, sure-fire formula for all-wrenching, and no-riding.
Question is, Are the LATEST Chinese 250 and 300cc scoots ACTUALLY worth a try for serious transportation? Or, is it best to go with a mid-miles used Japanese 250 like the Honda Reflex? Something tells me the used Honda or similar is the safest bet, though the sweet NEW Chinese 250's are mighty tempting. I'm just getting too old and arthritic for constant wrenching like I did this summer, and, bigger water-cooled scooter parts are not as cheap and available as the air-cooled 150 GY6 parts.
My current ride is running SWEET right now, has everything "problematical-Chinese" replaced, and looks good. It should now be good for several seasons, so I'm thinking I might get $500 or so for it from a buyer looking for a sharp little "pre-wrenched" reliable ride on-campus, or strictly on low-speed side-streets. (Riding season here is nearly year-round, except for Christmas season). Over the winter, I may also be able to sell off some personal items (like firearms) to add to a "kitty" to shop with.
Bottom line is traffic around here is now to the point that it's just NOT safe to be on anything that won't cruise 65 and spurt to over 70 when necessary. I realize that situation is stretching the performance capabilities a little even with a 250, but I think a 250-300 while still VERY slow compared with 4-wheeled traffic, would at least be "useable" with caution. I'm under NO illusion that a 250 will run anything like the traffic, but hopefully, would run close enough to keep from getting run over. I just can't afford anything larger, and don't really want to mess with a bigger, heavier, expensive-to-insure bike either.
Times have changed radically since I first got "Lil Bubba" 6 years ago, when 50 mph was "useable" though marginal. Today, the crappiest, bottom-feeder grocery-getter car will do 0-60 in 7 seconds, and cruise WAY over 100 mph all day long. And drivers keep their right foot to the floor EVERYWHERE. If your scoot won't crawl along, hiding in the slow lane at a snail-pace of 65 mph, you are ROAD-KILL waiting to happen. Same goes NOW on city surface streets with 45 mph limits, where right-lane traffic runs a constant 60 and left-lane traffic at 70-80 mph.
Times have changed a LOT and traffic has gotten MEAN. It's time to get a scooter that will at least maintain a steady 65 mph, and accelerate fast enough to keep cars from driving over the right curb, and passing me on the grass. Yes, cars and trucks (especially trucks) WILL and DO that, tearing up the greenery and showering me with sod... Yup... They do that!
I'm planning NOW for next summer... Looking for advice: NEW Chinese or USED Japanese (or possibly Taiwanese) like Kymco. A NICE Kymco 250 low-miles scoot just ended on eBay with a $1,000 buy-it-now and NO buyer! Cheesh... THAT was a bargain even with $600 shipping from New York! Any scoot I consider, has got to be under $3,000 delivered, so it WILL be a challenge.
Any advice is most welcome!
Leo (trying to run with the burly soccer-moms) in Texas
..BAD TO THE BONE..
