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Post by mikestib1 on Nov 24, 2015 14:18:39 GMT -5
Bought a Bintelli 49 in July, put a 72 cc kit but still had problems going up hill and riding on roads with 35 mph speed limits which car drivers drive 45. Even with my 45 mph top speed downhill the 10 inch wheels that made it so nimble at low speeds and its 170 pound weight made it pretty nervous as it was designed for a lower top speed. Sold it and bought a 150 Wolf. 12 inch wheels, 40 pounds heavier and 55 mph makes it ideal in town. Chinese scooters are simple, easy to do basic maintenance, and if you buy the right brands, like I did, have local dealer support. Still have the 150 Wolf but got a great deal on a Kymco People 300 which is water cooled, very powerful, top speed of  mph and twice as heavy as the Bintelli and 100 pounds heavier than the 150. The Kymcos 16 inch wheels make it stable but no more nimble than a 300 Ninja. Luckily I paid $3400 for a leftover and Scooternerds delivered it to me even though I live 100 miles away. Luckily I can afford 2 scooters. My 900 Triumph Scramblet is for sale. May buy another motorcycle but for now scooters give me the most grins per mile and per dollar. Yeah my first bike was a Honda Step thru 50 I bought used in 1965, 49cc 3 speed automatic clutch. Just keep scooting! |
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Post by wheelbender6 on Nov 24, 2015 17:46:53 GMT -5
Its reassuring to see that you still enjoy riding scooters after owning a great bike like the Triumph Scrambler. Post some pics of all your scoots and the scrambler.
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Post by rockynv on Nov 27, 2015 10:43:31 GMT -5
I keep test sitting and riding bigger motorcycles and scooters and once you get past 20 hp and 80 mph its hard to justify more especially for a single rider. The Commando 850 was fun back in the day but it did not get 70+ mpg and was not that much fun to move around to pull out of the garage. The 250/300/350cc fuel injected sport scooters with 15" or 16" wheels are the ideal all around bikes for daily use and weekend trips/touring. Light, economical, quiet and efficient yet interstate capable.
It is comical at work to see guys fussing with 1+ liter bikes that get fewer mpg than my Fiat Spider trying to back them out of parking spaces when they leave or fussing to turn them around and back them in every morning when they ride them into the office so they won't have to walk them backwards out of a parking space afterwards. Not much fun especially when its over 100 degrees in the parking area.
Having to stop in traffic on a banked curve balancing an 800 cruiser is not that great either especially with the heat coming straight up at you from the cylinder heads and the hot air from the cooling system and radiant heat from the header pipes roasting your thighs and calfs.
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Post by SylvreKat on Nov 27, 2015 22:52:34 GMT -5
Hey!  What about the 200cc Italian with 16" wheels?! Just 'cause I won't go interstate doesn't mean Peej isn't capable of it. At least that's what Piggy tells me.... >'Kat |
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Post by rockynv on Nov 28, 2015 10:33:39 GMT -5
Hey! What about the 200cc Italian with 16" wheels?! Just 'cause I won't go interstate doesn't mean Peej isn't capable of it. At least that's what Piggy tells me.... >'Kat The more current 200's I am not on-board with since they are not Master or Legend powered so the reliability factor may not be quite there. However the Fuel Injected 250/300's from 2008 forward will be better lot suited than the Carbureted 200 engines from the mid 2000's since the computer will be less likely allow it to lean out and burn the valves or piston tops when run close to wide open making it a more realistic ride for the interstate. On State Highways with 60 mph limits the 200 will run all day long at 65 mph but not really going to work out on a 70 mph interstate trying to deal with 75/ mph traffic. To jump on the Interstate occasionally to jump 1 or maybe 2 exits the older Carbureted 200 was passable but it is really not going to hold up being pushed for long distances. They also made some Rotax 150cc engines that Aprilia used that were capable of hitting 70+ mph however they would not do it for a long time and those that pushed them usually ended up throwing a rod and destroying the engines. You stand a much better chance of getting 50,000+ miles of service from the Fuel Injected 250cc and above Piaggios if you ride the Interstates. |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Nov 29, 2015 19:35:26 GMT -5
I'm in agreement with all of you... AMAZING? Nah, we're all pretty similar...
Over the past 55 years, I've probably ridden a million miles, built several Harley choppers, a BSA Hornet 650 café racer, a few Triumphs and Enfields, one Honda 305 Super Hawk (which might have been the BEST all-round bike of all!) a Honda 500 4-cylinder, a Harley 74 bagger, a Suzuki Hustler 250 6-speed, two Yamaha Twin-Jet 100's (1 early pressed-steel and 1 late tube-frame) and one McCulloch-powered 100+ mph mini-bike... Oh, and my FIRST bike, a HOREX 500 cc single, unknown year, a WWII G.I. bring-back from England... Very cool... looked like a BSA Victor! But parts made of "unobtainium". Couldn't keep it running after a season.
Now, at 69 years old, VERY arthritic and not as quick as I was decades ago, I too am sold on scooters! And, they've gotta be under 400 pounds, FLAT-FLOOR, step-through, and nimble enough for city/manual "walking" to park AND still hit 70 mph when needed.
THAT pretty much limits it to Italian scoots, and Taiwanese rides.
Based on my experience, I think you'd be hard-pressed to beat that new Kymco 300! Even my old 250 Grandvista is every bit as satisfying a ride as my old Harley bagger on the road, and superior in tight traffic!
Ride on and ENJOY the ride!
Leo in Texas
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Post by urbanmadness on Nov 30, 2015 15:51:47 GMT -5
I had a 500cc Aprillia that was absolutely awesome on the interstates. It just wasn't a great slow speed bike, it was very top heavy (my 1500cc gold wing is easier to deal with in parking lots and stop and go traffic, even with the clutch) That said, it was an absolute joy on the open road only second to the gold wings I've ridden, and that's saying a ton.
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Post by rockynv on Dec 1, 2015 12:39:43 GMT -5
I had a 500cc Aprillia that was absolutely awesome on the interstates. It just wasn't a great slow speed bike, it was very top heavy (my 1500cc gold wing is easier to deal with in parking lots and stop and go traffic, even with the clutch) That said, it was an absolute joy on the open road only second to the gold wings I've ridden, and that's saying a ton. That is why they returned it to its roots in 2006 coming out with the Scarabeo 500ie (Light) giving the best of both worlds with better city manners and great interstate performance. Scarabeo 500 GT(Heavy)/Atlantic 500:  Scarabeo 500ie(Light)  Sport City 250:  |
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Post by urbanmadness on Dec 1, 2015 16:21:05 GMT -5
The scoot on the top is the one I had. The newer version is just like the Piaggio Beverly. My buddy has one of those, and I didn't like riding it as well as the big Scarabreo. They ride completely different.
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Post by rockynv on Dec 1, 2015 23:15:50 GMT -5
I didn't like the Beverly 500 as much as the Scarabeo 500 Heavy or Light either.
The Aprilia frames are made independent of the Piaggio and tended to outperform them using the same engines which probably is part of the reason why Piaggio no longer allows Aprilia access to scooter engines over 50cc.
They still make the 850cc scooter because its an engine that they designed and manufacture themselves. The 850cc Aprilia engine is getting to be more popular since John Deere started using it to power their high performance Gators and it could get interesting if others start building CVT bikes with it.
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mph and twice as heavy as the Bintelli and 100 pounds heavier than the 150. The Kymcos 16 inch wheels make it stable but no more nimble than a 300 Ninja. Luckily I paid $3400 for a leftover and Scooternerds delivered it to me even though I live 100 miles away. Luckily I can afford 2 scooters. My 900 Triumph Scramblet is for sale. May buy another motorcycle but for now scooters give me the most grins per mile and per dollar. Yeah my first bike was a Honda Step thru 50 I bought used in 1965, 49cc 3 speed automatic clutch. Just keep scooting!
