New to scooters. Eugene, Oregon.  By  Skunk Shampoo (Read 3,936 times)

Thanks for all of the feedback, everyone. I'm starting to get a better understanding of what I'm looking for.

SylvreKat Thanks for the great suggestions. I won't be able to afford anything now, but that gives me some ideas of what is out there.

I think what I will do is save up for a name brand 150cc off of Craig's List for around 1,000. I figure that'll take around 6 months. While I wait for that, I can study up for the tests and look into the safety class. I think the class is $150 here. With the costs of the tests, class, insurance, safety gear, and scooter, that's a lot of saving up!

After that, I'm thinking of saving up for something bigger for the long distance trips. As Doug and Shalomrider suggested, I'm planning on getting something 250cc or more. Hopefully I can find something good on Craig's List. That Yamaha Morphous did look great, but I'm sure deals like that are very rare . In any case, I will have plenty of time to find the perfect scoot.

As for Chinese scooters, I would like to give one a go but I don't think I'm in a good area to own one. 6 miles up into the woods, I'm afraid I won't be able to push it back up the road if something goes wrong. I do like the idea of working on one though. It sounds like a great way to build mechanical experience.

Just saying,
There's a big difference between a 350+ LBS (usually 200+cc) bike, and a <300 LBS <150cc scooter.
I personally prefer agility, the light weight of a 50cc scooter, however some 150cc scooters are just about as light in weight, and very agile!

I think many people on the forum would agree that a 150 generally has power enough to cruise around, and more fun to ride than a motorcycle.
For me personally, if I ever have to drag the bike, even if it was out of a garage, everytime I was going to ride, then give me something less than 300LBS. So much more fun and easy; not to mention, you can still push a bike like this, while most 250cc bikes are heavy; and with a flat tire or out of gas, you will have a hard time pushing.

You're welcome, Skunks. Yeah, there seem to be some real good deals on CL if you're just patient and don't jump on the first one you find. I took the Dave Ramsey course and he says keep in control instead of your emotions being in control. That way even if you LOVE what you're looking to buy, if you stay in control you keep your bargaining.

Easy to say, hard to pull off sometimes. I didn't with my scoot. Although I did talk them into a free helmet and license etc!

Re: the safety class. Consider it like the gear--it's gonna' keep you safer than without it. Seriously. I've used the skills taught driving my car. Came darn close to avoiding getting backed into with the swerve skill. But 2000 pounds of Ford Taurus wagon doesn't swerve quite as nimbly as 325 pounds of Piaggio scooter, sigh. But we almost made it anyways.

And like I said, lots of times the tests they give at the end of class count for taking the state tests. You'd have to check that's true in your state, but it was here in KS. Took the class, passed the tests (except the U-turn--we won't talk about that one! ), went for my new DL and didn't need to take any other test. That's worth the price of the class right there!

Yeah, keep on saving, take the safety class, keep saving, buy your gear along the way, keep saving. And keep checking CL as you start to get scoot money saved. You might be surprised (and lucky) and find exactly what you want for just what you've saved so far!

>'Kat

terrilee That might be right down my alley. I will have to add one to my wish list! I do have a cousin with a deisel powered pickup truck.

The china bike does sound like a fun project, but I'm thinking... like Wutz is saying, I think the cost of replacement parts might set me back while I'm saving up for something better. I like the idea that I can get something really nice for a fraction of the cost of a car. Not that I can afford a car, or anything .

The safety class here does count towards the driving test at the DMV (plus lower insurance payments). Sounds good!

crawdad: Wow, that sounds like a pain. If my hills were less hilly, I think I would start with a 50cc. It looks like I'm going to have to get a motorcycle endorsement, though. Not a bad thing, really.


So how did you finally convince them it was a 49cc?