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Post by krylon80 on Oct 19, 2013 10:33:58 GMT -5
Hey All,
I'm new to the world of scooters and this forum and I was hoping there were some out there who could help a guy out with some advice. My girlfriend and I live in Boston and after not having any motorized vehicles for years, we're contemplating getting a scooter.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has created two vehicle classes for scooters: up to 50cc engine, up to 30mph top speed="Moped"; over 50cc, over 30mph="Limited Use Vehicle (LUV)".
Many people prefer to get Moped-classified scooters because you don't have to pay for insurance, license plates, titles or inspections, and you can ride in bicycle lanes. An LUV-classified scooter requires all of this and you cannot ride in bicycle lanes.
We would prefer a Moped-classified scooter as we'd rather not deal with any of the additional bureaucracy or costs of operating an LUV-classified scooter. Our concern is that while most of the time there will be one rider, we would like to get a scooter that could also accommodate two riders and we weren't sure if there are any 50cc scooters that were capable. We are both smaller than average, mind you (I'm 5'8" 150lbs, she's 5'0" 120lbs).
Thanks!
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Post by ltdhpp on Oct 19, 2013 10:56:41 GMT -5
If you find a large-frame 50cc there should be plenty of room for her since she is tiny. You won't be going very fast, but if you don't have hills and don't mind, it should suit your needs. Unless you are an aspiring scooter mechanic, I'd at least go for a SYM or Kymco, if not a Japanese or Italian scooter.
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Post by PCBGY6 on Oct 19, 2013 11:00:16 GMT -5
I'm 250 and my little 50cc has been good to me. I have had a few of them and haven't had any issues as far as my weight. If you don't plan on going over 30-35mph it should be fine.
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Post by americanpsycho on Oct 19, 2013 11:21:44 GMT -5
Kymco Agility or the Tomos Twister. The Agility is $1,600 and the Twister is $1,700.
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Post by sailracer on Oct 19, 2013 12:03:06 GMT -5
A lot depends on exactly where in Boston you plan on riding the thing. As a New Englander born and raised, I have been to boston countless times.If you ride in Roxbury or jamaica plain, even dorchester, you should be ok. If you plan on Storrow drive rides, Good luck and may God be with you! You may want to consider getting a 50, and adding mods like I have listed below in my signature. It will accelerate and get you into the flow of traffic much safer, faster, and easier.  |
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Joined: Oct 19, 2013 9:27:18 GMT -5
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Post by krylon80 on Oct 19, 2013 12:57:53 GMT -5
If you find a large-frame 50cc there should be plenty of room for her since she is tiny. You won't be going very fast, but if you don't have hills and don't mind, it should suit your needs. Unless you are an aspiring scooter mechanic, I'd at least go for a SYM or Kymco, if not a Japanese or Italian scooter. Hey Itdhpp, Thanks for your input, greatly appreciate it. I've definitely heard that short of going with a higher-end Japanese or Italian brand, it's best to stick with SYM or Kymco for the Chinese brands. Do you know of any Japanese/Italian(no Vespas)/SYM/Kymco models that are "large-frame" 50cc scooters? I'm just not sure how to search for such a characteristic.
Also, americanpsycho specifically mentioned the Kymco Agility (thanks, americanpsycho!). Might this be considered a "large-frame"?
Thanks
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Post by krylon80 on Oct 19, 2013 13:07:24 GMT -5
A lot depends on exactly where in Boston you plan on riding the thing. As a New Englander born and raised, I have been to boston countless times.If you ride in Roxbury or jamaica plain, even dorchester, you should be ok. If you plan on Storrow drive rides, Good luck and may God be with you! You may want to consider getting a 50, and adding mods like I have listed below in my signature. It will accelerate and get you into the flow of traffic much safer, faster, and easier. Hey Sailracer, Nice to meet a fellow Bostonian! Thanks for your reply. So I'll mostly be riding in the Cambridge/Somerville/Back Bay areas, all relatively flat. Speaking of Storrow, when I do drive a car on that road, I drive like a damn maniac (in true Boston fashion!) so I'm not even considering driving a scooter on that road, hahaha. I am considering modding, but I've heard it's very expensive. I'll take a look at your sig, but generally speaking if I wanted to get a 50cc scooter and then mod it just enough to give it enough power for 2 riders, what would that cost roughly? (Also, I'm no mechanic so I'd likely have to pay for labor too). Do you have any 50cc scooter recommendations (large-frame a plus) that are commonly modded and would have mod parts readily available? Thanks! |
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Post by sailracer on Oct 19, 2013 14:29:20 GMT -5
Mine is a large frame with 12" wheels (by the way, The first thing you should do is get a good quality set of tires) I've got altogether, in the $500.00 neighborhood of mods on mine.That includes a couple of hundred for the Michelins.The difference is phenominal!A stock 50, in my opinion is not satisfactory to drive in traffic with. It lacks the power and acceleration needed to safely merge and ride along with regular traffic.There are a few decent scooter dealers in the greater Boston area. You should check out a few before you buy.If you look at the scooters in the scrolling pics at the top of the home page, you will see mine.  |
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Post by sailracer on Oct 19, 2013 15:26:10 GMT -5
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Post by Paladin on Oct 19, 2013 17:52:38 GMT -5
I am on the left coast, on a Vespa 150. But if I was on the right coast I would be looking at a Lance, $1,699 MSRP, 30 mph, big enough to carry two -- www.scootersgogreen.com/ their website has been up since 2008. |
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Post by americanpsycho on Oct 19, 2013 18:32:58 GMT -5
If you find a large-frame 50cc there should be plenty of room for her since she is tiny. You won't be going very fast, but if you don't have hills and don't mind, it should suit your needs. Unless you are an aspiring scooter mechanic, I'd at least go for a SYM or Kymco, if not a Japanese or Italian scooter. Hey Itdhpp, Thanks for your input, greatly appreciate it. I've definitely heard that short of going with a higher-end Japanese or Italian brand, it's best to stick with SYM or Kymco for the Chinese brands. Do you know of any Japanese/Italian(no Vespas)/SYM/Kymco models that are "large-frame" 50cc scooters? I'm just not sure how to search for such a characteristic.
Also, americanpsycho specifically mentioned the Kymco Agility (thanks, americanpsycho!). Might this be considered a "large-frame"?
Thanks
I don't know if the Agility is a large frame or not. You can contact Kymco USA or one of their retailers to find out though. |
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Post by JerryScript on Oct 19, 2013 23:04:50 GMT -5
I don't know what the dealers are like on the east coast, but here in Vegas I walked into my dealer with $900 cash and rode out with a scooter they had listed for $1,299 with a Keihin carb installed. Negotiate, don't accept the listed price, dealers are there to deal so long as you are firm.  |
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Post by rockynv on Oct 20, 2013 6:31:31 GMT -5
I don't know if I would ride a 49cc even in the Cambridge/Somerville/Back Bay areas. I grew up in Massachusetts and a 49cc that even looked like it might go over 30 mph would get pulled over. Mod the moped so that it goes faster and it no longer really qualifies for the moped exemption anyway.
Note that many 49cc and even 150cc bikes despite having seating for 2 only have a 230 lb max capacity so without any backpacks or personal items you would already be 40 lbs over when riding double. How many roads in the Boston area turn into pothole pass in the spring? Not a good thing to ride through on an overloaded scoot.
It is worth if most times to just poney up and get the 150 running it as designed. My insurance and registration each year on my 250 costs me less than $100 here in Florida so the bureaucracy is not that bad after you get past the initial cost of MSF training and your motorcycle endorsement.
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Post by SylvreKat on Oct 20, 2013 7:35:46 GMT -5
I second rocky's sort of side-comment.
Go take a Motorcycle Safety Foundation beginner's class. It'll be the best money you spend getting a bike. It teaches you skills that transfer over to car driving. It reminds (or even teaches) long-timers things they've forgotten (or never knew). Makes you a safer bike-driver. Plus their final seems to usually count for the driving test for your DL.
And then like rocky said, just go ahead and get the license and tag and insurance. The license you'll never regret--"Oh, why did I ever get a DL for a scooter? whine moan". Yeah, not gonna' happen. The tag and insurance will help if by bad luck someone steals your bike. Or you have an accident. Or whatever.
As for the bike itself, I've no advice. But I can advise you to figure in the cost of helmets for you and your lady along with the cost of the bike. Minimum. Look at good gloves too--your hands typically are the first thing you stick out when falling. Riding jackets are good, too, but you can "get by" with regular jackets at first if the rest is stretching your finances. But keep them in mind too. Along with riding pants and good boots that lace up past your ankles.
>'Kat
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Post by rockynv on Oct 20, 2013 11:01:34 GMT -5
Consider a 150 with dual rear shocks to carry 270+ lbs if you get a GY6 based scoot. The Piaggio based 49cc along with certain Honda and Yamaha will also be designed to carry over 270 lbs.
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Main Jet, #46 Pilot Jet, Needle 1-Rich, Airbox De-snorkeled, Throttle Mod, Dual-Headlight Mod, Rear Fender Delete, JDM Integrated Tail Light & Turn Signal Mod
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