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Post by oldchopperguy on Jan 26, 2014 15:40:26 GMT -5
Leo, I like em all but had to make only 1 choice. Almost 25hp from a 4 valve single cylinder 250cc with EFI, 15" wheels, twin stainless steel disks up front single in the back, 465 lb load capacity, 6,200 miles between oil changes and 12,400 miles between most other services. Performs much like other brands 400 to 600 cc scooters. When they were on a $2,999 factory incentive it was an easy choice.Rockynv,
You made a FIRST-CLASS choice for sure!!! Now, THAT is what I would call a PROPER modern 250! And the price is GREAT! Your scoot's spec's are very similar to the new Kymco 4-valve, fuel-injected 300's. In my recent "quest" to find the best affordable 250 for me, I've looked at and ridden so many different types of scooters lately that I feel like I now have a little more knowledge of them than I once did. For one thing, (and every rider wanting to move up from a 50 or 150 needs to realize) in the 250cc and up class, there are at least THREE distinctly different types of scooters, with distinctly different riding characteristics...1. Small-wheel, flat-floor lightweights like my old Grandvista, and some Vespas. These feel and handle more like the small, traditional scooters, but still are highway-capable.2. Large-wheel, flat-floor mid-weights like those from SYM, Piaggio, Kymco, etc. These are usually more highway-oriented, but still have scooter manners.3. Large-wheel, heavy-weights like the Kymco "Exciting" and Italian BIG touring scoots. These handle and ride like large motorcycles.Anyone considering up-sizing should try riding all the different types to be sure to get the one he or she will like best...Whatever you choose, ENJOY!Leo in Texas
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Post by rockynv on Jan 27, 2014 1:52:17 GMT -5
The differences in the 250 and 300 EFI Piaggio engines are not as great as one would think at the hp level however the torque ranges do differ a bit.
The 350 EFI is where it starts to get really interesting as they boxed the bore to stroke ratio so it pulls more like a 400 to 500cc yet still mantains fuel efficiency at 250cc levels.
All enjoyable one just has to play GoldyLocks and get one where the size and price fits. They are out there if you really look around.
If you live on the left coast I envy you as Moto International in Seattle is constantly finding crated warehoused bikes siezed from backrupt dealerships or left at ports and making them available at very attractive prices with full factory warranties.
Their fly and ride promotions make it tempting even for me to take an extended vacation letting them fly me out there in the late spring or early fall so I could ride my dream bike home to Florida.
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Post by urbanmadness on Jan 27, 2014 9:09:34 GMT -5
I've driven a lot of different bikes... Since I work on them, I get lots of opportunities. So far my favorite has been a 2006 (07) can't remember Aprilia Scarbeo 500. Very heavy but ohhhh damn... awesome power, very stable but not for the faint of heart. It weighs in at 600 lbs or so. Freeway, no problem, twisties... well, it's ok, not great, parking lots.... you'd better practice a bit. Open road.... Awesomeness.
Pieggio 500 Beverly... Nice bike, heavy, not as heavy as the scarbeo, but not as pretty either. Plastics on both the Aprilia and the Piaggio are top notch.. things actually fit, both are damn nice rides and very freeway capable. Even tho it's lighter then the Aprillia, the parking lot manners are worse. Both the Aprillia and Piaggio are not nimble scooters and handle more like Motorcycles.
Tank 250 touring... it's light, has a good ride, electrics and plastics are very questionable... Better be ready to re-jet the carb (mine had a 107 main jet, very, very lean)... The motor, is smooth and the suspension is good, freeway is pretty much not an option, at least not around here, unless you want to ride during rush hour and split lanes. Still very nimble, but you will scrape at shallow lean angles. Especially on right turns.
Znen Roar... Much more refined then the Tank, better electrics, better plastics... Not as nice a ride as the Tank and it's not as peppy, probably due to the larger rear wheel, doesn't handle as well as the tank either. It has a tendency to "turn in" if you get a little too aggressive in slow speed turns. It's a much better looking bike then the tank, fit and finish are better then the tank. They do have known speedo problems tho. This one too, I wouldn't take on the freeway. Again, rejet the carb... The one I worked on had a 109 main jet. It's way more refined then the Tank and you don't have the center stand scrape problems that the Tank has. If I had to choose between the Roar and the Tank, I'd choose the Roar.
I haven't had a Sym or Kymco in the shop so I can't comment on those...
If I end up buying another large scooter, I will probably seriously look at the Aprillia X-9 (500cc)... Looks like a great bike, quality is top notch, I just haven't test drove one yet.
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Post by spandi on Jan 27, 2014 11:39:11 GMT -5
Hey UM, speaking of the Scarabeo 500....
BTW, thanks for the Roar review. If you want it "peppy" swap out the low quality 23 gram roller bearings for Dr pully 19's.
Even so, if I remember correctly, the Tank has the Yamaha clone 257cc unit. (as opposed to the Roar's 244cc Honda clone mill.)
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Post by keltex78 on Jan 27, 2014 13:31:06 GMT -5
Scootering on the freeway:
In the before times (before I was a scooter rider myself):
I hate driving in Houston; traffic is always horrible. I'm a country boy and like me some personal space on the road. But, I had the misfortune of driving through Houston on I45 at rush hour. Traffic is the quintessential bumper-to-bumber @ ~70mph across all lanes. We overtake and pass a guy on a scooter, who is obviously riding at top speed, at about 55-60mph. A red flat-floorboard scoot with big wheels, not sure what it was. Made me cringe just thinking about trying that...
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Post by spunn on Jan 28, 2014 16:57:04 GMT -5
Alright so this post made me laugh very hard out loud in Starkbucks! First off I get enough attention pulling up on the scoot all systems blaring out some country. Then to come inside order my very berry hi-no clue how to spell it, load up the ipad and read this, lets just say the post really made my afternoon!
Now the best part about this is, today was MY first day on a scooter on the highway. I just last night bought a heavy scooter with enough lower man section to get on the freeway. I swear that i felt the same damn way, talking myself through every stage of the adventure. Here in San Diego our on ramps are very long and have many entrances before you hit the actual freeway, best part people think these are drag strips. As I turned my left to get on the on ramp I thought "here we go, relax breath, then ok up to 60 and climbing here we go, then I am doing it!"
Great post!
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jan 29, 2014 1:37:34 GMT -5
Spunn,
Enjoy that scooter! And welcome to the site!
Leo in Texas
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Post by jbjtkbw00 on Jan 29, 2014 7:30:01 GMT -5
Don't know what to say other than THIS is exactly what I feel like I experience every time I get on the interstate.
Bravo.
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Post by spandi on Jan 29, 2014 9:39:02 GMT -5
Leo you should be a novelist. I'll bet if you wrote a scooter version of "Christine" you'd outdo Steven King.  |
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Post by urbanmadness on Jan 29, 2014 13:32:15 GMT -5
Hey UM, speaking of the Scarabeo 500.... BTW, thanks for the Roar review. If you want it "peppy" swap out the low quality 23 gram roller bearings for Dr pully 19's. Even so, if I remember correctly, the Tank has the Yamaha clone 257cc unit. (as opposed to the Roar's 244cc Honda clone mill.) Actually my tank has the Honda Mill. I think the roar came with either engine... Not sure about the old Tank touring 250de. I just know mine has the Honda clone. |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jan 30, 2014 1:56:44 GMT -5
Hey, thanks one and all for the compliments on the post...
It WAS definitely written for the fun of it, but it's also based on "the truth" if you're riding anything less than a monster bike with hundreds of horsepower...I always enjoy having a little fun writing about riding. Sometimes, if you can't laugh at a particular event, you might end up getting depressed over it... LOL! Ride (and WRITE) on...  Leo in Texas
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Post by urbanmadness on Jan 30, 2014 2:38:32 GMT -5
incidentally, the the Aprilia Scrabeo 500 is capable of 100+ (had a friend clocked at 106mph, he got off with a warning, partly because the cop couldn't believe it was a scooter and partly because the cop knew my buddy) so 80mph doesn't surprise me. I've had the beverly 500 up to 70 and she was still pulling hard, I backed out before I could get into trouble. Both of those bikes are more motorcycle then scooter.
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Post by spandi on Jan 30, 2014 9:01:28 GMT -5
106?.....On a scooter? Youch! (but was he smoking a cigar and being a cool daddy?)  |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Feb 2, 2014 1:48:52 GMT -5
There has DEFINITELY been a line crossed between scooters and motorcycles these days... When visiting my Kymco dealer, I've been amazed at the LARGE scoots, with 700cc and more. They are as long or longer than big road cycles, and have all the bells and whistles. They weigh in near 600 pounds and can definitely break 100 mph with ease.
These new, BIG scooters surely appeal to the rider who would have bought a standard motorcycle in years past, but now is attracted to the super-comfy seats, smooth ride, no-shift CVT drive-trains and utility features not usually found on motorcycles. They have truly formed a new breed of bikes.
If I were not plagued by arthritis, and had the money, I'd certainly be interested in these new-genre rides!
Leo in Texas
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Post by spandi on Feb 2, 2014 12:22:10 GMT -5
There has DEFINITELY been a line crossed between scooters and motorcycles these days... When visiting my Kymco dealer, I've been amazed at the LARGE scoots, with 700cc and more. They are as long or longer than big road cycles, and have all the bells and whistles. They weigh in near 600 pounds and can definitely break 100 mph with ease. These new, BIG scooters surely appeal to the rider who would have bought a standard motorcycle in years past, but now is attracted to the super-comfy seats, smooth ride, no-shift CVT drive-trains and utility features not usually found on motorcycles. They have truly formed a new breed of bikes. If I were not plagued by arthritis, and had the money, I'd certainly be interested in these new-genre rides! Leo in Texas Well Leo the way I figure it, they're really automatic motorcycles rather than scoots. |
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