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Post by gizmo67 on Apr 16, 2014 14:11:23 GMT -5
Ok guys im still trying to get my vento running, but if i have no luck i might just sell it and get a different one. So my question is everyone says to stay away from chinese junk, to get a yamaha or honda. What are some brands of scooters that are reliable and good all around? I know nothing last forever, my price range is between $800-$1500. 2t/4t ive been seeing alot of tao tao and kymcos. But not to sure. Thanks
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Post by richardthescooter1 on Apr 16, 2014 14:57:45 GMT -5
With that price range the Chinese scooter would be the one to purchase  now if you have more money to spend, then you could get into the Yamaha, Honda, Kymco, Burgman's. I have the 2008 Roketa MC-54-250B and now over 19,000 miles. Owning a Chinese scooter involves more maintenance, but they are well built and easy to work on  |
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Post by 2wheelfun on Apr 16, 2014 16:27:32 GMT -5
Check out the kymco agility 125, one review site says it's the best quality scoot [125/150 class] new for under 2 grand. Buy a good used scoot off of craigs, quality brand low milage. For your $amount you could get a nice scooter. I waited looking for months to get a deal. I found an 06 blur 150 with only 400 miles on it and it's pristine. That's a $3500 [new] bike for $1500, anyways just an example.......good luck!
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Post by gizmo67 on Apr 16, 2014 17:01:46 GMT -5
Yes i dont mind buying a used one, if its in good condition. Theres so many brands out there now, when i bought my vento there was really nobody else selling other brands. I was looking at the sym/lance pch50 @1499.00 with a 2year warranty. Just trying to get some suggestions on some good scoots.
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Post by SylvreKat on Apr 16, 2014 23:30:18 GMT -5
I've got to say my Piaggio has been a peach, considering he's sat more than gone. My fault, not his, for various changing reasons. Sat two years with nothing done except plugged into a Battery Tender Jr and some kind of fuel additive, and started up second crank. Only problem I've had was dying due to old gas (yes, that same two years).
A more neglected scoot (that wasn't abandoned in a barn etc) you won't find. And yet he starts right up in the spring and putts along like a dream!
>'Kat, wondering why nobody ever mentions Piaggio when they list Yami/Honda/Kymco/Burgy
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Post by ramblinman on Apr 17, 2014 2:55:38 GMT -5
Chinese scooters really aren't as terrible as they use to be from what i have heard and seen. i just sold a tao tao atm50 with about 15,000km and still going strong. as long as you don't mind doing a little maintenance then they can be reliable.
with that said their is definitely better quality out their for your price range if you don't mind buying used. someone just recently posted a link to a craigslist ad for a kymco agility 2013 for $650. think they go for about $1,600 new so good deals are out there, just keep looking. Kymco's are great scooters from what i have heard.
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Post by 2wheelfun on Apr 17, 2014 3:46:09 GMT -5
Remember when buying from a dealer you can add $3/600 to the price for fees/taxes/dealer handling etc.
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Post by gizmo67 on Apr 17, 2014 9:36:01 GMT -5
Im on craigslist every day lol, i really would like to avoid the dealer fees. I found some good deals on used scooters i even found a 2013 honda pcx for $2000. really has me thinking of jumping on it. but kinda want to stick to a 50cc not having to worry about insurance motorcycle license etc etc. So from what im understanding tao tao, kymco, piaggio are not bad brands?
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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 17, 2014 12:05:11 GMT -5
I'm an old-school biker from the sixties, and "re-discovered" 2-wheels again after nearly 30 years away from bikes. I bought a new Xingyue 150 seven years ago, and rode it for six years. It was the typical Chinese experience (meaning more WRENCHING than RIDING) but was still a bargain for the money.
Last Christmas, I traded it on a VERY used Kymco 250. Same year as the old Xingyue (2007) with 14,000 miles on her. In contrast to the Mainland Chinese scoot, this Taiwanese ride is well-made BEYOND all expectations. I spent six months test-riding every kind of scooter I could find, and got a very good "handle" on what's out there before buying.
I had to get at least a 250 to keep up with changes in local traffic, and budget mandated that I go with a used one, with any name-brand 250 being more than I could afford. I found ANYTHING Japanese to be great. AND, anything Italian to be GREAT too! The build-quality of the Taiwanese scooters seems to be absolutely right up there with the best too.
Modern Chinese scooters have improved, but after many years of riding and wrenching, I would seriously consider ALL options. Different localities offer different possibilities, and around here, Italian scooters seem to be among the very best buys. If you can get by with a 150 or smaller, you may be able to budget a new model. If you need the performance of a 250 or bigger, you may have to do like me and go with a used one.
All that being said, I don't think you can go wrong with any scooter in good condition from Japan, Italy or Taiwan. And from my personal point of view, Kymco (and SYM if you can find one) offer a LOT of quality for the money, either new, OR used.
During my search for a scooter, I also noticed that Chinese "clutch-n-gears" motorcycles seem to somehow be a little better-built than the Chinese scooters. Riders seem to have somewhat fewer maintenance problems with them. Just one more option to check out...
As for me, based on experience now... If I could afford a NEW scooter, I'd go with a Kymco, regardless of engine size. To me (and I stress this only MY opinion) Kymco offers the best OVERALL mix of variety, quality, performance and purchase price. Around here (Dallas/Fort-Worth area) Vespas and Piaggios seem to be right up there in value for the money, for the same reasons. Italian brands are fabulous, being the "Ferrari of scooters" but their prices vary a lot in different areas. In some locals, they are very expensive, but in other areas they seem to be very affordable. And of course, all Japanese models are fine.
I did a LOT of research and test-riding before finally forking over my hard-earned dollars... Hope my experiences may be of some help. 
Sincerely,
Leo in Texas
PS: One OTHER seldom mentioned scoot brand I found to be MORE than interesting is the Genuine Buddy. These scooters are almost in a separate "genre" in the 125 to 175cc class. Tiny, nimble and wicked-fast, they are impeccable in build and appearance, and light-weight, and... VERY small! A little too small for me, they fit into a specific "niche" that you will either love, or hate. But they are E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E... Worth their price, but definitely pricey.
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Post by rockynv on Apr 17, 2014 12:22:03 GMT -5
Piaggio and Aprilia are good bets used however many are overpriced but you can find deals. You may want to scope out their 50cc Motard Scooters or a used SR50. The DiTech SR50 models can out run many 150cc bikes.
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Post by gizmo67 on Apr 17, 2014 13:36:59 GMT -5
thanks everyone for your opinions and experiences, i have some more wrenching time with the vento. But i will laso do some more comparing and shopping for all these other scoots.  |
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Post by ramblinman on Apr 17, 2014 15:08:59 GMT -5
So from what im understanding tao tao, kymco, piaggio are not bad brands? tao tao are cheap chinese scoots. with proper care they can be reliable. the other brands you have listed are better quality from what i have read. |
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Post by spandi on Apr 17, 2014 18:12:14 GMT -5
Chinese scooters really aren't as terrible as they use to be from what i have heard and seen. i just sold a tao tao atm50 with about 15,000km and still going strong. as long as you don't mind doing a little maintenance then they can be reliable. with that said their is definitely better quality out their for your price range if you don't mind buying used. someone just recently posted a link to a craigslist ad for a kymco agility 2013 for $650. think they go for about $1,600 new so good deals are out there, just keep looking. Kymco's are great scooters from what i have heard. That's true about the Chinese product, but if there is one piece of advice (if you buy a Chinese scoot) I can give would be to stay as FAR AWAY as you can from anything made in 2008 (more lemons than a kid's drink stand in the middle of summer!  ) |
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Post by JerryScript on Apr 17, 2014 19:40:47 GMT -5
I agree, just from googling chinese scooters and checking the dates of the results, you'll find after 2009-2010 the quality seems to have improved across most of the brands. I have researched Znen's corporate releases, and it shows they began to make "Patent Models" around that time, and these models have definitely been given more attention throughout design and building phases. If you see a model that is rebranded by several names, you will find varying levels of quality. If you find one a company is reserving for their name, they have probably paid more attention to it's quality.
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Post by spunn on Apr 17, 2014 20:30:03 GMT -5
I have a2009 BMS 150 Evo V9 and love it. Selling it cause I have another one I ride all the time but that little guy was a blast
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