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Post by chimeric on Aug 8, 2014 13:19:13 GMT -5
So, after a decent amount of research I have decided that I need a mid-tier scooter with at least 150cc engine. I'm trying to spend as little as I can, but since I'm not mechanically inclined I think the cheap Chinese scooters aren't a good fit for me. My price range is either finance up to $2k or buy used up to $1k.
There are multiple Kymco dealers in the area and I know they work on scooters. I just wanted to see what you guys thought about these prices.
Dealer is selling a Kymco Super 8 150 for "$1824 Unit price on non-current model" I'm not sure what year it is, I'm going to go look at it tomorrow.
The other option would be a new Kymco Agility 125 $1900 MSRP.
Are these good prices? Think I could get the price down a bit? I still need to buy almost all the accessories so I'm hoping I can get a deal on things.
On the used side:
CL has a 2009 Kymco Grand Vista with 9800 miles for $800. Only way I get this deal is if the guy that's supposed to pick it up tonight doesn't show. Seems like a great deal to me. I planned on taking it to a mechanic to check it out and see if it works fine, any other general advice for buying used?
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Post by scotttx on Aug 8, 2014 13:47:31 GMT -5
they're good prices but remember you're going to have to pay more than the sticker price. taxes, fees, whatnot. might want to check craigslist for a used japanese scooter though. if you have a friend with a truck its worth driving an hour to pick one up. on the other hand if you're not mechanically inclined owning a chinese scooter will educate you in a hurry  |
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Post by shalomdawg on Aug 8, 2014 17:26:28 GMT -5
howdy and welcome to the forum
if you can gget the 250 and nothing major is wrong like broken panels from a fall down that is a great price.
lotsa miles and smiles to ya
ken
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Post by JerryScript on Aug 9, 2014 0:10:24 GMT -5
Is the Grand Vista a 250? If it is still available, and it runs well and rides smooth, I would go for it even with those miles. You will have to expect to spend a bit on it, even if well maintained you will have to replace some older parts, but it will still be the best deal among the ones you posted, and a great deal period.
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Post by rockynv on Aug 9, 2014 4:56:44 GMT -5
Factor the cost of a Motorcycle Endorsement for your drivers license if you don't already have one along with liability insurance or a bond of financial responsibility whichever Maryland allows and you can satisfy the requirements for.. Also as mentioned by others don't forget there will be excise tax, sales tax, tags and title fees to deal with.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 9, 2014 11:13:40 GMT -5
Last year, I had to move up from a 150 to something bigger to keep up with traffic. Like you, I was on a tight budget, wanting to stay below $2,000.
I test-rode everything I could get hold of... LOL! I finally settled on a 2007 Kymco Grandvista 250 with 14,000 miles on the clock. I did pay a premium price ($2,500) but the dealer is EXCELLENT and offers marvelous service. I've received more than $500 worth of good advice, and helpful service... LOL! A good dealer is VERY helpful.
I now have put over 1,000 miles on the Kymco, and absolutely love it! While searching for a used scooter, I really did a close inspection of the Japanese, Italian and Taiwanese brands. It's my opinion that the Taiwan-made scoots, like Kymco and SYM are second-to-none in their quality... Fully as good as any, and maybe better than some. My old GV had most of her miles put on riding 2-up, 70mph and loaded-down, from New York to Los Angeles, and Canada to Mexico... The only repairs ever needed were a set of brake-pads, one belt, and a muffler which the dealer installed before putting the scooter on his lot.
All original hoses, wires, cables, etc. are as pliable and supple as new, and the old scoot doesn't use a drop of oil or water.
I also nearly bought a used Kymco "People 200" for $1,700 from the same dealer. The "People" 200 is actually a simple GY6 type air-cooled 160... But LIGHT YEARS ahead of any average Chinese 150... Rock-solid, and the one I tried would hit an honest 69mph with my 235 pounds aboard... Though I'm told 65 is more typical. Plenty of acceleration though, and marginally highway capable.
Everything from Japan, Italy and Taiwan is going to be good quality, and believe a good used one will be more trouble-free than a new Chinese model. At least, a better choice for you if you're not mechanical.
It's not uncommon to find a Honda, Suzuki, Vespa, Aprila, Kymco, SYM etc. with 50,000 miles still running fine. Admittedly, I'm highly "biased" at this point, but I think the Kymco Grandvista is a GREAT choice for a used ride (it's nearly as small and nimble as a 150, but cruises comfortably at 65-70mph) and if you can do with less than 250cc, and want air-cooled, the big-wheel People 200 is marvelous.
Here's the People 200 I tried... The dealer let me have it as a loaner while he upgraded my tires...
Here's my old Grandvista a year after getting her... I did add the BIGGEST trunk, and saddlebags to haul a load of groceries, and so far, I've been more than satisfied.
how do i print screen
Hope my experience helps...
Sincerely,
Leo in Texas
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Post by wheelbender6 on Aug 9, 2014 16:39:45 GMT -5
A lot depends on how fast you need to go. If you need to maintain 65mph in your commute, a 125/150cc won't do it. If you only need to maintain 55mph, a lighter, thriftier 125/150cc will fill the bill.
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Post by rockynv on Aug 10, 2014 7:19:55 GMT -5
As OldChopper mentioned a light 250 is probably the most versatile bike for the money. They will usually get better fuel economy over 35 mph than a 150.
If fuel economy is a consideration be mindful that in general a 50 cc will be its best fuel economy at about 20 to 25 mph while a 150 will have its sweet spot around 30 to 35 mph and the 250 at 40 to 60 mph where it will be at about mid throttle and just cruising along.
My 250 gives me better fuel economy commuting to work on State and County roads (40 to 55 mph) than my 150 ever did and on the Interstate it will get around 63 mpg keeping up with traffic which yesterday on a 133 mile ride was going at 80+ mph. Generally a light 326 lb 250 will give you about 10 to 15 more mph top speed than say a 400+ lb bike if you don't ride with side bags. Side bags will drop you about 5 or 10 mph and a few mpg too. Open face or half helmets along with the shape of windshields can also have impact on fuel economy and top speed as can wearing a non-motorcycle jacket such as a common wind breaker which can act as a sail that you are pushing against the wind consuming more fuel and reducing top speed.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 10, 2014 10:44:30 GMT -5
As OldChopper mentioned a light 250 is probably the most versatile bike for the money. They will usually get better fuel economy over 35 mph than a 150. If fuel economy is a consideration be mindful that in general a 50 cc will be its best fuel economy at about 20 to 25 mph while a 150 will have its sweet spot around 30 to 35 mph and the 250 at 40 to 60 mph where it will be at about mid throttle and just cruising along. My 250 gives me better fuel economy commuting to work on State and County roads (40 to 55 mph) than my 150 ever did and on the Interstate it will get around 63 mpg keeping up with traffic which yesterday on a 133 mile ride was going at 80+ mph. Generally a light 326 lb 250 will give you about 10 to 15 more mph top speed than say a 400+ lb bike if you don't ride with side bags. Side bags will drop you about 5 or 10 mph and a few mpg too. Open face or half helmets along with the shape of windshields can also have impact on fuel economy and top speed as can wearing a non-motorcycle jacket such as a common wind breaker which can act as a sail that you are pushing against the wind consuming more fuel and reducing top speed.
Rockynv brings up a good point here.
You do need to consider what your performance needs are. If you need to cruise above 60mph, you'll DEFINITELY need at LEAST a 250. If you only ride the freeways on a limited basis, a smaller scooter may be "OK". The not-too-common "200cc" bikes (usually 160cc or so) will often cruise at 60, but 65 is about it for top-end.
Some 150's will nudge 60mph, but they truly are best when ridden 45-50mph. While there are exceptions (my Wife's doctor rides a fuel-injected, EXPENSIVE Vespa 150 that will do over 70mph on its little 10 and 11-inch wheels!) a 150 is usually not a good choice for highway speeds.
Now, FUEL CONSUMPTION is certainly a factor... One of THE main reasons so many folks around the world ride scooters in the first place! My first scooter was a Chinese Xingyue 150. It was VERY typical... Gave me FITS for 2 years trying to get it run right... LOL! I finally DID get it "right" and had 6 years of reliable transportation... The performance from that point on was absolute top-speed of 58mph, maximum useable cruise on up/down hills, with headwinds, etc. was 50mph. Fuel consumption regardless of how I rode was 65 to 70mpg.
My Kymco Grandvista 250 absolute top-speed is around 85mph. Maximum useable cruise on up/down hills, with headwinds, etc. is just over 70mph. I ride a mix of highway and in-town, and my mileage stays right around  -90mpg. My old GV has slightly taller-than-stock gears, and my dealer tells me a stock-geared GV would have about 5mph less top speed, and about 5mpg more fuel-consumption. Still mighty good in my book. Apparently, my old GV is a tad faster than average, probably due mostly to a mileage-history of all-highway riding, after a high-speed highway initial break-in.
The Grandvista is an older design, using a carburetor and 2-valve head. It's a 20hp, "tried and true" workhorse engine/transmission still used in many ATV's. Newer similar Kymcos use a 300cc fuel-injected 4-valve engine putting out 30hp. Very nice, offering an 80mph cruise, near 100mph top-end, and fabulous mileage, around 90mpg, but those new scooters are quite expensive. Way out of your (or my) budget... LOL!
Probably for you, a good, used scooter from Japan, Italy or Taiwan, in the 200 to 400cc class would be a good choice in the $1,800-$2,500 price-range. Alternately, if you can find a good, honest, RELIABLE dealer, you might consider a new 250-300cc Chinese scooter. These can be found new, for under $2,000... Chinese scooters are getting better and better, but without mechanical savvy, you'd have to have a good dealer with after-sale backup, or, a PATIENT friend who's good with Chinese bikes.
I wrestled a long time justifying paying nearly double the cost of a new Chinese 250, for a 7-year-old Taiwanese scooter with 14K miles on her. But after close examination of the working parts under the seat, the frame-tubes, the welds, the overall attention-to-detail, I understood why they cost more.
In your favor, the riding season is coming to an end, and riders wishing to sell their scooters are going to be negotiable... Same goes for dealers. Some site members have uncovered FABULOUS deals on BRAND NEW name-brand scooters, especially Italian, and Italian rides are GREAT!
Do your homework, ride everything you can find, and you'll end up with the "right" bike!
Ride safe,
Leo
PS: When you look at scooters above 150cc, you'll notice there are SHORTER ones like the Grandvista, and LONGER ones, made for extended cruising. For general use, I vastly prefer the shorter wheelbase models (they're STILL nearly as long as a Harley) and ride fine at highway speeds, but you'll notice a big difference with the long-wheelbase models (especially when making a tight "U" turn... LOL!). Again, you have to decide which one meets your needs.
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Post by SylvreKat on Aug 10, 2014 11:28:49 GMT -5
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Post by chimeric on Aug 10, 2014 13:14:20 GMT -5
Thanks for all the responses. Sadly, the other guy took the Grand Vista. So, I'm still looking around.
I guess I could give a little more details into what I'm looking for. I'm planning on using it for most of my transportation to/from work, groceries, etc. I live in the city and all of those things are within 5 miles of my house. Don't really need to take it on the highway, and I have a car for that if need be. MPG and parking are two major practical benefits of the scooter since I have a LeSabre that gets < 20 mpg around town and sucks to parallel park.
I expanded my search to within an hours drive and I found a couple of 400cc scooters, but I think that's going to be overkill. Plus, I don't think that would be optimal for my current situation. Sounds like a smaller engine would stretch my gas mileage.
It's looking like the Super 8 is likely to win out. I visited a few other scooter stores and found a place where the guy seemed honest, and they only charge $70/hr for service. Which I'll probably be using at least until the Spring when I'll feel more comfortable tinkering around.
I have boots, and was planning on getting a helmet and lock right away. Do you think I need a jacket and gloves first day or can that wait a couple weeks?
Thanks a lot for the help so far!
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Post by JerryScript on Aug 10, 2014 20:22:14 GMT -5
ATGATT! (All The Gear All The Time)
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Post by rockynv on Aug 10, 2014 21:50:51 GMT -5
Many insurance companies limit your coverage or refuse it all together if you are not wearing at a minimum: - Hemet (DOT minimum standard)
- Eye protection
- Riding jacket
- Protective gloves
- Over the ankle boots
Here in Florida you can go without a helmet if you have a specified amount of medical insurance however more and more policies limit coverage or refuse coverage if you not wearing a helmet and the items listed above referring to it as an Extreme Risk Activity so there really is no choice except for wear the minimum gear listed above in order to ride and have your medical coverage honored if you get injured |
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Post by SylvreKat on Aug 11, 2014 7:52:22 GMT -5
I have boots, and was planning on getting a helmet and lock right away. Do you think I need a jacket and gloves first day... YES!!!!!!!! ... or can that wait a couple weeks? NoNoNo!! Unless you're just going around your private neighborhood streets with almost no traffic, then you really do need that jacket and gloves. There's all sorts of deals online. Or CL should do okay, if you don't mind the thought that someone else's hands have been sweating in those gloves. Me, I got a mesh jacket with wind and quilted liners. And mesh gloves--I add Isotoners when it gets colder out. And think bright and visible when looking at jackets. And helmets. Black might look coo' but it doesn't show. Personally, I like pink  but I can't seem to convince the fellows here to join me. The day-glo safety yellow I've seen on others REALLY stands out! Oh, and for your helmet, I hope you're thinking full face or modular. Chins are vulnerable parts if you should ever go down. Sorry you missed out on that GV. Just keep looking, and don't get in too big a hurry to buy. It's hard to wait, but patience will usually get you the best deal. Of course, once you find that deal, then you JUMP! >'Kat |
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Post by chimeric on Aug 12, 2014 5:36:32 GMT -5
Alright, so last question. What about the lower body? Do you guys and gals recommend motorcycle pants for my daily commute? It is about 5-7 minutes of city driving. I'd be lucky to get up to 30mph. Havng said that, I hear jeans don't offer much (any) protection.
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-90mpg. My old GV has slightly taller-than-stock gears, and my dealer tells me a stock-geared GV would have about 5mph less top speed, and about 5mpg more fuel-consumption. Still mighty good in my book. Apparently, my old GV is a tad faster than average, probably due mostly to a mileage-history of all-highway riding, after a high-speed highway initial break-in.
