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Post by quattro1432 on Apr 1, 2013 11:53:20 GMT -5
Hey all, new to scooters. Moved just outside of downtown Denver last year, and working downtown, I take the bus in or else bike to the office. We just sold our 2nd car and want to make 1 car work since I work so close to home, so we've decided to try a scooter out.
I've been looking at different scoots and doing some research, coming up with the standard "don't go Chinese", etc. I'm trying to stay under $1K, with thought that if the scooter works out, I'll either sell my intro scoot for a nicer one, or get a second one for the wife.
Right now I'm looking at two options - I have a 2009 Honda Metro lined up for $800. It's in good shape mechanically, but it has 8,000 miles on it. The other option is a brand new tao tao groove for $750.
I initially didn't look at the Chinese scoots due to mechanical problems and a lack of parts being available for fixes. It seems, though, that there are now a significant number of parts online for the tao tao's should I need them. I'm an engineer, so I should be able to perform any fixes that are needed, but I'm wondering if I should just go with the Metro that I know is a quality scooter even though it has 8K on it, or if the brand new option of the tao is worth it?
Thoughts? Thanks in advance.
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Post by terrilee on Apr 1, 2013 12:08:45 GMT -5
HI & WELCOME
well i bought my Chinese scoot almost 4 years ago.
She had 41 miles on her. She now has over 8,000.
had only one major prob. lotta stupid lil ones.
and im a NON mech type woman. and ive kept her running.
Chinese parts are readily available, and cheap. Cheaper than for that Honda
Now how fast do you need to go.?
if more than 30-35 mph you need at least a 150 cc
hope that helps
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Post by quattro1432 on Apr 1, 2013 12:28:54 GMT -5
Thanks terrilee. I don't need to go fast, just taking side streets into downtown with a speed limit of maybe 35. Another thing, I'm 6'0", 200 lbs.
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Post by skuttadawg on Apr 1, 2013 13:18:46 GMT -5
Honda = quality TaoTao = easy choice
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Post by DaveC on Apr 1, 2013 13:38:58 GMT -5
Honda = quality TaoTao = easy choice Why is there always someone that gotta talk crap. This is a scooter site. We all ride scoots We are suposed to support eachother in whatever we ride. I don't talk schmidt about your choice of mates. Why do you feel you gotta talk schmidt about our choice of scoots? Yea, I know we're all entitrled to our opinion, but how about giving a little more detail A honda scoot will cost more but maint should be less (parts more but overall maint less) A chinese scoot can last as long, but may require more maint, and parts are generally less expensive. Me, personally, got my GF a Wildfire 150 (Helix/Fashion clone) two years ago. Maint/issues/problems: Nada/nuttin/zilch Ride and go, after 5000 miles Wasn't till now I see that I should be doing some routine maint, and now I will. So, a blatent statement like Chinese is schmidt, Japanese is the schmidt ain't teiilling the whole story OK, someone ban me now |
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Post by skuttadawg on Apr 1, 2013 15:26:44 GMT -5
The TaoTao I had was a lemon and I did not say ALL Chunese scooters were bad . I have a Jonway Magnum and CFMoto Echarm that are both a great scooter . Honda is number 1 in the world as far as motorcycles sales go for a reason
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Post by quattro1432 on Apr 1, 2013 15:50:35 GMT -5
Yeah, decided to go with the Met. At $800, I think the resale value is less of a risk than a potential lemon with the tao tao. Thanks for the replies.
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Post by skuttadawg on Apr 1, 2013 15:58:32 GMT -5
Let me explain that I had from JR50s . mopeds to street bikes from Honda and everyone was great to me . I also had Suzuki and Euro goodies . The TaoTao ATMa 50 was my first China scooter and it sucked compared to Honda as it cracked a piston then blew up and I had a 50 mm BBK installed as why would I want another piston kit made from recycled pot metal and butter .
China scootes are great if you want to tinker with like installing a BBK since parts are cheap and easy to get . A Honda is for those who just want to put in gas and ride it
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Post by prodigit on Apr 1, 2013 15:58:43 GMT -5
So far I've only had good TaoTao's.
Buy it from a reputable company, that does a PDI before shipping.
Also, if you're into tweaking the crap out of chinese scooters that are not meant to be overdriven, then you'll automatically get what's coming.
TaoTao scoots are well tuned, and stock perform better than the Yamaha Zuma's, or vespa's.
Just stay within the specs, and don't go too crazy on the upgrades.
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Post by skuttadawg on Apr 1, 2013 16:07:20 GMT -5
Now the Metro is slow unlike the Elite or Sprees but if you only want to ride where the speed limit is slow it should last as long as it was taken care of . This model is not one for a wrencher to hot rod
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Post by rockynv on Apr 1, 2013 22:32:41 GMT -5
So far I've only had good TaoTao's. Buy it from a reputable company, that does a PDI before shipping. Also, if you're into tweaking the crap out of chinese scooters that are not meant to be overdriven, then you'll automatically get what's coming. TaoTao scoots are well tuned, and stock perform better than the Yamaha Zuma's, or vespa's. Just stay within the specs, and don't go too crazy on the upgrades. Knowing what I do from personal experince with Piaggio products I would find that thought of better performance than a similar cc Vespa/Piaggio a bit of a stretch. Close maybe. Piaggio has been making 50cc bikes that stock will run at 45 mph while the Aprilia (Piaggio) SR50 tops out well over 50 mph. A TaoTao 50 can really do that for thousands of miles reliably? |
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Post by bigggroovy on Apr 1, 2013 22:39:17 GMT -5
HONDA!!!!!!!!
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Post by nulldevice on Apr 1, 2013 23:07:46 GMT -5
Engineers and mechanics aer two completely different things. Being qualified in one does not qualify you in the other.
Unless you have hands on mechanical experience or want to get a lot, get the honda. 8000 miles on a Honda was trivial 40 years ago.
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Post by teddy554 on Apr 2, 2013 9:00:33 GMT -5
So far I've only had good TaoTao's. Buy it from a reputable company, that does a PDI before shipping. Also, if you're into tweaking the crap out of chinese scooters that are not meant to be overdriven, then you'll automatically get what's coming. TaoTao scoots are well tuned, and stock perform better than the Yamaha Zuma's, or vespa's. Just I know stay within the specs, and don't go too crazy on the upgrades. i know we all have a soft spot for our own Chinese scooter but that has to be one of the biggest stretch of truth i have ever seen, I have own plenty of 50cc Chinese brand scooters with the cheaper taotao being the worse i have ever seen with the peace model a close second not saying they cant be a good scooter for some one |
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Post by terrilee on Apr 2, 2013 9:20:37 GMT -5
ya know,i bought what many people would call a chinese scoot.
After getting the air hoses figured out,
i have put over 8000 miles on her.
The only prob i ever had is the magneto died, BUT,
i think i killed it. I was out riding on a winter day and got tons of salt on her. So i sprayed tons of water on her, trying to wash all the salt off.
and i sprayed directly into the magneto area. Did that kill it? i think so.
but then again mine is a Shanghai Schenke Motorcycle Company LTD model, that was imported by Jonway.
Does that make a difference? i think so. i think that company or maybe just that shift, cared about quality control.
if you buy a bag of apples say 20 per,
and 15 are bad, do u bad mouth apples forever?
Or just realize u got a bad bunch
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