Floridagull,Something to consider... It looks nice
(similar to the Honda Reflex).However, it's a LONG wheelbase "tourer" and from your posts, it seems that like me, you prefer the more compact, shorter, nimble versions with step-through frames: the "classic" scooter format.
And, I must agree with others that the Chinese scooters of that era tended to be MUCH more problematical than they are today
(and they are still a tad "jicky" even now). It might be fine with just nominal "refreshing" but if I were considering it, I'd expect to spend many hours dealing with potential issues with all the fuel and coolant lines, carb, CDI, coil, brake hydraulics... ALL the typical irritations associated with older Chinese scooters, but possibly MAGNIFIED several times from two years of sitting.
You might get lucky, but best to err on the side of "reality". I'd think this one would be a great buy for someone ready and willing to do a LOT of wrenching and tweaking BEFORE ever riding it farther than he's willing to push it home.
Just me, but after seven years of learning more than I ever wanted to know about even a brand-new Chinese ride of THAT era, to replace your 150, I'd really try to snag a clean, used 250 from Taiwan, Japan or Italy.
I realize I'm a little prejudiced. My long... L-O-N-G term experience with truly SUB-STANDARD Chinese factory parts reliability on NEW scooters from that era was
SO dismal... While my trouble-free, enjoy, ride-NOT-wrench experience
(third season now) with my 2008 Kymco with 18K hard, wide-open, 2-up, coast-to-coast highway miles by the original owner, has been
SO encouraging...
The original owner rode the bejeebers out of the old gal, and...
Even the SEAT UPHOLSTERY shows ZERO wear and tear after 9 years of hard use! These things were made to LAST under hard use.I may have a little overly optimistic view of Taiwan-made scoots. I've worked on mine enough
(only for my own edification... NOT to fix problems!) to MARVEL at the heavy-duty parts, thick frame-tubing, overkill welds and gussets... Comparing to my first '07 Xingyue, the old Grandvista is like a Diesel 18-wheeler compared to a Ford Pinto...
I hear the same reaction from riders on early
(affordable) '05-'09 era Hondas
(and ALL things Japanese) Kymcos, SYM's, Vespas
(and ALL things Italian).
I fully understand needing to stay on a tight budget. Staying under a thousand dollars is tough. But... now that the 250's are all becoming 300's you can find new Chinese 250's for around $1,500 and clean used Japanese, Taiwanese and Italian scoots in the same price range... Kymco Grandvistas like mine have become totally "outdated" in the eyes of modern riders, so they can often be found at true, bargain-basement prices.
Actually, probably most carbureted 250's are declining into that "genre"...
Over the hill... So prices are falling on anything with a carburetor, or under 300cc. THAT is fine with me... LOL! My stone-age ride will go
"over the hill" at 70 mph, giving near 100 mpg while doing it.
And I'll bet a similar outdated Honda, Suzuki, SYM, Vespa, etc. will do the same.
I'm old and outdated myself, and find the older, well-made scoots are still just fine...
My Kymco got traded in a new Kymco two-cam, fuel-injected 300. Lots of others with money to spend are "upgrading" the same way. This is producing a nice, sort of AFFORDABLE
($1,000 to $2,000) selection of well-maintained old-school 250's.
As for the Craigslist find, it would probably be a great "project" for the ambitious wrencher/tweaker, but likely not one you could gas up and head for the state line on.
Just my thoughts...Ride safe,
Leo in Texas
