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Post by w650 on Jun 20, 2018 19:59:12 GMT -5
I don't think you can compare a 2007 Xingyue to a 2018 Bintelli, Wolf or Lance. Even Tao Tao has upped their game. As we all know numerous Kymco and SYM models are made in China. While some may say "Good riddance to bad rubbish" there are numerous Tao Tao ATM-50s conveying people around reliably. This tariff war will hurt the common man.
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Post by w650 on Jun 10, 2018 15:39:42 GMT -5
Do you remember what they say about riding a bicycle? Take it easy and it will come back quickly. I laid off for about seven years once and road the bike forty miles, in the dark, in February on an interstate and busy roads in rush hour. You will be pleased how quickly your skills return.
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Post by w650 on Jun 8, 2018 20:11:36 GMT -5
As Kat noted the Piaggio versions are so much less expensive. You can have that 50cc Vespa for over four grand or a Fly 150 for $2300 with the same engine. How about that $5500 Vespa 150? For only three grand you can have the Piaggio Fly150 with the exact same engine. I guess if you want a 1940s scooter the extra money is worth it. Not to me.
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Post by w650 on Jun 5, 2018 18:35:18 GMT -5
Feast your eyes on the new prices.
DESCRIPTION MSRP
VESPA PRIMAVERA 50 4T/4V 50° MARRONE MY19 $4,149
VESPA PRIMAVERA 50 4T/4V 50° AZZURRO MY19 $4,149
VESPA PRIMAVERA 50 4T/4V YACHT CLUB MY19 $4,049
VESPA SPRINT 50 4T/4V NOTTE MY19 $4,149
VESPA PRIMAVERA 150 FL 50° MARRONE MY19 $5,449
VESPA PRIMAVERA 150 FL 50° AZZURRO MY19 $5,449
VESPA PRIMAVERA 150 YACHT CLUB MY19 $5,349
VESPA SPRINT 150 E4 ABS NOTTE MY19 $5,649
VESPA PRIMAVERA 150 E4 ABS SPORT BLU ARMONIA MY19 $5,549
VESPA PRIMAVERA 150 E4 ABS SPORT BEIGE SAHARA MY19 $5,549
VESPA PRIMAVERA 150 E4 ABS SPORT ROSSO PROFONDO MY19 $5,549
VESPA GTS 300 ABS E4 YACHT CLUB MY19 $7,049
VESPA GTS SUPER 300 ABS E4 NOTTE MY19 $7,149
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Post by w650 on Jun 4, 2018 14:12:01 GMT -5
From what I've been seeing the GY6 50cc engine has been acquitting itself quite well on the streets. As I recall Tortoise noted elsewhere that the Tao Tao ATM 50 has been selling by the bunches out in the world. I can't imagine it would be selling like that with a bad reputation. The people at Wolf and Bintelli have been all over warranty issues from their dealers and calling for corrective action. Diane at Wolf said over on Facebook, "We watch for warranty issues like a Hawk." If neither of those Brands floats your boat then go with Lance. Their scooters are built by SYM and even come with Taiwanese VIN numbers. Mike Hickman has been at this a long time and has been bettering his scooters by leaps and bounds. Even the very biased Dave Harrington at www.justgottascoot.com has given good reviews of Lance scooters. www.justgottascoot.com/cabo150.htmI like the Lance Cabo 150 scooter. It has excellent ergonomics, good suspension and storage and adequate speed and braking. I suspect it will prove over time to be reliable and have a low cost of ownership. At $2,299 it represents a terrific value in its class. |
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Post by w650 on Jun 3, 2018 20:05:29 GMT -5
The Piaggio Fly 50 has a Vespa four valve in it. On the other side both Bintelli and Wolf sell quality 50cc Chinese scooters. A young man rode a Scorch 50 from Michigan to the Florida Keys with zero troubles.
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Post by w650 on May 26, 2018 19:54:02 GMT -5
I would prefer a 2-valve OHV engine rather than a DOHC multivalve engine if the tradeoff is not needing to adjust valves. Most of today's big V-Twins have hydraulic pivot points and never require adjustment. The Freedom 106 engine was refined for 15+ years and has proven to be faster, more modern and compact than the Thunder Stroke motor. Polaris is simply mixing a new Kool Aide that is luring in those disenchanted with Harley. The Thunder Stroke is an engine from the last century and was designed to look that way. It may sell well but the Scout/Octane is a better bike. Plus the Chief Roadmaster weighs 20 pounds more than a six cylinder Gold Wing. Simplicity should weigh a lot less. |
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Post by w650 on May 18, 2018 19:34:11 GMT -5
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Post by w650 on May 18, 2018 15:41:18 GMT -5
Here's the skinny on the Octane/Scout. In 2013 Polaris introduced the Indian Chief at the Sturgis Rally. Big hit. That year Victory was working on the Project 156 for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. That motor was supposed to go into the Victory Octane.
Polaris decided to plunk the motor into a new Scout in time for the 2014 Sturgis Rally to keep the Indian ball rolling. Again, big hit. But they also put a slightly larger motor into the Octane and offered it months later which made people call the Octane a Scout knockoff.
Wrong. The Octane was supposed to be the home of the engine but Indian got the nod first. If anything the Scout is an Octane knockoff. Of course Polaris torpedoed Victory shortly after that condemning the vastly superior Freedom 106 to the scrap bin. The Thunder Stroke is a pushrod, two valve motor to the Freedom's four valve, overhead cam engine.
Marketing wins again over engineering.
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Post by w650 on May 17, 2018 13:14:55 GMT -5
Victory was shut down by Polaris so they can concentrate on Indian. The bike you're talking about was the Victory Vision. You either loved it or hated the styling. Personally I think the engine Victory used was better than the Indian boat anchors they have gone to.
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Post by w650 on May 11, 2018 20:00:50 GMT -5
I recently read at Modern Vespa that the OTD price of a 300 Vespa is a mere $8500. That's about the price of two new Kymco 300s. Let's see, can I think about that for a few seconds.
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Post by w650 on May 8, 2018 19:29:39 GMT -5
It sounds like the clutch slipping. Did you see any oil in the case when you checked the belt?
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Post by w650 on Apr 27, 2018 21:38:56 GMT -5
As Leo can tell you, after fifty years of shifting you do it like walking and breathing. My point outside of that was the 500 Honda costs less, is faster and less maintenance in the long run.
Comparing a bike to a scooter is pointless though. They are totally different beasts and generally attract different individuals to their seats.
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Post by w650 on Apr 27, 2018 16:36:49 GMT -5
Sorry to be a wet blanket Leo but I must respectively add a few points to this. The pressed steel design of the Vespa is not just a rolled, flat sheet of metal. It has numerous reinforcements internally that are tube like. While it may seem like a 300 Vespa is quick its 0-60 times hover around 13 to 15 seconds. A Honda Nighthawk 250, and the Rebel, post 12.2 second runs to the same speed. Never mind that 300cc bikes do it in six seconds. As for the 7K price tag. Feast your eyes on this. powersports.honda.com/2018/cb500x.aspxAdmittedly the Vespa is easier to mount but I know which I would want for a 500 mile day. |
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Post by w650 on Apr 27, 2018 13:44:57 GMT -5
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