scooters/mopeds

megalania Insano Dub Head

722 posts · joined May 2006 · 16 Jul 2007, 6:51 pm

#602219

Hey guys and gals. I am thinking of getting a moped/scooter as petrol prices are so high, as well all know and the cost of public transport per day for me is killing me. So I was thinking of getting a 125cc scooter to go to and from work. Now I am around 100kg in weight so I need it to support me. Have any of you guys ever had one or currently use one and can offer me some advice.

I won't be riding it on any freeways so it only needs to do 80km/h comfortably. I have a budget of 3-4K. Is it risky to buy second hand.Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Meg man

Notch Nut Custom Title Time!

1,011 posts · joined Apr 2006 · 16 Jul 2007, 7:14 pm

#602225

Learn how to ride a motorbike! A scooter would be too underpowered and a 250cc bike (not a sports bike style) would still have ample power and the equivelant comfort of a scooter. Fuel costs are negligable. I can get about 200kms to a tank of about $13 on the Harley including thrashing the daylights out of it.
Once you get used to being vunerable on the road (more so than in a car), you will definately become a better driver as you will see risky situations that people take for granted when protected by steel.
Eitherway, welcome to the 2 wheeled brotherhood.:thumb
- Adam

If you can't fix it with a hammer,
you have an electrical problem....

baybuscamperkid prince of insufficient light, ruler of heck

4,316 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 16 Jul 2007, 7:22 pm

#602230

biggest risk with secondhand is that alot of people are alot slacker servicing scooters and bikes cos they are so much cheaper to buy (and therefore to replace)

Reimagined/Recycled/Upcycled Cool

megalania Insano Dub Head

722 posts · joined May 2006 · 16 Jul 2007, 7:25 pm

#602234

What about old postie bikes? I heard they go for about $1900 and are fun to ride. I wouldn't mind getting an old vespa and repainting it. Anyone know of a vespa dealer that deals in second hand scooters?

Euro_67 Wolfsburg Wizard

690 posts · joined Oct 2003 · 16 Jul 2007, 7:28 pm

#602236

You cant beat the PX200 Vespa. Manual gearbox, 200cc 2 stroke and piss easy to work on.

A great scooter resource site !

http://www.scooterhelp.com

Notch Nut Custom Title Time!

1,011 posts · joined Apr 2006 · 16 Jul 2007, 7:29 pm

#602237

Only an incomptent fool would leave bike maintenance to chance. The consequences for having a puncture, chain breakage or other sort of failure can potentially be fatal. I wouldn't think it is any less risky than buying any other sort of second hand vehicle. So long as it is checked thoroughly by someone with a good knowlege of what they are looking at I beg to differ.
- Adam

If you can't fix it with a hammer,
you have an electrical problem....

shaihulud Custom Title Time!

1,448 posts · joined Nov 2005 · 16 Jul 2007, 7:50 pm

#602242

I agree with Notch Nut. It's much better to ride a small motorbike. They are safer, faster when needed, have better acceleration and they are no more expensive to run. Being tailgated on a scoooter is no fun. On a bike you can get out of the situation quickly and safely.

Another thing with scooters is that they are fashionable now and so you will pay over the odds for that, wheras a motorbike will not have that problem.

I rode a Honda CB125 for a year when I was a student. I lived near Bungendore about 30 miles out of Canberra and it was a very pleasant experience. I'd suggest a small motorbike of about that size. It will keep up with the traffic easily. . It will be a good commuter.

Postie's bikes are under geared and have automatic gearboxes, as they are designed to go from house to house at a slow pace. You would need to alter the final gearing for commuting.

Speaking of posties bikes. In 1998 when I was driving my buggy from Canberra to Perth, I met a young man in Port Augusta who was riding a postie's bike around Australia in a month as part of a promotion for a Sydney radio station. The low gearing was driving him crazy as he had a top speed if 55 mph. I suggested to him that he have it changed at a bike shop before he tackled the Nullabor.

Menangler Custom Title Time!

1,991 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 17 Jul 2007, 6:08 pm

#602398

Euro_67 wrote:You cant beat the PX200 Vespa. Manual gearbox, 200cc 2 stroke and piss easy to work on.

A great scooter resource site !

http://www.scooterhelp.com

I'll second that, I ride a PX200 to work everyday, I costs about 1/4 of what it cost to drive my T3 dual cab to work, and shaihulud if you think a scooter is slow, you must have only experienced the smaller 50cc - 125cc scooters, the PX200 is faster than you think, will sit on 100 KMH all day long ,I have ridden mine up to Sydney a few times, it accellerates better than a car in traffic, is very manoeuvreable, handles great, and you can't beat the classic looks of a Vespa, and just like a Beetle, very basic and easy to work on, engine comes out in about 15 minutes.

Be careful buying an older Vespa, lots of nasty Indo imports around, beware.

Oh and I also have one 4 sale at the moment

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63456&page=1#pid599526

FAHRVERGNUGEN;
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Experienced when a car and it's driver are in mutual harmony, A unique driving experience, Pleasure, Satisfaction,
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