Dude wants $120 more than the Kelley Blue Book high retail price, which is about $400 more than I'm willing to pay. He paid too much for it, and figures I should, too. Wrong!So, I'm gonna head over to East Side Scooters next weekend (was going to go today, but something's come up for my ride, and I don't know that I can get a bus over there, today), and check out their Kymco and Genuine models... both Taiwanese scooters (so are the Vinos -- something I only learned last night!), and have rave reviews all over the net. If I'm gonna spend that much, I might as well get a 2-year warranty (and with the Genuine Buddy 125, you get 1-year roadside assistance, as well!).
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5 comments :
You are exactly right...
Thanks! for your scooter discussions, JP. Last fall, my car was totalled by an uninsured driver and I decided to see if I could live without a car. I live in a small Midwestern city, and the bus service is decent, so it's been okay to be sans la voiture. However, I'm moving to a burg that lacks public transport, so I'm trying to decide whether or not a scooter is a viable alternative. Think snow.
Your reports on the the scootin' life are helpful & entertaining.
Cheers! & pats for the cats.
walkin' gal -- I wouldn't want to be on two wheels in snow or ice... maybe some have that kind of skills, but I wouldn't attempt it, myself. Here in Nashville, winters are typically mild, and snow for more than a day or two on the roads is very rare (although we get walloped every few years).
The important thing to keep in mind is the engine size vs. your weight. At 200lbs., I need at least 125cc to keep up with surface road traffic @ 45+mph... and interstates are a no-no for anything under 150 (250cc minimum recommended for interstate use).
But I have an easy, ~6 mi. commute, so a 125 ought to be just fine. My crappy Chinese 150cc scooter handled it just fine (and it never ran at top speed, because it was a piece of crap... and it was stolen in February).
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I agree w/your thoughts about snow/ice + scooting = bad idea, JP.
The "burg" is less than 10k people &, believe me, no interstates nearby. 45 mph will be plenty of speed for the in-town travel I'm thinking about.
My new home will be a mile+ from the grocery and downtown is about 3/4 of a mile, with work less than a block so I'll be walking the latter, no problem.
A bicycle might be enough, but I think a scooter would be useful, if I can find a decent carrier to go with so I can haul more than an apple on it.
Thanks for the previous speedy reply and sorry about the swiping of the CDM. That sux and is something I fear w/a scooter, even in the small town where I'll be.
walkin' gal -- Shoot, for those distances and speeds, you might be able to get away with a 50cc scooter, epecially if you're considerably lighter than I am. A de-restricted Yamaha Vino 50 (what I have now) should carry someone 150lbs. at 40mph on level ground, easily. And most states don't even require licensing or insurance for anything 50cc and under -- here in TN, they're considered a "motorized bicycle," but I got tags just to avoid potential hassles from cops.
Security: Hasn't been a problem for me, but I park at the condo complex in a lot that's not visible from the main road. I also have a kickass Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit chain and lock ($95) that I've used to chain it to guardrails. No one not carrying a cutting torch rig or portable grinder is gonna get through that thing in less that four hours, so it's quite the deterrent.
You can probably find a used Vino 50 or a Honda Metropolitan in good condition, no more that 4-5 years old w/less than 5K miles on it for $1000. Check your local craigslist and other classified spots... and good luck!
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