synth19

I'm getting killed on gas, an 18 miles drive one way for work....I'm thinking of getting a scooter since I only go local (highest speed limit is 35 mph) and don't need to get on the highway. Yes, it's crazy driving that far locally! But, if I do that, it takes me 45 minutes to get to work as opposed to 1-1.5 hours on the expressway!

Some general questions, Anyone here drive a scooter, and what do you think? I know there was a post about someone getting a scooter a few weeks ago...I'm probably going to go with a low CC engine, top speed 45mph (100 mpg). Easy/difficult to maintain? Since I've never tried one out (or a motorcycle for that matter), similar to riding a bicycle? Any particular brands you like? My budget is around $1,500, I would like to find a nice used one if possible.

Here's one I'm considering:

http://www.scooterworks.com/Buddy_50_W59C286.cfm

Titand19

lol, I thought you were talking about scooter the member for a second.

Seems pretty cool I see more people in NYC riding them around.

danny25

get a used Ninja 250, or a Suzuki GSE500 or something cheap like that, it'll be a lot more fun.

Crazy Bimmer

I always think people on those scooters look like wieners.

Just drive your civic.

Whiskers

mclarenf3387

You don't need a liscence to drive a scooter with 50cc though. With a bike he would need to get one.

synth19

hehe. There is the :ghey: factor....but I dont really care.... oh, wife needs the civic.

Crazy Bimmer

I just dont get it.

You paying for the insurance and maybe car payment on the 350z. But you rather store it because of gas prices and rather buy a $2k scooter.

I rather spend more on gas than hurt my ego on one of those things.

"So how he die?"
"He got slammed by a geo metro when he was on his scooter"

Deity711

That Ruckus that someone got last week looks a hell of a lot cooler then a "Buddy."

Teh Jatt

My friend bought 2 Yamaha zuma's (sp?), they do about 40mph, but he's going to make it go up to 80mph and you don't need M class, just C.

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/pr...51/0/home.aspx

ZtotallynakedZ

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/mcy/161661310.html

Simpleman

even though the scooter isn't as powerful as "full on" motorcycle, same dangers applies: you have no cage protection.

get nailed by a car and you're out for the count...

Simpleman

and even though you might not need a class m license, i'd still recommend taking a MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) course.

GreenMonster

I looked into getting a vintage scooter awhile ago, and spent alot of time on the scooter forums doing "research"...

Always keep going back to the "motorcycle is a better bang for the buck" argument...

You can get a honda metropolitan II pretty cheaply, and since it's under 50cc, it's technically a moped and not a motorscooter, so a licence isn't required... They go for around 1800 new IIRC so you should be able to find one for about 1000...

Since you're in the Chicago area, you should be able to find a decent scooter irregardless of the make... Hip urban types tend to own scooters (and outcasts/misfits)... Yuppies will often buy 'em thinking that a scooter will make them cool, and soon have 'em up for sale cheap...

I still want a old vespa if I ever get rich enough to have a decent collection of motorized vehicles

GS150, Rally180 or 200, or some other oldskool vespa...

GreenMonster

Genuine has a pretty good rep on the 'net... I love what they've done with the indian built Stella...

Haven't really followed the Buddy scooter tho'....

I did a quick search for - Genuine Buddy - on the http://www.scooterbbs.com forum and got alot of hits, so you might want to start doing your reseach there...

Don't be afraid to ask some questions, scooterists are generally friendly people...

synth19

^ thanks!

Crazy Bimmer

Hello legs

synth19

I've always wanted a scooter. Not that I still wouldn't drive the Z, but it's a real pain driving it every day to wicker park. I'm usually driving the Z when I get home and of course on weekends.... Trust me, western burbs to the city with a manual car is not fun at all. I'm rethinking my budget, maybe I should get a used one for under 1k. I'm not sure if I'll do it though, top speed of 40-45mph kinda sux. I wont be able to speed in certain "open areas"

Crazy Bimmer

How do you get from the burbs to wicker park going only 35mph?

I mean you would have to watch the weather closely then. Lately is rains out of no where and hasnt stopped all week.

You just want one to be cool. You aint back in india benchod.

Teh Jatt

dude get Yamaha....

synth19

I dont speak gujarati or whatever you said fag. It takes me like 45-50 minutes to get to work, and 60 minutes to get back home. Going home is the biggest pain in the ass with teh traffic. My speed average is anywhere from 35-45 mph....sometimes 50 @ some decent stretches if the traffic clears up.

GreenMonster

Jatt, jesal said benchod :gheylaugh: He's teaching me "bad words"

Teh Jatt

use this site to learn punjabi or hindi bad words....

nws ads nws ads

http://www.insultmonger.com/swearing/punjabi.htm

http://www.insultmonger.com/swearing/hindi.htm

tell him I said KUTTI

Crazy Bimmer

How about taking the train? Just giving ideas.

Teh Jatt

LOL he's more whitewash than you are.....

GreenMonster

I drive a MT thru some pretty heavy traffic (took me over an hour to do my 23 mile commute this morning), so I know what you mean...

I've been thinking it might make sense to downsize to a used auto civic or something instead of driving the CL... and maybe get something for a weekend only car...

But in the end a 6mt is still bearable for me on most days, and the gas miles isn't that bad. The gas savings on a civic wouldn't be that much... I don't think driving a civic is worth the 500 or so in savings a year...

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180479

danny25

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

I guess the biggest question is... would spending $1,500-$2k on a scooter really save you money? Even with the high gas prices I'd find it very hard to believe you're spending that much more on gas.

So I would probably guess it would take you at least 1-2 full years of daily commutes to break even. I mean, if you're really looking into getting a scooter, I wouldn't spend more then $500 on it. Getting 100 MPG is nice... but not for that much money. It's just not worth it....

synth19

^ werd.... I was being very impusive... now I'm investing scooters in he $500-800 range.

GreenMonster

Yeah, if you're looking at it as another toy to mess around with, then you've got the right idea... Having a scooter for daily transportation/saving money isn't the best way to get into it.

I get the itch to get another motorized toy every other week...