Need to buy a moped/scooter. Need advise!

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redfishsc

redfishsc

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North Charleston , SC
I will be likely buying a small motorbike-- a street legal (non-interstate) to tote my somewhat burgeoning rump back and forth from work/school/home. I go to....and work at... the local seminary and I only live a mile or so away, but need something to help me move quickly when it's raining or 102* outside.

My wife and I share one car and she works 20 miles away, lol, so I tend to get the short end of the stick.

As far as brands of motorscooters and mopeds, I am aware of some of the brands out there but no idea on the relaibility. What is a good reliable model? I know Honda, Yamaha and Vespa tend to have good reviews. I need something that will NOT break down on me all the time.

Any help is appreciated!!

Matt
 
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Matt, I've owned (I really hate to admit this, but...) a number of Hondas over the years and never had any trouble out of them. Very reliable machines.
 
Originally posted by alamocdc
<br />Matt, I've owned (I really hate to admit this, but...) a number of Hondas over the years and never had any trouble out of them. Very reliable machines.
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Billy, I would have taken you for more of a Hog man.

You may want to look into the electric scooters/skateboards. They cost a lot less and easier to keep with you. Less chance of it getting stolen.
 
I am, Chris. I always have been... I just couldn't talk LOML into letting me spend the money on one until several years ago. So I had to ride the cheap Japanese models.[:0]

But no more!!! And I LOVE my Harley!
 
Here's a pic. My boss called it a Harley wann-a-be. If I didn't need the job......... I told him it was quite happy being itself[:D].

20076520945_gw1.jpg
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For riding a mile, especially in the rain, I would just buy a bicycle. I sure don't need rain pelting me while I am trying to keep from sliding on the nice slick center of the road.

OTOH, I did just buy a nice Honda CBR600F2 to get me to and from work each day when it's not raining. So, I guess I say buy a Honda.
 
Originally posted by alamocdc
<br />I am, Chris. I always have been... I just couldn't talk LOML into letting me spend the money on one until several years ago. So I had to ride the cheap Japanese models.[:0]

But no more!!! And I LOVE my Harley!
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Cheap metric models?? They are only cheap because in the long run the Hog will eat you out of house and home!!!LOL!!! I've owned Harleys, metrics, and brits, I'll ride what runs!! Been want an Ural with a side car here of late!!!


<b>Matt</b> Any of the mfg's you mentioned would be a good, reliable ride. Aprilla is another option for scooters but pricey. Top quality scooters but big bucks. The main thing to consider if you are going to be riding in traffic is to get something that will get out of it's own way! Check the classifieds for an older motorcycle under 500cc.
 
I don't know how good the little electric scooters would be in the rain? Other problem with them is many cities are now putting severe restrictions on where they can be used.....like "NOT" on public streets or sidewalks.

I'm a bicycle fan and think that option should receive some serious consideration although you will have to evaluate your trip routes. People in cars still give riders very little consideration and there
is a real risk involved.

You might also want to consider a good pair of rollerblades.

A word to the wise.....the Vespa scooters and others with small diameter wheels are relatively unstable and best avoided. If you want a motor vehicle get a larger wheel vehicle.....a little 125cc dirt bike might be the ticket.

And if you want to go wild...if your budget will alow... how about one of those Segways....be the first kid on your block to own one!!![:D]

www.segway.com
 
I had actually thought about getting a good bicycle to ride to work in good weather. Would be about a 6 1/2 mile ride one way. As I looked at the path to take, I noticed that going to work would be more down hill than getting home! Needless tosay, I'm not that energetic[:D].
 
Bicycle. Good for your health too. Remove some of that "burgeoning" ... [;)] [:D]
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The goal here is to get me to and fro during the summer heat, winter freeze, and rain as quickly as possible. I have a bike, it does no good for any of those, lol. Work up a sweat when it's 27*F outside, with all those hills in between here and the school just ain't for me. I druther ride.....
 
Matt, what ever you decide to ride get yourself the best helmet you can. Then get yourself into a class to learn to ride. I have been at the scene of to many accidents where the riders were put into the corners van and not an ambulance. I have also been to two classmates (motor cycle officers) funerals. And the worst part, it is rarely the motor cycle riders fault, but the rider is seriously injured or killed.
Needless to say, I don't ride anymore.
Keep safe.
Ellis
 
I know that you do not want to invest a lot of money for the potentially short time that you may need it. We had a Yamaha and a Suzuki.- both 50 cc. My wife and I would each ride for distances of 1 to 3 miles often up and down hills. They are VERY convenient, especially in hills and with loads just like you mentioned. We had 10,000 kilometers on our Yamaha and 7,000 on our Suzuki when we sold them. The Yamaha was bought new, the Suzuki was bought used from a friend.

We moved to Toyota City 3 years and live in a neighborhood in which most shopping is at least 3 miles away. We sold our scooters and just use our car because there is far more car traffic here (This is Toyota [:D]) and more dangerous for scooters. We have a very good sidewalk system here and I do use a bicycle more because of it.

Bicycles or scooters - IMHO, it depends on your individual situation.
 
Well, I went and looked at a barely-used Schwinn and the price was right and still under nearly all the warranty...SOLD.

This is just a hotlinked photo, I haven't taken a pic yet. Mine is silver.
schwinngraduate.jpg



Runs good, looks nice, rides comfortably. The Schwinn has a larger frame for folks like me with a larger frame.
 
This thread has gotten me to thinking about getting a scooter when school starts back. Right now I drive my wonderful, but not very fuel friendly, F150 truck. On a day-to-day basis I drive the 3.5 miles there and straight back at the end of the day. Let me know how yo like it for a daily commute.
 
Well, the first week was GREAT. So far the only snags are the antics of a brand new 1cyl engine breaking in on it's first hundred miles. I'm up to 50 miles right now (I bought it at 10 miles). Once it is warm, however, purrrrs like a kitten.


Note that I drive on small suburb roads that have 20-35 mph speed limits. If you have roads that are faster than that in the 4 miles you travel, you may consider bumping up to something like a used Honda Shadow or something under 750cc, since they can legally go as fast as the speed limit (the only drawback being insurance, which would have cost me around $200 a YEAR on a rhetorical 95 Honda Shadow 750cc, and my driving record is rather dismal[:(]........[}:)] ).

But for me, it's the ticket!
 
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