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View Full Version : How's that PGO, Kaz?



Pogo2
26th August 2007, 20:15
Hey Kaz

Now that you have had that mean machine for a few weeks - how is it all going?

Me, havent had the chance yet to go for a test ride.:scooter:

kaz
27th August 2007, 13:29
Hi there Pogo2.
I am really enjoying "The Tardis", my beautiful red GMax.

I have gotten used to it looking a bit unusual - being a scooter but not a step-thru and having some aspects of motorbike design. I get a lot of people - bikers, scooter riders, and curious people - stopping for an admiring look and a chat. Even I sometimes stop and admire her sleek lines from a distance ;)

The vibration I was at first concerned about has largely settled down and isn't noticeable now.

I've gotten used to it enough now to feel confident about cornering with plenty of lean and I really do like the way it handles. I've had a few short motorway outings and one longer one - 20kms to Porirua and then back again - and it was quite comfortable.

I don't think the brightness of the lights is anything to write home about. I really only noticed that on the motorway when I had to put them on full in places (where there was no street lighting). They were ok but not fantastic or anything.

I have had a problem with the storage compartment. It wouldn't close properly at first so I took it back to Motorad and they fixed it but now it won't open easily. It's a straight out mechanical problem I think so nothing to get too upset about. I will take it back again though as I don't want to one day find that I can't get into the compartment to retrieve my helmet! (and I don't want to mess about with it myself when it's under warranty).

The good thing about the compartment is that seems bigger than I first realised. It swallows a lot of groceries easily :sunny:

I get about 140kms to a full tank of 7 litres. Not sure if that's good or not.

Overall I am really pleased with the purchase and the greater freedom I now have to not only commute but go further via motorway. I can't wait to get my full license so I can take hubby out on it.

Maybe you should take one for a test ride...? :yes:

Pogo2
27th August 2007, 15:58
Hi there Pogo2.
I am really enjoying "The Tardis", my beautiful red GMax.

I have gotten used to it looking a bit unusual - being a scooter but not a step-thru and having some aspects of motorbike design. I get a lot of people - bikers, scooter riders, and curious people - stopping for an admiring look and a chat. Even I sometimes stop and admire her sleek lines from a distance ;)

The vibration I was at first concerned about has largely settled down and isn't noticeable now.

I've gotten used to it enough now to feel confident about cornering with plenty of lean and I really do like the way it handles. I've had a few short motorway outings and one longer one - 20kms to Porirua and then back again - and it was quite comfortable.

I don't think the brightness of the lights is anything to write home about. I really only noticed that on the motorway when I had to put them on full in places (where there was no street lighting). They were ok but not fantastic or anything.

I have had a problem with the storage compartment. It wouldn't close properly at first so I took it back to Motorad and they fixed it but now it won't open easily. It's a straight out mechanical problem I think so nothing to get too upset about. I will take it back again though as I don't want to one day find that I can't get into the compartment to retrieve my helmet! (and I don't want to mess about with it myself when it's under warranty).

The good thing about the compartment is that seems bigger than I first realised. It swallows a lot of groceries easily :sunny:

I get about 140kms to a full tank of 7 litres. Not sure if that's good or not.

Overall I am really pleased with the purchase and the greater freedom I now have to not only commute but go further via motorway. I can't wait to get my full license so I can take hubby out on it.

Maybe you should take one for a test ride...? :yes:

Agree about the headlights. Mine is a bit like that as well. One swift puff and I am sure the candle will go out! Bit of a pain about the seat latch, but I guess that will get rectified. Quite suprised about the fuel consumption. I thought you might have got slightly better than that. My 150 give about 3L per 100km. However once yours is run in it may settle down. What rpm does it do at 100kph?

Cheers

Mark

kaz
27th August 2007, 16:37
Agree about the headlights. Mine is a bit like that as well. One swift puff and I am sure the candle will go out! Bit of a pain about the seat latch, but I guess that will get rectified. Quite suprised about the fuel consumption. I thought you might have got slightly better than that. My 150 give about 3L per 100km. However once yours is run in it may settle down. What rpm does it do at 100kph?
Cheers
Mark

I just checked: fuel consumption for the Gilera Runner VXR200 (the other scoot I considered) is listed at 24km/litre. 7 litres would therefore be 168kms, which is not much better than the GMax (and the GMax has a bigger engine). And if you get about 33km/litre for a 150cc, I guess it's about right. But hopefully, as you say, it might improve as it runs in. I don't know how that kind of thing works.

rpm at 100km/hr is 5500-6000. What does that even mean? is that good?
Karen

kaz
27th August 2007, 16:41
Agree about the headlights. Mine is a bit like that as well. One swift puff and I am sure the candle will go out! Bit of a pain about the seat latch, but I guess that will get rectified. Quite suprised about the fuel consumption. I thought you might have got slightly better than that. My 150 give about 3L per 100km. However once yours is run in it may settle down. What rpm does it do at 100kph?
Cheers
Mark

I just checked: fuel consumption for the Gilera Runner VXR200 (the other scoot I considered) is listed at 24km/litre. 7 litres would therefore be 168kms, which is not much better than the GMax (and the GMax has a bigger engine). And if you get about 33km/litre for a 150cc, I guess it's about right. But hopefully, as you say, it might improve as it runs in. I don't know how that kind of thing works.

rpm at 100km/hr is 5500-6000. What does that even mean? is that good? fyi, it redlines at 9,000rpm (or maybe 10,000, I forget). Again, is that good or what?
Karen

Pogo2
27th August 2007, 16:51
My 150 does 60kph for about 6000rpm on the flat. The rev counter goes up to 10,000 but has no redline. The PGO website says that the redline should be 7250rpm. When I purchased the bike I said to the sales person that I wanted a scoot that would at least do 80kph. Have had the bike upto 70kph at 6500rpm but I am not keen to thrash the living daylights out of my engine.
So used to having big engines turning slowly both in my BMW and the planes that I fly, so ringing out the guts is an uncormfotable feeling.

In retrospect I guess 140km for 7L isn't too bad then. Ive seen on the 250cc pages, comments of about 18-22km/L and scoots are auto as well so that would reduce the figure a little.

Glad to hear that you are happy with the Tardis.

Happy riding


Mark

kaz
27th August 2007, 19:32
My 150 does 60kph for about 6000rpm on the flat. The rev counter goes up to 10,000 but has no redline. The PGO website says that the redline should be 7250rpm. When I purchased the bike I said to the sales person that I wanted a scoot that would at least do 80kph. Have had the bike upto 70kph at 6500rpm but I am not keen to thrash the living daylights out of my engine.
So used to having big engines turning slowly both in my BMW and the planes that I fly, so ringing out the guts is an uncormfotable feeling.

In retrospect I guess 140km for 7L isn't too bad then. Ive seen on the 250cc pages, comments of about 18-22km/L and scoots are auto as well so that would reduce the figure a little.

Glad to hear that you are happy with the Tardis.
Happy riding
Mark

Correction on the fuel consumption. I just filled up tonight and could only get 5 litres in. So it reads empty when it's really not (it's been "empty" for a couple of days so I figured I couldn't push it any further). So I think I can get more than 140km for 7 litres actually.

It does redline at 9000rpm, I just checked. The rev counter goes up to 12000rpm but not sure what speed I'd be doing and under what conditions for that!

Your description of revs on the 150 helps me understand it a bit better. You fly planes?
K

gt1cm2
24th April 2008, 12:46
Hi Kaz, sorry to bring up an older topic but I was wondering if you are still happy with the PGO? I'm hoping to go for my handling test next month so I can get a bigger bike and at the moment I'm interested in the PGO but can't find much in the way of reviews.

kaz
2nd May 2008, 15:47
Sure am (still happy)! It feels grunty enough on the local motorways around Wellington and Kapiti Coast but is still really compact and easy around the inner city. For me, I find it the best of both worlds.

The two drawbacks I notice are:
1. I find my bum gets a bit tired/numb at the half hour mark but I rarely ride for more than that length of time anyway (I don't think of it as a touring scooter or anything!).

2. The turning lock is not that great (a friend's Vespa ET4 150cc is waaaay better).

I hope this helps. Good luck.