Should I buy a Scorpio? Where?

[newbie]

Hey guys ... i have wanted a bike for ages ... thought abt it last summer and suddenly last week decided to go and do my basic handling skills test ... so i passed .. now i gota do my learners scratch the card thing... but all that aside ... i have read lots and lots of reviews that recommend the yamaha scorpio as a beginners bike. I like the idea of paying under 5k and getting a brand new bike. BUT where do i go? I live in Auckland and want to purchase it here. I quite like the red with alloy wheels. Does anyone know of any shops in Auckland that does good deals on these bikes.. Am still in uni, and bus pass does me fine for now, but i want a motorbike, but the initial purchase price seems to make it a bit of luxury. Is it going to cost me loads to maintain?

So for those who dont wanna read the above paragraph, WHERE should i go for a good deal, and HOW MUCH is it going to cost as far as maintenance goes?

Thanks in advance for your time :)

[nodrog]

...So for those who dont wanna read the above paragraph, WHERE should i go for a good deal...

Bayride Motorcycles in Tauranga, ask for Chris.

[Waikato Yamaha]

I have got the new Red Scorpio in stock plus a Demo. We are in Hamilton.
07 8505044 or 021 300425. Cheers. Dave.

[Waikato Yamaha]

The maintenance is very cheap on these bikes. Oil and filter plus a basic checkover.

[Badjelly]

If you buy it new it comes with (I think) a 1 year warranty. To keep that warranty alive you must (I think) get services done at a Yamaha dealer according to the maintenance schedule, which provides for services at 500 km, 2000 km, 4000 km, then every 4000 km thereafter. My Scorpio is a little more than 1 year old and has had its 500 and 2000 km services (coming up to 4000 km). Each one cost me about $130.

You can expect a fuel consumption of 30 km/l if you don't take it onto the motorway too much, so to cover 4000 km you would use 133 litres, which @ $2 per litre would cost $266.

Tyres, chains last quite a while, can't say how long but mine still look pretty good @ 3500 km/

The only other thing I've had to fork out for is a puncture repair, which probably cost me $100 all up. The puncture was caused (I suspect) by letting the tyre pressure get too low. The pressures on my wire-spoked Scorpio drop pretty quickly, because (I think) the tubes are pretty porous. I expect the alloy-wheel ones will use tubeless tyres and that these won't go down so fast.

If you're going to be commuting in the rain you should spray the frame & chrome bits in WD40 regularly to stop corrosion (well slow it down, anyway). The Scorpios aren't brilliant in this regard, though I think they're not the worst.

In other words, the Scorpios are pretty cheap to run, provided you look after them.

You should also budget at least $600 for helmet and protective gear. And you're going to have to replace this stuff every few years if you ride regularly.

Don't forget on-road costs when you buy the bike, $270 per year registration/ACC, warrant of fitness, maybe $300 per year for insurance.

[MSTRS]

Before you go down that particular path, have you checked that you are compatible with a Scorpio?
Most compatible signs:
Virgo, Pisces, Cancer, Capricorn

[Lucy]

If you're going to be commuting in the rain you should spray the frame & chrome bits in WD40 regularly to stop corrosion (well slow it down, anyway). The Scorpios aren't brilliant in this regard, though I think they're not the worst.

.

Get some Inox Lanox from Repco or Supercheap Auto. I sprayed my GN all over with it, once, and it didn't rust after that in almost two years. And that's SAYING something about a Chinese GN! I only did it the once, it's more waterproof than CRC, boaties use it.

[KiwiKat]

I recommended a Scorpio for my son's first bike after reading lots of reviews. Yamaha reliability and very manageable in traffic. Any Yamaha dealer in Auckland should give you a good deal.

Don't buy out of town if you can help it.

Ask each dealer what freebies they will throw in, e.g. luggage rack, helmet or jacket. They usually have a reasonable margin and want your ongoing business with servicing etc. which won't be a lot on this.

Prices vary between $3799 and $4400 for the same New model at different dealers in Waikato and Auckland, including 12mths rego and warrant. Thats a $600 difference. Pay the lower price. Don't get suckered.

[Badjelly]

Get some Inox Lanox from Repco or Supercheap Auto. I sprayed my GN all over with it, once, and it didn't rust after that in almost two years. And that's SAYING something about a Chinese GN! I only did it the once, it's more waterproof than CRC, boaties use it.
Thanks very much for that advice. I'll try it.

[Swoop]

Get some Inox Lanox ... it's more waterproof than CRC, boaties use it.

It is also better for your plastic bits, especially electrical wiring. CRC uses solvent in the formulation which breaks plastic down over time. Inox doesn't suffer from this problem.:clap:

[mj_scorpio]

[QUOTE=Lucy;1735371]Get some Inox Lanox from Repco or Supercheap Auto. QUOTE]

I've been wonderin about this as unfortunately been doin alot of wet ridin this winter! cheers :)

[Kombikid]

I'm 58 and have been riding on and off since I was 15, moved from NZ to Aus at 23.
I bought my 2007 Scorpio for AU$2995 with 3225 k's on the clock. I ride about 80k's a day commuting and use it for weekend rides as well. Very little will beat it through a set of decent twisties if you're OK with using all the rev range, and some selective drilling between the inner and outer rings at the end of the exhaust lets it rev out enough to hit 140 kmh on the flat.
I give it an oilchange and check and set the tappets every 2000 k's, and clean the oil strainer(no oil filter) and air filter every 4000, a process that takes about an hour if I'm taking it easy. That's about it except for lubing the chain every week and adjusting it (three times in 11000 k's).
Very simple process anyone can learn.
After lots of bigger bikes, this is one of the best bikes I've ever owned, fast enough to stay with motorway traffic, and about as cheap and simple as motorcycling can get. It doesn't get fussed at being thrashed, doesn't leak oil and so far has given me no trouble whatsoever
I would recommend this little bike to anyone who's more about fun and practicality than sheer top speed.
I like the Yamaha Scorpio very much.
Cheers,
Ian

[Tigadee]

I ride the Scorpio and find it a great wee bike. Very strong, solid and reliable.

Around town it fulfils its function very well, being nimble and very economical. On the motorway and open roads, it survives well and its 225cc 18HP engine still pulls my 110kgs surprisingly well. I like my rides to be cruisey but it wasn't hard to maintain speeds up to 120kph.

With good tyres, it takes corners easily although the factory tyres are more plastic than rubber, so watch them when riding in the wet. Because it's light, it's easy to handle and pick up if you drop it. It does tend to feel the wind a bit, and I feel it swaying a little under me during very strong winds, but otherwise it's stable. I'm 6' 1" and I sit comfortably on it although if its 770mm seat height were a little higher or the shape of the seat allowed my bum to be a little further back, I wouldn't mind. For smaller/shorter riders, I don't think they will complain.

Speaking of seats, mine gets uncomfortable after 40 mins of riding and I need to shift my weight/bum around a little. The Scorpio seat is fine for runs around town but if you're frequently riding for anything longer than an hour, I think you need to add a bit more padding to the seat. But if you don't have a lardy rear like me, then you should be fine.

Not sure of other bikes like the GN250, but AFAIK the Scorpio is economical to maintain, and 2nd hand parts from wreckers are cheap. e.g. I got a 2nd seat in near-new condition for $50 when Akl Yamaha wanted $380 for a new one, like-new alloy rims for $200 or a near-new gear shift lever for $40 as opposed to $120 for a new one. As mentioned, just change oil and filter, which you can do yourself.

[allycatz]

The latst Bike Trader mag had a few Scorpios advertised that came with BHS course and gear allowance but that may of been only if you financed it not cash. If your patient keep an eye on Trade Me....my Scorpio was $2750 with under 800km's on the clock and just like a new one

[Matariki]

Trademe is a good place to check out, though you might want to do your research first before purchasing from a private seller.
Whats your budget? Have you considered the possibility of shipping (if required)? Have you ridden one before or sat on one?

Here's a website worth looking at for sizing; http://cycle-ergo.com/

[hayd3n]

buy a hacksaw and cut half the shifter off aswell

[Old Steve]

I rode with a rider on a scorpio from Tauranga to Kawhia and back once. I was impressed with its handling and speed, it being a 225 single cyliner. I ride a Hyosung GV250, which is a larger 250 so the Scorpio seemed small to me but the rider was larger framed and didn't seem upset by the riding position.

However, at least sit on one and see if it suits you.

And others are right, check out TradeMe for Scorpios locally. I am a firm believer in not buying a new bike if you are learning. You probably lose the same percentage on a new bike as on a second hand bike, so buying a used bike means you lose that percentage of a lesser amount. And you're going to use and abuse your learner bike, sorry but thats the nature of the beast.

[nzspokes]

Shes rockin an Intruder now.