Do I buy a scooter or a motorbike?

**HenryDorsetCase** · 14th December 2010, 10:46

I can't decide.

I am thinking seriously about buying something to get to work on. I seem to be pretty much over pushbiking, so I was thinking of getting a scooter. That looks like fun, they are economical and quick enogh round town. Something like a 150 - 250cc one, like a Kymco or whatever comes along. Budget say $2k to $3k. Scooters have underseat storage and are designed entirely to do what I want to do. So its easy, right? Shut the hell up and go buy one.

Well, not so much. I have been watching how drivers treat scooters the past few days, and the homicidal rage exhibited by drivers is astonishing. Even big scooters. CAr drivers seem to think that scooters are the small reef fish of the roads, a tasty snack between meals. Every one is either being tailgated (particularly if they have an L plate attached), or lane changed into, or cut off, or carved up in some way.

I've been riding my black Triumph Scrambler to work a bit too, and I wear a black Shoei with a black visor and a dark or black jacket. And its LOUD. And people (if car drivers can be called people) just don't fuck with you. I think a motorbike has more road presence, and its easier to have that golden zone of empty space around you, which I covet, and really strive to create.

So maybe a motorbike? Something like a Suzuki unSavage 650 (or a DR650): which will be cheaper to run than the Trumpy, but stupidly costs the same to register? (thanks Nuck Smuth you wanker) I'd look at a 250 except they are stupidly expensive.

I don't know. I have some cash money but not a lot.

Your thoughts callers? What do you communt on, and why? issues? options?

**Edbear** · 14th December 2010, 11:12

Scooters are a barrel of fun, I used one for mail deliveries way back and had a ball on it around the streets! I do see your point about how scooters are treated by drivers, though. Depending on your commute a 125 -150cc trail bike would be a good, cheap bet. I had an XT125 Yamaha back in the '80's and it was a fantastic wee bike for around town and light trail work!

**aprilia_RS250** · 14th December 2010, 11:12

I commute on a push bike. I'd say stick with it

Advantages

-on my 6km commute to work it can be faster than bike (put gear on, take security chains off, warm up etc)
-Keeps me fit-ish.
-Can ride almost anywhere anytime (through green man on intersections, footpaths etc)
-parks in office easy, so won't get pinched in parking lot
-don't have to pay rego + insurance
-when i drop it i don't care
-Compared to motorbikes maintenance is almost free and easy
-Just leave your work clothes at work and cycle in

Disadvantages
-winter time it can suck always being wet and cold but that just makes you harder
-Lycra wearing homos wanting to race you

**jack_hamma** · 14th December 2010, 11:13

Get a batman leather suit on a black scooter....

no-one goin fuck with you lol

**HenryDorsetCase** · 14th December 2010, 11:34

Originally Posted by aprilia_RS250

I commute on a push bike. I'd say stick with it

Advantages

-on my 6km commute to work it can be faster than bike (put gear on, take security chains off, warm up etc)
-Keeps me fit-ish.
-Can ride almost anywhere anytime (through green man on intersections, footpaths etc)
-parks in office easy, so won't get pinched in parking lot
-don't have to pay rego + insurance
-when i drop it i don't care
-Compared to motorbikes maintenance is almost free and easy
-Just leave your work clothes at work and cycle in

Disadvantages
-winter time it can suck always being wet and cold but that just makes you harder
-Lycra wearing homos wanting to race you

I hear you. I biked to work pretty much every day from when I started work here in 1993 (!!!) to the start of this year. really till the start of autumn this year, when I thought "Fuck this for a game of soldiers" Now I only pushbike if its a nice day, and stuff. In fact I biked today and it was very pleasant.

the scooter/second bike option would work over winter. heated grips, leg shield, decent jacket. I nearly bought a Piaggio MP3 last winter but didnt have the coin together. theres one on tardme now for $6500 too.

**DangerMice** · 14th December 2010, 11:55

I commute 19km in Auckland each way on a Yamaha Jog, so, a very small scooter. I do come across everything you described, but then, don't most riders? It doesn't happen all that often, and 9 times out of 10, a blast from the Stebel gets them scurrying back to where they came from. You have plenty of experience so I reckon you could make that scoot bigger than it really is.

They are perfect for commuting, twist & go vs the M50 I was filtering behind this morning who was having to change gear every 10 seconds. Heaps of storage without needing a rack or box so you can always have your wets etc on you, and cheaper rego, no wof costs. You have another bike for fun, so go the scoot for the commute says I.

**BuzzardNZ** · 14th December 2010, 12:01

I'd go with something like a GB400. Owned 3 over the years, very reliable, ultra economical. You could possibly consider a GN125 or 250. For what they are ( a commuter ) you can't fault them.

**SMOKEU** · 14th December 2010, 12:44

Get a CBR400RR.

**chasio** · 14th December 2010, 12:48

If you're quick (like today) Wysper is selling his DR650 for about the $4k mark. If I didn't have a Freewind already, I'd look bloody hard at that.

Or if you don't mind fugly (ahem) isiosyncratic-looking, there's always this from 3L4NS1R.

All that said, I used to have a Vespa GT200 and if I could afford to run two bikes I'd have another one. Great commuter weapon. Can't get a FF helmet under the seat though, just the trendy jaw-munter style.

Thinking it through, the Belladonna 150 2-smoker would be my choice to combine with a bike as it has a foot operated rear brake and a left hand clutch/gear shift combo. Probably get a helmet under the seat as well.

**Juzz976** · 14th December 2010, 12:55

I can understand spending $2-3k on a commuter bike, but not that much on a scooter.

If you do decide the scooter is the way to go I'm sure you'll get a good one for $1000-1200 and spend the rest on good riding/scootling gear that can be used on either.

If you get enough left over you may be able to get one of those pack rack box things (foget what they called now). luggage box....maybe and a loud horn

**Gibbo89** · 14th December 2010, 13:02

I believe the honda cb400 has underseat storage. or else a suzuki across has storage where most bikes fuel tanks are.

i.e.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-332131509.htm

I have no idea what the storage is like on a cb400 but they claim it is decent:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-333997020.htm

but, maintenance-wise they may not be great for just the commute? you'll know more than me anyway

**chasio** · 14th December 2010, 13:30

The more I think about it, the more a used Belladonna makes sense for a biker... E.g. this TardMe effort.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 14th December 2010, 13:43

What actually started me down this path is that I was pricing up bits to build a commuter pushbike. And that got over two grand pretty quickly. And I thought "Hell with that, I can get something that pushes itself along for that money"

Riding gear isn't an issue, Ive got gear for Africa, and Madagascar too.

I am very tempted by the DR650 (I was pondering selling my Scrambler for a Street Triple and a DR650 a while ago. ) and that one at $4k is a bargain. Except its a bad time of year for money, and its more than I have to spend at the moment. (not by much, but enough).... by the end of January I should be more financial (of course last time I said that the bloody hot water cylinder shat itself.......)

Dunno: mulling from Kintyre.

[youtube]nYhTye_A9H0[/youtube]

**HenryDorsetCase** · 14th December 2010, 13:47

Originally Posted by Gibbo89

I believe the honda cb400 has underseat storage. or else a suzuki across has storage where most bikes fuel tanks are.

i.e.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-332131509.htm

I have no idea what the storage is like on a cb400 but they claim it is decent:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-333997020.htm

but, maintenance-wise they may not be great for just the commute? you'll know more than me anyway

they're older bikes, and four cylinders, so maintenance will be more. single cylinder more new-ish than old-ish for the win.

hence the s40 savage, Dr650, scooter options. Even stuff like GB400's and SRX-6's (both of which I have owned in the past) are getting long in the tooth, and hard to find a good one. Incidentally the kickstart only SRX sucked as a communter bike. Started fine hot, or cold, but start it, run it for a few minutes, then turn it off and try and restart it: total bitch pain in the arse.