Silly Scooters!

**Posh Tourer :P** · 27th March 2004, 09:11

* retracts any previous derogatory comments about scooters in the face of some well thought out replies*

Still wouldnt buy one for reasons of wheel size (and in the case of 50cc ones, less height than I'm used to), but a lot more respect for all scooter riders...

**6Chris6** · 27th March 2004, 20:53

I learnt to ride in England and when your 16 the biggest bike you can get is 49cc then when your 17 you can then get a 125cc (oooh the power). I started off on a Suzuki TS50ER and put a 65cc big bore kit on it (again oooooh the power) but after i blew it up (twice) got a honda C50 stepthrough and loved it scooters rock!

to all 2 wheelers!

**MadDuck** · 27th March 2004, 22:13

Let yourself go ...lmao. We all ride diff sized beasts for different reasons.

I have been made to feel less of a biker because I ride a 250 (damn or is it for other reasons - I will try to grow tall) and it dont seem to matter how big the beast gets theres always a bigger and better version. Consumerism works and lives.

I had a hoot on the scoots and only cost $3 to fill the sucker up! For two weeks riding. Its got to better than any cage after all ???

Got me a few drunk pillions back then too who thought it sexy to go on the back of the scoot - god remember when there was no such thing as checkpoints?

**Posh Tourer :P** · 27th March 2004, 23:31

Originally Posted by MadDuck

Got me a few drunk pillions back then too who thought it sexy to go on the back of the scoot - god remember when there was no such thing as checkpoints?

did you get to pick and choose your pillions?

Yeah I remember being on the old MZ.... looked weird, 250 single with huge cooling fins, sounded like nothing else, and probably smoked like anything too.... great fun, a "real" motorcycle if ever there was one :P, squeezed a 400-18 on the rear, and a 3.25-18 front, power down well, handled pretty good... solid wee bike... Dodgy electrics..... went through 2 coils in 2 years... ok one was shot when i got it and the other I overtightened the bracket, cracked the outer slightly and got minor water leakage = intermittent problem

Had to carry a spare spark plug around just in case the old one got fouled up... Of course with the dodgy coil and headlight on (and before i get hauled up the battery wasnt the best either), it did about 12km per spark plug...Sanded the "contacts" down and cleaned them up with acetone, back in as good as new.... gotta love old crappy bikes....

I felt like a real biker on it though... its all about how you carry yourself... If people want to look down on you, wave to the next person you see... eventually you'll find an unbiased someone... I've even had a guy on a beemer (like mine now) lanesplit to come and find out what the hell I was riding...

Moral of the story, no matter what you ride you'll get mixed response... look on the bright side and dont be scared to defend your ride to anyone (i'm quite happy to argue the merits of it all)

MZ: random pics - mine had no sidecar, but best pic at short notice

**Menial** · 20th May 2004, 23:25

Originally Posted by MikeL

.....Onehunga ....

Onehunga WOOP WOOP WOOP!!!!

**Warren** · 21st May 2004, 02:31

My mum got a 2002 suzuki 50cc katana. She uses it to travel to work and back (across town). Althrough I have only driven it once here are some of the things I liked about it.

1. It is extremly easy to drive.
2. There is a lot of luggage space under the seat (fits 1 helmet) and up the front.
3. It handles city traffic no sweat. Acclerates to 70kph quickly (performed rather similar to my 1984 honda lead NH80).
4. fat tyres, disc brakes and always-on front light.

It came with an exaust restrictor to keep it to 2kw but this was quickly removed at it's first service. the law is 2kw and 50cc max.

**airplane** · 21st May 2004, 07:22

I agree with George. I once borrowed a Yamaha T-Max from Sawyers when I took my bike in for service. The T-Max was great (once you got used to having brakes operated from the 'clutch' handlebar!).

If I lived in downtown Wellington, I'd have one for sure.

I'd also go for reasonable gear - a less sports-oriented jacket, Draggins and some sturdy footwear that is above the ankle.

Plenty of reviews in the bike mags shower much praise on these two wheelers that are part of our fraternity.

**toads** · 21st May 2004, 16:14

I agree with you Zed, definately true, I notice a lot of kids riding scooters to and from school just don't think it's any different to riding a pushbike, jandals, barefeet, t-shirts etc in summer, still they will only bin off once like that and afterwards will definately decide to gearup properly, I also note they often ride in the cycle lanes too though so probably feel safer, this has its downfall once they get to an intersection though.

**Posh Tourer :P** · 21st May 2004, 17:21

Maybe some scooter riders dont feel like a real part of the traffic, but I see many hard over on the left, or in bicycle lanes. I would suggest that this is maybe more dangerous than taking your own spot on the road, as long as you are doing 55-60kmh.... Its just inviting people to overtake you while trying to stay in thier own lane. I have found this with a bicycle too. If I'm doing 50-60, I will be out in the lane proper, not over on the left....

**pete376403** · 21st May 2004, 20:56

If lots more people rode scooters in the city, we'd probably (hopefully) have car drivers more like those in Europe, who started out riding scoots and even after graduating to cars, are still aware of the scoots and bigger bikes. We'd also have a shitload less traffic congestion, easier parking, possibly even a better economy due to the better fuel mileage.
I rememer reading Gowanlochs column in Streetbike, about his time living in Naples. Traffic congestion was so bad that cars were banned from the city centre, but scooter riders were free to come and go as they pleased

**Hitcher** · 24th May 2004, 20:39

The only oncoming vehicle observed between Hanmer and the Lewis Pass on Saturday morning (in the pissing rain) was, A SCOOTER!! Woo hoo!! At a guess I'd sex it as a Suzuki Escudo 250. Big friendly wave from the rider too!

**tuscan** · 25th May 2004, 07:51

Don't know if anyone is still reading this, but I ride a scooter to uni every day.

I know it is slow, has shitty brakes, skinny tyres on tiny wheels etc. etc. but I enjoy riding it

It's only a 50cc but I have no probs keeping up with the city traffic.

I ride it rain, hail or shine...although having said that it's pretty dicey in the wet.

I bought my scooter, only 8 months old, for $1400, and have since done 6000 absolutely trouble free kilometres on it since. 5 bucks petrol lasts me a week and rego is only 80 for the year.

Anyway I have been now inspired to get a motorbike but I will not forget the awesome convenience of my scooter.

They're not that bad!

**colasnake** · 25th May 2004, 14:57

true! my sister own a Suzuki QJ50
a great transport in Auckland City!

**Motoracer** · 25th May 2004, 15:12

Since it's been ages since I last had my 50cc Suzuki scooter, I guess its ok to confess that I had low sided it 4 times going around corners and had one speed wobble crash after I landed wheelie wrong. My bro also low sided it once.

Apart from the crashes, I did have tons of spectacular near miss moments from going sideways.

Good low speed fun them things... I might sell the TZR and get another scooter acutally...

**duckman** · 25th May 2004, 15:12

Originally Posted by tuscan

Don't know if anyone is still reading this, but I ride a scooter to uni every day.

I know it is slow, has shitty brakes, skinny tyres on tiny wheels etc. etc. but I enjoy riding it

It's only a 50cc but I have no probs keeping up with the city traffic.

I ride it rain, hail or shine...although having said that it's pretty dicey in the wet.

I bought my scooter, only 8 months old, for $1400, and have since done 6000 absolutely trouble free kilometres on it since. 5 bucks petrol lasts me a week and rego is only 80 for the year.

Anyway I have been now inspired to get a motorbike but I will not forget the awesome convenience of my scooter.

They're not that bad!

And thats exactly what they are built for. Perfect!!!