Wanted: Scooter advice from peeps in the know.

**Monolith NZ** · 17th April 2007, 01:05

i searched and searched and wanted to spend around 2K aswell. I believe the yamaha Jog is the best value for money. Quick, reliable, comfy, and best of all safe.

**delusionz** · 22nd April 2007, 18:58

Hi, I've tried to carry passengers on scooters and it does not work, makes u tilt too much.. ive seen vespas carry passengers but they are solid metal and have 70cc+ motors so they need motorcycle license to drive. I strongly advise against carrying a pillion on a 50cc scooter unless you want to kill 2 people. Get a motorbike, something like a suzuki gn250 you can pick up for around 2 grand they are light and easy to ride. I've had scooters for some time now they are bloody frustrating with their slow acceleration and low top speed, they might be all good and fun in the first week but you'll want to throw it out straight after anyways

**MisterD** · 24th April 2007, 08:19

So what Delusionz is saying, is that if you want to go 2-up get a motorbike licence and a bigger capacity...don't dismiss scooters, I'd have a Vespa GT over a GN any day of the week.

Anyhoo, it's pretty easy to get a 50cc Vespa ET2/LX2 and stick a Malossi 70cc kit on it...with no outward sign that it isn't a "moped"...if you like that small bike style obviously, you'd have to register it as a motorbike, now wouldn't you?

**Ixion** · 25th April 2007, 11:12

The OP asked for advice and informative comment. Not a flame war. Which has been moved y'all know where. Infractions for any repetition. Keep it seemly folks.

**ICE180** · 25th April 2007, 14:05

I had a gilera Ice with a derestricted pipe and that was fine two up
And yes I am a fat bastard and the wife is small so about 150kg on a scoot and it was fine but the ice was built like a brick sh#t house

What ever you look at mke sure you have a disc front Break as the hills in welly might burn out a drum quickly with all the heat bulid up and give you some break fade which is not a nice thing

**quattrocchi** · 18th June 2007, 15:28

Originally Posted by ICE180

... What ever you look at mke sure you have a disc front Break as the hills in welly might burn out a drum quickly with all the heat bulid up and give you some break fade which is not a nice thing

Excell point. Which ones have a front disc then? My son-in-law is looking for a 50cc commuter and I know nothing of current models - just reading this thread from a while ago has helped a bit.

I wonder whether larger wheels, than the suzuki sj and that 'vespa' type, would be another thing to look for. I'd hate those little wheels.

brian

**MisterD** · 18th June 2007, 16:58

Originally Posted by quattrocchi

I wonder whether larger wheels, than the suzuki sj and that 'vespa' type, would be another thing to look for. I'd hate those little wheels.

brian

Well Vespa's GT has slightly bigger (12" vs 10") wheels or you could chuck style completely out of the window and get a Piaggio Liberty, but why anyone would ride something named after a feminie hygiene product is beyond me...

**The Wop** · 18th June 2007, 19:42

Originally Posted by quattrocchi

Excell point. Which ones have a front disc then? My son-in-law is looking for a 50cc commuter and I know nothing of current models - just reading this thread from a while ago has helped a bit.

I wonder whether larger wheels, than the suzuki sj and that 'vespa' type, would be another thing to look for. I'd hate those little wheels.

brian

The Vespa 50 range, either the LX50 new or the ET50 (you usually see a few on Trademe) have front disk brakes and I have carried a pillion safely on one. It doesn't fly but is safe enough. You can also ride those, with a pillion, without a license.

**davereid** · 19th June 2007, 10:39

There are lots of great 50cc commuter scooters out there. The Europeans ie Vespa, Piaggio, and Peugeot make great bikes. Most of the Taiwanese brands are great too, ie Sym, TGB. (Just avoid Chinese.)
My TGB is fine at 50km/hr two-up, and I'm a hefty lad. It will cope with most hills, and has the advantage of cheap rego and no WOFs. I regularly ride mine from Levin to Shannon, it copes fine. If you need to go faster than 50-60, then you are in motorcycle country. Plenty of scooters there too, most decent 125s are fine at motorway speeds.

**UberRhys** · 19th June 2007, 11:31

Originally Posted by MisterD

So what Delusionz is saying, is that if you want to go 2-up get a motorbike licence and a bigger capacity...don't dismiss scooters, I'd have a Vespa GT over a GN any day of the week.

Anyhoo, it's pretty easy to get a 50cc Vespa ET2/LX2 and stick a Malossi 70cc kit on it...with no outward sign that it isn't a "moped"...if you like that small bike style obviously, you'd have to register it as a motorbike, now wouldn't you?

I agree, my GT goes much better then a GN250 everyday. My mate has a GN and on rides with him I always find him in my mirrors.

**Dodger** · 19th June 2007, 12:31

I've carried a pillion on my 50cc Chinese crappy.
and it was fine...ish

Speed slowed to around 50kph on the flat, and it scrapes the sidestand on corners but other than that ok for the odd short trip.

**AnotherLeon** · 26th June 2007, 17:03

Thread revival!

Hi, newbie here... I'm in much the same boat as the original poster. I'm after a 50cc for commuting to work in Wellington, due to pay and display parking suddenly arriving outside my work.

I'm deliberately looking for a 50cc rather than planning to upgrade to a "real" motorbike. While I can appreciate that people have a passion for the better scooters, I’ve got a budget of only $2k and I want new for the warranty and lack of worries.

I took a long lunch today, and from the shops I visited (looking suitably naive) today I'd probably be looking to narrow it down from the following three options.

1) Hyosung SB50
2) Suzuki AZ50
3) Yamaha Jog

Hyosung I’m a bit nervous about buying a Korean bike, but it’s a funky colour, the salesman was an absolute legend, they do free pick up and delivery for servicing (useful because they're in the Hutt and I'm in Johnsonville), and they give you 10% off anything else in the shop you buy for as long as you keep the bike (useful as I will need helmet, gloves and possibly a luggage box for the back for rain gear). Great sales pitch, probably the best I've seen anywhere by anyone.

Suzuki, looked decent enough. Salesman was good, reckoned this lot of scooters out of Japan was the best they’ve sold in ages, and better than their previous Suzuki scooters which were apparently sold elsewhere.

Yamaha Jog, looked decent enough. Salesman was indifferent, and really was trying to shove their Sym (I think) brand scooters down my throat, despite my stated repeated preference for the more well known brand name.

To be honest, after the other two guys, the Yamaha salesman really didn’t have much to offer, so if I bought the Yamaha it would be on the strength of the product not the shop.

I’m a fairly solid sort of a chap at 90kg, so the Honda four stroke was right out, otherwise I wouldn’t get up the hill on the way home (but again, I’ve been down the 125 and 250cc bike path, and I’m wanting to stay in the 50cc for cheaper reg and of course not being interested in re-sitting my long gone bike licence).

With the three options … what does the combined wisdom reckon?

Pretty much my intention is to “uncork it” for a bit more oomph, then just trundle about 8km in each direction five days a week. Figuring spending $2000 + onroad and getting an asset is better than dropping $1500/year on on street parking that I have to fight for every day. With a scooter, I can park it inside at work, and it can live in front of the car in the garage at home.

**The Wop** · 26th June 2007, 21:19

Hi there, I guess that the only advice I can give to you re the sales pitch is that you tend to live with the scooter longer than with the salesman. Also, if you like the scoot, but not the salesdude, go somewhere else. You can buy a Jog just about anywhere.

As for which scoot? I cannot comment as have a preference for Vespa and have not ridden these but have certainly not heard anything bad about any of the ones you listed. They all have warranties, so you have little risk.

**AnotherLeon** · 26th June 2007, 21:25

Thanks for the reply, I was wondering if I'd stumbled onto the Marie Celeste here for a while.

I was admiring the sales technique in part ... but ... also the Hyosung dealer did free pick up and delivery for servicing, and also 10% discount on everything in store. Which is a nice bonus.

You're correct though, I'm only going to be dealing with the sales guy the once.

Really I'm looking for somebody to reassure me that I don't need my head read for looking at some brand name I've never heard of until lunchtime today.

Otherwise I'll go for either the Jog or the Suzuki.