Seeking advice: 125cc scooters

**nitty** · 7th November 2007, 09:07

Hi
Need cheap and reliable transport for next year, and have decided on a scooter. Have started to look and try to figure out what is around and what might suit my needs. Esentially need something for mostly around town, but with enough power to be safe on the open road and able to travel 20-30 kms out of town if i need to. While i really fancy some of the older scooters, i have no mechanical knowledge... Think im probably best to go for something newish under $2000 and 125cc's.

So ive started to look - but it tricky when not knowing what to look at.

Have picked up enough to know to stay well clear of chinese scooters. Can people recommend brands, models to look out for?

Or perhaps someone has a scooter for sale in the hamilton area that sounds perfect for me?

cheers
nitty

**UberRhys** · 7th November 2007, 09:25

Originally Posted by nitty

Hi
Need cheap and reliable transport for next year, and have decided on a scooter. Have started to look and try to figure out what is around and what might suit my needs. Esentially need something for mostly around town, but with enough power to be safe on the open road and able to travel 20-30 kms out of town if i need to. While i really fancy some of the older scooters, i have no mechanical knowledge... Think im probably best to go for something newish under $2000 and 125cc's.

So ive started to look - but it tricky when not knowing what to look at.

Have picked up enough to know to stay well clear of chinese scooters. Can people recommend brands, models to look out for?

Or perhaps someone has a scooter for sale in the hamilton area that sounds perfect for me?

cheers
nitty

Gidday, rather than reposting, have a read of this thread: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=57576

My only other advice is don't buy Chinese! and have a look at the UZ125, cheap, small and loaded with features. Otherwise by a European scoot if you have the money.

**davereid** · 7th November 2007, 09:38

Hi Nitty

I find the 125cc class to be avoided unless you have the money to buy a good european.

The 50cc moped class is great for around town, and will do the odd trip on the open road as long as you are patient and careful. Most two stroke mopeds will do about 60km/hr, and really don't slow down much for hills, unless they are really steep.

So you get a lower speed, but pay only $67 a year for rego & you don't need a WOF.

When you go to the 125cc class, your bike will only be a little faster. Most 125s are flat out at 80-85 km/hr. The cheaper brands are usually 4 strokes, so will often need a mechanic to change the oil, adjust the valve clearances etc. They also need full registration @ $250 ish, plus one or two WOFs a year @ $30 ish.

So in summary, the move from a moped to a 125 will be of no value around town, marginal value on the open road, and cost an extra $10 a week at least !

So, my advice would be that a moped is the cheapest transport you can choose, if you can cope with sticking around town, or only the odd short open road trip.

If you need to do open road work more often, choose a larger bike. The smallest I have found to reliably maintain open road speeds is the Peugeot Jetforce 125. But its a very expensive scooter. The TGB 125 won't do 100, and the TGB 150cc only just makes it, being much happier at 85-90.

None of the chinese 125s will do 100, not for long anyway !

So you will end up looking at a premium brand if you really do want the exta oomph.

**AnotherLeon** · 7th November 2007, 11:05

Also as a quick FYI: you can get a reasonable turn of speed out of a 50cc. I've got an otherwise stock as a rock SJ50 Suzuki, with a high speed pulley and slightly lighter roller weights. It will do 70k now (tested repeatedly with a GPS unit), for an investment of about $200.

Now the SJ50 is not famous for high performance, so starting with a better Scoot, you might get a better result.

Depends if you are happy commuting at about 80kph or not really.

**nitty** · 7th November 2007, 21:04

thanks for the feedback.

what to do?? if i was sure i'd just need it around town then i'd definately go for a 50cc - save the hassle and expense of getting a licence as well as the extra cost, but not sure how far i will have to travel.

for the completely uninitiated...what does de-restricted mean? remember i have no mechanical knowledge. seems it means faster 50cc scooter, but what does it involve and is it legal (or is that a rude question?)

nitty

**davereid** · 8th November 2007, 07:42

Most mopeds are restricted to 2kw - the legal maximum engine output by the manfacturer. Its not hard to find a mechanic who will get the engine up to its full potential.

But strictly speaking its no longer a moped - its now a motorcycle, and should be registered as one.

You'll get a good moped for 2K. A top Euro for $3.5K. A budget 150cc bike will be $4K, and the euros even more.

I guess a look in your bank account will help with the decision, buy a good euro 200cc + scooter if you can afford it, else its moped time.

**AnotherLeon** · 8th November 2007, 09:22

Originally Posted by nitty

for the completely uninitiated...what does de-restricted mean? remember i have no mechanical knowledge. seems it means faster 50cc scooter, but what does it involve and is it legal (or is that a rude question?)

nitty

All the two stroke 50cc's are in some way "bottled" so that when sold new from the shop, they will comply with the regulations of a moped. Basically, that they can't do over 50kph under their own power.

Some manufacturers have them electronically limited, some limit through the gears, some limit through an exhaust restrictor.

So, when you get a shop to unrestrict a scooter, what they physically do will vary from model to model. But, it means you get a scooter that will go quicker than 50k on the flat.

They don't really get particularly grunty, because hey, we're only talking 50cc here.

Theory says, you then need a motorbike licence, and more expensive registration.

In reality though, don't go blasting past a policeman in a bad mood, while you're doing 70kph, and you're probably never going to have an issue.

**Slicksta** · 8th November 2007, 23:35

Originally Posted by davereid

Hi Nitty

I find the 125cc class to be avoided unless you have the money to buy a good european.

The 50cc moped class is great for around town, and will do the odd trip on the open road as long as you are patient and careful. Most two stroke mopeds will do about 60km/hr, and really don't slow down much for hills, unless they are really steep.

So you get a lower speed, but pay only $67 a year for rego & you don't need a WOF.

When you go to the 125cc class, your bike will only be a little faster. Most 125s are flat out at 80-85 km/hr. The cheaper brands are usually 4 strokes, so will often need a mechanic to change the oil, adjust the valve clearances etc. They also need full registration @ $250 ish, plus one or two WOFs a year @ $30 ish.

So in summary, the move from a moped to a 125 will be of no value around town, marginal value on the open road, and cost an extra $10 a week at least !

So, my advice would be that a moped is the cheapest transport you can choose, if you can cope with sticking around town, or only the odd short open road trip.

If you need to do open road work more often, choose a larger bike. The smallest I have found to reliably maintain open road speeds is the Peugeot Jetforce 125. But its a very expensive scooter. The TGB 125 won't do 100, and the TGB 150cc only just makes it, being much happier at 85-90.

None of the chinese 125s will do 100, not for long anyway !

So you will end up looking at a premium brand if you really do want the exta oomph.

I think the UZ125 is a good buy that does around 105KPH and its fairly cheap. Best of all its not made in china

**nitty** · 9th November 2007, 07:40

ok... i now have more of an idea of what i am looking for, well sort of.

had a look at the uz125, have read a few reviews and think that i will probably buy one new. second hand ones are going for 2000, and for a bit extra i can have a shiny one. talked to a guy at a riding school who said i can sit my basic handling test on one of his scooters and that they have some sort of deal with a suzuki dealership - refund of test if buying new suzuki with them.

i would love to have one of the european gruntier scooters, but think i will have to learn love a jap.

cheers for all of the comments.

nitty

**UberRhys** · 9th November 2007, 07:54

Originally Posted by nitty

had a look at the uz125, have read a few reviews and think that i will probably buy one new. second hand ones are going for 2000, and for a bit extra i can have a shiny one. talked to a guy at a riding school who said i can sit my basic handling test on one of his scooters and that they have some sort of deal with a suzuki dealership - refund of test if buying new suzuki with them.

i would love to have one of the european gruntier scooters, but think i will have to learn love a jap.

Nice one. Sounds like a plan to do basic handling on your new scoot for free.

And you get a factory waranty with it if you buy new from a dealer. Make sure that you get a good price and get them to include a helmet and some safety gear (gloves, jacket) in the purchase price.

**zooter** · 20th November 2007, 22:29

New Honda 150cc got a good review in the latest bike rag. Apparently an Italian design team designed it for Euro market.

**nitty** · 23rd November 2007, 15:53

is that the Honda dylan? little bit too expensive for me - cost around $5000? have ridden the uz125 and based on reviews and advice am planning on buying one but have nothing to compare it to. i did pass my basic handling skills test and am waiting to sit the scratchy test for the learner license. once i have those charmng L plates i'll be test riding.

**vtec** · 24th November 2007, 10:23

OK. Here's the lowdown. The Suzuki UZ125 is the best 125cc scooter EVER.

I'll break it down for you.
1 It has amazing reliability
2 It's fuel efficiency is also quite astounding
3 It's fuel injected
4 Did I mention it was reliable
5 It's so fucking cheap
6 It's fourstroke (so no smoke and no rebuilds)

I work as a bicycle courier, and a guy at our work rides one of these. He's racked up 70,000k's, he jumps it over things wheelies it, thrashes it on the motorway all the time, in short he's an animal. It's still running perfect. I think he uses some cheap semi synth shell oil that he bought a drum of quite cheap every 5,000k's and the engine still sounds as good as the day I first heard it. I think he's had it up to 120, but that would be in a tail wind down hill or drafting behind a truck (which is very doable). I think he told me he uses about $10 of gas a day, and that's about 220km's per day on the inner city and with fuel prices as they are that's really saying something. Also it was just as quick as my fully manual NXR125 which weighed a measly 110kg.

I had an NXR125 which is like a farm bike motardy thing with a kick start, but that wasn't too fond of motorway action. Still it was very reliable and cheap to run, but I traded it with my parents for a CBR250RR. But I think I am going to have to buy one of these scooters just for shear convenience, and they make the ultimate courier vehicle. The dude who couriers on it is the fastest guy in our fleet, a large portion of the reason for that is that it's step through, electric start and all you have to do is twist the throttle. It's got a constantly variable v-belt transmission which means that it can create any gear ratio within a range using two cones and a vbelt. So the engine gets up to speed and it accelerates by moving the cones closer or further apart to change the gearing.

I've got two words for you... get one. Colemans is selling them for about $2600. I'll be looking at getting one with a panier to add usability.

Don't bother with the Euro's. They are for people who know nothing about motorcycles, and are all about image. They generally lack the reliability and efficiency that you get with the Jappers. And you're paying through the nose merely for a name. I don't think you'll find a faster 125 scooter than the UZ. And if you're after a 250 scooter... don't bother, get a CBR250 and stick a panier on it, way faster. Oh yeah, and don't buy chinese unless you are getting it for under $500 and you can then use them as disposables, but I would feel unsafe and embarrassed riding one.

For a CBR250 review read here
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=61685

For an NXR125 review read here
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ghlight=nxr125

**Warren** · 24th November 2007, 10:56

Originally Posted by davereid

When you go to the 125cc class, your bike will only be a little faster. Most 125s are flat out at 80-85 km/hr.

I have had two four stroke 125's and one could go 100 and the other 95+ (the speedo was way off on the second so that is more of a guess. Both could easily cruise at 85-90 km/h on 80 km/h areas and I racked up 1000's of K's on 80 km/h zones with them and they always had enough power to keep up with the person in front and almost never had anyone pass or want to. On the motorway their lack of power showed and I could only keep in the slow lane but usually it would be able to stay behind the person in front or be slightly slower than them, but people would wizz by in the fast lane.

**UberRhys** · 24th November 2007, 12:09

I agree with almost everything that vtec has to say and if it is the same bike courier that I am thinking of then he is also the one that initially told me about the UZ125. They are a bargain price with all the modern conveniences, storage, front disc brake, fuel injection, 12v charging socket with the size of a small 50cc Jog and plenty of go.

However your comment:

Originally Posted by vtec

Don't bother with the Euro's. They are for people who know nothing about motorcycles, and are all about image.

is a little thoughtless. I mean are you saying that all European bikes and scooters are designed with no idea as well?

or just the people that ride the Ducati's, the Vespa's, are they just no brain cycle-clones?