Motor Scooters

Reenee · 01-01-2009, 08:15 PM

What are everyone's opinions of motor scooters? Shitty, pretty neat, okay?

If you do own one, what would you advise for someone considering one? What's it like owning one?

Motor Scooters I'm mentioning: Vespa Scooters

Excel-2010 · 01-01-2009, 08:57 PM

Ever since I saw an episode of Johnny Bravo in which he rode one, I've wanted one for myself.

dickrazor · 01-01-2009, 09:20 PM

Just get a good-condition used 250cc motorcycle. It'll come to a little more than a Vespa, but you can use it on more than just city streets. Plus you won't look like a complete dork.

Valex · 01-01-2009, 09:24 PM

My aunt has one but she needs it because she smoked for the majority of her life and it's much easier for her to get around town that way

Other than that I don't see why you'd get one

dickrazor · 01-01-2009, 09:29 PM

Hell, you can get a brand-new Kawasaki Ninja 250 for $4000, which is only $800 more than the cheapest Vespas. Plus I've heard that some Vespas have reliability issues.

Mangojoyride · 01-02-2009, 12:17 AM

not to mention you can get it EVEN cheaper slightly used. those econo ninjas they recently came out with have that redesigned sexy bike look.

homeys right, go moto. scooters are straight up chick bike and no amount of anything can stop me from laughing at those i see riding one

dickrazor · 01-02-2009, 12:48 AM

Hell yeah I LOVE the way the new Ninja's look. I wouldn't go so far as to say scooters are chick bikes, I think anyone looks ridiculous driving one.

noisy doll☆ · 01-02-2009, 10:29 AM

I saw a lot of scooters where I was living in Japan, because at least out in the countryside where I was the speed limit was not very high at all. (highest I saw was like 50 km/h) It was a lot easier to compete on the road with cars, I think, because nobody was going all that fast. However, I think that in America it's a lot harder to feel safe on the road if the fastest you can manage is still way less than everyone else, and it's not like there are very many scooters out there so drivers aren't sure what to do with you.

edit: actually, I just looked on the page and saw how fast they *can* go at their top speeds. But how fast are you actually expected to drive it, considering its tank size?

dickrazor · 01-02-2009, 10:46 AM

Not at their top speed. I'm still not sure what the point of a 250cc scooter is. I always thought a scooter was 49cc because that way you didn't have to register it?

DeusExMachina · 01-03-2009, 10:00 AM

All motor vehicles in japan need to be registered. But if your bike is under 250cc it doesn't need the bi annual vehicle inspection which saves you up to 350 USD every 2 years. And if your motor vehicle fails the inspection (happens quite often) then you have to pay even more to get it repaired up to standards. Typical car/motorcycle owners pay about 800 USD every 2 years for this maintenance and inspection. You will notice that Kawasaki specifies the engine of the Kawasaki ninja 250r to be 249cc for this reason.

In japan everything is so crowded and cars are exorbitantly expensive in taxes and maintenance costs and gas is around 4 to 8 USD per gallon. Scooters are very popular because they are light, the size of bicycles and get decent mileage.

dickrazor · 01-03-2009, 11:30 AM

Thanks for the Japanese culture lesson, but last I checked ree lives in LA. Hell, no one that has posted in this thread so far lives in Moonspeakland.

kimcicle · 01-11-2009, 03:54 PM

It's broken down by state, but some states don't require people to register their scooters if they fall under 50cc; which is why they are offered. They aren't the most efficient engine setup, but they are great urban tool to have in terms of fuel efficiency. However this is on a state-by-state basis, so you'll have to check with your DMV to see where it falls under.

The downside of owning one would be probably top speed; they aren't known for being the fastest thing on the street. Depending on the rider's weight (seriously) you can maybe hit 35 mph, 40 with a windscreen and a good tailwind. It would be a good urban vehicle, but there's no way you're going from Orange County up to Roland Heights on one unless you take a bunch of back streets and take like 3 hours. But if you go to work 15 blocks away via city streets and you don't like walking, it works. I guess the other downside would be if you cared about what other people thought of you on the scooter; you won't get too positive of a response, especially from "proper motorcycle" riders. Just laugh as they lay down their bike at 60mph on the freeway and they didn't wear their gear.

Going to a 250cc will require registration, insurance, riding gear, and probably training classes so you can pass the license test. Not to mention a lot more space to get into trouble. That and fucking retards that like to do handstands / wheelies / stoppies on the freeways are always riding Kawasaki Ninjas and wrecking them, so be weary of used ones.

Vespas are freaking overpriced because they are Vespas. Maybe look into a Honda Metropolitan? Brand new they are only $2,100.

*Irob* · 01-11-2009, 06:00 PM

get the scooter.
drink some apple-tinis while you're at it too

DeusExMachina · 01-11-2009, 10:37 PM

In California if you take the MSF course you can skip the riding test portion of the M1 license exam.

The MSF is like 180 for people under 21 and about 210 for people over 21. There is also about a 2 to 3 month wait if you register for the course.

Vajuras · 01-21-2009, 09:06 AM

ITT We want Vespas because of Fooly Cooly.

I would rather get a 250cc bike instead.