Should I even bother getting a scooter?

[slor]

These fools that want to destroy ANWR do not care about conservation. They think that oil is a permanent resource, and will continue policies that squander what is left?

[nashville_brook]

1. get a scooter

you'll love it

[AuntiBush]

2. I Always wanted a Horse!

I can count on, and trust a "horse." Can't count-on or trust the Jackasses running this country, now!

[BrainRants]

3. I had a scooter in college, loved it!

Sipped the gas, and fun to ride.

I think it was a Yamaha Razz.

[slor]

4. If I get one, it will be a STELLA!

But I really am unsure, should I buy one, or buy canned goods?

[Rob H.]

5. Strange coincidence

I took the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Beginning Rider Course last year because I was interested in getting a scooter. Still don't have one yet, mainly because I can't make up my mind. :P The Stella is one I was thinking about, though.

[slor]

7. Everyone I talk to says get a Stella...

and no I do not work for them. I was looking at a Vespa, and even the guy at that store, after hearing me grip about my money, and business partner ripping me off, said, "save money, and get a better scooter, buy a Stella". I think they get commission, so he really made a sacrifice by saying that.

[htuttle]

6. Get a Bajaj instead of a Stella -- save yourself $4,000 or so

Brand new Bajaj Chetak runs about $2100 versus the over $6000 you'd probably pay for a Stella.

Here's the main US distributor:
http://www.bajajusa.com
They can point you to a local dealer.

Bajaj used to make Vespas, then bought the design back in the 60's and have since reengineered it to suit. They have four stroke engines, manual 4-speed transmissions, and top out about 54 mph or so. I'm getting about 108 mpg as far as mileage goes. Thanks to HUGE markets in India and Asia, Bajaj is probably the one of the most popular scooters in the world outside the US.

I drove it most of the winter (when road conditions permitted) up here in Wisconsin.

I've been spending about $1 or less every week or two for gas. If you buy one, you might be able to save enough money on transportation to buy canned goods, too.

[slor]

9. Brand new Stella is $2899.

[htuttle]

11. Wow, did the prices come down?

I remember looking at a Stella when I bought my Chetak the fall before last, and could have sworn it was more like $6,000. That's not a bad price at $2899.

The biggest difference between the two scooters, as I understand it, is that the Stella has a two stroke engine, while the Bajaj are four strokes. That means you have to mix oil in with the gas on a Stella, and it pollutes a lot more. However, the Stella has higher compression and a power curve that favors acceleration near the top end. The Bajaj has a much flatter acceleration curve, but runs MUCH cleaner. Most two stroke scooters emit almost as much pollution as a city bus.

Otherwise, the engines are almost exactly the same size, etc...The Stella has a front disk brake, which is nice, but not vital. The Bajaj has drum brakes all around.

[slor]

12. I looked at one yesterday, at Metro Scooters...

in Cincinnati. The mechanic showed me that you do NOT have to mix anything. I am terrible with all things mechanical, so that would have killed it for me, but as I said, it is not the case.

[htuttle]

13. I just realized that Stellas are not made by Vespa

For some reason, I've always thought they were. I think Vespa released a new scooter around the same time that Stellas got here, and I've been confusing them ever since.

Oh well. I'm happy with my Chetak in any case. :)

[Rob H.]

19. Stella has automatic oil injection and a catalytic converter

The only state it isn't approved for is California because CA has tougher emissions regulations, iirc. The rider can use full synthetic two-stroke oil, too, further reducing use of fossil fuels. My local dealer even sells ALCO smokeless full synthetic oil if one wants to go that route.

Any benefit from the catalytic converter is lost, I think, if the stock exhaust is swapped with a performance one, which is what a lot of Stella buyers on the web are doing. (There are TONS of hop-up parts for the Stella since it's based on the Vespa PX150, including big-bore--well, big bore for a scooter--cylinder and piston kits and performance exhausts.)

The most expensive Vespa-branded scooter thus far is the Gran Turismo 200L--$4999 not including tax, title, license, shipping and dealer setup fees. Last year the total price at my local shop was going to be ~$5400, but the I think the MSRP was lower last year. Rumor has it that the 200cc engine will be replaced by Piaggio's 250cc Quasar engine later this year for Europe. No word on when the 250 will make its way to the U.S.

The Vespa ET series will be supplanted by the new LX series (think "refreshing the line" rather than a ground-up redesign) that takes some of its styling cues from the GT200L. It'll be released in Europe soon (at dealers this month?), but it may take longer for it to make its way to the U.S. I've heard maybe this fall, but I dunno for sure.

Vespa is also selling the PX150 "Serie America," a 500-unit limited run with a special numbered plaque and a limited color. Rumor has it that if the response is positive enough, Vespa might be bringing in more, less expensive, non-badged, standard PX150s. (The PX150 "Serie Amerca" is $4299. By contrast, the ET4 150 is $3999, and it's a newer, twist & go design.)

Can you tell I've been thinking about this for a while? ;)


Edit: Automatic oil injection--just wanted to be clear that it isn't fuel injected. Oopsie!

[slor]

22. Thanks...I too have been thinking about it...

and I think I am going to go with the Stella.

[Rob H.]

23. Sweet!

Okay, that's it: I'm officially jealous of you. :D

[oscar111]

8. DONORCYCLE: ride with great caution

donor.. organ donor after the accident, is what meds call the cycles.

join mothers against drunk driving and help reorganize it so it is better organized.. bad magazine layout, poor politics "pen on paper write congress", never email congress. and the like.

dried food might be better than canned. not sure. One NW canned food place never delivered. forget the name.

[oscar111]

10. chain drive wheels: i dont trust them

get a direct drive motor alongside a wheel, if they even exist.

I dont see trusting one's life to thousands of sprokets meshing with holes in that drive chain every minute. If they dont mesh, the wheeel jams, and seems it could send you sprawling, what with no traction suddenly.

amazing it works as well as it does, but i still dont trust chain drives.

[wideopen]

14. no chain drives?

I've ridden chain drive motorcycles for years (mostly offroad)and never had an issue like that. Although I toatally agree it seems like a bad plan, in reality there just doesn't seem to be a problem.

[_TJ_]

15. scooters have belt drives...

They work pretty well - I've never had one fail on me anyway ;)

[newyawker99]

25. Hi _TJ_!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[_TJ_]

27. Hi there

happy to make your acquaintance newyawker99.

[merh]

16. Get a scooter!

Have you checked out the tanks - they are pretty neat and reasonably priced. $1275 to $2695.

[Trailrider1951]

17. I just love my Honda Elite

80 mpg and a ton of fun! Very reliable too. MSRP $2300



They also make a Metropolitan:



MSRP $1800

[katinmn]

18. I wish they came with heaters and snow tires

We have six months of snow and ice here.

[William Bloode]

20. Hahahaha...ya know what they say about scooters and mopeds...

They are like fat girls/guys tons of fun to ride, but you don't want your friends to catch you on one hehehehe.... sorry couldn't resist.

At any rate, hell yeah go for it. But if you live where it is cold and/or rainy be prepared for the misery that comes along with riding in the cold and/or wet. Also as mentioned allot of careless ass drivers don't notice small bikes at all, in fact some assholes will ride rough shod over you just because they are so small, so be prepared for that also.

>>edit<<

I just wanted to add that when i lived in Key West almost all locomotion, or a great deal of it was done via mopeds and scooters(by locals at any rate). I loved it, lotsa room on the road superb gas milage and a nice way to see the island.

[Freebird12004]

21. Yes, I did and I wasn't sorry.

However, now I ride a trike.

[democracyindanger]

24. Check out Aprilia's Scarabeo line, too nt

[TheCentepedeShoes]

26. Mr. 'pede got one last summer

An E-Ton "Beamer" moped, made in Taiwan. Loves it, can go to the grocery store and haul stuff back in the space under the seat and in the box he made to attach behind the seat. Gets 80-90 mpg and cost about $1900.