Ducati Monster Forum

Local Clubs => OZ monsters => Topic started by: Two dogs on March 15, 2011, 02:14:26 AM

Title: Best moto scooter ?
Post by: Two dogs on March 15, 2011, 02:14:26 AM
Okay Ducati brainstrust

I'm ready for the flaming so get it over with.

Now my question is :
Which is the best motor scooter  ?
value to quality ratio .

The missus and i are thinking of buying a scooter to share
she for easy parking and riding locally between her clients during the day
and for me to use at night to my new job which is to close to home for the S2R
i wont even get it out of second gear and don't want to park it at the beach
in the salt spray and sun.
And parking can be a problem in the 4x4 in summer.

Your mature and educated opinion would be appreciated

Oh and Brian ..............don't even dare respond  >:(
Title: Re: Best moto scooter ?
Post by: dragonworld. on March 15, 2011, 02:38:59 AM
See previous "You Tube Funnies" post! Heh, Heh!  [evil] [thumbsup]
Title: Re: Best moto scooter ?
Post by: stopintime on March 15, 2011, 03:10:55 AM
My commuter scooter a few years ago was an Aprilia SR50 Ditech [moto]

Compared to any other 50cc it's amazingly strong and almost well handling 8)

It's easy to tune if you want more power, but that's going to be very hard on the engine and it's not really required.
In stock form they do 65km/h and stay there (almost) uphill.

Title: Re: Best moto scooter ?
Post by: braando on March 15, 2011, 06:17:21 AM
Apparently. I am still allowed in here ,,so Desmond, I can give my opinion. Always willing to help a mate............. and you too.  !    [clap]
Before I offer any productive input I need to know just one thing. Are you after pump up or hard tyres. ?     ;D. Oh the memories flooding back right now...... Of my Cyclops hard tyre job, I will post a photo when I get home if you like.  [thumbsup].  [moto]
Title: Re: Best moto scooter ?
Post by: Betty on March 15, 2011, 11:35:43 AM
Dez you need to ask yourself a few basic questions first:

. Any brand sobbery at all? Cheap asian scoots are everywhere now
. Do you have a minimum capacity in mind? They do get reeeaaallly small
. What storage options do you want? Top box, lockable helmet storage, etc
. Are you going to modify it? Had to add that one
. Do you want/mind a 'big wheel' scooter? Important for gyroscopic effect

That oughta get us heading in the right direction. Best scoot and value/quality ratio makes things tricky/subjective/impossible. So do you mean cheap but not nasty? Are you only considering new?
Title: Re: Best moto scooter ?
Post by: Two dogs on March 15, 2011, 01:27:56 PM
Thanks Mark
Looking at at least 125 cc with storage for a helmet at least.
Used with low K's would obviously be more cost effective
Big wheel
Modify  [evil] [thumbsup] hell yeah  ;D
Yes cheap but not nasty (in a MV Agusta way)
eagerly awaiting more education.
Also are they easy to service yourself (cough ahmmm Rob are you reading this)
or reasonably inexpensive at a shop unlike Monsters.

Oh and Brian get of your i phone put some more sun screen on your toggle
and get back to the nudist beach at Noosa with all your new friends  [puke] [laugh]
Title: Re: Best moto scooter ?
Post by: 671M900 on March 15, 2011, 01:42:02 PM
If you just want to ride it and maintain it easily, get a Yamaha Vino 125cc. Looks fantastic, 4 stroke (no need for extra 2 stroke oil), plenty quick enough, still has kick start, and plenty of fun to drive. The downside? They're fairly expensive for a scooter. (almost 2.9k USD depending on options and your dealer. My yamaha dealer is a hardass.)

If you want to modify, then I would go for a honda Ruckus! Plenty of fun, and it matched the naked monsters. There are Big Ruckus scooters at 125cc, and mods are plentiful! (Extended single sided swingarm anyone?)

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D_RRrIu8FXM/TI8rJclpzGI/AAAAAAAANqU/cKbfir3hTJc/s800/ruckus_final.jpg)
Title: Re: Best moto scooter ?
Post by: Two dogs on March 15, 2011, 01:50:27 PM
Quote from: Brian W on March 15, 2011, 01:40:29 PM
Dearest Betty/ Mark...... I can answer at least one of your questions.... Re new or old......  Dez buy a NEW scooter.  ?    "giggle"   [roll].     ;D.    
I actually like those naked little Sachs bikes I see getting around town Dez, but seeing that salt corrosion is going to be a problem you should chase up an ex postie bike at the auctions as it would be a shame to see a nice scooter rust away and depreciate. Just my two cents worth.
Nah those Sachs are a complete pile of German design Chinese made excrement
I rode one once and the seat is really high so centre of gravity is all weird ,the metallurgy is so bad they corrode as you watch
and zero storage so they may look cool n funky but not what Im looking for.

Just remember Brian UVA/UVB to stop that aging process on naked skin  [cheeky]  [laugh]
Title: Re: Best moto scooter ?
Post by: monstermick58 on March 15, 2011, 06:53:18 PM
Well I'm no ex-spurt

But maybe something for you and the missus


(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5058/5530429321_5d905e6f9a_m.jpg)


Or for yourself, just to go down the market on weekends


(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5172/5531013506_6396565356_m.jpg)






                                    Mmick
Title: Re: Best moto scooter ?
Post by: Wells on March 15, 2011, 09:21:12 PM
Almost Gumtree'd a Sachs 250 City for under $700 the other day for almost the exact same reason.
It had an issue with the indicators but ran well and had almost a year of rego.

If you're not in to brands than the best scooter is the one that you don't care about trashing and runs well.
Title: Re: Best moto scooter ?
Post by: goldFiSh on March 16, 2011, 06:25:28 AM
big wheel - aprilia scarebo 125

small wheel (and brand snob) Vespa LX125 (or an older ET4)

yeah, me still like the Italians!


Title: Re: Best moto scooter ?
Post by: braando on March 18, 2011, 02:47:27 AM
(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/braando54/01082010812.jpg)


                                                                      OR

(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/braando54/imagesCA5Y9OSG.jpg)


                                                                 ???????????

(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/braando54/004.jpg)
Title: Re: Best moto scooter ?
Post by: Betty on March 18, 2011, 03:41:19 AM
Dez, if you find a Brio or, even better, a Cruiser during your searches ... let me know. I'd love a proper Cruiser.
Title: Re: Best moto scooter ?
Post by: PAUL M on March 18, 2011, 07:20:45 AM
(http://www.ducatinewstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/DucatiScooterOB_abajo.jpg)
Title: Re: Best moto scooter ?
Post by: Betty on March 18, 2011, 01:17:26 PM
Surely any new Ducati Scooter will launch with an acrid fluoro yellow paint scheme with '46' emblazoned on it.
Title: Re: Best moto scooter ?
Post by: PAUL M on March 18, 2011, 02:11:03 PM
Yes, sincere apologies.......... fixed
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5538329372_2baa1a74ee_m.jpg)
(I knew there was a reason why I had kids)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5176/5538357830_16eec88891_m.jpg)

Title: Re: Best moto scooter ?
Post by: Betty on March 22, 2011, 02:44:14 AM
A bit more info for you Mr Dogs:

Vespa LX & GT are metal bodied ... for dings and beachside saltiness.

Chinesee scooters are plastic bodies with steel frame.

Aprillias are good (Scarebo big wheel) highly customisable but can be expensive for major servicing (but this is relative to scooters $300 for a major service [laugh]). 200/250 is better for acceleration.

Asian ... Manhattan 150 & 300 big wheels are cheap (think about $2500 brand new with 2 year warranty) - simple air cooled, heaps of storage, 4 stroke (2.1L/100km) front & rear disc brakes.

Bug Espresso ... better name than the Manhattan, same spec but a bit more expensive (i.e. a 2nd hand Bug is more than a new Manhattan).

Piaggio Fly 125 ... slightly smaller wheels, more expensive (Italian brand)

Honda SH150 the most popular scooter sold in Italy last year ... reliable, blah, blah, blah.

Kymco 200/300 ... a Taiwanese copy of a Honda engine.

LML Star ... if you are considering a manual - an Indian built Vespa in the traditional style. Electric start, hydraulic disc front ... needs a top box for storage (has a glove box). Easily modified for increased power (injected two smoke).

Brian would probably shop for a V3 with you (Parra Rd, Leichhardt) ask for Alfred.

SYM ... TGB/Bolwell ... the list just goes on and on.

Italian & Yamaha you can get plenty of 'upgrades' - power & gearing, etc.

Buy the Australian Scooter magazine (Two Wheels do it) it has a comprehensive price list of all available scooters and road tests, etc.



(I have just had the Bro-in-law with me ... so he gave me a quick rundown)
Title: Re: Best moto scooter ?
Post by: craigo on March 22, 2011, 03:23:53 AM
Quote from: Betty on March 22, 2011, 02:44:14 AM
(I have just had the Bro-in-law with me ... so he gave me a quick rundown)

Lucky dude... I was about to report you to mods for knowing more than is healthy for a self respecting Ducati owner about scooters.   [laugh]

I was looking for a pic of the cool 70's (push) scooters I used to ride as a kid, but all I could find was those newfangled Razor things - But I did find this rad dude scooting about. 4 legs, 4 wheels!

(http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2011/03/10/1226018/931181-dtstory-scooter-hound.jpg)(http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2011/03/10/1226018/930333-dtstory-scooter-hound.jpg)
Title: Re: Best moto scooter ?
Post by: Betty on March 22, 2011, 03:41:11 AM
 [laugh] I don't know that much about anything ... but seriously the guy is a walking encyclopedia on Scooters (and many other things too). I love it when he hesitates and briefly catches himself out ... 'yeah the 125 for 1963 had this quirky habit of coughing fur-balls out of its flux-capacitor when you used the rocker shift at the same time as counter steering left - oh no wait they fixed in '63 it was the series 1 that had that problem, the series 2 was ...'

And I still want a Cruiser.