scooter shop By mike932 (Read 645 times)

[mike932]

went to 2 scooter shops in Los Angeles today. One sold sym, lance, and kymco. They were very nice. The other shop sold Chinese scooters. I like the 150cc "VIP" Chinese scooter very much. It was comfortable and the cvt belt is very easy to access.

[davec]

So, what are you thinking of getting?

[mike932]

I'll probably ride my 1988 yamaha riva until it kicks the bucket. Then I will get the taotao VIP 150cc scooter. It is so cheap that it would be no big deal if it gets stolen

[Guitarman]

See, my problem is that they have so many of those china scoots back stocked somewhere that they won't be selling actual 'New' scoots for some time yet. I'd go with the Kymco. Sure, it cost more, but you pays your money and you takes your chances.

[mike932]

eh I'm a cheapskate and I enjoy wrenching so I will probably get the Chinese scooter

[Alleyoop]

The tao tao's are very common and parts are everywhere and easy to get and not expensive. The 150 has the 157qmj motor which is also very common and performance parts are everywhere. Just keep it in good shape change the oil every 1000 miles after break in and the tranny every 2000 miles and every 1000 miles open up the cvt and clean it out and check your belt and rollers and it will last you a long time.
Alleyoop

[mike932]

Aug 26, 2015 2:02:03 GMT -6 Guitarman said:

See, my problem is that they have so many of those china scoots back stocked somewhere that they won't be selling actual 'New' scoots for some time yet. I'd go with the Kymco. Sure, it cost more, but you pays your money and you takes your chances.

So Kymco is good.  What about Genuine Buddy and SYM?  Do you like those brands?

[Guitarman]

It's not a question of brand. It's a question of reliability. I don't care who builds it if it works the way it's supposed to.

Plus right now I'm not in the market for another one.

[jct842]

genuine and kymco both have good reputations. A tier above chinese. I look at chinese as a almost ready to ride scooter kit and if you are ready to finish it and do a bit more maintenance go for it. The money you save can buy a lot of tools. No telling how many miles some of the third world countries get out of those scooters. I know of a guy here with a chinese dual purpose with around 70,000 miles on it. Trick is to maintain it.

[cyborg]

i have a genuine,,,love it,,,3800 miles,,,, fuse holder went bad in the first ten minutes,,,changed it to a blade style from the glass tube type fuse,,,and i had a clutch cable snap at 25-2600 miles,,,other than that clear sailing,,,genuines are good but so are sym and kymco,,,sym makes all of hondas small stuff and kymco makes yamahas small stuff,,,they are worth every penny,,,

[mike932]

Went to my local Yamaha dealer yesterday. They are selling Kymco scooters which have "made in china" stickers on them.

[jct842]

I wouldn't loose a lot of sleep waiting for a riva to die.

Only thing with anything that is getting old is a supply of parts. Should the carb on mine (carbs are a rube goldberg design) go south there will be a sparkling new chinese one one there in quick order.

[mike932]

Do most Riva parts have cheap chinese replacements?

[jjoshua20213]

If you ask me they all break unless they are Honda brand wich is the original idea. Chinese or Japanese, both usually have problems. As long as you have common sense and know the basics about engines it shouldn't be a problem. Plus you have Google and forum like this. It's easy. If you have the money go Honda. If not keep your tools on deck. But once you work out the kinks. Its nice and reliable.

[jct842]

Sept 25, 2015 21:03:42 GMT -6 mike932 said:

Do most Riva parts have cheap chinese replacements?

No. A carb is different. Just match the intake on scooter with a new carb. Probably have to mess with jets though.