Musing on a new scoot. By mauiboy (Read 1,785 times)

[mauiboy]

So I'm looking for a new set of wheels, probably for around the start of next year (which gives time for a couple of new models like the maxsym and maybe even the cf moto jetmax to arrive or the legendary ducati mystery scooter).

The problem is nothing seems to just fit right and some possibles are no longer on the market, don't have local dealers or just aren't sold in the usa.

So the wants / would like to haves

250-400cc (enough to pull 60mph up a 1 in 4 / 25% gradient into a headwind).
<$5500 if possible
ABS would be nice, even the cheaper chinese kind
>13inch wheels. 13 is the bare bare minimum.
Enough storage for at least one full lid if not two.
maxi scoot.
local dealer a huge plus
circa 60mpg

The candidates

the jetmax (I am assuming it will be on a par with kymco and sym quality wise)
+ relatively cheap assuming it comes in closer to the mainland china 3k price than the projected 4k US price. has the space and power and wheel size.
- no local dealer = additional time and money and loss of some dealer perks (finance etc). tough to put a box on.

the sym maxsym 400i
+ has the wheels, the power, probably the abs, the space etc
- nobody knows the actual specs or most importantly the price for sure. meant to rival the burger 400. no local dealer.

suzuki burgman 400
+ space, local dealer
- 13 inch wheels, a history of issues with the clutch amongst other things. price.

the kymco xciting 250
+ fits everything but abs and space
- a bit higher in price than the sym rv250, no abs, small storage compared to some others.

sym rv250i
+ fits nearly everything
- no local dealer, not 15/14 wheels.

piaggio mp3 150
+ its bonkers
- its expensive and bonkers.

Local dealers for yamaha, honda, suzuki, HD, kymco, roketa, piaggio, kawasaki.

No local dealers for triumph, sym, cf moto.

Any thoughts, anything I'm missing? The current rocket A is performing very well, it just doesnt have the grunt, it suffers when I try and gain much altitude and I realize I have been very lucky with the example I got.

the problem with the 400's and more so with the 650's is theyre in the same price range as triumphs etc and theyre very tempting. I'd rather keep in the 4-5k bracket then venture into the 7k + bracket. I also don't need huge amounts of speed, I don't want 140mph, the ability to do 60 in any conditions and have enough grunt at that speed to overtake is sufficient so 250 - 300 is probably the sweet spot.

[Cruiser]

Hi mauiboy, is this where you are planning to ride?

sites.google.com/site/waipiobike/

Do you personally know of any examples that can do this:

"250-400cc (enough to pull 60mph up a 1 in 4 / 25% gradient into a headwind)"

Nothing comes to mind in a scooter segment. This kind of performance sounds more like motorcycle territory. I will be interested to see what answers come up.

[mauiboy]

Sure, most 250's would do that if not get pretty close, 400's for sure. The run up haleakala is the biggest push of the bike, more specifically the highway up from wailuku where theres a reasonable gradient and 55mph speeds.
A 250 EFi should get close to 80mph if not more flat out. A 400 EFi will do 100 thereabouts flat out. Perhaps 25% is a bit much, just feels like it when walking it

Thanks for the thoughts I guess I'm being a bit of a goldilocks. The downtown 300i and the xciting 250 are so close. If we had a sym dealer the choice would be easier although it would be nice with bigger wheels.

[ccprof]

I would recommend my favorite - Hyosung MS3-250. 24.7hp, EFI, quad valve, DOHC, 14" rear and 13" front wheels. Top speed is about 85. I've pulled hills at 70+. List is about $4500.

[kz1000st]

Too bad you live in the ocean. What you're describing is a used Silver Wing. Here on the mainland you could probably find one for $5500. A T-Max easily for that money with a few miles on it. A Burgman 400 would work just fine. I was talking to a crazy woman who owns one and she does 80 mph all the time.

[ce]

The Kymco Xciting 250 is the most awesome scooter of all time.

When you ride the Kymco, men tip their hats, and ladies fix their makeup.

When a helicopter landed to pick up Chuck Norris, he said, 'No thanks, I'll ride the Kymco.'

When you're on a Kymco, even Vespa snobs wave.

When bikers ask how fast does it go, just say, 'No one's ever been brave enough to find out. It's a Kymco.'

I've gone 130 kilometers an hour on my Kymco, but I have a low threshold of satisfaction, and that ride was very satisfying.

[LUKE]

..let me re-phrase it:


"When bikers ask how fast does it go, just say, nobody knows, No one wants to commit a suicide!..LOL,LOL

"I've gone 130 kilometers an hour on my Kymco,but i'm afraid the fork might break into 2 and the engine might overheat and the backwheels might fly away...LOL,LOL!!!

130kph...yah, riding downhill and a wind storm behind you. LOL!!!
...just kidding, i knaw kymco has proven enough when it comes to quality.

[mauiboy]

hahah the kymco xciting was near the top of my list, but I keep getting stuck in that old wellllll only another XXX and I can get the 500, and another XXX I can get the ABS version and I need to spend XXX on a box for it so I'm practically at the cost of a silverwing so I may as well get the wing even if it does have a front end wobble around 30mph etc etc.

The whole ocean thing is a huge PITA at times. A used 400 burger / tmax etc would be a great idea. Its pretty much everything I want. A used silverwing would be too fast (I have a low responsibility thresh hold).

ABS and more space would make the xciting perfect. I'm hoping for the maxsym 400 will have a sensible price and ABS (and they hurry up with a local dealer). 6k for that would make the choice easier. Failing that the xciting with a box looks ok if I can talk a deal out of the local dealer. I know the local honda / suzuki dealer tends to end up discounting the larger scoots as they dont move well. If they still have the swing for 7k it might be worth a look as well.

The hyosung looks interesting, very much in the same vein as the jetmax looks wise. What is the company like build wise? The price puts it in the same league as say the sym rv250i. Can I expect similar build and reliability?

Thanks for all the thoughts folks really appreciated.

[ccprof]

The MS3-250 is up there as far as quality goes IMO. It's Korean and much better in quality than the Chinoscoots. If you look around the forums, you don't see nearly the amount of complaints that you'll see with the Chinos. We're talking in the same general tier as the Kymcos and Syms. A little below the big 3 Jap bikes.Urban legend says that Hyosung used to make a lot of the engine/transmission on the old Burgie 250 and when Suzuki abandoned it, Hyosung came out with the MS3. They have a few cons - a little short on leg room if you're tall and the gas tank filler is IMO dumb.

[jct842]

A year ago jan I had sold a suz bandit and I wanted to get a brand new Linhai 300cc. searching across the internet I found they were available in white, yet no one had one in stock that provided a MSO with the bike, so I shopped some local dealers. I ended up with a used Majesty for same kind of money. I some times get very impatient and when I want it I want it now. any way I am very satisfied with what I bought. as far as I know the under-seat trunk is the largest of any of the scooters and it does not come with abs. My cane fits under the seats with room to spare. The fastest I had it up to is 85 although there are some riders who have had a majesty over 100. If you have local dealers at least check them out and see which one fits you the best. john

[mauiboy]

Thanks re hyosung. Price wise its inbetween the rv250 and the eggciting 250 IIRC. I just wish we had more dealerships here, plus it seems a lot of mid range bikes have gone from the NA market if not worldwide and many never made it out into the ocean to get on the used market. The maj would be ideal, as would a burger 400 and quite a few others but I've only ever seen one burger up for sale used here and it hadn't had the pre 08 corrective work done and had its share of miles. Plus the used prices here are insanely high, much better to buy new (seriously, one korean car marker dealership wanted $7k for a 6 year old 60k miles base model, base spec $10k when new car).
I've had a sit on a schwing and a burger 650. Elsewhere tried to get me on that piaggio circus act, I'll probably give it a try next time given they still havent sold any (here) and they keep slashing the price but I'm not sure that it isnt just too clever for its own good.
I guess I need to sit and wait and see if the new sym place gets off the ground and also what new comes to market. I think scoot prices are going to go up, in the chinese market due to the rmb rising and in general as demand rises. Hopefully this might also mean more bikes making the NA markets. Look at hondas range, you can get up to a 150 then a huge jump to 600cc. Its the same with MC's for most marques. I think only suzuki have a 400, most jump from 250 to 650.
Thanks again folks!

[turtle8]

I certainly like the idea of owning a Maxiscoot, but IMO the prices are too much, when compared to motorcycles.

I sat on an Xciting 250 but didn't care for the seating position; it seemed too high and upright. I'd like to try a Tmax because it seems to have a more sporting attitude.

The MP3 150 mentioned above is probably too small. I'd go for at least the 250 and would love the 500.

My three cents.

-Michael