Post by Smorkle on May 16, 2012 19:32:48 GMT -6
As some of you know I am the ride coordinator for Scooting the Ozarks that happens every year in September. Every year that I've attended there have been quite a few people with small scooters (50-125cc) and I don't think I've been doing them justice with the rides I have planned due to the fact that I ride a Honda Silverwing 600cc. Wanting to include everyone I've been considering picking up a 50cc scooter to take to Eureka Springs, AR and try and plan some routes for smaller scooters. It's very hilly in the area and I'm curious about how a 50cc would fare in the terrain.
I found this on Craig's list and went out today and test drove it. I was quite surprised at how light the thing was. I almost dumped it because of the sheer weight difference between it and my 550# Honda. The thing has been laid down once before and scratched it up pretty good on the left side. The wreck also knocked a hole in the air intake box which he had taped over to keep it from getting too much air. The tape came loose while I was riding it and the power really dropped off but once re-attached it seemed to work fine.
I guess the reason for this post is that I know it's a Chinese bike and once I'm finished with it I'm kicking around the idea of giving it (or whatever scoot I end up with) to my 14 year old daughter as soon as she gets her motorcycle license. She lives in AR and they can get a restricted motorcycle license at 14. She can also get a "motorized bicycle" permit, but she has to have one or the other (or a regular driver's license) in order to ride the 50cc scooter on the streets. I'm just worried about having her with a bike that's broke down all the time and no one around to work on it. $550 seems like a good price with minor repairs needed but will there be a lot of work that will need to be done on the thing in the future? My last Chinese scoot needed a LOT of TLC and I was more than willing to give it what it needed but would this be a good bike for a kid?
Just looking for any input or guidance you all may have.
I found this on Craig's list and went out today and test drove it. I was quite surprised at how light the thing was. I almost dumped it because of the sheer weight difference between it and my 550# Honda. The thing has been laid down once before and scratched it up pretty good on the left side. The wreck also knocked a hole in the air intake box which he had taped over to keep it from getting too much air. The tape came loose while I was riding it and the power really dropped off but once re-attached it seemed to work fine.
I guess the reason for this post is that I know it's a Chinese bike and once I'm finished with it I'm kicking around the idea of giving it (or whatever scoot I end up with) to my 14 year old daughter as soon as she gets her motorcycle license. She lives in AR and they can get a restricted motorcycle license at 14. She can also get a "motorized bicycle" permit, but she has to have one or the other (or a regular driver's license) in order to ride the 50cc scooter on the streets. I'm just worried about having her with a bike that's broke down all the time and no one around to work on it. $550 seems like a good price with minor repairs needed but will there be a lot of work that will need to be done on the thing in the future? My last Chinese scoot needed a LOT of TLC and I was more than willing to give it what it needed but would this be a good bike for a kid?
Just looking for any input or guidance you all may have.
