Printable View
Something else I've been toying with is getting a 50cc scooter as you can use it on a car license. I used to think they were gay as a 2 bob watch but after our trip to Vietnam i have a new respect for them. So looking for a cheapie but there's lots out there I know the jap ones are all pretty good but are any of the chinese ones much good? Any brands come close to the japanese ones?
as a motorcyclist with over 40 years experience ( okay all big fast stuff ) I would not recommend a 50cc scooter to anyone - get at least 75cc better still 100cc or even 150cc - why well 50cc are just so underpowered- they struggle to keep up with cars even around town - that means that most are obliged to run alongside cars in the lane normally used by push bikes - they dont have the power to get away at lights so are overtaken - that leaves you in a very vulnerable position - the bigger motor will allow you to keep pace with cars and where you can be seen - get alongside a logging truck on a 50cc scooter and see how ya feel - our roads are not vietnam - there's some big rigs out there - get yourself a suzuki 125 and you wont go wrong - but 50cc you are on a one way hiding to nothing out on our roads
Yea but I said I want it so I ride on a car license. Its just to pop down to the shop not do a road trip. I've got a bigger bike if I want to ride a bigger bike but no bike license and I dont want to.
okay fair enough be carefull be seen
50cc sccoters have their place but amongst traffic is not one of them. I would not say they are as gay as a 2 bob watch but would suggest the term risky as a raw chicken curry.....If you really want to get a sccoter and do not want to get a motorcycle license then look at the Tricity by Yamaha....300cc and with 2 front wheels it is registered as a car. Upside is that it has the power to keep up with traffic - Downside is it will cost what a cheap car will.....
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/m...0&bof=QRqSiPTO
As mentioned by Barry above riding a scooter in traffic that is faster and bigger than you is not really a good idea, even more so if you are new to it when the risk of mistakes has a much higher consequence. Instead if you want to get a scooter, I would encourage you to get your Bike license and get a motorbike first. Learn to ride properly and safely - And even if you can already ride, the process will make you a safer rider. BUT be warned...getting addicted to motorcycles is even more expensive that firearms.....:thumbsup: I am screwed as I am addicted to both.
Once you have your license you could look at the Suzuki Burgman or Honda Silver wing or others ....:D:thumbsup: The have 300cc up to 650cc......The only issue I have against the Burgman is that as a scooter it is wider, longer , taller and nearly as fast as my 1000cc V twin classic ...
I am not againts bikes, I have ridden and owned them for over 30 years, but I do want to see anyone who wants to ride to get home afterwards....
could on ya Timattalon as a biker I just cringe at scooters - when I see youngsters zimming around shorts on and a shirt - my knees cringe - they dont handle they dont go fast enough to really heat up the tyres like on a sports bike - but I quess just down to shop and back - at least mate wear a set heavy trousers and a jacket - tar seal hurts -I never went out without a full set leathers - but riding a bike will make you a much better driver of cars - one looks to mistrust everyone out there and watch a lot harder at what other drivers are doing
Most of Viet Nam is just ideal for little scooters, as their entire infrastructure has been built around the bicycle. Plus the entire population is savvy to having them around, so getting out and mixing with cars and trucks isn't as dangerous as it is in NZ.
Most of the Viet Nam scooters are over 100cc. Only the Honda Cubs on their 20th rebuild are 50cc. I worked their in 2008/2009 and did 9000km in 5 months going to and from work, inside the rubber plantations on a Chinese Honda Dream copy. 125ccs.
Most NZ road users are a lot less switched on than Vietnamese road users. Over there, if you have an accident you're fucked. So you stay a whole lot more situationally aware than half the morons in cars in NZ these days.
If you are super keen on the idea of riding down to the corner store, possibly think about an Ebike?? Then you could sneak off into the hills from some roadends with it:omg:
I do love a 50, good and handy in town or where it's real flat and you can wring the last couple of watts out of it. Cable and a lock if you're in a wildlife zone, they love nicking them
Or, get a learners bike license, it's basically a scratchie test, then you can get half decent hundred odd cc things that take up the same room.
Ok I've been riding bikes (motor bikes) since 9 years old so had a couple of years experience on them. I've owned these proper bikes 750 jap bikes harley, dirt bikes etc. I dont call myself a biker as I'm not, I'm just a guy that has ridden bikes from time to time. Does anyone actually have an answer to the question I asked?
On your car licence you can only do 50kph (no biggie) and have no more than 50cc's up the piston sleeve.
As always, the issue with Chinese scooters (Forza are big in NZ) is the build quality, or rather the lack of it. With a brand new one, the grease pot will have been waved over the top of the crate with a few incantations uttered and that's your whack, Jack. You'll need an electron microscope to find the wiring, its that skinny. Electrical connections do not appear to be made from UV stabilised plastic, so break down in a couple of years.
But the basic idea of them is fine. If you treat it lovingly, and do a decent amount of preventative maintenance it should do you for a few years. They certainly run on the smell of an oily rag.
yes you did get a little captured by us old bikers choose a chinese brand if you go down that path sold by a reputable dealer with parts - thats one major complaint with them - lack of backup - they are very lightly built but may last awhile - the build quality is getting better- but yamaha honda suzuki likely much better or vespa
E bike Id rather run down there in my mums undies.....Quote:
Originally Posted by XR500
Your going to get all sorts of answers here :)
I think a 50 will be just fine, a 950 that is :)
Just a bit safer pulling away from the lights and there’s various traction control systems for the days where the roads are slippery
Attachment 257508
we could do a sweepstake on how many days I would stay alive on something like that. If I lasted longer than a week that would be a miracle
neighbour across the road just got latest Ducati naked 209 BHP dont think I will get a ride on it despite the fact I would love to
By Ebike, I meant this:thumbs:
Attachment 257511
80hp, Can tap 90mph, so you may get pulled up by a grumpy cop if you just ride it on your car licence....
Most us who ride bigger bikes have probably been dusted up by the young girls on scooters in town.
They are pretty nimble, pretty small and easy to ride.
I know I have.
Going through Hamilton half the time I am coasting along with the clutch in as the bike is pretty high geared.
Best I saw was a girl in Feilding texting as she rode along.
yes my old FZR 1000 Yamaha first gear around town and watch the temp gauge -
Been riding m/bikes since I was about 12yo. Started my apperenticeship in M/cycle engineering as it was called back then in 1978 so been around bikes a day or two. There is nothing wrong with a 50cc scooter for use as a get-about and you're obviously use to dealing with kiwi drivers. 50cc scooters can be quite peppy as long as they're tuned/serviced correctly. A lot of 'Jap' scooters are made under licence all over the place now including China,Philippines,Thailand , even Mexico. A bit like Ford Rangers etc. Obviously if it's one of the cheap $1200 ones be wary, they go ok for a while then turn to crap and the vendor/importer back-up is usually crap. My 2c.Quote:
Originally Posted by blip
cheers plus being a mechanic I can probably tweak it a bit just as long as its reg as a 50cc for a start. Daughters bf had one did a few things to and fuk it went real good for what it was i was actually impressed
stick an expansion chamber on it
Yea they did that and different carb and manifold. Also said something about doing something to the cvt type drive it had
XR500, in your opinion how would these stack up against the surron options?Quote:
Originally Posted by XR500
Just out of curiousity, do you have any interest in getting a bike license in the future - will you need one for your cruiser project?Quote:
Originally Posted by blip
No not that interested. I dont even really like road bikes so will probably just do it up and sell it. Its just that it came up for next to nothing and was complete. I guess I could go for learners as tommy suggested but cant really be arsed.
Fair enough, I got it just cos I like to get every license I possibly can
Got a big road bike and now I'm pining for my old trail bike as well haha
I can't offer any good advice on the 50s but I do see the downtown mechanics scooting about on a classic nifty fifty with a beer crate wired to the back picking up parts around town - closest I got was trading a week labouring for a vespa 200 and that thing would wheelstand
I did find the smaller wheels / poorer centre of gravity thing annoying on rides longer than about 20k but down to the shops and back you're sweet, plus carrying shit on the floorboards is handy
@blip If you really want to go down that road then my first suggestion would be Japanese big 4 (Honda. Yamaha, Suzuki or Kawasake) Primarily because of reliability and parts availablity. A lot of them may well be made in China or Malasia etc, but because they have their name on them they carry support and parts for them. And when you consider prices, for a new Suzuki you are looking at $3k ish. Not really sure about the 2nd hand market but in these price brackets, the premium for a Japanese scooter can be measured in hundreds of dollars rather than thousands so not much of a step up.Quote:
Originally Posted by blip
If you decide it is something you want, and you are aware of traffic issues etc, then while it is not something I would suggest, I would not stop anyone either. They are cheaper to run and register than anything over 50cc which is their appeal (rego on a 50cc is $168 per year vs a bike up to 600cc at $400 and a car is $107...) . For reliability 4 stroke are better but I dont know if there are any in the 50cc bracket....2 strokes are simpler and maintenance is simpler but a bit more frequent.
I would look at what you are trying to do- will a cheap small car do a similar job because in most cases, apart from fuel usage, they will be a better option. (cheaper rego, cheaper insurance, cheaper purchase price and drier in the rain....) One final point, even though I dont own any bikes under 1000cc, I have to admit that every time I have riden a scooter, I have arrived at my destination with a huge smile. There is something about riding a bike flat out as hard as you can and not being able to get a ticket for speeding.....
Stay safe whatever you decide to do....
Yea its just the fun factor. Whats the point of living if you cant have fun. Yea sure its dangerous but if I let that bother me I may as well hide under my bed and be scared for my whole life......
3 times the price of a surron, and about twice as heavy. But that all pays for a motor that can blow a 450 MX into the weeds.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad S
Aprilla any good?
Probably the best of the Italian ones, piagio are made of SpagettiQuote:
Originally Posted by blip
Mopeds are huge here because kids can't get a car license until they are 18. Therefore everyone has had a scooter at some stage.
One of the most fun motoring experiences I have had was taking part in a 350km moped race around the fjords.
" What's the simularity between a fat chick and a moped?"
" Both are fun to ride until your mates find out"
@blip I did what you were thinking, though I couldn't find a chinga made one that I was happy with. I opted for Yamaha Jog which was a great machine for whipping to the shop etc. It has a Minarelli based engine and go fast bits can be bought from the likes of Scootling online. I changed the weights in clutch & removed a washer to allow rear pulley to close up & increase speed. It went from about 50kph to 62kph with that mod. One of my boys used it for school until he got his full car license, then I regrettably sold it on.
Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk
Yea thinking second hand jap. Getting knocked off or even killed doesnt really bother me. Already had to face my biggest fear so not much matters now...still got to have your wits about you tho
Look for the Minarelli based engine scooters. It's a proven Italian design used by a few Jap manufacturers too, like Yamaha.Quote:
Originally Posted by blip
Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk
@blip, Just throwing it out there, you were asking for suggestions for a project a few months back, what about getting a 2nd hand one and fixing it up?, Yes I know you already have a project on the go, but for a little while you could have two projects on the go. A 50cc scooter can still have some street cred, starting with being restored vintage.
Yep I can do that a good start will be a complete hopefully still reg one
