Thinking of a scooter

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Now please dont laugh. We are a couple of well built retirees (17 stone-ish+)and we are thinking about getting a scooter to allow us to visit some of the medieval villages in Europe. These are usually high on a hilltop, where mostly we cannot take our 27ft motorhome. Also as we're getting on a bit, with dodgy hips and knees, riding a bike up a steep hill is prohibitive. My wife's balance on electric bikes is highly questionable so we are looking for a suitable scooter to transport both of us on shortish distances.
We would like to take the scooter in the garage, so maximum lenght is about 2.1meters and around 130-150kgs, probably around 200-300cc, and second hand.

What make and models would you suggest.

Thank you in advance for your responses, Lou & Terri

:scooter::scooter::scooter::scooter::cheers::cheers:
 
Not wishing to teach granny to suck eggs Lou, but have you taken your test previously, otherwise I believe you will be restricted to 50cc 2up or 125cc solo.

Assuming you have, I have heard a lot of mixed reports about the Chinese models which are currently flooding the market. A friend of mine has had 2 and they both lasted less than 6 months from new, so I personally would steer clear and pay a bit more for one of the better known Japanese makes.

EDIT: Having said that, I notice that a lot of the Chinese models only go up to 125cc anyway.
 
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Few things to watch out in my opinion:

-- do you want 2 stroke or 4 stroke?
-- air or water cooled?

A 4 stroke will be more "pleasant" to the ear and you just fill it up with petrol. 2 stroke can feel a bit more nippy but may lack a little bit of torque in the lower rev range

with an air cooled model you will never know how hot the engine runs and with your intended use I guess the engine will need to work at maximum. Some suffer from over heating.
A water cooled scooter will cope better but will be heavier compared to an air cooled one because of the extra hardware. NOTE: make sure the radiator fan kicks in when temperature goes up!

We had a Piaggo Carnaby 125. 4 stroke, water cooled big wheeled (16inch) scooter which drove well with the 2 of us up to 70mph, powerful engine (14bhp is the max on a learner legal) but it was HEAVY, 150kgs ish and tall. My wife couldn't ride it because seat was very high and she didn't reach the ground properly.

Now we have a Yamaha BWS 125. 4 stroke, air cooled and 12inch tyres. Haven't driven it much yet but it is considerably lighter (110kgs) a bit less punchy and fits in the garage (juuuuust, the height is more of a problem)

Many chinese 125 scooters are only 7-8 bhp but I don't think they are all rubbish. But can't see how you can find which one's are good.

I deliberately bought a scooter not in pristine condition and for loads of money. It will get dragged in and out of the garage and with all the scuffs and scratches it is hopefully less attractive to the change of owner brigade
 
loulou said:
Now please dont laugh. We are a couple of well built retirees (17 stone-ish+)and we are thinking about getting a scooter to allow us to visit some of the medieval villages in Europe. These are usually high on a hilltop, where mostly we cannot take our 27ft motorhome. Also as we're getting on a bit, with dodgy hips and knees, riding a bike up a steep hill is prohibitive. My wife's balance on electric bikes is highly questionable so we are looking for a suitable scooter to transport both of us on shortish distances.
We would like to take the scooter in the garage, so maximum lenght is about 2.1meters and around 130-150kgs, probably around 200-300cc, and second hand.

What make and models would you suggest.

Thank you in advance for your responses, Lou & Terri

:scooter::scooter::scooter::scooter::cheers::cheers:
Click to expand...

This I have to see! lol
 
Hi both
We are very happy with our 2004 Vespa T4 125 bought for £950 with only 1400 miles on the clock shortly after we purchased Hugo. It climbed every gradient we pointed it at, it is light at 104kg, and it doesn't like fuel very much! With an oversize top box on the back we can carry a LIDL small trolley load as well as the two of us.
John
 
Robmac said:
Not wishing to teach granny to suck eggs Lou, but have you taken your test previously, otherwise I believe you will be restricted to 50cc 2up or 125cc solo.

Assuming you have, I have heard a lot of mixed reports about the Chinese models which are currently flooding the market. A friend of mine has had 2 and they both lasted less than 6 months from new, so I personally would steer clear and pay a bit more for one of the better known Japanese makes.

EDIT: Having said that, I notice that a lot of the Chinese models only go up to 125cc anyway.
Click to expand...

Hi Rob, good advice, I used to have a MC license in the 60s, but somewhere along the line it dropped off my license, so now busy studying the new Highway code (dont laugh), its a thick book compared with the one when I took my driving test in the 60s. Last night I took the practice theory test and managed to get all the questions correct. So in preparation for taking a new test, wish me luck.:sad::scooter::scooter:
 
Thank you all for the good pointers, very useful.

Stop laughing Mr Moon.:lol-049::lol-049::lol-049:
 
Me? If it was my choice I'd still try to find a decent example of Honda's ubiquitous Super Cub (known to us lot mainly as the C50, C70, C90, C90 Cub. There's also now an Innova 125 variant).

Four-stroke, uber-reliable, 3-speed semi-automatic. Best bit is they have big wheels so ride stable and are much better over rough ground, pot-holes etc. as a result.

Problem now is that they are no longer cheap to pick up like they were, despite gazillions made for 50-years. But get a good un and you can't go wrong IMO, brilliant things for purpose and never bettered.
 
We have a Honda vision110. Large wheels and both full face helmets will fit, one under the seat the other in the back box,
We don't weigh quite as much😳 but it has taken us both up Porlock hill ( 1 in 4) with shopping so IMO a very good machine with a weigh just over 100 ilbs with brilliant economy 145 to the gallon,

Like you intend to do, we use it to reach parts of towns that would be nigh impossible to reach any other way,
 
flyinghigh said:
very good machine with a weigh just over 100 ilbs with brilliant economy 145 to the gallon,

Like you intend to do, we use it to reach parts of towns that would be nigh impossible to reach any other way,
Click to expand...

Nice machines, I wish I had bigger wheels like that, but you might have meant to put 100kg instead of 100lbs?
John
 
Piaggio Liberty 125 4 stroke, less than 100 kg, approx 75 mpg, will do 60 mph 2 up, and will carry a loads in the top box.

We're not small people, and the scoot has been up Mt Ventoux twice. It's also the scoot that the French Post Office use.

Allen
 
I much prefer the battery operated Harley goes under the sudo name as a TGA supersport all terraine can be adapted to a 2 seater either side by side or like a tandem will carry up to 30 stone, cheap to run no licence required and has a 30mile radious on one charge.
 
wints said:
Piaggio Liberty 125 4 stroke, less than 100 kg, approx 75 mpg, will do 60 mph 2 up, and will carry a loads in the top box.

We're not small people, and the scoot has been up Mt Ventoux twice. It's also the scoot that the French Post Office use.

Allen
Click to expand...

Hi Allen
Is that the same as you had last year? It's my memory you see...
John
 
GRWXJR said:
Me? If it was my choice I'd still try to find a decent example of Honda's ubiquitous Super Cub (known to us lot mainly as the C50, C70, C90, C90 Cub. There's also now an Innova 125 variant).

Four-stroke, uber-reliable, 3-speed semi-automatic. Best bit is they have big wheels so ride stable and are much better over rough ground, pot-holes etc. as a result.

Problem now is that they are no longer cheap to pick up like they were, despite gazillions made for 50-years. But get a good un and you can't go wrong IMO, brilliant things for purpose and never bettered.
Click to expand...

The Honda C50 , 70 , 90 were the best selling motorcycle ever , I had them when I was a kid over the fields and they could put up with almost any kind of punishment , if you go for one of these go for the 90cc .
 
In third world countries a Honda C50 carries dad, mum. three kids. a bail of hay and a pig?
 
flyinghigh said:
We have a Honda vision110. Large wheels and both full face helmets will fit, one under the seat the other in the back box,
We don't weigh quite as much�� but it has taken us both up Porlock hill ( 1 in 4) with shopping so IMO a very good machine with a weigh just over 100 ilbs with brilliant economy 145 to the gallon,

Like you intend to do, we use it to reach parts of towns that would be nigh impossible to reach any other way,
Click to expand...

You mean 100kgs not 100lbs?

Sorry didn't read all, ignore this post
 
This is what I just got for £600 :-) 1975 Honda CF70 Chaly. It does take two but its a little intimate so not so good for long trips! 40 years old and only 3,000 miles so its in better condition than many 5 year scooters. As several have commented above those engines are nearly indestructible.

Keith
 

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