50cc scooter recommendations?

[Quattro Pete]

I might be moving very close to my work place and am considering getting a scooter to drive to work once in a while and overall just for the fun of it. I know nothing about who makes good scooters - it seems like most of them are made in China anyway...

Can you recommend something?

Here are the three that look interesting to me:

1. 2-stroke Moto Mojo Uptown

2. 4-stroke Verucci Avispa Sport

3. 4-stroke Verucci Viper

Any comments on these? What is the preferred engine in these? I've read the 2-stroke isn't as durable and of course you have to keep adding oil in addition to gas, but I've also read that the 2-strokes have a better pickup from a dead stop.

Most likely I won't be buying a new one. I want to stay under $800.

Anything you can suggest would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[wileyE]

I'd pick one of the 4 strokes with the 13" wheels if I had to choose. W

 

[dwendt44]

If those are your choices, the Varucci 4 stroke models are the way to go.
There are other imported scooters out there, but the bigger the wheels and the more popular the model, the better.
Try the ones you like and see which 'fit' you better.
One may feel cramped, another may be uncomfortable in their handling, and/or control layout.
You have to live with it, so get which you like the best.

Why Honda stopped, or hasn't started again, selling it's Cub scooter/motorbike in this country is byond me.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Thanks. FYI, those are not my only choices - that's just somthing I dug up when browsing on line. If you can recommend others, please do.

 

[m2200b]

I would recommend a honda 80 elite 4 stroke or 50 2 stroke.
You also can look at the aero for 1986 and 87 that are both 2 strokes. Older ones go for $600 -800 usually with under 2000 miles. You can go into a Honda dealer and get any part or maintenance.

If you really are going less than 35mph then look at Honda Sprees or Yamaha Jog and Razz.

The first place to start is to decide how fast you have to go to get where you want to get. Then you know what you need to look at. Best 2 modern 2 stroke is a Yamaha Zuma 50 made up until 2006.

What I see on your list will last about 6 months and be a junked project afterwards.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Thanks. What about the stuff from Kymco, like the Agility 50?

http://www.kymcousa.com/showroom/scooters/agility50/index.html

 

[dwendt44]

Were it me, I'd go with the Honda or Yamaha, more reliable and parts, if you every need any, are easier to come by.
If you opt for one of the Chinese or Korean brands, choose a dealer that's been in business for a few years, minimum.

 

[tom slick]

see if you can find a honda ruckus. they are a bit more "manly" scooters and are built substantially better built and sold by dealers that aren't "new" or fly by night. they also have a full parts system behind them. parts are something to think about with a used scoot.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Thanks guys. The honda and yammy are pricy and hard to find, but I'll keep looking. In the meantime, I came across this ad on my local craigslist:
http://miami.craigslist.org/mcy/295937181.html

I asked the seller why a new scooter with 4 miles on the clock had to have its carburetor and gas tank cleaned, to which he responded:

Quote:

---

The reason why it has had the carburetor and gas tank cleaned is because it was sitting for a couple of months with gas in the tank. What happens is that gas begins to clump at the bottom of the tank and in the carburetor (where there are little holes that inject the gas into the engine). Therefore, as you can see the clumps can severely affect the performance if not cleaned out because the liquid gas would be blocked.

---

Is this normal with scooters? I mean, if I don't drive it for a couple of months, I'll have to clean the gas tank?? How complicated is such cleaning anyway?

 

[jimvegas]

Before you buy one of the chinese scooters, call your local repair shop and ask if they will work on it when it breaks. Some shops won't even touch them.
Kymco is an excellent brand with a good reputation. Hard to beat a Honda or Yamaha, the extra money is worth it IMHO.

 

[Drew]

How far is your commute? I have built 4 of these in past year and am having a blast. www.thatsdax.com

Last two I built I had gotten the bikes w/ steel frame for less than 20 bucks.

 

[wileyE]

Dang Drew, why did you have to show me that?

 

[TimVipond]

Quattro Pete - Use a gasoline stabilizer and you won't have to worry about it.

 

[Quattro Pete]

You mean something like Sta-bil? Thanks.