Two wheel life: a(n) (longish) update

"vdub_nut: scooter snob" (jollyroger1210)
08/24/2016 at 22:00 • Filed to: None

Most likely not a single opponaut remembers !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! about my trusty Saturn being, in actuality, a RUSTY Saturn, and that my roommate and I were replacing it with, of all things, a bright orange 125cc scooter. After a few delays, and much debate over whether this was a purely emotional terrible decision in the long run, or if it was in fact, an economical, practical,fun choice, we took delivery of Lola, a 2017 Genuine Scooter Company Buddy Kick in “Steal Me”orange (technically just “tangerine”, but they didn’t consult me for the name).

That’s a picture of me pulling up outside our house for the first time, wearing the extremely safe riding gear (please skip the safety lecture, let my stupid decisions be entirely mine) known as “a suit and tie and dress shoes, but at least I have a full face helmet”.

After a few mishaps with a busybody neighbor warrantlessly complaining about out parking situation (how can it be a fire hazard to block an 18 inch wide alley that’s already permanently chained shut???), we finally got an anchor lock installed INTO the concrete sidewalk ($200 bucks, a sunburn, and this sweet picture of the practical combination of scooters and bungee cords).

(That’s a rented hammer drill, btw, so it’s probably the most manly picture you’ll ever see of a tiny scoot). All in all, the first fill up sucked down a WHOPPING 4012 milliliters (jk, 1.06 gallons) of sweet, sweet 93 octane (requires 91, it’s a spicy little thing), and the odometer read 66 miles. Not exactly the nebulous “100+” that the EPA lets them put on their website and marketing material, but considering our newness to riding, the city streets, the EFI system still correcting air/fuel ratios (stft, ltft), the fatassitude and heavy handedness of (one of) its riders, but it’s about 60, which is still pretty dang good. The second tank is about halfway down with around 45 miles so far, so it’s looking like 80 this time around. It’s also 80 times more fun than a Prius, and we can park it 6 inches from our front door.

Here’s a bonus picture of some dickweasel who parked me in (I had to pay that meter, I could barely fit out when I left, and he got to sit there and use my paid parking time, there were plenty of other spots open before you say “durr u block whole spot 4 tiny scootrr”, plus there’s no parking suitable for tiny vehicles only, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ) Not sure how that enormous scratch got into the front bumper of the van.....

Questions you probably weren’t going to ask!!

How fast will it go?

So far I’ve barely bumped 50 indicated, but if I wrench all 11 horses to their limit, “60+”. Not legal for highway use, at just 125cc, but plenty of people say they’ve jumped onto the freeway for an exit or two at rush hour because ANY vehicle is fast enough to keep up with a traffic jam (The legendary Schuylkill Expressway, known around here as the Sure Kill). I do not intend on doing this.

But what about the girls?

Girls literally point at it from the sidewalk. Or they’re pointing at me. Either way, it’s all smiles, so I don’t really care.

Can you ride two up?

You can! Technically. It has cute little foot-wings that fold out for the passenger. My roomie and I have only our permits, so at this stage, we personally cannot ride 2up, but it can be done. For short distances. Slowly. Remember, 11hp, belt CVT.

How much did it cost?

We paid about 2500 over MSRP (EDIT: 250, not 2500, holy crap) because we added the crash guards and rear basket thing, but we’re financing it (and the helmets, lock, chain, cover, etc) for under 120 a month (all about that 0% financing, rev up those credit scores kiddos). All in all, we’re about 4500 into it, including tax, tags, accessories and riding gear, and the first years insurance. And the $2.82 in gas I put into it. Super affordable split between two people over three years.

I have another question that you didn’t answer, and/or want to criticize your life choices.

1. Good thing there’s a comment section, and 2. Get off the internet, mom.

DISCUSSION (5)

shop-teacher > vdub_nut: scooter snob
08/25/2016 at 07:07

Interesting. I just bought a scooter about a month ago. I picked up a clean 2012 Kymco Super8-150 for a grand. I love it, but I can’t imagine sharing a scooter with another adult as our only vehicle.

vdub_nut: scooter snob > shop-teacher
08/25/2016 at 18:08

I take the subway to work, she scoots to school. It’s not too bad unless we wanna leave the city. Aside from that, it’ll do 100% of the things we used our cars for.

shop-teacher > vdub_nut: scooter snob
08/25/2016 at 19:17

Hey, if it works for you guys, that’s all that matters. If you end up wanting a second scooter, there are really good deals to be had out there on used ones.

vdub_nut: scooter snob > shop-teacher
08/25/2016 at 20:54

yeah, we didn’t have the capital to buy a used one that was anything close to reliable. We were basically set on selling organs on the black market, and the scooter shop guy was like “financing is a thing”. Normally, financing a depreciating asset is a stupid thing (I work in banking, it makes me sad-laugh every time), but our rate is lower than the rate of inflation, sooooo... Also, 120 a month isn’t really a ripoff either way.

There’s probably a second scoot in the pipeline, unless I get a promotion. Then I’m getting a real car. And a motorcycle.

shop-teacher > vdub_nut: scooter snob
08/25/2016 at 22:22

I figured no capital was the reason you financed a new one, and at zero percent it’s certainly no ripoff. Now that you’ve got one means of transport, you can save up and get a pretty nice scooter in the $800-1000 range. Of course you can also get a decent Japanese cruiser bike in the same range as well.