Scooter mods

"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
07/08/2019 at 23:51 • Filed to: Two Wheels Good

I just made my second and third mod to my Zuma 125. I bought a genuine Yamaha rear rack. I won’t use it often, but it will be really handy those times I do use it. While I was installing that, I popped in a helmet lock that I pulled off that damn Helix.

I’m pretty pleased with the results. I celebrated by taking a nice long ride, about 30 miles or so. I found a new route that’s tons of fun at night. There’s too much traffic in the daytime to have any f un there, but I ran it three times tonight.

DISCUSSION (23)

Chuckles > shop-teacher
07/09/2019 at 00:36

Good stuff. What's that sitting next to the Zuma?

shop-teacher > Chuckles
07/09/2019 at 00:43

My wife’s 2009 Vespa LX150. I got really lucky last summer, and scored that for a grand.

Chuckles > shop-teacher
07/09/2019 at 00:51

Nice. The only Vespas that I seem to see for sale around here cost a lot more than that, even if they are old rusty piles of parts.

As for finding a Zuma 125, I found a few around here on FB marketplace for under 2000. Time to pack a gym bag and get to work.

Future Heap Owner > shop-teacher
07/09/2019 at 01:28

Nice work. It’s so satisfying to put a few useful additions on a new vehicle. I’m also jealous because my current mod project is well in to its third month...

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > shop-teacher
07/09/2019 at 06:44

Always loved the tailights on the Zuma!

Random question - your Zuma is a 125cc and your wife’s Vespa is 150cc. I like the Vespa more, personally, but do like the Zuma....do you notice a performance difference on hers compared to yours with the extra capacity?

shop-teacher > Chuckles
07/09/2019 at 08:18

Vespas like that one are $1800 all day long around here. This one had been dropped once, plus the seller was motivated. It was listed for $1200, and frankly should have been snapped up before I got to it. Instead the guy had been getting low-balled for two days, do when I showed up and offered a grand, he took it instantly. I brought the $1200 with me, but was happy to keep a couple hundred of it in my pocket :)

A bit un der $2k is generally the going rate for Zuma 125s around here as well. Occasionally one will pop up in to $1500-17 00 range, and those get sold fast. I was able to get mine for $1450, as it was the end of September and the buyer wanted it out of his garage before winter.

shop-teacher > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/09/2019 at 08:28

The Vespa has a higher top speed, but the Zuma is actually quicker off the line. It’s tuned for low-mid range grunt, and it’s awesome for squirting around the neighborhood, or a city center. It was also a dream to ride on the Gambler 500 last year, whenever we found a gravel road. It likes the light off-roady stuff. It likes to be run hard, and I like riding that way.

The Vespa is not made for aggressive riding. I t’s built to cruise, and it is phenomenal at that. The thing soaks up bumps like and old Cadillac. That suits my wife perfectly. I’m sure we can wake up the Vespa’s acceleration with a tuned clutch, and I probably will do that because it’s a dog off the line, but it doesn’t feel like it wants to attack corners like my Zuma does.

They're both fantastic scooters, but the Zuma is the one for me.

shop-teacher > Future Heap Owner
07/09/2019 at 08:29

Yeah, it is very satisfying. It also was literally remove 4 bolts, swap grab handle for rack, reinstall four bolts.

Chuckles > shop-teacher
07/09/2019 at 08:43

These are the two nearest me on FB, although I likely won’t be buying either since I don’t have the motorcycle license yet. It's going to take a little while to hit my goal, but I have a smaller goal of getting my M permit after X trips to the gym, and taking an MSF course after Y trips to the gym.

Kinja'd!!!

shop-teacher > Chuckles
07/09/2019 at 09:43

Do eeeeeeet!

The 2014 is basically market value, the 2012 is a good buy.

If you find an '09, make sure it's had the fuel pump recall done.

Chuckles > shop-teacher
07/09/2019 at 09:47

I have a feeling that I won't hit my goal until much later this year. Maybe I'll get a deal on someone who doesn't want to keep it over the winter. I just want to take the MSF course before it gets too cold.

shop-teacher > Chuckles
07/09/2019 at 10:03

Fall is an excellent time to buy a scooter. Lots of people want to ditch them before they have to store it for the winter.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > shop-teacher
07/09/2019 at 21:26

Top speed would probably be a tad more important for me as I live in a semi-rural area! :)

As much as I like the Zuma, I like the classic look of the Vespa a tad more though. :)

shop-teacher > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/09/2019 at 22:49

That makes sense to me. Plus you can get a Vespa with a 300!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > shop-teacher
07/10/2019 at 07:00

True, though anything larger engine-wise than a 150 is ridiculously expensive here....even 150s are really costly!

shop-teacher > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/10/2019 at 08:31

Vespas carry a premium here too. I got really lucky scoring that one for a grand. Those are $1800-2500 all day long.

Chuckles > shop-teacher
07/10/2019 at 11:04

That 2012 already dropped another 100 down to 1,500. I guess they really want to sell it now.

shop-teacher > Chuckles
07/10/2019 at 11:46

I guess so. The cheapest I've ever seen a good condition one listed, is $1400.

Chuckles > shop-teacher
07/10/2019 at 11:49

It's certainly possible that this one isn't running too well. Either way, it'll be sold before I'm ready to buy. I'm just amused because his ad says "price is firm" but he's dropped the price several times already.

shop-teacher > Chuckles
07/10/2019 at 11:52

I've always been turned off by ads that say their price is firm. It makes me feel like the seller is going to be difficult to deal with.

Chuckles > shop-teacher
07/10/2019 at 12:14

I think its challenging because some people see a listed price and will assume you’ll sell for half that, and maybe the seller is tired of wasting his time showing the scooter and then being offered $800.

When I sold my Miata, I originally listed it for 5200, dropped it to 5000, and after waiting 90 minutes i n a waffle house parking lot and letting him test drive it, he offered me 3200. We eventually settled on 4300, but I really didn't appreciate someone offering me 64% of my asking price. A few more of those interactions, and I could understand people saying that the price is firm.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > shop-teacher
07/10/2019 at 13:27

Usually $2K CAD or more here :(

shop-teacher > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/10/2019 at 18:02

Yeah, that’ s about the same price then.