Your mileage may vary

"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher) 10/04/2020 at 17:29 • Filed to: two wheels good

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As the season winds down, I’ve been taking stock of my fleet, and considering changes.

Most people don’t ride their scooters much. It’s super rare to find one with over 10k miles on it. Most have under 5k miles on them, and scooters with under 2k miles on them are not at all uncommon . Even under 1,000 miles isn’t exactly rare.

The scooter with the highest mileage in the Shop Teacher fleet, is the Vespa I bought for my wife two years ago.

I bought this from a guy who lives in the city proper, and rode it a lot. He was selling it to make room for his new Honda Super Cub. While she insists that she loves it, she has only ridden it twice. Most of the 150ish miles it has traveled since then, were early this summer when I was riding out the old gas. I wish she’d ride it more. It’s a good scooter. Not my style, but a good scooter.

My main scooter, which I bought a couple months before the Vespa, has been my Yam aha Zuma 125. It had just under 2,900 miles on it when I got it.

My goal last season, was to double the mileage from when I purchased it, which I just barely achieved. I set my goal for this season to roll the odometer to 8k miles. As you can see, I did not make that goal. Not because I rod e less than I hoped I would. I actually rode more.

Instead what happened, is the green Genuine Hooligan came into my life. I practically stole it for $600. Sure it had no title (Vermont DM V FTW), but it was in near perfect condition, with only 858 miles on the odometer.

Friday I crossed the milestone of tripling that mileage in the five months since I bought it.

I have been riding to school as often as possible, which until last week has meant almost every day (fall is setting in, and cutting down on ridable days). Since I never know if school is going to get shut down, I have to haul a lot more crap back and forth than I usually do. The Hooly has much more storage, so it usually gets the nod.

I still love the Zuma. It handles so well, it’s almost telepathic. You just think where you want it to go, and it goes there. The Hooligan, in addition to more storage, has more power and WAY better brakes.

I thought the Zuma would be a forever scooter, because it’s so freaking good. But lately when I ride it, I find myself missing the extra power and better brakes of the Hooligan, more than I’m enjoying its superior handling. I’m thinking it might make sense to part ways with it, and put the cash towards an actual motorcycle, or perhaps a truly highway capable scooter.

I have lots of time to decide. If I sell it, it won’t happen until the spring when the market heats back up.

Dr.Jeckyl > shop-teacher 10/04/2020 at 17:35

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Not really a scooter guy. But I spy a Coleman pop up with the ABS roof?

shop-teacher > Dr.Jeckyl 10/04/2020 at 17:41

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Yep. Picked this up at the e nd of the season last year for a song. Kinda rough looking on the outside, but inside it’s mint, and the tents and screens are in great shape. It came with many cracks already siliconed up in the roof , and there are more now that I need to do. I realize this isn’t the right way to fix it, but the right way is so labor intensive and I paid so little for this camper, that I’m not interested in fixing it the right way :)

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > shop-teacher 10/04/2020 at 17:44

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I really like the old 2 stroke Zuma. When the weather gets nicer again in like, March, I plan to use my moped as frequently as possible. If I get tired of it I’ll likely get a Zuma. 

shop-teacher > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 10/04/2020 at 17:47

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Those are great scooters. My buddy has one. I've ridden it a bunch. They're too slow for my daily use, but damn good scooters.

Nom De Plume > shop-teacher 10/04/2020 at 17:56

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You know, if you are going faster you put on more miles.

Maybe you should buy one a Honda Silverwing or a BMW scooter.

jminer > shop-teacher 10/04/2020 at 18:04

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Nicely done with the miles on those scoots!

I had a Honda Spree that I put 2200 miles on over 2 years and it topped out at 25 mph. I rode that thing for any around town errand that would fit in the milk crate. My 6' 2" ass bouncing around town with a billow of 2 stroke smoke following me on a scooter that made a giant racket and I weighed more than it. When I went to meet my wife or bring her something she could hear me coming from 4 blocks away.

It was an absolute blast, but then I moved to a place where I live 2 miles off a sate highway with a 55 mph speed limit so I couldn’t really ride it anywhere.

I still love scooters and once I move back to the suburbs I’ll probably pick one up again.

shop-teacher > jminer 10/04/2020 at 18:15

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Thanks!

That is quite an image you painted, and I love it:)

You should definitely get another scooter. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend either the Zuma or the Hooligan.

subexpression > shop-teacher 10/04/2020 at 18:17

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I’ve had the thought of getting a 49cc scooter or moped . If I bought one I suspect I’d find that everything on the local market was either old enough to be expensive just for its vintage (heard an old moped at an estate auc tion in the area went for $7500) or barely used at all. They’re not very practical in this area, the only reason I could use one is that I live alone so I can stuff a week’s groceries in to a pretty small space and the store is close by . But... I’m wanting to move farther away from the city in the not-too-distant future , which means I might have a longer distance to travel for food and people will care a lot less about the details of what’s rolling down the street .

shop-teacher > Nom De Plume 10/04/2020 at 18:18

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Those BMWs are crazy expensive. A Silverwing is a possibility, but I prefer more of an upright riding position.

I’m eyeballing a Piaggio BV350 or 500.

jminer > shop-teacher 10/04/2020 at 18:31

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It was a lot of fun, but I’d also get passed by bicycles on occasion. It was built during the era where the 30 mph top limit on a 49cc scooter was enforced which meant it’s mechanical top gear was 29 and with my giant ass on it meant 25 on flat ground and slower up hill.

I’ve always loved the look of helix scooters, but a Zuma 125 would be just about the perfect scooter. After I get settled out west and into a routine I’ll have to see what I can find though. Knowing me I’ll probably buy whatever broken down one I can find for cheap and fix it.

I do wish they sold more Big Ruckus scooters or that Yamaha made the C3 in 125.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > shop-teacher 10/04/2020 at 18:46

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Yeah, the few times I’ve taken my batavus out I’ve struggled to get the speedo past 25 on anything more than a flat. Last February it indicated 40 on a slight downhill pull. That was SKETCHY. Need to tinker with the carb and spark plug, I think I have the wrong one in. 

onlytwowheels > shop-teacher 10/04/2020 at 18:50

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Have you considered doing a brake upgrade and a performance tune on the Zuma?

shop-teacher > jminer 10/04/2020 at 18:52

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I’ve only ever seen one broken Zuma 125. A lightly crash damaged one for $500. I should have bought it.

Those Big Ruckuses go for stupid money. I think they're mechanically identical to the Reflex, which go for 1/2-1/3 of the price.

shop-teacher > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 10/04/2020 at 19:06

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Yeah, that would definitely induce some pucker on one of those. A 2-stroke Zuma would be a nice step up from a moped.

shop-teacher > onlytwowheels 10/04/2020 at 19:11

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I haven’t actually. I doubt a performance tune would make up for having 45 less CCs, but it would help. I have no idea if it's possible to put a rear disc brake on a first gen Zuma 125, but I suppose I should investigate it.

shop-teacher > subexpression 10/04/2020 at 19:12

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If you're out of town, you'll want at least a 125 or 150.

onlytwowheels > shop-teacher 10/04/2020 at 19:16

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I know that there are big brake kits for the front, and more aggressive compound shoes for the rear. I’m not sure what power gains are ava ilable from a tune, but there also big bore kits, performance cams and exhausts. But all that can add up quickly. But since winter is upon us, maybe it would be a good winter proj ect.

Nom De Plume > shop-teacher 10/04/2020 at 19:26

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I figured both were outside choices. You gain a lot but lose the scooter feel.   

Mention of putting on miles instead of enjoying them or thrashing around might have been related to putting them away for the year.

Dr.Jeckyl > shop-teacher 10/04/2020 at 20:47

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I saw how to fix those ABS roofs on popupprincess and definitely seems labor intensive. The wife and I have been talking about getting a pop up but everyone was asking way too much this summer. Now that it’s fall it seems like I’m starting to see them reasonably priced again. But first I have to install a hitch on the wife’s van.

The Coleman’s from th e ABS roof years seem to be the ones to get as long as they aren’t leaki ng. 

shop-teacher > Dr.Jeckyl 10/04/2020 at 21:30

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Fall is the perfect time to buy. People don’t want to store them for the winter, and want them gone . I bought almost exactly a year ago.

I'm definitely not willing to do the work on a proper fix, but it is a nice camper. It has lots of well thought out little touches, that other pop-ups I've owned/used didn't have.

Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher 10/05/2020 at 00:22

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That kind of mileage is impressive!!! The Honda Spree in my living room has 4k miles. It boggles my mind that someone rode that little guy 4k miles. It can barely go 30 mph and the frame would bend on a Chicago pothole!

My Burgman just hit 80,000 miles. I just solved another mystery atfsgeoff was wondering about way back in March. They told me the headlights sometimes turn off when riding and they hadn't figured out why just yet. A couple days ago I traced it right to the start button.

I love myself some high mileage two wheelers in the Midwest. Too many scooters with fewer than a thousand miles and too many Harleys that have only ridden the equivalent of a couple hundred miles a year.

Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher 10/05/2020 at 00:27

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If you want a chunky scooter I highly recommend a Burgman. Rides like a goldwing and does triple digits.

I’m not a fan of its fuel economy though. I’m averaging about 35 mpg on my work commute. I think my commute more or less counts as a “ city cycle” . The Harley - while gutless - still averaged better on the same route.

shop-teacher > Nom De Plume 10/05/2020 at 00:29

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Yeah, I really don’t want a full on maxi-scooter. If they stuck a 250 in a scooter the size of the ones I have, I’d be all over that. I haven’t ridden one yet, but the Piaggio BV series seems to be the closest thing to that. An old Elite 250 is along those lines too, but then you’re dealing with carbs and drum brakes.

Don’t get me wrong on the putting on miles thing. I have been enjoying them plenty. I only live 4-5 miles from work, but whenever I scoot there, it somehow always takes me 20-30 miles to get there and back :)

The indeci sion I’m having, is because they’re both so similar. That has me thinking one of them should go, to make way for something that provides a different kind of riding experience.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2020 at 07:10

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I don't really want a huge maxi-scooter. I want something upright and smaller, just with more power. I wish they'd put a 250 in the Zuma. That would be perfect. The Elite 250 is the size and layout I'd like, but then you have a carb, and dual drum brakes.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2020 at 07:21

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That is definitely high mileage for a Spree! There is a guy around here who rides his Spree a lot.

That’s a ton of mileage on that Burgman. The starter switch makes sense, as the power is routed through that.

It is amazing how little some, or most, people ride their 2-wheelers around here. Why go to the expense and trouble of buying and storing it, to not use it? Maybe it’s because most of them don’t wear any gear, so if the weather isn’t perfect, they don’t ride. I know my tolerance for when I would ride went up, when I switched to a full faced helmet last year. I’m not as crazy as you, but I managed to ride at least some every month except January between seasons last/this year. The year before, I didn’t ride from early October until April.