Genuine scooter company? Are these any good?

"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher) 07/16/2016 at 23:05 • Filed to: Scooter!

2

11

Last week my wife and I took a scooter riding class. Laugh all you want, but it was seriously fun. So, now we’re looking at scooters. Now, I like the funky Japanese scooters from the 80's, these are plentiful and reasonably priced. No problem.

My wife, on the other hand, not so much. She wants something cute, like a Vespa. We can’t afford a Vespa. Now, there are plenty of scooters that vaguely resemble Vespas, but most of them are either 50 cc (we want 150+ so we can get out M-class licenses) or are cheapo Chinese scooters.

The ones I keep seeing over and over again are from the Genuine Scooter Company. These are probably Chinese made as well, but they do have warranties and lots of dealers. Anybody know about these or have any experience with them?

Here’s an example I found on Craigslist.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > shop-teacher 07/16/2016 at 23:20

1

Well they used to be good when they built them from a Bajaj (P200s from the overtaken Piaggio India factory transformed into Stellas) but then the bajaj factory closed. I used to ride Vespas and Lambrettas a lot, I still have a 1963 150 Super in storage. I quit riding two wheeled vehicles because I know like three people who just about died and one that almost didn’t walk again. With a little work you can put a Vespa together, lots of people selling parts.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > shop-teacher 07/16/2016 at 23:26

1

My favorite Japanese scooters are the Yamaha Morphous and the Honda Ruckus.

shop-teacher > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 07/16/2016 at 23:31

2

I’d love to get a Ruckus. A bit pricey for a 50cc though.

RangerSmith > shop-teacher 07/17/2016 at 01:34

1

There’s about a million “different”, scooter companies that are all produced by the same couple of companies in China... They’re essentially reverse enginereed honda motors. Can be found in different styles with different plastic bits I have a one that I bought... with no title and 299.1 miles that I picked up for cheap(wasn’t running, bought for a college student that never used it). All I had to do was gap the intake and exhaust valves, clean the carb, and put new gas in the tank... sucker does 55 mph all day.

shop-teacher > RangerSmith 07/17/2016 at 10:02

0

Thanks for the info. Can you point me towards any online resources to learn how to fix these? How about parts availability?

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > shop-teacher 07/17/2016 at 10:13

1

Buddy scooters are NOT Chinese - they are Taiwanese - BIG quality difference. Taiwanese scoots are well-regarded as being near-Japanese/Italian level in terms of quality and reliability. They actually had a partnership with Piaggio for years, hence the decent quality (and name P ia G gi O )

I’ve done a lot of research as I’d love to get a 150cc scooter myself at some point. but don’t have the money or time to get my license here or a scooter right now.

Most of Genuine’s models are actually licensed from PGO:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PGO_Scoot…

Kymco is another fairly well-regarded Taiwainese brand as well:

http://www.kymcousa.com/showroom/index…
Kymco’s Compagno (110cc) or Like (200cc) would fit her bill for ‘cute’.

I’ve considered getting a Kymco Super 8 when the time comes, myself.

shop-teacher > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 07/17/2016 at 11:21

0

Thanks for the info! That makes me feel a LOT better about buying her one. It also explains why the used prices are a good bit more than the generic Chinese scooters.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > shop-teacher 07/17/2016 at 12:04

0

For sure, looking forward to hearing what she goes with! :)

I leave you with a Super 8! :P

Oh, btw, if you want Piaggio quality without the price, rather than a Vespa, you could always look at the Piaggio Fly 150cc as well...they’re known as pretty reliable little scooters. Same company, but a bit more mainstream and not Vespa-branded, so less brand-name price snobbery. They are tied for my first choice along with the Super 8...

http://www.piaggiousa.com/scooter/fly-15…

Older Flys can go for fairly reasonable prices, and they have the same engines as some of the Vespas:

shop-teacher > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 07/17/2016 at 12:46

1

I think those are too modern looking for my wife’s taste.

For myself, I’m diggin’ on this blue Elite 150.

http://rockford.craigslist.org/mcy/5686416294…

RangerSmith > shop-teacher 07/18/2016 at 00:43

1

The 150/125 cubic centimeter motors are commonly coded “GY6". So if you were to google search GY6 parts, etc...that should take you to all of the places you’ll need to go. Just remember to protect yourself by using paypal or the equivalent. There are a bunch of Youtube videos on how to gap the valves. It’s worth it to watch a couple to see what you’re getting into. But pretty easy stuff overall. That’s how I learned.

shop-teacher > RangerSmith 07/18/2016 at 06:57

0

Thanks!