Scooters.

[ponder]

At the V&A Waterfront, there is a guy that drives a 1964 Vespa!! Show me any other scooter that lasted that long.

I dare you.

I said NEW Vespas. I doubt these new Vespas will be around in 50yrs time while that 1964 one would probably still be running.

 

[SlowInternet]

Bought a Honda Vision and been driving it for the past two months to work and back (65km round trip). And all I can say is it is the best investment I've ever made. My monthly petrol bill is about R260 pm compared to R1600 - R1800 pm when driving my car.

My only gripe was that I should have bought the Honda PCX instead of the vision as you can always do with more power.

I'm considering getting a scooter for my youngster to travel to school, would you say this will be ideal ? How much is maintenance and service costs on the scooter ?

 

[slowcheetah]

I have 2 Big Boys, a Vantage and a Revival. I prefer the Vantage because it feels more solid on the road and it's also a little more aerodynamic.

Last year June I was rear ended at 80km/h on my FIRST commute home. It took quite a beating (so did I) but I had it repaired and although it's not 100% the bike it was I still prefer it to the newer Revival. The latter has so many rattles and schit that I'm almost a little self concious riding around on it.

Even after the accident I still highly recommend it as an alternative to a car for work. I figured that since I got my first nasty accident out the way on the first day I should be okay for a while.

 

[Velenoso]

a restored Vespa

http://www.vestoration.co.za/


R20K for a restored 1969 model.
here

Absolutely agree with this. I had one which I restored myself. It was perfect, started first kick every time I wanted to use it. The new ones are pricey, but you get what you paid for.

I also had a little Puzey 125cc scooter once in Cape Town. Wasn't bad, but it was sloooooow.

 

[HeftyCrab]

OP, whats your price range? then we can recommend specific scoots. the honda vision is an excellent recommendation. yamaha mio is similar. no one has mentioned SYM. right up there with kymco,yamaha,honda. i believe they built engines for honda back in the day. imported and fully backed by Suzuki SA. very good prices aswell.

Dont overlook geared bikes either. ive been riding a honda e-storm for 3+ years, and 16500km. only thing thats broken... is a light bulb!easy to do your own maintenance if you want to. what i realised though is that scooters have a little fairing that gives your feet and legs protection against the elements.i.e. water.

was going to get a scoot but the only good dealer i had close by at the time was yamaha and their BWS @ R18000 was too expensive.honda sold the 'airblade' at that time for around R20k, and now they rebranded it as the 'vision' for quite a few thousand cheaper and hoped that no body would remember the airblade.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Jeez dude, relax! If you can't afford it, just buy something cheaper & stop being a hater!

I've driven my 300 GTS Super for a few years and can testify that it is a fantastic bike.

If you can afford a Vespa...buy a real bike instead.

It's horribly overpriced for what it is and I can't believe anyone can recommend it with a straight face.

All image with very little substance.

 

[thestaggy]

To the folks that ride scooters to work; how many of you deal with main motorways? I would just like to know from 1st hand experience how a scooter copes with traffic flowing in the 80 - 100km/h range.

I'm interested in getting one for a daily work commute but my one concern is - well, aside from negotiating a piece of city road jammed with taxis - is that I have to travel a section where the speed limit is between 80 and 100 km/h.

 

[D tj]

I had a scooter and motorbikes.....CT area...
The Kymco are good, I rode the 250cc Grand Dink was okay to travel longer distances max speed +- 120 kph, but drops with headwinds,also worth considering the Honda 250cc Twister M/cycle or Bajaj ? Pulsar 180cc m/cycle.
The 125cc scooters are okay in 60/80 kph areas, otherwise go 250cc
The cheaper scooters cost money in downtime...repairs and services.

 

[Type RSA]

To the folks that ride scooters to work; how many of you deal with main motorways? I would just like to know from 1st hand experience how a scooter copes with traffic flowing in the 80 - 100km/h range.

I'm interested in getting one for a daily work commute but my one concern is - well, aside from negotiating a piece of city road jammed with taxis - is that I have to travel a section where the speed limit is between 80 and 100 km/h.

I own a 150cc Scooter. Use it to get to work often, but not on the highway. It does not have enough power to get you out of trouble. I can easily get to the speed (80 - 95km/h) but it does not have the power to get me out of trouble. I only go back roads to work now. It is a chinese make, so not the strongest 150cc out there. But it works very well on back roads in traffic.

 

[copacetic]

Okay, so this Honda vision is absurdly cheap (R13,600).

Can anyone tell my why not to get it?

Will respond to you guys in more depth a bit later, I'm pressed for time at this moment.

Thanks again for all the advice.

 

[copacetic]

The other Honda that was suggested is a PCX125, which is around R19,000...

 

[ponder]

Can anyone tell my why not to get it?

Only got a 110cc 4-T engine and weighs 100kg, must be quite weak.

http://www.honda.co.za/en/products/motorcycles/scooters/vision/#/model-overview/specifications/

6kW@8000rpm, you gonna have to peddle on the ground to make it go

 

[slowcheetah]

To the folks that ride scooters to work; how many of you deal with main motorways? I would just like to know from 1st hand experience how a scooter copes with traffic flowing in the 80 - 100km/h range.

I'm interested in getting one for a daily work commute but my one concern is - well, aside from negotiating a piece of city road jammed with taxis - is that I have to travel a section where the speed limit is between 80 and 100 km/h.

As was mentioned, I won't use it on a highway, but for normal main roads I still manage to pull off ahead of the traffic and stay there. My 150cc reaches 90km/h quickly and for the roads I use that is all I need.

 

[copacetic]

Only got a 110cc 4-T engine and weighs 100kg, must be quite weak.

http://www.honda.co.za/en/products/motorcycles/scooters/vision/#/model-overview/specifications/

6kW@8000rpm, you gonna have to peddle on the ground to make it go

You see, this is complete greek to me. All I want to know is whether it will get me from A to B, at a maximum of 80 KM/h.

 

[ponder]

All I want to know is whether it will get me from A to B, at a maximum of 80 KM/h.

Only if you wear your best tekkies and peddle the road like Fred Flintstone. Adding 5 hamsters to the equation might help a bit but not much.

 

[copacetic]

How about this then:

http://www.hondapcx.com.au/

 

[Colin62]

Only got a 110cc 4-T engine and weighs 100kg, must be quite weak.

http://www.honda.co.za/en/products/motorcycles/scooters/vision/#/model-overview/specifications/

6kW@8000rpm, you gonna have to peddle on the ground to make it go

At least it's likely to be a genuine 6KW, and not a fongkong 6KW = 3HP (and a slightly jaded and pissed off horse at that).

 

[copacetic]

Frankly, I'm torn between the Vision and the PCX125.

There is a price difference of 6K between the two, and I am sure the Vision will get me from A to B...

I'm in PE, so I will never have very far to go anyway...

 

[thestaggy]

I own a 150cc Scooter. Use it to get to work often, but not on the highway. It does not have enough power to get you out of trouble. I can easily get to the speed (80 - 95km/h) but it does not have the power to get me out of trouble. I only go back roads to work now. It is a chinese make, so not the strongest 150cc out there. But it works very well on back roads in traffic.

As was mentioned, I won't use it on a highway, but for normal main roads I still manage to pull off ahead of the traffic and stay there. My 150cc reaches 90km/h quickly and for the roads I use that is all I need.

It is not a highway I am worried about, just a section of road that is dual and triple laned with a maximum speed limit of 80 - 100km/h, depending on the section. I don't know if you guys are familiar with Kliprivier Road in the south of Jo'burg?

 

[Colin62]

Frankly, I'm torn between the Vision and the PCX125.

There is a price difference of 6K between the two, and I am sure the Vision will get me from A to B...

I'm in PE, so I will never have very far to go anyway...

There is always the strong headwind to consider if you're in PE...