I was considering the purchase of a scooter to get around Montreal for work. My girlfriend already owns a nice little car and I would just like to avoid the bus and metros more....
I was looking at a few models and I was wondering if anyone could offer some recommendations on what to avoid? What to go for? What should I ask about? Any particular brand better than others?
I was really looking at this new model: http://www.yamaha-motor.ca/products/products.php?model=2063&class=16&group=M|&LANG=en
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!
Cheers,
RtC
Personally I'd stay away from the big Japanese makers, not that they're bad, they're great bikes, but the after sales support tend to suck, but prove me wrong. Buying a bike from Honda/Yamaha/Suzuki, you have to deal with motorcycle mechanics who put scooters as second rate vehicles, they'd rather work on sports and cruisers then on a little scooter, plus they're also probably not as well trained to work on CVT transmissions.
I would also try to stay away from some of the Chinese bikes, they have different names everywhere so I can't say which brand is which, but they all come from the same crap factory. Though Taiwan bikes are good like Kymco and T'N'G. They've been building some of Honda and Yamaha's smaller engines for decades, so they're very good. They're usually at least in Ontario any ways sold by dealers or RV type dealers, so after support sales is a bit better.
There's of course Piaggio, the biggest scoot maker in the world, Vespa's will always be cool and always hold their value, so can't go wrong there. Also the Piaggio line up as well as Derbi, all sport the same engines, so performance and reliability will be the same. I like the Aprillia's if I was to get a small twist scoot. All sold at Vespa dealerships, so you know you'll get great after sales support.
Basically stay away from most Chinese manufacturers. That's the only real warning. What to go for is up to you. I'd probably get something a bit more than a 50, you'll get bored of it real fast. Ask about warranties and after sales support, take a motorcycle safety class, and ask about licensing and insurance, I don't know the rules for Quebec, so I can't help you there.
Thanks for the pointer. I think I found a pretty good outift here in Montreal to buy a machine. I was actually looking at the new Yamaha C-Cubed...
I will be sticking with a 50 cc for now. In Quebec, no need to get another license to cover the scooter and it is relatively inexpensive to insure and operate. I am sure that I will get bored of the speed but I will surely upgrade to something bigger and better with time...
I've never checked out Vespa.. but I've been told they are relatively expensive. I will surf over to their website right now to check it out.
I'd strongly urge you to ask your girlfriend what she likes, buy her the scooter and take her car. I have never been one for the men driving scooters. An Italian friend of mine says everyone drive these in Italy... my response, everyone also caries some form of purse or sachet too.
PS: I am very comfortable with my sexuality but purses and scooters is where the ines has been drawn
I'd strongly urge you to ask your girlfriend what she likes, buy her the scooter and take her car. I have never been one for the men driving scooters. An Italian friend of mine says everyone drive these in Italy... my response, everyone also caries some form of purse or sachet too.
PS: I am very comfortable with my sexuality but purses and scooters is where the ines has been drawn
So are you saying you need to compensate for something?
Course not, I have a big truck to compensate for my "inadequecies"
But seriously, I just find it funny to see a dude sitting legs tightly together all prim in proper puttin' down the street on a scooter. Doesn't seem right.
I'm in touch with with feminine side; or inner-homo as I put it , but a scooter and a dude just don't seem right.
I hear yea.... obviously it's too late if you already ordered, but I think Vespa is the big maker in Europe. Not sure if the Vespa's here are made here or are imported.
Vespas are very popular scooters. The Vespa GTS goes for about $10K new out the door. They're all made in Italy. Piaggio (Vespa's parent company) also imports Piaggio (economy line) and Aprilia (mid/upper line). Vespas are considered the premium brand.
I bought a Honda 50cc scooter for my wife last year and I loved it. At 62kph top speed it's a bit slow on some of my preferred routes, so I'm looking for a larger scooter for myself this year. The automatic transmission and storage space makes a scooter better city commuters than motorcycles (in my opinion).
As for worrying about looking effeminate here's few famous male Vespa riders (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vespa)
John Wayne - originally rode one on set between takes, later drove one on the streets
Mickey Rourke - owns a vintage green GT200 in Miami and a plum LX150 in NYC
Paul Newman
Henry Fonda
Charlton Heston - rode one while filming Ben Hur in Rome
Gary Cooper
Marlon Brando
Jean Paul Belmondo
James Gandolfini - has been seen riding a grey Vespa, and has also injured himself when he crashed his Vespa
Dennis Hopper - his pillion was Steve McQueen, and they crashed it into a car door in New York. Neither had a licence
Paul Weller - bought his first Vespa in 1976 and has owned many since
Tiger Woods - has two Vespas on his 155 foot yacht Privacy
I'm not sure those names do much for selling me one.
Either they are Italian, or they had one for novelty uses where cars would be impossible (Tiger, Heston, Wayne), or they were drunk or high (Hopper / McQueen). Never heard of Weller and Newman likely took one to many pucks in Slapshot.
Although I might be inclined to use one off-roading in the bush if I didn't mind if I wrapped it around a tree.
We had a litte Honda 50cc dirt bike which was scooter like when I was young and it was quite fun.
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