A good second bike?

[debbieg]

i put 300 miles a week onmy Burgman 400 just commuting to work and love evry minute but also have a blast zipping around town on my Vino 125. She gets about 85 mpg and easily gets up to 55!

[Tokkyu40]

I've had a number of scooters in the last few years (I like to try new stuff) and have found good 2nd scoots for me have been the Honda 250s - the Reflex and the Helix...
My .02. Make sure you let us know what you get and how you like it.

Don't know how I like it yet, but I found an '87 Honda Elite 150 in the Sierra Vista Craig's List, over in east Tucson. My dad tried it out, and said it's fairly peppy up to 50, then it's a bit of a wait to get the rest of the power to the rear tire. It's supposed to top out about 65mph if you have time to wait for it. $750, mostly freshly refurbished. (Needs a tail light lens.)
Here's a picture I found of an identical bike while searching for info on the ID numbers.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=351290
I'm going over the second week in November to trade in the Volvo. Does anyone have any experience with these?

Claude

[Stillrockin]

This thread is a little old, but I thought I would jump in . . .
My second bike is a Vento GT 5 150. I bought this bike largely due to it's weight. I knew I would be pushing it on and off the back of a motorhome. As far as Chinese scooters go, this one seems to be of a little higher quality than many others I have looked at. And they seem to have a good parts network in the US. But with that said, if I wanted a true 2nd scooter, I wouldn't recommend it. I live in a rural area. The Vento is plenty fast to run on two lanes, and even divided highways. but I am thinking something around 250 cc's would be the better second bike for me, as about any trip I make is 10 miles round trip. If I weren't pushing it on and off a bumper every other weekend, I would certainly be looking for something along the lines of a Helix or Morphous. To be able to handle something larger on the Motorhome however, would require the installation of a hydralic lift, and those things cost as much as Burgmans!

[Tokkyu40]

My dad has a Piaggio BV200 for the back of his campervan. When he travels light he takes off the windshield and mirrors and puts it inside, otherwise it rides on the back.

Claude

[chessie650]

Here's some to check out.http://www.scooterdepot.us/Moped-Scoote ... 6520724011

[Tokkyu40]

Thank you, no Chinese clones, please. I need it to work on a regular basis, and the Chinese bikes aren't there yet.
I'm going to Tucson in a couple of weeks to see the family, drop off the Volvo and pick up the Elite. Then we'll see what it can do on the mean streets of California.

Claude

[john grinsel]

If you are looking for super reliable and no hassle----$3000 should get you a Daelim 125----air/oil cooled, simple maint., flat floor (2 cases of beer can be carried with no tie down). Puig Windshield solves buffeting problem.

I had a new one in Korea 07----probably one of the best of over 75 new bikes - - No comparion to the 4 Helix I had, one reflex, Turkey Burgman K8.

In Korea they are proven in commercial delivery service and give no trouble. 65mph downhill, tailwind. 80mpg trip/55-60mpg all town, reg gas.

Lack of dealers here is minus but they are getting more.

And most important, nothing every broke and mine was used hard and run wide open everyday on my home route in the country. In Korea they have 360 degree bumper system that included super strong luggage rack. If importer were on ball it would be offered here.

John Grinsel

[Bill Gooch]

if you want the second bike for only local in town chores, why would you not consider electric ?

[Tokkyu40]

There are two reasons to not buy an electric. The first is that the electrics aren't comonly available used at a good price, so it would be difficult to find one.
The second is that it's a fairly big town, so I'll need something faster and longer ranged then the electric scooters in my price range.
Right now the biggest reason is that I just bought the Elite, so I can't buy a new bike until I at least get to Arizona and pick up the one I just got.
Mine is white, and theoretically freshly rebuilt.
Check out these pictures. I like the Rat Helix a bout 3/4 down.
http://www.topfreeforum.com/eliteriders/viewtopic.php?t=9&mforum=eliteriders

Claude

[honkerman]

Actually, I'm trying to get a fuel efficient alternative to the Volvo. Mostly I need carrying capacity and easy maintenance.
Ironically, one reason I got the Burgman was that Kymco has a feature on their website that lets you compare with other bikes. Side by side, the Burgie looked pretty tempting.

Claude

Here's an option...I don't think I would get one, and while, no, it's not a bike, it's electric, so, no gas.

http://www.zapworld.com/electric-vehicl ... p-truck-xl

Another option:
http://www.wildfiremotors.com//index.ph ... &Itemid=75

Both are chinese built, so the build quality isn't great, but they might work for ya. Not my thing, but hey.

[Tokkyu40]

With a Burgman 650 or Silverwing engine the pickup trike might make a good machine.

Claude

[honkerman]

Yeah, those wildfire tricicars are interesting. I know a guy who sells wildfire scoots and they are standard Chinese models of moderate quality. He hasn't sold the tricicars yet, but I think I will ask him about them. If such a vehicle were made by a reputable company at an affordable price, i'd consider replacing my car. The price wildfire charges is reasonable, but I'm certain the build quality is marginal at best.

[Tokkyu40]

I think "marginal" is wildly optimistic, but if you can fit an engine from the junkyard it would boost both performance and reliability. I would see what the 650 is a clone of and check around for a used replacement engine. It would still end up being a pretty cheap car.
Sorry, it's not a junkyard anymore, is it? I think the new word is "Ecological Recovery Center".

Claude

[honkerman]

I think "marginal" is wildly optimistic, but if you can fit an engine from the junkyard it would boost both performance and reliability. I would see what the 650 is a clone of and check around for a used replacement engine. It would still end up being a pretty cheap car.
Sorry, it's not a junkyard anymore, is it? I think the new word is "Ecological Recovery Center".

Claude

Hehe, yeah, if I had the money and the time, it might be a fun project to take a junked burgy 650 and fit the engine to one of them. The only trouble is, I'd probably have to replace most of the suspension, not to mention reinforce the frame, body, etc...install more comfortable seats, etc. Might as well just take a Burgy, put a trike kit on it, and build an enclosure for it. In the end it would probably cost less.

[Tokkyu40]

You would probably also want to lower the seat down onto the frame and make it a low feet-forward rig for a racier and more aerodynamic cab.
In the meantime, I went to Arizona and picked up my spare bike.

This is Kumo-chan, the Marshmallow Princess; a 1987 Honda Elite 150. She's actually pretty brisk and sprightly, easily keeping up with traffic. $750, with new tires and a recent engine rebuild. If you cup both hands together, you've reasonably well duplicated the size and shape of the underseat storage, so I need to find a suitable box to put on the rack.
Other than that, it looks like it'll be a fairly good bike until I can afford a better machine, and I'm out from under the insurance costs on the Volvo.

Claude

[geckostudios]

Here's a site that can maybe help you pick that second bike. It has a lot of good in depth reviews with several pictures. He usually hits the important points:

http://www.justgottascoot.com/index.htm

The scooter reviews are listed at:

http://www.justgottascoot.com/reviews.htm

For what you're after, the Kymco People might fit the bill. I believe there's both a 150 and 250. Both on the smaller side (easier to move around) get in the 70mpg range, and are generally very reliable (they use to make the engines for hondas).

David

[Tokkyu40]

I've decided that the Elite is probably a temprary bike. It's nice, but I also think the People would do a better job.
The older 250 is ugly as sin, with that Studebaker Starlight grill, but it has radiator vents on the leg shield to keep your knees warm.
We also have a local dealer in San Diego who carries the TGB Delivery 150. That should have enough storage space.

Claude

[Tokkyu40]

My dad gave me a blue second hand top box for Christmas. I repainted it and dressed up the scooter some, so now it looks like this.


Claude

[Chet_Benson]

Claude
I am still trying to get over the name....Marshmallow Princess. You got it cleaned up and It looks good and the price is right.

[honkerman]

My dad gave me a blue second hand top box for Christmas. I repainted it and dressed up the scooter some, so now it looks like this.


Claude

Wow! That is one nice looking Elite! I love the blue racing stripes!

The elites were really good scooters. It's too bad Honda no longer offers them in the U.S.

You have mentioned several times that you would like a Kymco to replace the Elite eventually. I love my Kymco People 150 (have had it for three months now). She runs great and the only thing I am finding, which I have seen others complain about, is that some of them have very finicky carburetors. Nothing that a little fuel system cleaner won't clear up, but something to be aware of just the same. I do get between 75 and 80 mpg out of my People 150 with Premium gas, but I'm not sure how well a 250 would do. There are some other downsides to the Kymco's, including; underseat storage (better on the 250's but still not great), floor space (the floor on my 150 hardly accommodates my size 10 feet), and seat comfort (not a problem on my 150, I can ride for hours without discomfort, but I've heard the People 250 is horrible for longer rides, but the People S 250 is better).

[Tokkyu40]

Racing stripes make it faster.
The People 250 seat could probably be improved. I love the adjustable radiator outlets on the dash. In the winter you could turn them to blow warm air on your knees. It's too bad they got rid of that feature on the S250.

Claude