What would be a GOOD, large scooter to buy to avoid the high cost of the big name brands?

Question

Like a lot of people, I am thinking of buying a scooter primarily for my short commute to work and running around town. I want a larger cycle (at least a 250cc) that would be okay for possible short road trips (say 20-30 miles) even though that would not be common.

I am put off by the price tag on the big name stuff like Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki,Vespa, Piaggio etc.

I need something as trouble-free as possible since I am not the least mechanically inclined.

Also, I'm a good sized guy at 6' 3" and 220lbs so I want a LARGE scooter so I don't ridiculous riding it.

I have been looking at Kymco and Linhai. Both seem to have strong support and a good track record of longevity and durability. But I don't know anything about scooters so I am soliciting advice from you readers on these two brands (or anything else anyone thinks is really worth considering based on all I said above.)

Thanks for the help.

Answer 1

hi,i went to a yamaha dealer because yamaha never breaks down for real i own a 750 1979 3cylinder i been riding for 25pluss years oh you will want nothing less than a 750 or you will find out that you dont have enough power on the hwy. now yamaha offers a deal on the star bike no money down 200 a month good luck and be safe

Answer 2

Jack and Joe have it! Remember if any object is priced cheap enough some fool will buy it. Look at the junk sold thru wal mutt. Pay a little more, get a product line that has been around for 40 years and looks to continue another 60. The Burgmann 400 is the best all around scooter made. It is so good calling it a scooter isn't really fair. At 220 pounds the Burgmann 650 is more than enough. I think you will ride at 100mph and cross country if you want. Why look for some odd brand whose corporate goal is simple make a buck now and maybe continue in business for another year.

Answer 3

the "BEST" scooter is the Suzuki Burgman 400 or 650

they are expensive but they are worth it and they have a high resale value

the Suzuki Burgman scooters have the speed and performance and handling that matches the high speed sport motorcycles, if you wanta take a tight hairpin curve at 90 mph the Burgman will do it, if you wanta run at 135 mph and get 70 mpg, the Burgman will do it, if you wanta ride down the highway at 80 mph and smoke a cigarette and hold a can of soda and have no wind on ur face and still hear the birds singing, the Burgman is the right scooter for you.

Answer 4

Kymco is the largest scooter manufacture in the world and are rated superior to the Japanese scooters. You do not pay for the name as  you do with Honda and Suzuki. They make many styles and sizes from 50cc up to 500cc. The 250 Xciting sounds like it would fill your needs and I would ride one coast to coast with out any worries. Kymco is  good company with a warranty that they honor. I have seldom had to fix one with  problems just normal maintenance is all they ever need. The 250 come in three styles to suit your needs .

  People trade in the burgman to get a Xciting model and are suprised to find out that they are cheaper.

Answer 5

I agree with the answers so far. Would you rather have a Kia, or a Toyota when it comes to reliability, longevity, and resale value? Go with a name brand, even if you buy a nice used one for about the same cost as a new, cheaper Kymco or Linhai. If you are really listening to these answers, then trust what people are saying. I've owned 6 motorcycles, and all were of the Japanese big 4 brands. All were reliable, well designed, and easy to get parts for. What you are paying for when you pay more for a quality scooter or cycle, is the superior engineering, quality workmanship, large dealer network, and the likelyhood that your scooter will give you years of trouble-free service. If after all is said, you decide to buy something cheap to save some dough up front... just remember what we've all told you. Good luck!

Answer 6

I don't have personal experience with either brand, but I know of two Kymco dealers who have been in business selling other bikes for quite a while. I don't think either dealer would take on a brand they thought would break down frequently and damage their reputation. So, of the two, I'd vote for Kymco.

Personally, I chose a Yamaha, but that's because I can get service and parts for it in more towns than I could with a Kymco or Genuine (the other brand I checked out).

Answer 7

Kymco scooters are about the best you can get and at a very reasonable price.  If you were to get a Kymco check out the People S250 and the Xciting scooters.  

http://www.strmotorsports.com/showroom/i...

Also, someone posted that the suzuki burgman is "the best" scooter you can get???  This guy should take a look at the Piaggio MP3 500 first.  Now theres a quality machine.  The Kymco Xciting 500Ri is going to last a lot longer with similar specs and a cheaper price.  You would also be defeating the point of trying to save gas with most of the 400cc+ models... especially the suzuki burgman 650

Answer 8

You get what you pay for.  If you buy cheap, you will get cheap.  You will not be very happy with a cheap scooter.

If you go with an off brand scooter, parts may be difficult or impossible to find.

Stick with a name brand.  If it breaks, you can get it fixed.

The name brand scooters will also be more reliable than a cheap scooter.