I think you should check out Freedom Scooter Company. I have checked them out and they are super cheap and they are American made in Oklahoma. Their maxy scooter is much like the Kymco but its under 5,000.
Just bought a 2023 Vespa GTS Super Tech. Absolutely love it. It has the top box so no issues for storage. It fits me well being a pretty big guy. The others, not so much.
I’m looking at buying a Lance Havana classic 200i 2023 and glad to hear it checks all the boxes! (Except maybe storage size, don’t think it’ll fit a full face) I really like the way it looks and definitely need something faster and better quality than my current cheap Chinese 50cc. I was shocked to find out Lance has a 2 year warranty that not only covers parts not labor too! I was also looking at the Piaggio Liberty 150 but it’s warranty just isn’t as good only covering parts. That kind of disappointed me. I have access to both dealerships in my area and think I’ll going to go with the Havana. Love all your videos! Hope your still at least reading comments to know these are still valuable! Thank you
I've had Vespas, big and small hondas, varoius dirtbikes and am now riding a 150 LIberty. Easy to push around the garage, reasonable mpg, reasonable storage, rides nice, looks nice, and the dealer is good. The big tires last longer than than smaller wheeled scooter, so that's a big plus.
I bought a Sym Fiddle 3 200i. Your videos recommended this scooter and I love it. Goes 65 mph, handles well 12" wheels, fuel injection, with ABS. My commuter bike 26 miles each way. Thanks for your videos
I am so glad to hear you got it! It's a great scooter to be in it for the long haul on that commute! Anything surprise you on your long commute on a scooter?
@@ScooterNewbie I just remind myself to take my time. If I'm ever pushed by a car I usually just pull over and let them pass and then I just enjoy the ride going in It's been a wonderful experience the bike is just perfect for that 40 mile per hour of roads which ultimately means 60 I finally handling to be adequate and it's always nice at the end of the day to look forward to the ride home
@@russianbear0027 no, every 800 miles, or once a year. You can get away with 1000 or 1200 but not in its infancy. Every 800 miles for the first 5000 miles. Some people drive alot, but most people dont. Most my customers are like 3000 miles a year or less. Very few are breaching 12000 miles a year or more. They exist though. They like saving money on gas and insurance and keeping up with service: tires, belts, brake pads and OIL
Great initiative 👍. I have a remark though: Perhaps most important deciding factor is missing: reliability. Most will drive it longer than 12 or 24 months and even then it's good to know that your scooter will start when you need it.
You do a really nice job editing your videos. I’m looking at a Kymco compagno 50i. 2013. For my daughter to get around. It has 1000 miles and it sounds like it sat a lot in the garage. Bit concerned bout that but they want $1300 for it. What do you think.
Great if you buy it new, but works against you if you buy used. Kymco is fairly unknown in USA, but made in Taiwan with good design, quality, and reliability. They build scooters for other brands, including Kawasaki, and make engines for BMW. This makes for a quality used scooter with a low price, excellent value.
After months of dithering and research on the Fiddle 4, the Piaggio Liberty 150, and the Hooligan 170i........ I went with the Genuine Rattler 200i, after I'd finally laid eyes on one. Sleek, clean, & quick! And a 3 year warranty! 🏍
Thanks for the update however you may be a little off. CBS is dangerous because it engages both front and back brakes at once with equal force. This can be very bad because it can cause the front to lock up causing a crash. Unlike ABS, CBS has no anti lock ability. Typically we want to start braking with the rear brake and engage the front brake only as needed as it has a more powerful grab. Braking in this manner rear first then front as needed also makes the bike way more stable coming to a complete stop. You don't get that with CBS. I'd put any bike with CBS last over front disk and rear drum.
@@BEEBEE159 It stands for combined braking system (CBS), In this system, the rider's action of depressing one of the brake levers applies both front and rear brakes at the same time.
@@BEEBEE159 No brake system is perfect. You can take steps to mitigate any problems but sometimes you don't need to take any chance of your front brake locking up due to weather conditions or other factors out of your control. A good ABS is best as it will counter the locking up condition by allowing free spin. However if you only have a disk front and drum back set you can learn to make the needed changes manually by practicing braking. CBS tries to be it's own thing helping you brake with just one hand but it has too many drawbacks for me I'd not rather have.
Great video, Renee! Glad you're still bringing in the data into the picture. How is the Vespa going? Our weather hear taking a quick nosedive in very cool weather so I'm afraid we're out of riding time unless we get a crazy warm snap. This is one time I wish we lived in a warmer climate for sure! Be safe and keep up the videos!
@@ScooterNewbie didn't want to go stealth black (Vespa Sprint Notte) but it was hard to say no to a Vespa at the price point I was offered. The best thing about owning a vespa is the access and amount of aftermarket and official parts, ived added windshield, crash bars and decals since. Awesome channel hello from Dallas
Vespa GTS 300 to me is the best bang for the buck. Sure it costs way more than the other scooters but the ride, performance, reliability, service, and safety, all out weigh the added cost. The only downside as you mentioned is not having under seat storage for a full size helmut but thats a con I can live with as a top box can always be added. On another note, hope to be seeing new video of your recently purchased Vespa. Mahalo!
You’ve got that right! I am still torn on whether I should get the box! I did get a rack, so I’m just using my Prima bag & a milk crate interchangeably to help me decide on function.
@@ScooterNewbie that's funny you said about trying to decide about a top box . I didn't get one for my vespa as I think it looks so nice from the back and thought the top box may spoil the look. I think Vespa's are built to last!!!
I prefer the vespa scooter designs (the GTS 300 is actually large enough for a full grown adult ... most of the Asian bikes are not). When I lived in Southern Florida there were several dealers for Vespa .... but I got transfered to Texas. There is only one Vespa dealer in the entire state and they are damned sure not local (it is a big state). With the newer "smart" scooters, dealer support is an absolute necessity. Vespa's US dealer network scarcity sucks.
spec sheets is missing a lot of other quantifiable things like miles for required maintenance, cost of ownership, etc. and also the unquantifiable things like looks/style, ride quality etc. We in the US romanticized Vespas but in Italy folks don't and Vespas are not big sellers. The scooters that dominate sales in Italy are big wheeled scooters like the Honda SH. For many years the SH150 was the king in sales in Italy. Currently I think the larger CC big wheeled scoots are the top sellers like the SH300 in Italy.
Yeah, I noticed too. In my book those qualifications are very important. Honda is a very big manufacturer with a great reputation. Where I live Honda gives 5 years of warranty with unlimited mileages.
I'd love to see a side by side comparison with the Honda super cub. I think I'm getting better gas mileage because I have a standard transmission and not a CVT. To each his own and I absolutely love your videos thank you so much for making them
I wish I had your data analysis skills. I've seen how a rider decides on what bike they have based on their riding personality. Or are they a low, mid or high risk rider. The high risk riders may go for power over safety or other features, while a low to medium risk rider will weigh in safety to cover any increase in power a future bike may have. I think I'm a medium risk rider as speed doesn't interest me as much as nimbleness and having the features to deal with riding conditions - having hazard lights, disk brakes, good headlights and high beams, a good horn, and an accessible glove box to hold accessories and toll money. I'd say a low risk rider is more comfortable with a smaller CC bike and other features - good gas milage, storage and ease of use, readable dashboard and good mirrors, and maybe more importantly low maintenance problems or ease of service for changing the oil, battery or spark plug. As always good video!
Renee, Raise The Roof!!! Love your little dance in the video. Great informative video. Honestly, I'm been turning away from getting the Liberty to the People S 150. One of those reason, the Kymco People has disc brakes on both wheels and now that you said a full face helmet fits. I'm Sold! LOL. I wouldn't want to hang my helmet on the outside by the D-Ring or carry it with me. So it's good to know that you can put the full face helmet under the seat and no wet helmet. We need more of a US Market videos on reviews and how-to on YT on the Kymco's Scooters. Anyways, great video and Thanks for letting us know what is currently the best option for a scooter out there and the next best scooter. Be Well and Be Safe as well My Friend.
@@ScooterNewbie I had it until the end of the 2022 season- 3 1/2 years. Then scooter thieves found it irresistible. Sweet bike- smooth, fast, sharp-looking. Sadly, irresistible.
That's what they say. They say they take turns better too. Sadly I'll never know anytime soon. My 12 inch wheel (a full 16 inch diameter with the tire on) is what I use because any higher and I would be too short for my 26 inch seat height. My inseam is 27 inches and I had to shorten the stock seat so I'd fit. Any tire is gonna add 2 inches at least on either side or the wheel. For me to find a scooter with a 26 inch seat height and 14 inch wheel would have to be a custom job and it won't be cheap. The way these are made, you cannot simply change to a taller tire without getting into trouble. One day I'll get one.. after I get rich. LOL
Bigger wheels are not the only part of that equation. It is the suspension they are connected to, centre of gravity, side profile, and handling characteristics (and riding technique, which is different for smaller wheels). The other side of that is the increased nippiness of small wheels. I think because bigger wheels are often associated with heavier bikes, the two factors get intermixed. I ride a relatively heavy Vespa with 12" wheels, and because it has a very rigid body and excellent suspension, I find it is super easy on the highway and not twitchy.
Best big scooters: Vespa GTS 300 or Citicom 300, Best midsize is the buddy 170i or like 150, best small scooters is the liberty S or the Buddy 50. Best cheapie is the Wolf RX50. Wouldn’t touch anything cheaper than a wolf unless you like wrenching on your own stuff. Constantly.
That's a whole lot of research to then walk out with something other than your spreadsheet's first choice. But... how it feels is a big part, and that may be is tough to put into a spreadsheet.
A chime in on the "safety" thing.. The "safest scooter on the road" is the one with the best rider. Improving your skills is the single best thing you can do to improve your safety. ABS and all that crap are just bandaids in a corporate attempt to sell units to clueless people who otherwise (and rightfully so) be afraid to ride (buy) them. Riding a motorcycle, or scooter, is like a martial art, you're always learning. Focus on your riding skills, forget the "rider aids".
The problem is finding classic styling with LARGE wheels. The only one i ever saw (which i used to own, until it was stolen) was the OLD Kymco People, made in the mid-2000's. I think it was discontinued around 2013 or so. It wasn't all aggressive and sporty, but still had those large wheels. I hate the tiny wheels of Vespas, and most other scooters, and the few large-wheel scoots i see now look like rice burners, all sharp lines and sporty.
I've had my 2011 Chinese knock off for three years and wouldn't trade it for a new one of these. I actually like working on my own vehicles. Btw...you may want to check those replacement parts to see where they're made before putting me down for my choices...JS. ✌️
One thing you've left out is the quality of the dealerships and, IMO, too many Kymcos are sold through "Powersports" shops which often don't care much about scooters because they're too low-priced and they want to sell expensive sport/atv bikes and the owners of such establishments tend to have a not terribly respectful attitude towards their clientele. I agree the new version of the People 150 a great scooter but, sadly, it's failing in this country because it's being sold by a lot of jerks who don't care about its success.
How difficult is it to make sure that the underseat storage can hold a full sized helmet? I guess it's a feature for 50cc scooters that gets taken by larger engines and/or wheel sizes? It seems more and more that 125cc-170cc is close to the happy medium. Now I wish they had ABS and traction control like the Liberty 150, but in a retro classic design ideally with the front and rear tires the same size. :/
It's a tough choice to weigh! I would basically assume that no scooter holds a full-sized helmet, and you'll be pleasantly surprised if one does. :) You'll want to get a top box, be ok with hit hanging on the side of the scooter when parked, or bring it with you wherever you're going.
I have a 2012 Kymco Like 200 i and for my money this is a great machine at 164cc and 11.5 hp and dual disk brakes and cruise speed not at full throttle fuel injected close to 80 mpg what is not to like. Of course new is great to replace it would cost upwards of $ 5,000 screw that.
Can you do a video about buying a scooter? I am looking at a Honda Ruckus and all the dealers want to slap a bunch of fees on them. Some want more than a thousand over MSRP.
Sorry for the delay - they definitely do & it sucks that not all are upfront. It just feels awful. Did you find a dealer with fees you were more comfortable with? In my state, they are fairly standardized. Ish.
Hi I been riding scooters for 20 years started with 2 strokes than Vespa 125 lasted 37k Km& than Vespa LX150 lasted 30K km which were good scooters however as the Kilometers mounted they required minor repairs to the point that were uneconomic to continue riding. Than I tried a Honda sh150 great scooter no repairs in 48 K Km sold still going strong and required a lot less fuel . I have just purchased a Yamaha Nmax 155 only had a couple of years great so fare but will take a few years to check reliability . The point is in my experience the quality of manufacture is the most important aspect of a scooter purchase if you are going keep them long term . I sit possible to include the reliability factor into your selection ?
Oh, I like the idea! I'll think about how to incorporate that because data on scooters is very limited. All I have is anecdotal online opinions right now, but you have my wheels turning.
there are certain thing`s you must consider and have not looked at , the models time scale in production ,nearly all modern scooters have short production lifes so spare will be diffcult to obtain and this includes vespa ,another thing to consider is resale value ,I`m not talking about with in a year or two but long term , chinese ,asian scooters resale values drop off a cliff with in years ,and here`s my other point to finish on ,how many of the asian built scooters have clubs that can help you ,
thank for info, plan to purchase a scooter. one of the choice i was look at is the honda 160 adv and pcx, price is a factor. im also looking at a large scooter because i will be using it in Los Angeles fwy because of; work, college and visiting my grandparents. looking at a very efficient ride it will be covering miles....take a pubic transportation just does not working it so very dangerous, ride is so very timely, it really sucks... MTA try to fix the problem NOT, just putting money in fat public workers...
50cc & 30MpH when all the traffic around you is doing 40 to 50 makes you a menace and offers you up to become a speed-bump. No ABS in this day & age is a deal breaker.
Anything in that price point isn’t going to have that dealer support, & my understanding is that you’ll want to be comfy with turning wrenches. Look for stores in your area with TaoTao or Icebear. I have no knowledge of them beyond having heard their names. BUT perhaps waiting to pounce on a good deal on a used scooter would be your best bet.
Oh, I’ll look that one up. I’m betting it is a sharp scooter, but I bet as a vintage it isn’t the best scooter for the money thinking features versus value for today’s dollar. Is that what you ride?
@@ScooterNewbie well let`s say it will be more valuable when ever I do sell it then I bought it ,as for features ,first mass use of a disc brake on a two wheeled vehicle was on a lambretta ,buy a new vespa from a dealer it`s lost 1/4 of the book price first moment you ride it away , while a lambretta goes up ,yes I ride a lambretta ,vespas are like ten a penny ,lambrettas are the one you lust after .to give you an idea which one was styled by bertone that gave the world the first supercar yeap the lambretta GP
Hi Up until now I was agreeing with you regarding your other videos I still think the Vesper is better then the buddy and the Kymco… as a part time motorcycle and Scooter mechanic parts are a lot easier to get for the Vesper… I feel the vesper will out perform any Chinese scooter and the vesper does not lose value as much
Thanks for chiming in! I certainly don’t expect everyone to agree, but now I have to know… which Vespa do you think is the best value of features to cost?
@@ScooterNewbie mmmmm that`s an interesting one a new auto along side an old px ,running cost ,spares , since vespa stopped producing the px they have actually gone up in price
you are looking at this only one way , if you travel from state to state you can get away with your way of thinking but if you travel to canada or other country you will run out of luck for parts , today a honda scooter can and will be fixed world wide , not so vespa nor kimco and so on , it depends on many factors what is the best for the money scooter but never forget availability of service and parts as unlike in my youth most kids and bikers could not even change a tire much less adjust valves i four strokes
Respectfully disagree on anything Kymco, and no Urbano either. Both of those are Chinese built L vin numbers. The Buddy KICK is a solid choice but its expensive. Best value brand for the money is Lance Havana or Lance Cabo. Gently used ones on Craigslist from one of these brands is a great choice: Genuine, SYM or Lance... must have a Title, less than 8000 miles and within 5 years old are safe parameters.. less miles even better.
The Piaggio was best (in my opinion only) in the 2019/2020 range, but this video is about how I’ve changed my mind with the Urbano & People. Do you have a Liberty, or were you just hoping to see more info about it in this video?
@@ScooterNewbie Thinking of getting one, but I wonder how they can make it cheaper than many others. You should talk about how many dealers won't work on their own scooters if they're older than 10 years.
Why isn't someone making a 250cc scooter that has classic looks.. instead of looking like a Walrus.. er.. uh... Scootery Gold Wing.. yeah. Vespa GTS is their top seller and has no competitors. GTS= Classic looks + big engine. 169cc's , that they advertise as "the 200 model" .. just aren't big enough.
A few things... First, to each their own on styling. Some people want the iconic scooter look, other people like the Japanese Sport look. Second, the issue Ive noticed over the years is that its too difficult to pack that much CC into a CVT style engine if you want to keep the length of the bike short. If you try to make a scooter look like a Primavera but with the engine of a Burgman 650, you end up with a monstrosity limousine scooter that handles and corners like a nightmare. And if it was shortened, that would make it too tall and still handle terribly. The issue is trying to retain the 'pass thru' style scooter look while finding somewhere to put more engine. Manufacturers keep playing musical chairs with the components, swapping where the gas tank and battery are, and even getting rid of most of the pass thru floor space in favor of larger tank or more engine room. Motorcycles dont have this problem obviously because rider posture is totally different. This is why Maxi scooters dont sell as well as smaller scooters... people just buy Motorcycles for anything over 65mph...
TRASH technology is the last thing I want in a scooter. I have a 2006 Vespa GT200, carbureted, front and rear discs, but NO ABS and NO CBS. I have a 1979 Vespa P200E. Carbureted 2 stroke, kickstart only, manual shift, manual clutch, runs on premix, which you have to mix yourself, has drum front and rear brakes, rear brake is a foot pedal. And I have a 2022 Lance Cali Classic 125. Carbureted 4 stroke, front disc, rear drum, NO ABS, NO CBS. A scooter is supposed to be fun to ride. It should require a fairly high degree of skill, and a lot of interaction between the rider and machine. A scooter is not supposed to be a 2 wheeled safety device. The RIDER is the safety device.
![ROSÉ (로제) - number one girl [더 시즌즈-이영지의 레인보우] | KBS 241129 방송](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/A9oByH9Ci24/mqdefault.jpg)
I want to hear if you think another scooter should have won the battle! Comment below ⬇️ with WHY!
I think you should check out Freedom Scooter Company. I have checked them out and they are super cheap and they are American made in Oklahoma. Their maxy scooter is much like the Kymco but its under 5,000.
Just bought a 2023 Vespa GTS Super Tech. Absolutely love it. It has the top box so no issues for storage. It fits me well being a pretty big guy. The others, not so much.
Going on 2nd year with my 2023 300 HPE2. Currently 2,340 miles
...UNDERRATED CHANNEL....
I’m looking at buying a Lance Havana classic 200i 2023 and glad to hear it checks all the boxes! (Except maybe storage size, don’t think it’ll fit a full face) I really like the way it looks and definitely need something faster and better quality than my current cheap Chinese 50cc. I was shocked to find out Lance has a 2 year warranty that not only covers parts not labor too! I was also looking at the Piaggio Liberty 150 but it’s warranty just isn’t as good only covering parts. That kind of disappointed me. I have access to both dealerships in my area and think I’ll going to go with the Havana. Love all your videos! Hope your still at least reading comments to know these are still valuable! Thank you
Look at a buddy 170i. Way better than the Havana
Lance built by Sym. High quality.
I've had Vespas, big and small hondas, varoius dirtbikes and am now riding a 150 LIberty. Easy to push around the garage, reasonable mpg, reasonable storage, rides nice, looks nice, and the dealer is good. The big tires last longer than than smaller wheeled scooter, so that's a big plus.
I bought a Sym Fiddle 3 200i. Your videos recommended this scooter and I love it. Goes 65 mph, handles well 12" wheels, fuel injection, with ABS. My commuter bike 26 miles each way. Thanks for your videos
I am so glad to hear you got it! It's a great scooter to be in it for the long haul on that commute! Anything surprise you on your long commute on a scooter?
@@ScooterNewbie I just remind myself to take my time. If I'm ever pushed by a car I usually just pull over and let them pass and then I just enjoy the ride going in It's been a wonderful experience the bike is just perfect for that 40 mile per hour of roads which ultimately means 60 I finally handling to be adequate and it's always nice at the end of the day to look forward to the ride home
@@paulgeary531 Ive seen a Fiddle 3 with 26,000 miles. Just keep changing the oil every 800 miles
@@blitzmotorscooters1635 800 miles? So like every 2 weeks?
@@russianbear0027 no, every 800 miles, or once a year. You can get away with 1000 or 1200 but not in its infancy. Every 800 miles for the first 5000 miles. Some people drive alot, but most people dont. Most my customers are like 3000 miles a year or less. Very few are breaching 12000 miles a year or more. They exist though. They like saving money on gas and insurance and keeping up with service: tires, belts, brake pads and OIL
I LOVE your spreadsheet! Data for the win! And fun dances. 💃
Great initiative 👍.
I have a remark though: Perhaps most important deciding factor is missing: reliability. Most will drive it longer than 12 or 24 months and even then it's good to know that your scooter will start when you need it.
You do a really nice job editing your videos. I’m looking at a Kymco compagno 50i. 2013. For my daughter to get around. It has 1000 miles and it sounds like it sat a lot in the garage. Bit concerned bout that but they want $1300 for it. What do you think.
The scooter that holds its value the most is what’s important to me … so it has to be a genuine Vespa
Vespa's Piaggio engines are prone to electronic glitches.
Great if you buy it new, but works against you if you buy used. Kymco is fairly unknown in USA, but made in Taiwan with good design, quality, and reliability. They build scooters for other brands, including Kawasaki, and make engines for BMW. This makes for a quality used scooter with a low price, excellent value.
Piaggio is trouble-prone for electronic failures. Also, plastic parts in engine bay crack over time is a major problem too.
Great video thank you. No annoying accompanying music. Just great content delivered well.
After months of dithering and research on the Fiddle 4, the Piaggio Liberty 150, and the Hooligan 170i........ I went with the Genuine Rattler 200i, after I'd finally laid eyes on one. Sleek, clean, & quick! And a 3 year warranty! 🏍
That Hooligan is a big time fav! I know a couple of scooter sales people that say that’s their fav, too!
Thanks for the update however you may be a little off. CBS is dangerous because it engages both front and back brakes at once with equal force. This can be very bad because it can cause the front to lock up causing a crash. Unlike ABS, CBS has no anti lock ability. Typically we want to start braking with the rear brake and engage the front brake only as needed as it has a more powerful grab. Braking in this manner rear first then front as needed also makes the bike way more stable coming to a complete stop. You don't get that with CBS. I'd put any bike with CBS last over front disk and rear drum.
Honest question: What does CBS stand for? Does it mean Corner Braking System?
@@BEEBEE159 It stands for combined braking system (CBS), In this system, the rider's action of depressing one of the brake levers applies both front and rear brakes at the same time.
@@DivergentDroid Oh, okay...Thank you for that information. I see from your original comment that this feature should be avoided. That's good to know.
@@BEEBEE159 No brake system is perfect. You can take steps to mitigate any problems but sometimes you don't need to take any chance of your front brake locking up due to weather conditions or other factors out of your control. A good ABS is best as it will counter the locking up condition by allowing free spin. However if you only have a disk front and drum back set you can learn to make the needed changes manually by practicing braking. CBS tries to be it's own thing helping you brake with just one hand but it has too many drawbacks for me I'd not rather have.
Great video, Renee! Glad you're still bringing in the data into the picture. How is the Vespa going? Our weather hear taking a quick nosedive in very cool weather so I'm afraid we're out of riding time unless we get a crazy warm snap. This is one time I wish we lived in a warmer climate for sure! Be safe and keep up the videos!
Excellent video 🛵 got a good deal on a used 2020 Vespa Sprint and I'm loving it, my first scoot
That’s AWESOME!!! Lame question alert: what color?
@@ScooterNewbie didn't want to go stealth black (Vespa Sprint Notte) but it was hard to say no to a Vespa at the price point I was offered. The best thing about owning a vespa is the access and amount of aftermarket and official parts, ived added windshield, crash bars and decals since. Awesome channel hello from Dallas
Vespa GTS 300 to me is the best bang for the buck. Sure it costs way more than the other scooters but the ride, performance, reliability, service, and safety, all out weigh the added cost. The only downside as you mentioned is not having under seat storage for a full size helmut but thats a con I can live with as a top box can always be added. On another note, hope to be seeing new video of your recently purchased Vespa. Mahalo!
You’ve got that right! I am still torn on whether I should get the box! I did get a rack, so I’m just using my Prima bag & a milk crate interchangeably to help me decide on function.
@@ScooterNewbie that's funny you said about trying to decide about a top box . I didn't get one for my vespa as I think it looks so nice from the back and thought the top box may spoil the look.
I think Vespa's are built to last!!!
gotta remove the reliability and service out cause Vespas are not.
@@DaBinChe I’ve got 7-8K miles on my GTV 300 and have had no problems thus far.
I prefer the vespa scooter designs (the GTS 300 is actually large enough for a full grown adult ... most of the Asian bikes are not). When I lived in Southern Florida there were several dealers for Vespa .... but I got transfered to Texas. There is only one Vespa dealer in the entire state and they are damned sure not local (it is a big state). With the newer "smart" scooters, dealer support is an absolute necessity. Vespa's US dealer network scarcity sucks.
spec sheets is missing a lot of other quantifiable things like miles for required maintenance, cost of ownership, etc. and also the unquantifiable things like looks/style, ride quality etc. We in the US romanticized Vespas but in Italy folks don't and Vespas are not big sellers. The scooters that dominate sales in Italy are big wheeled scooters like the Honda SH. For many years the SH150 was the king in sales in Italy. Currently I think the larger CC big wheeled scoots are the top sellers like the SH300 in Italy.
Yeah, I noticed too. In my book those qualifications are very important. Honda is a very big manufacturer with a great reputation. Where I live Honda gives 5 years of warranty with unlimited mileages.
Great video, well done spreadsheet. You brought some very good points, and thank you for sharing. Ride safe!
What is the price for it
I'd love to see a side by side comparison with the Honda super cub. I think I'm getting better gas mileage because I have a standard transmission and not a CVT. To each his own and I absolutely love your videos thank you so much for making them
Great suggestion! You are likely right with the better gas mileage. I can't wait to try a cub out myself!
I have a cub. super lightweight, handles good. Slow off the line compared to a vespa 150 primavera
I wish I had your data analysis skills. I've seen how a rider decides on what bike they have based on their riding personality. Or are they a low, mid or high risk rider. The high risk riders may go for power over safety or other features, while a low to medium risk rider will weigh in safety to cover any increase in power a future bike may have. I think I'm a medium risk rider as speed doesn't interest me as much as nimbleness and having the features to deal with riding conditions - having hazard lights, disk brakes, good headlights and high beams, a good horn, and an accessible glove box to hold accessories and toll money.
I'd say a low risk rider is more comfortable with a smaller CC bike and other features - good gas milage, storage and ease of use, readable dashboard and good mirrors, and maybe more importantly low maintenance problems or ease of service for changing the oil, battery or spark plug.
As always good video!
That’s an impressive spreadsheet!
Imagine a lot of research went into it!
Love your videos. So helpful. Please keep them coming. Looking forward to seeing more videos on your Vespa.
Thanks for your time
Mark from Maryland
Renee, Raise The Roof!!! Love your little dance in the video. Great informative video. Honestly, I'm been turning away from getting the Liberty to the People S 150. One of those reason, the Kymco People has disc brakes on both wheels and now that you said a full face helmet fits. I'm Sold! LOL. I wouldn't want to hang my helmet on the outside by the D-Ring or carry it with me. So it's good to know that you can put the full face helmet under the seat and no wet helmet. We need more of a US Market videos on reviews and how-to on YT on the Kymco's Scooters. Anyways, great video and Thanks for letting us know what is currently the best option for a scooter out there and the next best scooter. Be Well and Be Safe as well My Friend.
I just start my scooter every 2 weeks in winter it's carburated
Definitely need to look at the Lance Cali Classic 200i........ a sweet bike!
It is a very sweet scooter, and I'm a big fan of Lance! How long have you had yours?
@@ScooterNewbie I had it until the end of the 2022 season- 3 1/2 years. Then scooter thieves found it irresistible. Sweet bike- smooth, fast, sharp-looking. Sadly, irresistible.
Traditional scooters I like the Piaggio Liberty 150. Maxi currently the Yamaha XMAX and Piaggio BV400
Genuine buddy for sure if your a young man that doesn’t need abs rear disc and giant wheels
Taller WHEELs are SAFER overall... Like your enthusiastic demeanor too
That's what they say. They say they take turns better too. Sadly I'll never know anytime soon. My 12 inch wheel (a full 16 inch diameter with the tire on) is what I use because any higher and I would be too short for my 26 inch seat height. My inseam is 27 inches and I had to shorten the stock seat so I'd fit. Any tire is gonna add 2 inches at least on either side or the wheel. For me to find a scooter with a 26 inch seat height and 14 inch wheel would have to be a custom job and it won't be cheap. The way these are made, you cannot simply change to a taller tire without getting into trouble. One day I'll get one.. after I get rich. LOL
Tall wheels
Big Plus
Value pays
It doesn't cost 8)
Bigger wheels are not the only part of that equation. It is the suspension they are connected to, centre of gravity, side profile, and handling characteristics (and riding technique, which is different for smaller wheels). The other side of that is the increased nippiness of small wheels. I think because bigger wheels are often associated with heavier bikes, the two factors get intermixed. I ride a relatively heavy Vespa with 12" wheels, and because it has a very rigid body and excellent suspension, I find it is super easy on the highway and not twitchy.
depends on how you ride.... For instance I can ride a Buddy 17oi like its MotoGP and it only has 10in rims. Watch the road... LOL
I have a Liberty 2021 150-appreciate your comments.
How long have you had your Liberty? It's a nice scoot!
@@ScooterNewbie May 2021. I’m a new rider started out with a 400 Bergman. Big mistake. 😬
@@shirleyasale9289 What didn't you like about the Burgman?
@@StephanieRuby09 it was a 400. I lacked the skill set to ride effectively.
@@shirleyasale9289 what's wrong with it??
Heart over head - Vespa GTS every time. Although they are a magnet for theft here in London.
Heart over head - well said! I hear London (and some other spots, of course) can be rough for scooterists. Do you ride?
Yep, GTS
Classic scooter look all the way. I sold my 2015 Kymco Like 200, and I have regretted it since then.
My scooter is practically magic. Lol. Nothing I can maintain myself. Lol I went overkill at 550 cc hehe(Kymco AK)
Urbano 200i - Genuine Scooters 11.4 HP vs Kymco Like 150i produces (13.3 hp)
Best big scooters: Vespa GTS 300 or Citicom 300, Best midsize is the buddy 170i or like 150, best small scooters is the liberty S or the Buddy 50. Best cheapie is the Wolf RX50. Wouldn’t touch anything cheaper than a wolf unless you like wrenching on your own stuff. Constantly.
That's a whole lot of research to then walk out with something other than your spreadsheet's first choice.
But... how it feels is a big part, and that may be is tough to put into a spreadsheet.
Thanks again for the content,
A chime in on the "safety" thing..
The "safest scooter on the road" is the one with the best rider. Improving your skills is the single best thing you can do to improve your safety. ABS and all that crap are just bandaids in a corporate attempt to sell units to clueless people who otherwise (and rightfully so) be afraid to ride (buy) them. Riding a motorcycle, or scooter, is like a martial art, you're always learning.
Focus on your riding skills, forget the "rider aids".
U r a wealth of information. Thank u!
Great Video!
Do you have a carrier for your SUV hitch in case you need to haul your scooter long distance?
6:02 buddy kick is the shit. If it was my money I’d swing for a 170i or a Hooligan, but the kick is a fine bike
Hi Scooter Newbie, looking at the 2024 ADV 160 by Honda, what are your thoughts?
Nearly all the food delivery riders in London 🇬🇧 are riding Yamaha Nmax 125cc or Honda PCX.
I assume it’s due to good reliability & easy financing.
Best are Honda Adv, Pcx. Yamaha Tmax, Xmax 300, and Nmax 155. Vespa too, but they're very expensive.
Can you get a nmax here in the states, or is smax the equivalent?
The problem is finding classic styling with LARGE wheels. The only one i ever saw (which i used to own, until it was stolen) was the OLD Kymco People, made in the mid-2000's. I think it was discontinued around 2013 or so. It wasn't all aggressive and sporty, but still had those large wheels. I hate the tiny wheels of Vespas, and most other scooters, and the few large-wheel scoots i see now look like rice burners, all sharp lines and sporty.
I've had my 2011 Chinese knock off for three years and wouldn't trade it for a new one of these. I actually like working on my own vehicles. Btw...you may want to check those replacement parts to see where they're made before putting me down for my choices...JS. ✌️
How many miles is on your Chinese scooter?
One thing you've left out is the quality of the dealerships and, IMO, too many Kymcos are sold through "Powersports" shops which often don't care much about scooters because they're too low-priced and they want to sell expensive sport/atv bikes and the owners of such establishments tend to have a not terribly respectful attitude towards their clientele. I agree the new version of the People 150 a great scooter but, sadly, it's failing in this country because it's being sold by a lot of jerks who don't care about its success.
where is that vespa dealer I saw you pulling into on the video, i too live in Hou. TX
Great videos, love your data driven point of view.
How difficult is it to make sure that the underseat storage can hold a full sized helmet? I guess it's a feature for 50cc scooters that gets taken by larger engines and/or wheel sizes? It seems more and more that 125cc-170cc is close to the happy medium. Now I wish they had ABS and traction control like the Liberty 150, but in a retro classic design ideally with the front and rear tires the same size. :/
It's a tough choice to weigh! I would basically assume that no scooter holds a full-sized helmet, and you'll be pleasantly surprised if one does. :) You'll want to get a top box, be ok with hit hanging on the side of the scooter when parked, or bring it with you wherever you're going.
Thks for the review.
It's my pleasure! I'd love to hear what you land on when you buy one.
I only have $1200 and have to have one next wwek what would you suggest ?
Is there a alternate seat for the Kymco Like200i ?
I have a 2012 Kymco Like 200 i and for my money this is a great machine at 164cc and 11.5 hp and dual disk brakes and cruise speed not at full throttle fuel injected close to 80 mpg what is not to like. Of course new is great to replace it would cost upwards of $ 5,000 screw that.
Can you do a video about buying a scooter? I am looking at a Honda Ruckus and all the dealers want to slap a bunch of fees on them. Some want more than a thousand over MSRP.
Sorry for the delay - they definitely do & it sucks that not all are upfront. It just feels awful. Did you find a dealer with fees you were more comfortable with? In my state, they are fairly standardized. Ish.
Hi I been riding scooters for 20 years started with 2 strokes than Vespa 125 lasted 37k Km& than Vespa LX150 lasted 30K km which were good scooters however as the Kilometers mounted they required minor repairs to the point that were uneconomic to continue riding. Than I tried a Honda sh150 great scooter no repairs in 48 K Km sold still going strong and required a lot less fuel . I have just purchased a Yamaha Nmax 155 only had a couple of years great so fare but will take a few years to check reliability . The point is in my experience the quality of manufacture is the most important aspect of a scooter purchase if you are going keep them long term . I sit possible to include the reliability factor into your selection ?
Oh, I like the idea! I'll think about how to incorporate that because data on scooters is very limited. All I have is anecdotal online opinions right now, but you have my wheels turning.
there are certain thing`s you must consider and have not looked at , the models time scale in production ,nearly all modern scooters have short production lifes so spare will be diffcult to obtain and this includes vespa ,another thing to consider is resale value ,I`m not talking about with in a year or two but long term , chinese ,asian scooters resale values drop off a cliff with in years ,and here`s my other point to finish on ,how many of the asian built scooters have clubs that can help you ,
Scooters should also be categorized by being "step through" or not.
Nice color
So what do u drive
I’m on my Vespa 300, but semi-looking for a good deal for a used, lower cc scooter. I sold the Kick & kinda kick myself for that lol
@@ScooterNewbie I'm sure you'll find another good low cc scoot
thank for info, plan to purchase a scooter. one of the choice i was look at is the honda 160 adv and pcx, price is a factor.
im also looking at a large scooter because i will be using it in Los Angeles fwy because of; work, college and visiting my grandparents. looking at a very efficient ride it will be covering miles....take a pubic transportation just does not working it so very dangerous, ride is so very timely, it really sucks... MTA try to fix the problem NOT, just putting money in fat public workers...
50cc & 30MpH when all the traffic around you is doing 40 to 50 makes you a menace and offers you up to become a speed-bump.
No ABS in this day & age is a deal breaker.
I got two drums ( Navi)
I want to get a scooter for around 1k but not sure where to get one.
Anything in that price point isn’t going to have that dealer support, & my understanding is that you’ll want to be comfy with turning wrenches. Look for stores in your area with TaoTao or Icebear. I have no knowledge of them beyond having heard their names.
BUT perhaps waiting to pounce on a good deal on a used scooter would be your best bet.
If going U S E D...a JAPANESE brand like YAMAHA-HONDA is LEAST risky
Thank you!
My pleasure! Happy scooting!
The best is a design from 1969, Lambretta GP 200
Oh, I’ll look that one up. I’m betting it is a sharp scooter, but I bet as a vintage it isn’t the best scooter for the money thinking features versus value for today’s dollar. Is that what you ride?
@@ScooterNewbie well let`s say it will be more valuable when ever I do sell it then I bought it ,as for features ,first mass use of a disc brake on a two wheeled vehicle was on a lambretta ,buy a new vespa from a dealer it`s lost 1/4 of the book price first moment you ride it away , while a lambretta goes up ,yes I ride a lambretta ,vespas are like ten a penny ,lambrettas are the one you lust after .to give you an idea which one was styled by bertone that gave the world the first supercar yeap the lambretta GP
This might interest you ,as of last years auctions in the uk , a 1964 gt 200 lambretta unrestored barnfind was sold for 24,000 pounds
🤯 Uh. Yeah! That’s much higher than I would have guessed! Talking vintage muscle car prices!
Hi Up until now I was agreeing with you regarding your other videos I still think the Vesper is better then the buddy and the Kymco… as a part time motorcycle and Scooter mechanic parts are a lot easier to get for the Vesper… I feel the vesper will out perform any Chinese scooter and the vesper does not lose value as much
Thanks for chiming in! I certainly don’t expect everyone to agree, but now I have to know… which Vespa do you think is the best value of features to cost?
@@ScooterNewbie mmmmm that`s an interesting one a new auto along side an old px ,running cost ,spares , since vespa stopped producing the px they have actually gone up in price
Oh really?! 😳 I am trying to learn about older models, but that isn’t so easy!
In the 150 Primavera s Sprint. And in the 300 GTS sport touring
Well done.
Thanks! Do you have a scooter or looking to get one?
Looking at buying one.@@ScooterNewbie
🙌🏼🌟
?? Full FACE Helmut,around 4min??
you are looking at this only one way , if you travel from state to state you can get away with your way of thinking but if you travel to canada or other country you will run out of luck for parts , today a honda scooter can and will be fixed world wide , not so vespa nor kimco and so on , it depends on many factors what is the best for the money scooter but never forget availability of service and parts as unlike in my youth most kids and bikers could not even change a tire much less adjust valves i four strokes
New to riding found your vhanbel and you hsve earned a sub so under rated
Respectfully disagree on anything Kymco, and no Urbano either. Both of those are Chinese built L vin numbers. The Buddy KICK is a solid choice but its expensive. Best value brand for the money is Lance Havana or Lance Cabo. Gently used ones on Craigslist from one of these brands is a great choice: Genuine, SYM or Lance... must have a Title, less than 8000 miles and within 5 years old are safe parameters.. less miles even better.
Full face should fit under the sit.
No matter what I stick to my 250 GTS IE.
That’s a great scooter!
The answer is the Honda Navi which uses a scooter motor.
alle beste vriendin schooter newbie van wesley de jong
You say the Piaggio Liberty was the best buy but you don't talk about it at all.
The Piaggio was best (in my opinion only) in the 2019/2020 range, but this video is about how I’ve changed my mind with the Urbano & People. Do you have a Liberty, or were you just hoping to see more info about it in this video?
@@ScooterNewbie Thinking of getting one, but I wonder how they can make it cheaper than many others. You should talk about how many dealers won't work on their own scooters if they're older than 10 years.
Why isn't someone making a 250cc scooter that has classic looks.. instead of looking like a Walrus.. er.. uh... Scootery Gold Wing.. yeah. Vespa GTS is their top seller and has no competitors. GTS= Classic looks + big engine. 169cc's , that they advertise as "the 200 model" .. just aren't big enough.
A few things... First, to each their own on styling. Some people want the iconic scooter look, other people like the Japanese Sport look. Second, the issue Ive noticed over the years is that its too difficult to pack that much CC into a CVT style engine if you want to keep the length of the bike short. If you try to make a scooter look like a Primavera but with the engine of a Burgman 650, you end up with a monstrosity limousine scooter that handles and corners like a nightmare. And if it was shortened, that would make it too tall and still handle terribly. The issue is trying to retain the 'pass thru' style scooter look while finding somewhere to put more engine. Manufacturers keep playing musical chairs with the components, swapping where the gas tank and battery are, and even getting rid of most of the pass thru floor space in favor of larger tank or more engine room. Motorcycles dont have this problem obviously because rider posture is totally different. This is why Maxi scooters dont sell as well as smaller scooters... people just buy Motorcycles for anything over 65mph...
TRASH technology is the last thing I want in a scooter. I have a 2006 Vespa GT200, carbureted, front and rear discs, but NO ABS and NO CBS. I have a 1979 Vespa P200E. Carbureted 2 stroke, kickstart only, manual shift, manual clutch, runs on premix, which you have to mix yourself, has drum front and rear brakes, rear brake is a foot pedal. And I have a 2022 Lance Cali Classic 125. Carbureted 4 stroke, front disc, rear drum, NO ABS, NO CBS. A scooter is supposed to be fun to ride. It should require a fairly high degree of skill, and a lot of interaction between the rider and machine. A scooter is not supposed to be a 2 wheeled safety device. The RIDER is the safety device.
There's nothing like what your butt feels like seated on it test! 🛵