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I'm considering a 49cc to bang around on to work and the FLGS.

What do you use yours for and what kind is it?

I ride a bicycle pretty much anywhere within 4ish miles from my house. Not quite the same, but not an automobile anyways

Got a Yamaha Zuma myself. Use it for my short commute to work and other short errands.

If you are considering getting one, let me be perfectly frank. For the love of all thats holy, don't get a cheap Pep-boys/Chinese offbrand scooter. I know the price of a Honda/yamaha/Kymco can be off putting, but their prices come with quality, brand support, options for performance accesories and warranties. They also retain their value pretty well too, if you take care of it but want to sell it down the road. Their are other brands that have widespread support as well, but the three I listed are the main ones in my experience.

The parts on the offbrand scooters do not, I repeat, do not match up with the big name brands, despite what the person selling you the POS knockoff tells you. I sincerely wish they did, as I could make money off of them instead of telling the owners of their products the sad truth that they bought a one shot, fire and forget scooter.

I sell parts for Motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, side by sides and recreational watercraft and I have to deal with offbrand scooter owners every day it seems like. If I had a nickel for every time I crushed the hopes and dreams of degenerate offbrand owners after they walk up to a parts counter that has 4 goddamn different signs telling them in no uncertain terms that we can't match/order/lookup parts for their junk, I would be able to buy your scooter for you.

Also, wear a DOT approved helmet, whether its the law where you live or not. Safety first!

PS. Sorry if I sound bitter, but I've never had a positive experience with offbrand scooters or their owners. Degenerates and reprobates.

Your input is welcomed for sure. I've been researching the last few days and have actually narrowed down to the 2012 49cc Zuma. I like the 4 stroke concept and the "larger" feel. The larger seat and storage compartment seems inviting as well. However it weighs in at a hefty 200 lbs. hmmm...

My wife (and I) own one of the Schwinn Collegiate 50's. It is one of the MANY Chinese copies of the Honda 50cc. Apparently her parents got it for no cost with the purchase of a motorcycle and they gave it to her. It sat for about 2 years because my wife (then GF) was scared shitless of it. She screamed like a baby when I doubled up with her and got it to 15...
Anyways it ran like dukey for what I feel are obvious reasons. I cleaned the carb, replaced the battery and spark plugs and it runs like a champ. I'm going to replace the carb because that's where the speed governor is and then we'll find out what she really does. Right now it performs solidly to 30ish mph, and get to and stays at 35.
I've used it to motor to my parents house which is about 25 miles away, it's a pain on most public roads because you feel exposed and like you are going to be run over. My wife uses it now to go to work which is less than a mile away.
If you pay less than $1000 for it I suppose it's ok...Like in my head I wouldn't pay more than $400 for one. With and MSRP of 1600 next to the MSRP of a Zuma at 2500 I'd get the Yamaha. Totally worth the extra cash. I discommend the Chinese copies but they are plentiful.
Truth is at $2500 you can be into a very nice, but older used motorcycle, or even a newer small bike in the 250cc range. Ninja 250's and Suzuki Tu or GZ 250s used can run about 2-3000 nearly new as most people "outgrow" them. Nonsense as a practical mode of transportation, with great gas mileage and highway performance 250 cc bikes are a great idea. You can strap anything you want to carry to the tail. Learning to ride is pretty easy, best to take a class. And insurance is pretty cheap on bikes under 500cc. Food for thought if you are not married to the idea of a scooter.
Between my scooter and my bike insurance and registration are virtually the same, I pay extra for vet plates and extra coverage for some shiny things on my bike. the difference per year is about $200.
WEAR A HELMET.

I am thinking of doing my CBT and getting a scooter in order to get around more and open up more job opportunities until I have the money to learn to drive a car.

Kids round here use them for terrorising passers by and hanging out in Tesco/McDonald car parks.

AustonT wrote:My wife (and I) own one of the Schwinn Collegiate 50's. It is one of the MANY Chinese copies of the Honda 50cc. Apparently her parents got it for no cost with the purchase of a motorcycle and they gave it to her. It sat for about 2 years because my wife (then GF) was scared shitless of it. She screamed like a baby when I doubled up with her and got it to 15...
Anyways it ran like dukey for what I feel are obvious reasons. I cleaned the carb, replaced the battery and spark plugs and it runs like a champ. I'm going to replace the carb because that's where the speed governor is and then we'll find out what she really does. Right now it performs solidly to 30ish mph, and get to and stays at 35.
I've used it to motor to my parents house which is about 25 miles away, it's a pain on most public roads because you feel exposed and like you are going to be run over. My wife uses it now to go to work which is less than a mile away.
If you pay less than $1000 for it I suppose it's ok...Like in my head I wouldn't pay more than $400 for one. With and MSRP of 1600 next to the MSRP of a Zuma at 2500 I'd get the Yamaha. Totally worth the extra cash. I discommend the Chinese copies but they are plentiful.
Truth is at $2500 you can be into a very nice, but older used motorcycle, or even a newer small bike in the 250cc range. Ninja 250's and Suzuki Tu or GZ 250s used can run about 2-3000 nearly new as most people "outgrow" them. Nonsense as a practical mode of transportation, with great gas mileage and highway performance 250 cc bikes are a great idea. You can strap anything you want to carry to the tail. Learning to ride is pretty easy, best to take a class. And insurance is pretty cheap on bikes under 500cc. Food for thought if you are not married to the idea of a scooter.
Between my scooter and my bike insurance and registration are virtually the same, I pay extra for vet plates and extra coverage for some shiny things on my bike. the difference per year is about $200.
WEAR A HELMET.

Thanks for the insight! If I get a two wheeled vehicle Im pretty sure it will be an 49cc scooter. Just seems fun and easy. Plus I can't go 80 mph!

Scooters are great fun but they are not easier to ride then a normal bike just throwing that out there because of I have herd of folk getting a scooter over a bike because they think its going to be easier to ride.

They do however hold value very well and are cheap to run however so do smaller road bikes (125-250cc) personally even just for commuting a 250 does the job just aswell and painlessly as a scooter but you also have the option to go hit a few twistys.

Also dont underestimate how quickly a person becomes desensitised to speeds on two wheels you start with a scooter and next thing you know you are making down payments on a busa and become a obsessed with finding long straight bits of road with minimal traffic.