Hello, all..

[Opus Dei]

I'm not for sure just where to post this, since all the forums are set up for exacting comments. Feel free to move this as necessary.

I'm looking for information/advice about a scooter for an older lady. After doing research, I came to the conclusion it needed to be one of these four:

Honda Metropolitan, Honda Metropolitan II, Yamaha Vino, Yamaha Zuma

The criteria are: User-friendly, minimal maintenance, lightweight, not TOO powerful, well-established company, and dealer proximity/attitude.

I know this is primarily a Yamaha-oriented site, but would appreciate telling me the pros/cons of the four above. I have a motorcycle, but know literally nothing about scooters. Oh, one other question-it seems there's a "Vino" and a "Vino Classic". Other than color, is there a difference in price? Seems the drivetrain is identical. Thanks for looking, and any advice.

Buck

[sooznd]

Hi Buck
First of all, I would check the laws in your state to see if a motorcycle license is required to operate a 50 cc scooter. Is your friend willing to get a motorcycle license? If a cycle license is not required, I would eliminate the Metropolitan II from your list. The cost of the Honda Metropolitan & Met II is the same; however the Met II will only go 25 - 30 mph. If a scooter is too slow , it could be dangerous in traffic. Most roads are at least 30 -35 mph and there are many impatient drivers in cars who won't want to get stuck behind a sloooow scooter.

If you are looking for a new scooter--2004 was the last year for the plain Vino. Yamaha only has the Vino Classic--the only difference is the classic has a bit more chrome finish.
The Vino & Zuma are currently 2 stroke scooters. The Metropolitan is a 4 stroke. The 2 stroke engine can be modified more easily for increased performance. However, it sounds as though performance and speed are not an issue.
Also, have your friend look at and test ride the scooters on your list. Sometimes it comes down to personal preference like style & color--how the scooter feels to them. The Zuma is more sporty, the Vino & Metropolitan more classic & retro styled--like the old Vespas.

Also Jered (one of the mods on this forum) just wrote an article on buying a scooter- I highly recommend reading that.
http://www.provoscooter.com/vbull/article.php?a=38

[Davey-boi]

Hey there Buck, and welcome to the forums!

A good scooter for an older lady would probably be the honda metropolitan. It's a nice zippy scoot for going around town, light wieght and easy to move around, and since it has a four stroke engine it needs very little maintenance.

The yamaha vino/vino classic is also a good choice, but since it has a two stroke engine it requires you to fill the oil tank (about every 500miles). Still very little maintenance involved and has the same benifits as the metro, except the vino has a bit more pep from what I've heard. The difference between the vino and the vino classic is the crome trim (head light, turn signals, and rear rack are all cromed on the vino classic) and I believe it was $100 option. But yamaha no longer has 2 models and only sell the vino classic now.

I wouldn't recomend the zuma though. They are a little more bulky than the vino and metro, and not as stable on roads as the other two because of their big dual-purpose tires. Plus, they look rediculously stupid! Honestly, who would buy a hunk of uglyness like that??? :D

As for yamaha and honda, both are great companies with dealer locations everywhere. I have 4 yamaha dealers within 20miles!!! There is no problem with gettin service for either make.

SPEEDS
Vino--- 30mph....40mph derestricted
metro---35-40mph
metro II---30mph.... can be derestricted, but very difficult
zuma---30mph....40 derestricted
Physical restrictions are placed on scoots to help them slip through some state laws, but can be removed to aquire the actual speeds these scoots can gain.

One last thing, you don't need to restrict youself to these four choices... the other day I saw this grandma on a vintage vespa! :D

[marylandmark]

Plus, they look rediculously stupid! Honestly, who would buy a hunk of uglyness like that??? :D



:mad:

HAHHA-

Welcome Buck!

GREAT writeups above!

[Opus Dei]

Howdy, all-

Davey-boi, the reason I chose those particular four is that this is rural Texas. It's 50 miles to a city over 5,000 population. You just don't see scooters around here, and some of the brands I've never heard of before researching. I figure it's best to stick with a known brand. In fact, the closest town has a Yamaha dealer-but no scooters. Dirt bikes, 4-wheelers, and big cruisers are all they carry. But it would be good for service issues.

Sooznd, in Texas a scooter/moped is classed as having (IIRC) under 50 cc displacement, and 3 hp. Additionally, there's a list of approved models. I note the Vino is approved, but did not see CH50P Honda Metro II. All that's needed is passing a written test for licensing. A m/c license would not be out of consideration, I would think. This information is for a widow lady whose husband always drove. She is so intimidated by a car she drives a riding mower to visit her friends and go to the post office. Gets rides with friends to go shopping.

Marylandmark-Thanks for the welcome and advice. Makes me want to trade my Ninja in on a scooter!;) Actually, they are cool and would love to go riding in Livorno with a young Sophia Loren and a bottle of Campari. :cool:

[XPS1210]

Howdy, all-

the closest town has a Yamaha dealer-but no scooters. Dirt bikes, 4-wheelers, and big cruisers are all they carry. But it would be good for service issues.



That probably means they have ZERO scooter repair experience and might even be a bad thing... even though it's their product... even car dealers have people who specialize in different vehicles... IE: cars, trucks, vans, SUV's... etc...

[Opus Dei]

Point taken on the possible lack of knowledge. About all else I can think of is pricing. Relative to MSRP, what should one expect to pay for a Vino?

[Davey-boi]

Brand new, including tax, crate fee, prep.... $2,500.

But I seen them go for as little as $1,000, used on craigslist.com all the time.

[XPS1210]

I live in anchorage alaska... okay... I bought my zuma with an MSRP of $1899 for $1899 plus (doc fee cause I financed it $119) and licensing (actual cost of $129 or something like that)...

You should never pay more than MSRP... then the usual fee's... if they apply... I didn't buy a metro because they wanted $200 over msrp plus fee's...

I didn't have to pay a "crate" fee or shipping fee... those are BS fee's IMO...

[Davey-boi]

Theres no demand for scoots in Alaska, thats probably why you got away with such a good deal. But in realistic conditions, $2,500 is probably more likely. As for the fees, tell that to my dealer and he'll tell you to get the hell outta his shop so he can sell it to the next guy waiting in line.

Buck, since your in a pretty rural part of texas... you shouldn't have a problem. I just wanted to make it clear for other people reading the thread who are also planning on buying a scoot, not to expect to get the deals some people do on these forums.

[XPS1210]

heck... IMO... I'd never pay more than MSRP on a vehicle... Scooter, car or other unless there is something special about it...

If that is what the lower 48 has in store... added fee's for things like scooters... What happened in the last 4 years there...



Here was my break down for when I bought my scooter...

Scooter $1899
Doc fee $119 <-- due to financing it
licensing $129
4 year warrenty $235
$2350ish... total... but that was with it being licensed and with an extended warrenty....

Guess you just need to look around...

[King Vino]

Theres no demand for scoots in Alaska, thats probably why you got away with such a good deal.

Any town with a central business district can generate a demand for scooters. I often visit a town called Tilghman located o nthe Chesapeake Bay, about fifty plus miles from any major city. They have a population of less than 2500 residents, I know of a dozen scooters there, several of which are Honda Metros, and a few Vinos, most driven by old fat men. Alaska has several major cities with populations over 50k.

[Davey-boi]

Hahaha, a dozen scooters in one town? Where I live there are probably more than 1,200! Trust me, theres a difference.

Plus, weather has a pretty huge impact as well. Would it be logical it have a scoot in sunny california, or snowy alaska?

[XPS1210]

ramalamadingdong....

[Davey-boi]

Hahaha, your right... we can argue about this forever. I think this thread has run it's course! :)

[XPS1210]

yeah... I agree...


let us know in a new thread what you end up with for a price...