[Sonoma]

I think a scooter makes a lot more sense than a motorcycle.

That being said, I'd pay the premium for a real bike just for my ego

[Easy_C]

Just make sure it's got some kind of storage.

[weambulance]

[roberto]

Co sign a jap dual sport. I loved my Suzuki dr250. Now I have a BMW f650 with soft panniers. Great for cutting through traffic to get to where I need to be with a few things.

Since i was 16, the only time I rode a scooter was across a field and into a lake for a laugh.

[BlackFriar]

@weambulance

That scooter with the dumpster on the back is gotdamn awesome! Put some spinners on that bitch, and I am sold!

[Suits]

(04-20-2017 09:59 PM)BlackFriar Wrote:  

@weambulance

That scooter with the dumpster on the back is gotdamn awesome! Put some spinners on that bitch, and I am sold!

Plenty of room for some classy ladies as well!

[Mr. Scumbag]

(04-18-2017 09:51 PM)Suits Wrote:  

(04-18-2017 09:25 PM)BlackFriar Wrote:  

@suits

What scooter are you using? What is the weight limit?

It's a burgundy 都市风. No idea about the model number. These things come in so many different models that nobody knows the official name of what they are driving.

I know for a fact that it can handle over 150kg without struggling. One white guy and a little Asian girl is never a problem.

Looks something like this.

They've outlawed these in most major Chinese cities haven't they?

Now it's all about those shitty bicycle apps like Ofo and Mobike whose bikes clutter the sidewalks everywhere you go.

[Suits]

(04-21-2017 05:18 PM)Mr. Scumbag Wrote:  

(04-18-2017 09:51 PM)Suits Wrote:  

(04-18-2017 09:25 PM)BlackFriar Wrote:  

@suits

What scooter are you using? What is the weight limit?

It's a burgundy 都市风. No idea about the model number. These things come in so many different models that nobody knows the official name of what they are driving.

I know for a fact that it can handle over 150kg without struggling. One white guy and a little Asian girl is never a problem.

Looks something like this.

They've outlawed these in most major Chinese cities haven't they?

No.

[blck]

We're talking scooters but nobody brought the goddamn T-MAX already ?!

[weambulance]

^

So it's about as fast as an unusually slow motorcycle and it's $10,500 list?

[911]

Yeah, it sounds like the worst of both worlds, kind of like those 3-wheeled motorcycles.

(04-20-2017 09:09 AM)Sonoma Wrote:  

I think a scooter makes a lot more sense than a motorcycle.

That being said, I'd pay the premium for a real bike just for my ego

A motorcycle for the longer routes, and a city bicycle for the short ones, or the weekend strolls in the neighborhood, that's a good combo. I haven't ridden much on a scooter (did a fair amount on a moped as a teen), but:

-I don't feel as safe on a scooter, because it's a more passive ride (less power to get away from danger); dodgier, less maneuverable ride with the smaller wheels; lower riding position so less visibility. You have less of a feeling of control.

The only advantage of a scooter I can think of is that it keeps your lower body dry when it rains. If you live in the tropics or for that summer commute in the east coast, it's a plus.

-You get a great kick of adrenaline and testosterone when you're riding a motorcycle. You get more women too. A nice vintage scooter has some appeal too, like a vintage Vespa or Lambretta, but the motorcycle has a more primal appeal.

The problem is that the extra kick makes you do take more risks. I almost died at least twice on a bike, but that was when I was pretty young, I don't take chances anymore.

[Leonard D Neubache]

I've never seen a skinny motorcyclist give shit to a buff scooter rider. So there's that.

But if you're spending any time on a highway then a scooter is just not a realistic option. In the city? Great. I've seen more easy notches on the back of scooters than motorcycles. For some reason there's a mental barrier to getting on a motorcycle for young women that a scooter doesn't seem to trigger, and I have no doubt that if I were to get back into motorcycle game then I'd pull way more ass with a Vesper than a "proper" road bike.

But once you're amongst 100kph traffic then you tend to care more about not getting dead.

[BlackFriar]

It will be for urban commuting. If I get a 150cc Honda, I can stretch it a little further: go to my friends' houses further away. (I moved into the middle of the city and live 10 miles from work.) I also started buying a couple assault rifles and one sound suppressor, so far. Also going to Europe for a month...this summer. So, for the next year or two, the moped/scooter will be for basic commuting, if I really need to go somewhere that I cannot walk, bike or take public transportation.

[Bain]

(04-18-2017 08:34 PM)Suits Wrote:  

I use an electric scooter here in Beijing for most of my city travel needs. I've ridden in the winter, but last winter I took 4 months off, because my clients are now spread out far enough that it would be just too painful to spend all that time in the cold.

I love it. Electric scooters have almost no moving parts, so maintenance is minimal. An acceptable scooter sells for as little as $300-400 new. Just have to change the batteries every 9 months ($100) and have the brakes tuned or changed every 3-6 months. That's about it. The electrical power is cheap, so it's almost free transportation. I can get 50-60km per charge, but if I wanted more, lithium batteries are an option. They would cost as much as the scooter itself and I don't want the extra worry about them getting stolen (which happens every so often).

It's faster than taking the subway (by about 2X) and often faster than traveling by car, since traffic is brutal in Beijing. The instant kino, when transporting the gentler sex, is awesome too.

I also have a nice looking emmo electric scooter which I love. I also ride it through the winter usually no problem - most days are fine.

I don't understand why every other person does not own one. They get you everywhere - even long distances - and cost nothing to maintain or gas or insurance costs. You save a lot of money.

Somehow they are perceived as not masculine -- but in Asian countries they are the most common mode of transportation and a guy owning one is still looked upon as masculine.

So it is a perception issue -- and perceptions can and do change.

Today I approached this girl in the market and we got on well. I still had my DOT helmet on while talking to her. So she must have thought I owned a motorcycle. Than after we exchanged tel numbers and set up a possible date next tues -- she saw me get on my ebike and she seemed let down a bit.

I thought well I am not going to buy a motor cycle just to accommodate her perception. I am not sure if she is going to call me now -- but lets wait and see.

I did pick up two other girls before and took them for a ride on my ebike and they liked it.

If more persons started to buy ebikes and use them -- the perceptions would change more quick. The new ebikes coming out are looking a lot more fashionable also.

[RatInTheWoods]

+1 for a 250 dual sports motorbike for urban commuting and parking.

[inostranec]

I wouldn't take one in the US but on busy European cities they are great. if the weather allows you to ride at least 6 months I would take. So cheap to run and maintain it's unbelievable. Unfortunately where I live it's almost 5 months under snow so it makes almost no sense to buy one.

[BBinger]

Right now I am debating between a Yumbo Cargo, Honda Wave, and some prissy yet to be determined escooter. The Yumbo cargo of all things is leading right now for the truck bed.

[Parlay44]

The problem is still having to pay for parking and tolls. Get a small electric bicycle for $600 on eBay. They run at 20 mph and get about 40 miles to a charge. You can ride them toll free over bridges in the bike lanes. Plus they fold in half for easy storage at work. Charge the battery at your desk or get a second battery and you’re golden.

[flanders]

(06-23-2018 03:44 PM)Parlay44 Wrote:  

The problem is still having to pay for parking and tolls. Get a small electric bicycle for $600 on eBay. They run at 20 mph and get about 40 miles to a charge. You can ride them toll free over bridges in the bike lanes. Plus they fold in half for easy storage at work. Charge the battery at your desk or get a second battery and you’re golden.

I'm interested in something like this for the work commute. Could you PM me a link of something you'd recommend off ebay if you've gotten one already?

[Parlay44]

(06-23-2018 07:21 PM)flanders Wrote:  

(06-23-2018 03:44 PM)Parlay44 Wrote:  

The problem is still having to pay for parking and tolls. Get a small electric bicycle for $600 on eBay. They run at 20 mph and get about 40 miles to a charge. You can ride them toll free over bridges in the bike lanes. Plus they fold in half for easy storage at work. Charge the battery at your desk or get a second battery and you’re golden.

I'm interested in something like this for the work commute. Could you PM me a link of something you'd recommend off ebay if you've gotten one already?

I can’t really recommend anything since I don’t actually own one. I spent some time researching though. I’d probably buy one like this.

[sterling_archer]

Cool bike, awful subtitles.

[Super_Fire]

I ride a gas scooter often here in TW out in the hinterlands, no major issues other than they expose you to the elements and it’s suicide driving one on a highway, so nobody does it here. Scooters are the main form of transportation here, though there are more cars these days.

Girls don’t look down on guys for having a scooter here, but they make girly and normal versions, so you’re fine with a non-girly scooter. Save tons on gas, and makes parking much easier; this place wasn’t designed with car parking in mind so parking can be a nightmare, even outside of the cities at times.

[Dulceácido]

I've mixed feelings on this...

In the US, if you ride a scooter, you may as well go ahead and write on the back of your clothes: Please run me over and kick my ass.

But, in foreign countries, to me, it's a solid means of reliable transportation and people that don't have one will envy you.

I guess it depends on location. In the US, scooters may not exceed 35 miles per hour, otherwise, it's a motorcycle. In other countries, I've been passed by "scooters" doing 65.

Why don't you just get a motorcycle and be a pimp? A "Honda Davidson" or an Enduro, right?

[sterling_archer]

Here also scooters and mopeds in general (50 ccm) are blocked for speed up to 50 km/h.