Scooters...help please

[Kindigger]

I want to buy a scooter. I am on a fixed income, and live 35 miles from my elderly parents. I already drive a Toyota Camry, but even that is breaking me. I'd like to get to town to help them more often.

I can only afford a Yamaha. I'm stuck between the C3 (50cc), and a Vino 125. The C3 is cheaper, but top speed is only 45mph. It gets 115 mpg, and has bigger tires for rural riding. The Vino gets less mileage, but runs faster.

I'm in a rural area with few places to stop between here & there. Taking into consideration wind, sudden storms etc. which one would be the better choice?

Would wear and tear be worse on one or the other given how far I have to go? Breaking down in the middle of nowhere, and repair bills are a big consideration.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

[IndianaJones]

1. don't know much about scooters, but that seems like a lot of miles...

have you considered a motorcycle?

[Kindigger]

2. Yes but

A. I've had my neck and lower back fused. Also nerve damage in one hand & arm. I'm already afraid the vibration would cause my hand to go numb while riding. If so, I'd rather it happen at a slower speed. A scooter is upright. I have chronic back pain, and don't think I can lean forward like you have to on a motorcycle.

B. I'm on disability, and only allowed to own one vehicle without affecting my benefits. Scooters don't have to be licensed like a motorcycle.

C. I would have to tie myself to longer term payments on something I can't ride year-round. A motorcycle would probably cost more than my car. Also license, higher insurance every year.

The time it takes to get there is not really a consideration for me. If I were in town, and it looked like rain, or I was too tired to ride back, I'd just spend the night.

[Chan790]

3. Check local laws...

in some places the line between classified as a moped and a motorcycle is 125, some places it's 150. (Nobody classifies scooters as scooters. Moped = no license(usually), no registration; motorcycle = requires both.) Some places you need a special license to operate any two-wheeled motorized vehicle on a public roadway. Get a helmet and motorcycle goggles, it's not optional really, most places it's the law to require both. (or a windshield in lieu of the goggles.)

Generally, that's a long trip (70 miles roundtrip) for a scooter to make with frequency on anything but well-paved urban terrain...that's going to be heavy wear and tear. Heavier tires are better and so is the smaller engine (Cheaper to fix, less moving parts to break).

[Kindigger]

5. Thank you for the info

Neither requires a license in IA, but both need to be registered.

I found a Vino 125 message board a couple days ago, and they were talking about going on long distance rides with Vespa groups. Also said the older the scooter got, the better the mileage? Weird?

I figured the C3 would be cheaper to fix, but I was trying to decide with wind, and hills would it tear the thing up faster than the larger engine that can do 55 mph?

Also, the Vino looks like a Vespa. If I decided it wasn't worth it, or I couldn't ride it due to health conditions, it would be easier to resell.


When I go to town in my car I drive 45 mph. PO's the people who come upon me, but its their gas they waste punching the gas to get around me. Slowing down has increased my mileage from 300 miles per tank to almost 400!

[unpossibles]

4. of the two, both are decent bikes.

have you considered a Honda Ruckus?

[Kindigger]

6. Hmmm

Local Honda dealer didn't have the small scooters :( I like it better than the C3 :) May have to go find a brochure. Cheaper too.