Scooter
Community

 Hi everyone,

I am getting my Ls in January (after an upcoming trip to America) and I'm looking for some recommendations on which scooter would suit me. I am probably moving to Sydney next year and living in Windsor and riding into the city everdayday. I like the retro look best but am flexible... I dont want to spend *too* much on my first scooter but not entirely sure on my limit at this point, depends what is out there, and less is better :) I will also consider 2nd hand scooters if there are some recommendations on ones that would be ok to buy 2ndhand, though new with a warranty is quite appealing.

 

Thanks in advance :)

 It's a reasonably long haul from Windsor into the city everyday, so you'll need something to cope with 130km per day using a combo of motorway (toll roads),  freeway and normal city/surburban streets.

Given you will be on a learner's permit,  I would recommend you don't consider anything less than a 200c scoot, and probably aim for a 250cc.

Liquid cooled engines such as the Vespa GTS250,  Aprilia Scarabeo 200 or 250 will not only perform better than an air cooled equivalent, they will last longer. 

You also need to seriously factor in the service intervals,  the likes of Vespa or Aprilia have service intervals of around 6,000km, for you that is 6 services a year whereas some scooters have 3,000km service intervals which means you would have get your ride serviced every month!!

Obviously having 3,000km services would add a lot to your total cost of ownership.

 

 Most people here seem to have the european brands - but don't for get the japanese ones, I have a yamaha majesty (bought with 1700km for $6250) and it is great for my commute. It fits more under the seat than any other scoot I have seen ( which is actually not that many) and it has services every 5000km but most of them are just an oil change so they are easy to do myself. Also it is a water cooled engine with a proper oil filter so it should last a long time - many smaller scoots and even 250s seem to have a metal mesh strainer rather than a filter so they probably won't last too long. The 400cc majesty is also smooth and comfortable on the highway, it has lots of accelleration left at 110 so you probably won't feel the need to upgrade when you get a full liscence. I also did both my pre learners and pre provisional course and tests on it.

Go and look on the RTA LAMS page (just google) and it will tell you what you can ride as a learner (my 400cc scoot is learner legal)  

 

Don't go too small 

 

matt

MattpurpleSSS:

  I also did both my pre learners and pre provisional course and tests on it.

matt

As Pauline would say...'Please explain?'..you go on the back of a 2 up to the course??

 

Or did you push it to the testing centre and home again??

 

kiwiscoota:

You also need to seriously factor in the service intervals,  the likes of Vespa or Aprilia have service intervals of around 6,000km, for you that is 6 services a year whereas some scooters have 3,000km service intervals which means you would have get your ride serviced every month!!

Obviously having 3,000km services would add a lot to your total cost of ownership.

 

The Piaggio/Vespa scooters with the Quasar engine in them (ie the 250cc electronic fuel injected engine) only require to be serviced every 10,000km.  Although from experience you'll need to check your oil, tyres and brake pad wear more frequently.

 Thanks for all the tips. I'd love a Vespa GTS250 but I think I dont want to spend quite that much on my first bike. Does anyone know the service intervals on the 'Aprilia Scarabeo 200' - I'm thinking about a 2nd hand one of these.

 

Thanks :)

First service at 1000. then 6000, 12,000 etc.

Aprilia have great service intervals every 6,000kms but I am sure someone will correct me!

 

steve@ace:

Quasar engine in them (ie the 250cc electronic fuel injected engine) only require to be serviced every 10,000km.

As my Scarabeo 250ie has the above engine does this mean that you will not void your warranty if you follow the service intervals that you mention.

 

Denni:

 

steve@ace:

Quasar engine in them (ie the 250cc electronic fuel injected engine) only require to be serviced every 10,000km.

As my Scarabeo 250ie has the above engine does this mean that you will not void your warranty if you follow the service intervals that you mention.

Hi Denni

To maintain your manufacturers warranty you need to follow their prescribed service schedule.  Why Aprilia want your Scarabeo to have more frequent servicing, is a question you'd have to pose to them.  I don't know as we don't sell them.  But certainly the Piaggio's/Vespa's with that engine have a 10,000km service interval which is why I specifically only mentioned those brands in my post.   You'd have to ask Brendon.

Servicing Intervals with Aprilia vary from scoot to scoot, after first service at 1,000 K's

• Two Stroke every 4,000Ks
• Air Cooled 4 stroke every 5,000
• Liquid cooled 4 stroke every 6,000K's

On the liquid cooled 4 stroke scoots you can do the servicing every 10,000K's if you do a minor service (basically Oil & brake check) at 5,000 K intervals. Personally I wouldn't let 1.2ltrs of oil do 10,000K's in my own scoot (even a quasar engine with oil filter) but Piaggio designed & made the Quasar 250/Leader 125 fitted to Aprilia, Derbi, Vespa, Gilera etc & set the warranty/service intervals so they know best.

 I don't have a issue with getting the scoot serviced every 6,000km, and will continue to do so, but find it quite strange that a parent company suggests 10,000 whereas the partner companies that use the same engine recommend 6,000km.

Would be an interesting question to put to Aprilia.

Are these scoots Aprilia,Vespa and Piaggio bought in to the country by the same importer?

Denni:

Would be an interesting question to put to Aprilia

Already did - they responded the same way I did, wouldn't leave 1.2ltrs of oil in a motor for 10,000K's

PSI import Vespa Gilera & Piaggio, JSA import Aprilia - no connection

Scooter HQ:

Already did - they responded the same way I did, wouldn't leave 1.2ltrs of oil in a motor for 10,000K's

 

As I'm no mechanic, preventative maintenance makes good sense to me!

 

Scooter HQ:

Denni:

Would be an interesting question to put to Aprilia

Already did - they responded the same way I did, wouldn't leave 1.2ltrs of oil in a motor for 10,000K's

PSI import Vespa Gilera & Piaggio, JSA import Aprilia - no connection

No harm in changing the oil more often than required.  I wouldn't suspect that a major player like Piaggio wouldn't make a recommendation without thoroughly testing it first.  But if you are a belt and braces kind of person, then go for your life

Scooter HQ:

Denni:

Would be an interesting question to put to Aprilia

Already did - they responded the same way I did, wouldn't leave 1.2ltrs of oil in a motor for 10,000K's

PSI import Vespa Gilera & Piaggio, JSA import Aprilia - no connection