seamus26 wrote:
Some scootering updates from the long weekend.
I put my wife's bike, the Buddy 170i, back on the road and we took our first ride of the season together. During the ride, the Stella quit and we decided not to take any chances at getting stranded. (I knew we'd be fine, but my wife was worried so we went home.)
Yesterday morning I hopped on the Buddy and went about 100 miles. I rode out to Holland State Park to look at the big lake.
The thing that I thought of the most during the ride was what a great little bike the Buddy is. Seriously worry free riding. I was cruising right around 60 with room to spare and it gets nearly 100mpg. And I don't even have to think about it ... it just runs.
So it got me thinking after buttoning up a few things on the Stella this season perhaps selling it and getting into something a little better. Thinking Vespa, of course, but on topic is it really worth the investment?
I'm considering the 150. Reason being I will never ride a scooter on the highway. In Michigan, the speed limit is 70, so unless you are doing 80 you spend all your time holding up traffic. The 300 wouldn't be enough. Everywhere else is 55 and the 150 would be fine for that, especially considering the price difference.
Still, the Hooligan - same setup as my wife's Buddy only a little larger bike - is $3399 new while the Vespa 150 is $5349/$5649. That's like two grand.
I dunno. Knowing me I'll just keep hammering on the Stella. But I thought perhaps a good time to resurrect an old thread and share my thoughts. With current gas prices there are probably lots of folks considering scooters, and there was lots of good info in this thread.
I put my wife's bike, the Buddy 170i, back on the road and we took our first ride of the season together. During the ride, the Stella quit and we decided not to take any chances at getting stranded. (I knew we'd be fine, but my wife was worried so we went home.)
Yesterday morning I hopped on the Buddy and went about 100 miles. I rode out to Holland State Park to look at the big lake.
The thing that I thought of the most during the ride was what a great little bike the Buddy is. Seriously worry free riding. I was cruising right around 60 with room to spare and it gets nearly 100mpg. And I don't even have to think about it ... it just runs.
So it got me thinking after buttoning up a few things on the Stella this season perhaps selling it and getting into something a little better. Thinking Vespa, of course, but on topic is it really worth the investment?
I'm considering the 150. Reason being I will never ride a scooter on the highway. In Michigan, the speed limit is 70, so unless you are doing 80 you spend all your time holding up traffic. The 300 wouldn't be enough. Everywhere else is 55 and the 150 would be fine for that, especially considering the price difference.
Still, the Hooligan - same setup as my wife's Buddy only a little larger bike - is $3399 new while the Vespa 150 is $5349/$5649. That's like two grand.
I dunno. Knowing me I'll just keep hammering on the Stella. But I thought perhaps a good time to resurrect an old thread and share my thoughts. With current gas prices there are probably lots of folks considering scooters, and there was lots of good info in this thread.
