Greg: My advice is only consider a mainland Chinese scooter if you
are mechanically inclined. If that\'s not for you go for a Kymco or a
used Honda. I had a Vento Phantom R4i which was recently stolen. I
am looking around for a replacement, would still consider a Chinese
scoot, but with full knowledge I\'ll probably have things to repair and
troubleshoot.
Clive.

You can\'t just look at the purchase price, you have to look at the Total Cost Of Ownership.
You can buy a CHINA made 50cc for about 800.00 or you can buy a Honda Metropolitan for 1800.00, and the Honda will last more than 4 times as long, how is the 800.00 scooter a better value? I have seen people riding Honda Elites and Helix\'s from the early 80\'s and they are still going strong. I wouldn\'t expect to get more than 2 or 3 years out of a China Bike before it falls apart. If you are mechanically inclined and don\'t mind tightening every bolt on the bike, by all means get the cheaper.
If you have to replace parts more often (which is usually the case) on a cheaper scooter, in the long run, it will end up costing more.

Bill


Bob Kirtley < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it > wrote:

QUOTE:

Greg, Since you asked about inexpensive scooters, I will relate what I have learned. Buy from a dealer that will be able to service your bike. Make sure he sets up his bikes before sales. Make sure the dealer can get parts. This is most important. Most inexpensive scooters will require a regular supply of replacement parts. If you have to wait weeks and months for parts, it will sit more than operate. Many parts are interchangeable from one brand to another. A good dealer will know what works. Some importers get bikes and no supply of parts. You can look online and you will see parts on backorder everywhere.

Most Chinese scooters I have seen look like they come from the same factory. Get a good repair manual. I got one at scootdawg.com. Make sure your metric tool kit is complete. They fall apart but are fairly easy to repair.

-----Original Message-----
From: Strada-Vento-QJ-UM- ChineseScooters@yaho ogroups.com [mailto:Strada- Vento-QJ-UM- ChineseScooters@yaho ogroups.com] On Behalf Of Bill Wilson
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 3:19 PM
To: Strada-Vento-QJ-UM- ChineseScooters@yaho ogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Strada-Vento-QJ-UM- ChineseScooters] Chinese or Taiwanese scooter recommendations.

Inexoensive is exactly what you will get. I would only purchase a brand that a Local dealer will support. Most reputable scooter dealers will not even work on the so called bargin brands. This is really a case where you get what you pay for. If you are looking to save money, you would be better off buying a used Name Brand, rather than a new CHINA scoot.

Stick with Kymco, Honda, TNG, Vespa, Genuine. You won\'t be sorry.



Bill

gregggyf < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it > wrote:

QUOTE:
Good morning,

I am relatively new to the scooter world and I am trying to gather
information on "inexpensive& quot; new scooters.

Can anyone recommend a Chinese or Taiwanese scooter, that from their
own personal experience(s) would they say is/was a well running machine
that was built well? If so, please list the scooter manufacturer and
the model number.

In addition, if there are "infamously& quot; bad or poorly made scooters out
there please let me know of these companies as well.

Thank you very much.

Greg

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I could not have said it better.


--- In Strada-Vento-QJ-UM- ChineseScooters@yaho ogroups.com, Bill Wilson
&lt; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it &gt; wrote:

QUOTE:

You can\'t just look at the purchase price, you have to look at the

Total Cost Of Ownership.

QUOTE:
You can buy a CHINA made 50cc for about 800.00 or you can buy a

Honda Metropolitan for 1800.00, and the Honda will last more than 4
times as long, how is the 800.00 scooter a better value? I have seen
people riding Honda Elites and Helix\'s from the early 80\'s and they
are still going strong. I wouldn\'t expect to get more than 2 or 3
years out of a China Bike before it falls apart. If you are
mechanically inclined and don\'t mind tightening every bolt on the
bike, by all means get the cheaper.

QUOTE:
If you have to replace parts more often (which is usually the case)

on a cheaper scooter, in the long run, it will end up costing more.

QUOTE:

Bill


Bob Kirtley &lt; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it & gt; wrote:

QUOTE:
Greg, Since you asked about inexpensive scooters, I will relate

what I have learned. Buy from a dealer that will be able to service
your bike. Make sure he sets up his bikes before sales. Make sure
the dealer can get parts. This is most important. Most inexpensive
scooters will require a regular supply of replacement parts. If you
have to wait weeks and months for parts, it will sit more than
operate. Many parts are interchangeable from one brand to another. A
good dealer will know what works. Some importers get bikes and no
supply of parts. You can look online and you will see parts on
backorder everywhere.

QUOTE:

Most Chinese scooters I have seen look like they come from the

same factory. Get a good repair manual. I got one at scootdawg.com.
Make sure your metric tool kit is complete. They fall apart but are
fairly easy to repair.

QUOTE:

-----Original Message-----
From: Strada-Vento-QJ-UM- ChineseScooters@yaho ogroups.com

[mailto:Strada- Vento-QJ-UM- ChineseScooters@yaho ogroups.com] On Behalf
Of Bill Wilson

QUOTE:
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 3:19 PM
To: Strada-Vento-QJ-UM- ChineseScooters@yaho ogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Strada-Vento-QJ-UM- ChineseScooters] Chinese or

Taiwanese scooter recommendations.

QUOTE:

Inexoensive is exactly what you will get. I would only

purchase a brand that a Local dealer will support. Most reputable
scooter dealers will not even work on the so called bargin brands.
This is really a case where you get what you pay for. If you are
looking to save money, you would be better off buying a used Name
Brand, rather than a new CHINA scoot.

QUOTE:

Stick with Kymco, Honda, TNG, Vespa, Genuine. You won\'t be sorry.



Bill

gregggyf &lt; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it &gt; wrote:

Good morning,

I am relatively new to the scooter world and I am trying to gather
information on &quot;inexpensive& quot; new scooters.

Can anyone recommend a Chinese or Taiwanese scooter, that from their
own personal experience(s) would they say is/was a well running

machine

QUOTE:
that was built well? If so, please list the scooter manufacturer and
the model number.

In addition, if there are &quot;infamously& quot; bad or poorly made scooters out
there please let me know of these companies as well.

Thank you very much.

Greg





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Most, but not all, Chinese scooters are alike. I have a 2007 Diamo Retro
that I ride almost everyday 30+ miles that has not given me trouble at all.
Diamos are made by Linhai now, and are a whole different scoot than the
2006\'s. We have a good dealer locally in Salt Lake, the warranty is two
years, and parts are available, usually within a week. I\'m thinking of
getting Diamo\'s 300 Turista next ($3500). I have been pretty impressed.
Diamo also has a 150 Torino ($1900) that looks alot like the Qlink Pegasus
150, but with a little more power. It\'s also less money. My dream bike is
still a Vespa, but if you shop around, and do some research, there\'s some
decent Chinese bikes out there. Good Luck

This is a warning about the Qlink Pegasus 150. It constantly
overheats.So do the new ones. Dealer of mine replied; Of course it
overheats! What a stupid remark. I\'ve never had a bike overheat in my
life! Look over at the Scooter BBS for rest of the story! Posted 9/10/07


My Linhai Main Street started falling apart the day I got it.
Bad rubber bike. Rubber parts falling to pieces in 6 months.



--- In Strada-Vento-QJ-UM- ChineseScooters@yaho ogroups.com, &quot;STEVEN
HOLLY STEWART&quot; &lt; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it &gt; wrote:

QUOTE:

Most, but not all, Chinese scooters are alike. I have a 2007 Diamo

Retro

QUOTE:
that I ride almost everyday 30+ miles that has not given me trouble

at all.

QUOTE:
Diamos are made by Linhai now, and are a whole different scoot than the
2006\'s. We have a good dealer locally in Salt Lake, the warranty is

two

QUOTE:
years, and parts are available, usually within a week. I\'m thinking of
getting Diamo\'s 300 Turista next ($3500). I have been pretty

impressed.

QUOTE:
Diamo also has a 150 Torino ($1900) that looks alot like the Qlink

Pegasus

QUOTE:
150, but with a little more power. It\'s also less money. My dream

bike is

QUOTE:
still a Vespa, but if you shop around, and do some research, there\'s

some

QUOTE:
decent Chinese bikes out there. Good Luck

As far as infamously bad, I would put SunL and Tank on my list. I
previously owned a Diamo Tracer (2005). It performed well for the
first year, and then all the replacement parts started being
changed. Top on the list of crap was the plastics. The body
(painted parts) held up okay, but the black plastic covers started
to become brittle and break very easily. My dealer couldn\'t get
them,

I sold it in June of this year, just in time for the starter to go
out on the new owner 1 week later.

I have a 1985 Honda Aero 80 which still starts up and runs well. It
needs new brakes, and my Honda dealer actually has the parts for $6
per wheel. Pretty good.

I think if you did a poll, most people had good luck from new
through a couple of years. It\'s after the parts start to dry out
and crack that we became bitter with Chinese scooters.

Before you lay down hard earned cash for one of these things,
consider why you want it. Is it to save gas? Even at $1500, it
takes a lot of miles to make up the difference in gas savings. I
never broke even, but my loss was covered by those gas savings.

Also - try and get your hands on a factory service manual. If they
don\'t have one, it\'s considered a throw-away and you should move on,
IMHO.

TJD