 Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Me and the wife were thinking of buying 2 of them and zipping around town. I dont know any of the brand names or anything to look for and what not to.
Any other info?....whats a good size cc, do you gotta insure them?
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
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Isn't that a contradiction in terms? Good-Moped? 
Last edited by redbike7; 05/31/2008 7:05 PM.
Redbike7
2006 America
No amount of skill can overcome gross stupidity. Ask me how I know...never mind, I forgot...
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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mopeds rule, bicycles are for healthy people
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Why not get some cool old Vespas or something?
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Learned Hand
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Here a moped is usualy 50cc, for grown ups I would think 100cc is the min,
My sons went through a few mopeds, we had a Yamaha that was good, and like the dog says the 125cc vespas are good.
I would avoid any of the stranger unknown names.
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Technical distinction. Since mopeds require pedal starting and are generally < 50cc (and about 25mph max), I'm assuming you meant scooter. You've got a choice from most expensive to least; Italy (Vespa/Piaggio), Japan (the usual suspects), USA (Buddy). These are generally high build quality with prices to match.
The next group (and most popular) are the Taiwan or China bikes and there are too many brands to list. Most of these are clones of decades old air cooled Honda and Yamaha engines in either 50cc or 150cc. You can pick these up from $500-$1500 all day long and the quality varies dramatically depending on which factory manufactured the bike. You generally get what you pay for and it helps to be somewhat mechanically inclined.
Above 150cc, you get into the liquid cooled group and prices of $2000 on up. Again, China scoots are much cheaper (in all respects) than the others, but still a good value for the money.
They're all a blast around the neighborhood.
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Learned Hand
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Schwinn makes one <50cc that gets 117MPG. Also check your state law. In VA you don't have to have any type of driver's license to drive a <50cc on the road. You must be at least 16, wear a helmet, and have some form of ID..... UnbelievableRegards, Tom
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Worn Saddle
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The bike shop next to my business can't keep these in stock: Yamaha Vino Classic and they look like they're a blast judging from the test rides in my parking lot. 
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Old Hand
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The kids who worked in the messhall during the summer when I was in the army used to ride their mopeds over the alps from Italy. Most rode Piagios, not sure if it was because they were better or cheaper.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Loquacious
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Consider where you want to "zip". The 50cc bikes will hit a top speed of about 35mph (flat road). You might be able to squeeze another 5 mph by de-restricting the exhaust. The 150's will go 50-60. Anthing above that and you're pushing the limit. The Buddy's will go about 5 mph higher than most similar displacement bikes and if you can find a 2-stroke engine you can pick up a little more.
Spend an hour at Scootdawg.com for good info on the China bikes.
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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A little off topic, but this guy WAN (from South Korea)is traveling all over the US coast to coast and back again over several months riding a 49cc Honda Ruckus. Those little scooters really can do it all as long as you aren't in a hurry! Check out his story here.
Learning from my mistakes... again and again.
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 Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Quote:
What's a good brand of Moped?
Harley-Davidson? 
Steelheart- '03 Speedmaster Black/Yellow
The Hayabusa Killa
16" Shorties/140 mains/Airbox drilled
Procom CDI
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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thanks everyone, yeah i meant moped actually. The wife doesnt wanna get a motorcycle license and the NJ laws say less than 50cc for that. I guess im gonna start looking into cheap used ones cause im trying to spend like $500 a bike...ahah..nothing good on craigslist right now.
I cant believe these things do that good on gas we'd have to put stabil in the tank or something cause i cant imagine puting 100 miles on it within a summers time.
The way gas is I figure we could run errands on them or something instead of using a truck. I told the wife she'd look pretty funny coming back from the liqor store with a box of wine strapped to the back..haha
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Quote:
I told the wife she'd look pretty funny coming back from the liqor store with a box of wine strapped to the back..haha
Only the best, huh? 
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Loquacious
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Check out the garage/estate sales in "retirement" neighborhoods. They gotta go when the old geezers pass on (just a reality). Saw a 50cc with < 100 miles for $200 a couple weeks ago.
Good luck finding what you want.
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Never thought of that, probably a good place to get golf carts too. We have been looking for one of those.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Quote:
Check out the garage/estate sales in "retirement" neighborhoods. They gotta go when the old geezers pass on (just a reality). Saw a 50cc with < 100 miles for $200 a couple weeks ago.
Good luck finding what you want.
yeah that would be a sweet deal
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Quote:
Quote:
I told the wife she'd look pretty funny coming back from the liqor store with a box of wine strapped to the back..haha
Only the best, huh?
oh you know it...ahha...for the record, she'd probably never do that...she cares what people think..ahah
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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see and then i go from wanting a crappy moped to wanting one of these little 110cc hardknock bobbers..haah  http://southjersey.craigslist.org/mcy/678787482.html
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Adjunct
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I'm thinking of getting a scooter myself or at least a Ninga 250. Aprilia, Genuine Motor Scooter, Kymco, and Eaton are on my list. All quality made with good dealer and parts network. Really like Vespas but are on the upper end on price.
She's a Lady and the Lady is 100% mine !
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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I had a Sears lawnmower. Bad idea. Electrical problems were tough (for me) to diagnose. Parts are mail order only, with no local dealers for service, and no telephone tech support from Sears.
My point being consider a brand with a local dealer if possible. I'm also told some of the Chinese brands have problems getting parts.
Top speed with mopeds can be a major problem. It used to take me 1/4 mile to get past a moped with a tractor trailer. The moped would travel at around 35 MPH, and for me to get from the 35 MPH that the moped held me back to, to 45 to pass took quite a long stretch of road. A recipe for a fatality in the event those little wheels should strike a bump or the like. I had a special word whenever I saw a moped ahead - it starts with F.
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Learned Hand
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Standard ouy Yamaha Jog R was restricted to 30MPH and in my opinion dangerous on main roads. With the restrictor pulled out of the exhaust and a different set of rollers it was good for 55mph I guess as the clock only went to 50mph Much more like it A leo Vinci pipe also made it sound better. And would you believe I blanked of the air injection 
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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I have seen a bunch of these things running around here lately. Out here, they are legal as long as you stay in the bicycle lanes and dont exceed 30mph.  Soren
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Guy in town riding around on one of these...looks goofy as heck, Hes as about 6'4 and wears a jet figher helmet... To each his own I guess. http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelhome/150/0/home.aspx
Last edited by oneijack; 06/02/2008 10:01 AM.
The percentage you're paying is too high-priced
While you're living beyond all your means
And the man in the suit has just bought a new car
From the profit he's made on your dreams
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Fe Butt
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One of the coolest lookin' scooters I've even seen is a model by Honda called the Joker. Very retro. Very Deco. Always kind'a reminded me of somethin' like a Vespa and an old Indian Chief(..or maybe now, the Victory Vision) somehow mated, and the result was....  However, sorry Tom. The only problem is Honda never imported it into the States, due to it being a 2-stroke. Even though I've never been big on scooters, mainly due to them being underpowered just in case you need that power for an evasive manuever, I might have liked owning one of these babies.
Last edited by Dwight; 06/02/2008 12:42 PM.
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Quote:
Out here, they are legal as long as you stay in the bicycle lanes and dont exceed 30mph.
Soren
Who in their right mind would want to go OVER 30 mph on one??!! 
"You can't believe everything you read on the internet" : William Shakespeare
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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You are right. I know that in a lot places those things are not legal to ride on the street at all.
Soren
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Member
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Quote:
The bike shop next to my business can't keep these in stock: Yamaha Vino Classic and they look like they're a blast judging from the test rides in my parking lot.
My wife has one of these, she loves it. I bought it for her when I bought my bike to keep her happy. It is a 49cc and will go about 45 mph at least (that's as high as the speedo goes). She rides around town and to work on it. gets about 85 mpg in town.
God give me work, until my life shall end
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Scooters are fun, but for some reason i'd rather ride something with the riding position of a motorcycle/moped. This old guy zips past my house every once in a while on a "whizzer", this model is pretty cool...  
Last edited by brokenfixed; 06/02/2008 1:28 PM.
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Monkey Butt
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Quote:
Scooters are fun, but for some reason i'd rather ride something with the riding position of a motorcycle/moped. This old guy zips past my house every once in a while on a "whizzer", this model is pretty cool...
That would be great for bike night. 
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Fe Butt
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Well young man, the ONLY problem I see with your plan here is that I THINK you have to be an old wizened guy in order to ride a Whizzer, like ME and LARRY, don't cha?!
(...or of course a daredevil of the first order like the above noted EVEL KANISH!!!)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Monkey Butt
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Some old guy in full leathers, a bandana and goggles on a Whizzer. I can see it now. 
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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YEAH!!! (...but don't forget the POCKET PROTECTOR is a must TOO, Larry ol' boy!!!
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Quote:
Well young man, the ONLY problem I see with your plan here is that I THINK you have to be an old wizened guy in order to ride a Whizzer, like ME and LARRY, don't cha?!
(...or of course a daredevil of the first order like the above noted EVEL KANISH!!!)
Well people my age are idiots so I look to breaking every age associated rule established..haah
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Quote:
Standard ouy Yamaha Jog R was restricted to 30MPH and in my opinion dangerous on main roads.
With the restrictor pulled out of the exhaust and a different set of rollers it was good for 55mph I guess as the clock only went to 50mph
If I get a scooter I plan on going 100cc-150cc as far as size. Lower that 100cc is too slow and I would be a nervous wreck riding one. Higher than 150cc you start sacrificing MPH's which would defeat the purpose of getting one.
She's a Lady and the Lady is 100% mine !
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Re: Whats a good brand of Moped?
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Had a Puch moped when I was 15. Pedaled it across town a few times due to various issues. If I were going to buy a scooter/moped again I think I'd look for something with pedals again for backup purposes.
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