Scooter Scrooge

In search of cheap & cheerful?

Limited to a 50cc??

This #Piaggio‬⁩ Zip 50 is pretty hard to beat!

Low kms, near new, perfect condition & a low maintenance 2 stroke heart!

See it now on ⁦‪⁦‪⁦‪Bikesales.com.au!

#Scooter #Vespa

What does it say about you??

Is this a Shoppers Special??

Is her name Violetta??

Have some fun on your #ScooterWalk!!

Which would be your urban ride??

#Vespa Primavera or #Honda Cub?

Honda has the looks and those big wheels, Vespa the space and twist and go convenience!!!

I think I might just take both!!

For the love of Scootering!

Do you want to dip your toe in to scooter ownership, but don’t want to make a huge financial investment? Then a cheap and cheerful 50cc scooter might be for you! Yep it will be slow and somewhat speed restricted, but the fun factor is standard equipment! 

Now you might be thinking cheap and cheerful means plastic fantastic! Well, not always...at least not with this bargain priced 50cc Vespa lx50!

The looks are there, yep the quality is there, the sound too is also pretty infectious! So whilst you won’t be winning any traffic light dashes and you will top out at less than 80km/h (on an unrestricted model), all the other ingredients are straight mid range Vespa lx, yep an uber cool summer machine! 

This particular machine has covered a mere 6000 kilometres and is in almost perfect condition (small mark on one side that does not appear to have penetrated the paintwork) and with 6 months registration, this machine is ready for summer! Now the price...take a seat, all of this for only $1300...let’s say $1100 with a little negotiation...yep, a bargain! 

With a couple of years under its belt, another 7000 kilometres and I would say you could sell it for the same price or even a little more if you are prepared to wait for the right buyer! Depreciation will not be part of this scooter ownership proposition!

So...if you are ready to get scootering, are chasing the polished Vespa image and are prepared to settle for something second hand, you can do it for close to $1000! 

If you are interested in this machine don’t forget to complete a full mechanical and history check and then let your fingers do the walking and give this person a buzz!

Limited Edition...Max Appeal? Should you tick the sticker pack option on your new scooter?

Many would argue an essential part of being a scooterist is standing out from the crowd and riding a machine that declares your passion! With a classic Vespa or Lambretta you can add bling with crash bars, top boxes, screens and lots of chrome, but what about the plethora of sports and commuter scooters? Enter the sticker pack! 

With MotoGP and other categories having global appeal and the attention and participation of many scooter manufacturers, a race replica can add extra spice to an enthusiasts daily ride. But should that extend to a scooter? Do stickers add a layer of cool. or do they spell decal disaster? 

I am in the former, how groovy does this Suzuki Address look! This too is not the first, don’t forget the uber cool Peugeot Speedfight II 206 WRC, and of course the Yamaha Aerox Max Biaggi special edition! These are future classics and spell success for any future race replica scooters!

So what about this example? Whilst not a specific ‘race’ edition the stickers do add appeal, let you know the machine has been cared for, and with the addition of a sports exhaust, it should have the traffic light performance to match its looks! Being a Suzuki it should be unbreakable, and it has all the features of your regular commuter! 

But is it a Scooter Scrooge bargain?? Well no...you should be able to pick up a new example for a similar or even smaller price, but it is a lesson in making you think about the options box very carefully when buying new...what will add future value? I guarantee this machine will not remain in the classifieds for long!

Ultimate Commuter

Does your commute involve a quick stint on the freeway as well as the need to negotiate inner city streets? Navigating potholes, gutters and kerbs just part of your everyday? Big wheel scooters with at least a 150cc engine should be littering your shopping list! 

But which one should you choose? If you budget is less than $3000 you can rule out a new machine, but jump in to the classifieds and you will find heaps of quality machines like this one from SYM! 

This machine is the venerable SYM HD200! Made in Taiwan, equipped with a liquid cooled 171cc engine that propels this machine with vigor, it is one of the best machines on the big wheel scooter scene! Yes underseat storage is at a premium, and the dash and instrumentation is only basic, but take it for a spin and the engine’s meaty growl and secure handling will mean all is forgiven!

This particular unit has a mere 4500 kilometres under its belt and appears in good condition. It is also equipped with a top box to alleviate any storage shortfalls! Now, sit down and take a look at the price! Yep that figure is less than half the new price, in other words a steal! 

So ensure you get a complete mechanical and history check and then start you summer with a piece of kit that has style, performance and presence that will make you the envy of every 125cc machine you leave in your mirrors! 

Beats Walking! 

I remember when the little Honda Today made its first appearance on Australian roads, for a mainstream manufacturer to have such a price leading model, it literally changed the cheap and cheerful scooter landscape overnight! 

Yes, it was not the type of Honda we were used to, with the product being sourced from China, but it was well built, super economical and a 4-Stroke for around $2.5k rideaway! That is all before you consider its super low seat height, light weight and quiet running, making it the perfect learner machine, or alternative to a second car especially in states where no motorcycle license is required! It also looks pretty smart especially in sunny yellow! 

How about this used example? Well at less than 4 figures rideaway, in great condition and including registration, it is solid value! 

No, it is not going to set the world on fire, but you have little value to lose, and with care and servicing your little Honda should just keep on running all summer long! 

But, before you sign on the dotted line, make sure you complete a thorough mechanical and history check, to ensure you are continuing to smile many miles away!!

Your Highness, Your Scooter has arrived!!

If you thought scooters only came in 300ccs or less, think again! BMW has for many years been making what you could argue is the King or Queen of Scooters!

Yep with a range of two 600cc machines in both sport and grand turismo guise these machines are the perfect grand tourers to see Australia or tackle long weekends away!

With heaps of power, safety (ABS is standard) and storage these machines ready to eat the freeway, but in Sport guise at least also prepared to tackle the urban jungle! They don’t come cheap however, with starting prices well north of $10,000, making used examples the way to pickup scooter royalty for less!

This particular machine has barely been run in (remember this engine is the same size as that in a small Daihatsu Hatch), is in great condition and is ready for a new lease on life! It has long registration and the addition of heated handgrips especially handy in its current home Tasmania! This model too is the arguably prettier and more agile sport version, the plumb buy to be both a master of the commute and the weekend away!

With a price, less than half that of when it was new, depreciation has not got far to go and with double the kilometres and years under its belt you will be able to sell for close to the same price when you eye something new!

Don’t forget to complete the usual history and mechanical checks and then ride away on a machine with the power, the badge and the reputation to sit proud as the King or Queen of Scooters!

A great buy is sometimes about more than price!

A Vespa GTS 300 Super for $5950 does not sound like the usual Scooter Scrooge bargain buy! But this machine is a lesson in one of the essential ingredients in a second hand scooter...history!

Take a closer peek at this advertisement, at the description and at the pictures! Yes this is this owners garage! Yep this machine is one of many the owner has and has had a pampered life! Indeed it has lived indoors and even has its own stand mat for protection! 

With low kilometres, a full service history, lots of useful accessories, you can buy this machine with much confidence that you really are getting a near new machine for a bargain second hand price!

Spotting a bargain is not just about the price, especially if a lack of care means extra expenditure is just around the corner. When viewing an add look for other signs and signals that speak of a great deal and a genuine bargain and that smile as you ride out the door will likely hang around for a while!

PS...and what a machine this is!! A beastly 300cc motor, full Vespa metal body, contrasting black and white trim....even from a less than perfect home this would be worth a look!! 

But as always complete a full mechanical and history check and being a coastal scooter a corrosion inspection is a must...then it might just be time to engage with this awesome machine to make the most of the coming summer!

Bargain Black Beauty

Is the scooterists holy grail a Vespa 300?? I tend to think so, and this machine for around 50% of the new cost puts it within the reach of many!

Full metal body and its powerful 300cc (almost) heart makes this a machine of envy! This models additional top box and small screen only add to the equation and then take a look at the price!

$5000, for a registered, low kilometre, pampered Vespa GTS 300...I have just bought my plane ticket and am planning a meandering coastal trip home!

This machine will unlikely lose value with 20,000 extra kilometres and a couple of extra years under its belt, especially in desired black on black a truly striking machine!

So...make sure you do a complete history and mechanical check and then engage in this Black Beauty, become the envy of every other scooter rider in the road and never reveal the price you paid!! This machine is truly champagne appeal for the cost of a tinne! 

Perfect Commuter, Perfect Price

With a 150cc liquid cooled engine, ABS brakes, large wheels to navigate those nasty potholes, the Piaggio Medley has to be one of the best mid size commuters on the market!

But with a price of close to $6000 rideaway, it is out of reach of many and is about $1k more expensive than the comparable SYM HD200, and even more pricey than Aprilia’s retro Scarabeo 200! So, what about a lightly used machine?

With less than 200 kilometres and a couple of years under its belt, this Medley in high spec ‘S’ trim (with extra detailing) is a bargain at just $4000!

Being a newer model than its competition, having superior NVH levels, and long 10,000 kilometre service intervals you could even argue this is both a head and heart choice being great value in both the short and long term!

Piaggio’s too tend to hold their value better than the competition and I would predict you would lose less than $1K with a couple more years and many thousands of kilometres under its belt!

Being dealer stock you should be able to safely assume both mechanicals and history have been checked, but insist on an oil change if one has not been completed since new! 

Then rideaway on a machine that can tackle both the city and the highway with aplomb and truly make the most of summer!

Nope this is not a Misprint...$1500 for a low km Vespa!

Do you troll the classifieds searching for that bargain scooter? Has a Vespa always just been that little bit beyond reach? Not any more!

Yes this is a low kilometre, honest condition 125cc Vespa for less than $1500! Yes it even has registration and is in running order! Is it a misprint...I don’t think so!!

The core scooter ingredients are there...reasonable power from the durable Piaggio 125cc engine, rear rack for extra luggage, loads of under-seat storage, plus all the core Vespa and LX attributes! As a bonus this particular machine is in fade resistant white! 

So...there is not really much more to say...this is a certified Scooter Scrooge bargain! Dial up the bike carrying company (unless you are in Hobart), message the seller and snag yourself what must be the bargain of the week!

Naturally a thorough history and mechanical check are a must to ensure your bargain buy does not tend up costing you a small fortune!

Gamechanger?

With Vespa about to open the order books it is not long now until the electric revolution hits mainstream scooters...what will the impact be??

Fonzarelli Electric Moto is already leading the game in Australia and I am seeing more and more of their silent scooters zipping through inner city streets with verve! Consumers are willing and are embracing the change!

With KYMCO Global also taking the electric plunge...will we soon see Yamaha Motor Australia & Honda Motorcycles Australia embrace electricity??

Would you buy electric?? Have you already started saving?? What are your must haves??

For me it is:

- Reasonable Range - Removable Batteries - Scooter Style!

Three is most certainly not a crowd on Piaggio’s value packed crowd pleaser the Yoururban!

Want to stand out from the crowd? After a scooter with a little extra stability? Yearning for heaps of storage space? Want to get the best of two and four wheels?

The Piaggio Yourban might be just the scooter for you! With a powerful 300cc engine, the stability of 3 wheels, loads of weather protection and enough storage for the weekly shop, it is an often overlooked and misunderstood machine that might help convert many a car driver to embrace the scooter life! In fact take a trip to the continent and you will surprised just how popular they are, we Australians have been a little slow to adopt these unique machines!

Building on the MP3 range of scooters before it, the Yourban is lighter, groovier and just as ready to tackle the jungle that is the urban commute! With three wheels, yes there is extra confidence particularly in the wet, but there is also the bonus that ‘feet down’ can often be a thing of the past, as the wheels lock in position at low speeds making parking and stopping at the lights effortless!

So...you’re sold on the Yourban, but what about this particular machine? With close to zero kilometres and in perfect condition you are getting a new machine for less than half the replacement cost! Yes take a peek on Bikesales and you will see new scooters listed for more than $10,000 rideaway! Ok, so nobody will be paying list price, but there is no denying the supreme value of this machine!

Yes, the registration is almost due, and indeed, the warranty will have expired, but these are minor concessions for a price that makes this machine the bargain of the week!

Of course make sure you complete a thorough history check and ensure a mechanic has given it the once over (a service is a must after 4 years of limited use), then snap up this bargain three wheeler, with the space, confidence and convenience that make it the perfect machine to transition from 4 wheels to 2 via the Piaggio Yourban!

Scooter Scrooge tip of the weekend...Speed!

Each and every day there are tens of new scooter ads posted on Gumtree, eBay, Scootersales.com.au and Bikesales.com.au...so how do you go about securing the bargain?

It’s all about monitoring, speed and decisiveness! Take for example this Vespa Primavera 125. Great condition, arguably the most desirable colour combination, low kilometres and half the new price...this is a machine that needs to be snapped up and it was in less than 24 hours (Take a peek at the listed and date edited fields)! This scooter is such great value you could turn around and sell for more tomorrow or use it solidly for a couple of years and only hear a whisper from that nasty term ‘depreciation!’

Once you have decided on the make and model you want head to as many classified sites as you can and complete a search. Narrow it down as much as you can and see what appears! Now it is unlikely you will find your dream machine straight away, but these sites often give you the option to ‘save a search’ or ‘get email notifications.’ This way you will be able to stay on top of the latest listings without going any further than your inbox!

Now...finding a great deal in the classifieds is one thing...making the next step is harder! After a few weeks you will know a good deal when you see one...and when that happens...pounce!!

Ring, text and see that scooter as fast as you can, be flexible on inspection times (make it happen fast)! Know how to complete a history check before you get there, have someone mechanically minded on speed-dial and have your banks App on your phone to be ready to make a deposit or a transfer! On your way don’t forget to pack your helmet for a test ride and do your homework on insurance so you can take out a policy before you ride it home!

Being a great deal the risks there is something hidden or suspicious increase, so make sure your eagle eyes and senses are switched on and don’t be afraid to walk away if it all doesn’t add up or feel right. 

Of course every scooter purchase is not only one for the head but also one for the heart...money and value is most certainly not everything, but it is a little like cream on your scones or sugar in your coffee...makes the deal taste that bit sweeter! 

Happy Summer Scooter Hunting, this long weekend makes the perfect time to get test riding, set up a search and get all other preparation plans ready to snap up a great deal!!

Cut Price Commuter!

Do you need a scooter that can handle a brief stint on the freeway but is nimble enough to provide ease of parking and manouverability around town? Budget a little tight yet you are yearning for something new? Keen to stand out from the crowd?

This might sound like a pipe dream, until you see this Daelim S1 pop up in the classifieds! Made by one of the worlds largest and renouned scooter manufacturers and with a great reputation for logevity this machine might be the bargain you have been looking for to escape this long weekend! 

Complete with top box, heaps of storage as well as standard features that extend to linked brakes, digital dash and charging outlet, this is no poverty pack machine! Now take a seat and look at the kilometres and the price. Yep, less than 1000 kays and that price is right only $1500, more than a 50% saving on the new price! 

Whilst it is no Vespa, in contrasting red and black the S1 is looking at its best and is ready for many more summers of enjoyment as a commuter, escape machine of beach bus buster!