I am sure all those studly 15 years are printing off your insightful Zuma prose and drooling with envy.But for the rest of us, why don't you test something that offers a little more performance and doesn't cost a zillion? How about a naked bike comparo in the 750 range? You can always include my favorite the Katana 750! Adaquate power, yet still affordable. Pretty please???
2003 Yamaha Zuma Reader Feedback
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Have owned at Aprilia scooter for a couple of years. It gets many compliments for it's svelte looks and handles nicely. It has twin disk brakes for adequate stopping power. At $3K it is expensive but I couldn't bring myself to buy the Japanese scooters because they look like washing machines. Cycling is IMHO about performance and style - in that order.
Joined
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44 Posts
Wow, M.O. must be getting desperate for a new ride. I've got a 12 Hp. lawn tractor, but you'll have to come to NY for a test ride. Do "they" (Honda, Yamaha, Kawazuki etc...) still make dirt bikes?
50cc and 60mph...How?
Kudos to MO for writing about a fun, viable, cheap, and practical form of urban transportainment.
Zumas stink. The motor design is at least 20 years old, which is why it's so slow. Also, they're made in China (if they built a plane would you fly in one?). Also, Yamaha dealerships charge WAAAAAY too much for freight and set-up- sometime $600 or more! Now that "$1699" scooter is $2300! But because the Japanese manufacturers have set up a virtual monopoly in most parts of this country, they can package this crap and sell it, because nobody thinks they have a choice!
That's not America! That's not even Canada!
I sell Derbi and Malaguti 50's in my city, and these bikes rock! Stock, they are slow, but it's because the evil DOT makes the manufacturers restrict the exhaust and inlets on them. Why? I'm not sure. Why they restrict an 8hp bike to 5.5 hp when they allow a 132 hp bike to stay at 132 hp is beyond me. With modern suspension and tires, scooters are stable and safe in all weather and road conditions at speeds up to 50+mph.
But with a 1/2 hour spent derestricting (for off-road use only, of course!) our Derbis and Malagutis will do 50+mph. The liquid cooled models will hit 60 and sometimes beyond!
But the Euro models are way more expensive, right? Wrong!!! The Derbi Atlantis (I've done 57 on my wife's) is $1899! And it has a Piaggio powerplant! And with a $600 upgrade to 70cc (off-road use only, of course) you will be terror-bombing your local burb at 70+ mph, with brakes, suspension and tires that make the Zuma look like poop!
Check out www.derbiwest.com or www.malagutiusa.com for all the details and available models.
Kudos to MO for writing about a fun, viable, cheap, and practical form of urban transportainment.
Zumas stink. The motor design is at least 20 years old, which is why it's so slow. Also, they're made in China (if they built a plane would you fly in one?). Also, Yamaha dealerships charge WAAAAAY too much for freight and set-up- sometime $600 or more! Now that "$1699" scooter is $2300! But because the Japanese manufacturers have set up a virtual monopoly in most parts of this country, they can package this crap and sell it, because nobody thinks they have a choice!
That's not America! That's not even Canada!
I sell Derbi and Malaguti 50's in my city, and these bikes rock! Stock, they are slow, but it's because the evil DOT makes the manufacturers restrict the exhaust and inlets on them. Why? I'm not sure. Why they restrict an 8hp bike to 5.5 hp when they allow a 132 hp bike to stay at 132 hp is beyond me. With modern suspension and tires, scooters are stable and safe in all weather and road conditions at speeds up to 50+mph.
But with a 1/2 hour spent derestricting (for off-road use only, of course!) our Derbis and Malagutis will do 50+mph. The liquid cooled models will hit 60 and sometimes beyond!
But the Euro models are way more expensive, right? Wrong!!! The Derbi Atlantis (I've done 57 on my wife's) is $1899! And it has a Piaggio powerplant! And with a $600 upgrade to 70cc (off-road use only, of course) you will be terror-bombing your local burb at 70+ mph, with brakes, suspension and tires that make the Zuma look like poop!
Check out www.derbiwest.com or www.malagutiusa.com for all the details and available models.
Joined
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2,752 Posts
No scooters for this born in the USA kid.
I am sorry friend but if I only had $1500 to spend I would buy a used bike. Why? Because this is the USA home of freeways, interstates, expressways and getyourassoutofmyways. Scooters make sense in Europe. But if I want to go 15mph in the city I do it on my bicycle. Please no more scooters. The Silver Wing thing that all the magazines did was cool only from a technology stand point. This article is waste of good bytes.
I am sorry friend but if I only had $1500 to spend I would buy a used bike. Why? Because this is the USA home of freeways, interstates, expressways and getyourassoutofmyways. Scooters make sense in Europe. But if I want to go 15mph in the city I do it on my bicycle. Please no more scooters. The Silver Wing thing that all the magazines did was cool only from a technology stand point. This article is waste of good bytes.
I like the scooter reviews... it's always
interesting to be exposed to something
different.
However, I still would like to see a little
more depth to the reviews. Sure the gas
lasted a while, but what was the MPG?
50? 100?
Scooters are supposed to be cheap... so
what are the running costs? How long
do tires last? How often does it have
to be rebuilt? What's the average insurance
cost?
Does it make sense to buy a scooter for
commuting, or is a 5 year old CB750 a
better bet?
-- Michael
interesting to be exposed to something
different.
However, I still would like to see a little
more depth to the reviews. Sure the gas
lasted a while, but what was the MPG?
50? 100?
Scooters are supposed to be cheap... so
what are the running costs? How long
do tires last? How often does it have
to be rebuilt? What's the average insurance
cost?
Does it make sense to buy a scooter for
commuting, or is a 5 year old CB750 a
better bet?
-- Michael
WTF is wrong with you people!?
El_Flaco wrote a fine piece of prose about a segment of two-wheeled riding that could be genuinely fun if you have the right attitude.
Unfortunately a lot of you have terrible attitudes. If it doesn't have 150 hp and cramp your back you don't want to read about it. This is "Motorcycle Online", not "Sportbikes Only".
I, personally, enjoyed the piece. Although I'm not impressed about the Zuma it sounds like the Vino can be fun.
If you don't like scooters then you don't have to read about them. But please respect that there are riders who read MO and enjoy all facets of two-wheeled pleasure. I would like more content no matter what it covers. Go ahead and make a comment about the Zuma if you feel necessary, but please don't bash MO for putting out content that some readers actually enjoy and would like to see more of. It's disrespectful and selfish of you to expect the world to cater to your tastes only.
Why don't you go riding instead of wasting so many keystrokes whining about something that doesn't even interest you.
El_Flaco wrote a fine piece of prose about a segment of two-wheeled riding that could be genuinely fun if you have the right attitude.
Unfortunately a lot of you have terrible attitudes. If it doesn't have 150 hp and cramp your back you don't want to read about it. This is "Motorcycle Online", not "Sportbikes Only".
I, personally, enjoyed the piece. Although I'm not impressed about the Zuma it sounds like the Vino can be fun.
If you don't like scooters then you don't have to read about them. But please respect that there are riders who read MO and enjoy all facets of two-wheeled pleasure. I would like more content no matter what it covers. Go ahead and make a comment about the Zuma if you feel necessary, but please don't bash MO for putting out content that some readers actually enjoy and would like to see more of. It's disrespectful and selfish of you to expect the world to cater to your tastes only.
Why don't you go riding instead of wasting so many keystrokes whining about something that doesn't even interest you.
Rant (con't)
I'm tired of being subtle.
KPaulCook, Sh_t The F_ck Up!
Granted, I don't have to read your posts just like you don't have to read scooter reviews, but since you insist on making your presence and opinion known in every thread, though being very unproductive about it, YOU NEED TO SHUT UP.
SHUP UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!. I hate you! SHUT UP.
I'm tired of being subtle.
KPaulCook, Sh_t The F_ck Up!
Granted, I don't have to read your posts just like you don't have to read scooter reviews, but since you insist on making your presence and opinion known in every thread, though being very unproductive about it, YOU NEED TO SHUT UP.
SHUP UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!. I hate you! SHUT UP.
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