SCOOTERS?

Anyone, considering the Vespa is one of the most expensive, I think the entry level cheapest starts at about R48k.

I bought my wife a Gomoto Nippi 125cc about two years ago. We looked at Vuka, Jonway, Motomia, etc. etc. R9500, nice looking scooter, no problems & excellent service from Roland at Gomoto in Brakenfell.

Kymco....Very Good, much better than the vuka gomoto big boy crowd.

I had one, sold it, and then bought again later.

Powertool repairs has x3  only type he uses...for years now.

Vespas used to be made in the Bajaj factory in India.  They still produce an old-model vespa that is identical in every way to the original Vespa.  I got my Bajaj Vespa for R5000 second hand and it was a bullet.  Bajaj make other models too and they are easy to maintain and practical commuters.

I'd consider buying an old vespa/bajaj before one of the plastic type scooters.

A vespa will last a lifetime - these other ones don't.

Scooters are for girls!

Good to see the smileys are back.

Actually I find most scooter riders to be more hardcore bikers than most of us.

Scooterers usually commute no matter what the weather, whereas most BMW riders are fair weather and weekend bikers.

They also have to be pretty brace to face the highways, taxis and traffic on those little things.

Sachs Madass, if you can find one!

sachs madass

Never should've sold mine.

Yup, those look like a lot of fun. They also look incredibly light.

But a scooter and bike are so very different.

For commuting everyday use a scooter is better than a bike.

You can ride on wet roads and not get your shoes wet.
You can carry shopping bags between your legs and in a top box. 
And because they're lighter they're more nimble and faster to stop. 

I rode a Sachs, but as i have a 250cc kymco Grand Dink, it was a let down power wise and Cloud's comments re dry feet and shopping bags,  + the underseat storage a scooter is hard to beat.

OH!!! DO NOT EVER try emergency braking as we do off- road!!!

I still say girls look much cuter on scooters then men do, even if they are wearing pink shirts and yellow gloves!

Suzuki, owners of the SYM brand, have just launched their new range.

The flagship is the GTS 300ie EVO. A 300cc fuel injected (Suzuki) motor with Suzuki switch gear and running platform.

The bike goes like stink and is comfortable at over 140kmh, while capable of actually doing some distance touring. The underseat storage is cavernous and the wide, roomy seat is great for all day rider and pillion comfort.

The clocks and ergo's of the bike are cutting edge and lead the latest designs in scooters.

For only R36,000 you're saving over 50 grand on the Vespa, for a bike that's more capable and comfortable.

See www.symsa.co.za

That Sym does look quite good.

However i doubt it will last as long as a Vespa.

Actually, on the contrary, Suzuki has become legendary for their reliability which is why all the blokes popping their kill switches at the Buff choose Suzuki's.

When it comes to Italian bikes, do NOT use in the rain. Their electrics are not famed for being able to withstand rain and moisture - in fact, the Achilles Heel of Italian bikes, the vespa especially.

Sorry to contradict you Lawrence.

When I bought my Vespa 200 GT 3 years ago I was taunted by family and friends who predicted that I'll be back in my car the moment the first sign of winter appears.  They didn't realise that they had strengthened my resolve to prove them all wrong.

As we all know, in freezing conditions one just needs lots of warm clothes and a plastic dustman suit and you're on your way. I have a tall windscreen and dont even have to use my visor, not even in the blinding rain.

I travel by Vespa to my office 3 Km from my house daily and when I have to be in the city I enjoy easy parking . I have had just under 20,000 kays of enjoyment over 3 summers as well as 3 winters dressed in my oilies with the bike often ridden and parked while drenched in driving rain.  

Whats my point? It still starts first time every time at the touch of a button and I have never even had to change a light bulb.  Maybe the Italians have finally got it right!

As a matter of interest, when my wife forces me to go to the supermarket I sometimes return with more cargo in the holds, top box and suspended P & P bags than I can even carry in my beloved R1200RT.

I was told when I bought the bike that I could have bought about 10 Vuka 125cc scooters for the same price.      Only 10? No deal!!!

Having made my point, your Suzuki 300 scooter sounds like it may be a really good alternative to a Vespa.

Suzuki may be reliable - but do they have the longevity of the vespa?
I'm sure a suzuki wont give you a days hassle in it's four year life span.

Also can't agree with you about Vespa electrics.
I had a vespa for 5 years that I parked outside every single day, and the only thing that rusted was the exhaust pipe.
Never had a singl days hassle... oh wait.... one.... trying to kick start a 4-stroke vespa is next to impossible. 

The real reason why Neil has been using a scooter of late is because he has been making some alterations to his GS...

Neil's GS

I reckon a Suzuki will outlast a Vespa given the same regular servicing (or irregular) and use. Suzuki is legendary with engine reliability. Their 4 stroke engines are seriously strong, and the amount of abuse they can withstand is incredible. Refer Russ and his mates trip across Australia - the DR650 is one tough mutha - pity it's not imported into SA anymore.

Cloud, what km's did you have on the Vespa when you sold it? Vespa's have a cult following much the same as Ducati as they tend to be a fashion statement and are marketed as such. A good barometer would be cost per km which includes purchase price and maintenance compared to kms travelled.

The only way to tell if a suzuki will outlast a vespa is to see how many are on the road in years to come.

How come we don't see any 30 or 40 yr old suzukis on the road now?

I think I had about 25,000 kms on it. However for the first few years i had it, I lived only 1km from work - and that was taking the long way.

cult/fashion statements aside - you see old vespas, just like you see old beetles, but you don't see old suzukis just like you don't see old mazda  323s.

Guys, please don't get me wrong, this is not a Suzuki is better than Vespa debate, I was simply stating some known points for the both the Suzuki and Vespa's.

I'm the founder of the Piaggio Owners club in Europe which consists of over 3000 members today. Many members have moved between the brands and several ride the Burgmans, while others have remained true to the brand (Piaggio).

I'm a scoota supporter and, if Vespa's weren't so hellishly expensive over here, I'd have the 300GTS ie in a flash.

The Benelli's, Ducatis, Aprillia's as well as many of the Italian scoots suffered various breakdowns due to water ingress. The scoots, although it doesn't stop the bike, the Digital Dash was the most common problem, whereas the bikes were literally stopped due to water. Luck of the draw. On my X9 500's, I did a collective 40,000 miles, touring the continent and the UK and I too was one of the fortunate few who never suffered with the problem.

You see many older Suzuki's as well as Vespa's on the road here. The old Katana's, GSX1100's and more have a cult following.

Those with the Italian bikes, fantastic, I'm glad to hear you've not had problems with rain ingress. I'm pleased you enjoy your bikes.

Instead of bragging about my wife's Gomoto nippi earlier on in this thread, I should have kept quite! On Saturday afternoon I had to rescue her, she broke down next to Milnerton vlei, the drive belt disintergrated. Of course I had to wait till Monday morning before I could find someone open who stocked the belt. Anyway R280 later & she's back on the road.