Back on a scooter after twelve years

[DarthGrind]

I started riding Vespas back in '02(I think?) - ET4, LX150, GT250 - but traded them for Harleys in '08. 

With the rise in gas prices, I'm not about to ditch my full-size SUV for an econobox, and commuting on the Harley isn't my cuppa. So, I started looking for a cheap, used, Chinese scooter, of the 49cc variety. This afternoon,  I found one on FB marketplace.




"Needs some work to run, $100" 2013, 95 miles on it.

After confirming that she had the title for it (why do so many people 'lose' the title for motorcycles/scooter/mopeds?), I grabbed my trailer and scooped it up! I was so excited, I forgot to stop at the ATM, and only had $94. She was good with that amount. Heh.

Back home, I hooked jumper cables to it, to assess it. Turn signals and horn work, but headlight and starter do not. Oh well, I'll post about it in the appropriate section.

[buddy50li]

Good for you! I was happy for you, until you bragged about shorting the previous owner out of $6. Yes, insignificant, but it happens all the time in this day and age. You're already getting a good deal. Why put them in a spot where they have to choose to either hold you to the $6, or just be done with it.

-rant off

[DarthGrind]

I offered to Venmo it, but she didn't care. <shrug>

[captincvmn]

Good deal.
I had starter issues when I first got my used Keeway. The switch from the rear brake lever was flaky. After some cleaning it’s been good ever since.

Headlights won’t light until motor spins I believe.

[pinkscoot]

It's always good to see pink scooters here and that is a pink scooter. That is a great deal and I hope you get it running. After owning Vespas you will learn that China is a long way from Italy when it comes to scooters. There is a wealth of information here on all things scooters so don't be afraid to ask.

[Deleted]

I have the same thing on my QJ scooter. Headlights are tied in to the stator. They run when the motor runs. This is a life saver if the battery dies and you have to kick-start. At least you will have some lights.

Agreed on quality. Chinese scooters can and often do require some adjustments and tinkering from time to time. Doesn't mean they are bad, they just demand attention.

[DarthGrind]

I'm making progress getting it going. I've got a thread in the troubleshooting section about it.