Scooter Shopping for a Friend
Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 6:00 pm
i have a friend that wants to pick up his first 50cc scooter...he wants to go used and would like to stay under $1500 (preferably under $1000) and is looking in the southcoast MA area...we used to ride mopeds together back when we only had our drivers permits...we rode those things everywhere...anyway he is about my build maybe a little lighter (i'm 6', 175#)...he is more of a rider that doesn't want to wrench much so reliability is high on the list...he is undecided on 2 stroke vs 4 stroke...as far as models go he wants to register as a moped which restricts him to only certain models based on the model list the rmv has (link below) which tells you if the model is a considered a moped, a limited use vehicle or a motorcycle (see definitions pasted below)...if it's not on the list you're taking a chance that the rmv employee feels like calling it a limited use vehicle and not a moped...basically he wants to maximize reliability and speed while still remaining on the moped model list and try to be under $1000 with as new of a model as possible (2 stroke or 4 stroke)...if uncorking a model is easy and inexpensive to do that is an option as well...some of the model names on the list are pretty vague so that's an issue as well...i'm telling him to look at the following models:
yamaha: vino, c3 (not on list, think it goes faster than 30mph), zuma (<=2011 is 2t, >=2012 is 4t)
honda: metropolitan II (ch50p)
genuine: buddy 50, roughouse
piaggio ?
vespa ?
aprilia ?
suzuki ?
sym ?
lance ?
kymco people 50
if anyone has any suggestions i will add/edit them into this shopping list...i also plan to post anything i find on craigslist or on facebook marketplace in this thread as well...most of the other models on the list by the manufacturers with question marks next to their name i'm not too familiar with the moped models on the rmv model list...i feel like a zuma would be the best choice as there is a ton of aftermarket parts for them and the engines are solid but finding one in his price range that's not to modified may be tough
thanks in advance
model list
https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/20 ... e_0619.pdf
moped application
https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/20 ... llable.pdf
definitions
moped
A moped must have an automatic transmission, an
engine capacity that doesn’t exceed 50 cc and can
not go faster than 30 miles an hour. A moped needs
a registration sticker from the Registry of Motor
Vehicles to operate on the roads, and can be parked
on a sidewalk.
limited use
The new law that takes effect July 31 includes
an additional category of two- to three-wheeled
vehicles, called “limited use� vehicles. These vehicles
can go faster than 30 mph and reach a top speed
of 40 miles an hour. Unlike mopeds, these vehicles
need to meet federal safety certification, be titled,
inspected, insured and registered with the RMV
which now has a distinctive plate for limited use
vehicles. An operator of a limited use vehicle must
have a driver’s license unless it is federally certified as
a motorcycle, then a motorcycle license or permit is
required.
motorcycle
A two- or three-wheeled cycle that goes faster than
40 miles an hour can be registered as a motorcycle.
An operator needs a motorcycle license to operate,
and the motorcycle must meet federal safety
certification for a motorcycle, be titled, insured,
inspected and registered with a motorcycle plate.
The Registry of Motor Vehicles announced in July
that moped operators whose vehicles now meet
limited-use requirements will be required to insure,
title, register and inspect their vehicles when their
current moped registration expires.
yamaha: vino, c3 (not on list, think it goes faster than 30mph), zuma (<=2011 is 2t, >=2012 is 4t)
honda: metropolitan II (ch50p)
genuine: buddy 50, roughouse
piaggio ?
vespa ?
aprilia ?
suzuki ?
sym ?
lance ?
kymco people 50
if anyone has any suggestions i will add/edit them into this shopping list...i also plan to post anything i find on craigslist or on facebook marketplace in this thread as well...most of the other models on the list by the manufacturers with question marks next to their name i'm not too familiar with the moped models on the rmv model list...i feel like a zuma would be the best choice as there is a ton of aftermarket parts for them and the engines are solid but finding one in his price range that's not to modified may be tough
thanks in advance
model list
https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/20 ... e_0619.pdf
moped application
https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/20 ... llable.pdf
definitions
moped
A moped must have an automatic transmission, an
engine capacity that doesn’t exceed 50 cc and can
not go faster than 30 miles an hour. A moped needs
a registration sticker from the Registry of Motor
Vehicles to operate on the roads, and can be parked
on a sidewalk.
limited use
The new law that takes effect July 31 includes
an additional category of two- to three-wheeled
vehicles, called “limited use� vehicles. These vehicles
can go faster than 30 mph and reach a top speed
of 40 miles an hour. Unlike mopeds, these vehicles
need to meet federal safety certification, be titled,
inspected, insured and registered with the RMV
which now has a distinctive plate for limited use
vehicles. An operator of a limited use vehicle must
have a driver’s license unless it is federally certified as
a motorcycle, then a motorcycle license or permit is
required.
motorcycle
A two- or three-wheeled cycle that goes faster than
40 miles an hour can be registered as a motorcycle.
An operator needs a motorcycle license to operate,
and the motorcycle must meet federal safety
certification for a motorcycle, be titled, insured,
inspected and registered with a motorcycle plate.
The Registry of Motor Vehicles announced in July
that moped operators whose vehicles now meet
limited-use requirements will be required to insure,
title, register and inspect their vehicles when their
current moped registration expires.