What is so attractive about the Stella?

[illnoise]

and then i get to make my own contradictory posts and in turn get contradicted and get butt hurt... and then i am really a scooterist...

Wiser words were never said. That's what scootering is all about: arguing on the internet and butt pain! : )

[louie]

and then i get to make my own contradictory posts and in turn get contradicted and get butt hurt... and then i am really a scooterist...

Wiser words were never said. That's what scootering is all about: arguing on the internet and butt pain! : )

perhaps you should just put that under your tarp.

[pocphil]

A wise man would sit back and keep quiet right now having received such a validation. It's too cold outside to not say SOMETHING.

I only get snarky when others get snarky first. It's online...it's not personal...nobody out there (Save Beeb and maybe a few others) knows me well enough to make me feel bad on this or any other forum. The best and worst part of the internet is everyone's voice is equal and basks in the glow of the same credibility.

If ANYONE has data that doesn't jibe with mine, I want to know about it right now. I run my entire business based on data, what works, what doesn't. I've made mistakes, backed the wrong horse and been bitten in the ass. My tactic for improving myself and my shop is to have the technical information on EVERYTHING. We test more scooters than any other shop I'm aware of, and I do my research. We've visited most of the shops in America that are making big numbers and we've tried to learn from their strengths and weaknesses. We've learned to NEVER take what a manufacturer says as gospel. We test. Period.

If Keys thinks I'm a knob, he's entirely entitled to his opinion. When I see people whipping non-technicians into a frenzy about an issue that I know isn't a big deal, I'm gonna jump in to chill things out. Everyone likes drama, but when it's passed off as technical advice I get a little worked up. These forums are full of knowledge hungry neophytes. When a guy comes on and says "Better check your stators" or "There's a rash of failures" the result is instant widespread panic (not the band). One post created a frenzy of "Wow, I'd better go check my bike...it's orange too!"

This isn't new to this forum...I've been doing this click-click-click thing for a very long time and have seen this exact symptom on EVERY forum I've set up or lurked on. It doesn't surprise me when I see it happen and I never, EVER take it personally.

Talk bad on my wife or my friends and you'll get an entirely different reaction.

[polianarchy]

I really want a new Stella. I turn 30 on February 6. HINT HINT, EVERYBODY I KNOW WHO HAS AN EXTRA $4K LYING AROUND.

O, and in red. Duh!

[BuddyRaton]

Ride what you like! I like all my rides!

[scooterdoodler]

In all forms of motor sports the 2 stroke has and is going to the wayside because of their reliability issues combined with poor throttle response, lubrication issues and poor fuel economy, oh and the EPA problems. At one time small displacement 2 strokes ruled – not anymore.

It's not a scooter, but it's definately a two-stroke.......

There's exceptions to every rule, and as far as most two-stroke stereotypes are concerned, this machines defies almost all of them except perhaps fuel economy, (and yes! the EPA too) which with me riding it, ranged from the low 30's, to a high of 40-42 if ridden VERY conservatively at a steady 'rural' pace.


The bike pictured was my fifth, and last (hopefully not forever) Suzuki GT750 two-stroke, water-cooled triple. I sold this bike on ebay about three years ago, and dearly regret it (bought by a collector in Japan, which is where the bike was to be sent).

My first GT750 was bought new in 1974, and ridden 61,000 miles over the next three years (without one mechanical failure) until I was hit by a car on it, and sold it to a friend, who repaired it and rode it another ten thousand or so before he sold it in turn, still running as well as when I had it. This model, after some crank seal 'bugs' in the first year (1972), earned a well-deserved reputation for exceptional reliability until production ceased with the 1977 model, being replaced with the newer GS series of four-cylinder four-stroke bikes.

This model redlined at a very low 7000 rpm, and produced about 54 lbs of torque. It was all midrange power, with quite a low horsepower output, but roughly comparable to it's Honda CB750 contemporary....although the Suzuki two-stroke had more low and midrange power than the Honda at a similar RPM, which surprises many who weren't, or aren't familiar with this bike, or confuse it with the Kawasaki H2 triple two-stroke, which was a different 'animal' entirely.

[Keys]

Ah, a Water Buffalo...loved 'em. My favorite Suzuki 2-stroker was the T-500 Titan of which I had 3.

--Keys

[Roose Hurro]

Scooterdoodler, very nice Suzuki... I'd say the relatively low fuel mileage is not only related to the 2-stroke nature of the bike, but to the fact it is a 750cc displacement three-cylinder, not a 150-200cc single.

As for the rest of this discussion, so long as it has two wheels, a motor, and does what I want it to do, I don't care if it's a two or four-stroker. The only problem I have with the 2-stroke is the extra expense of oil, and the need on old scoots to use pre-mix. Oil-injected 2-strokes take care of that last part, and I know some people say it's cheaper or at least comparable cost-wise to the 4-stroke's need for periodic oil changes, but I do have a preference for 4-strokes. However, I have looked hard at Aprilia's SR-50 DiTech, and though its performance is impressive for a 50cc machine, I've read it has a problem with condensation messing up the DiTech's oil injection system... ever gotten water in your oil, and seen the mess it makes? Anyway, this whole discussion has been interesting, but I see no reason for friction. It all comes down to how each individual machine performs in the hands of its rider, and on how happy they are with their machine and its performance.

Me? I'd be happy if I could afford a scoot, right now. Way things have been going, I may have to wait a few more years, before I can enjoy scooting. Count yourselves lucky.........


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[scooterdoodler]

Ah, a Water Buffalo...loved 'em. My favorite Suzuki 2-stroker was the T-500 Titan of which I had 3.

--Keys

Great!

I've ridden some of the 500 twins (later GT500 models), but have yet to own one......(but I still may! )

I've owned a '76 GT250, and a '73 550 triple, but missed both the 380 triple and 500 twin....my loss, dammit!

[Keys]

...don't forget the 250 Hustler...I had the scrambler version...it was a little rocket!.

--Keys

[scooterdoodler]

...don't forget the 250 Hustler...I had the scrambler version...it was a little rocket!.

--Keys

There was one X6 running around my small home town of Pipestone Minnesota in the mid-late 60's, and several Yamahas, couple of 'Big Bear' scramblers and one 250 'Catalina' that a friend owned (I loved that Catalina)...and a bunch of HD 250 'Sprints' entirely because the only bike dealer in town was a tiny Harley shop. I had a red '66 Honda S90 at the time.

When my older brother was in the army, stationed at Fort Monmouth, NJ in 1966, he had a beautiful '65 Triumph Bonneville....that had it's ass kicked by a well-ridden 'Hustler' for two stoplights in a row. My brother still says the little Suzuki looked like a bottle-rocket as it left his Triumph in a blue haze of two-stroke smog. He needed some room for the Triumph to reel in the X6...if it could, but there wasn't enough.

[coopdway]

Here's my old '71 500 Titan and my dad's 380.

[vaderscoot]

yeah, and if my aunt had a dick she'd be my uncle.

that has to be the funniest remark ive ever heard ill be using it a lot thanks phil

[vaderscoot]

yeah, and if my aunt had a dick she'd be my uncle.

that has to be the funniest remark ive ever heard ill be using it a lot thanks phil

[gt1000]

Scooterdoodler, very nice Suzuki... I'd say the relatively low fuel mileage is not only related to the 2-stroke nature of the bike, but to the fact it is a 750cc displacement three-cylinder, not a 150-200cc single.

As for the rest of this discussion, so long as it has two wheels, a motor, and does what I want it to do, I don't care if it's a two or four-stroker. The only problem I have with the 2-stroke is the extra expense of oil, and the need on old scoots to use pre-mix. Oil-injected 2-strokes take care of that last part, and I know some people say it's cheaper or at least comparable cost-wise to the 4-stroke's need for periodic oil changes, but I do have a preference for 4-strokes. However, I have looked hard at Aprilia's SR-50 DiTech, and though its performance is impressive for a 50cc machine, I've read it has a problem with condensation messing up the DiTech's oil injection system... ever gotten water in your oil, and seen the mess it makes? Anyway, this whole discussion has been interesting, but I see no reason for friction. It all comes down to how each individual machine performs in the hands of its rider, and on how happy they are with their machine and its performance.

Me? I'd be happy if I could afford a scoot, right now. Way things have been going, I may have to wait a few more years, before I can enjoy scooting. Count yourselves lucky.........


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I've ridden the SR-50 and it's a great bike. I even saw a couple of new ones on Saturday at the local Vespa/Aprilia/Ducati dealer.

Condensation is a pretty common problem for 4 strokes too. If your bike has a sight glass, like my GT, you can see this white sludge build up in the oil. That sludge is from condensation. The solution is to thoroughly warm up your bike when you ride it. If you get the oil temperature to 200+ degrees, condensation should evaporate. So, especially in colder months, whenever I ride I make sure my motor is running for about a half hour to fully warm up.

Since two strokes inject oil and the oil is in a reservoir that's not necessarily inside a hot engine, the warm up won't be a solution for the SR-50. However, I've got to think that the reservoir is plastic so, if you keep it as full as possible in winter months, theoretically, you should be able to minimize the development of condensation. That's what I did with my old Mojito and condensation was one problem I actually never had.

Anyone know for sure?

[MikieTaps]

Your post makes baby Jesus cry.

This just got added to my signature.

[PeterC]

Each to his own taste. Me, I love two-strokes. I love the sound, the smell , the manual shifting, the solidity of the metal construction. I used to race a 2-stroke Saab 750GT, and years before that, I drove a 1954 NSU/Lambretta scooter. I understand that 4-stroke, automatic plastic-bodied scooters are the wave of the future. Fine; you drive one. I've owned and driven them and they're perfectly functional and reliable, and have all the soul of a toaster oven.

[Dan Buddy]

Q: What is so attractive about the Stella?
A: Have you seen me on my Stella? I'm drop dead sexy!

[Davfff]

Well, I put down a deposit on a new, black 2008 Stella (Better known in New Zealand as the Belladonna) a couple of days ago.

My first scooter was a 2004 Vespa ET2, which was great fun, and a step into scootering after a fairly long history of riding motorbikes. I needed something with a bit more guts to power me around the Wellington hills, something which was tuneable and more over, something with soul.

Since buying my first scooter, I always wanted to own a vintage. However, until the day comes when I can afford a car, a reliable daily driver scooter to get me to and from work and University, and a vintage to pour cash into, this just isn't going to happen.

For me, the Stella gives me the best of both worlds. The vintage style, married with a (hopefully) reliable workhorse that I can depend on.

I've always had an affinity for things that are a little different. It's not a concious decision which I make to try and seperate myself from the pack (mind you, who knows what's going on in my subconcious? not me, that's for sure). The the allure of odd or different vehicles has always been hard for me resist.

There's also the "pizazz" that's hard to pin down. Trying to explain the complete attraction to a scooter like this is like trying to explain the joys of two wheels to a non-biker. It's just not possible (or not easy). When I started this post, I thought I'd be able to clearly and concisely explain what I loved about the Stella. Unfortunately, it didn't quite come out that way.

[Frosty]

Sorry for the thread hijack - but

Can you expound upon the dble clutch thingy?

And my new Stella has had stupid here, raises hand, grind it or not hit all the gears correct more and more than once, did I kill the tranny or is this part of my bootcamp training?

TIA

[Bryce-O-Rama]

What is so attractive about the Stella?
I really don’t get it, I think they are sort of funky looking, performance is low, they are high polluters, and you have to shift.

The Stella is a P-series Vespa. Aside from the Honda Cub series, it's the longest running scooter model ever. At 30 years of production, in several factories across the globe, the P-series makes all scooters but the Cub look like a flash in the pan.

[Susan Pegsmen]

What is so attractive about the Stella?
I really don’t get it, I think they are sort of funky looking, performance is low, they are high polluters, and you have to shift.

The Stella is a P-series Vespa. Aside from the Honda Cub series, it's the longest running scooter model ever. At 30 years of production, in several factories across the globe, the P-series makes all scooters but the Cub look like a flash in the pan.

Our P200 with a fully rebuilt performance engine, cutback crank, 210 kit, etc. most relliable scooter ever and scary fast. You can get a really nice one for about $2500

[Neducati]

Q: What is so attractive about the Stella?
A: Have you seen me on my Stella? I'm drop dead sexy!

Right Said Fred: I'm too sexy for my Stella . . too sexy for my Stella . . .

[PeterC]

The difference between a 4-stroke twist&go and a Stella is the difference between a wife and a mistress.

[polianarchy]

PeterC, let's keep the misogyny off this forum, okeh?

[PeterC]

It would appear that misogyny is in the eye of the beholder.

[polianarchy]

You are absolutely right, and that's why I'm asking you to think about what you are writing.