Southerner wrote:Whew! 8 to 9k? Seriously? Just can't see it. Heck, That's more than the Shadow 750s sell for, and they're bumping dangerously close to the price of a HD Sportster, at that.
And it's certainly higher than the price of a comparably-displaced MC. I don't get it.
1/ The cheapest Harley Sportster already is cheaper than some Shadow 750s. And the Harley comes with a bigger engine, better finish and a belt drive.
2/ We already are seeing that. You can get a Honda CBR250 (a really nice bike) for $4K. That is just a couple o hundred bux more than a Stella 4T, less than a SH 150, less than many 250/300 cc scooters.
Exactly, I don't understand why scooters carry such a premium. Vespa can claim that, being Italian and with steel bodywork. I can even see it for the MP3s, because they're so obviously complicated. But the raison for a scooter has always been cheap transport. In what way are they cheap? I liken them to hybrid cars in that the fuel mileage is the only thing about them that is economical.
Thanks for that pic. I wasn't likin' what I was seeing in the other one all that well. This one just looks like they "refreshed" the plastics on the present model BVs.
2wheelNsanity wrote:ericalm asked: [Are you looking for a sportier looking scooter?]
What I'm looking for is a scooter capable of cruising 55-60 comfortably and have good city manners. My current scooter (Buddy 170i) is great for in town but is a little light, both in weight and hp, plus the short wheelbase and 10" wheels don't exactly instill confidence at 55-60. So with that, I figured a scoot somewhere in the 300cc range with larger wheels and a longer wheelbase would satisfy my needs. Looks, although important, are not the deciding factor. I love the Vespa GTS 300 but 6K+ for a scoot! My price goal was to keep it at 5K or less.
What? The 170 is not good for highway riding? That means I shouldn't ride my 125 to Lake Geneva next year.... No, I'd rather just imagine you never typed such words.....
Love the route from Coffeyville, KS to Las Cruces, NM! That looks like it may be a fun ride!
Robert Wayne Henderson (May 16, 1932 - July 28, 2009).
Southerner wrote:Whew! 8 to 9k? Seriously? Just can't see it. Heck, That's more than the Shadow 750s sell for, and they're bumping dangerously close to the price of a HD Sportster, at that.
And it's certainly higher than the price of a comparably-displaced MC. I don't get it.
1/ The cheapest Harley Sportster already is cheaper than some Shadow 750s. And the Harley comes with a bigger engine, better finish and a belt drive.
2/ We already are seeing that. You can get a Honda CBR250 (a really nice bike) for $4K. That is just a couple o hundred bux more than a Stella 4T, less than a SH 150, less than many 250/300 cc scooters.
Exactly, I don't understand why scooters carry such a premium. Vespa can claim that, being Italian and with steel bodywork. I can even see it for the MP3s, because they're so obviously complicated. But the raison for a scooter has always been cheap transport. In what way are they cheap? I liken them to hybrid cars in that the fuel mileage is the only thing about them that is economical.
Is this just a U. S. thing or what?
Not a US thing. For instance, in the UK, that Honda CBR250 is £3,688 ($5700) compared to a Piaggio Beverly 300, which is £3,949 and a Vespa GTS300 is £4049 ($6261).
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
pugbuddy wrote:
What? The 170 is not good for highway riding? That means I shouldn't ride my 125 to Lake Geneva next year.... No, I'd rather just imagine you never typed such words.....
Love the route from Coffeyville, KS to Las Cruces, NM! That looks like it may be a fun ride!
Going to Lake Geneva, not a problem, going back into the wind, that is a different story.
FWIW I have a 160-180 commute on my blackjack. Now that I have a windshield, I only have a problem maintaining 55, when going directly into the wind, and uphill.
If you're interested in the Citycom, get it fast. No new ones coming; not in the 2012 SYM USA lineup.
Alexbv200 wrote:Something weird about Kymco; their lower cc bikes are very inexpensive, but anything above 200cc is crazy expensive!
This is because most of their smaller scoots are now made in mainland China while the Peoples and larger are still made in Taiwan. They've lowered prices on some in the past year, I think.
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
ericalm wrote:If you're interested in the Citycom, get it fast. No new ones coming; not in the 2012 SYM USA lineup.
Alexbv200 wrote:Something weird about Kymco; their lower cc bikes are very inexpensive, but anything above 200cc is crazy expensive!
This is because most of their smaller scoots are now made in mainland China while the Peoples and larger are still made in Taiwan. They've lowered prices on some in the past year, I think.
Alexbv200 wrote:Just got the order guide for Piaggio and at this time the BV is not available in either 300 or 350 for the first 3 months of 2012.
Me thinks that the 350 will be introduced in the States in the April/ May time frame.
At this time, there are no BV 300 left at the warehouse either.
There are a few SportCity 300 left around...
OH NO! I was actually planning on likely getting a BV 300 probably around January/February! UGH! Nothing I have seen thus far among the big names are suitable for me in 250cc to 300cc range. UGH.
Alexbv200 wrote:Just got the order guide for Piaggio and at this time the BV is not available in either 300 or 350 for the first 3 months of 2012.
Me thinks that the 350 will be introduced in the States in the April/ May time frame.
At this time, there are no BV 300 left at the warehouse either.
There are a few SportCity 300 left around...
OH NO! I was actually planning on likely getting a BV 300 probably around January/February! UGH! Nothing I have seen thus far among the big names are suitable for me in 250cc to 300cc range. UGH.
Right now there are a very few BV 250 left at the warehouse and a good selection of the Sport City 250.
How different are they, really? The SportCity seems to have a bit more modern appearance, but don't they have the same or, at least, a very similar engine/drivetrain?
Southerner wrote:How different are they, really? The SportCity seems to have a bit more modern appearance, but don't they have the same or, at least, a very similar engine/drivetrain?
The BV has 16" wheels, and the SC has 15".
HOWEVER, the SC has DUAL disk brakes up front.
Both bikes come with rear disk brakes.
Exactly the same engine on both bikes!
Both watercooled and F.I.
Windshield on BV standard and optional on SC.
Digital display on SC, not on BV.
Southerner wrote:Sounds like it's just down to a matter of personal preference. Both have their pluses.
I like the more traditional look of the BVs but the SportCity sounds like the better deal from a rider's standpoint.
I think the SC has a slightly shorter wheel base, but it looks more like a Motorcycle. The fender is very close to the wheel, unlike the BV which has more gap.
From what I've been able to find out, the Sportcity 250 gets 49mpg while the BV300 gets 70mpg. The BV 250 is also about 70 mpg. That's a world of difference in my book!
teabow1 wrote:From what I've been able to find out, the Sportcity 250 gets 49mpg while the BV300 gets 70mpg. The BV 250 is also about 70 mpg. That's a world of difference in my book!
49 MPG, that's less than what the MP3 500 gets.... not possible.
It has the exact same engine as the BV 250.
What I'm saying is that the difference could well be down to your riding style. Ride like your grandmother would and you will probably get the 70 mpg, maybe more. There's a huge thread on a MC site about the Honda CBR250 and real world riders are getting about 70 mpg on average. No reason the SC can't do the same.
Cane the crap out of it and naturally your mileage will be less.
Like the man said, the BV and the SC have the same engine.
My 22 YO, 640 pound Honda PC800 gets at least 40 mpg any day, with my nearly 200 pound self on it. It's old, carbureted, and nobody's touched the engine in years (has self-adjusting valves). I just change the fluids and filters and keep riding.
If I had it tuned, and especially if I made sure not to ride hard, it would get 50 mpg. In fact it has in the past.
teabow1 wrote:From what I've been able to find out, the Sportcity 250 gets 49mpg while the BV300 gets 70mpg. The BV 250 is also about 70 mpg. That's a world of difference in my book!
49 MPG, that's less than what the MP3 500 gets.... not possible.
It has the exact same engine as the BV 250.
That's what I was thinking, but when I checked on Fuelly that seems to what it's getting. I could have some figures wrong as I've been doing a lot of digging around for other things...but...
And unfortunately Aprilia doesn't publish the mpg figures. Piaggio does though.
It comes down to what's your biggest priority. If you want the best mileage, consider dropping down to a 200cc bike. If the performance penalty is too much, you may have to just accept the mpg. There's no guarantee that if you get the BV you will get 70, either.
Alexbv200 wrote:
The BV 300 seems like a really good deal at $5,000. BV 250 is $4,900 (not a great deal given that for only $100 more you get the BV 300).
Except, the BV300 is sold out and you can get 2009 or 2010 BV250 for a good discount...
Hopefully. Unfortunately I'm not ready to buy right now. The earliest for me would be around the end of January! Either great discount then or they'll be all gone!
I'm taking the MSF basic rider course in the beginning of December and getting my motorcycle endorsement hopefully by mid-December. But due to various work and travel reasons I won't be able to purchase until end of January.
Even if I buy the BV 250 now, I can't ride it home. No learner's permit, no motorcycle endorsement! And, I'll have to get an in-state license first. I have a California one right now but don't live there. LOL
