Need New Vehicle: Advice Sought

robby · Post by **robby** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 2:38 am

My Roughhouse 50 was stolen, and I need to replace it as it's been my primary means of transportation for four years.

I'm debating two questions:

1) Should I upgrade? I never caught the bug for going bigger that everybody here talks about with respect to 50cc scoots, but as someone starting from ground zero, the Stella, Blur, 170i are all tempting, the latter two especially while Genuine is offering a 3-year warranty. The major downside to upgrading is that I would no longer be able to park on sidewalks or use bicycle lanes. I drive through Boston, where traffic is awful, so this is a nontrivial sacrifice.

2) If I upgrade, should I consider getting a motorcycle? I have my license, so there are no administrative hurdles. The obvious benefit I think would be the bigger wheels that could take potholes more gracefully. The downside would be having a bigger vehicle to park. I'm not sure how cost of ownership would compare.

I've never owned a motorcycle nor a scooter over 50ccs, so I'd appreciate any advice from folks here with more experience.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 2:49 am

It's a good question to ask, since you have this "opportunity" to reconsider your earlier choice. But if you were happy with the Roughhouse, you'd probably be just as happy with another one.

(With my Buddy 50 getting on a bit in mileage (>20K), I've thought about the same question, and I really think I'd get another if this one died on me.)

robby · Post by **robby** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 2:55 am

TVB wrote:It's a good question to ask, since you have this "opportunity" to reconsider your earlier choice. But if you were happy with the Roughhouse, you'd probably be just as happy with another one.

(With my Buddy 50 getting on a bit in mileage (>20K), I've thought about the same question, and I really think I'd get another if this one died on me.)

Yeah, that's my gut reaction, too. I was a few dozen shy of 6k miles and was so stoked to see how many I could put on that thing. Good work on 20k+; that's fantastic.

One other question to throw out there: as someone who does most if not all of his own maintenance, how would working on a 170i or say a Kawasaki Ninja compare to working on the Roughhouse? Would it be easier because it's bigger, or harder because things like DFI are less mechanically obvious to debug? I assume the service steps would at least be better documented because more people ride them.

skully93 · Post by **skully93** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 3:17 am

TVB wrote:(With my Buddy 50 getting on a bit in mileage (>20K), I've thought about the same question, and I really think I'd get another if this one died on me.)

Nevar! It is your duty to ride it to 75k

. 20k on a 50 is baller.

Robby: You can always ask yourself if you want to get a 110 or 125. It certainly won't hurt anything! Especially used, you can pick one up for cheaper than a new 50, but there is a certain charm to the 50cc

.

I say see what you get from the insurance, and then look at some in that price range. Whatever pulls you in is what you needed!

robby · Post by **robby** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 3:20 am

skully93 wrote:I say see what you get from the insurance, and then look at some in that price range. Whatever pulls you in is what you needed!

Unfortunately my insurance was liability only. The cost of theft coverage where I live is 1/3 the cost of a new vehicle. This one lasted me four years, so actuarially speaking I came out ahead

.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 2:04 pm

I think it's basically pretty simple. Have you ever felt limited by the 50 cc's?
If the answer is no, why upgrade? If the answer is yes, then you should consider a larger machine.

For me personally, I have the Buddy 125, and two MCs ... a mid-sized and then a larger bike. They all serve their purpose. I enjoy doing some touring, and although I've went as far as 400 miles in a day on the scoot, that just doesn't do it for me in regards to comfort and enjoyment. Around town and short rides, you can't beat the scoot.

Rob

Drum Pro · Post by **Drum Pro** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 2:25 pm

Unless you want that old charm and sometimes hassle I'd stay away from the Stella. It seems you were happy just with a 50cc because of the perks of riding in Boston and speed isn't your thing so I'd get another one or get a 125 and de- badge it. I knew what I was getting when I got the Stella and that is one of the reasons I got it. So I could learn more about how to do my own oil changes ect. but since day 1 my kick starter NEVER WORKED and when I took it in, the dealer broke the kick start lever trying to kick start it. Seems like you need a more reliable machine so don't get a Stella. The Buddy 170i is fantastic though. + everything besides the valves is easily accessed so that's the way I'd go if I were in your shoes....

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 3:40 pm

skully93 wrote:Nevar! It is your duty to ride it to 75k . 20k on a 50 is baller.

Apologies, but I grew up in the suburbs, I'm old enough to remember when disco was new, and I don't watch much TV or listen to pop music; I don't know what this means.

Drum Pro · Post by **Drum Pro** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 4:05 pm

TVB wrote:
skully93 wrote:Nevar! It is your duty to ride it to 75k . 20k on a 50 is baller.
Apologies, but I grew up in the suburbs, I'm old enough to remember when disco was new, and I don't watch much TV or listen to pop music; I don't know what this means.

He's saying 20K, although an achievement, is nothing and you should ride till you can't ride it no more. Or it breaks and you can't be bothered to fix it....

robby · Post by **robby** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 6:57 pm

Rob wrote:I think it's basically pretty simple. Have you ever felt limited by the 50 cc's?
If the answer is no, why upgrade? If the answer is yes, then you should consider a larger machine.

For me personally, I have the Buddy 125, and two MCs ... a mid-sized and then a larger bike. They all serve their purpose. I enjoy doing some touring, and although I've went as far as 400 miles in a day on the scoot, that just doesn't do it for me in regards to comfort and enjoyment. Around town and short rides, you can't beat the scoot.

Rob

Well I haven't felt limited by speed, but I have at times by comfort and power, mostly on highways (not interstates) when I had to be WOT to keep up with traffic. On those occasions I think I would have felt safer (if not less limited) on a motorcycle or a bigger scooter. The lady on back wasn't super happy about longer rides on the RH50, either. I realize I'm being wishy washy here, I just want to make sure I consider all the angles. If you had to choose among your 125 and MCs, am I correct in assuming you'd keep one of the MCs?

Drum Pro wrote:Unless you want that old charm and sometimes hassle I'd stay away from the Stella. It seems you were happy just with a 50cc because of the perks of riding in Boston and speed isn't your thing so I'd get another one or get a 125 and de- badge it. I knew what I was getting when I got the Stella and that is one of the reasons I got it. So I could learn more about how to do my own oil changes ect. but since day 1 my kick starter NEVER WORKED and when I took it in, the dealer broke the kick start lever trying to kick start it. Seems like you need a more reliable machine so don't get a Stella. The Buddy 170i is fantastic though. + everything besides the valves is easily accessed so that's the way I'd go if I were in your shoes....

Noted, thanks.

Th17kit · Post by **Th17kit** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 7:46 pm

You might consider debadging a Buddy 125 or 150 and then you can park it like a 50cc. I park my 150 like a 50cc in Denver. I just take my license plate off in that situation. I don't feel bad cause it's the exact same size bike as a 50cc, and I've never had any trouble. Oh and I haven't bothered to debadge.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Sun Jul 07, 2013 1:09 pm

robby wrote:Well I haven't felt limited by speed, but I have at times by comfort and power, mostly on highways (not interstates) when I had to be WOT to keep up with traffic. On those occasions I think I would have felt safer (if not less limited) on a motorcycle or a bigger scooter. The lady on back wasn't super happy about longer rides on the RH50, either. I realize I'm being wishy washy here, I just want to make sure I consider all the angles. If you had to choose among your 125 and MCs, am I correct in assuming you'd keep one of the MCs?

Well, yes, if it came down to owning one or the other I would choose an MC. But don't forget that I enjoy longer range touring, and that, for me, is where the 125 scoot comes up a little short.

If I was only riding around the town and shorter ranged rides, the scoot would likely be my choice. I'd also look harder at a upsized scoot, maybe one of the Vespas. Might go with a maxi-scoot, but that styling, other than the 'beo 500, just doesn't do it for me.

Rob