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I am no longer the only Scooter Driver at my work.
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 11:00 pm
by Othergods
I went down today with my boss to pick up his scooter (he needed my truck to get it home). He did not get a Buddy though
He did not like the look, he wanted something more sporty looking? He was looking at the Yamaha Zuma and then Saw a Vento Zip and fell in love with it. He only wanted a 50cc so he did not have to worry about the license and only has a 5 mile commute. The one he bought is the first one in this line of scoots in the photo below.
It may not be a Buddy but at least it is another Scoot on the streets!
EDIT: The one thing I like about his scoot, on the front panel where it says Zip, that is a storage spot, you stick a key in and it opens up for a litte "front trunk" storage.
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 11:15 pm
by Ronin
Originally, when I started looking at scooters, I was contemplating a Vento, until I read up and was not at all comfortable with the multiple extremely negative reviews that I read (problems with engine on the first day, hard to get the parts for them, etc).
I hope that your boss has some good luck with his new scoot though! He may be a lucky one!
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 11:20 pm
by Othergods
Ronin wrote:Originally, when I started looking at scooters, I was contemplating a Vento, until I read up and was not at all comfortable with the multiple extremely negative reviews that I read (problems with engine on the first day, hard to get the parts for them, etc).
I hope that your boss has some good luck with his new scoot though! He may be a lucky one!
If he does have problems I will then take the opportunity to talk up the 2 year warranty on the Buddy and how I have not had any problems
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 11:30 pm
by ericalm
The front-box on the Vento is kind of interesting, but the novelty of it kind of faded once i started wondering why they didn't just put a door in the back and make it a glovebox. I don't often use the glovebox in my Vespa, but its pretty handy when I need something while stooped at a light.
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 11:35 pm
by Ronin
Othergods wrote:If he does have problems I will then take the opportunity to talk up the 2 year warranty on the Buddy and how I have not had any problems
Indeed! Much much better than the 90 day limited warranty for the Vento! And don't forget our roadside assistance for our Buddies!
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 11:41 pm
by Othergods
ericalm wrote:The front-box on the Vento is kind of interesting, but the novelty of it kind of faded once i started wondering why they didn't just put a door in the back and make it a glovebox. I don't often use the glovebox in my Vespa, but its pretty handy when I need something while stooped at a light.
I did not think about that, a glove box on the other side would be more useful than a front box.
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:18 am
by jfrost2
Looks like vento modded the bike a tiny bit after they imported them from qiangjiang motors.
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:15 am
by MikieTaps
abs? how are you supposed to do stoppies?
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:32 am
by nissanman
You're assuming it will work...
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:28 am
by DennisD
Vento's are assembled in Laredo, Texas.
Dennis
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 3:30 am
by nissanman
Still... scooter ABS. Will it work
Just kidding. If you can't get it to work on a scooter the automotive world is serious trouble!
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 3:43 am
by jfrost2
DennisD wrote:Vento's are assembled in Laredo, Texas.
Dennis
Sorry, but they are made in china, I did some homework and found the source company who makes vento and every other chinese bike importer's bikes. Every importer claims they make the bikes, but you can always trace them back to the original company.
Genuine doesnt directly say they import from PGO, so many new owners may think the buddy is made in Chicago, but it isnt too hard to find the buddy was made by PGO in taiwan.
Vento uses a few chinese bike companies, not just one, they do modify the bikes in their own factory, but genuine does the same thing as does many other companies who import bikes.
Back before I bought my buddy, I looked at vento bikes too, but emailing some dealers in my state, they too confirmed the bike is imported from china. That's why I steered away from them.
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:02 pm
by iinigma7
It's cool that the scooter scene is growing where you are. I've talked my friend into getting a Buddy, and a guy that I work with is seriously considering getting a scooter after hearing about the mileage/fun I get out of my Buddy.
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:11 pm
by DennisD
jfrost2 wrote:DennisD wrote:Vento's are assembled in Laredo, Texas.
Dennis
Sorry, but they are made in china, I did some homework and found the source company who makes vento and every other chinese bike importer's bikes. Every importer claims they make the bikes, but you can always trace them back to the original company.
Genuine doesnt directly say they import from PGO, so many new owners may think the buddy is made in Chicago, but it isnt too hard to find the buddy was made by PGO in taiwan.
Vento uses a few chinese bike companies, not just one, they do modify the bikes in their own factory, but genuine does the same thing as does many other companies who import bikes.
Back before I bought my buddy, I looked at vento bikes too, but emailing some dealers in my state, they too confirmed the bike is imported from china. That's why I steered away from them.
Perhaps parts made in China, but this is from the Vento USA web page. I find it interesting that their presence in the U.S. is much more organized than the "Pep Boys Bunch". Perhaps some companies originating in China will eventually step up and become reliable producers of quality products. It could happen.
Also, I have read good comments from Vento owners elswhere on the net that demonstrates much better customer satisfaction with the Vento than other makes. I like the Vento and am going to keep my eye on their progress.
Taking into consideration the positive spin any company will put on their products, I still find the statements below from Vento USA interesting.
Vento Motorcycles, U.S.A., is headquartered in San Diego, with assembly facilities in Laredo, Texas, as well as a new marketing, product development, and sales support center in Melbourne, Florida. Vento Motorcycles U.S.A. is led by company president and corporate founder Isaac Calderon. Its corporate offices include its customer care support staff, and product design and development operations, headed by noted designer Mario E. Cisneros. Mahonry Sanchez is responsible for International sales. Vento also has an R&D team based in Italy and an additional design team in Australia.
In 1998, Vento opened a dedicated assembly facility located in Laredo, Texas. The assembly plant was constructed to consolidate Vento’s product range and elevate the build quality of its products, to better compete in the global marketplace. The development of this facility and its modern technologies led directly to Vento products receiving approval of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and certification by both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
Its vehicles’ distinctive design characteristics and affordable pricing have helped Vento Motorcycles U.S.A. become one of the fastest growing motorcycle and powersports companies in America over the past few years. Vento currently has expansion plans underway in North America and is reviewing major opportunities city by city, state by state. On an international level, Vento is the number one motorcycle and powersports retailer in Mexico, Guatemala, Chile, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico and has recently expanded into, Indonesia, Greece, Spain, and Venezuela.
In May 2006, Vento opened its North American sales and support center, located at 1600 Sarno Road, Suite #108, in Melbourne, Florida. The Florida facility provides marketing and product development support for the company’s San Diego management, and support for Vento’s regional sales teams, distributors and dealers across North America. With the opening of the company’s Florida offices, Vento operations now span the U.S. – from Atlantic to Pacific coasts.
Dennis
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:30 pm
by jfrost2
Still chinese junk then, but 1 thing. The VIN will prove it's chinese, unless they register them custom built bikes in the US to change the vin.
Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 10:41 pm
by Othergods
A beginning, I hope more follow.
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 12:33 am
by ericalm
That "zip" logo on the front of that scooter looks vaguely familiar...
External storage, indeed!
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:21 am
by MikieTaps
there are some people at my office that are thinking about getting scooters... I have started hanging my Gas Station receipts outside my cubicle so people know that I only spend $5 a week or so filling up my scoot.
...and they wonder why I can afford to go out to lunch every day...
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:15 pm
by johnny_buddha
My scooter is at the moment the only one in my building of about 200-300 employees. I know another guy that has a LX50 but he's been riding his bicycle. During the warmer months, there's about 40 bikes parked in the garage. At least a lot of people carpool as well.
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:28 pm
by Syd
ericalm wrote:External storage, indeed!
Nice!