Modern Buddy

Well, this should put Honda out of it and Yamaha on top of the Japanese scooter market here in the USA for a good while... For 2009 Yamaha is selling in the USA a new 125cc Zuma, and a 500cc TMAX!

The TMAX ride on 15" radials, has EFI, and a large 4 gal fuel tank, along with the standard underseat helmet storage area. It has a 31" seat height, weighs a bit less than 500 lbs, and has disk brakes front and rear!

Looks to me like a good fusion between the scooter and motorcycle worlds, and I'm beginning to get highly interested...
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The TMAX is kind of interesting for all the engineering they're putting into it. Not my style of scooter at all—still looks like a maxi, not too different than the Majesty in my eyes. But 47MPG?! That's kind of shameful.

For me, a Scarabeo 500ie is much more appealing—similar specs with a more "classic" scooter style. It also costs $1700 less and gets 60MPG.

but a zuma 125!!!!! nice to see something a little different in the 125/150 niche..

Yeah, a 125cc Zuma sounds very interesting indeed.

How about the Kymco Xciting 250 or 500? I was looking at those this weekend and although big, they would make great freeway scoots. The 250 is rated for 70 mpg while the 500 is 46 mpg.

speaking of the exciting 500----------when is this fliping 800cc kymco gona finally come out, whats the latest.

Honda is coming out with Fuekl Injected 50cc's next year. They'll be alright.

jperkins wrote:speaking of the exciting 500----------when is this fliping 800cc kymco gona finally come out, whats the latest.

Or will the Gilera GP800 (850cc) ever make it to the US? That's a sporty maxi I would really (really, really) like.

7eregrine wrote:Honda is coming out with Fuekl Injected 50cc's next year. They'll be alright.

Are they actually going to sell it in the US?

They haven't officially said yet, but I would assume so to compete with Yamaha's C3.

ericalm wrote:

jperkins wrote:speaking of the exciting 500----------when is this fliping 800cc kymco gona finally come out, whats the latest.

Or will the Gilera GP800 (850cc) ever make it to the US? That's a sporty maxi I would really (really, really) like.

Honestly, I doubt it, despite dealer rumors. I fully expect that this fall, we'll see the Gilera Fuocco get the 850 twin in Europe, with that bike coming to the US late next year as an MP3 800 at about $11999. It is my opinion (and it's just that) that Piaggio wants to push the MP3 concept hard, and as such, they will not aggresively compete against the MP3's and will actively promote them as the next step. The X9 going away, with no replacement is a good example. To me, Piaggio is saying 'the MP3 is the SilverWing/Burgmann competitor'. The Gilera GP800 would be as well, but if the option is an MP3 vs the Gilera in the US, I think they'll push the MP3 and forego the GP800.[/quote]
Oh, I don't really expect the GP800 to come over anytime soon, if ever. And I doubt I'd buy one if it did—much more scoot than I need. I think fitting the 850 into a MP3 would take a significant redesign. We shall see. I wouldn't be surprised if they swapped the 250 for the 300 going into the GTS Special, though. (It'll still be a little too sluggish.)

7eregrine wrote:They haven't officially said yet, but I would assume so to compete with Yamaha's C3.

Honda makes dozens of models which could compete well with much of what's sold here and they never let them out of Europe or Asia. I've kind of concluded that while they could rule the US market (as they once did), they really have no interest in doing so. They just make too much more money selling other things and most MC dealers only having a passing interest in selling scooters, which take as much time and effort to sell as a sportbike which costs 6 times as much. Maybe this will change.

I don't know if the C3 will take off here (unless they bring the 150). The Zuma 125, though... should do quite well!

I don't get why Yamaha wants to make a 125 Zuma when they already have a very well respected and established market and following for the Vino 125. Isn't the Vino 125 the current best seller?

7eregrine wrote:I don't get why Yamaha wants to make a 125 Zuma when they already have a very well respected and established market and following for the Vino 125. Isn't the Vino 125 the current best seller?

Two very different styles and flavors of scooter which may appeal to different buyers. There's still a perception that scooters are feminine and I think a Zuma 125 has a more masculine look. There's a potentially large market out there for non-retro-styled scooters, but I think it largely consists of people who aren't into scooters yet.

The Zuma 125 likely appeals to the same demographic as those of us who purchased a Rattler 110. I wouldn't buy a Vino, but a 125 Zuma would have certainly been something to consider against the Rattler 110, as opposed to the 49cc Zuma which simply wasn't going to cut it, no matter how appealing it might have been.

Groovealufagus wrote:The Zuma 125 likely appeals to the same demographic as those of us who purchased a Rattler 110. I wouldn't buy a Vino, but a 125 Zuma would have certainly been something to consider against the Rattler 110, as opposed to the 49cc Zuma which simply wasn't going to cut it, no matter how appealing it might have been.

I seriously doubt that anything will top the total kick in the pants that he Rattler 110 is. That thing is a blast. Add a PRima pipe, and add to the fun.

The Buddy is a great commuter, but sheesh the Rattler is just so over the top and yes, it's 110 will give all of teh 125's and most 150's a run for their money

The T-Max isn't the coolest looking bike or anything, but it's been getting consistently great reviews as far as rideability/ergonomics/engineering, etc. It's one of the best-sellers in most markets, even at a pretty steep price.

From what I understand, new Euro and Taiwanese standards are more or less dictating fuel injection, so we're going to see a lot more of it soon. It's been rumored that all PGO models will have fuel injection in the near future.

dru_ wrote:

Groovealufagus wrote:The Zuma 125 likely appeals to the same demographic as those of us who purchased a Rattler 110. I wouldn't buy a Vino, but a 125 Zuma would have certainly been something to consider against the Rattler 110, as opposed to the 49cc Zuma which simply wasn't going to cut it, no matter how appealing it might have been.

I seriously doubt that anything will top the total kick in the pants that he Rattler 110 is. That thing is a blast. Add a PRima pipe, and add to the fun.

The Buddy is a great commuter, but sheesh the Rattler is just so over the top and yes, it's 110 will give all of teh 125's and most 150's a run for their money

I wouldn't trade my Rattler 110 for a Zuma 150! It's just soooooo much fun. But, that's certainly the market they're trying to corner with the bigger Zuma... it's a 4-Stroke, though.

Have the Prima pipe, a Malossi variator and Dr. Pulley clutch on the way. It's gonna be awesome.

my wife has her own scooter but we still ride my Vespa two up on long rides because she does not yet have the confidence in herself to do an 80 mile ride. So for thet reason we are considering a Maxi scooter. So far I like the Yamaha T-max over the Silverwing and Burgman. My Vespa 200cc can pull both of our wieight plus a weekends worth of gear but we feel we will be more comfortable and stable at speed on a maxi scooter.

Groovealufagus wrote:

I wouldn't trade my Rattler 110 for a Zuma 150! It's just soooooo much fun. But, that's certainly the market they're trying to corner with the bigger Zuma... it's a 4-Stroke, though.

Read that Yamaha is interested in California here. Not much incentive to develop new models that are not CARB compliant.

Dooglas wrote:

Groovealufagus wrote:

I wouldn't trade my Rattler 110 for a Zuma 150! It's just soooooo much fun. But, that's certainly the market they're trying to corner with the bigger Zuma... it's a 4-Stroke, though.

Read that Yamaha is interested in California here. Not much incentive to develop new models that are not CARB compliant.

Does the Rattler not meet CA emissions standards?

Groovealufagus wrote:

Dooglas wrote:

Groovealufagus wrote:

I wouldn't trade my Rattler 110 for a Zuma 150! It's just soooooo much fun. But, that's certainly the market they're trying to corner with the bigger Zuma... it's a 4-Stroke, though.

Read that Yamaha is interested in California here. Not much incentive to develop new models that are not CARB compliant.

Does the Rattler not meet CA emissions standards?

It does. Federal EPA requirements are now essentially the same as CARB. CA does have some additional mechanical requirements that not all scoots have (mostly evap/vapor recovery stuff).

The Zuma 125 is not only a four-stroke, it's fuel-injected and ceramic coated, as well. Since the Genuine dealer in my area has been thinking of dropping the Genuine line... and, since I recently discovered a Yamaha dealer, about a mile away from where I live... I've put the Zuma 125 on my list. So, my list has a Honda CH80, a Buddy 150, and now a Zuma 125 on it. Oh, and if the funds ever came for a Vespa, I'd be looking at the S... much as I love the GTS, much as it would fulfill every scooter need I could ever have, it's just too blasted expensive, under my present circumstances. According to the Yamaha dealer down the street, however, the Zuma 125 has better performance than the Vino 125.

Sounds to me like the Buddy and Zuma 125s are looking to be pretty even, with the edge to the Yamaha, at least to me, due to its fuel-injection (even though it's the same price as a Buddy 150... would be interesting to compare the two). The Zuma has a slightly higher seat than the Buddy, from my own test-sits. Of course, that was on a 50cc Zuma, and I'm not sure if the 125 will have the same seat-height. Well, at least I've narrowed my future choices down to four very distinctly different scoots. I'd also be interested in seeing if a Rattler 110 would suit me, but I've never seen one "in the flesh" for a test-sit, so that choice is still vague.

Funny thing is, by the time I can afford a scoot, the choices may have changed, especially if Honda brings in any new scoots. And if fuel-injection becomes standard practice.... (Though my final decision, when it comes, will be based on a test ride and my budget....)


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...I'm thinkin' the Zuma 125 might be my next aquisition...

--Keys