Newbie looking to buy a Stella, some quick questions...

joewp · Post by **joewp** » Sun Oct 06, 2013 12:07 am

Hey all,

So for years upon years I've wanted a scooter. I'm 6'5", so I've always been a little hesitant (fear of looking goofy I guess, ha) But I'm in a position where I can buy one, and I want a Stella. I love the vintage look, always have. I've come close twice. Years ago, I sat on a Vespa at a dealer, but my girlfriend at the time killed the idea because "They are unsafe"

Today, I sat on a couple of Stella's (2008 and 2012) and a Vespa at a local shop.

So here's an issue, I know how to drive stick, but the dealer actually told me not to get a Stella, since I've never driven a scooter, and it wouldn't be a good idea to start on a manual.

Also, my current girlfriend is quite worried about the safety of a scooter. (I'm a dog walker, I don't have health insurance...she told me to buy HI before riding a scooter)

Are these valid concerns? I'm assuming I would get the scooter and take it to a parking lot (like I did with my mini when I first got it) and drive it around to get use to it...

SockyTX · Post by **SockyTX** » Sun Oct 06, 2013 12:28 am

My 2012 Stella was my first motorized 2 wheeled vehicle. I took the Motorcycle safety course, which I highly recommend doing. In a year I put about 7k miles on her. My 4stroke is super reliable and i love her.

As far as health insurance goes...ummm....yeah get you some, the exchanges are open, self employed or not you qualify so hook it up...policy and scoot

joewp · Post by **joewp** » Sun Oct 06, 2013 12:35 am

Ah yeah, a motorcycle safety course! I am going to do that. And yep, signed up for the ACA, but didn't really want to mention that, as I fear forum based political discussions...

Drum Pro · Post by **Drum Pro** » Sun Oct 06, 2013 3:41 am

Yeah dude the Stella is pretty cool. I got one suggestion though. Get the crash bars and full coverage insurance. Take the MSF. It could be a lifesaver. The shifting is easy peasy. You'll get it in a couple of hours. Don't let people put you off getting one if that is what you wanna do. As for health insurance we are all going to have to get it at some point so don't stress over it.....

jmer1234 · Post by **jmer1234** » Sun Oct 06, 2013 11:27 am

My first motorized, two wheeled vehicle was a Stella. I bought her before taking the MSF (take it) so the ride home was a little nerve racking, but I had the shifting down after a couple laps around a vacant parking lot before leaving the dealership. A year and a half and 3K miles later, I don’t regret it at all.

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Sun Oct 06, 2013 4:30 pm

You have to start somewhere

The MSF course is a GREAT leg up and will get you on the road safely. Then pick the scoot of your dreams...find some back roads away from traffic and enjoy

.

Nettar · Post by **Nettar** » Sun Oct 06, 2013 10:49 pm

The "this is not a good place to start" thing is nonsense. If you've used a manual transmission in a car you'll have no problem with the Stella. As far as the safety issues go, by all means take the motorcycle safety course. It couldn't hurt and probably will help.
The Stella is every bit as safe as anything with an automatic transmission short of a Hummer - or at least a Smart Car.
The suggestion about insurance was a good one (and not an expensive one either).
Get the Stella and enjoy it. I love mine.

RexM · Post by **RexM** » Mon Oct 07, 2013 3:49 pm

Just one tip, if possible I would recommend taking the MSF course before even taking possession of the scooter. The Crash Thread is full of accounts of folks crashing on the way home from the dealership, or shortly after, with an MSF course scheduled for sometime in the near future. As I approached the pickup weekend of my scooter I wasn't planning to take the course but did a walk in at the last minute and I'm so glad I did. To be clear the course is no magic bullet, and as jmer1234's experience shows it's definitely possible to get home from the dealership without it, but in a world where two-wheelers are inherently vulnerable every advantage helps.

jimmbomb · Post by **jimmbomb** » Mon Oct 07, 2013 5:19 pm

1 point that wasn't addressed, should probably be Talked about. The OP says that he's 6'5".. and im gonna guees at least 220 pounds minimum.
If I lived in a hilly area..I would not get a 4t.
But I am handy too and have an understanding of the 2t and 4t Stellas..
My 2010 Cream white was a pooch. It lacked power I n the hills.
And im 185 lbs.
Now the 4t was trouble free whereas the 2t is too once the bugs are worked out.
Id go for the power of a 2 stroke for a big guy.
my opinion only
good luck

EvilNerdLord · Post by **EvilNerdLord** » Mon Oct 07, 2013 9:10 pm

jimmbomb wrote:1 point that wasn't addressed, should probably be Talked about. The OP says that he's 6'5".. and im gonna guees at least 220 pounds minimum.
If I lived in a hilly area..I would not get a 4t.
But I am handy too and have an understanding of the 2t and 4t Stellas..
My 2010 Cream white was a pooch. It lacked power I n the hills.
And im 185 lbs.
Now the 4t was trouble free whereas the 2t is too once the bugs are worked out.
Id go for the power of a 2 stroke for a big guy.
my opinion only
good luck

I'm 6-6 and fairly hefty guy, 2T's are too hard to find where I am so had to do a 4t. On the few hill climbs around here a down shift (and sure a speed drop) but it's climbed like a goat, and down hill engine breaking using a lower gear on an unfamiliar twisty is something a 2T's (by reading these threads) can have trouble with, my 4t has no problems with...no hickups, soft seizes, backfires, clutch slips or anything....

jimmbomb · Post by **jimmbomb** » Mon Oct 07, 2013 9:35 pm

Right on!! Dont engine brake with a 2t..for reals

joewp · Post by **joewp** » Tue Oct 08, 2013 2:18 pm

jimmbomb wrote:1 point that wasn't addressed, should probably be Talked about. The OP says that he's 6'5".. and im gonna guees at least 220 pounds minimum.
If I lived in a hilly area..I would not get a 4t.
But I am handy too and have an understanding of the 2t and 4t Stellas..
My 2010 Cream white was a pooch. It lacked power I n the hills.
And im 185 lbs.
Now the 4t was trouble free whereas the 2t is too once the bugs are worked out.
Id go for the power of a 2 stroke for a big guy.
my opinion only
good luck

Thanks for all the info guys! Not that I'm offended here, but I'm actually only 185 lbs... Anyway...

I got the permit today, and am going to sign up for the MSF course this evening!

Keep the info coming though!

jimmbomb · Post by **jimmbomb** » Tue Oct 08, 2013 5:35 pm

So then all you got to do is decide on the 2t or the 4t...
And what color that you like best..
Good luck and post pictures of your new ride..
Welcome to the club!!!

Stilts · Post by **Stilts** » Wed Oct 09, 2013 1:40 pm

jimmbomb wrote:1 point that wasn't addressed, should probably be Talked about. The OP says that he's 6'5".. and im gonna guees at least 220 pounds minimum.
If I lived in a hilly area..I would not get a 4t.
But I am handy too and have an understanding of the 2t and 4t Stellas..
My 2010 Cream white was a pooch. It lacked power I n the hills.
And im 185 lbs.
Now the 4t was trouble free whereas the 2t is too once the bugs are worked out.
Id go for the power of a 2 stroke for a big guy.
my opinion only
good luck

I'm 6'5", 235# and my 4T is just fine on hills provided you learn to downshift and really learn to trust 2nd and 3rd gear and realize you're not riding a 2T and you won't over-rev the engine. It was really put to the test on the way to Breezewood, PA in July as we hit the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains. I had about 15 pounds of extra gear with me and I had no problem hitting 40 mph (as indicated) going up some pretty gnarly hills. Now, my riding partner on a Vespa PX 2T who was following me was creeping up on me but he's also 5'9" and probably 160 soaking wet and I would expect that.

jimmbomb · Post by **jimmbomb** » Wed Oct 09, 2013 2:02 pm

Im glad to hear that you guys have good power with your 4 strokers..
My 2010 was a sweetheart. .ran smooth as silk..but I always had to downshift alot of revs to maintain speeds uphills. .. it was probally just mine though..

EvilNerdLord · Post by **EvilNerdLord** » Wed Oct 09, 2013 7:36 pm

When I had my commercial drivers license (class a) it was drummed into me to climb hills and come down in the same gear because if you pop out you will never be able to get it back in (and your screwed, true it happened to me once) and you never ride your brakes! That's how fires start.
So to this day I still use engine torque to brake, even in my auto tyranny jeep, if it says say 25-35 mph down hill, I'll pop it into D2 and use the engine keep the momentum restrained..... did it with the heavy cruiser, find myself still doing it on the 4t....guess that's why dealing with a finicky 2 stroke never appealed to me.

Stilts · Post by **Stilts** » Wed Oct 09, 2013 8:11 pm

EvilNerdLord wrote:When I had my commercial drivers license (class a) it was drummed into me to climb hills and come down in the same gear because if you pop out you will never be able to get it back in (and your screwed, true it happened to me once) and you never ride your brakes! That's how fires start.
So to this day I still use engine torque to brake, even in my auto tyranny jeep, if it says say 25-35 mph down hill, I'll pop it into D2 and use the engine keep the momentum restrained..... did it with the heavy cruiser, find myself still doing it on the 4t....guess that's why dealing with a finicky 2 stroke never appealed to me.

I learned that lesson real quick on that ride to Breezewood and it made life SO much easier and made me totally fall in love with the 4T again. I know there are some people who say that you can use engine braking with a 2T but w/ the 4T there is no question.

Stitch · Post by **Stitch** » Thu Oct 10, 2013 12:58 pm

Brake pads are cheap. Even at 250lbs my 2t Stella brakes lasted almost 6k miles of twisty roads and steep mountains.

jimmbomb · Post by **jimmbomb** » Thu Oct 10, 2013 2:46 pm

Right on...I just did my rear shoes..18 bucks...and the 2t still seems to have power out the ass in any gear.just keep the engine braking to a bare minimum.
Small price to pay for a pilot's license.
Good luck and enjoy your new ride.

SockyTX · Post by **SockyTX** » Thu Oct 10, 2013 3:04 pm

Speaking of brakes, I'm about to hit 8k miles on my 4T. Should I be checking my pads? She seems to be stopping just fine.

Steady Teddy · Post by **Steady Teddy** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 7:14 am

Hang low for a few months and you can get your hands on the all new Stella 125 AUTOMATIC coming to a Genuine Dealer near you soon. You read that right... AUTOMATIC CVT Twist n Go. They should sell well...

EvilNerdLord · Post by **EvilNerdLord** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 7:42 am

SockyTX wrote:Speaking of brakes, I'm about to hit 8k miles on my 4T. Should I be checking my pads? She seems to be stopping just fine.

there should be little ports on the drum and caliper where you can see the pad edge, if it's too worn (not sure what recommend replacement thickness is). Otherwise a grinding sound is too late and you've hit metal on metal and ruining both sides of the brake (drum/rotor) and shoe.

Stitch · Post by **Stitch** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 8:56 pm

Ok. I'll start it. There are 3 varieties now, and it's gonna get confusing.

Stella auto = Stelletto

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Sat Oct 12, 2013 2:19 am

Stelletto....I like that; kind of catchy.

misterbrackets · Post by **misterbrackets** » Sat Oct 12, 2013 8:54 pm

Is the 'Stelletto' still going to be carbureted?

RoaringTodd · Post by **RoaringTodd** » Sun Oct 13, 2013 12:59 am

Stitch wrote: Stella auto = Stelletto

I like this as well. Should there be a separate forum tab "Stelletto Discussion" for this? It could get confusing posting for Auto Stellas here.

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 5:02 am

misterbrackets wrote:Is the 'Stelletto' still going to be carbureted?

^^^ yes, it is still carb. which really works just fine IMO

EvilNerdLord · Post by **EvilNerdLord** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 8:48 am

Like I mentioned in the other thread for the Stella auto..... "Stellato"...pronounced like gelato the Italian desert treat...

Modern Buddy

Newbie looking to buy a Stella, some quick questions...

Newbie looking to buy a Stella, some quick questions...

Recommend taking the MSF course before taking possession