KymcoForum.com
Scooters - 125 to 300 => Grandvista 250 => Topic started by: michiman on April 20, 2008, 10:45:53 PM
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Well, I used to Ride a 250cc cruiser on the Interstate. What are your thoughts of the GV and Interstate travel?
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How many miles do you plan to travel per ride? Are you using for communting or touring?
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Cummuter... About 15 miles each way...
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I think that you will get lots of differing opinions. The bike will do it but keep in mind that your accellation from 60-80 MPH is not going to be near what a larger bike can produce. You have to be a defensive driver and keep an eye on traffic. You may also get blown around a bit. As far as the scoot holding up to a 15 mile haul each day no problem. You might also investigate other routes to work. Maybe a little longer but perhaps a more enjoyable ride.
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I'm afraid I can't agree with tony_dt. :'(
While I have no right to respond to this question since I don't own one yet, when you consider the fact that KYMCO advertises the Grand Vista as, "KYMCO's grand vision of how well appointed a touring scooter should be." I would certainly hope that it would be interstate capable since that is implied in the name, Touring Scooter. That's one of the things that I'm buying it for.
Tony_dt's comment, "acceleration from 60-80 MPH is not going to be near what a larger bike can produce." doesn't make a lot of sense to me either since most interstate travel is at a steady speed, mile after boring mile. How long do you think it takes a semi-truck to get from 60-80 (or for that matter from 0-60)? I don't like interstate travel. I prefer roads that follow the land, not cut through it. (OK, so I plagiarized that from the movie, "Cars". That doesn't make it any less true. :-[)
As for, "You have to be a defensive driver and keep an eye on traffic." that's true no matter what you drive or ride never so much as when you're on two wheels. At least it's true if you intend to become an old scooterist.
Life is not a destination, it's a journey.
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Actually it will all be during the slow down hours... And I live close to where it is always backed up... Really only a few miles each way will I everthink I will be at 65... And as I stated I used to ride a Rebel on the freeway... Maybe I just have nerves of steel... I am buying the small bike so that I can commute and to teach my wife to ride... She lives about a mile from work... She will get her chances to ride... Hopefully enough that she will want one of her own... By that time maybe Kymco will have a larger touring scooter. The Exciting is just more sporty than tourer.
I really liked the Reflex, just could not stand to put out that much cash on a discontinued ride, and the GV has some superior qualities.
So small bike will get tossed on the freeway... Used to ride small bike in 80's...
Thanks
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And there is the varying opinions :D
I ride a 250 at least 3 days a week to work about 30 miles. Venox 250. I also have access to a couple xciting 250. I drove an GV back in 2006 on I35.
I just wanted to be realistic with you.
While the semi's do not give me any trouble the 7.3 turbo-diesel trucks with guy/gal talking on the cellphone do give me some worry. I live it an open space so people tend to speed. I still ride. Just be careful. Easier said than done though.
I think that it also depends on what interestate and the distance. I drove in Nevada on a sportbike once and I felt slow going 80 on the interstate. People would get impatient following me and go around.
My commute is not too bad as the traffic does back up and slow down. Later in the afternoon when I work late it is much more dangerous.
If I was doing heavy duty interstate work I would go with the 500. I understand that your wife may inherit the bike though so I think that's a good choice for her.
Again as far as the scooter holding up, it should do just fine.
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If I was doing heavy duty interstate work I would go with the 500. I understand that your wife may inherit the bike though so I think that's a good choice for her.
Dang...! Was that intended as cold as it sounded?
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Sounds quite chilly to me...
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Sorry, that wasn't my intent. I thought your plan might be to pass the bike on to your wife and I think that it would be a better bike for her than say an Xciting. Sorry for the input.
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;D Not a problem... Actually I was just fueling the fire... I take all responses into consideration... Thanks for the input, if I did not want your input I would not have asked on an open forum... Everyones opinion matters..
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;D Not a problem... Actually I was just fueling the fire... I take all responses into consideration... Thanks for the input, if I did not want your input I would not have asked on an open forum... Everyones opinion matters..
My compliments. A most enlightened attitude. So many times on forums such as this people ask questions that they really don't want answers to. They're just seeking vindication for their ideas. :)
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man. This forum will do awsome with guys like you around! In most forums this three would have gone south fast! :)
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It all goes back to sticks and stones... ;D But, really involves my thought processes...
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I use my GV on the interstate where the speed limit is 55 mph. However 65 is quite easy and stable. I behave myself, do the speed limit, and do keep the proper spacing. I never had a bit of trouble. It does well in wind and in trucks passing.
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Been driving my new GV for a couple of months now and at 55-60 it is quite stable even in the wind.
I dont get on the interstate as there are so many rough parts of it such as holes, big cracks, etc and those little wheels just take a beating. I had a Exciting 500 and it was much better on the interstate but even then you sure have to be careful. I sold the 500 as my legs are just not long enough and balancing on tip toe is a real challange when stopped. Im looking at a Burgman and the seat is lower by about two inches and that is a lot better to handle then the 500.
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Thanks for the replys... I am ready to hit the slab... If tomorrow morning is nice... I will put a few miles on 71 south of Columbus.
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I'm new to this forum - but I too am thinking about a GV250 for commuting during rush hour. I will be riding in the Dallas area (if that tells you anything) and some places the traffic runs at 80mph (on I-20) and some its more like 8 (I-35 though occasionally you can go 65). Never ridden a scoot to work before (25 miles one way) so I'm not sure what to expect. I would prefer to avoid buying the wrong machine and discovering my mistake on my first commute. BTW, I can avoid the 80mph leg by taking a smaller road but I-35 is unavoidable.
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OK... I have put about 50 miles of freeway on my GV... No vibrations at all, plenty of speed to keep up with 65 mph traffic. Maybe I am getting paranoid in my old age, but I feel awfully small out on the super slab. Even though I used to ride a Rebel all the time back when I was much younger. But this machine is definately built to handle this ride.
I will not commute until I have 1000 miles on the GV. I may be over cautious, just want to make sure I know the machine as much as possible.
My longest ride so far has been about 20 miles round trip. I really do like to ride, just lack the time to do it... I coach baseball in the summer and football in the fall. So my time really is short.
But, back to my point... The GV is a fine interstate machine...