KymcoForum.com
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Featherdfishead on April 17, 2015, 11:59:49 PM
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Hello all,
I've been thinking about getting a new 2015 Super 8 150x to use as my daily commuter. I live in a very rural area and have a 50 ml a day drive across a beautiful valley with very little traffic, more alfalfa fields and cows than people. I also hope to use the scooter as my weekend mining bike so I'd be going up some steeps and on dirt roads. I'm 6 ft and 215 lbs.
My Question is am I asking to much of a 150 cc Scooter such as the Super 8. I'm trying to stay cheap but want to be safe and reliable. I've ridden bikes yrs ago but am new to scooters.
Any opinions or advice would be great - Thanks
Adam
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I did a lot of checking up on the super 8 150 before buying a scoot and it's a great scoot for the money. Since your talking off road qualities I'd check into a zuma 125. It's actually designed to be ridden off road, of course it's a Yamaha so your getting the best quality.
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50 miles every day is kind of pushing a 150cc bike. What speeds will you need in those 50 miles? If you keep it around 45 there won't be any problems.
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Honda CB300F @$3999.00 is a great value.
Lightly used for a few hundred less.
Also seeing Kymco ,250's new, left overs less than $3k.
But for reliability I'd go with a new 300 Honda. Great value as well.
Stig......it is also a good time to shop some usrd maxi scoots.
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I have over 19000 miles on my 2009 Super 8. I ride it pretty close to top speed much of the time. It handles it with no problems. I'm about 180 pounds but I can put my wife on the back and it handles the extra weight easily.
However, the new Super 8 is a different scooter. Only the engine is the same. For a 50 mile a day ride I'd probably consider a bigger scooter but the 150 should be able to handle it. IMO, bigger scooters tend to be more comfortable and more capable but smaller scooters are more fun. I have 4 bikes in my garage but the Super 8 is the one I ride most often.
Good luck with what ever you decide on.
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I have 2 250's but once had a 125 Vino. It would do 55 easy, but high winds really were hard. Heavier weight bike is better.
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I rode dirt bikes for years and can tell you the scooter has totally different geometry on the steering and handling in dirt and loose material making it very dangerous at time to keep in a straight line. I have a people 150 and the first time I took it on a dirt/gravel road at the base of the White Tank Mountains I ended up eating gravel with a broken collar bone and four cracked ribs. The good news is I have over 11,000 miles on it mostly at 45 to 50 mph and 40 to 60 miles per trip non stop.
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Thanks for all the Info everyone. I found a used 2015 Honda pcx 150 that a women bought in sept of 2014 and just dumped it for the second time on some gravel and is done with bikes for good. She wanted 3 but i talked her down to $2500 and from pics she sent looks like only afew scratches from dumping. It has just under 300 mls.
I live so rural that the closest place to get a scoot is 60 + mls away and this bike is a good 150 mls + away but i'm headn down to look at it and hopefully purchase it tomorrow. I know its not a Kymco but i'd love to hear some opinions on the bike.
Thanks - AjR
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PCX is a good bike, Honda quality. Very, very skinny tires though. Somewhat hard to work on yourself.
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The PCX has linked brakes which are a real bad idea if you plan on riding off the pavement. It seems to be designed for shorter people so if you are tall you may not fit on it very well. On the plus side these things get around 100 MPG and are a little faster than almost all other 150cc scooters.
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Thanks Bet and Klav - i just found the pcx yesterday and have been researching madly. I figured i could change tires to bigger down the road but the dual braking makes me leery - just read that it had this this morning. I'd say about 1/3 of my usage will be on dirt. I also found 2013 Zuma 125 with only 400 mls that a recently retired guy's selling to move to europe. He wants $3500 but said he'd deal at $3000. I'm debateing offering $2800 but want to look at the pcx first but cant do that until i travel 220 mls to look at it on friday. The Zuma is only 50 MLs away and comes with a shad, xxl helmet and gloves.
I like that the pcx is a 150 and is liquid cooled. I'll be going up some steep mountains and dirt roads on the weekends and figured the higher cc's as well as liquid cooling would be better than the 125cc and air cooling in late summer 90-100 degree temps. Am I looking at this wrong? The Zuma is built more twords offroad use like i'll be doing but it seems the PCX is a better deal at $2500 than the Zuma around $3000.
I love everything about the Zuma except lighting and that its a 125. Seems a 150 would be better for highway use. And going up mountain roads. I'm not worried about speed as much i just figure that if i ride the 125 with it wide open everywhere it will ware out quicker than a 150 not road at full throttle all the time. Once again could be wrong - i haven't ridden in yrs so all theory.
I'm new to scoots so am unsure - please help with your advise - Thanks!
AjR
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Thanks Bet and Klav - i just found the pcx yesterday and have been researching madly. I figured i could change tires to bigger down the road but the dual braking makes me leery - just read that it had this this morning. I'd say about 1/3 of my usage will be on dirt. I also found 2013 Zuma 125 with only 400 mls that a recently retired guy's selling to move to europe. He wants $3500 but said he'd deal at $3000. I'm debateing offering $2800 but want to look at the pcx first but cant do that until i travel 220 mls to look at it on friday. The Zuma is only 50 MLs away and comes with a shad, xxl helmet and gloves.
I like that the pcx is a 150 and is liquid cooled. I'll be going up some steep mountains and dirt roads on the weekends and figured the higher cc's as well as liquid cooling would be better than the 125cc and air cooling in late summer 90-100 degree temps. Am I looking at this wrong? The Zuma is built more twords offroad use like i'll be doing but it seems the PCX is a better deal at $2500 than the Zuma around $3000.
I love everything about the Zuma except lighting and that its a 125. Seems a 150 would be better for highway use. And going up mountain roads. I'm not worried about speed as much i just figure that if i ride the 125 with it wide open everywhere it will ware out quicker than a 150 not road at full throttle all the time. Once again could be wrong - i haven't ridden in yrs so all theory.
I'm new to scoots so am unsure - please help with your advise - Thanks!
AjR
The largest tire you might be able to squeeze on the PCX is MAYBE a 3.5, they are really really skinny. I've worked on a few, power is pretty average for a 150, felt even a little slower than the Taiwan built Kymco 150's. I would look into used 250cc Kymco, the old People 250, and S250 are really really well built bikes and you can score a nice one for around $2000 or less if your lucky. They have 16" wheels, that are wide, and you might even be able to find a knobby tire for your mining use.
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The zuma has FI so it will be more like a 150 than say an agility 125. You might consider a kymco movie 150 w/13.5hp 4 valve head. It screams up hills with no bogging with the extra ponies. Carbed but it's a great scoot, love the way it looks and is lit up like an xmas tree. That's what I have.
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I've decided the PCX is out due to tire size and linked brakes. The Zuma guy wont go below $3000 and that's my limit. I havent been able to find a used Kymco or SYM anywhere near me - all are hundreds of miles away. The Zuma is close and i have a local Yamaha shop 30 mls away. Sacramento is the closest Kymco dealer and they want $3600 OTD for the Super 8 , or $4200 for the SYM HD plus shipping over 200 mls. I'll likely go for the Zuma for convenience and being built to deal with off road dust and ware.
I'll let ya know - thanks again for all the help - I live so rural i only have so many options without paying an arm and a leg for shipping.
AjR
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Yamaha is a great brand, can't be beat for quality. The new yammy sr400 is on my bucket list. You might get some warranty left on the scoot.
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The zuma 125 is great. Solid 55 top speed. Check out zumaforums.net great people on there, and the 125 is popular. Lots of performance stuff if you need more power or top speed. It's a huge plus to have that dealer close. Personally i think Yamaha > Honda, might just run in my family lol.
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sounds like he need an dual purpose bike
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One thing you need to do, whatever you buy, is to make sure you fit on it. If possible, test ride it. I'm 6-2. The seating position of the PCX sucks for me. My knees hit the handlebars on the Zuma when turned but they may be adjustable. I fit pretty well on my 09 Super 8 and my Aprilia Sport City 250. I occasionally ride both of them off road.
Another scooter you may want to consider if you can find one is the Sym HD200. The larger 16" wheels might do better in the dirt. The motor, although only 171cc is a real powerhouse capable of running 70+
Keep in mind that scooters tend to have limited suspension travel. While they can be ridden off the pavement, you'll have to go much slower than you would on a dual sport motorcycle.
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Thanks guys
I'm going to test ride the Zuma on Friday before i buy it. I was set on a Sym HD 200 when i first started searching but couldnt find a used one anywhere and couldnt afford a new one because id have to ship it 200 + mls to get it. I really like the Sym HD though and the 16" tires are a big reason why.
As for off roading i'll be puttn along enjoyn the scenery - i've never been a speed freak.
I have had a couple questions up on the zuma forum for three days but no one has responded - kinda disapointed in that but you guys have been great - thanks
AjR
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Thanks guys
I'm going to test ride the Zuma on Friday before i buy it. I was set on a Sym HD 200 when i first started searching but couldnt find a used one anywhere and couldnt afford a new one because id have to ship it 200 + mls to get it. I really like the Sym HD though and the 16" tires are a big reason why.
As for off roading i'll be puttn along enjoyn the scenery - i've never been a speed freak.
I have had a couple questions up on the zuma forum for three days but no one has responded - kinda disapointed in that but you guys have been great - thanks
AjR
They are a little slower to respond over there, and generally less helpful than anyone on this Forum. The Kymco Forum is the most friendly forum I've been a part of, ever, so you won't match the guys and gals here LOL. Even tho its a Zuma, you can feel free to post up your questions here, some might grunt a little but if its scooter talk we'll help you out.
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WHO'S SYM HD
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This is a SYM HD 200:
http://www.alliancepowersports.com/models/hd.html (http://www.alliancepowersports.com/models/hd.html)
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ok, nice site.....almost look like the kymco....too far away...108 MILES AWAY...WHAT THE...
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Thanks guys
I'm going to test ride the Zuma on Friday before i buy it. I was set on a Sym HD 200 when i first started searching but couldnt find a used one anywhere and couldnt afford a new one because id have to ship it 200 + mls to get it. I really like the Sym HD though and the 16" tires are a big reason why.
As for off roading i'll be puttn along enjoyn the scenery - i've never been a speed freak.
I have had a couple questions up on the zuma forum for three days but no one has responded - kinda disapointed in that but you guys have been great - thanks
AjR
Don't ship the SYM....pack a sandwich and ride it home with a big smile on your face!
Stig
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Thanks Again for all the Comments. The folks at the Zuma forum are likly alright but i still have no response to my basic questions so will ask here.
I checked out the 2013 Zuma with 480 mls and loved it. I made a deal on it and am picking it up Wednesday. Its spotless - they guy used it on the weekends to hit the mall and get a few groceries and is now retiring to Europe and needs to sell it. I'm going to put the dual headlight mod on and some oval mirrors first thing. I also want to change all the fluids and check out everything i should at the 500 ml mark. I don't have a manual on for it yet but will get one.
My questions are;
Will leaving in the stock lights and not dropping to 35w bulbs cause battery issues? I find answers going both ways on multiple forums.
Secondly should i switch to synthetics at this 500 ml change or do i need to put more miles on? What type of Synth Oil do you guys recommend? And what all would you recommend that i be sure to check out and/or do or not do at this time with the scoot? At what mileage is the engine considered broken in?
Also what type of inexpensive rain gear would you recommend?
Thanks for helpn a rookie out,
AjR
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Thanks Again for all the Comments. The folks at the Zuma forum are likly alright but i still have no response to my basic questions so will ask here.
I checked out the 2013 Zuma with 480 mls and loved it. I made a deal on it and am picking it up Wednesday. Its spotless - they guy used it on the weekends to hit the mall and get a few groceries and is now retiring to Europe and needs to sell it. I'm going to put the dual headlight mod on and some oval mirrors first thing. I also want to change all the fluids and check out everything i should at the 500 ml mark. I don't have a manual on for it yet but will get one.
My questions are;
Will leaving in the stock lights and not dropping to 35w bulbs cause battery issues? I find answers going both ways on multiple forums.
Secondly should i switch to synthetics at this 500 ml change or do i need to put more miles on? What type of Synth Oil do you guys recommend? And what all would you recommend that i be sure to check out and/or do or not do at this time with the scoot? At what mileage is the engine considered broken in?
Also what type of inexpensive rain gear would you recommend?
Thanks for helpn a rookie out,
AjR
Lights - don't know
oil - after 1000 miles - Shell Rotella T6 full synthetic less than $20. gal at Walmart
rain suit - cheap, light weight Frogg Toggs - won't make you sweat - had a pair 5 years - like
ps: Two of the best motorcycles I have ever owned were Yamaha s.
And I love the Zuma. Thinking of buying one for mountain roads and trails.
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Thanks boo. I'm super stoked on getting the Zuma. I'll be putting some big saddle bags on it to carry my mining gear. Its already got a shad case so with saddle bags i'll be set.
I do like that HD Sig and the ride it home idea would be great but i have a local Yamaha shop some what close by and think the Zuma should be fun. I really liked the Honda you recommended but it was out of my league for now. May be in the future.
You guys have a great forum. I'm new to forums this last year and this is only the third, aside from the Q on ZumaF, that i have participated in. You guys run a Great Forum - Thanks Again.
I'm an avid miner and metaldetectorist. If your into Gold and metal detecting then check out DetectorProspector.com its the best for Gold Detecting and TresureNet.com for all types of treasure hunting and gold detecting. I have been on these forums for the last year and they are the most helpful and informative with many professionals and amateurs alike. They are the cutting edge in the field as of this time as you guys appear to be in the cycle world.
Have a good ride
AjR
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The headlight mod is a must for the zuma! I did it to my zuma 50 with no issues.
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I second the recommendation on Rotella T6 and Frog Toggs
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Thanks Gentlemen.
Looks like i'll be switchn to Rotella T6 at 1000 mls and buying some Frogg Toggs soon to.
Should i switch out the standard spark plug? and should I run high octane gas or regular?
Does anyone know if these mirrors will work on a 2013 Zuma 125?
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-universal-scooter-mirrors-reverse/dp/B00KWVM6LS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430268422&sr=8-1&keywords=Yamaha+c3+Mirrors (http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-universal-scooter-mirrors-reverse/dp/B00KWVM6LS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430268422&sr=8-1&keywords=Yamaha+c3+Mirrors)
Thanks Again
AjR
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Thanks for all the help everyone. Got a good response to my questions on the Zuma forum so i'll leave you to your Kymco's and check back soon with some picks of my Zuma and some nuggets.
AjR
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HAVE A GREAT RIDE