Oregon Scooter Club -Come Ride With Us

Newbie wants a first scooter experience

Okay, I got the scooter bug, but I don't even know anyone who owns a scooter. I'm hoping to go to the meetup, but I'd love to meet someone who will show me what it's like to actually ride a scooter.

To give you some background - I live in Tigard currently and I'm hoping to move downtown within the next year or so. My daily work commute is currently 4 miles - perfect for scooting back and forth. I currently ride my bicycle to work about once or twice a week, depending on my schedule. I do not have a motorcycle license or permit, although I'm currently signed up for the motorcycle training at the end of May through Team Oregon.

For a scooter, I've been perusing the available models. I like the retro look like Vespa's but without the Vespa price tag. I lean towards a 150cc for versatility, but I'm not 100% on that until I actually get behind the... uh, handlebars. :)

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Clayton on April 17, 2009 at 9:09am: Hello Sierra

The scooter bug is a great thing. I have been on scooters for about 20 years now and love them. One of the best things is going down the road on a nice warm day. And I enjoy the wind in my face. I feel very free going now the road on my scooter. Also it's nice not to have to change gears. Most scooters are twist and go. But you can get one that are not twist and go. It all depends on what you want. Last summer I put about 5,000 miles on my scooter. That’s because I use it as much as I can when it's nice. This summer the Oregon scooter club has a lot of great rides coming up. So I might be doing even more miles this year.

I ride a Kymco Xciting 250cc

If you would like I would be more than happy to come meet and talk with you. So let me know. admstardata@comcast.net

Hope to hear from you.

Ride safe and I will see you on the road.

David; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Alan Horowitz on April 18, 2009 at 3:19pm: I also live in Tigard and ride the Vespa LX150 to work (also about 4 miles away). I took the Team Oregon class. It was excellent. After passing, I decided I would be better off with a scooter than a motorcycle for now (maybe forever). I'm a fair weather rider. Not interested in suffering at this point. Nothing better than a scooter ride on a scenic road in the nice spring weather. I like the west hills roads. I stay off Pacific Highway. Too dangerous for me.

Alan; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jeannie Ceciliani on April 19, 2009 at 6:07pm: HLLO Newbie. I'm a newbie too; and I also "wanted" the Vespa LX150 without the pricetag, so I got the Buddy 125cc. I chose that over the International Buddy 150 ONLY because I wanted a few extras, and the dollars were adding up. I live out in the Bethany area and just started riding April 10th - Yikes! I have my permit now and am signed up for Team Oregon on May 1-2-3. I love the Buddies as they allow me a comfortable flat-foot at stops. Two other "Buddy" lady-friends have them too, so yesterday we took them out Helvetia way for about a 30 mile ride. It was Wonderful! I have the white Buddy, Mr Buddy Bianco!

Ciao and I hope to see you out there!
Jinetta; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sierra Modro on April 21, 2009 at 5:12pm: Thanks for the replies! I'm still planning on being at the meet up on Sunday, so I hope to see people there. My biggest problem right now is that the soonest I can get into a Team Oregon riding class is over a month away. :( Since I'm reasonably certain I want at least a 150cc, I need that motorcycle endorsement to ride legally.

Jeannie - I'm eyeing the Buddy Internationals, so I hope to see one soon. The Buddys look like a fun option. Of course, so the the Piaggios. And several other options... I tend to like speed, so the faster models appeal, but I want to balance that with good mileage. And style. :)

Sierra; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Steve on May 7, 2009 at 7:47pm: I just got a SYM HD 200 and am having a blast! It is not the "retro" look, though. After your endorsement go and test ride several. This will give you an idea on how they handle, power, etc.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by OSC Admin on May 8, 2009 at 8:33am: There is a new 4-stroke Stella coming down the pipeline:

http://2strokebuzz.com/2009/05/the-new-stella-unveiled

Looks promising.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rick Fletcher on May 9, 2009 at 8:21am: Sierra - I sent you a priviate e-mail about a chance to get some riding in on Christie's 150. Check it out.

Rick
503-539-9148; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kyle on May 14, 2009 at 5:46pm: The Sym "Fiddle II" model is a nice retro looking scooter you might look into as well. I believe it's 125cc and well below the Vespa pricetag.

Sym seems to have a pretty good reputation. They are sold by the Scooter Station on MLK near the Convention Center. They have a website, here - http://www.scooterstation.com/index.php href="http://www.scooterstation.com/index.php">; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sierra Modro on May 26, 2009 at 11:54am: Thanks for all of the suggestions! I got a (nearly) disastrous first ride on a Honda Elite 150 (Thanks Rick!!!) where i managed to run over a curb and bend the wheel. :( Oops. I remain undaunted, however, and am trying to view it as a learning experience. I have my Team Oregon motorcycle class on June 18,20,21, so I'm hoping that I'll get my confidence back in that setting.

Still hoping to get a scooter, so I haven't been deterred yet.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jeannie Ceciliani on May 28, 2009 at 7:44pm: Sierra, I passed Team Oregon On May 1-2-3; and I had a licensed rider 'ride' my new scooter to the class while I followed in a car; we traded and she came back at the end of each class. They will let you use your own scooter for the class, but check with them in advance. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Scooters are weighted differently and you don't switch gears , and your brakes are in a different place on scooters than on motorcycles, so be prepared to mentally transpose this info, but you can do it. WARNING: Scooters have hardly any weight on the front, and although my Buddy is very quick off the line and very quick at stopping; a stupid instructor told me for the quick stop; "Put more front brake into it next time". I did, and immediately went down; 'still waiting for my parts to get in/July. I put little signs on my brakes to let me know which side is which one, and if they tell you to Put more front brake into it, beware. I stopped quicker than any of the cycles from the start; they should have never told me that. It hurts to go down. With that said, I love scooting around; luckily only an alignment has me on the streets, and chrome and white tape are holding the cracked pieces together until the parts arrive. I passed as my fall was during the exercises and not the testing. They said I need lots of practice, and I've since put about 200 miles on my "Buddafly", and it's still May! Everyone says there's no noticeable difference between the Buddy 125 and 150, there must be - but negligible; you're not going to race me off the line to find out. I'd like a Vespa one day; but I have to get tired of this one first and want to spend the money. That could take many, many years. So, give us your update! Good: for you taking the class. Bad: Don't use too much front brake for gosh sakes!. The Ugly; my Buddafly all bandaged up. I'm very glad I took the class with my scooter instead of a motorcycle; I already understood that I'm a scooter gal and have no desire to ride a motorcycle. You may have other ideas. good luck; ▶ Reply to This