scooter owners or people who know about scooters.

[OutHouse]

there are many brands out there and two people here at work bought the Yamaha Zuma last year when gas was high.

so which brands would you stay away from?

 

[Kaido]

Vespa is always a good choice. If you like the classics, they aren't too hard to work on and you can do a lot of customizations to them. Vespa also makes newer models that are way nice. Honda has several...if you're looking for cheap & don't mind ugly, check out the Ruckus.

 

[waggy]

i had a few honda scooters. never had aproblem with them. as kaido said Vespa is a good choice. they have been around forever

trying to talk the wife into this one.

 

[sager66]

Check your regional craigslist > for sale > motorcycles for used values on Honda, Yamaha, and Kymco. Any piece of machinery is a "pay your money and take your chances" situation for potential breakdowns, but it really helps to have local dealer support. Realistically asses your speed requirements and select a suitable engine size. Approximate top speeds (on level ground, slower on hills) . . 50cc - 35mph . . 150cc - 55mph . . 250cc - 75mph. Depending on your mechanical skills, a China scooter from an online vendor might be an option . . look at Bandit.

Don't forget to budget for proper safety gear . . this video shows why. Also, realistically asses the "calculated risk" of a serious injury.