I am looking for a cheap 50cc moped to buy for about 20 miles of commute and back twice-thrice a week.At first I wanted to get the Chinese ones on Amazon, but after reading about them apparently not being reliable/lasting long, I decided to get a used moped from a more reputable brand. Since I don't have any experience with mechanics and is quite lacking in funds, buying something that might break easily is not a good idea.I went on FB marketplace and found some good deals. There is :>2016 Vespa 50cc for $350>2020 Genuine Scooter Buddy 50cc for $799>2007 Genuine Scooter Buddy 50cc for $500The Vespa is the cheapest but also the most broken(see webm). Parts of it are cracked and the owner admits in the description "broken key but start up good and is in good condition".The 2020 Buddy is a little expensive in comparison, but almost like new.The 2007 Buddy is the perfect balance of affordable, from reputable company for reliable scooters, and does not appear cracked at all(the owner even says he had it repaired at a shop before listing).The problem is that the 2007 Buddy is located 73 miles away from me in a different city. The other ones are at least in the area and I could pick it up by transit. The hill from both cities is steep, so trying to go in bus and go back on the scooter might not be a good idea. I considered uShip but the lowest estimated quote is around 121 (average 211, highest 272).What would you recommend?
>>2030868I dont really know if a 50cc is enough for 20 miles. Sure it can but it will mostly be a misery.Maybe you can get yourself a 125cc 4stroke scooter anon?Much more reliable than carburated 2 strokes. Anyway, i would get the vespa personally.Getting replacement panels is cheap, you could swap the broke ones and paint them all in a uniform color if you want.Also maintenance on scooters is pretty easy, you can do all basic stuff with a ratchet and youtube vids.
>willing to learn/ fix as you goany of them are fine>super against the abovebest condition you can swing(higher priced).Look at mileage, age, and exterior wear.Oh, and tires. Now I wouldn't suspect people to ride these a ton, but most tires have an age on them so you can tell if how much it's been ridden just by that.Also, tires much over 10 years can be a little sketchy in the rain.Beyond all that the older it is the more certain things will age. Just like our skin rubber ages and offgasses, this means the 2007 model will soon have potential things that need to be replaced due to that.The vespa looks bad, so you can ensue it was treated bad, but if you are ambitious/willing you can fix things as it happens.Arm yourself with knowledge, but you won't really know till you ride, and have it long term. I rode a 150cc scooter for a while and the things I would tell you is don't flog it 24/7, and check the oil/replace it at whatever the manual recommend or earlier. Cheap kirkland/walmart oil is fine in it's correct weight.Oh, and if it's 2 stroke mix it right, use some sort of measuring device since when you mess up the mix it will run bad/worse/blow up.The vespa is at least running, but be prepared to have to buy a couple things soon, and bring some tools.Milk crates work well on those racks, or whatever "top box" you can scrounge.
>>2030868go with the newer one
>>2030868Of the three, I think the investment in the newer 2020 Buddy is the best choice. There are some quality of life improvement particularly in the lighting that are nice. The Buddys are also all CVT so it's just twist and go brainless operation.At 50ccs just as a heads up it will struggle to pull up big long hills unless you have some momentum going into them. Assuming it's used ask if the seller if they removed the restrictor. It's just a little air flow restriction in the exhaust, easy to remove with hand tools if they didn't and will get you easily another 10mph. Not too much more to squeeze out the engine, just often make sure your fuel mix is good, the tires are properly inflated, and the carb is clean.Remember to that you'll still need to have about 100 or so handy to do tax/title/notary. I think my insurance for my old Buddy is like 90 bucks for the year, I average about 70mpg in stop and go.
>>2030868The cost/benefit of scooters of any kind vs. e-bikes makes zero sense.
the answer is always a Super Cub®
>>2030931E-Bikes that will last are even more expensive than their moped equivalent though
>>2030950any moped can be electrified. and a battery + motor will ultimately be cheaper in long time and incomparably easier to maintain than fuel + fuel enginedirect drive motor in the wheel is generally an eternal thing if you do not overheat it, you can fill it with oil from corrosion. then, how much battery resource and electricity does 100 km of driving from the battery eat up, is cheaper, than how much fuel is spent on 100 km on fuel engine
>>2030950But these won't last he'll break it by June. He could just get an ebike for 799I told him to get a dorm but didn't listen
>>2030868Don't ruin your life man, that shit is obviously stolen with no key and a rattlecan paint job. These ideas are going from bad to worse. Maybe if you can't scrape together the money for the commute you should take a semester off and work the spring and summer and go back in the fall on-campus?
>>2030982when is your last day to drop without hurting your financial aid next semester? check that before w/d
>>2030890>Also maintenance on scooters is pretty easy, you can do all basic stuff with a ratchet and youtube vids.Good to know,Thanks for your advice it's noted.Perhaps I should consider a 125cc>>2030892Yes indeed the Vespa does look like it was tortured. But as you said knowledge could supersede these issues. Thanks for your advice it's noted.>>2030899>>2030917I think it would be the most reliable choice as well.Thank you both for your advice it's noted.(1/3)
>>2030931Do you think e-bikes would be reliable for 40 miles commute about 3 times a week?And in that case what would you recommend to look out for / to purchase that is within my budget?After doing some research I have seen that e-bikes tend to cost a lot because the motor+battery by themselves are expensive. In my case I would need range for at least 40 miles.I suppose the cheaper e-bike solution would then be to find a cheap conversion kit and battery and attach them to the cheapest used analog bike possible.Anyway thanks for this idea I will consider it as well.>>2030938pretty expensive for me but I'll try to look for used ones.>>2030955>any moped can be electrified. I suppose you meant any bike can be electrified?Yes that's what I was considering. Getting a cheap used bike and attaching motor+battery to it.But I haven't done much research yet.>and a battery + motor will ultimately be cheaper in long time and incomparably easier to maintain than fuel + fuel engineThis is an interesting point I had not considered before. Perhaps, I am failing to think on the long term as well, and being too hasty/anxious.(2/3)
>>2030969Once again anon, as I told you in the other thread, my bad if I did not properly consider your earlier point. It is indeed frustrating when you take time out of your day to give advice to someone who is less experienced, and they just brush it off with a dumb excuse. That being said even with a dorm I will need transportation to my job which is 21.5 miles away from my school, and that I do not believe is a bad excuse.Perhaps you will tell me to get another job that is closer to campus. And perhaps this is a good idea. But I don't think I can just leave like that, I have contract. And I highly doubt I will be able to get a job closer to campus, it was already hard getting what I currently have. But perhaps I am also refusing to try and get another job for the same reason I disregarded, at first, your very astute idea of simply subletting and getting a dorm closer.I will try to think this more thoroughly and avoid baseless, perhaps irrational excuses. Thanks.>>2030982>>2030983I appreciate your advice and it does make sense.That being said I absolutely cannot do that.I have transfer opportunities for Fall which I was very lucky to get, which is only for next Fall.If I don't fulfill certain requirements, which include not just GPA but also a certain number of credit hours, I will lose it.
