"Retro" Style Scooters, >50cc

zero_dgz · 04-21-2022, 02:34 PM

Preferably at least 150. So, I may be in the market for a new scoot for the wife soon. Currently she has a Honda CH50 "Metropolitan," which is really a fantastic machine but at 49cc is... slow. To put it mildly. She's getting frustrated with the slothfulness of the little motor, especially on hills. It goes 40 MPH on paper -- on flat ground -- but once you get to an incline 25 MPH is about all there is on the menu at wide open throttle. Yes, I'm sure I could diddle with variator weights and rollers and so on and so forth but I think down that road lies madness.

Of course I have no shortage of stuff to ride on around here but the problem is that A) she's small, like 5-foot-nothing, so standover height is really a big issue, and B) she's just about determined she's not about anything with a clutch and gears.

The other limiting factor is that she really likes the old school/retro look like her Metropolitan. It is unlikely I will be able to sell her on anything with the current angular mantis face look that seems to be popular among the various maxi-scooters these days. (And a maxi- may be too big for her, anyway.)

This leaves us with...

- A Znen/Amigo F-10 150 or similar
- Find some used piece of crap that's not 49cc, with which I have had no luck
- Grab an AliExpress GY-6 150cc and attempt to shove it in the Metropolitan?

- Shell out the big bucks for a new Vespa or Piaggio

Or... ???

That's where you guys come in. Does anyone know of any really great retro lookin' models that are available in the US (and US street legal, but my state seems pretty lax given that I rammed through an RXB250 and got a plate for it)?

I am kind of digging the F-10 because it has disk brakes, ABS, and slightly larger tires than typical. The Metro has 10" wheels, dual drum brakes with cables, and no ABS. But if I'm missing some other option I'm all ears.

wheelbender6 · 04-21-2022, 03:02 PM

Genuine Buddy 125. I'm going on 9 years of riding mine.

zero_dgz · 04-22-2022, 07:54 AM

An interesting option of which I was not aware. The Buddy Kick looks nice, too. Seems like I'll have to put up with buying from a dealership if we decide we want one of those and all the BS that entails. The nearest one is over 200 miles away!

wheelbender6 · 04-22-2022, 09:26 AM

The kick is probably better if you don’t plan on any engine mods.
I f you like to tinker and tune, the Buddy works better because it has a carb and no ECU.

zero_dgz · 04-22-2022, 10:37 AM

Nah, this is going to be gas and go for the missus. I have my own stuff to tinker with. Her Metro is also fuel injected which she likes. No messing with chokes. It's got like three horsepower over the base model as well.

Matt DeGroat · 04-24-2022, 04:49 PM

I was in the same boat last year. We came across a new Zuma 125 for about 2800. It doesn't have the cute look like a metropolitan, but the build quality is really good, and it keeps up with my "china" bikes. I know she hates the Mantis look, but my wife and her friends really love it.

04-21-2022, 02:34 PM	#1
zero_dgz Join Date: Jan 2020 Posts: 247	"Retro" Style Scooters, >50cc Preferably at least 150. So, I may be in the market for a new scoot for the wife soon. Currently she has a Honda CH50 "Metropolitan," which is really a fantastic machine but at 49cc is... slow. To put it mildly. She's getting frustrated with the slothfulness of the little motor, especially on hills. It goes 40 MPH on paper -- on flat ground -- but once you get to an incline 25 MPH is about all there is on the menu at wide open throttle. Yes, I'm sure I could diddle with variator weights and rollers and so on and so forth but I think down that road lies madness. Of course I have no shortage of stuff to ride on around here but the problem is that A) she's small, like 5-foot-nothing, so standover height is really a big issue, and B) she's just about determined she's not about anything with a clutch and gears. The other limiting factor is that she really likes the old school/retro look like her Metropolitan. It is unlikely I will be able to sell her on anything with the current angular mantis face look that seems to be popular among the various maxi-scooters these days. (And a maxi- may be too big for her, anyway.) This leaves us with... - A Znen/Amigo F-10 150 or similar - Find some used piece of crap that's not 49cc, with which I have had no luck - Grab an AliExpress GY-6 150cc and attempt to shove it in the Metropolitan? - Shell out the big bucks for a new Vespa or Piaggio Or... ??? That's where you guys come in. Does anyone know of any really great retro lookin' models that are available in the US (and US street legal, but my state seems pretty lax given that I rammed through an RXB250 and got a plate for it)? I am kind of digging the F-10 because it has disk brakes, ABS, and slightly larger tires than typical. The Metro has 10" wheels, dual drum brakes with cables, and no ABS. But if I'm missing some other option I'm all ears.
	0

04-21-2022, 03:02 PM	#2
wheelbender6 Join Date: May 2015 Location: Houston area Posts: 1,902	Genuine Buddy 125. I'm going on 9 years of riding mine. __________________ "Its not WHAT you ride; its THAT you ride" Last edited by wheelbender6; 04-21-2022 at 08:54 PM. Reason: Add a sentence.
	1

04-22-2022, 09:26 AM	#4
wheelbender6 Join Date: May 2015 Location: Houston area Posts: 1,902	The kick is probably better if you don’t plan on any engine mods. I f you like to tinker and tune, the Buddy works better because it has a carb and no ECU. __________________ "Its not WHAT you ride; its THAT you ride"
	0

04-22-2022, 07:54 AM	#3
zero_dgz Join Date: Jan 2020 Posts: 247	An interesting option of which I was not aware. The Buddy Kick looks nice, too. Seems like I'll have to put up with buying from a dealership if we decide we want one of those and all the BS that entails. The nearest one is over 200 miles away!
	0

04-22-2022, 10:37 AM	#5
zero_dgz Join Date: Jan 2020 Posts: 247	Nah, this is going to be gas and go for the missus. I have my own stuff to tinker with. Her Metro is also fuel injected which she likes. No messing with chokes. It's got like three horsepower over the base model as well.
	0

04-24-2022, 04:49 PM	#6
Matt DeGroat Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: New York Posts: 43	I was in the same boat last year. We came across a new Zuma 125 for about 2800. It doesn't have the cute look like a metropolitan, but the build quality is really good, and it keeps up with my "china" bikes. I know she hates the Mantis look, but my wife and her friends really love it.
	0