Re: to anyone who knows their shit

• Author: Linda (---.106.124.24.cm.sunflower.com)
• Verified User: mycider
• Date Posted: 03-22-08 19:56

I know before I even start that this is going to be long. I can feel it in my bones. So sorry in advance.

i’m hoping this is where i can find me some decent information from objective people.

We’re not objective. We’re completely biased towards mopeds—like the kind with pedals, especially vintage ones. The general consensus here is that new scooters are lame and crappy, especially the off-brand ones. (Read this if you want a review of some scooters.)

there are no dealers posted for the entire state of maine so i have to buy online.

If you’re looking to buy a true moped—the kind we will inevitably tell you to get—you aren’t going to find much in the way of “dealers” online. There are some Tomos dealers who still sell mopeds (or scooters that are close enough for most people here) but nobody really “deals” vintage mopeds online. The closest thing you’ll find is your local moped hoarder, whoever that turns out to be.

i’m brand spanking new to the world of mopeds so i’ll need one with easy to figure out maintenance.

Well, that’s cool. One of the best things about the older mopeds is that they’re so simple. Even if you know absolutely nothing about anything mechanical, you’ll probably still be all right because of the great resource that is the repair forum. (I know this from experience, trust me.)

something that can store well in cold weather.

Yup, you can store a moped just fine. If you look up at the top of the page and click on resources > articles you’ll find a write-up on winter storage. Everyone has their own little tricks and tweaks for the process, but it’s not hard.

i dig the classic style but are they as breakable as they look?

Absolutely not. They’re practically indestructible. There are still a bunch of them buzzing around 30 years after they were made, which is a testament to their quality. Do you think some pussy little POS scooter is still going to be around 30 years from now? I don’t.

maine’s limit is 50cc or less (THAT narrows it down) with 10" wheels… not only will i be puttering around town, but would like to travel longer distances.

This has potential to be contradictory. A moped will be 50cc or less (stock, anyway) and will definitely have wheels greater than 10” in diameter. Being 50cc, it’ll be great for buzzing around town (particularly on the more residential roads because people get pissed when you’re going 25 or 30 on a 45mph road). 50cc mopeds certainly CAN go longer distances, but you have to plan your route carefully to make sure you won’t screw up traffic or put yourself in an unnecessarily dangerous situation. Also, keep in mind that although (vintage) mopeds are very well-built, they can and do break down. It’s always a good idea to have someone on call for those longer trips, just in case something happens.

So does your dream moped exist? I can’t really say. If you’re looking at the vintage route, you should probably stick with Puch or Tomos. Those are generally reliable, easy to work on, and easy to find parts for. (Check the photo section up at the top there for pics if you’d like).

If you want to go the moped route but you want something new, you should check out the new Tomos mopeds.

If you want a scooter, you should ask this question on a scooter forum (like scootersbbs or scootdawg) because they know more about scooters than we do. I really hope you don’t end up buying some crappy scooter from some crappy online scooter store. If you do though, at least make sure you know how much shipping is going to cost and where/how they’re going to ship it—to a shipping center, to your door, with liftgate service or w/out, etc. Also make sure that you won’t void the warranty by putting it together yourself. I’ve looked at a lot of scooter sites, and my conclusion (even though I’ve never bought from/contacted/purchased/used either half of this analogy, so this is total speculation) is that online scooter stores are kind of like diet pills. They all say they work and are great and better than the competition, but none of them really are.

My vote for your new ride is either a vintage Puch or Tomos or a new Tomos (moped line, not scooter line!) Remember though, I’m biased; don’t take my word for everything.

If I didn’t fuck up any of that formatting, I deserve a cookie. And if you actually read all that (any/all of you) you deserve a cookie too.