Why are scooters such crap designs?

[timwilky]

Well the nephew has one as he is only 16, told him he should have got a fizzy from my youth but people want silly money for them.


So this thing he has is 3 years old and done 2500 miles. If you thought Suzuki used cheese for fasteners and could rust. Just look at the Gorgonzola that Aprilia use.

However it is the design that infuriates me.

1) they are that small that even bent down you have to get on your belly to work on them.

OK, first problem was a U/S starter. We strip off the plastic as best we could and could not find the damm thing. Turns out to be under the rear hugger.

2) To get the rear wheel off, you need to remove the exhaust,

3) to remove the exhaust you need to fight corroded nuts with no room to swing a cat, a 3/8 drive socket is too big to fit round the down pipe and I dare not use my 1/4 drive with a swivel as I am sure the required torque will snap the drive.


It makes Suzuki's look logical and well designed

[Dangerous Dave]

Designed to be cheap, to buy and manufacture.

You are right about the fasteners on the Aprillia's but is does get better on their motorbikes.

[suzsv650]

its a prilla...

[454697819]

its a prilla...

not its a scooter made by paiggio with an aprilia badge on it..

scooters are crap..

I lost so many fasteners from catherines but it still keeps going..

[Daimo]

And i've had a Piaggio and Gilera and both had exactly the same problems, big time.

In fact, i went through 2 standard exhausts, even though it was washed weekly. Riding home a 2 stroke 125 for 13 miles with a hole the size of a 50p did get some looks.

Replacing bloody rollers was the worst though, and drivebelts, as I never had an airgun.

[Wayluya]

I love my Aprillia Scooter. (125)

Bought it brand new 7 years ago. Didn't take long to start looking like sh#t. and for the last 2/3 years has been leaking oil and getting progressively worse.

I am deciding whether to wait for it to stop or flog it whilst still running.

Why keep it? It's just soooooooo practical :D can carry loads and loads, especially take aways (my own - not delivery :rolleyes:) and keeps me feet and legs dry.

Probably buy another Scooter eventually. But this time Japanese. probably Honda :cool:.......albeit I do like the Gilera 3 wheelers - but just a bit too wide and no more Italian build "quality" for me :D

http://www.scootercrazy.com/images/gilera-fuoco3.jpg

[Wayluya]

http://www.scootercrazy.com/images/gilera-fuoco2.jpg

The black one looks better. Wonder what my chance are of a test ride? :smt045

[northwind]

I love those 3-wheelers, wish I could afford one for commuting on :cool:

What do they make scooter exhausts out of? It's incredible how fast they rust, even compared to the rest of their monkey metal carcasses.

[kwak zzr]

i think my dads cygnus x 125 is a real hoot to ride! never worked on it tho.

[tanis34]

http://www.scootercrazy.com/images/gilera-fuoco2.jpg

The black one looks better. Wonder what my chance are of a test ride? :smt045
i would rather test drive the lady lol:smt077:smt055

[dizzyblonde]

doing a track day on one o those could be interesting...matt wonders if the lady in rubber does track days:rolleyes:...think hes in need of some more tramadol:smt099

[tanis34]

doing a track day on one o those could be interesting...matt wonders if the lady in rubber does track days:rolleyes:...think hes in need of some more tramadol:smt099
im thinking along the same limes as matt lol:toss:

[Daimo]

I used to see those 3 wheelers in London. Man they look lame, usually ridden by city yuppies that can't ride a 2 wheeler. They can't even filter through traffic properly, might as well be in a car.

Oh, my old Piaggio done 35,000+ miles though, and the spark plug lead was held together with insulation tape. Every so often it would die, and i'd need to re-connect it on the hard shoulder.

Even better was sitting right up coaches asses to maintain 70mph in the slipstream opposed to the 65mph the bike would do on its own.

Ahhhh happy youthfull madness days. Even towed it to a bike shop, behined a car, whilst i rode the ped :lol: :lol:

Would not do it ever again!!!

[Tomtoms]

they rust so fast as they are mild steel.

My mate has a scooter (trying to convince him to get a real bike!! haha) and he spent about £80 on a crappy 'sports' exhaust. its rusted already after about a month. i cant remember how much the stainless steel one was but obviously a lot more!!