I’m expecting to buy a new scooter at some point in the not too distant future as my wife’s is rooted.
I’m looking at the Kymco G5 150 and the Racing 150, both 12" wheel versions.
My question is, are these the same scooter with different bodywork and different tyres (Racing has a 130 rear, G5 has 110 rear), or totally different scooters?
As they both seem to offer the same low level of performance, same layout and engine spec (superficially at least) I’m confused as to what the difference is aside from looks.
[quote=“jaame”]I’m expecting to buy a new scooter at some point in the not too distant future as my wife’s is rooted.
I’m looking at the Kymco G5 150 and the Racing 150, both 12" wheel versions.
My question is, are these the same scooter with different bodywork and different tyres (Racing has a 130 rear, G5 has 110 rear), or totally different scooters?
As they both seem to offer the same low level of performance, same layout and engine spec (superficially at least) I’m confused as to what the difference is aside from looks.
Does anyone know?[/quote]
They are a little bit different. The G5 should be a little lighter than the racing 150, but I know the frame on the Racing 150 is stronger. It needs to be because the Racings engine has better performace and will be a bit faster. I know more younger people prefer the Racing over the G5. Both are good scooters though. If I had to pick, I persoanlly would go with the racing.
Looked both these models. G5 is more comfortable and storage slightly bigger. Racing is more sporty and as above explained have little more powerful.
My wife used to riding 50cc and she wasn’t comfortable with these 2 heavier options but i really wanted to get racing and the practically i should have gotten the G5 but we bought the GT125 and very happy with it.
Thanks for the info. I was looking at the Racing for a while then they revamped the G5. I thought they were the same scooter and I prefer the look of the G5, it looks a lot lighter and thinner. My wife also says they are too big but the book weight for the scooter we have now is only 10kg less. Thankfully I’m the one that uses it every day so I can get what I want.
I suppose I’ll have to go and look them over more closely. Performance and looks are both important, but I’m tempted to say in my mind looks are slightly more so.
Anyone (Smelly?) know what they do at the wheel in comparison to each other?
So my next question is, how long does an average run of the mill 4 stroke scooter last?
My wife’s is 13 years old and has 71,000km on it. It’s pretty fucked in many ways but it always starts and has never let me down in the past 3 years and 20,000km.
Basically I want to plan into our savings when we are likely to have to drop the cash on a new one and I’d like some advice as to how long they tend to run for.
A colleague told me her old one was 20 years old, but when I look at them parked up I never see many with over 30,000km on the clock. Also my co-teacher said he dad won’t let her ride one past 50,000km for safety reasons (which could be serious coming from a Taiwanese bloke!).
[quote=“jaame”]So my next question is, how long does an average run of the mill 4 stroke scooter last?
My wife’s is 13 years old and has 71,000km on it. It’s pretty fucked in many ways but it always starts and has never let me down in the past 3 years and 20,000km.
Basically I want to plan into our savings when we are likely to have to drop the cash on a new one and I’d like some advice as to how long they tend to run for.
A colleague told me her old one was 20 years old, but when I look at them parked up I never see many with over 30,000km on the clock. Also my co-teacher said he dad won’t let her ride one past 50,000km for safety reasons (which could be serious coming from a Taiwanese bloke!).
Thoughts?[/quote]
I have a Cha Cha 50cc 14 years old with over 100k on it and it runs like a new one. But I maintain it. I fix problems before they get bad. I also don’t just change a bolt on a part that I know is going to break later just to save $$ for a month or 2, I change the entire part. The life duration will depend on you for the most part.
125cc and above Taiwanese scooters will run until you get sick of them so long as you do regular maintenance and repairs. The more expensive 50cc scooters will do likewise. The cheap 50cc models are POS and will fall apart. Outside the 'wan, you can buy PRC scooters… always a bad idea unless you’re willing to replace all the hoses and fluids upon delivery and constantly fix them. Based on my buddies who own Chinese scooters, even if the scooters are clones of Hondas, they aren’t Hondas.
[quote=“jaame”] Also my co-teacher said he dad won’t let her ride one past 50,000km for safety reasons (which could be serious coming from a Taiwanese bloke!).
Thoughts?[/quote]
Could also be serious bullshit coming from a (randomly selected) Taiwanese bloke, and, in the context of thinking about anything remotely technical, that’s generally the way to bet.
However, like most opinions, and especially most Taiwanese opinions, its likely based on "recieved wisdom/group experience " rather than actual thought, and that in turn is based on local norms for maintenance, which I believe are lash-it-up-when-it-breaks until you feel you are losing face because it isn’t shiny enough , then throw it away.
First principles/thought suggest there isn’t anything on a scooter, AFAIK, that can’t be replaced, so it’ll last as long as you can get spares and keep fitting them, or the fuel is no longer available.
I just don’t like the idea of pinning it wide open for long periods with my daughter on, only to have the frame snap or the engine fail in a bad way. I have enough money to buy a new one but I’d rather not spend it. If it’s unlikely to suffer a catastrophic failure at any point I’ll forget about it. Thanks for the peace of mind everyone.
The only catastrophic failures I’ve seen have been after collisions… frames broken in two, front of the scooter 20 m. from the rear of the scooter, ambulances, etc.
I’ve put over 30,000 km’s on my Dink and it never lets me down. Had some electrical problems and replaced the battery but the rest is mostly wear and tear.
I think “spontaneous” frame snap tends to imply metal fatigue, which is more likely with aluminium alloy frames which have a finite fatigue life. AFAIK there aren’t any ally scooters, (if there are they must be rare exotica) and I believe steel doesn’t suffer cumulative fatigue in the same way.
Bad engine failure leading to sudden lock-up (probably the worst case) is of course possible, though its more likely with 2-strokes which seize due to their marginal lubrication.
Its dangerous on a motorcycle because the rear wheel locks up, probably causing a crash.
On a scooter the automatic transmission disengages the rear wheel. I’ve often wondered if this happens fast enough at full speed to avoid an engine-seize “control excursion”. I’d guess yes, but I don’t know for sure.
There are reports of dangerous suspension failures due to bad design on eg the BWS 100 rear shock/swingarm, but IIRC there are warning signs, so if you check the machine occaisionally you should dodge that one.
[quote=“Ducked”]
On a scooter the automatic transmission disengages the rear wheel. I’ve often wondered if this happens fast enough at full speed to avoid an engine-seize “control excursion”. I’d guess yes, but I don’t know for sure.[/quote]
Yes, from experience the engine disengages fast enough (with lightened rollers and flywheel). maybe not top speed but still some 60 km/h or so.
[quote=“urodacus”][quote=“Ducked”]
On a scooter the automatic transmission disengages the rear wheel. I’ve often wondered if this happens fast enough at full speed to avoid an engine-seize “control excursion”. I’d guess yes, but I don’t know for sure.[/quote]
Yes, from experience the engine disengages fast enough (with lightened rollers and flywheel). maybe not top speed but still some 60 km/h or so.
On a motorcycle: no, again from experience.[/quote]
Do you think the lightening makes a significant difference to the speed it disengages?
I’ve never worked on a scooter trans and have only a basic understanding of how they operate.
