Faults:

When I first got the scooter (brand new), it gave me lots of trouble when trying to get it going. It started well, always on the first try the first time I started it for the day. But when I turned the throttle, the scooter would barely move. If I turned the throttle up too much, the engine shut off completely. I’d ease the throttle up slowly, and the scooter’s engine would rev up and down while the scooter moved back and forth about 1 or 2 inches. Finally, after about 15 minutes of warming up, the scooter would go. If I had to stop at a light or a stop sign, the scooter took about 30-60 seconds to get going again. It turned out that the carburetor needed a sonic cleaning. The dealer did it at no charge.

GENERAL MINUSES

If you ride it for a distance then shut off the engine for a short while (as in a trip to pick up a few things at the grocery store), it has a lot of trouble starting up again.

The gas gauge is not reliable. The needle travels the downside of the gauge much faster than the upside. Translation: 30 miles of travel might take the needle from full to half-full, but it would only need another 10 miles of travel to take the needle from half-full to empty.

Its top speed up a 30-degree incline is about 20mph.

When you fill up the gas tank, the nozzle drips badly when you remove it from the tank. You have to hold the nozzle over the tank for a few seconds after fueling up to avoid dripping gasoline all over the scooter and yourself.

The acceleration is uneven. Sometimes when you turn the throttle up, the scooter slows down first (sometimes for as much as 30 seconds), then it speeds up quickly. This can be a problem if you’re trying dart into moving traffic. After about 5-10 minutes of warming up and riding (shorter in warm weather, longer in cold weather), the acceleration improves.

It’s not attractive and inspires no affection from its owner.

General Comments:

GENERAL PLUSES

It was cheap. I got mine on sale for about $1600, taxes and delivery included.

It has a back rest that doubles as a buddy seat.

It comes with a cargo rack already installed.

It’s quiet for a motorized bike.

It has lighted dials and a headlight with both a high and low beam. It makes night riding convenient.

Riding the scooter recharges the battery.

The speedometer shows both miles and kilometers.

It has good sturdy mirrors (but they have a blind spot, just like a car's).

Good mileage.

Apparently, it’s durable. It got blown over off its stand one windy morning. I found it laying on its side in the parking lot. A little gasoline had leaked out. The scooter sustained a few scratches and a slightly bent brake handle, but it still worked perfectly.

MILEAGE

It probably gets at least 50mpg, maybe more. I ride back and forth to work (about a mile each way), and make a couple of 5-mile trips weekly, and a half-gallon of gas lasts me 2 weeks.

SAFETY

If the scooter leans too much to the side, the motor shuts off.

If the scooter bounces around too much, the motor shuts off.

The gas cap requires a key to open it.

The handlebars have limits to how far it can be turned to the left or the right, so you can’t oversteer or turn too sharply.

HANDLING

Dry Pavement – Handles well at all speeds.

Wet Pavement – Handles well, but slow down as you would in a car.

Dirt (on pavement) – Fishtails at moderate speeds, maintains control at slow speeds.

Ice – Handles surprisingly well at slow speeds when going in a straight line and making wide turns. I did not dare try to go fast or make sharp turns.

Snow and slush – Handles poorly at any speed. Fishtails even when going in a straight line at speeds as slow as 5mph.

Faults:

Carburetor was leaking fuel onto the ground, due to a defective housing.

Muffler has begun to rust and has been repainted.

General Comments:

This scooter has a back rest, and is very comfortable to ride. Its high height and large 12-inch wheels provide solid handling.