Are scooters heavier than small (125) bikes?

[Davros]

Hey all,

I'm after some advice from people on here that have owned scooters but also small 125cc motorbikes, like the CG 125.

Are scooters heavier to handle than these small bikes ? I'm thinking that with all the plastic panelling, width, and small wheels that scooters are generally a bit heavier than small bikes and need to be taken slower into corners etc ? But this may be wrong.

One thing I love and that is proving to be a great £600 is my Baotian BT50-9 .....but I went out on the Gilera Runner 125 for an hour today and I didn't enjoy it very much - it felt so heavy compared to the BT50 and I felt I had to take turns (and roundabouts) really slowly as the scooter felt hard to lean and steer..... It's also outrageously fast for a 125 scooter and a bit too responsive on the throttle for a first time 125.

So, I am thinking of selling the Gilera and either getting a lighter 125 traditional scooter (Yamaha, Honda, etc), or even a 125 Chinese scooter... I'm also starting to toy with the idea of getting a small 125 motorbike (with gears), like a CG125 or YBR125.....

Ultimately, I want a 125 that is well suited to me and to my current lack of experience as I want to keep it for a couple of years, while getting experience.... I don't think me and the Gilera have got off to a good start and I'm not sure it'll be a long term relationship !

Thanks for any advice,

David.

[Badobsession (the real one)]

How long have you been riding the gilera? you will get used to it ;D
Dont know about 125 scooters but cg125's are dog slow and not made for corners.

[Davros]

To be fair I've only been riding the Gilera 1 day, so you've got a point, I haven't given it a good run for it's money....

I think it's more to do with the age of the Gilera - it's 7 years old and I think I'm expecting it to be as smooth and tight as 3 week old chink scoot.

Also > Before the CBT I wasn't really interested in geared bikes but the Instructor was trying to talk me into moving away from scoots to geared bikes as soon as poss. (Only in a light-hearted way).... and I sat on one of their YBR125s and the sitting / riding position felt good.

So what does a man do ? The options I'm considering at the moment are :

- Selling the Gilera Runner and ;

- Buying a Non Italian 4 stroke 125 scoot (Yamaha, Honda, etc) second hand for about £800.
- Buying a Chinese 4 stroke 125 scooter (Baotioan, Hongdou, etc) new for about £800.
- Buying a used CG 125 (or similar) geared motorbike for about £800.
- Buying a Chinese Hongdou 125 geared motorbike (based on CG 125) new for £800.

HELP - SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT TO DO .... I used to be indecisive but now I'm not too sure !

[Badobsession (the real one)]

Give it a week then see how you feel, check it over as well there could be something making it feel heavier like worn tyres/wrong pressure or tight steering head bearings.

[Badobsession (the real one)]

I think the cg is about the best 125 fourstroke you can get for gaining good geared experience but they are a little slow and not quite as nimble as a scooter of the same size.

[Davros]

Cheers BadObsession, good advice. I have stuck the Gilera on eBay as there are a few things about it that I just don't feel suited to (for a first 125).

The posting is here, if anyone fancies a look at it :-

cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270003873109


The only bit I forgot to mention in th add is that I would consider an exchange for a geared 125 as well (as you say something basic like a CG til I get some proper experience) ..... so I'll have to add that bit in later!

Still torn between whether Iwant to stick with 125 scooters or get a bike, but I have decided that the Gilera is not for me.

[andyscooter]

i have stuck with it for a bit if i was you but thats just because i love mine

you may find hondas and yamahas are just as heavy as most 125's are about the same weight and most scooters arnt much slower then the gilera i tested about 5 over the last year or so.

hope you find somthing you like
i personally dont like geared bikes on the road as theres too much to remember at lights and junctions and i think you may have to take another cbt on a geared bike to ride it

[Davros]

yeah but andy your Runners a nice smooth 4-stroke! Have you tried the 2-strokes ? They are really twitchy on the throttle, when you're inexperienced and still building confidence on the road.

I also think it's the age of the bike - I just feel more comfortable on a newer 4-stroke scoot.

I'm not going to rush to buy something else in a hurry in case I make the same mistake again (and I have still got my shiny black Baotian to have some rides on in the meantime!) ..... but hopefully the Gilera should go quite quickly via eBay.

You don't need to take another CBT to ride as a learner on a geared bike, I asked the Instructor the same question. Completing a CBT means you can ride as a learner on any motocycle under 125cc (geared or auto) ..... to be honest, that's whats got me thinking about geared bikes - the fact that I can now ride one up to 125cc after the CBT !

For the full Motorcycle Practical test, you DO need to take it on a geared bike - if you take it on an Auto, you would only be able to rider auto bikes or scooters.