Advice on Low Maintenance Scooter or Bike

[howpeter]

 

Hi Everyone, I started riding a scooter about 5 years now and it was a Vespa [Excel 150].

Next year I will be turning sixty years of age and my 1^st main concern is ‘safety’ and low maintenance cost. I have no experience in scooters or bikes, hoping to get some advice on which model is best for me. I would also prefer non-auto gear as I think it is expensive if needed any repair.

Many Thanks!

[adesmond2]

51 minutes ago, howpeter said:

 

Hi Everyone, I started riding a scooter about 5 years now and it was a Vespa [Excel 150].

Next year I will be turning sixty years of age and my 1^st main concern is ‘safety’ and low maintenance cost. I have no experience in scooters or bikes, hoping to get some advice on which model is best for me. I would also prefer non-auto gear as I think it is expensive if needed any repair.

Many Thanks!

Hi Peter.. sorry.. I might have understand you incorrectly.. but let me rephrase.

 

You have started riding a scooter for 5 years till now.. & It used to be a vespa excel 150. (Correct?)

But at the same time you have 0 experience in scooter or bikes? (This phrase doesn't matched up with your first phrase 5 years of experience?)

Or you mean 0 experience in maintenance?

 

So you are turning 60 year olds soon and you are looking to buy a bike.

1st concern safety - Understood

You also preferred low maintenance cost aka no auto gear - understood.

[howpeter]

23 minutes ago, adesmond2 said:

Hi Peter.. sorry.. I might have understand you incorrectly.. but let me rephrase.

 

You have started riding a scooter for 5 years till now.. & It used to be a vespa excel 150. (Correct?)

But at the same time you have 0 experience in scooter or bikes? (This phrase doesn't matched up with your first phrase 5 years of experience?)

Or you mean 0 experience in maintenance?

 

So you are turning 60 year olds soon and you are looking to buy a bike.

1st concern safety - Understood

You also preferred low maintenance cost aka no auto gear - understood.

Hi Adesmond2, thank you for your quick reply and I am very sorry for not written clearly.

Query 1: Yes

Query 2: The only experience I have is Vespa Excel 150, and no knowledge in others.

[adesmond2]

21 minutes ago, howpeter said:

Hi Adesmond2, thank you for your quick reply and I am very sorry for not written clearly.

Query 1: Yes

Query 2: The only experience I have is Vespa Excel 150, and no knowledge in others.

No prob.. we all started somewhere on website/forums..  

If you willing to learn about more.. you can consider the following bikes

CB150R

MT15

XSR155

 

All above bikes not bad.. at the same time they are easily repair at most shops..  Unless you wan to go back to Vepsa? 

Bike = quite hard to say about safety point of view.. to non-bikers, all bikes are not safe.. To us bikers.. we wan something that can speed up fast enough? 

Given your age of 60.. if you wan to try out gear shifting vs your current vespa (I believe it's auto?) The above bikes are the "best" 2B in the market.. seat not too high, not too underpowered compared with vespa..  

[howpeter]

16 hours ago, adesmond2 said:

No prob.. we all started somewhere on website/forums..  

If you willing to learn about more.. you can consider the following bikes

CB150R

MT15

XSR155

 

All above bikes not bad.. at the same time they are easily repair at most shops..  Unless you wan to go back to Vepsa? 

Bike = quite hard to say about safety point of view.. to non-bikers, all bikes are not safe.. To us bikers.. we wan something that can speed up fast enough? 

Given your age of 60.. if you wan to try out gear shifting vs your current vespa (I believe it's auto?) The above bikes are the "best" 2B in the market.. seat not too high, not too underpowered compared with vespa..  

Good Morning Adesmond2, thanks very much for the recommendation. Searching through Google, I gathered the following information. It says 6-speed, does this mean that it is manual gear?

CB150R: 149cc, 6 speed constant mesh

MT15: 155cc, Constant mesh- 6 speed

XSR155: 155cc, 6 speed transmission

Actually, I don't drive fast so speed is not an issue for me. What I hate is the waiting time on public transport. Since I was at a very young age, I think it was eighteenth if I had recalled correctly, I already started driving pickup but after my business failed, I got no other choice but to turn to bike.

Wanted to get some things at Bedok Central yesterday and I saw a bike that actually caught my attention while at the multi-storey car park. It is a Sym with a flat front floor panel which I like a lot, as I can place big items on it.

Is this bike recommended? Please advise. Thank you

[adesmond2]

1 hour ago, howpeter said:

Good Morning Adesmond2, thanks very much for the recommendation. Searching through Google, I gathered the following information. It says 6-speed, does this mean that it is manual gear?

CB150R: 149cc, 6 speed constant mesh

MT15: 155cc, Constant mesh- 6 speed

XSR155: 155cc, 6 speed transmission

Actually, I don't drive fast so speed is not an issue for me. What I hate is the waiting time on public transport. Since I was at a very young age, I think it was eighteenth if I had recalled correctly, I already started driving pickup but after my business failed, I got no other choice but to turn to bike.

Wanted to get some things at Bedok Central yesterday and I saw a bike that actually caught my attention while at the multi-storey car park. It is a Sym with a flat front floor panel which I like a lot, as I can place big items on it.

Is this bike recommended? Please advise. Thank you

Morning.. no worries..  

Indeed.. all the above that I've recommended is manual gear.. based on your first post? You mentioned you prefer non-auto gear? Did I got it incorrectly?

Completely understood on the waiting time on public transfer.. just by waiting for the bus and train.. (about 30min waiting time in total) I could travel from one end to another end of SIngapore already..  Back in the days, waiting time was even longer.. now waiting time has been cut short.. but the crowd.. aiyo.. you literally need to stand even if it's a long/short distance.. sometimes even when carry my kid.. no space to sit also.. =.=''' 

I found out that the sym bike with flat floor panel should be GTS 200.

https://www.carousell.sg/p/sym-gts-200-coe-until-july-2029-1180673016/?t-id=823777_1675378357104&t-referrer_browse_type=search_results&t-referrer_filter_category=1595&t-referrer_page_type=search&t-referrer_request_id=f42oBXoa4ul7R_CN&t-referrer_sort_by=popular&t-tap_index=17

 

I don't ride auto bike because my favourite workshop doesn't repair auto bikes.. so I did a few search.. but you know la.. you search for issues/ problems.. then all come up.. you might want to search abit more on the bike lor.. 

Keep us posted if you need any others advise or help..  

[howpeter]

Yes, you are totally correct. Thank you very much for your assistance in searching and investigations.

When I found the NEA’s incentive of $3500 is ending this 5^th Apr 2023, I begin to nervous and wanted to quickly get another bike and scrap the old Vespa. I have no experience with any other bikes and my only knowledge is the repair cost for auto-gear bike is very expensive. Every time there is an auto-gear problem, the minimum repair cost is above $100.

Since yesterday, I began to be attentive to look at other bikes when I park my bike in car parks. So that’s how I discovered the Sym. But if this is an auto-gear bike, I will have to re-consider others.

[adesmond2]

6 minutes ago, howpeter said:

Yes, you are totally correct. Thank you very much for your assistance in searching and investigations.

When I found the NEA’s incentive of $3500 is ending this 5^th Apr 2023, I begin to nervous and wanted to quickly get another bike and scrap the old Vespa. I have no experience with any other bikes and my only knowledge is the repair cost for auto-gear bike is very expensive. Every time there is an auto-gear problem, the minimum repair cost is above $100.

Since yesterday, I began to be attentive to look at other bikes when I park my bike in car parks. So that’s how I discovered the Sym. But if this is an auto-gear bike, I will have to re-consider others.

No worries la..

ahhh.. same same.. my bike was scrap 2022 cuz a dateline was capped on it.. =.='' I still originally wanted to keep as a vintage bike.. since it's 20 years old by 2022.. but need 35 years old to keep as vintage.. and not in time.. haix..

Meanwhile, yup.. auto bikes tend to go above $100.. if you really want to keep repair cost to the minimum.. the 3 bikes I recommended should be sufficient normal bikes dun have that flat panel below.. flat floor panel only auto bikes.. I would suggest to try to mount one of those bikes first.. cuz getting up and down could be a issue with lower back pain.. (I have lower back pain thus I know) but now used to it.. LOLOL...

[howpeter]

Thanks very much for the extra info and the caution. I also have lower back pain that has been with me for years. Take care and be safe always

[adesmond2]

4 minutes ago, howpeter said:

Thanks very much for the extra info and the caution. I also have lower back pain that has been with me for years. Take care and be safe always

no worries.. anything just comment and we will comment when we are available..