I am from Thessaloniki, living the last 12 years in Nicosia, Cyprus. Here it never rains, and there are no potholes on the road. What else can you ask when you ride a motorcycle. I ride my Nmax 125 everyday to work and back. 20' total time and all others stuck in traffic. The locals can't understand me, they think scooters are for delivery guys. When I start loading stuff from the grocery, under the seat and the top case people don't believe in their eyes. Once you get accustomed you can't get back in a car, you feel stagnant.
@@RideWithAlex For the same mentality/benefits but riding with 2 persons, what would you suggest? A 300cc scooter, or a smaller one? I ask because when CC's go up so does dimensions, and thus manouverability fades away...
@@lamondaforestry depends how congested the city is and how much you and your passenger weigh. But usually for a tight city even a 125 will do the job well 2-up
When riding a motorcycle on wet, muddy roads, the front wheel throws water and mud on the engine and radiator and my feet and legs. And my feet and legs are exposed to the cold wind. But a scooter's front shield deflects the rain and mud and cold wind. But that shield isn't good on very hot days. That's when I appreciate a naked motorcycle. I would much rather go cruising on a scooter, than on an 800 pound Harley or Indian. A scooter can be belt driven. So you don't have to clean a chain. It's automatic. So no changing gears, and no clutch lever. Just twist the throttle and cruise.
Nice video. I got a really good deal on a Honda PCX150 with less than a1k mi. It is WAY more fun in urban/city riding than my 1100 Shadow. Plus, the 150 gets between 90 & 100 mpg & will do 70mph. I put the larger aftermarket touring windscreen on it, which improved the nasty weather ride tremendously. Like you said, I don't intend to be without a scooter as long as I can ride. Personally, I think the 150 is the best bang for the buck for smaller folks & the 250 or 300 for the folks around your size.
Unfortunately the understanding that you need a scooter comes only through buying a big bike. I had doubts that I will sell my Vespa because all I need is a BMW R1250GSA and it was my biggest mistake. Now I am selling the BMW.
You certainly are a risk taker in traffic Alex. Love my Kymco Agility scooter 300cc. Previous scooters I've owned are Vespa 150ie, Suzuki 125cc, and Gilera Fuoco 500. Kymco is awesome value for money in Australia.
What do you think about qjmotors , do you have any experience with them? its very tempting to buy one with water cooling and just rip it in the city and for some longer trips also
I have Honda Monkey, except of lack of storage is the best. I use Yamaha XVZ 1300 Royal Star Venture for city erands too because of storage and lower consumption then car hah. But tight spaces no no no :-)))
Boy you know how to ride that scooter funny thing is Alex I normally ride a blackbird but ride my wife's burgman 400 more and more keep up the good reviews you seem down to earth with your reviews
I have my Honda PCX160 as my daily commuter scooter and I can testify that having a scooter is a life hack especially here in the Philippines where the traffic is worse.
I've owned PCX125 for 3 months, and made 5.700km for that short time, just loved it, unfortunately we don't have 160cc version in EU, and 125cc was a little to weak (not slow, weak for uphill)...
@@andrewbozhozr you know, you can order honda original cylinder block kit to upgrade your 125 to 150 or 160, everything is the same between 125 and 160 except the cylinder block. or even better, you can order 63mm performance package from SEA and nearly double your pcx power output..
Spot on, man. Sooner or later, romanians will have to move to 2 wheels, even in winter, especially in crowded cities. There is a suburb in Cluj, Floresti, which competes succesfully with Bucharest in this regard. 10 -12 km in more than an hour, average. Sometimes 1.5, at rush hour. In the same time you can get to 150-170km away from the same place, using the highway. Great reviews and English!
I have 50cc Sprint Max with kit on 80cc. It goes like crazy. I drive it everyday here in Belgrade, Serbia. It maked my life easier in any way. With it i drive 25min max from A to B. Bikes are not for city. Scooters are real deal. Great topic and video Alex. Cheers
Another side effect/reality of the travel time is that during that journey, you are spend a lot more time moving. When you are in a car in traffic, if you are crawling forward it is better than being stopped, well the scooter is moving, moving, moving and that's much better
I have the city grip 2 on my scooter, they are the best. But i once felt down in a mall parking lot where they have those painted roads, i have abs but no traction control. Was wet on the floor and i couldnt save it, got me by surprise :). I've been on my scooter for 3 years now and only use the car if it snows.
Yes it is right what you mentioned about saving time & fuel on scooter or motorcycle, than a car going to work daily, however this is applicable perhaps in Europe. But in our case in the middle east during the summer the temperatures reach 50 C' & 100 % humidity, believe me it is completely different story. Thanks for the video and awaiting your journey.
@@RideWithAlex 😄👍 will actually bicker will always be bicker , & for my self I never stop riding any season no matter what, but in the summer it's really difficult to ride for long trips specially in the noon time.
I have a yamaha xjr 1300, suzuki gsr 600, a yamaha 400 majesty and a piaggio x10 350. My ride, almost Always the Piaggio. Love it. Even for shopping . Quick, economical and easy to ride. No clutch. Great.
I’m looking at getting a scooter maybe towards the end of the year or early next year. How many times do you see a car being driven with 1 person in it. More people should get a scooter, it would help with climate change.
I ride bikes and scooters but when it rains I'd rather just wait for it to stop because I hate having to put a raincoat on And also where I live it gets scorching hot even for a quick ride I'll usually end up suntanned and wish I'd drive a car instead Except for those two situations scooters really are fantastic little machines to travel around the city
Absolutely agree, scooters are great for urban areas, especially when they're very congested. Recently bought a yamaha xmax300 which might eventually replace our second car.
Splitting lanes is more then allowed here. I'm not doing anything special, that's how you ride scoots in the city in Europe. I know in America it's not this way.
I rented a 125cc scooter in Bali, it maxed out my vacation stats. I could explore 4 times more places. I felt like a low fly bird among horses, cows and elephants.
Miles and SMILES 😊 & pick up even more with all the money you're saving. I'm 58 & own a 2007 SYM RV 250- Blue streak & 2017 Suzuki Burgman 650-White lightning & a 1979 10th anniversary Pontiac Trans Am 400-4 speed, silver bullet that gets about 10 MPG & two 1999-Ford pickup trucks one 2WD one 4WD & two pedal bikes One upright one recumbent & a couple firearms💥 & Im TOTALLY SERIOUS!! Why so many modes of transportation it's because there's 7 days in the week and I DON'T have any kids. (I'm allergic🤣) I take that back I have one kid he has four legs & he's fuzzy,🐾 he has a great attitude and is 100% loyal and loving 24/7. 🇺🇲✌️ Keep smiling!!! 😉
I considered a scooter until I saw the amount of maintenance required on the CVT. On chain-driven systems, replacing the sprocket and chain is not difficult. But replacing the belt, changing the transmission oil, and other stuff in the CVT system sounded way too costly for me. Sure, there is the ADV750, but that is so big it's less nimble than many motorcycles of the same size. Honda C125 also has a very simple drivetrain but the engine is not powerful enough to be safe on the highway.
It's actually quite simple to maintain plus I only open up the transmission once every 12.000 km between services I don't have a care in the world not even cleaning ;)
Hi Alex and thank you for your videos. i saw your reviews on the sym nht 200 and 300 i am looking at getting either one of them what would you recommend for long distance adventure riding.
Couldn`t agree more. I currently own a HD softail standard (almost 2000cc) and a Sym JetX 125cc and oh my, did it changed my life for good!!! Shure the Harley is an awesome bike for my leisure trips but there is nothing that compares to my beautiful and awesome city scooter. Use it every day to work, no matter what and it is just an amazing commuter, plus, once I took it on a 360 km trip and it did well for such a small engine so, yeah, a toast to scooters!
@@RideWithAlex Completely agree. Despite being some beautifully made pieces of machinery, over the years they became more and more expensive, thrifting away from the original idea of their creators… But wish you the best on your journey to becoming a Harley owner. Always remember, it’s not about the bike it’s about the attitude!😉💪👍
Amazing video!! You said it right! I sold my Yamaha Mt07 to buy a scooter as I'm living in Roma, a super chaotic capital, and driving with a clutch in the traffic as a first-ever bike it's so difficult and uncomfortable. But I'm so tall (195cm), so I was wondering if the Maxsym508 could be good for me. It is rideable in the traffic however is bigger? I think is the best choice for my size. Can you advise me?
The 400 would be a bit better in traffic, but at your height you have to go to a dealership and see how you sit on them, we currently had somebody about 2m tall in the showroom and for him the HD300 was the most comfortable.
I totally agree. I have had an Aprilia RS660 and a small 125 scooter. The 660 was totally a weekend toy while scooter was everyday tool to work. Sold them both and got myself a new Vespa GTS 300. Now everyday city drive got more comfortable while I can still take a weekend trip on the country roads as well just to chill and drive. Always loved scooters and are definitely better than anything else for the city. 🍀🛵❤️
I encourage every bike rider to try a scooter at least once for a couple of days, there's just something different to the ease of use of it that turns it from a weekend toy to a daily tool.
LoL look at you driving. True it's quick, but if that's the way people will drive, shouldn't four wheel and two wheel drivers receive extra training for safety, maneuverability, what to do, what not to do, and how to react under a lot situations?
I live in Pennsylvania and ride it all year long. I have a Yamaha Zuma 125 cc and absolutely love it. My car's engine blew and can't afford to get another car. The scooter is great. I have gear to wear in Winter to keep warm. And my insurance is only $85 a year.
Before I bought my SYM Jet X 125 L/C I had a SYM Symphony SR 125. I wrote it all through the winter. I bought it in May 2021 and two weeks ago as you know I bought the one I have now. The point of the story is that all through the winter I've been what I had to do and the most I spent a month was about €10 on gas. If I used my car I would've spent 150 on gas. suffice it to say that downtown there is no parking and people are not careful so they scratch your car and leave. The bike on the other hand can be parked at special spaces separated by metal separators just before the corner of the sidewalk and these are just about everywhere. I could do five errands in 20 minutes whereas with the car it would take me an hour and a half. all I have to do is wear an extra layer underneath my winter jacket and use gloves and off I went. we do have potholes and manholes but you just navigate around them and rain was not a problem with ABS. most people here on the island have a little 50cc and they do their stuff. Peace.
@@RideWithAlex Very true. At some point I can see myself purchasing the HD300 this way I can take it with me on my trips to Athens, not withstanding the fact that the Jet X is enough even on the expressway as long as I put a top box on it.
Hi Alex and thank you for your videos. i saw your reviews on the sym nht 200 and 300 i am looking at getting either one of them what would you recommend for long distance adventure riding.
I have 125 ccm honda wave (super cub) like scooter. Before I get my licence back I intent to tune it up to 15 HP, for super cub like bikes sucks uphill when you have 200 pounds. I rode automatic scooter and it is nowhere near the fun level of super cub like bikes, not to mention they are so much lighter.
I had my 150cc Medley and it was the best tool for Athens Greece! A lot of space underneath the seat good fuel efficiency and very beautiful! Despite this i could not get used to it. I wanted to have something with more power even if i sacrificed a bit on the practicality. I now have a beverly 350 and i feel great when i am riding. i have the power that i want and enough space to carry stuff
I have an Africa Twin and an ST200. Scooter fits through any traffic and so light that you can tilt it to get thtough awkward gaps - big bike is too heavy for that and doesn't turn as sharp. Scooters are awesome.
Why would I wait in traffic? The whole point of using a scooter through the city is to arrive at your destination quicker and not get stuck in traffic.
Honda Forza 350 with electric folding mirror modification, can probably do it all. When mirrors are folded the total width is 754mm and can do 140km/h.
Not even an argument! I worked in Thailand and China and not riding a scooter there is simply stupid. Millions of people there get it. Not even an argument. It's way of life because it makes sense.
Fain, ca de obicei! O placere sa te urmaresc! Am fost ieri la voi, la showroom, si am rezervat un M310. Am intrebat de tine, dar nu erai! M-a ajutat colegul, Nicolae! Foarte amabil! Legat de scuter, astept sa imi dea banca banii, sper sa rezolv saptamana asta! M-a impresionat M310, compact, puternic, frumos! Foarte bun si in oras si in afara lui, pt ture lungi! 1 milion de abonati iti doresc!
Te salut dnl Alex Am și eu o întrebare la tine. Dețin un Suzuki burgman de 650 și am nevoie de un super pt telefon Ai ceva recomandari ? (Nu pot pune suport la oglinda)
Eu folosesc Quadlock, din păcate nu sunt familiar cu bordul de burgman dsr poți întra pe site la Quadlock sa vezi ce monturi au poate ți se potrivește ceva
Next week I trade my ST 125 LC for the HD after paying the difference in cash. I should have it by the end of next month. I almost bought the NHT 300 and because the majority of driving is citty I chose to stick with scooters.
Excelent! 👍Așa facem pași spre schimbarea mentalității urbane: cu exemple concrete, la dispoziția tuturor celor care pot gândi în sensul bun. Cu restul mai e mult de lucru, pentru că trebuie intervenit și în educație și în stilul de viață. Am savurat la maxim slalomul tău și eficiența! Nici cu mașina mea sport n-aș fi obținut ceea ce ar fi fost un record, iar pentru un scuter e o banală normalitate. Sigur cineva va adăuga că și cu NH-T 200... 🤪😄 Mai trebuie spus ceva: randamentul achiziției și mentenanței; mi se pare că pentru o mașină, în oraș, ai costuri - în timp ce cu un scuter ai investiții. Cred că raportul financiar e de minim 10:1, mașină/scuter. Iar dacă duci scuterul în afara orașului, constați că satisfacțiile continuă, ba chiar se amplifică! (email sent)
I love scooters, but when the wheels feel small, the turning lean in feels uneasy, or have to go off road I feel like motorcycles excel. I used to have Piaggio 50 in Boston, Massachusetts and really really loved it although I needed more power. If I could get an ADV scooter I probably would haha
What's your opinion on electric scooters in their current state? The Super Soco CPx for example, would you still choose the ST200 over it for the Romanian roads/cities?
100km of range is not enough for me, plus I hate the idea of having to carry batteries in my apartment every evening. I will think about switching when they have 150-200km of real range and you can quick charge them at car charges.
@@TheEragoon the cpx is the best electric I have tested so far, but it's still slower than a 125 and if you want the 100km range you need 2 batteries and that takes up the entire underseat storage area. If you really want to go electric and are prepared to deal with the compromises then the cpx is a good options, but objectively 125 petrol is still the best for the city.
@@RideWithAlex thanks for your sharing Alex. I wonder if the OEM is always better than the another like the Liqui Moly or Shell. Sorry for my bad English. Have a good day Alex ♥️
@@tuannamtran9030 it's not better, it's just the fact that I can get it cheap from my workplace. This is a simple air cooled engine in my scooter, it doesn't need very expensive oil, the most important thing is to have the corect oil level, because air cooled engines when they get hot eat oil so you have to check them and add oil to maintain the proper level. You do that it will have a long and happy life, you run it low on oil it will kill itself very quickly no matter how expensive the oil is in it, if it's not enough it will destroy the engine.
@@RideWithAlex thank you Alex. I have a same air cooled engine too but from Yamaha. In my place the price of the OEM Yamaha oil is equal to the other oid brand or sometimes can be more expensive. With the same price of a OEM Yamaha Semi Syn oil i can get a Full Syn oil from another brand like Motul or Shell so i started to confused a lot.
