Are there any reliable china-scoots yet?

[zumaguy123]

Hi, am thinking about getting a second scoot-----researched china-scoots a couple years ago and decided to pass at the time and bought a Zuma instead assuming that eventually one of the Chinese companies would start producing something reliable and relatively cheap.
Has that happened yet?

My Zuma F has provided over 10,500 trouble-free miles of riding (other than flat-tires) and I'm thinking about selling it and up-grading to a Zuma 125 but would also like to get something else (cheaper) to ride in order to off-set some of the mileage and wear-n-tear on the new Zuma, need something that I can rely on to actually crank and not leave me stranded. I was thinking about maybe getting a second low mileage used Zuma or maybe a used Honda Met but was curious about how the china-scoots are doing these days before I make a decision.

So, how have the china-scoots made any progress?

Your thoughts?

Thanks

[kz1000st]

Look at the Lance line of scooters. They sell Chinese built SYMs at a very reasonable price. After that and next on the food chain are Kymco Agilities, The 125 comes in under two grand and is stone ax reliable,

[zumaguy123]

Thanks, I'm gonna look into that.

[novaraptor]

"my momma always said that reliable is as reliable does.." Seriously, if the question is "are there any chinese scooters that you can just hop on and ride the crap out of with very little maintainance and get the same life expectancy of an Italian or Japanese scoot" then the answer is "No". With proper PDI and reasonable maintainance, there are some very well performing chinese, korean, and taiwanese products available.

[kz1000st]

Lance scooters are built by SYM in their China plant much like Kymco builds the Agilities, Super 8 and Like models. I avoided crate scooters like Tao Tao and Bashan since they're only as reliable as their owners. Lance is only sold through a dealer and has a warranty making it as serviceable as any other. The Kymco Agility is as reliable as anything according to many sources.

http://modernvespa.com/forum/topic130381.2

http://www.scootersus.com/cfmoto.html

[thumper650]

+1 for the Kymco Aglity. I have the 50cc and it's been really reliable.
I'd love the new Zuma, but I've read the valve adjustments require draining the cooling system so I just kept riding my Kymco. It need some time to warm up in the Winter, like under 40 degrees, but it's been very reliable.

[kz1000st]

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/824/17...on-Review.aspx

The Agility was the Superbike in this scooter review.

[blueboy5000]

I've been riding scooters for 30+ years, I have YET to see the huge difference in quality between China and other countries in terms of scooters.

Scooters, by their vary nature, are high-performance small-engine motorcycles, ALL of which require maintenance and all of which break down from time to time.

My several gy6's are by no means more prone to mechanical failure than my E-Ton, Kymco and Hondas.

[kz1000st]

I have to wonder myself about the quality issue. Looking at the Vespa forum it seems to me you're not getting your six to seven thousand dollars worth of quality there. Especially in comparison to a two thousand dollar Chinese 250cc.

The biggest difference is in warranty, set up and follow on care over a crate scooter for the average person. Lance has that part covered.

[thumper650]

I don't think it has as much to do with where it's made, but who makes it. My Kymco AG is made in China, so was my Lance (back when they were Znen) The Kymco has been way more trouble free than the Znen. Little things were always breaking on it, and parts were a pain to find. Personally I'd probably not buy another no-name Chinese scooter, since I use it to get to work.

I totally agree that Vespas are overpiced. Kinda like a luxury car, it's just a name.

[kz1000st]

My favorite story in defense of Znen Lances is this. There used to be a member here named Dorian. He had a Lance Milan he commuted on daily. He put 24,000 miles on it in just over a year with regular maintenance; bolt tightening, bulb replacement and routine things. He did a big jump on a dirt mound one day and broke the frame. It still got him home but he scrapped it not wanting to replace the frame or trusting a weld repair. The engine still ran splendidly.

Mike at Lance switched to SYM built models when he started hearing that his scooters were being used as commuters after the rise in gas prices in 2008 and people wanted solid rides. Prior to that the philosophy was that his Lances were being used as weekend toys, so day to day reliability wasn't a big issue. You have to applaud that kind of commitment to customer needs.

[thumper650]

Originally Posted by kz1000st

Mike at Lance switched to SYM built models when he started hearing that his scooters were being used as commuters after the rise in gas prices in 2008 and people wanted solid rides. Prior to that the philosophy was that his Lances were being used as weekend toys, so day to day reliability wasn't a big issue. You have to applaud that kind of commitment to customer needs.

I guess that's big of him, but maybe he just realized he was selling crap, and wouldn't stay in business long.

I do wonder how the PCH is, it looks great but I had a Sym built Tomos Nitro that I wasn't crazy about.

[kz1000st]

I don't think 24,000 miles on a Lance Milan is indicative of crap. Many Znen Lances are running to this day.

Blown valves in $7000, pressed steel scooters is more an indication of crap to me.

http://modernvespa.com/forum/topic130381.2

[thumper650]

Originally Posted by kz1000st

I don't think 24,000 miles on a Lance Milan is indicative of crap. Many Znen Lances are running to this day.

Blown valves in $7000, pressed steel scooters is more an indication of crap to me.

http://modernvespa.com/forum/topic130381.2

I'm glad he had such good luck with his Znen Lance. Mine (a GSR-150) was a piece of crap. 3 years, 8000 miles, wasn't the problem. The amount of work I put into it to keep it running was the problem. I'd have been way better off with a used Honda. I've chalked it up to a learning experience.

Blown valves in a $7000 scooter is also crap. Fortunately that's both ends of the spectrum.

[kz1000st]

I can't get an answer where this is built. Either China or Vietnam according to some.

http://www.justgottascoot.com/piaggiofly150.htm

Chinese built:
http://www.justgottascoot.com/cfmotojetmax.htm
http://www.justgottascoot.com/agility125.htm
http://www.justgottascoot.com/symfiddle2.htm
http://www.justgottascoot.com/cfmotoglory.htm
http://www.justgottascoot.com/like200.htm
http://www.justgottascoot.com/cali125.htm
http://www.justgottascoot.com/cabo150.htm
http://www.justgottascoot.com/lancepch.htm

Not all favorable but everyone here is dealer backed and priced less than a brand name equivalent.