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205 SE MLKing Blvd. Portland, Oregon (503) 872-8565 |
Click on one of the above images or logos to see details, models, descriptions and prices.
TIPS ON BUYING A SCOOTER
In order to choose the best scooter for you, several factors should be considered.
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Scooters/mopeds frames and engines come in many different sizes. The ergonomics of each model feels different, and you should make sure that you are comfortable while you are ride. Seat height, handlebar position, and legroom should fit your body. Most seats can be custom shaped or lowered to fit you perfectly for a fee. You should also choose a scooter that isnt too heavy for you to handle. If you are tall (6'2"+), a TGB Sunset 50, a Kymco People-S 250, or Kymco Xciting 250/500 is a good choice.
Shorter folks (5') fit well on the Kymco Sento, GrandVista 250 or People 50/People 150 with a chopped seat.
Regardless of your height, however, you need to sit on and test drive the scooters to best determine which is for you.
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Modern scooters are very simple to operate. You can get automatic transmissions, great brakes and scooters that handle like a dream. But when you are looking for a machine, keep in mind your current level of experience. If you are new to scooters and motorcycles, maybe you should have a moped-class scooter for a season to keep things easy. Then graduate to a bigger one, if you want. Being on two wheels can be dangerous if you regularly exceed your skill level.
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Scooters range in engine size from 50cc to 250cc, and bigger. As you would guess, the bigger engines typically can pull heavier weight at higher speeds. But manufacturers have dramatically improved the performance of the smaller engines. In order to be happy with your purchase, consider your weight, desired top speeds, and the terrain you will be riding in. For example, if you weigh 260 lbs and live in a hilly area, you should probably get a larger engine. Think about how fast you want to go. City-only driving versus highway driving will affect your decision.
The new electric scooters are quickly becoming an alternative for errands, short-range commuters, students, and other riders looking for a clean and low-maintenance solution.
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We believe that all of the scooters we offer are excellent values. But the prices vary between models. Some of the main factors the industry uses to determine price are engine size, warranty, transmission (manual vs auto), electric starter, and components, like disk brakes and water-cooling. You can spend more on scooter brands we dont carry, like the new Piaggio/VespaTM, Malaguti, Yamaha or Italjet, but that is not a guarantee that you are getting a better, faster, or more reliable machine. Some are relying mostly on brand-recognition, and others have their price inflated by the strong Euro currency. Just because they cost more, doesnt mean you get more. Also, the less expensive brands offered at gas stations, the internet, or CostCo, like Geely, Vento, and others can be a real nightmare for quality, parts support, warranty, and safety. Be careful when you buy!
2007 is a whole new year for the Scooter industry. We currently are working on an evaluation of less expensive Asian scooters, and we will keep you posted! Will the quality be better? Support improvements?
Seem familiar? FOR SALE: Scooter, brand new in box. Cute! $999. |
So, you might be looking for a scooter to zip around town on, or for your spouse or student. You look at the web, and maybe hit eBay. What you find is that a scooter can cost from $750 to $8,000. Your budget was at the low end.
More web searching or looking in the newspaper you see more of the $999 scooters, but they dont seem to be carried by the larger, established shops. And some of the websites looking pretty sketchy. The $999 scooter looks like that $1600 one from Yamaha or Kymco. Whats the diff?
I dont know how to explain it simply, but here are some of the facts. There are plenty of companies who import STUFF from overseas. And some of these guys have access to scooters made in China. "Just like the Vino/People, but hundreds less!!" they claim. We at Columbia are approached about 5 times a week! Anyway, there are a bunch of factories in China who make scooters, and the quality of materials, engineering, etc vary greatly. The weird thing is that they are all making a scooter with a similar outward style: they all look alike.
Be careful buying the $999 scooters. I cant tell you what will break first: engine, electrical, suspension, or what.. and wish you luck finding the company you bought it from... even more luck finding parts.. If you arent comfortable buying a scooter, unseen, over the web, or from a shop that doesn't seem to be very knowledgeable, make some phone calls and shop around.
So we advise you to do what CS and most every other reputable shop does, and stay away from the junk.
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Some customers start scooter shopping because of style. Scooters are unique vehicles, and owning one can make a statement about the owner. But as customers become more educated about the other purchase factors, the decision can become more complicated. Shopping at a scooter-only store, like Columbia Scooters, you can compare different styles and speak with a knowledgeable, non-commissioned salesperson to get the scooter that is right for you.
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| MOPED VS MOTORCYCLE CLASS |
In Oregon, and most states, a scooter isnt a class of vehicle, but more a style. In general, any 2 wheeled vehicle that doesnt have a gas tank between your knees is a scooter. Much like a station wagon is a style, or SUV is a style, or sedan is a style,.. scooter is a style.
So most state dont recognize scooter, but rather break them up into moped-class 2 wheelers or motorcycle-class. Moped-class machines dont require the driver to have a motorcycle endorsement. Mopeds need to have license plates and insurance, too. Younger riders can even get special moped licenses before they can get their drivers license. A moped in Oregon is defined as a single person vehicle, less than 50cc, that has a top speed of less than 30 mph or so. It is illegal to drive a moped on the road with a passenger. Some of these rules are rarely enforced.
A scooter or moped that exceeds any of these restrictions is seen as a motorcycle in Oregon. As such, the driver needs a motorcycle license, insurance and motorcycle plates. Obtaining your motorcycle license consists of a written and driving test, and isnt extremely difficult for most people.
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This is a very common question, that is hard to answer. Some used scooters are great, and have another 20 years in them. Others are ready to fall apart. The current popularity of older VespaTMs has lead to higher prices. As with any used vehicle, buyer-beware. Have a friend or someone from a local scooter shop take a look before buying. The poor quality of some of the 70's and 80's mopeds lead to the decline of mopeds in the US, along with lower gas prices. The new scooters are cleaner, faster and more reliable than most of the older ones. But if you have to buy that mid-80's Honda Spree for $3,000 that you saw on E-bay, go for it!
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| Thinking about a new VespaTM? |
To many people, VespaTM means scooter. This is probably because VespaTM was a popular brand of scooter in the 60s and 70s. The reason for their popularity was because they were inexpensive and easy to work on. 60 mph for $200 was great.
They were also polluters, and when California implemented tougher emmissions standards in the 80s, VespaTM pulled out of the US.
Now, 20 years later, they are importing bikes again. But a lot has changed. Instead of being inexpensive, they are the most expensive scooters on the market. And they are not better than other brands, just more expensive. Compare performance, warranty, brakes, shocks, mpg, repair costs, reliability, ergonomics, or any other criteria and you have to wonder why they cost more. And did you notice that VespaTM Portland doesnt have prices on their website? But lots of pretty pictures..
Here are some numbers, using VespaTM vs Kymco:
| Kymco | VespaTM |
| Warranty | 2 year | 1 year |
| 50cc | $2,300 | $3,200 |
| 150cc | $3,300 | $4,200 |
| 200+cc | $4,300(250cc) | $5,200(200cc) |
| Topcase | $160 | $295 |
| helmet | $75 | $250 |
| Cover | $59 | $130 |
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Looking for some way to get around the RV park, run errands, or do some local touring without taking you rig? We at Columbia Scooters offer racks and a variety of scooters, in many sizes and speeds, to give you that freedom. Our racks work great on Itasca, Fleetwood, Winnebago, Monaco, Skyline, Tioga, and other brands. This applies to motorhomes, fifth wheel, trailers, campers, or any size setup. We have gas or electric scooters, for one or two people, that will make your stay at Good Sam, Thousand Trails, state or other private parks more enjoyable and convenient. And if you like the scooter you purchased here and send customers our way, you'll get a free gift!
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Interesting Polution Info, from BajajUSA.
They used the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of
Transportation and Air Quality Emission Facts, dated April 2000 to compare the 150cc 4 stroke engine in the Bajaj scooters
against average emissions and fuel consumption for passenger cars and
light trucks.
Since they did not use the exact same method of data collection and
averaging as the EPA, there might be slight errors in this
comparison. Thier data for the Legend/Chetak engine was generated by performing the EPA city
driving test cycle, it's this test data that was used to demonstrate
compliance with EPA and CARB standards.
They were not able to get official data concerning 150cc 2 stroke
scooters because none of the two stroke engines tested came close to passing the
emissions tests; so no official records exist. Through a series of
phone calls to sources in the industry they pieced together this
information:
For a 150 cc 2 stroke scooter engine, without catalytic converter,
hydrocarbon emissions range from 30 to 70 grams per mile! Carbon
monoxide values were characterized as "not too bad".
Let's compare these 2 stroke emissions to the hydrocarbon emissions
of a bus engine.
Bus engines are rated differently due to the way they are used in
urban transportation. They are rated by grams of hydrocarbon
emissions per brake horsepower per hour.
For example, a new, clean burning, diesel engine designed for bus
usage, would certify at .1 grams per HP per hour. A typical bus
engine runs about 300 horsepower. So, in one hour of city driving, a 300 HP diesel
bus engine will emit, on average, 30 grams of hydrocarbon. About
what a better 2 stroke does in ONE MILE!!
| Hydrocarbon
Emissions - grams/mile |
After
10,000 miles |
| Bajaj Chetak & Legend |
.43 |
9.5 Pounds |
| Standard 4 stroke Motorcycle |
.62 |
14 Pounds |
| Average Passenger Car |
2.80 |
62 Pounds |
| Average Light Truck/SUV |
3.51 |
77 Pounds |
| Average 150cc two stroke |
30 -70 |
660-1540
Pounds |
| Carbon Monoxide
Emissions - grams/mile |
After
10,000 miles |
| Bajaj Chetak & Legend |
2.48 |
77 Pounds |
| Standard 4 stroke Motorcycle |
7.44 |
164 Pounds |
| Average Passenger Car |
20.9 |
461 Pounds |
| Average Light Truck/SUV |
27.7 |
611 Pounds |
| Fuel Consumption
- miles per gallon |
After
10,000 miles |
| Bajaj Chetak & Legend |
variable - 80+ |
125 Gallons or less |
| Standard 4 stroke Motorcycle |
N/A |
N/A |
| Average Passenger Car |
21.51 |
465 Gallons |
| Average Light Truck/SUV |
17.22 |
581 Gallons |
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