Scooter for wife

+1 on this. There may be some places where a 50cc scooter makes sense but they are to slow and downright dangerous on most roads.

After over 30 years of riding motorcycles I got a Kymco Super 8 150. It is an absolute blast to ride and the best around town commuter/errand runner I have ever owned.....or ridden. It's even fun outside of town and I have even taken mine to Deal's Gap

There are a lot of good 125 - 150cc scooters out there. The only real downside I see to this size scooter is that if you get on for your wife, it won't be long before you NEED a second one for yourself

A pic of my Super 8:

SOunds liek you're on teh right track. I wouldn't go smaller than a 125. A 50 is just too damn slow. You can't separate yourself from traffic, even in town.

Colorado and Texas both use "moped" for anything 49.9cc or less. In Colorado you can ride one on a car license. In Texas you need either a moped (restricted to 49.9cc or less AND you cannot exceed 30mph) or a full motorcycle license (no speed limit restriction so you can remove the limiter on a 49.9 or less cc scoot which in some cases, particularly with the 2 strokes will let you go 40-45mph).

A true moped with pedals doesn't require a license of any kind in Texas as far as I can tell.

If you have decided to go with a larger than 49cc scooter, I would say look at the SYM HD200. We have one and it will cruise on a US freeway. We also have a Kymco People 150, and it is a great scooter also. My only complaint about the SYM is 1No kick starter as a backup. But the battery is very easy to access so I would suggest pulling it twice a year to check water level and give it a good charge on a slow charger. 2.It should be easier to add coolant. That's it. We bought a new leftover 2008 and this thing is a great scooter. Though the engine is actually a 172cc it thinks it's a 400. Water cooled, 4 valve head, ceramic coated cylinder, comfortable as can be, 82+ miles per US gallon, reliable, inexpensive, and comes with a 2 year warranty. Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, and even Vespa, only gives a 1 year warranty. The Kymco is a great scooter also, with a bit less power, a kick starter, and minus some size and weight. Kymco gives a 2 year warranty also. Mine is super reliable. Not as roomy as the SYM, but a fine ride. 60 mph is about the top cruising speed of the Kymco, but the SYM can handle a lot more.

If you do nothing else, test ride a SYM HD200.

What Birdmove said. I've got a SYM also. It's a 2012 HD 200 EVO and probably the sole difference between his 2008 and my 2012 is that mine has a rear disc brake and his has a drum rear brake. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Mine is quiet, accelerates like it's got a much larger engine, cruises easily at
75 mph and returns 71 mpg.

Well said about the HD200, I can back that up. I just purchased a new 09 a few weeks ago. Its our 2nd HD200, the first was an 06. Also the SYM HD125 is the exact same scooter with just a smaller displacement. They also perform well for their class and are a good buy in the used market.

We have a rear cargo box that we bought with the HD200. With that and the grocery bag hook, we are able to carry a lot. Plus it has the under seat storage. We carry the registration, manual, and some rain gear under there, which still leaves a bit of room. I take the SYM when I need to carry a lot, and the Kymco People 150 when I don't need to carry so much. The Kymco used to get a bit better gas mileage, but the SYM is now getting low 80s too, so gas mileage is a wash. The People is air cooled, and still a great scooter. I bought ours as a new leftover and got a great deal on it. It has more traditional scooter looks, while the SYM is kind of sporty looking.
Both make a great island bike, but we had the SYM when we lived in Puyallup, Wa., near Tacoma. The wife rode the SYM, and I road my Sportster, and we made a great goodby to Washington trip starting on I-5 to Olympia (the SYM did great), to Port Townsend, where we took the fairy to Whidby Island. Then rode to Anacortes, where we took the fairy to Orcas Island, where we stayed at the Orcas Hotel. Rode all over the island and had fun. Then, when we left, we took the boat to Anacortes, road to Whidby Island. Fairy to South Worth. Road and caught the ferry to the North end of Vashon Island. Road to the South end of Vashon and caught the boat to Tacoma, and rode home. That was a 4 ferry boat trip home! Had a great time. Went home and sold the Sportster and moved to the Big Island of Hawaii. We shipped the SYM to Hawaii, as the replacement cost versus the selling cost told me to take it with us. Bought the Kymco here as there are no SYM dealers on the island. The SYM was a perfect scooter for this ride. Just a bit of freeway, and lots of back highway and back road riding.
The wife likes the lighter weight and smaller size of the Kymco, but the SYM is the scooter I chose for her, and she loves it. I ride it a lot too.
I consider the SYM HD200 to be a best buy in scooters, and a best buy in motorized 2 wheelers in any category.

I picked up an '09 couple of months ago. Got lucky, found it on CL for $1500. My wife has never ridden a bike until the day I brought this home. When I told her come to the garage(she didn't know I was buying it), she saw it and lit up.

She strapped on a helmet, I held the back of bike, and she putted about for a few minutes. I got her used to getting on the brakes hard with me holding. In a few minutes, she was puttering up & back. A few minutes later she was doing slow loops around the block, smiling like crazy. She'll be doing the MSF course this summer.

Prior to this purchase, I had been wanting to purchase a '12 HD200, I will still be purchasing a NEW HD soon, and keeping what I have

Spent about $450 on it with new belt & rollers, new tires, brakes, fluids and a new Givi 26L top box.

Samthg,

There's a good SYM dealer just up the road in Santa Barbara. I think it's
called Ootys Scoots. He's on the SYM forum and quite helpful when we have questions.

My wife started making noises about a scooter.
Well, not exactly, a few years ago she looked at an old cb125 in a store, it looked like new and was $1500.00 and she still regrets she did not make me get it for her.
She enjoys going on the back of my bike (TU250), but thinks it would be more fun to have her own ride, so I suggested a scooter, since they are a little easier to ride. She is a member of AARP so she needs something easy and comfortable.

I had no clue about scooters, so I am glad I found this thread.
We would need a cheap used one, and I rule out the $800.00 new ones from China....

Flat sea level NJ, back roads, so one that does 60 or 65 would be fine, so that seems to point to a 150 to 200cc scooter.

At least now I have an idea what brands to look for.

Two up on a TU250? Man oh MAN...what does she want for herself, a Razor?

Not to knock the TU. It's a slick package; I had one briefly. I like it - a lot. But it's too small for two unless those two are as small as the bike. Otherwise...put a pad on the luggage rack on the back...

I rode a TU 250 for a year. Beautiful retro look, tops in fit and finish.
BUT no way is it a two-up bike. Under-powered and the brakes were adequate. I don't know how adequate they'd be two-up.

My SYM HD 200 EVO will actually cruise 75-80 mph, a speed simply beyond the TU.

Tell her to get a SYM. Problem solved.

Thanks blugg1,

I have followed his input on the SYM forum, seems like a straight individual. I'm down here in OC, so SB is a bit of a stretch for me. When I get up that way, I am gunna make it point to stop in his shop.

Thanks, Sam

I'm amazed that there isn't a SYM dealer somewhere in Los Angeles.

Purchased 3 new in last year, '13 Honda metropolitan 50, '13 PCX 150 & '13 Buddy 170i. If she actually likes riding - scratch the met 50. a great scoot but 50cc can feel a bit dangerous sharing road with cars. If preferences are to ride & she like a flat foot floor the Buddy is a nice choice. The PCX is best commuter comfort wise due to bigger wheels. BUT I really like the Buddy, Its a nice scooter.... if I not commutin & out for fun, Im scootin da Buddy its numbah one. (I ride the PCX way more, 4300 miles so far....

I have ridden a TU250, it was barely adequate for my 225 pounds, but I did fit fairly well. Riding position is not painful, other than I had to sit right between the 2 seats. I would think just about anyone should be able to ride a TU, or if they are really small, a Honda Rebel. The Rebel is a 250 twin, it is faster than the TU, but because of the layout, the pegs are way to close to the seat for an average sized adult, and the seat setup will not allow you to slide back. If you're under 5'5" you should be a good fit. And they are definitely highway capable.

I will have my AARP card in less than a year now, can't wait. No more work, just ride, ride, and ride some more.

Dang, I got that AARP card years ago, and it didn't affect my working OR riding. I did get a discount at a Holiday Inn Express, though.

I had a TU 250X for almost two years. Classic lines, buddy seat with strap, fuel injected and fit me perfectly. I'm 5'9" and 150 lbs. But for Jerry from Chandler, AZ the TU was just too small. Succumbing to pressure from friends who all ride DR 650s, in March of 2012 I traded it in for a new DR 650. It was a large mistake. The DR is way too tall for someone with a 30" inseam

Following factory instructions I had a suspension specialist lower it, but it's still too tall. I am going to sell it; a shame because it's a fine machine.

Wish I had my TU back.

I have two scoots. The C70 is 31 years old and rides like new. Tops out at 80 km/hr downhill. Handles in town riding perfectly and is comfy (I love the flat seat and upright riding position). The Ruckus has a cool vibe and is great for popping to the store for groceries. It's slow, so you have to plan your route, but if it's just being used in slow speed areas, it's a lot of fun. My wife likes it (I do too!). Paid $700 for it second hand, it costs less than $5 to fill and only $10 per month to insure. I paid $1600 for my C70 (a bit pricey for a C70 but I couldn't resist - it was museum quality when I got it).

Got wifey a Honda Metro 50 last year. She had never ridden a scoot or cycle until last year......but put 6,000 trouble free miles on it in the last 12 months.

Totally reliable and trouble free as you would expect from a Honda.

It's a 2006, tops out about 40 mph, the 2005 and earlier were restricted to much lower speeds.

fried okra