What scooter would be best for a first time rider (female)?

Question

I have looked at pleasure, nova, dio, scooty pep plus. My height is(5'2") and since this would be my first vehicle, I am looking at the comfort factor in handling the vehicle and riding. Please let me know of your experiences (from the point of view of a first time rider).

Note : I reside in India, so please suggest the models available in India.

Answer 1

I'm an American scooterist, so I'm not familiar with the models you listed. I did look them up, however, and they are made by very reputable companies. So here are my recommendations:
1. Go look at these scooters in person.
2. Sit on each one and check how far your feet reach the ground. You want to be able to put your whole foot flat so that you can use your feet to stop if you're in a situation where your brakes lock up. If that's not possible because of your height, make sure you can at least put the front of your foot on the ground.
3. Look into seat options. You may be able to purchase a low-profile seat that better suits your height. Since you aren't very tall, also be aware that wide seats are going to hurt after a while. You'll probably want a seat that tapers quite a bit in the front where your thighs will sit.
4. If you decide to go with one of the scooters you listed above, great. If not, please be aware that you need to buy something from a well-established company. Scooter parts can break at any time, so you will need to order them. If you buy something from a fly-by-night company, parts will most likely not be available.

Good luck!

Answer 2

The scooter you need to get will depend upon what you want to do with it.

In town only 150 or less cc of the engine
On highways 250cc will be needed

If you are going to be riding both in the city and on highways, go with no smaller engine than 250cc.

I would go with the 250 myself because of several reasons--the 150cc engines have more problems than the 250cc and the 250cc has the power if you need it to get you out of trouble plus the engine does not have to work as hard. If you plan on just riding in the city now, your plans might change once you get your scoot.

Any cycle/scooter should never be ridden more than just a short distance with a Wide Open Throttle (WOT). If you take a 150cc out on highways you are going to have to WOT to keep up with traffic, if not it is very dangerous.

If you are good with at least minor repairs and know how to use tools you could go with the ones coming out of mainland China for a lot cheaper price. If you go this route join a scooter group, they people there can tell you what you need to do to get the Chinese mainland scoot to be a reliable scoot.

If not go with Kymco or Honda, with Honda being the best but costing the most.

One thing every future scoot/cycle owner needs to know before buying is they require more work to keep them running compared to a car/truck.

Answer 3

Having been through quite a few "scooters", Kymco seems to stand out as the best, in my opinion. It is sturdy and has had the least amount of problems and/or breakdowns. It is kind of heavy though, but the weight adds to the stability and ease of riding. They also look really nice, especially for a girl rider. Here in Hawaii "scooters" or Mopeds, as we refer to them as, don't require insurance, just a license. They are often suped-up with aftermarket parts and can go up to 90mph! My Kymco, stock, can keep up with most of them (restrictor removed, of course).

Answer 4

Check out the Kymco People50

Nice bike, very retro looking, and women look great on these bikes!