Which Chinese scooter to buy?

[Hephaestus]

Hi all,

Maybe I'm just not searching right... But can't find the answer - or maybe the right question to ask...

Looking to add a scooter/moped style ebike to the fleet. Something to fit under the current rules (20mph limited/pedals/500w). Just a ebike to do my local running around on (small town).

Looked through most of the localish options, and just not willing to pay 1500$+ for junk...

Starting to think about just ordering a scooter from alibaba or similar...

Looking for basically a good chassis as a starting point (let's face it - I'm here... Motor, battery, brakes, controller - probably going to get upgraded). So - really want a good chassis as a starting point that's not full of proprietary / oddball sized parts.

Wondering if any of you have been through this - have suggestions as to what to look for or avoid like the plague?

Thanks in advance!

 

[LockH]

Hi. Just curious, why a "scooter"-style? (EG more mass - aka "weight" - requires more energy to accelerate or "climb" up hills? And more weight = more ouchy if hitting another animal (eg "human").

 

[Hephaestus]

Small town - no bike paths or bike lanes... There's a big difference between how traffic chooses to handle a bike vs a moped/scooter... Don't seem to mind giving space to a slower moving scooter - but wont give a bike an inch of room...

Also SWMBO's preference - so as long as I can get a cool one rather than a girly one... We'll let her think she won this round

 

[granolaboy]

Welcome to the forum.

It helps to set in your profile where you are located, so others on the board can make suggestions based on where you are.

If you are in Canada, for instance, I would be looking for a used Motorino scooter. They are definitely better than all the other e-bike-class scooters out there.

 

[mistercrash]

In the Motorino scooter line up, I find only the XPn is still built like a small motorcycle. All the other models are pretty much bicycle frames with ABS fairings to make them look like scooters.

 

[Hephaestus]

Saw and test ride the motorinos at the dealers - didn't feel like a premium product imho... Actually liked the gio (which we know is a pos) better than their equivalent...

But the ruckus like one was cool looking. But no way in heck I'd pay that much for one.

 

[mistercrash]

I'm in my fourth year with my Motorino XPn with 10150 km on the counter. I run the stock controller which has had the traces built up with 10AWG wire and tin and a shunt mod. I also changed the 63V caps for 100V ones and been running on 60V nominal for a year. I had to replace a few things over the years like brake pads, tires, speedometer cable but for the most part, the scooter is still very solid and all the parts are dirt cheap. I run all year long here in Canada so the fight against rust on the frame is an ongoing battle but I stay on top of it. Expensive to buy compared to other brands but it will run for as long as you maintain it so the initial cost diminishes every year you use it. It depends on what you want to do with it, if your plan is to totally commit to electric transportation then get the best you can afford. If you want a little toy to play with on the weekends when it's sunny and warm, go get that Gio.

 

[Hephaestus]

That wasn't a knock against your motorino - nor an endorsement of a gio...

For me the headset angle on the motorino was too steep - and the rear end wallowed... The gio felt better in handling...

The gio I know is junk - that's why there's 100 to pick from on kijiji in lesser functional states of repair.

However - I don't like my LOCAL options to buy... As I know I'm going to have the urge to modify - I'm more interested in importing something at significantly less cost with a decent frame/chassis to start upgrading the probably lesser parts...

You can like your bike - great, I didn't.

 

[granolaboy]

However - I don't like my LOCAL options to buy...

Where is "local" to you?

 

[Hephaestus]

I really don't see how that matters... As I've determined - I'm just going to take the savings by importing something myself.

A little sh*t town; about 2 hours from calgary.

 

[speedpower99]

I'm just going to take the savings by importing something myself.

You know you are in Canada, we have so many rules regulations here.
If you import a high power one, it is hard to get it register and insured.
You will also having hard time finding one that is 500w and under, all the scooters here are specially made/labeled to meet Canadian regulations.

 

[imorton]

I have a had a Gio for a few years, and have put a few thousand miles on it. Have had no problems what so ever, and for the price, well worth it.

Hell, I could pick one up on Kijiji for a few hundred bucks, and throw in a LifePo4 battery and run it for the next few years. Hell, they are so cheap, you could pick up two used ones on Kijiji for 500 for both (especially ones with dead batteries) and use the 2nd one for parts...

YMMV

Just my thoughts, IAN.