Commuting scooter

[Dangerous_Dave]

Hi there,

I've recently started a degree course in Manchester (mature student - I'm 26), and I live in Sheffield. At the moment, this means I'm commuting. It's taking me 2 hours each way on bus and train, but I reckon I could do the ~35 miles in an hour on a scoot. I used to ride a TDM900, which I sold in anticipation of the degree. I wouldn't want to commute on the snake pass on that anyway, since I'm pretty sure I'd be dead by the end of the year. So basically what i'm looking for is an extremely boring scooter (even a 125) that will allow me to safely negotiate the snake pass daily, but will do ~70 on the short stretch of motorway, give me good weather protection, but most importantly of all will be reliable - I'm probably going to be racking up about 7000 miles a year, and that could go for 2-3 years. Oh and my budget is about £1000! I've been looking at X9's. What do you guys reckon?

Cheers

[Big Ears]

So basically what i'm looking for is an extremely boring scooter

How to win friends and influence people.   

[Dangerous_Dave]

I was talking about the 125ness!! Come on, I used to ride a 900 sport tourer!

[jimc]

An X9 250 Evo would fit the bill admirably.  Sadly for the sellers, they are going very cheaply at the moment!  It has enough power to cope with the hills and Mway, the ride is lovely in the twisties, and it's light enough to filter just fine.

[intermod]

Well the X9 125 isn't a hell raiser as far as 125s go. The engine is a four valve job so it's quite powerful but the overall package is relatively heavy so acceleration is slower than your average two stroke sports 125.
It's comfortable and well specified though and will do a touch over 70mph to get you out of the lorry lane. The 250 might be one to consider too though as there is not much price differential.

Tone.  

[Dangerous_Dave]

Do you reckon I could get a 250 that still has 20k miles left in it for a grand?

One more thing to mention: I'm 6'6. Would I even fit on an X9?

[joyce]

Whatever you ride it will be a bit cool in the winter especially if you insist in coming over the Snake.

I struggled up the snake on a 125 when the weather was a bit rough, you need at least a 250.

Good luck with your degree - (Manchester was where I got mine).

[jimc]

A 250 Evo should be good for 60,000 miles or more if properly maintained.  

At 6' 6" you should be fine, but you might want a slightly higher screen, or a Laminar Lip.

[Rocketman]

Hi,

Hi there,

So basically what i'm looking for is an extremely boring scooter (even a 125) that will allow me to safely negotiate the snake pass daily, but will do ~70 on the short stretch of motorway, give me good weather protection,

Cheers

I'm sure you did'nt mean boring had some great fun on mine,I know Jim loves to put his through its paces as well,Jules done loads of miles on hers,including many trips abroad,as did her hubby JJ,over 50k miles on his,the list of X9 250 owners goes on & on.
The 250 would be a good chioce and would be the most economical from the X9 family,i've had 2 250's and was happy with both of 'em.It would most certainly handle your intended journey,with the known alround weather protection,because you are a bit of a lanky geezer a laminar lip would probably be needed.Good secondhand 250's are out there,Colin(big ears)was flogging his,it'll be a good one,garaged,dealer serviced etc etc.

Steve

[Dangerous_Dave]

Ah so the consensus seems to be 250 rather than 125. More economical too!? I guess cos you don't have to wring its neck so much. Did the 250 undergo an engine change from a honda to a piaggio model at some point? Is it better to stick with the honda?

What is the longevity like on the 125?

Another bike I was considering is the honda fes 125 'pantheon'. Any comments on how this compares?

Just to let it be known, then, I'm potentially in the market for a 250 X9.

Cheers

[Big Ears]

.

Colin(big ears)was flogging his,it'll be a good one,garaged,dealer serviced etc etc.

    

[Rocketman]

Dave

I think your journey every day is best suited to a 250,although a 125 would do it,the engine would be working extremely hard and you would be at the limit at 70 mph,with a 250 you would be cruising at 70,with more in the furnace to get you out of any trouble.I also had a 125 and did 12k miles in just under 3 years,but most of that was club ride outs and it was able to sit in the shed and rest during most week days.

Colins 250 is an evo model,as were the 2 250's i had and i only had one problem with the grey one,which was sorted out under warranty,the Blue one was a little diamond and i only sold it to fund the purchase of a Harley,i missed it so much i went and got myself the second 250.I've also had the 500 model which was nice,but if one is heavy handed with the throttle hand did prove to gobble the fuel

Steve

[Dave Milnes]

If you need 100% reliability, go for the 250 Evo models, 2005 onwards. These have the Piaggio engine and are a lot livelier then the earlier Honda engined machines, plus they have much longer service intervals.
Not that 125's are unreliable but there are some well documented issues regarding cold running, under spec batteries etc plus the 250 will power heated grips without any issues.
Longevity shouldn't be an issue and all models would eat 7,000 miles a year with ease, even if starting out with a highish mileage.

[Big Ears]

Mine's an Evo AND it's blue!   

04 reg, 24k miles, nearly new tyres, virtually spotless plastic, low mileage exhaust (not the stainless steel variety I'm afraid), MOT to next April and a bloody good runner - not boring at all.   

It's famous too! It once featured in an article in Twist and Go magazine    

Comes with Top Box, heated grips, raised rider backrest, BOTH sets of keys (master and daily use) and the owner's manual. Serviced according to Piaggio requirements by a master dealer - I have the service record to prove it.

Best of all, it's within your budget.   

[Dangerous_Dave]

Ahh so you're Colin! I have to admit the mileage concerns me a bit. I'm probably going to be looking at putting nearly 24k on the bike I get myself, and in spite of reports it leaves me with a bit of a sense of incredulity that the engine and running gear of a scooter, even a 250 maxi, is likely to get near to 50k before needing work every other day. That's a fair bit more than most full-on bikes ever see. But feel free to convince me!

What is the price by the way?

[Big Ears]

PM approaches.   

[Rocketman]

Ahh so you're Colin! I have to admit the mileage concerns me a bit. I'm probably going to be looking at putting nearly 24k on the bike I get myself, and in spite of reports it leaves me with a bit of a sense of incredulity that the engine and running gear of a scooter, even a 250 maxi, is likely to get near to 50k before needing work every other day. That's a fair bit more than most full-on bikes ever see. But feel free to convince me!

JJ put 50k miles on his 250sl,that was a 2003 on a 53 plate,one of the last 250SL's that Thompsons sold and as far as i know its still going,purchased from JJ in Kent by an ebay buyer from Hull who rode it home with a pillion.

Steve

[JJ]

Still miss that 250 as well Steve

Bloody good all rounder and it only took me three and a half years from new to rack up those miles.

JJ

[Dave Milnes]

...it leaves me with a bit of a sense of incredulity that the engine and running gear of a scooter, even a 250 maxi, is likely to get near to 50k before needing work every other day.

well all the basic parts are very similar across the range, and my 500 is approaching 40,000 and is used all year round and is still on it's original parts, wheel bearings, brakes, etc.

[Dangerous_Dave]

Would people say that they routinely are capable of those sorts of miles or just in certain relatively rare cases?

I'm surprised that people are favouring the piaggio engine over the honda - not that I know anything about either of them. It's just that the Italians aren't famed for their attention to build quality, and the Japanese are. So is that a definite view: the piaggio engine is the better, longer lasting unit? If so, any speculation on why this is the case?

Cheers

[JJ]

They are two totally different units.

The Honda one is slow revving, relaxed, very capable but doesn't like headwinds or Hills - a real case of speed management. However mine did ridiculous milages and the engine never missed a beat - other than a blocked fuel filter and a carb rubber thingy.

Remember as well that the Honda unit doesn't even have an oil filter, just a wire mesh. Change the oil every 2k and it'll last forever.

The Piaggio 250 unit as fitted to the X9 that my wife owned is in another league. Capable of faster speeds and faster acceleration, we found that her 250 was capable of keeping up with my 400 Burgman around town and wasn't that much down on top end.

She did over 23 k on that bike and there was never a problem with it other than worn swinging arm bearings.

JJ

[jimc]

The Piaggio 250 engines are pretty bullet proof.  If you change the oil and filter every 4,000 miles that's all they'll normally need - perhaps a new spark plug every now and then, say 12,000 miles.