Another new one

I used to ride a Helix. I liked to take trips on it, but it did not have quite enough horsepower for the freeway. I later traded it in on a Kawasaki Vulcan 900.

After a few years, my riding tapered way off. The last year I had the Vulcan, I put all of 150 mi on it. And probably 90% of that was just one ride.
We have family in Taiwan. Scooters abound there. The last time my wife came back she thought she might want to learn to ride a scooter. Naturally I jumped on the chance. I bought her a 150 cc Piaggio..

As she does not have her license, it's mine! But when she does, it's hers.

But I don't entirely fit it. I would like to get my own scooter with a little more guts and a little more space. My criteria is at least 300-350 cc.

I came across a 2008 Swing with very low mileage. I have questions about buying a scoot that is that old with that little mileage. I worry about tire rot and other rubber tubing deterioration.

I think of a Swing as a Helix on steroids.

I joined this forum in hopes of getting educated.

Thank you all.

m. chops

I've been getting intimate with my recently acquired 2001 Swing. There's no sign of any coolant or brake hose deterioration and the scooter bodywork seems to have kept the connectors in fine shape. You are right to be concerned about old tyres, you should be able to find a date stamp on them to tell the week/year of manufacture. However, if they are visibly free of sidewall cracks and feel all right, I would be using them; or just replace them for peace of mind.

The scooter usage in Taiwan is amazing; something like 15 million scooters registered and a total population of 24 million.

Thank you. If I acquire this, I'm looking at a 300 mi run just to bring it back home.

m. chops wrote:

Thank you. If I acquire this, I'm looking at a 300 mi run just to bring it back home.

Well you will get acquainted quickly then! I'd check the oil, coolant reservoir and tyre pressures before setting off, and take a puncture repair kit and maybe jumper cables (no push-starting if your battery goes flat...).

I bought a bike from 1600km away last year (Honda ST1300) so know just what this like. Good luck.