Possibly. I'm getting my motorcycle licence...and may be buying this: It's a 2008 Qlink Commuter 250, made by CF Moto. And yes, I got the memo: 1985 called and want their scooter back!
you'll find yourself disappointed. Motorcycles should be treated like outboard engines for a boat. It is never a good idea to buy underpowered. If you weigh over 120 pounds then get at least a 1/2 liter bike. If you plan on having a passenger at times then you need more displacement. Crotch rockets are uncomfortable after 30-40 miles and I don't recommend those for anyone over 25 years of age. You'll find yourself wanting a bike which can cruise at 75-80 mph on the highway and have plenty left over. If you are in New England then you'll also want a bike which can maintain speed going up those hills on the highways.
That scoot will run 70MPH all day and all night. It will also get 70MPG. I have no plans to ride with a passenger. A dude I work with has been commuting (40 miles each way) for a while on a little 250cc motorcycle (I think a Yamaha V-star)...he loves it enough that he's selling his big touring bike.
different strokes for different folks. If your intent is to buzz around town then have at it. If you want to go cruising then you will disappointed. You don't buy a screwdriver when a hammer is required. I would not want to travel on I-95, I-93, I-89, I-495 on that thing. But, backroads and around town then why not. Ask any seasoned rider, there will be times when you need to twist the wick and require torque to get out of a bad situation. On the crotch rockets it's a couple clicks downshift and you're into the 100+ HP power band. The v-twins have low end torque again, it comes down to the right tool for the specific application. Hopefully, when you learn just how anemic a 250 scooter is, it won't cost you your life.
yes I of course was disappointed because I'm accustomed to bigger bikes. As I said, for zipping around town then perhaps. Anything beyond that and a bigger bike is best. Heck I learned to ride on a CB200 many years ago. I took my license test on it, went home and got on my 750 because I wasn't going to take the test on the bigger bike. I will again repeat what I said and suggest you read what I type and not what you think I've typed every tool must fit the appropriate application. The same goes with vehicles. You can get away with hammering a small nail with the butt end of a screwdriver but you can't do the same when you're framing walls.
Again: That scoot will run 70MPH all day and all night, getting 70MPG doing so. I will buy whatever you want me to if you send me a certified check to cover the cost! (I'd love a 400 or 650 Burgman, a Yamaha Majesty, or a Honda Silverwing 600...but so do lots of people and the prices reflect it.) Comparing a small cafe racer from 40 years ago to a modern maxi-scooter is irrelevant, bordering on idiotic! Also note: that is a MAXI-scooter. It is not small...the contrary: it's as long as a H-D Fat Boy! The Helix is a BIG scoot. - - - Updated - - - Are you hammered?
you never saw the movie? [video=youtube;qHXoqBhqChk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHXoqBhqChk[/video]
I could give a rats behind about what you buy. You posted, I added some experience. You will be in good company as many people buy underpowered and undersized bikes to begin. If there was no market then there would be no product. But, it comes down to the application and if you are simply buzzing around downtown Providence or Boston then have at it. If you are making runs from Portland to Worcester then good luck to you
I will be running 2-lanes and a bit of highway (55MPH). Many small-displacement bikes are highway-capable...again, I work with a guy that goes everywhere (offhand, Fall River to Albany & back) on a little 250 V-Star.
that's a long (and boring) stretch of highway and the little scoot is working its tail off. If you get your license, become proficient, and have a chance to make that same run on a 800cc or larger cruiser with windscreen, you will be amazed at the night and day difference. If you made that run on a crotch rocket including the big Busa, you'd need to stop several times to work out the cricks in your back and get the blood flowing back into your legs. Again, it's having the tool fit the application. There is no substitute for experience and "the guy" you keep mentioning might be able to make those runs, but if all things were equal, a little scoot would not be his first choice. Sometimes we try and convince ourselves that what we have is ideal. You'll see it in engine sizes on boats, snowmobiles, ATV's, PWC's and bikes. Lower cost brings with it sacrifices and you must ask yourself if you will be OK with the sacrifices. In the long run, it ends up being cheaper to wait and get the right tool for the job vs trying to sell a low end product and upgrading.
AUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGH! I feel like I am talking to a mental patient! The V-Star 250 is not a scooter. (It's a touring bike, I think on the same frame & suspension as the V-star 650.) It IS his first choice, as indicated by him SELLING HIS BIG TOURING MOTORCYCLE! (IIRC, it's a Kawasaki Vulcan 900.) He's seriously considering riding it to Florida & back.
Just be careful driving on US 7; that's a road where motorists don't have much curtesy towards motorcyclists.
It may be capable of going 70, but you are not going to want to drive it that fast. Personally, I think most of those scooters like that are death traps. The wheels are simply to small for that speed. Any bump in the road or piece of debris you run over is going to be a potential disaster. Imagine putting 4 "doughnut" tires on your car then driving over rough terrain. Except on a car there is no worry about getting thrown off. I always suggest first time riders look into something with a bit more "umph", in the 250-600cc range. That gives you full size tires, and enough power to get out of the way of idiots. And trust me, you are going to run into them. I ride a bike every day for part of my commute. Although my bike is quite a bit bigger. 6 cylinder 1500cc engine, radiator, shaft drive. I call it my "motor home on 2 wheels". Although I only drive it about 20 miles each way, the rest of the commute I do on the water. I would suggest you look instead for a Honda Rebel. They are now 250cc, but the older ones also came in 450cc. They are great beginner bikes, and are available for under $2,000. Oh, and avoid the Chinese bikes. The price may be great, but the QC is horrible. I used to work at a bike shop, and after 3 times they refused to work on them. The last one they had to order 3 alternators until they got one that fit the bike (they were all the same, just the bolt holes would be off 1/8" from where they should be). I talked to one salesman and he admitted the consistency of parts was their biggest nightmare (they often would uncrate 4 or 5 to get 1 fully assembled).
