Are there any reliable Chinese scooters and dealers?

Hi all.
I just wanted to comment that I am on a fixed income and I cannot afford to waste money or buy a Japan scooter. I have an interest in Chinese scooters because they are within the range of money I can afford. However, after reading much material about them and those that sell them, it appears that they are all junk and or the dealers are all crooks. I cannot afford to be ripped off and I do not have the ability to due major repairs.
Is there actually a good dealer and Chinese bike?
I live in northern IL.
I have noticed that many Chinese scooters look the same, but have different names. Is this just a ploy by dealers to market the same bikes, such as a tank under a different name?

In short,, I just need to know if there is a good Chinese Scooter and who a good dealer might be?
I have heard that TANKS ARE JUNK, Roketa is junk, but then some say they are the best thing ever made.

I have spent weeks researching China scooters and I am totally confused. Don't know who to believe and who not to.
Is there an actual customer satisfaction web site somewhere?

Thank you for your help.
Jim

I have an NST150-02 bought from Scooter Dynasty. com in Cali. They have been great!! Scoot is 1 yr old & NEVER let me down- driven dailly! Scoots look the same because China has NO copyright laws, so you can copy anything! You wanna make sure you get the Honda clone engine!.Same as used in Honda power equipt. Next door neighbor got the same scoot less than a month ago & he has 1500 mi on it already!. Some sellers will sell ya a scoot that looks like the NST butr the mechs are different! You can chech Scooter Dynasty on line for credentials- I did!. 85 mpg, 65+ mph. I love this thing! Lotsof storage & VERY comfortable!! Need any more info- let me know?

Jim wrote:

Hi all.
I just wanted to comment that I am on a fixed income and I cannot afford to waste money or buy a Japan scooter. I have an interest in Chinese scooters because they are within the range of money I can afford.
Jim

Yes, the Chinese scooters are cheap to buy. From my personal experience they are not cheap to maintain. As Don said, they all look alike because there are no copyright laws. The cheaper the scooter, the cheaper the components. While you may be able to get parts through warranty (after that, who knows), they are very labor intensive and so get very expensive very fast. That's been my experience. There are others who have had a good experience. Luck of the draw.

My advice is spend a little more on a trusted *name* brand like Honda or Yamaha who are in a position to stand behind their product. These brands are definitely a more solid machine, a more reliable machine. They've both been around for years while many of the Chinese scooters are "here today, gone tomorrow". There's a reason for that.

#1. You are not wasting money buying a Jap scooter. You are wasting money buying a Chinese scooter. As you state, you have read the forums and know that 90% of Chinese scooters are junk. Very few are as fortunate as Capt Don and get a good scooter off the internet.
#2. You live in Northern IL. If anywhere around Rockford, Freeport, or even Dubuque IA, there should'nt be any problem finding an authorized dealer who sells Chinese scooters and will give you a good warranty for parts & labor and will service and repair the scooter.
#3. These fake name Chinese scooters are clones. You don't know what you are going to get until it arrives. Then it is too late.
#4. Internet sellers are not dealers, they are distributors. They do not service or repair what they sell. Many do not even back the warranty which will be a parts only, or help you get parts.
$5. Buy a scooter off the internet, you deserve what you get. Buyer Beware

Hi all
Thank you for the responses.
I certainly agree that the Japan models are far more proven and in times past, when I was much younger, I drove Honda Motorcycles as a means of transportation, however, I have not had a "real" bike since the 80's. I do not have the money to buy a new motorcycle and only have about $2500 to invest, so I can't really think about a Honda or Yamaha,or Suzuki, although I know these are great products. I would be using the scooter for local driving only, which is why I had an interest in the Chinese scooters. I have a friend in TN who bought a Tank, 4 years ago and the only repair has been to put a new battery in it, but from what I have read, she is the exception and not the rule. As for my location, yes, right around Rockford. Yes, there are dealers here, but I have not seen a single dealer who sells or services Chinese scooters. I know,, that ought to tell me something !
Really, the bottom line is, If I get one, I need a bigger one, a 250 and I can only afford the Chinese, so I was just wondering if the risk was worth it?
Thanks again for your help.
I am almost 60 years old and don't need more hassles in my old age !! haha
Jim

Jim wrote:

Hi all
Really, the bottom line is, If I get one, I need a bigger one, a 250 and I can only afford the Chinese, so I was just wondering if the risk was worth it?
Thanks again for your help.
I am almost 60 years old and don't need more hassles in my old age !! haha
Jim

This is the perfect opportunity to ask what I've long been wondering about.

I simply do not understand why people who want a bigger scooter, such as the 250, would even want a scooter in the first place, rather than a motorcycle. Certainly you have more control over a motorcycle than a scooter. I have ridden both and I much prefer the handling of a motorcycle. I've been away from riding for many years and all I wanted to get back into the fun of riding was a 49cc (no clutch), therefore I had no choice but to get a scooter.

Just wondering.

i love my baron retro . But do not buy from us depot scotters. i have 1 i got for free since they could not send me the right one it runs well and is fun, But baron is kooler

jim the bigger the scooter the more you pay . same milage barely for 2. if you want a bigger bike i reckommed i have 2 scooters and love them im 48. i sold my harley for daughter B.A. gear is nice for hills . Im bummed just found out about mc5 and such sitting milford wishing i was in the group. Remember there a machine and will kill you.

duh that was do not buy from usdepotscooters duh . buy local look around . Just like a car find a dearler who cares . i fought with us for a year. visa gave me my $ back due to there flakeyness so i have 2 Kool huh.Warning stay away from them. then found the baron 150 retro i love it and it was 5 miles away
smiley dave

HI all,
Great responses. Thank you.
I want a scooter because they are easier to use given the storage space and overall construction.
I like the fairings, trunks and some even have hard luggage attached. They are kind of like a little mini Gold Wing. I have looked at regular motorcycles, and to find anything comparable, I would have to buy a 20 -30 year old bike with many miles on it, unless I got lucky, and even then, there would be no warranty and I could wind up with a piece of junk anyway.
I have ridden on and owned many motorcycles in the past and liked them. I learned that when on the highway, a bigger bike is more comfortable and steadier then a small bike, which is why I would want the 250 scooter, plus the water cooled engine.
Anyway, I really have only two choices here, either buy a good quality???? Chinese scooter, or nothing at all.
I don't "Have" to have a scooter, but if I had one, I would put it to good use.
My neighbor across the street is a Harley fan and is very well skilled with bikes and very friendly.
I know he would help me if I needed anything and would probably even help me tweak it if I wanted to. He has several bikes, from Touring to dirt bikes.

If I were able to afford it, I would love a cruiser bike, like a Goldwing, but I can't even afford a new small motorcycle.

Anyway,
Thanks again for your comments and thoughts .
If you don't mind, maybe later, I can send you some links of some of the scooters I have been looking at and the dealers and you could comment on both issues if you wanted to.
Take care,
Jim

I have heard too many horror stories about watere cooled chinese scooters! I would stick w/ air cooled! The Honda cloned engine is tried & true for years! 150 cc is plenty of power for anything but a 75 mph+ speed limit! You may ask me any thing about the scoot I have ! It has been VERY good to me over the last year. I expect many more as well. Good luck either way.

Hi All,
Here is a link to what I was thinking of buying. I did some research on the dealer at forums and they seem to have a very good rating.
Not sure about how the warranty would work though because they seem to say the scooter would have to be repaired at their place which is over 1000 miles away from me. Not sure how that would work?
Anyway,
Here is what I was looking at:

http://www.mishipowersports.com/MISHI-RANGER-...

I have also considered other ones as well and spent a lot of time today education myself about various Chinese scooter manufactuters.

I have also read that the Chinese are striving for better quality control, but not sure how effective that has been.
Most of the reviews I have seen are outdated and go back to 2006, very few 2008 and 2009 reviews.

When it comes to the 250 vs 150, I heard the 250 is much better for highway and cruising?
Less vibration as well???

I really like the storage compartments on the above scooter and that is one of my primary considerations because I would use it a lot for local shopping.
The only critisizm I have heard about the water cooled engines is the radiator in not protected from road debri and rocks.

My Friend in TN has a Tank 150 and thinks it is great.

Thanks again,
Jim

HI all,
I just emailed Mishi motors again and got a nice response.
I am impressed that they do the prep work, and road test and ship it ready to ride.
Here is their response in regard to my questions:

Hi,

Our warranty will be 12 months on engine, and 6 months on parts, You send us whichever parts you need, we will ship new parts to you,

CLICK HERE FOR WARRANTY http://www.mishipowersports.com/category-s/58...


We Provide Free Prep., Tune-up and Road Test before we ship your Scooter
We ship Ready to Ride Scooter or Moped
We take the scooter/moped out of factory crate
Install a new fully charge battery
Fill-up gas
Start the Engine
Adjust the Carburetor for Air/Fuel mixture and set the idle speed
Completely inspect the scooter/moped for any non-working parts
Road-test the scooter/moped for 3-4 miles
Correct, if there is any problem
Repack it into the crate and then your scooter will be ship to you in READY TO RIDE condition
You just fill-up the Gas-n-Go.
**********

It sounds good to me.
I did look at more yamaha's and honda's and suzuki's,, I would love to have one, especially the Honda Silver Wing,, but it is just not in the cards for me. I don't have that kind of money to spend.

Anyway,
If anyone has comments or experiences with the scooter I am thinking of, or the dealership, please feel free to share your comments with me.
Thanks again,
Jim

The Tank 150 is a clone to the NST. It is aircooled I believe? Also well rated. If you go to "lets go scootin" you will see the NST & Tank directly compared. Mech quality=good!! Builod & components (rubber etc) ehh? Goodlittle scoot tho!!

Hi Capt Don
I went to the lets go scootin and even book marked it, but could not find the article you mentioned.
It appears to me that the scooter I am thinking about is in reality a Roketa 250, with the added accessories.
I heard that Roketa brands and Tanks are made at the same place?

Anyway, thanks for the info.

these scooters are fun an reliable, i personaly on a vespa and havent been let down in for years. you get wat you pay 4. i bought a ferrari

http://www.cobrasales.com/delivery.htm if you need carrying space

Jim wrote:

Hi Capt Don
I heard that Roketa brands and Tanks are made at the same place?
Anyway, thanks for the info.

The Roketa is a clone, it is made everywhere in China by everybody.

Rocketa is a "decal "name they seem to put on a lot of the same looking scoot?Rode my NST all day today. When my neighbor ordered trhe 150-02 I told him to specify that is was to be an NST w/ the Honda clone engine. He did but they (Scooter Dynasty) didnt have his color so he took blue- but got the specified scoot. He has (after 1700 mi) had notta problem wise! A lot of these selleres will take any same looking scoot off the rack & ship it knowing that the reciever wont know the difference? There is!! With out getting too long- the scoot mentioned is a very rreliable one as is the seller. I got what I asked for as did my neighbor & they have been great! Mail me if you need/ want more info, but after 1 yr- I am a happy camper!!So is my neighbor. We asked for & got what we requested! & you are right about Roketa. Its a decalo thing. Mine & neighbors had NO decals on them.

PS Look under Lets go **** & hit the Tank highlight. I think thats the one? if not - let me know & I will find it . I did it today passing thru