out @ 0:dark57

[Stig / Major Tom]

38°F - good to be riding again.



Sun comes up about half way to coffee village.




Stig

[Neil955i]

And nearly light by then! Summer's around the corner.

[leomagnus]

Stig,

Would you consider getting a 150 People S over your current Liberty? Just curious, because I might by one for a friend of mine.

Dean

[Stig / Major Tom]

Stig,

Would you consider getting a 150 People S over your current Liberty? Just curious, because I might by one for a friend of mine.

Dean

Ooooh, that's a tough one!
The Kymco has one more rear shock, LED headlight, one more disc brake, one more valve, one more year warranty....and probably more dealers (if you're lucky!)
Tires, weight, dimensions, MPG's are close. Both have only front wheel ABS. Both have aircooled simplicity and EFI. Hopefully that People's seat hump isn't a problem. The Liberty seat is long, wide and comfy for me (6'3")

The LIBERTY is $500 cheaper....(but then the People has @$250 worth of top case & screen)....so maybe only $250 more.
I recon that Kymco has made a bunch of these People scooters.....over the years Piaggio has made over 900,000 Liberty's, so by now they're getting them right.

At least one major Piaggio dealer reports that customer satisfaction is high with the Liberty, while reported warranty issues are the lowest of the whole Piaggio/Vespa line. Resale value of the Liberty is impressive due to it's demand in the USA.

I've been all through my Liberty over the past 4 years - the build quality is....well, I'm impressed (save for the gas cap - replaced with an ebay billet cap, $12) It is also easy to service the valves, belt, etc.

Ride them both and then decide, I guess.

I just think the LIBERTY is a quality scooter - better looking and is an amazing bargain. Mine has been bullet proof.
(rec. reading www.justgottascoot.com review of the Liberty and the 3 youtube reviews from Scooterwest incl. the one from a few days ago.)

The Kymco probably would not disappoint, either.
I would have loved to try the People....but I gotta go with what makes me smile as I walk up to it a 5:30AM every day!
Beauty, ride & quality are my impressions after 4 yrs with the Liberty150i 'S' and it's 3V i-Get engine.

Stig

[Kansas kymco]

Just my 2 cents worth, dealer proximity would influence my decision.   The nearest Piaggio dealer was 3 hrs away from me now a small dealer that only has one person is located in Wichita 1 hr away.  I have 2 Kymco dealers within  20 miles from my house and another 32 miles away.  I purchased a used Piaggio and can say the build quality looks good.

[Stig / Major Tom]

Just my 2 cents worth, dealer proximity would influence my decision.   The nearest Piaggio dealer was 3 hrs away from me now a small dealer that only has one person is located in Wichita 1 hr away.  I have 2 Kymco dealers within  20 miles from my house and another 32 miles away.  I purchased a used Piaggio and can say the build quality looks good.

I was thinking about my reply above.....and IF I wasn't comfortable servicing my Liberty, and IF there were no scooter shops nearby - I'd go with whatever brand is close.(Honda, Yamaha, Kymco - whatever) If you don't do DIY you gotta go with a nearby dealer!
Too much chance for buyer's remorse afterwards....otherwise.
As it is - My Liberty is easy to service and plenty of consumable parts are available from two major internet sources in the USA - including a manual.

I'm 50 miles from a Piaggio dealer - perhaps I'll go visit just for the heck of it someday. Probably not....

Stig

[leomagnus]

Stig,

Thank you very much for your detailed input!


Dean