250 for 2 up riding, which one?

[klaviator]

Less than 5 month's after getting my first scooter, I am already thinking of getting another one.  I would like to get something comfortable to take my wife on day rides and also to be able to do some long distance commuting.  I do two 175 mile rides each week.  Almost no interstate, mostly 55 or 65 MPH speed limits.  There seem to be some good deals on 09 and 10 leftover Grand Vista's and Xciting 250s.  I'm guessing I could also get a good deal on a People 250s.  I haven't ridden any of them but have looked at them and sat on them and did a little research.  Here's my thoughts:

Xciting 250RI - $4500   Very comfortable but heavy and large for a 250.

Grand Vista 250 - $3999.  Great passenger seat and storage but cramped for me (I'm 6-2)

People 250s - haven't seen one on sale.  Sportiest of the bunch but not as comfortable passenger seat.

For those of you who have one of these, what are your thoughts.  What kind of speed will these run at and what king of MPGs?  If you carry a passenger, how comfortable is the passenger?

[Treynor1]

Ihave a Grand Vista and do  many all day rides.  However, I have modified the seat so I am able to sit back an additional 2 inches.  Huge difference in comfort.  My wife rides with me but her tolerance level gives out at about the one hour time frame.  She does bounce around a lot and being higher, the wind impacts her (I am behind my windshield).  The larger tires on some of the models may smooth out the ride a bit.  If I were to do it all over again, I would go directly to the Downtown 300.  Better all around comfort and no problem at speed for longer rides.  Pricey, but that is just the initial investment.  My GV gets approx. 60 MPG city, 65 plus on freeway driving.  I think the 300 would be fairly comparable to that (check the Downtown 300 forum for user MPGs.  Whatever you decide,  sit on them, test ride them if you are able, and when you buy start with you and the wife doing small rides to find your comfort level.  Good luck.

[scootermaven]

With all due respect to KYMCO 250's, and also with all due respect to this forum, one of the best 250cc scoots I have ridden to date is a Piaggio BV250.  Have you considered one of those?  They're AWESOME!  I have owned a KYMCO S250 and the BV250 is much better overall, much better balanced.  Check one out!  Below is a photo of the one I had a while back.



Best of luck scooter shopping!

[ts1]

I had the GV250 before and now the X500.
The Xciting is imho better for riding with pillion: separate foot pegs, pillion seat not much higher than drivers seat, more payload, much more driving stability.

My average fuel consumption with the GV 250: 3.78 litre/100km = 62 mpg (us). (The 500cc needs more fuel, of course, but I push him much more too.)
The X250 should have about the same mileage as the GV250 - but it has the bigger fuel tank - 12.8 litre (Xciting) vs. 9.6 litre (GV).

But yes, the X250 (with pillion) is very heavy for its small engine. But the GV250 isn't really more powerful. Best go for the X500!

[axy]

With all due respect to KYMCO 250's, and also with all due respect to this forum, one of the best 250cc scoots I have ridden to date is a Piaggio BV250.  Have you considered one of those?  They're AWESOME!  I have owned a KYMCO S250 and the BV250 is much better overall, much better balanced.  Check one out!  Below is a photo of the one I had a while back.



Best of luck scooter shopping!

I had BV200 before and it felt much heavier than my P250S.
P250S is also faster than BV250 and has two discs.
Top speed is 10 km/h higher.
BV200 is more comfortable because P250S has sh**ty seat.

Btw. this scoot is not sold since 2008 or so. This is what Beverly looks like now:

http://images.google.com/images?hl=hr&gbv=2&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=2011+piaggio+beverly&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=

[klaviator]

With all due respect to KYMCO 250's, and also with all due respect to this forum, one of the best 250cc scoots I have ridden to date is a Piaggio BV250.  Have you considered one of those?  They're AWESOME!  I have owned a KYMCO S250 and the BV250 is much better overall, much better balanced.  Check one out!  Below is a photo of the one I had a while back.



Best of luck scooter shopping!

I'm leaning toward Kymco but I will definitely check out the BV250 this weekend.

[klaviator]

Just got back from a short test ride on a Xcting250RI.  I'm not sure what to think.  It's unlike anything I have ridden in the past. 

I looked at the owners manual.  It seems to need maintenence pretty often.  For a "touring" scooter, I would expect longer service intervals.  I haven't crossed it of my list but I need to try some other scooters.  The dealer is selling leftover Vespa's at cost so I am also considering a 250 Vespa.

[axy]

The more I drive scoots and bikes, less I want to drive with passenger. It is a major PITA for many reasons.

[klaviator]

The more I drive scoots and bikes, less I want to drive with passenger. It is a major PITA for many reasons.

I would like to be able to bring my wife along on some of my rides.  She has ridden on the back of my Super 8.  Unlike all of my previous motorcycles where a passenger is quite noticable, it had no noticable effect on the Super 8's handling.  I could barely tell she was back there except for the effect on acceleration. 

[scootit]

Have her get her own scooter. I have a GV. I love this scooter now that I have removed the backrest. It gives me more room. I don't like riding 2up. There really isn't a place to hold on to. When I wrap my arms around the husband our helmets hit and I have to bend to much. So I have my own ride. We have communication between us that makes the ride great. He owns a SYM RV250. I love this bike but being 5'2" the scoot was to heavy and big for me.
Good luck

[klaviator]

Have her get her own scooter. I have a GV. I love this scooter now that I have removed the backrest. It gives me more room. I don't like riding 2up. There really isn't a place to hold on to. When I wrap my arms around the husband our helmets hit and I have to bend to much. So I have my own ride. We have communication between us that makes the ride great. He owns a SYM RV250. I love this bike but being 5'2" the scoot was to heavy and big for me.
Good luck

My wife used to ride.  She had bikes as big as a 700 Virago and 600cc Seca II.  She lost confidence a few years ago and quit riding.  It was her suggestion to get something that was comfortable 2 up. 

Thanks for the reply.  The GV looks like it has a great passenger seat and does have those big handles beside the seat.  When you where riding behind your husband was it on the Sym or GV?

[oldcoastie]

I just survived scooter shopping for a 250 for myself (not 2 up)... I looked at the BV250, the Aprilia Sportcity Cube, the RV250 and the GV. I was interested in the Vespas but I'm short and the leg length is not great for stumpy legs (as was the BV250).

The GV fit the best but I liked the looks the least. But I ended up buying the GV... and really the main reason was because there is a good dealer close by and a mega-mega dealer within an hour...

Not a single Aprilia dealer in the county... the Syms are beautiful but the new distributor for parts is just getting started... ultimately, because the Kymco just fit and the company seems to be making a strong move for the U.S. market and the strength of support in the area, the GV won hands down.

All the Kymcos seem to have a fairly short service interval but ultimately, it's all to the good.

[axy]

My wife used to ride.  She had bikes as big as a 700 Virago and 600cc Seca II.  She lost confidence a few years ago and quit riding. 

How can someone "lose confidence" to drive a bike?

[ts1]

How can someone "lose confidence" to drive a bike?

Familiy, hard working life and no time for many years, accident, illness, different hobby, ...

[axy]

Familiy, hard working life and no time for many years, accident, illness, different hobby, ...

When you put it this way, would there be any person in the world that would ride a bike at all?!?