scooter/moped question

[birdmove]

Being a long time motorcyclist and having got into scooter riding a few years back here in Washington State I'm wondering about a couple of things relating to riding on the Big Island.

I've seen quite a few riders of smaller scooters and mopeds riding on the shoulders of the main highways around HPP and Pahoa, and heading towards Hilo also. I'm just wondering if it is legal to ride these smaller ones on the shoulders? I can tell you that my wife used to ride a 49cc Honda Metro scooter/moped and that on top of being 100% reliable, it got 110-115 miles per gallon. Top speed was about 41 miles per hour.I see the Honda 49cc Ruckus is very popular on the island, and I rode one of those for a while.It got around 90 mpg. Set up right, one can haul 3-4 bags of groceries on one of these small fuel squeezing two wheelers.It would seem that people should be encouraged to park their 20 mpg car and ride a 100 mpg two wheeler if feasable.And,of course, there is another benefit. They are FUN to ride too.But the small ones certainly can't run at 50-55mph on the main highways, and they lose a lot of speed going uphills.The Ruckus I had, on a hill, might slow to 25 or even 20 mph.

Take care, Jon



Jon in Puyallup, Wa.

[Guest]

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[Guest]

Yep, YOU can ride them on the shoulder just don't get in the way of my passangers door.

Aloha,
The Lack

The Lack Toons

[birdmove]

quote:

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Originally posted by The Lack

Yep, YOU can ride them on the shoulder just don't get in the way of my passangers door.

Aloha,
The Lack

The Lack Toons

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Lack-what color is your car? I'll give it a WIDE berth..

Jon

Jon in Puyallup, Wa.

[TheodoreJay]

Lacks point is there will be a handful of people in Puna that will love to play chicken with you. My friends bicyle trip around the island was just fine until someone in lower Puna tried to run them off of the shoulder. So keep that in mind cause a scooter gives you absolutely no protection w/ respect to other drivers. Not to mention allot of the back roads have no shoulders what so ever and in some cases reduce down to a single lane road.

[oink]

I wonder how my wife's little Suzuki DR200 would do going uphill towards Mauka's house?

Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.

[birdmove]

quote:

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Originally posted by oink

I wonder how my wife's little Suzuki DR200 would do going uphill towards Mauka's house?

Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.

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That DR200 should be a fine dual sport for the Big Island. Large gas tank, great gas mileage, air cooled and easy to work on and reliable. Not made for cruising at 60-65 but I bet it could do 50mph. Nice and light for any off road use. Good choice I think.

Jon

Jon in Puyallup, Wa.

[oink]

My DR650 and DR-Z400 will be comming too but I was wondering how the little 200 would do going up that long grade. It will cruise at 55 with ease with no grade or headwind. Do about 65-68 flat out in perfect conditions but of course much of that would kill it. The little 200 is fun and gets 60+mpg but no guts.

Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.

[birdmove]

I had three motorcycles here in Puyallup, Wa. A 2007 Yamaha XT225 dual sport; a 2007 Royal Enfield 500 Bullet; and a 2006 HD XL883 Sportster. We'll be moving to the Big Island in a while, so I'm trying to get rid of stuff. I saw an add on craigslist where someone was looking for an xt225. I didn't want to sell that one, but knew I had to reduce the fleet, so I answered the add, and of course they bought it.I have the Enfield on consignment. I actually bought a new leftover 2009 Kymco People 150 scooter from Kiser Motorcycles in Kona, to be delivered to me in Feb. when we're there.My wife has a SYM HD200 scooter which we are going to bring over.So, if my Enfield sells I then have to decide whether to ship the Sportster.I'd like a dual sporty also eventually.The good thing about that XT225 is that they have six speeds, which really help the smaller engines a bunch over a five speed(like the DR200 has).

I have a friend over there that is reminding me that I need a dual sport when I move. I may leave it here on consignment at the HD dealership I work at, and the pick up maybe a Suzuki DRZ400S or DR650 at the dealer in Hilo.

Since we are going to be lucky enough to make the Big Island our home, I feel that contributing to the economy there by buying locally (like the Kymco form Kiser and maybe a Suzuki from the dealer in Hilo)is a good thing to do.

I've only been riding for 50 years so far--just getting started.

jon

Jon in Puyallup, Wa.

[oink]

Sounds like you should have kept the XT225.

Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.