I recently had to put my car to sleep, and I've decided to buy a scooter. It will do great for my commute and some errands, and I can use my boyfriend's car if I really need to. I'm pretty excited, this is something I've always wanted to do!

Right now I'm pretty much looking at two models. The 2010 Honda Elite, and the 2009 Yamaha Vino 125. I am hoping to purchase within the next month, the sooner I know what I want the better.

Does anyone ride these models and have any input?

I am also very open to hearing advice about buying your first scooter in general. I've already read a lot of online FAQ's and the advice on the scooterdiva website, but of course am totally interested in what others might have to say.

I would think seriously about getting something in a 250cc, honda , kymco people, vespa . You won't have to worry about keeping up with traffic on your commute.

My commute is 100% on city streets. Do you still think a the 110cc isn't gonna cut it? I've thought of the 250cc, but the price jump hasn't seemed worth it for my purposes so far.

Your response was appreciated though.

In most of LA you should be able to get by with a 150cc. The only thing that might give you problems is steep hills at speed. I can't say about the models you mentioned because I haven't ridden them.
Have you taken the MSF?

My first scooter was a Vino 125 and it was a great one for learning on. I live in a pretty rural area but worked in town and found my 125 was fine for back roads and in town. Long hills slowed us down to about 35. I would think there must be some attractive deals on Vino 125's now, since that model has been discontinued by Yamaha.

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Patriot Guard Riders of WA State
Ride Captain - Peninsula District
"...for those who man the battle line, the bugle whispers low,
and freedom has a taste and price the protected never know..."

I haven't done the MSF yet. I have to obtain my permit first (going to take my written on my next day off) and then schedule the course. I want to do this right!

I visited the dealer and decided I'm going to buy the Honda Elite 110. It felt right when I was sitting on it and I think the gazillion reviews I watched/read and all the analyzing the specs I have done help me conclude to this decision. I am going back tomorrow to seal the deal.

Which brings me to my next predicament. I've begun shopping for a helmet, or attempting to, but I can't seem to find a place with great variety or selection in my area. I really want to try some on before I take one home and I need one asap to start learning to ride after tomorrow!

Anyone have any suggestions of places to visit in Los Angeles? I want safe AND cute. Probably going to choose a full-face since I've seen first hand what that decision could mean for a person. Also since this is my first helmet I'm hesitant to spend more than $125.

You should check out whether the HJC helmets fit, most places have them

And don't forget, you can personalize a plain helmet with decals

A couple of my plain helmets that have been decaled:

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~~~~~ Linda ~~~~~

Chaparral Motorsports
555 South H Street San Bernardino CA 92410
Phone: 909-889-2761
Supposed to be the biggest in the area but I've never been out there.

Bert's Motorcycle Mega Mall
1151 N. Azusa Avenue • Covina, California
I haven't been helmet shopping there but the place is huge so I suspect they have a good selection.

DEL AMO MOTORSPORTS
2500A MARINE AVE
REDONDO BEACH, CA 90278
They are sort of remodeling right now so I don't know how the stock is but in the past they always had a good variety.

Check and see if there is a CycleGear in your area, sometimes they have good in store deals.

Thanks so much for your suggestions. I'm so glad this board is here!

I picked up my helmet (just a basic black full face, but good for some decals =P) and my scooter yesterday and I think I've quickly become hooked. My boyfriend too. Together we've nearly put 40 miles on it already.

Thankfully I have a church with a huge parking lot across the street from my apartment and some good cul-de-sacs in my immediate neighborhood (a rarity in Koreatown Los Angeles) and I've been putting in practice there. But after a brief period of riding around like that I have already felt confident enough to go on some pretty major streets during non-rush hours here in LA. I even used it to get to work this morning and will be taking a nice long ride after work. Every time I sit on it I find I'm getting better. So far I haven't even been honked at, and I haven't had a hard time keeping up with the flow of traffic. But I'm sure my time will come! I just hope I'm ready for it. I can't wait to do the MSF.

Thanks again guys. I'm sure you'll be hearing from me soon! Hopefully I'll have some good photos soon too.

WELCOME! Make sure you have visible protecive gear as well.

Congrats on one fine machine! Which color did you get?

And welcome to the forums!

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2009 Monzo Honda Met "Squirt"
My scooter blogs:
http://www.49ccscooterlife.blogspot.com
http://www.ohioriverramblersscootin.blogspot.com

It's black!

The other day a large black beetle, I think a Japanese Beetle, kept hovering over it while I was getting parked and really wouldn't leave it the whole time I was there. I joked that it thought it was it's mother, because they looked so much alike to me. But I've decided to name my scooter Kabuto Mushi, the japanese word for beetle.

Congrats on the new scoot! The Honda Elite was my first scooter about a decade ago and I loved it. It was soooo comfortable to ride and I never had any problems with it. I originally had a white CH80. Then a few years later when I decided to get more power, I got an Elite CH250. That thing was like riding a Cadillac with a couch cushion under your butt.

My only gripe with the Elites is that they haven't updated the aesthetics since the early 80's. My Elite 250 was so ugly it was painful. But it got me everywhere and never died on me even though it was 20 years old.

Honda sure knows how to make a reliable bike, that's for sure!

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two wheels, one love
http://www.scooterlust.com
http://twitter.com/scooterlust

I take that back - they HAVE updated the looks finally in the 2010 versions! Yayyy Honda!! Those are some wicked cute little scoots.

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two wheels, one love
http://www.scooterlust.com
http://twitter.com/scooterlust

The 2010 Elite 110 is a totally different animal from the older Honda Elites. It is one powerful fuel-injected machine.

Love the classic black and the cool name!

Pic?

_________________
2009 Monzo Honda Met "Squirt"
My scooter blogs:
http://www.49ccscooterlife.blogspot.com
http://www.ohioriverramblersscootin.blogspot.com