Burgman 200 or Modded 125

[Andreas]

Decided to pass on the Kymco 300i, read it was 421 lbs. Which is to me kind of like touring scooter weight. So it looks the its either keep the PCX125 or Burg 200.
I am having a terrible time justiflying paying new scooter prices when used is soooo much more value. I can't believe I missed out on a 50 mile on the odometer 200 for 2699 2 weeks ago.
Its really hard to have patience when what you want is right there at the shop vs daily scooping out cycletrader.com and Craiglist.

Are you sure that's not the weight of the Forza? I read the Kymco was under 370lbs which is about the same as the burgman 200.

[87112]

Decided to pass on the Kymco 300i, read it was 421 lbs. Which is to me kind of like touring scooter weight. So it looks the its either keep the PCX125 or Burg 200.
I am having a terrible time justiflying paying new scooter prices when used is soooo much more value. I can't believe I missed out on a 50 mile on the odometer 200 for 2699 2 weeks ago.
Its really hard to have patience when what you want is right there at the shop vs daily scooping out cycletrader.com and Craiglist.

Are you sure that's not the weight of the Forza? I read the Kymco was under 370lbs which is about the same as the burgman 200.

Here are the specs.
From Kymco 367 pds dry weight. http://www.kymcousa.com/showroom/scoote ... tions.html

But from this review its 367 curb weight.
http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/ ... eview.html

[87112]

I think its 421 pds since the Kawasaki J300 and Downtown 300i are the same bike.

http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/kawasaki_j300_2014.php

[chicaboo]

The Downtown 300/350i have slightly less wet weight than the Forza 300, although they look so much bigger.
Lots of little dudes on here enjoy riding the Forza. So once you're on the Downtown it shouldn't really matter.

[87112]

For those that are interested in seeing the RPMs the Burg 200 is at at hwy speeds this is the best video I found so far

Starts at 3:10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWXx3a3ULTg

I am starting to see that at such high RPMs at 65 mph plus this is not an ideal freeway ride.

I sat on the Kymco Downtown 300i a few days ago, it does not fit. Very tight fit and I am 5 feet 6 30 inseam. Any taller and your legs are very uncomfortable. I passed on it without any thought of giving a test ride.

[chicaboo]

For those that are interested in seeing the RPMs the Burg 200 is at at hwy speeds this is the best video I found so far

Starts at 3:10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWXx3a3ULTg

I am starting to see that at such high RPMs at 65 mph plus this is not an ideal freeway ride.

I sat on the Kymco Downtown 300i a few days ago, it does not fit. Very tight fit and I am 5 feet 6 30 inseam. Any taller and your legs are very uncomfortable. I passed on it without any thought of giving a test ride.

You can't judge Highway rpm from a full acceleration run to top speed like that.
When it's cruising it may very well only do 7500-8000rpm while sitting on 100kph.

If you can find a Downtown 350i, they have much narrower floor boards for shorter riders, but still a big bike though.

[87112]

I went to sit on the Burgman 200 again. I think it takes 2-3-4 times to see a bike to see if its the one. Especially if you are going to buy new since if you get rid of it soon you will have to suffer the horrid depreciation. Well it now feels off, the big A@@ rear end does not seem to flow right with the small front end. Another thing I noticed is the bars are too high and since the seat is the lowest around the rider triangle feels a bit off. I scratched it off the list. I am now looking at the Sym HD200 which seems on paper to be right. At a claimed 297 pounds full of fuel and motor oil its 63 pds lighter than the Burgman 200 and that is a lot of weight off. I found one for 3600 OTD 3 hrs away new and probably this weekend will check it out.

[chicaboo]

The HD2/200 has 16" wheels front/rear, so it should have a very good ride if it's sprung well.

[87112]

The HD200 is one FUN Ride, its my next ride after test riding

Forza300
Burgman 200
Piggalo Fly 150 3V
Pcx150 - last fall

Its the motor. The HD has this small motorcycle sound and feel, kind of like a Yamaha R3 ( which I use to ride) but in a 171cc motor. I could not tell the difference in power between the HD200 and the Burgman 200 with the Burgman having a 29cc power difference. I took it on the freeway and for me it carries my 135lbs just fine in the slow lane. I did not sense the motor overworking at all doing freeway speeds not interstate which I don't intend to ride on. The handling is not as toy like as the little PCX and thats the trade off with the bike, The power of this little motor is what impressed me the most. Its pretty comfortable soaking up the bumps of the road and the step thru floorboard feels very comfortable to me. My buyer backed out of buying my PCX today after we agreed on price so once I get that part squared away I will take the money to the SYM dealer to get the HD200.

I know I stressed buy used but this SYM model is awfully hard to find used. Might take me a full riding season or 2 to find one in white locally. Must have white, makes me feel safer out there with white and looks the best on scooters.

[87112]

ROADBLOCK

I just found out the HD manual recommends oil change every 1,000 kilometers which is every 621 miles. Is this common? I do my oil changes every 5k on the PCX or had planned to.

[davenowherejones]

ROADBLOCK

I just found out the HD manual recommends oil change every 1,000 kilometers which is every 621 miles. Is this common? I do my oil changes every 5k on the PCX or had planned to.

During the summer that would be every 2nd day for me some weeks. It seems way too often.

[87112]

Having major 2nd thoughts, what the heck kind motor oil is changed every 621 miles/1,000KM. Maybe for a war tank.
The search continues, I know it takes like 10-15 mins but still sucks.

[chicaboo]

That sounds more like the first oil change/service to me, usually with much longer intervals thereafter.
But even if it's not, oil changes are easy, cheap and therapeutic. Why would you not buy a scooter over that?

Here's some Aussies bleeting about 3000km service intervals on the HD2: http://scootercommunity.com.au/forums/t/20750.aspx
I would check the actual service intervals myself, but the useless tablet I'm on won't open PDF files...

[87112]

Yeah, you're right. I'm paranoid over little stuff. 1 quart of Wal Mart oil is 2.99 plus 10-15 mins of my time.

[chicaboo]

I would take the HD2 and Scarabeo over the PCX, but I can't stretch my legs out on those two. So I'm forced into a Downtown 350i if I want anything better than a PCX.

[chicaboo]

I'm on the PC now and have checked the HD2/200 owner's manual and it states to replace engine oil at 200ml, then every 2000ml. Oil screen every 4000ml.
This is inline with what the bleating HD2 Aussie owner's were complaining about in the link I posted above. But 300km and then every 3000km in our case.
That's not a big deal to me. The HD2 has a fairly high performance engine for it's capacity, so I wouldn't be bummed about maintaining it to a higher standard.

Take this how you want, but it seems to me only Americans that are wowed by 15,000ml+ service intervals. I value my engine life over pinching pennies.
Go talk to a mechanic who has worked on those early Ford Tauruseseseses with the big service intervals compared to ones that were serviced every 5000ml.
The same thing goes here in Australia with Hyundai's that were stretched to the service limit compared to ones cared for by fastidious owners.

[87112]

I think you are right about the HD motor, high performance for its size. Does not feel like 171cc to me. I mean its only a stone's throw from the PCX150 and Piagglo Fly 150 CC size. I let it cool down it bit after my 1st test ride, a mini heat cycle and than 2nd time on it WOW, this thing is high performance. Throttle response is A plus excellent.

[chicaboo]

The Aussies were praising the cooling system on the HD2/200, too. So it seems like a fairly reliable unit from all accounts.
My impression of one is that it rides like a bigger scooter with the power of a highly modded PCX 170/175cc out of the box.
This is why I said earlier that the 200cc class is probably the best trade off before having to step up to a big scary scooter.

[87112]

Guess, its back to the drawing board.

After spending some time on the HD forums it seems this bike has more than average troubles. I just found out the 2016 I lusted after is not EFI but Carburetor. And there are issues with getting parts for a decent price and some cities don't even have a SYM dealer. Like Tuscon AZ which is the 2nd biggest city in Arizona. The search goes on. I might just big bore my 125.

[87112]

I put a deposit on the HD200 today. The shop will keep it in till I sell my PCX.
Will post a pic in a soon.