Honda PCX150 v CB400 Super4 v Your best suggestions! :)

[BrOkEn]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm looking to get back to riding after a few years out overseas, and am currently stuck in a dilemma on what bike to get. I used to ride a NSR150SP for my 2B bike and a RVF400RT for my 2A bike.

 

I'm looking for something more economical this time round, and was considering the Super4 since it's such a versatile bike. However, recently I've been looking at some scooters and they seem to be good in getting the job done as well.

 

I'll most probably use this as a transport bike to get me from point A - B, and would most probably get a box for extra storage as well.

 

My budget for OTR will be around $7-8k max, which should be able to allow me to get a fairly new PCX150 or maybe a Spec II or Spec III depending on the age of the bike.

 

I've seen other scooters such as the Honda Wave, Yamaha Spark, Vespa LX150, etc. but don't really know much about them either.

 

Hope to hear some input from you guys on the pros/cons for these bikes and maybe help to come out with a suggestion on what you would pick and why.

 

Thanks!

 

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NT

[shahrul_azmil3]

Honda wave

 

Yamaha spark

 

Is not a scoot

 

A maxi scooter is the best imo choice for sg.

 

Auto cvt. Big underseat storage. + a box will add more luxury of space. Suspension setting is good to absorb the uneven roads.

 

With a scoot, traffic jams will have lesser stress

[BrOkEn]

Honda wave

 

Yamaha spark

 

Is not a scoot

 

A maxi scooter is the best imo choice for sg.

 

Auto cvt. Big underseat storage. + a box will add more luxury of space. Suspension setting is good to absorb the uneven roads.

 

With a scoot, traffic jams will have lesser stress

 

Hey Shahrul,

 

Thanks for your reply!

 

Sorry for that, think the Wave/Spark should be under the Cub/Moped category but for simplicity I just kinda lumped them all into the "Scooter" category.

 

By maxi-scooter, are you referring to models like the Honda PCX150, Gilera Runner, etc. ?

 

Any idea what are the pros/cons for any of your suggestions?

 

Thanks!

 

---

NT

[Jehuty]

Wave. End of story.

[Baal]

For half ur budget, u can also csd a renewed, Ver S or PB1. Have to shop around for 1 that condition is good.

[BrOkEn]

Wave. End of story.

 

Hey Jehuty,

 

Thanks for the reply!

 

What's the rationale behind choosing the Honda Wave?

 

Thanks!

 

---

NT

[BrOkEn]

For half ur budget, u can also csd a renewed, Ver S or PB1. Have to shop around for 1 that condition is good.

 

Hey Baal,

 

Thanks for the reply!

 

Yeah. When I was researching about the Super4, I came across those models, but they seem to be almost hitting the last leg of the 2nd COE, and might be a bit challenging to find one that is in a fairly good condition. Just afraid to shell out say $4k and then might have to spend a couple more down the road to fix up some bits & pieces.

 

That was why I was looking at earliest a Spec II for the Super4.

 

Thanks!

 

---

NT

[Baal]

No Prob Br0ken, actually ur right. It has been that long. I bought that during Dec 2002. It was FQ8XXX. How time flies....

Talk about spec 2 & 3. Do u req main stand? Coz if not wrong, only spec 3 can install main stand.

[kawarides]

Maxi scooter is the best choice although running cost higher but u get to enjoy stress free riding and good storage space.

[shahrul_azmil3]

Maxi scoot is a scoot that looks big. With big underseat storage. Best if its at least in the class 2a cat.

 

Scoot advantage is usually its storage space and its smoothness of ride since its belt driven

 

Disadvantage is that u need to really stick to the maintenance schedule. No short cuts. Do not stretch the lifespan of the belt and engine oil.

 

The scoot u r refering to is city scoot which imo lacks storage. Lacks speed. Quite cramp

 

Owned a yamaha spark b4 but although it has great fuel economy, tampines to jurong will have butt sore then jurong back to tampines feels like there is no butt left.

[zalk]

I'd rather you get a SYM GTS200 or Gilera than PCX IMO. I believe you should be able to get a new one from a shop if you stretch your budget a little, or a couple of years old one if you don't.

[crazydj]

Maxi scoot is a scoot that looks big. With big underseat storage. Best if its at least in the class 2a cat.

 

Scoot advantage is usually its storage space and its smoothness of ride since its belt driven

 

Disadvantage is that u need to really stick to the maintenance schedule. No short cuts. Do not stretch the lifespan of the belt and engine oil.

 

The scoot u r refering to is city scoot which imo lacks storage. Lacks speed. Quite cramp

 

Owned a yamaha spark b4 but although it has great fuel economy, tampines to jurong will have butt sore then jurong back to tampines feels like there is no butt left.

 

Speaking of butts, my YBR when i got it many years back, a long ride is comfortable for my backside. Fast forward now, a 25 min ride and my balls and butt get numb. Am i getting older or my seat need to redo the sponge?

[shahrul_azmil3]

Need to replace it with a better sponge. Better if its gel.

 

But then again, back then when im using spark. I tried most kind of seat setting.

 

Still butt sore.

 

Maybe the shape and width of the seat play a part

[Jehuty]

Hey Jehuty,

 

Thanks for the reply!

 

What's the rationale behind choosing the Honda Wave?

 

Thanks!

 

---

NT

 

Real simple, you wanted a transport bike, nothing is cheaper to buy, cheaper to maintain and as bulletproof as a Honda Wave, spares a bountiful whether in Singapore or Msia, its a no brainer if you're looking for a cheap transport bile really.

 

Ver S are old and spares are not common, its not exactly as fuel saving as kupchais and their spare parts are a more expensive.

 

Your PCX 150s are new and not many shops in Msia can do them.

 

Vespa spare parts are expensive for a small bike because they are italian.

 

Your best bet other than a Wave for a cheap transport is a Spark, they also put out more power than PCXes and Vespas, more fuel saving because belt driven scooters lose alot of their power to CVT.

 

Well at the end of the day your money your choice, for 7-8k budget, I'd get a DRZ.

[shahrul_azmil3]

If u r really looking for bhp, I guess u urself know it since u own a honda sp and rvf.

 

A 2a scoot can get 15 litter / 420km. Pump the fuel at malaysia. Cost savings.

And it can get u speeds of 150km/h eventually.

 

So juz nice. Do not need to carry bags. All lump to the storage provided. Safety n comfort.

 

But again disadvantage is that the maintenance is very strict.

 

I rather stick to the maintenance schedule rather then playing the see ur luck game

[Baal]

coming from SP/RVF, u may have issue managing ur expectations in terms of performance. True that lost of power loss thru CVT. Just go to SYM TW site. Look at the before after hp. How bout a fairly new RXZ? last production was 2011. STill petty new.

[BrOkEn]

Thanks for the replies guys! Really appreciate it!

 

No Prob Br0ken, actually ur right. It has been that long. I bought that during Dec 2002. It was FQ8XXX. How time flies....

Talk about spec 2 & 3. Do u req main stand? Coz if not wrong, only spec 3 can install main stand.

coming from SP/RVF, u may have issue managing ur expectations in terms of performance. True that lost of power loss thru CVT. Just go to SYM TW site. Look at the before after hp. How bout a fairly new RXZ? last production was 2011. STill petty new.

 

Hey Baal,

 

Yep. I thought of the power issue, and that was why I started off my bike search looking at a Super4, cause cheaper, still enough power and lower maintenance as compared to a sport bike. Plus it's more of an all-rounder utility bike and is comfortable and can put box to store things. But along the way I saw some 2B scooters and was thinking that they seem to be cheaper, better FC and gets the job done. But seems like the cons are the maintenance schedule and lack of power. So there's my dilemma. Haha. What do you think? Thanks!

 

Maxi scoot is a scoot that looks big. With big underseat storage. Best if its at least in the class 2a cat.

 

Scoot advantage is usually its storage space and its smoothness of ride since its belt driven

 

Disadvantage is that u need to really stick to the maintenance schedule. No short cuts. Do not stretch the lifespan of the belt and engine oil.

 

The scoot u r refering to is city scoot which imo lacks storage. Lacks speed. Quite cramp

 

Owned a yamaha spark b4 but although it has great fuel economy, tampines to jurong will have butt sore then jurong back to tampines feels like there is no butt left.

If u r really looking for bhp, I guess u urself know it since u own a honda sp and rvf.

 

A 2a scoot can get 15 litter / 420km. Pump the fuel at malaysia. Cost savings.

And it can get u speeds of 150km/h eventually.

 

So juz nice. Do not need to carry bags. All lump to the storage provided. Safety n comfort.

 

But again disadvantage is that the maintenance is very strict.

 

I rather stick to the maintenance schedule rather then playing the see ur luck game

 

Hey Shahrul,

 

So a 2B scooter will not really cut it due to the lower engine capacity and smaller size? Will the extra power for a 2A scooter make a big difference? What about the FC & maintenance costs? I can't really pump at Malaysia cause I stay in the east side, then a bit far to get there and back, then don't really enjoy the savings I guess. Was also thinking if I go towards a 2A scooter, then what's the difference between that and a Super4? Thanks!

 

I'd rather you get a SYM GTS200 or Gilera than PCX IMO. I believe you should be able to get a new one from a shop if you stretch your budget a little, or a couple of years old one if you don't.

 

Hey Zalk,

 

I've done a bit of reading and it seems that the Gilera Runner is a good bike but the maintenance costs seems to be fairly higher than the Japanese scooters. For the SYM Joyride/Joymax 200, I've also been reading on issues about the quality. That was why I was thinking about sticking with a solid Japanese brand. Correct me if I'm wrong please. Thanks!

 

Real simple, you wanted a transport bike, nothing is cheaper to buy, cheaper to maintain and as bulletproof as a Honda Wave, spares a bountiful whether in Singapore or Msia, its a no brainer if you're looking for a cheap transport bile really.

 

Ver S are old and spares are not common, its not exactly as fuel saving as kupchais and their spare parts are a more expensive.

 

Your PCX 150s are new and not many shops in Msia can do them.

 

Vespa spare parts are expensive for a small bike because they are italian.

 

Your best bet other than a Wave for a cheap transport is a Spark, they also put out more power than PCXes and Vespas, more fuel saving because belt driven scooters lose alot of their power to CVT.

 

Well at the end of the day your money your choice, for 7-8k budget, I'd get a DRZ.

 

Hey Jehuty,

 

What's the main differences between cubs like that Wave/Spark & scooters besides the fact that one runs on chain and the other on belt? Is the DRZ a off-road bike? Yeah. Was looking at some Italian scooters but the reviews on the maintenance costs put me off a bit. Might not be able to go into Malaysia much because I stay in the east side, so most probably will have to service my motorbike in Singapore. Thanks!

 

 

Thanks a lot guys!

---

NT

[Jehuty]

 

Hey Jehuty,

 

What's the main differences between cubs like that Wave/Spark & scooters besides the fact that one runs on chain and the other on belt? Is the DRZ a off-road bike? Yeah. Was looking at some Italian scooters but the reviews on the maintenance costs put me off a bit. Might not be able to go into Malaysia much because I stay in the east side, so most probably will have to service my motorbike in Singapore. Thanks!

 

 

Thanks a lot guys!

---

NT

 

Auto scoots are well automatic, kups tend to be manual or semi auto. Kups don't have that big underseat storage but they do 140km/h with ease, your 2B auto scoots usually struggle at 110 unless its a Gilera but still it doesn't have the fuel efficiency of kups at 40km/l.

[shahrul_azmil3]

If u want drop dead fuel efficiency, its the cup. Thats what is made for. Better get the old ver carburettor ones. Maintenance also cheap. Dont get the liquid cool ones. As thats not made to last. The honda cup is proven to last. Can even drop the bike from the 8th story n the engine runs. Pour used cooking oil as 4t and it still runs.

 

But thats the original honda cup.

 

I rode with lots of frens on a STOCK honda wave n I myself owned a spark b4. New not used.I really cant twist the throttle above 130km/h. Dont know how others get speed above that STOCK

 

A scoot will generally loose out in speed. Seriously. U want speed go look elsewhere

 

A honda silverwing belt will only needs to be replace 20 000km. Generally, the lower the cc the sooner u need to change the belt

 

A rare scoot is better cos logically, punks wont go doing mods on it. The runner I advice to stay away from used. Lots of p plate comfirm had done something internally. A good example is open pod. Water n moist is never good for the engine. Fullstop.

 

A 2b scoot will not get u speeds above 130km/h. A 2a scoot will get u speed of above 150 -180km/h

 

Summary

 

- a cup/underbone will give u excellent fuel efficiency.

 

- a MAXI scoot will give u luxury and comfort

[Harryho]

Check out maxi scooter similar to this:

 

http://www.singaporebikes.com/forums/showthread.php/406656-WTS-Kymco-Xciting-300i

 

For a stress free n comfort ride, do go for a maxi scooter.

[kentng7]

Agree. if travelling time is not too long and mostly city ride than maxiscoot is better .. my opinion ..

[LXY]

u can consider AD300, suitable for all weather, do not afraid of falling off cus is 3 wheelers...

is quite true that belt maintenance is higher than chain as u can't prolong the lifespan, otherwise, belt might snap halfway..

[zalk]

Hey TS, just got to know that Hong Leong Yamaha is selling the Cygnus Z 125 at less than YBR price. I think they want to clear stock before the new exhaust regulations kick in next year. That might be worth checking out.

[dark_angel]

someone is selling silverwing recently, can have a look over the sales section.

[ber]

I have been looking at scooters myself lately. why is pcx not so popular when compared to a sys 200 ?