[kz1000st]

I don't doubt that there are problems with Chinese scooters. My CF Moto has belched a transmission shaft and a starter motor in 12,500 miles. The 150 has had a few problems but I inflicted many of those with mechanical clumsiness.

BUT. Go back and see who built that flaming scooter and who imported it. Bashan, Znen and CF Moto are light years better than a Shanghai Shenke, JM Star or Dong Fang. If that scooter came from Scooter Depot you're lucky it ever ran. They chintz out on everything to make a buck.

Lastly. Those Japanese and Taiwanese scooters in the 300 class are not cheap. The SYM Citicom is $4900 and it's the lightest on the wallet. How about a $6500 Vespa? The others fall in between. Of course there's always the used market. You can have a Reflex for two grand plus or minus and it's only 10 years old. Somebody paid the $6000 though when it was new.

I paid $1200 for the Fashion, used with 1900 miles. I paid $1200 for the Bashan, new with a one year warranty. I paid $600 for the 50cc bike. Total=$3000. The Honda Rebel was $3350 plus expenses.

I only know that my scooters motor on with little fanfare. Rich Carmen owned a Fashion, did all the maintenances on schedule and blew the motor to heck running full bore on his 80 mile round trip commute with less than 10,000 miles. I won't push beyond 63 mph because I know what these engines can stand. 12,700 miles to date on the Fashion and it runs better than ever after the valve adjustment.