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Michelle ...

Hi!

Getting to Victoria on your SYM 50cc Mio is do-able. We've done it with 50cc and others have done it. I've asked some friends on Vancouver Island to explain the route from the ferry into Victoria.

Let's talk about getting to the ferry in Tsawwassen from Vancouver.

1. The best route is to get yourself to Surrey via the Patullo bridge. This will entail travelling to New Westminster the best way "you" know how. Everyone has their preferences.

2. After crossing the Patullo bridge, you want to follow Scott Road south to Tannery Road. Turn right, then left at the lights (South Fraser Way). Follow South Fraser Way (it will become River road). Then follow River Road until you get to highway #99.

3. Cross "over" #99, and you will be on highway #17, Keep your wits about you and hang to the right lane. At the next intersection (Ladner Trunk Road), turn right and follow Ladner Trunk Road into Ladner.

4. At Arthur Drive, turn left and follow Arthur Drive. Arthur Drive will become 53 Street and will swing to the left (28 Avenue). Follow 28 Avenue a short while, until the road swings to right. This will be 56 Street. Follow 56 Street until you get to highway #17.

5. Turn right onto #17 and follow to the ferry. Keep your wits about you and stay in the right lane.

Enjoy the ride.

Robert, the Reverend after the ferry docks in Swartz Bay (the other side), scooters and bikes unload first.

I suggest that you ride off the ferry and pull over at the first available spot to wait out the traffic behind you. As soon as the ferry has unloaded with vehicles there will be NO ONE behind you. Proceed on the highway about a mile and take the first right at TWAIN ROAD. Continue about a mile or so and turn left at West Saanich Road. This will take you right into downtown Victoria. Near the southern end the road, past a strip mall on the right, then goes over an overpass, stop light and slight uphill from there and changes names. Just continue on . . .

bob Michelle ...

If you use James' route (definitely better suited to 50cc, but I like driving through Ladner - it's my favorite city in the lower mainland and I enjoy the twisties of Arthur Road), be very careful crossing Ladner Trunk Road (#10) as most of the vehicles are speeding in that area coming from your left & right.

Bob ...

Thanks for giving the directions from the ferry into the City of Victoria. I knew I could count on you.

Regards,

Robert, the Reverend
Surrey Michelle,

Have fun heading to the Island. Great thing about BC Ferries ... scooters and morotcycles are half the price of cars ... and you don't need a reservation regardless of how busy it is ... as long as you get there while they're still selling tickets, you'll get on board. Hi everyone, new to the board here.

I bought an old broken down 1984 Honda Tact 50cc scooter a few months ago and have been slowly fixing her up - and I'm happy to say she's up and running like new. I've mainly been taking it around for quick errands and joyrides, but have been considering the possibility of riding it to work.

Right now I live in Richmond, and my job's on Main St. in Vancouver. Is my understanding correct that since my scooter's a 50cc (and just barely makes 50km/h), that I won't be able to take it over any bridges like the Oak/Knight/Arthur Laing bridges? If so, are there any alternatives to get my scooter to Vancouver?

Any ideas/help would be great, thanks! as for your question there are a few acceptions to the rule for bridges/highways. You ARE allowed to cross a bridge. BUT you have to get on at the last possible on ramp before the bridge and off as the first after. I've crossed Knight Street and Arthur Lang bridges on my 50cc Jazz going around 55km and had no problems - apart from Arthur Lang just usually being pretty windy. It looks stupid as hell but whenever I cross major bridges (especially Knight Street) I'll tuck down to cut down on the crosswind and headwind drag. Haven't rode Oak Street yet but don't really have a reason to. It's windy on motorcycles too. I've ridden over bridges last fall and I was blown around like crazy.

Just look ahead, don't look down and keep a steady thottle.

PS: Don't over grip the handlebars or lean on them. They're meant for steering, not support. You use your seat and core muscles to keep you on the scooter/bike - advice from motorcycle school It's windy on motorcycles too. I've ridden over bridges last fall and I was blown around like crazy.

Just look ahead, don't look down and keep a steady thottle.

PS: Don't over grip the handlebars or lean on them. They're meant for steering, not support. You use your seat and core muscles to keep you on the scooter/bike - advice from motorcycle school Scooters are classified as motor vehicles and must be parked on the street or in a parking stall. Greetings All...

Well I am so very new to this site and to the world of scootering! Looking for a 50cc to start-- hoping to work my way up to a motorcycle license and get a bigger scooter but I am just startin out...appreciate any suggestions....

I have been doing my research and have decided on the Mio 50 by Sym- any comments or advice!! I am pretty short 5'3 and a half, about 135lbs and female- so the seat height and weight of the scooter are important to me-- and I wanted a 2 seater!! I went to every place in Vancouver that sold scooters and all the Vespas were just too big/heavy for me- though they are so very sweet! I find the Vino and Jazz a bit too small and I really wanted a 2 seater! I stumbled across a Mio 50 at the last place I visited, sat on it and it I'm a bit biased ... I ride a Vespa & like the fellows a lot @ Urban Wasp (Vancouver Vespa) on 4th ... so I've had my eye on the SYM Mio thinking my wife might be tempted to get back into scootering, but alas she is content to ride behind me sharing the seat on my scooter. I also appreciate Russ at Scooter Commuter (Langley), so I don't think you'll go wrong with a SYM. I've heard nothing but good reports about them, so if you like the Mio then the Mio is the scoot for you. At least for now, as you mentioned moving on up to a large scoot in the future.

Watch for rides that I post under local and join us some time when you get your scoot. I'm sure a lot of us want to hear your impressions of the Mio as an owner, and not just ours from observing them on the showroom floor and reading about them in reviews.

Keep looking up & pressing forward!

Best regards,

Robert, the Reverend
Surrey Though I personally felt right with the Mio I haven't seen a lot of them around-- I live in Vancouver, I see so many scooters buzzing around but no Mios- no Sym's and so I was a bit worried. But I did some research and couldn't find anything really negative- on that note I couldn't really find any used Mios either-- forcing me into buying new- but maybe this is better- it comes with a 2 yr warrenty and since I know nothing about mechanics.. lol. SYM just entered the Canadian market in 2008 (I believe). They've been in the U.S. for a bit longer, and it was while visiting a scooter dealer In Portland that I first heard about them. I've seen them reviewed in European scooter magazines before that. SYM & Kymco are equally good and have helped distinguish Taiwan (in a good way) regarding the manufacture of scooters. You can't beat a Honda or Yamaha for Japanese quality, fit and finish but there isn't very many choices in the 50cc scoots they manufacture. SYM & Kymco have attempted to make up for that. Piaggio (parent company of Vespa, Aprilia, Derbi, Piaggio) is the marquee brand of choice. Peugeot is another new kid on the block in Canada, but with a long pedigree overseas. The name (Vespa) is synonymous with scooter and deservedly. I ride a 2005 Vespa PX150 (4 speed manual) because that is the scoot I like if I can only have one, and possibly only one in a lifetime. I did own a Yamaha VINO (2001) as my first scoot. Bought new and "religiously" (pun intended) maintained, it was still going after 32,000 km of dependable scootering all over the lower mainland. In the future, if a second scooter ends up in my possession, it might possibly be a SYM RV250, Peugeot Satilis, Suzuki Burgman, Yamaha Majesty or Honda Silverwing.

Enjoy your scooter. Believe it or not, I think you are mistaken on this point.

A "limited-speed" motorcycle/scooter being driven on a class 5 has no such restriction if said limited speed motorcycle/scooter is made to accomodate a passenger (ie. foot pegs and seat that accomodates two people).

For example,

A Yamaha Vino 50cc doesn't meet the criteria of pegs & seat, but a Yamaha 50cc BWS does.

An Aprilia SR50 or a Kymco Super 9 don't usually meet the qualification of "limited-speed" as defined by ICBC and it is a grey area whether or not a person should be operating either of these two models on a class 5 license.

With a class 6, you cannot carry passengers unless you have taken your test and are qualified to operate a motorcycle/scooter in excess of 200cc.

My 2 cents for what they may be worth.

Regards,

Robert, the Reverend
Surrey Thank you Reverand for all your info. I took the Jazz for one last test ride and then headed over to Vancouver Vespa/Urban Wasp and jumped on to the Mio 50. Once I got out of the alley and was scootering down the street I knew this was the
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Yamaha BMW New and Used Sales and Full Service Accessories Motorcycles ATV Personal Watercraft Jetski Bike Dirt Bike Side by Side SXS

Find Motorcycles & Motor Scooters - Retail in Vancouver, BC complete with phone numbers, addresses and an easy to use map view.

.craigslist motorcycles/scooters classifieds for vancouver, BC. ... all vancouver
, BC vancouver north shore burnaby/newwest delta/surrey/langley ...Vespa Metro also boasts Vancouver's largest dedicated scooter service department
. ... Thank you for voting us as Vancouver's #1 Scooter Dealer! Active forums, links, business listings, and a classified ad section. Vancouver, BC, Canada. rom my research, Honda, Yamaha, Vespa, Kymco and Aprilia where mentioned the most times. . reliable and easy to service brand

I do understand that those are a set of pretty discriminating preferences and that somethings gotta give. But the bottom line is, I'm looking for an inexpensive, reliable/durable and fun scooter to last me close to two years.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I am a total newb to this and thank you very very much in advance for any input you may give.

Sincerely Firstly, you'll be looking used for under $2000

These scoots should fit your criteria pretty well

Yamaha BWs, Piaggio Typhoon, Piaggio Fly50, Hyosung Prima, Honda Ruckus HI! Welcome to the board and if things work out the way you think they are, then welcome to Vancouver as well. Before I offer any input about scooter choices, let me suggest you consider public transit. For $73 per month (one zone weekdays before 6:30 pm, and the whole system afterwards, weekends & holidays), a transit pass is the most economical means of transportation going. But who am I you suggest that to anyone, when I myself ride a scoot instead. RakE is right when he said that you'll have to look at used to bring the cost of purchase under $2,000. I believe that Urban Wasp (aka Vancouver Vespa on 4th) has a sale on Piaggio Fly's that comes mighty close to that figure, but then you have to add PDI, taxes, etc. On the other hand you'd be buying new a warranty in place.

Personally, I'd be looking at new. The warranty would be important to me as a newbie to scootering, especially if I was counting on my scoot as my means of transportation to & from work everyday.

Storage space will require you to purchase a top box to put on your rear carrier. Takes away from the sporty look but some are detachable (quick release) for those days that you don't need to be carrying a bunch of stuff.

Speed is a relative term. I usually steer people in the direction of the Aprilia SR50, Kymco Super 9 or Peugeot Speedfight models, but it will be hard to find one of these used, in good condition and under $2000.

Making a 50cc go fast is an art & science. It you want to go fast, the easiest and best way to do that is to get a larger displacement scooter, which requires a motorcycle license. Very few people are satisfied with a 50cc for long if speed is a criteria.

My 2 cents, for what it is worth.

Best regards,

Robert, the Reverend
Surrey P.S. I took a Peugeot TKR Furious (2 stroke) for a test spin last week. It needed to be de-restsricted (legal) but the potential is there for a new scoot that might interest you. Nice ride, significant storage space, good looks. I've thought about going the public transit route, however since I have been driving for a while, I don't know what I'd do without the freedom to go anywhere, whenever you want and not have to adhere to a schedule.

I'm leaning towards something simple like a 2004 to 2008 Yamaha BWs, any comments on this scoot? Any major problems or concerns? Are there any good dealers out there that carry a number of these scoots? I think of this scooter as the energizer bunny of the scooterworld.

They just keep going, going, going. I had a 2000 Yamaha VINO (bought new) and after a few years with 32,000 km on the speedometer, I decided to buy another new scoot. A "BWs" would have been a likely candidate, but Piaggio decided to release 350 Vespa PX150's to Canada that year. I had my motorcycle license, love the PX150 (shifting, styling, etc), so it was a no brainer. I can't remember if BW's are still 2 stroke (I think so). If not, stick with the older 2 stroke model. Plenty of potential for a daily driver.

Keep looking up & pressing forward!

Regards,

Robert if you do get a bws 49cc make sure its from 2006 or earlier... after 2006 they added a catalytic converter which limits speed to something dumb like 50-60km/hr Yamaha BWs is an excellent scooter. The Derbi Bullet is another great 50cc scooter that is very fast. If you want as much speed as you can get in a 50cc bike, I would seriously look at a Bullet. Lots of used ones around with very low mileage, and they tend to be really resonably priced. A friend of mine rides a Derbi and I'd have to agree with this - they seem pretty dang fast, I was surprised to find out it was a 50cc

Hello future scooterist. Please buy a Kymco or Yamaha and save yourself a bunch in the end. The kymco won't break and the Yamaha has local parts, take your pick.

i found the c3 to be a helpful ride, new under 3k. lots of room and the speed
is modest, isn't that why one rides a 49 cc. jrd Woops sorry about that. I'm dyslexic, sometimes my spelling suffers as I cannot read. I still say go with the Kymco, brakes or no breaks. I prefer the derbi bullet. Simply, quick, good looks lots of storage, and now that Ive put a pipe on it i can get around 100 kph
Michelle ...

Hi!

Getting to Victoria on your SYM 50cc Mio is do-able. We've done it with 50cc and others have done it. I've asked some friends on Vancouver Island to explain the route from the ferry into Victoria.

Let's talk about getting to the ferry in Tsawwassen from Vancouver.

1. The best route is to get yourself to Surrey via the Patullo bridge. This will entail travelling to New Westminster the best way "you" know how. Everyone has their preferences.

2. After crossing the Patullo bridge, you want to follow Scott Road south to Tannery Road. Turn right, then left at the lights (South Fraser Way). Follow South Fraser Way (it will become River road). Then follow River Road until you get to highway #99.

3. Cross "over" #99, and you will be on highway #17, Keep your wits about you and hang to the right lane. At the next intersection (Ladner Trunk Road), turn right and follow Ladner Trunk Road into Ladner.

4. At Arthur Drive, turn left and follow Arthur Drive. Arthur Drive will become 53 Street and will swing to the left (28 Avenue). Follow 28 Avenue a short while, until the road swings to right. This will be 56 Street. Follow 56 Street until you get to highway #17.

5. Turn right onto #17 and follow to the ferry. Keep your wits about you and stay in the right lane.

Enjoy the ride.

Robert, the Reverend (according to speedo) Anything except SagaMichelle ...

Hi!

Getting to Victoria on your SYM 50cc Mio is do-able. We've done it with 50cc and others have done it. I've asked some friends on Vancouver Island to explain the route from the ferry into Victoria.

Let's talk about getting to the ferry in Tsawwassen from Vancouver.

1. The best route is to get yourself to Surrey via the Patullo bridge. This will entail travelling to New Westminster the best way "you" know how. Everyone has their preferences.

2. After crossing the Patullo bridge, you want to follow Scott Road south to Tannery Road. Turn right, then left at the lights (South Fraser Way). Follow South Fraser Way (it will become River road). Then follow River Road until you get to highway #99.

3. Cross "over" #99, and you will be on highway #17, Keep your wits about you and hang to the right lane. At the next intersection (Ladner Trunk Road), turn right and follow Ladner Trunk Road into Ladner.

4. At Arthur Drive, turn left and follow Arthur Drive. Arthur Drive will become 53 Street and will swing to the left (28 Avenue). Follow 28 Avenue a short while, until the road swings to right. This will be 56 Street. Follow 56 Street until you get to highway #17.

5. Turn right onto #17 and follow to the ferry. Keep your wits about you and stay in the right lane.

Enjoy the ride.

Robert, the Reverend