Wheeler Dealer

After more than a year using nothing more than public transportation (and getting graciously offered rides), we've decided to go ahead and buy a scooter. (Cue the fireworks! Marching bands! Dancing hippos!)

We're pretty excited about opening up more opportunities to explore more on our own, just to wander, as we really enjoy doing. The scooter would also allow us to get to trail heads where the bus just doesn't go, and we could choose whatever time of day suits us. Another nice thing about a scooter is that it's essentially a little truck. That space between your legs doesn't have a gas tank and an engine taking up room; it's all space! You can literally fit the kitchen sink in there. Plus, you can store your helmet and rain gear under the seat.

There's a cost for all that convenience, though. We're thinking of spending around NT$15-25,000 which is probably enough to get us a decent used scooter. Hmm...let's see...what's available online for that much money...click on this link...and..

Wait...really? Okay, let's do a little history.


When I bought my 1984 Honda Nighthawk (very much like the one pictured at left) back in 1990, it had 32,000 miles on it and it cost me US$1,000. I sold it in 1996 with 84k miles on it for $650. The Nighthawk's 649cc engine cranks out 63 horsepower that is delivered to the rear wheels via a 6-speed, manual transmission turning a maintenance-free shaft drive, and it has two dual-piston hydraulic disc brakes up front bringing everything to a stop.

US$650 translates into roughly NT$18,850 here in Taiwan. In Tiapei, that much cash can buy you this. It's a 2004 Kymco "Easy" with a 101cc (that's right One-Zero-One), single-cylinder engine powering a "twist-and-go" continuously variable transmission which spins a belt drive. Up front, there's a little, single-piston disc brake--which is actually more than a lot of other scooters have! The scooter is 20 years younger, granted, but it's also been in Taiwan's heat and humidity since it was first unloaded off the little blue truck. Even so, the web-page advertisement tells you that this sexy little number has already been snapped up by an eager buyer.

We're hoping to find a 125-150cc scooter with a dual-piston front brake and two (count 'em, 2!) rear shock absorbers that's within our price range. It's possible. Ping's nephew got a nice Kymco Jockey 125 for around $15k (a really good deal!) so we're not too far off for a budget. Here's a link to a 9-year-old 125cc scooter still available for NT$25,000: http://www.8891.com.tw/usedauto-motoInfos-240539.html#auto_pics. Just kinda feels different when I think about comparing it to my old Nighthawk.

Of course, I just checked Kelley Blue Book and found out that the Nighthawk has doubled in value since I sold mine, so I couldn't get it for that same $650 price tag either.

Now that I look at it, my very first motorcycle, a 1976 Honda CB360T which I bought for $375 at a garage sale, is now considered a vintage bike and can sell for as much as US$2,950.

It's all relative, though. That was then. This is now. The world is different. I think a lot of us are facing the same thing: we want to spend our money wisely and practice sustainability. We live where we live, and we're all figuring out how best to get around, manage our finances and respect the environment. If there was a better alternative, we would love to use it. Right now, a used scooter seems like our best option, so we're taking the next step that appears to make sense...which is, essentially: "Call Ping's nephew! YuChi will know where to look for a good one!"

We'll keep you posted!