Where to find used scooters and how much to pay, what are the top brands and what checks should you do, and, is buying from auction a good way to save money? I am going to answer all those questions and a bit more. So if you are looking for a used scooter, please read on.
Find and compare scooters in the used marketplace
There are motorcycle dealers in every major city including factory franchised dealers (like Honda, Yamaha, etc) and independent dealers who will all have used scooters for sale. This is a great place to peruse different models and get a feel for the bike that’s going to suit you best.
Of course, there are also plenty of private sellers in the marketplace whether that be on eBay, Craigslist, or other. Lots of used scooters from both dealers and private sellers can be found via
- eBay – ebay.com/b/Scooters-Mopeds/
- Cycle Trader – cycletrader.com/Scooter
- Auto Trader – motorcycles.autotrader.com/scooter
- and dealers near you
Buying a Used Scooter at Auction
Used scooters occasionally come up for sale as part of larger auctions such as estate sales, bankruptcy sales, business closures, and so on. Keep an eye on auctioneers in your area and our dedicated Motorcycles category for any auctions we come across with scooters.
You can also find theft recovery and accident damaged scooters at insurance salvage auctioneers. If you are good with tools and understand the types of titles given to salvage vehicles then, it might be a place to find an incredible bargain. Prices here are usually 50-80% of what you would pay at a dealer. You can find these sales at
- Copart – copart.com
- IAA – iaai.com
Which is the best used scooter brand to look for?
Most experts will tell you to stay away from Chinese brands in the used marketplace as they are hard to get parts for and don’t have the lifespan or durability of other brands. The most popular brands and models, that are known for reliability plus ease of getting parts and repairs, are Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Vespa.
How much is a used scooter vs new?
Here’s the new MSRP and used price range (in good condition) for the seven most popular scooters in the US market (at dealers).
- Honda Ruckus 50cc – 2020 MSRP: $2,749 – Used 2015-2019 range: $1,895-$2,265
- Honda Metropolitan 50cc – 2020 MSRP: $2,499 – Used 2002-2019 range: $900-$1,995
- Yamaha Zuma 50F 2019 MSRP: $2,599 – Used 2012-2019 range: $1,190-$2,075
- Yamaha Zuma 125 2020 MSRP: $3,499 – Used 2016-2019 range: $2,100-$3,000
- Vespa Primavera 150 2020 MSRP: $5,349 – Used 2015-2019 range: $3,635–$4,585
- Honda PCX150 2020 MSRP: $3,699 – Used 2015-2019 range: $2,435-$2,950
- Suzuki Burgman 650 2020 MSRP: $11,400 – Used 2015-2019 range: $7,800-9,800
Is a Special License Required to Ride a Scooter?
It differs state by state so you’ll need to check that locally. Many states only require a standard driver’s license to ride a 50cc or under scooter/moped. If it’s over 50cc, it’s likely that you will need a motorcycle license.
Chart: Choosing Popular Scooters by Make, Model, and Engine size
From this chart, we can see there are commonly four types of bikes,
- the 50cc which is great for short trips on good roads around town while top speed is around 30-40mph.
- The 125-150cc which has larger wheels, much more power, and can go longer distances over differing terrain (still around town). Generally, they are capable of a 50 mph top speed depending on the model.
- The 250cc scooter is good for around 70mph.
- The Maxi/Touring scooter is usually good for 90-115mph and great out on the open road.
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50cc |
125-150cc |
250cc |
Touring |
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Scarabeo 50 SR 50 |
Sportcity Scarabeo 125 Scarabeo 200 |
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Atlantic Scarabeo
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Buddy 50 Roughhouse |
Blur 150 Buddy 125 Buddy 170i Stella Buddy 150 |
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Elite 50 Metropolitan Ruckus Honda Express Express II Express SR Urban Express |
Elite 110 Elite 150 Elite 80 SH150i PCX (125, 150) |
Big Ruckus Elite 250 Forza Helix Reflex |
Silver Wing |
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Kymco 50 |
Agility 125 People 125 People 150 People 200 |
Grandvista People 250 Xciting 250 |
MyRoad 700 Xciting 500 |
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Fly 50 Typhoon |
Fly 150 |
BV 250 |
BV 500 MP3 Piaggio X9 |
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Burgman 200 |
Burgman 400 Burgman 650
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ET2 LX 50 S 50
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ET4 Granturismo LX 150 S 150 Vespa PX150
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Granturismo GTS 250 GTV 300 GTS 300
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C3 Vino Classic Zuma Razz |
Vino 125 Zuma 125 |
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Majesty Morphous T-MAX |
Checklist for buying a used scooter
Preliminary checks
- Check the title – is it a clear title or other
- Get the make, model, and year and research current prices and known faults
In-person checks
- Check tires, if there is not more than 1mm or the tires are more than two-three years old then they are due for replacement. Also, check for cracks as a sign of age.
- Check body panels for fitment. On older bikes especially, if the bike has had a hard life then it’s probably been disassembled many times and after a while, the plastics never seem to align properly. Could also be a sign of prior accident damage.
- Check how far the brake cables are adjusted in, if there is lots of thread showing it generally means the brakes are wearing low. On hydraulic systems, it’s a little harder to tell.
- Check the oil, does it smell burnt, is it like sludge, is it really black? That could indicate overheating, and or poor ring seal.
- On water-cooled bikes, check for water in the oil (the oil will look brown) which is a sign of a leaky head gasket.
- Check the cold start and note any smoke on the first start, if it does, it likely has poor valve seals, if it keeps smoking as it warms up then it likely has poor rings.
- On a test ride, you’ll want to check the acceleration, if it’s slow to accelerate and revs highly, it likely has a slipping CVT belt. Does it rattle from the gearbox area? Could be a sign of needing new rollers in the CVT. Check brakes, and also listen for any whining noise as you come to mid-speed and drop off the accelerator which could indicate bad bearings in the gearbox.
- Check bodywork, lights, and mirrors for damage and deduct any costs from your final offer.
If it’s at auction, your chances for inspection may be limited but you still should be able to perform all these checks bar going for a ride. Most auction houses will allow you to start the scooter.
In conclusion
I hope this guide has provided some understanding of the different models, where to hunt down a really good price, what to check for, and maybe even give auctions a try. Happy bargain hunting!
