THE best looking automatic scooter (Yesterday 50cc)

Member Name: spacemonkee77

Product:	Yesterday 50cc
Date:	03/05/01 (12926 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: beautiful styling, small, nippy, good acceleration

Disadvantages: bit pricey...er thats it

If you want a stylish alternative to the flashy pocket-rockets that seem to be the most common scooters on the road then there are really only 3 retro style automatic scooters on sale in the UK. The SYM Fiddle and Aprillia Velocifero are the other two. Forget them, cos this is the one you want.

First the technical stuff. I've got the 50cc so its restricted to 30 mph, no problem if its your first scooter but after a while you want a bit more. I haven't de-restricted mine but it will go up to 47 mph when I do. The acceleration is great, leaving cars at traffic-lights loking like the dumb boring boxes they really are...for the first 200m or so before they catch you up.
The brakes are smart, stopping smoothly in the wet as well as dry. The light is adequate, if your riding fast, but is a bit dim if you're below 15 mph. The engine has a nice smooth bubbling sound, a big relief as I can't stand the high-pitched screech that some scooters are cursed with. It handles nicely and the suspension is smooth and the tyres haven't given me any scary moments... yet. The body seems sturdy enough, just don't drop it. Some of the detailing is a bit flimsy though, especially the "yesterday" name badge on the side and the bit of chrome on the sides of the front mud-guards.

The chromeing is convincing enough, though on plastic, and should last. The spare-wheel at the back is apparently a "Tool-box". I use mine for carrying the lock, it would probably take a paper-back book, some cigs and a sandwich if pushed. The seating postion is fine for me, but some people say it looks small when I'm on it so probably if your over 5'9 you should look elsewhere. The mirrors similarly seem designed for smaller people as I have to sit a bit further back on the seat to avoid a good view of my shoulders.
The seat is comfortable, and looks good too, especially if you get the cream one (pictured) with the tan seat. Under the
seat is a space that can cope with a full face helmet or a 4 pack of beer, possibley 5 cans at a push. It's light (78kgs), good if you have to lug it round a bit to get it into a shed like me.

The looks will be why you would want this. It looks stunning, comes in cream, black and maroon. The maroon one (mine) looks great, especially at night with the street lights giving it a metallic look. It comes with 2 wing mirrors, both round chromed affairs luckily. The dash is nicely designed, with silver dials on a cream background. Even the white-walled wheels are retro.
Note: They come looking light-blue cos of a protective wash, just wash them with soapy water and it soon comes off.

It looks different so don't buy it if you don't like people looking at you, cos they stare! I think its probably a bit safer to own than other flashy garish scooters cos I don't think your average thief would prefer it, you need style to appreciate this honey.

It cost me £2100 and came with free helemet, lock petrol etc. Though if you shopped around a bit more you could probably get it cheaper, with more stuff thrown in, like the CBT. I don;t know what I would want after this scooter, the only other REALLY cool scooter is the Vespa PX125, but that unfortunately, has a clutch, gears and no under-seat storage for your helmet, so I may stick with this one for quite a while.

I prevaricated for 9 months on whether I should buy a scooter, and if so what model. When I finally did, this scooter was the make that I first saw 9 months ago. Don't make the came mistake as I did, buy one NOW.

****************UPDATE********************
I have just had the Red Marauder de-restricted. All 50cc scooters in the UK are restricted to a maximum 30 mph. This is because 16 year olds can ride a 50cc but nothing more powerful. The law decrees that 50cc scooters are therefore restricted in their speed, reflecting the relative foolish
ness of 16 year olds when let behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. De-restriction removes the restriction on the power of the engine. Doing this allows the engine to perform to its own limits and so the scooter goes faster. Typically a scooter's top speed will increase to 45-55 mph. De-restriction generally should happen after the scooters first service. Mine was after 500km, I took it in for the service (all first services should be free) and paid £40 to gain an extra 50% top speed.

So far I have taken it up to 45mph, I am running it in still so won't take it to its limit till 1000kms are on the clock. The extra 15mph really is useful accelerating away from roundabouts, away from corners and just on nice straight open roads. I have noticed that the tone of the engined is different, less a quiet rumble, now a bit more raw. Also from a standing start it can be a bit nervous. I would reccomend any owner of a 50cc to get it derestricted for that extra kick. 50cc's ARE cool, they accelerate like s~~t off a stick and are perfect for city transport. Get them deresticted and you can really go places.

Summary: