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fireplug

Jun 30, 2005, 9:05 AM

Post #1 of 5 (1607 views)

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Motor scooters

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When we move to Mazatlan in the near future, I would like to purchase a motor scooter to do airends and to get to know the area. Any info on local dealers, brands or types would be appreciated. Also what may the problems be with bringing one from the states in the back of my pickup.

kirkswig

Jun 30, 2005, 6:55 PM

Post #2 of 5 (1582 views)

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Re: [fireplug] Motor scooters

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I don't know what would be involved in bringing a scooter in from the states, but if you're buying one only to use down here, I'd say forget it. Buy it here.

They're everywhere. And it seems to me that the coolest scooters are the oldest, so if I were going to do this, I'd just buy myself a used one for cheap, confident in the ability of the local mechanics to make whatever repairs are necessary.

That said, I don't think you'd ever see me on one of these things. Yeah, they look fun, but the traffic here is tricky. Some of the roads are, um, highly atypical in the way they merge and detour and so forth, lots of one-way streets where it isn't always obvious which way is the one way, stop signs hidden behind trees, etc. My advice would be to learn the area and especially the roads by bus first (since they're so much bigger, even the pulmonias are scared of them.)

Then if you're feeling lucky, sure... go for it.

For what it's worth.

To boldly go where no wig has gone before.

Esteban

Jun 30, 2005, 7:31 PM

Post #3 of 5 (1579 views)

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Re: [kirkswig] Motor scooters

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One thing cool about Mazatlan is that there are lots of very innovative vehicles on the street. I'm not sure, but I do believe, that if the motor is not over 150cc's you don't have to have a vehicle license. If I had my druthers, I'd be looking at one of those three wheeled chingaderas with the little flatbed or pick-up box behind the driver. They have a simple chain drive and are fabricated locally. Many of them, here in Mazatlan, are still using the old, Mexican made, Islo for a motor. But any moto motor would do.

kirkswig

Jul 1, 2005, 1:27 AM

Post #4 of 5 (1570 views)

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Re: [Esteban] Motor scooters

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Yeah, and you always see the guys who drive these chingaderas have really big smiles painted across their faces, because they manuever and accelerate like you'd expect a go-cart would.

And so that's the way they drive them too!

I guess I'm just lucky in that all of my daily errands can be accomplished by foot, and where most of the distance covered is via the beach. I can do my chores, get my daily exercise in, and have a lot of fun in the process.

Or at least, that's the way it's going to be again starting tomorrow. Was on a bit of a lifestyle detour there for the past few weeks.

Who needs motos when you can buy a perfectly good pair of sandals for under $100 pesos?

To boldly go where no wig has gone before.

patricio_lintz

Jul 13, 2005, 5:48 PM

Post #5 of 5 (1468 views)

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Re: [fireplug] Motor scooters

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The real deal: Mexican Motos.

http://www.motocarros.com.mx/

They sell some models new in Soriana Mercados