Ok, so I got down to my local scooter shop, Metro Scooter, and took a new Genuine Hooligan 170i out for a joy ride!
Sitting side-by-side with a Buddy 125 it is not that much bigger. I would not call it a "maxi scoot" by any means. It did not seem taller either. The floorboard is a bit wider-about the width of a Honda Elite 110 floorboard, but more generous fore and aft.
This really handy dandy black cargo net stretches over the floorboard, connecting to tabs on the side, which is really cool for hauling home pizzas, birdseed, or whatnot!
There are niches in the front of the floorboard that are nice for placing and resting your feet in a forward position.
Now I ride my Psycho with a low-profile seat and I figured I'd barely be able to reach the ground on the Hooligan while seated. Not so!
With my 29 inch inseam I was comfortably resting on the balls of my feet while at a stop.
I don't know if the Hooligan will take a low-profile seat, but it would be awesome if it did.Just a tad bit more foot on the ground would be nice for shorties.
The same comfortable ergonomic "reach" that I experience on my Buddy was there on the Hooligan too. Also the nice rubber grips that feel perfect on the hands were there.
The Hooligan mirrors are similar to the C3 mirrors-more of a flat, oval shape which offer a nice wide view to the rear.
It also has a little storage cubby under the handlebars like the Buddy but not as big. The under seat pet carrier is significantly bigger/longer than the Buddy, which is a plus. I did not see a 12v outlet, as on the Buddy.
The gas cap is mounted on the left of the cubby hole and the gas goes in and flows down into the under-floorboard gas tank, which is unique. There is a photo of this on the Scooter File review. It's ok with me as I like having the gas tank under the floorboard for increased center-of-gravity balance.
Now for the ride: fast off the line! 15 ponies is the claim and they are running wild, let me tell you! So here I am, blazing along, and I look down and could not find the speedometer!
Turns out it is digital and it is positioned to the right side and a tachometer is a big round dial to the left side of the dashboard.
Ok, but I would prefer just a regular dial speedometer as the digital one was harder to see in the bright sunlight. But I could live with it.
Going at about 50mph the scoot felt SOLID thanks to the bigger 12 inch, wider tires (Hooligan front: 120/70, rear: 130/70) and the slightly longer wheelbase than the Buddy. (Buddy WB: 47.6", Hooligan WB: 50.6")
These are my main interests in this scooter over the Buddy 125 Psycho, not to mention the 170cc fuel injected engine and the double disk brakes and enhanced double rear suspension.
All this makes for a solid, easy handling high speed ride that does not feel twitchy or unstable. And it is a smooth ride due to the double suspension and fatter tires! Not a bit of road bump or roughness.
This only lends to more comfort for longer distance riders.
As far as maneuvering it at slow speed I did not notice much difference between it and the Buddy. It does not seem to have much of a bigger turn radius. The handling felt intuitive and easy.
The look of the scoot was cool, stealth, curved with a little angle, and compact. I liked it!
I probably would go for the Army matte green if I got one because I like the "nature motif" in the color scheme, but it was sharp in matte black too.
Here it is in Army Matte Green:
(Photo courtesy of Scooter File.)
Would I like this scooter at some point down the road? I think so. It is going to be more versatile due to it's faster capabilities, small enough to grocery hop, offers a bit more storage, more stable ride, and is fuel injected.
An awesome joy rider, commuter, or even tourer. In fact, I think it might be the perfect scooter for me!
Approximate cost is $3800 OTD. No accessory information is available at this time from Genuine, according to my local dealer.
Thanks to Seth at Metro Scooter for letting me to test ride this awesome scoot!
It is one cool machine!
Read more about the Hooligan 170i:
www.motorscooterguide.net/Genuine/Hooligan
www.scooterfile.com/scooter-reviews
http://www.metroscooter.com/
Deb:
ReplyDeleteWell, what are you waiting for ? It fits and you like it . . .
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
When my ship pulls into the dock I will give them a call and order one! :=)
DeleteSeriously, though, it does offer most of my preferences on a scoot but is still small enough to not feel overwhelming to a shortie like me.
Really nice scoot! Maybe some day.
How about you, Bob?
Do they sell them in Canada?.
Orin at Scootin Old Skool had some interesting comments on the Hooligan. I like the practical touches ( not the digital speedo!) but it seems it is not that fast, barely reaching 60mph. Call me a speed demon but my Vespa 150cc does better than 60. Hmph.
ReplyDeleteMy Buddy 125 does better than 60, so I'm guessing the Hooligan will beat that!
DeleteLol I knew the cc bug would bite ya! Go for it Deb! I kind of like the whole Hooligan thing.
ReplyDeleteI thing the "bug" bite me more than 7 years ago with my first Ruckus! LOL
DeleteThis is a really nice, well-rounded, scooter. I think it will give the Yamaha Zuma 125 a run for the money!
Deb, I've heard good things about the larger 170 engines, naturally you'd assume that legal-type speeds would be easier for this one over the 125's. Possibly they're using different weights and rollers to make the Hooligan faster off the line, sacrificing potential top speed?
ReplyDeleteI like the new features and though I still prefer analog in many things, digital will work just fine.
Lucky you for the chance at a test ride and lucky us for your sharing of it. Thanks!
I would have been fine with it even if it was only a 125cc. What attracted me to it was the wider tires, longer wheelbase, dual disk and rear suspension, and the fuel-injection.
ReplyDeleteTruly all found on a Yamaha 125 now! But in a Genuine package!
The digital read out for speed was dim in the sunlight. My only complaint.