I wanted a fuel efficient
alternative to my car for commuting and errands. Most small
motorcycles didn't seem to offer a lot of protection from wind, rain,
and spray. Since maxi-scooters tend to put the rider behind some
bodywork, and given the advantage in utility they typically have, a
maxi-scoot seemed like something that I would be more likely to ride in
different weather conditions.
After deciding on a 250cc
engine as the best compromise between performance and economy, I
started looking into manufacturers. Kymco seemed like a great
choice: well built, reliable, and refined. Unfortunately, the
Kymco scooters that I tested did not fit me well. My 34" inseam
and size 12-1/2 feet felt very cramped on the Grand Vista and
Bet&Win. The People 250 was a little better, but I didn't
like the look. I heard that the XCiting 250 is roomier, but I
never tried one, mainly because it cost more than I wanted to pay.
I also read things
about Daelim, but I didn't know if their scoots were the real deal
or not;
they are not a well known company in the United States, so I saw them
as potentially risky from a reliability standpoint. It took some
digging on the internet, including using Babel Fish to read some
non-English web pages, but I managed to convince myself that Daelim was
a competent company, most likely at least at the same level as Kymco.My research revealed other
things. One was that Daelim's S2 has quite a bit of leg room.
I also learned that the 250cc version has a Kymco engine, yet
costs a few dollars less than Kymco's cheapest 250cc model.
Between the known reliability of Kymco engines and the assumption
that they wouldn't provide them to a company that didn't know what they
were doing, I reasoned that Daelim must be a decent brand. Their
2 year warranty supported this line of thought.
So the S2 offered the legroom
I need, a good price, and a reasonable expectation of reliability and
refinement. Plus, I liked its looks.
Winner.