Yamaha Zuma Scooter Reviews on Cycle Insider (33)
Avg. Rating

The best thing about this scooter is the reliabilty! Sat outside all winter with 5 inches of snow and ice and still started easy in the spring. Does not bog down up hills even with two people on it. The worst thing are the front brakes. Four sets in five years. The anti-rattle clips in the caliper have to be perfectly straight or they won't work. I left them out. Love this scooter! Would not sell it for 5000 dollars. Highly recommend tighening all bolts. Have lost some due to vibration.

I bought my Zuma in 2006 to save gas and to get around town to all my jobs. It's so much fun and easy on gas. I highly recommend it to any woman who has always wanted a motorcycle. I'm over 50 years old and I can handle it with ease. So far I've put more than 7700 miles on it.

I've had my Zuma for just over 2 weeks. I bought it second hand (it had 1600 kms on the odometer). Even though I own two other vehicles (a car and a minivan), my scooter is my favorite vehicle. I use it for commuting to work when weather permits. It is also my vehicle of choice when I need to run errands. Last week I managed to fit a turkey and a number of other items under my seat. I also used it to bring home a couple of subs and fountain drinks from Subway without spilling a drop. Try doing that with a regular motorcycle. I just love my scooter and have no regrets about buying it. It looks great. I added a Givi topcase (well worth the money)... it was easy to install. Because my bike, helmet and jacket are black, I wear a high visibility vest wherever I go. The Zuma may not be for everyone, but for me (given my size, where I live and what I use it for) it is perfect.

This scooter is the 2006 Canadian model it is my second street legal bike (first one 1988 Yamaha Virago) but the first bike insured and on the road. I took it easy for break in but after that I couldn't get off the thing. I rode it everywhere. Very reliable and very good on gas. I never bothered to check MPG but Yamaha claims 120MPG @ 40km/h. Insurance is a little high considering I'm young ($1200/year). I've never had a problem with this scooter except the front brake pads which weren't correctly installed at the factory and wore out prematurely at 2500km. I got some ebc pads and they're still good now. Power is there until about 50km/h. It will go up to 70km/h on flat ground and no wind. Oil is not a problem. The tank needs to be refilled about every 1000km and it only takes a $7 bottle. Electrical system is the best. I never had an electrical problem as with other bikes but with their age electrical components are questionable. I feel the under seat storage is not enough as it can hold a full face helmet but that's it. The trunk is VERY helpful. It's made in Italy by givi and it's an official Yamaha accessory. One important thing is to check the tire pressure as it affects acceleration and top speed CONSIDERABLY. Comfort is good. You just have to get used to it. Seat is nice and big but I do feel cramped two up. Mirrors give an excellent view. Maintenance is minimal on this thing. Just go over everything it says to in the manual. You can get a service manual for this scooter online at Provo and print it out at business depot for 20$ instead of buying it from Yamaha for $100. For upgrades, I do not recommend upgrading performance because it affects reliability and it's a pain too. On a normal bike if you put a performance pipe you rejet and that's it. On a scooter, you need to mod the clutch springs, the rollers, and the jets. If you want more performance just buy a bigger bike. To sum it all up if you want a reliable bike to putt around in I would definitely recommend it. Stay away from the no name Chinese junk on the market. I worked with them before. They fall apart easy and parts are hard to find. Good luck!

The Yamaha Auma is the best, most reliable vehicle I have ever owned. Great gas mileage, plenty of power, and looks everywhere I go.My Zuma was clocked at 80 mph by Florida Highway Patrol! I would recommend this scooter to anyone thinking of purchasing one in the near future.

This is probably the most well designed scooter on the market. I love the fact that it is a two stroke, to help with the hills a give good performance. It does not look like a vespa, rather it looks like an aggressive riding vehicle(reflecting its performance). It has many handy features, such as an oil injector so you do not need to mix gas and oil, an electric start for easy starting with a back up kick start so you can still ride, and a decent sized storage compartment underneath the seat. The suspension and stablility is a dream, and the reliability and style are unmatched. It is a shame however, that the Zuma is no longer being made. So snatch up a Zuma before they are all gone. A year after production, the Zuma is still in high demand... and I am not suprised why.

I bought my Zuma in Sept. of 2005. It was my main transportation to and from work. I rode this bike all through the witer months also!! Even while it was near zero degrees my Zuma had no problem starting. The only problem I see with this scooter is that you tend to slide forward on the seat. Other than that this is one of the best purchases I have made!! My Zuma was stolen in the spring of 2006! Since they are not made anymore, I had to wait for my local dealer to get a used one in. I quickly bought it!!! I just can't understand why Yamaha stopped making them? They are such a hot item right now!!! Very reliable machine!!!!

I've put 3,000 miles on my zuma in the first year. I drive it to and from work every day the weather allows. No problems to date. Excellent machine but if you consistently need to ride at speeds in excess of 35mph you should consider going up an engine size. Most of my riding is 35mph or less but some roads I take are 40-45mph and at times it can be frustrating when you hold up traffic. If this is the only scooter you can afford I would say BUY IT. YOU WILL BE HAPPY.

Wanted another motorcycle...haven't had one since wrecking my 1967 BSA Starfire. Wanted something easy to get my confidence back for riding. Boy, was the Zuma a SHOCK! I didn't think 50cc could propel a 205 pound bike with a 215 pound rider as well as it does! My wife even comes on it with me from time to time, without any hesitation from the bike. Granted...hills are a chore for the bike...but again...it's 50cc! The Zuma gets great mileage (mine is averaging about 75 mp/g). Its sporty looks also are a plus. It seems that Yamaha and Honda are going with the classic "Vespa-look". If I wanted a Vespa, I would have bought a Vespa. The Zuma looks like a cross between a "crotch rocket" and a scooter. Can't go wrong there. Amazing machine.

This is a wonderful little scooter. Turning radius is very good. It does well on gravel and pavement. We bought the Zuma for me and the 2006 Vino 125 for my husband last weekend. We're hooked!

I have to say this little Zuma is awesome. I'm reviewing it for my wife, but I'm 6'3" and 240 pounds and it hauls my fat butt around the neighborhood. I ride a Yamaha 1989 XT600 dual sport most of the time, and got this for my wife to cruise around... It MOVES with her on it, it tops about 43 MPH, with me, about 38. Starts every time, all the time. Great MPG and we love it... got it for a great price.

I purchased my Zuma in August. I drive it to work everyday and love it. When driven with care I get approximately 80 miles per gallon. Once in a while I would like to go a little faster but it has lived up to my expectations. My only suggestion is that if you need to travel in excess of 35mph for long periods of time you may want to jump up an engine class. Zuma will travel 35 all day long. 40 mph on flat ground but this is really pushing the engine. Buy one - you will not be diappointed!

For me the Zuma was an impulse buy to save on gas, but the fun factor is super high. These little scooters really zip around and are a blast to ride. I can't wait to get a pipe on it and maybe a 70cc kit later on. Gas mileage is great, those of you who laugh, lets compare fuel bills at the end of the month. Then we'll see who's laughing. I saved $30.00 in the first week of riding to work, and it was a short week!

I have had scooters for about 22 years. All of them Yamaha's I feel the Zuma is the best one so far. I had a QT 50 in 1982, Razz, 2002 Zuma black and now a 2003 zuma Yamaha blue.

I love my Zuma. This is my first scooter and it is so easy to ride. The gas mileage is fantastic now that gas went over the $3.00 mark I find myself running errands all over town.I let my friend ride it the next day she bought her one too. So if your looking for something fun sporty and just downright handy get yourself a Zuma you won't be sorry.

I just bought my Zuma and man it's a blast. I have to eventually get off, but I don't want to. Perfect for around town and I have done some off-roading. Be careful with the soft dirt you can drop the bike. Otherwise great looking scooter. All the neighbors want one. Remember to wear your helmut. Have Fun. This weekend heading to the Lake.

This thing CRANKS! It goes a little under 45 mph on flat ground, but is very hard not to speed. It has great style and looks awesome! I highly recomend it, if you're looking for some fun.

We bought two of these units in March of 2005. We love them so much we bought another two units yesterday Monday the 15th of August. These things are great. They accelerate plenty fast enough. Top end is pretty good also. I don't understand anyone's complaint that they are not fast enough! These are 49cc units not a crotch rocket. If you want these for local communting they are perfect. If you want something for the highway, you might want to look elsewhere. As for reliability, they seem to go and go. No problems here. Go get one while they last....2 cycle is phasing out due to emissions. I like the style of these better than the vino style (like a vespa) European styling. These look fast. Lastly, you can ride off the road a little because the tires are about twice the size of other bikes. These things ROCK.

I have researched the 49cc market and came up with the Piaggio Typhoon vs. the Zuma. Similar in price and specs the Zuma won based on insurance cost Piaggio was quoted 5 times higher than the Yamaha for top liability coverage. The Zuma was a pleasure to ride home from the dealer today and I felt great with the exception of curvy roads. I was schooled quickly to slow down. The Zuma is very peppy and can be decieving as to how fast you can get it to go!

I just bought my Zuma 2 weeks ago, and so far it has been great. I am a big guy and needed something that would it atleast look like it fit me. Our second car died, and I felt a scooter would be a good replacement. I looked at the Honda's (Ruckus and Metro) and the Zuma. The Zuma has the best of the metro with the size and profile of the Ruckus. The Zuma is louder then the metro, which some people like. It has good power, altough mine seems a little slow on take off between 0 and 5 mph. It is fun to drive and has good storage unnder the seat. The controls are easy to read and to get to. The guauges are black with a white background. I have ridden on streets and roads and dirt trails. Held up well in all terrains. The seat is longer then either of the Honda's and for a big guy like me that was the biggest plus. Nice pegs for the rider on the back. Overall I love the Zuma and I am looking for many years of reliable service.

I recently upgraded to a 37 ft. Class A motorhome and needed something to haul behind it rather than having to take the big rig in to town for groceries when I was camping. I bought the Zuma last week while on vacation in the White Mountains of New Hampshire plus a cariier to mount it on the motorhome trailer hitch. The Zuma turned out to be just what I needed. I drove it from the dealership the 8 miles back to the campground and had no problem with the intown traffic or the winding roads. It zipped right along at 40 mph and handled the bumps and curves with ease. I am 60 years old and this is my first scooter, it's a lot of fun, very practical, economical and I would at this point highly recommend the Zuma to anyone looking for a vehicle to haul behind a motorhome. Thank You Yamaha !

I originally bought the scooter for my wife to learn on before going to a motorcycle. She since lost interest and it has come back to me for whatever use. We live 2 miles from the Grocery store and the speed limits are 35 mph all the way so it's no problem getting there. With my size I can get up to 42.9 MPH according to the GPS with about 1/2 tank of gas.. You can do a lot of upgrades if you want to go faster...it's great just like it is from the factory...it's like having that mini-bike you always wanted when you were a kid when your parents said no. Since this is the last year that Yamaha is bringing the Zuma to the USA .. I am buying another one to keep in storage just in case..

I got my Zuma in october 2004 and don't regret it. I have 730 miles on this bike and it still runs great. The Zuma gets about 70 mpg and with todays gas prices you shouldn't have trouble paying for gas with a Zuma compared to a car. Plus it's a really fun thing to ride, I took off the rear plastic fender because mine broke off because I tried to do a wheelie, but after I took it off I thought it looked better because it shows the wide rear tire. plus one time my Zuma fell over and the only thing I had to replace was the passenger foot rest, which only cost a few bucks. so if your still thinking about getting a Zuma, get it!

I bought a 2004 Yamaha Zuma last summer and since then I have fallen in love with it. The scooter handles really well and gets up to speed pretty quick. My zuma goes a little over 40 MPH and it gets really good gas milage. Overall the Zuma is a great bike for any type of rider.

Just got it last wednesday night. This is my first motorized ride. It's very quick and can get up to between 40-45. Seat gets a little uncomfortable, but tolerable if you move around. I am not small and this bike still moves well. Handles well also. A little on the rough running side, but it's a simple 2-stroke. Mileage is decent. Plastic rear fender is capable to breaking if you put a cover on it, but replacement is cheap (order 2). That is my only quality concern. I do not regret buying this at all so far. Looks cool, but don't get carried away. Not a "hog"-more like a "little piggy".