Riders love their Argo and Bajaj scooters

"I can attest to the fact that you have a fine product at a fine price, I just hope you can keep up with the demand." Grover

"The clutch was smooth and easy, like spreadable cheese. Dropped the scoot into gear, eased the clutch out, and with hardly any gas, the scooter gently moved forward, without lugging. I was amazed." Robert

*Applause!* "I am glad to see that at least one manufacturer/importer for the states has the insight to build a great machine, sell it at a great price, and inform the buying public of exactly what is going on. Hats off to Bajaj USA! " Tom

After riding the Chetak: "Bella machina!!" An official Italian, Enzo says he was born on a Vespa.

"This Legend is like silk in it's handling, braking, anti-dive, power and looks. I can't wait until it's broken in and I can use full throttle. I live in Appalachia and it just doesn't seem to notice the hills....I'm very satisfied...a magic carpet ride..." Clyde

I promised to send you my comments as soon as I had more miles on the Legend. I have just reached the first service point of 300 miles, all of which were hilly....first, let me say, I have 35 years of scooter and motorcycle experience and have owned most brands: vespa, allstate, bridgestone, hinkel, honda, lambretta. I am recently retired as vocational dept. chair at a local technical community college where I oversaw and taught welding, machine shop, electrical, electronic, construction, auto body, hydraulics, maintenance, and auto mechanics.
The Legend has good solid construction. The joints are tight and well fitted. Machined parts fit cleanly. Mechanically, I can find no faults. The
transmission shifts easily and has hardly any gear lash, this tells me the
machined tolerances are close and that the gears mesh perfectly. The engine is strong in the upper end and does not lug up hills. the first gear is low enough to pull any hill in Appalachia. Horn, lights, and turn signals are large and visible. Handling and ride are on a par with any vespa out there, probably better due to the 4 cycle engine which has better high end sustain on hills and also holds back when decelerating. The basic drum brakes have good stopping power and are smooth.
the downside: factory tires are not the best and the mirrors are too close in for a good rear view....both problems I easily fixed with new replacements.
This is a great scooter and will lend itself to customizing by individual riders. Every vespa enthusiast needs a reliable modern bajaj to ride daily while he enjoys weekends on his classic... this is the MODERN vespa.
When considering buying a legend, I read many comments that portrayed it as a basic simple cheap version of a vespa...it is not. It is a high tech version with a superior engine and powertrain, yet it retains the best of the classic scooters: metal construction, dependability, and beautiful lines.
keep them coming. Clyde
-------------------------------------

Gentlemen,
I just picked up my Chetak over the weekend and I couldn't be happier with this bike. Congratulations for introducing a great product to the USA market.
Everything you stated about the bike holds true to your word upon
inspection, but the true test is in the ride. SO MUCH smoother than my old friend, a 1965 Lambretta Li150. I had planned to keep my Lammy, but I just don't think I'll ride her much now that a new girl is in the stall.
Just keep US in mind for add-ons and accessories ... Service Manual, spare parts, racks, performance kits etc.
Thanks again, and keep up the good work.
Greg/VA

+ exhaust sound. Sounds powerful with a nice four-stroke motorcycle sound yet somehow reminiscent of a throaty classic Vespa two-stroke. I am very confused by that. It must be my brain & memory overpowering my hearing.

+ Nice to ride mellow at low revs around the neighborhood, etc. It pulls very well with low RPM and there is no problem sticking to the break-in maximums of 10, 20, 30, 40 in the gears.

+ The look: It's classic Vespa from all angles. I know it's not really one but the way it looks makes me not care.

+ Pillion comfort: It's a nice seat & suspension for taking pals & gals for a ride. The gearing and power, handling & brakes, minimize the effects of the extra weight & placement.

+ Instruments: I really like the way they look. It's a nice view over the headset. Gas gage works. Speedo is steady & easy to read.

+ 4 stroke slows me down when I want to. Nice feeling when the throttle is turned off and the road speed follows. Easy on the brakes too. Downhills are really nice with the compression holding me back.

- Gear change: Mine is vague 1-N-2 (but swell 2-3-4). Maybe adjustment at the first service will help. Easy to miss 1-to-2 shift as there is a detent at neutral and I must be careful to shift click-click (two of them) getting under way.

- Some lost motion in the constant mesh transmission. Rewards smooth application of throttle and gear change timing. Kind of "lurchy" if I'm careless.

- switches: Big gloves? Forget it. Could not press the starter button with my warm mitties. (Stalled at a light, thought I had a starter problem when nothing happened as I thumbed the button. Pushed to the curb and had a look. Just a small, recessed button, hard to press - nothing electrically bad.) Just fine with my summer gloves or bare fingers though.

The Bajaj chetak is the first scooter I've ever owned. I've had it for about three weeks now and love it more every time I ride it. And I can't even begin to tell you how many people ask about it when they see it. I'm certain that Bajaj scooters will be an American craze in no time!

Many thanks for your recent letter, acknowledging my purchase of a new Chetak and for the thoughtful gift. Both were much appreciated. I must comment that I don't like my Chetak - I LOVE IT !!!!!!!!!!! The Chetak is a fine machine that we are proud to own and ride. I like to show off my Chetak to friends and on lookers whenever I can. We wish your company well and much success here in the U.S.A.. Keep up the good work! Frank

just hit 200 miles on my new Bajaj Chetak.
This is not the first scooter i have owned but it is the best. I live in
Salt Lake City, Utah were the road is not exactly level. This Chetak has no problems climbing hilled and mountainous roads around the city. The gears shift clean and the motor sounds powerful. Everyone asks me about it and were they can get one. Another point: my friend Larry (2002 Vegas Scooter Rally Winner) Thinks this is the best new scooter he has ever ridden.
Bradley

-----------------------------------
Mark Jurus, our dealer in Cockeysville, MD tells us that he liked the Legend so much, he bought one for himself to commute to work.

Just wanted to drop a quick note. I'm just about to hit 900 miles and I've truly enjoyed the Bajaj legend scooter. I like the modern styling, the comfort and easy of operating this scooter, even on the coldest days. I have a 20 mile commute daily, this machine has sure proven to be a charm. Mark Jurus

Stayed for a week with Don, my good friend & motorcycling pal of 40-odd years, up in Boulder. We went on two particularly good rides, the first one up and over the continental divide west out of Estes Park in Rocky Mountain National Park and the second up and down the canyons & foothills between Boulder & Ft. Collins. Don rides a Kawasaki W650 which he has painted to even more resemble a classic Triumph Bonneville. He found riding with a 145cc machine to be a fine experience and we were quite compatible. He let me lead pretty much throughout and just burbled along behind, enjoying the pleasures of lower speed touring.
Here are some amazing discoveries about the Bajaj:
-I carried a 1 gallon gas container bungied behind me and I deliberately let the scooter run out of gas to test its "worst-case" range. Reserve came up at 84 miles, almost all up severe grades and with lots of full-throttle work. The refill took just under 1 gallon. The return trip used much less gas. I averaged 120 mpg coming back down.
-I did the whole ride in 4th and 3rd. 11,000 feet at the top. The lower gears were never needed merely to keep on climbing - only needed them for when we came up behind real slow-moving cars (drivers apparently petrified with fear of falling off the mountain). Oh, and a couple of really steep, over-the-shoulder hairpins that went straight up and wanted second. The Bajaj gear ratios are perfect with just enough overlap to keep the engine revs where needed.
-The cornering with both suspensions at stock (center) settings was superb. I kept thinking I was on a larger bike. The scooter is wonderful on downhill curves where the 4-stroke retardation on trailing throttle let me accelerate right up to the right spot, back off on the gas with little or no brakes, and smoooothly accelerate out of the bend. This little beast really holds a line well. It is very quick steering and one needs to pay attention but that said, it stays right where you want it to be and can even make corrections while heeled over. The roads were fairly smooth 2-lane blacktop with hardly any shoulder areas and constant exposure over-the-edge. Curves mostly ranged between 30 & 60 mph and the secure cornering speeds were consistently 10 mph over the "recommended" signposts.
-The bike responds to counter-steering quickly and securely. A few pot holes came up unannounced and they were easy to avoid. Giving a quick, "just enough" press & release on a handlebar and the machine moved over in that direction instantly and without wobble. Good engineering job over in India!
-Two long days and the saddle never made itself known. Way comfortable beyond my expectations.
bajajim in AZ

"Love at first sight" and "first impressions, are lasting impressions" are the two axioms that come to mind with my new two-tone Chetak [red and white]. I live in San Francisco and a proper scooter is one that looks cool and also can handle the City's hills.

Having owned 10 or so scooters, the Bajaj was a real find. [Literally discovered it for first time on a Friday and bought one next day]. Man o' man, I'm zipping around the City and all the ladies [tourists AND locals] are staring me down with desire and the guys are looking and thinking "man that scooter really hauls ass, and my girl is looking a little too intently at the rider, hmm... I have to get me one of those."

I like the scooter's retro look, with modern mechanics. This one, with its manual transmission reminds me of when I used to ride a then-new Vespa scooter in Rome, Italy.

As to operation, "out of the box" this scooter handled the steep SF hills with ease and poise. I took it to the steepest hills in town to put it through its paces and it did not disappoint [I dunno what I would have done if it failed my tests, guess I would have sold it on eBay]. Lane splitting was easy too [what is "lane splitting" you ask. If you do not know, wait in line and do not worry about it].

As to mods, will be adding some chrome here and there, also an air horn. San Francisco Scooter Centre talked me into some race tires [$49 each, still cheaper than my $200 each 4Runner tires]. I know.... race tires on a 9HP scooter? But, I felt they would be good for the slippery SF hills and my "knee dragger" turns. Hey for $49 I am not going to think about things too long.

First things to get tossed were the "way too in the way and God-awful designed" crash bar, the funky hub caps, and disabling of the obnoxious turn signal beeper [if you want people to stare at you BIG TIME at intersections, leave the beeper connected. Wear a geek pocket protector to complete the scene].

I am coming up to one year as a Bajaj owner and I thought that I
would comment on my experience so far.
I presently have 3300 miles on my Bajaj. The only problem I have had was a broken clutch cable, which was because of the defective clamp on the cable.
My Bajaj does not burn oil at all. It has never failed to start.
My mileage averages 82 MPG, mostly city driving in San Francisco.
Last week I took a 200 mile trip to Pt.Reyes and got 100MPG average.
Regarding top speed, which seems the recent topic, I have hit 55mph, uphill, against a stiff wind and with my 100lb. son and my 200lbs. self. I can sustain 55 on the freeway but my opinion is that
although you can hit 55-58 mph, the Bajaj is more comfortable
zipping in and out of city traffic and finding those small parking
spaces. You can drive it on the freeway but it will cruise all day
at 45-50 with no problem. Bottom line- scooters were designed
primarily city driving.
I use my Bajaj primarily for short shopping trips. It will go up any
hill with 2 people, no problem.
I feel that Bajaj USA and my local dealer, San Francisco Scooter
Centre, stand behind their product. I have had some real nightmares with other products, so I know that good customer relations is very important.
I just met Al at a recent scooter rally, and yes, he is a real
person.
For people thinking about a Bajaj, my experience has been excellent.
It's great, reliable, cheap transportation.
That's it for now...........
Allan
-------------------------------------------

Thank you for the tire gauge, my husband and I both own chetaks since April\May of this year. We are always get lots of attention and we always brag about how we were able to buy two scoots for the price of one Vespa. I always tell them that I have had no experience and have learned to ride, shift etc. since April. Great product and thanks again.

This afternoon [3/1/04] my '02 Chetak and I turned over 10,000 miles.
She still runs like a dream.
Frank McKelvey
Wilmington, Delaware
----------------------------------------------------------

Well the new misty jade Chetak was prepped today and due to the cold outside I put only the first 15 miles on the fresh out of crate
scoot. I am the most happiest person in the area right now, with a
smile from ear to ear. She runs like a dream. Photos will come
tomorrow of me and the wife on it. Thanks again to all of you for
the past years worth of info on these great machines and thanks to
AL for giving us all a common love in the states. Scootering on a
BAJAJ.
Christopher and Amy

On another note, my Ferrari red '02 Chetak is treating me very well. I cannot begin to say how pleased I am with the scooter's performance and quality. As a graduate student, it was a huge sacrifice to purchase a new vehicle. But I can honestly say that my Chetak is paying for itself. The cost of my wife's car, counting insurance, maintenance and gasoline, is $190 a month. The cost of my Chetak with the same criteria is only $22 ($2 for a tank of gas makes a big difference!). I'd be riding my bicycle to school if it weren't for Bajaj USA.
Matthew