Korean Job Discussion Forums

[stellarsky627]

It seems that everyone can find used scooters for 400/500/600,000 won (125cc). I just care that it works and is a 125cc scooter.

But the cheapest one I found on Motorcycle st. in Daegu was 700,000 and when I said I wanted to find one that was 500,000 they laughed in my face.

It was so embaressing. I'm unsure if it was because it was two "white girls" walking down the street and they thought they could raise the price? I don't know. But it seems impossible to find a cheap scooter.

Has anyone experienced this?? (I'm in Daegu)

I feel like getting a scooter will just never happen. :/

[optik404]

TBH, the only way you'll know is if you have a Korean call or visit the same place and see what they say.

So....

[nathanrutledge]

Maybe. Could be your standards are too high. It's definitely possible to buy cheap wheels here. I bought two motorcycles, a Daelim 125 and a Hyosung 125 for 400k apiece. Both ran, one needed about 50k in work, but it ran fine afterward. They were not the prettiest of bikes, however and I got them off of foreigners.

I don't know much about the Daegu bike/scooter market, but if you come to Seoul, between Chungmuro and Dongdaemun Stadium, there is a whole road full of scooter/bike dealers and they have a wide selection and wide price range. Personally, I'm checking out the Honda Apes, and I found a new one and three used ones, and the used ones were all about equal in shape and mileage, but the prices varied between 1.5 and 2.5 million. Same bike, million won range. Could be because I'm a foreigner, could be one dealer likes to high ball people, could be the other dealer had a pretty bike that was really a lemon, who knows.

Finding a cheap scooter is doable. Ask for the cheapest one a guy has, see what it looks like, then work your way up. Learn some Korean so you can tell him that his prices are insane. Take a K friend to help you. Come to Seoul where the market is more competitive and get one. Any Busan folks know the situation there? Maybe a good market there for them. There are plenty of options, just keep on trying.

[Hotwire]

My old Daelim citi 100cc was 800,000 won and I bought it with my Korean superevisor with me. And that model is dicontinued and I was quoted more for newer model scooters n the same cc range.

I don't think you were being ripped off tbh.

If you hear about ppl getting them cheaper it's likely they're private sales or from gmarket etc.

[clyde]

Yes they try at first to screw foreigners. Its on you to learn and research the real value before you buy. Scooter shops are 200-300 hundred more expensive, but a good store will take care of the bike after. My shop just gave me a new starter and a couple of free oil changes so far. The old ajjoshi there respected me after I played a bit of hard ball with him. There are several foreigners that use his shop, and he knows that we know each other, if he screws one of us, he knows that that side of his business will dry up. His shop is in Suji, and I recommend him. But please bargain with him before you buy, I shaved 200 hundred and a free helmet off the original price. Chungmuro sees a lot of foot traffic so they feel they can charge anything they please.

[wormholes101]

[ticktocktocktick]

The cheapest way to get wheels is to buy from another foreigner who is leaving. Dealers have a profit motive, foreigners just need a quick sale.

[nathanrutledge]

[Underwaterbob]

700k for a 125 scooter sounds reasonable. The only way to get them as low as 400k is to buy something very old, or buy from a friend. Get off the scooter street and find some run down used scooter store somewhere. If you don't mind a motorcycle, there are loads of Daelim "Magma"s around for dirt cheap since they stopped making them around the turn of the century.

www.passo.co.kr is a good place to check out what prices are like, or even buy if you've got someone to help with the Korean. A search for 500kwon and under for Daegu gets 401 results, but they're mostly 50ccs, though there's a bunch of Daelim Magmas, Handies and City 100s too.

[sulperman]

[Gaber]

50cc scooters get down towards 400, but a 125 bike without any glaring downside (like being a Magma) will be 700+

[supernaut]

I bought my bike 3 years and it was old then. I paid 350 000 won for one of those old Magna's and it works like a charm.

Try to avoid buying from a scooter shop. My friends and I have mostly bought from other foreigners. But 2 have gotten their Daystar's from dealers. One paid 600 000 which is the most anyone I know has paid and it's the worst bike. The other was lucky and the dealer knew of a private sale.

I recommend going through the websites like passo, buy/sell/trade (here) and craigslist.

[coralreefer_1]

That price doesn't sound so unreasonable but hard to say without knowing the mileage.

That being said, although it might be because you are a foreigner, those guys will try to get over on ANYONE who doesn't seem to know much about bikes. It may have been an inflated price, but chances are they would try the same price with a Korean woman as well.

[redaxe]

[Underwaterbob]