First time scooter purchase in Bavaro. Never do this.
11am: Taken by my real estate friend to his 'scooter guy' in the Hole (Haitian part of Bavaro) to purchase a simple used scooter. Told the price is $8000 pesos and they need one hour to get it ready. Friend leaves me there. I go next door for a cold beer and wait.
12pm: Told it will it will be a couple more hours. New friend Maria and I have been chatting and she invites me back to her apartment (which is a stone's throw away) to use the restroom as there are no restrooms where we are waiting. We hang out there for a while and head back to pick up the scooter.
2pm: Back at the 'scooter guy' and told it will be at least three more hours. Maria wants to go to the beach so we take motoconcho back to Cortecito to pick up towels at my place and enjoy the beach for a couple of hours. Fun and head back at 5:30pm.
6pm: Back at 'scooter guy' and told to come back tomorrow as bike is not ready yet. Decline invite to stay at Maria's and motoconcho home to Cortecito.
NEXT DAY
10am: Scooter finally ready; final bill $8000 plus $2000 parts plus $500 oil and gasoline plus $500 mechanic. $11,000 pesos total.
10:30am: Made it to just past the Catholic Church (almost home) when smoke starts billowing from the engine and scooter dies. No gasoline. Oil is also spewing out of the engine. Nearby motoconcho assists by taking me to nearby store that fills jumbo Presidente bottle with gasoline (70 pesos) We return to scooter and he restarts it; 200 pesos for his help.
11am. Sounding like a 1970's gas lawnmower I finally get it back to my place.
Since then it has started a couple of times and more often that it doesn't. Not sure what to do with it; perhaps donate it for parts.
Needless to say I am looking to purchase a scooter if any has one for sale or knows of a reliable source.
Thanks,
George
11am: Taken by my real estate friend to his 'scooter guy' in the Hole (Haitian part of Bavaro) to purchase a simple used scooter. Told the price is $8000 pesos and they need one hour to get it ready. Friend leaves me there. I go next door for a cold beer and wait.
12pm: Told it will it will be a couple more hours. New friend Maria and I have been chatting and she invites me back to her apartment (which is a stone's throw away) to use the restroom as there are no restrooms where we are waiting. We hang out there for a while and head back to pick up the scooter.
2pm: Back at the 'scooter guy' and told it will be at least three more hours. Maria wants to go to the beach so we take motoconcho back to Cortecito to pick up towels at my place and enjoy the beach for a couple of hours. Fun and head back at 5:30pm.
6pm: Back at 'scooter guy' and told to come back tomorrow as bike is not ready yet. Decline invite to stay at Maria's and motoconcho home to Cortecito.
NEXT DAY
10am: Scooter finally ready; final bill $8000 plus $2000 parts plus $500 oil and gasoline plus $500 mechanic. $11,000 pesos total.
10:30am: Made it to just past the Catholic Church (almost home) when smoke starts billowing from the engine and scooter dies. No gasoline. Oil is also spewing out of the engine. Nearby motoconcho assists by taking me to nearby store that fills jumbo Presidente bottle with gasoline (70 pesos) We return to scooter and he restarts it; 200 pesos for his help.
11am. Sounding like a 1970's gas lawnmower I finally get it back to my place.
Since then it has started a couple of times and more often that it doesn't. Not sure what to do with it; perhaps donate it for parts.
Needless to say I am looking to purchase a scooter if any has one for sale or knows of a reliable source.
Thanks,
George
