Hello all.
Just need a little advice, again! Buying a 250/300 cc Scooter. Looking at either the Honda Forza, Daelim S3 Asvance or the suzuki Gemma
Has anyone ever owned or known anybody that has ridden a Suzuki Gemma (Japanese import)? I love the look but know nothing about it. Was told by the dealer that I can order any parts from a suzuki dealer, with the chassis number as the reference, is this true? I'll give them a bell to check, but I have a feeling that without the chassis number, I won't get far. Main reason to ask is, has anybody heard any horror stories?

Bornagainbiker has turned me on to the Daelim S3 Advance. Like the style and the price but not the inability to get parts!

Then there's The Forza 300. Would anyone advise me against this? Looks good but I've read some reliability problems.

I do 36 miles a day , right through the centre of London. Lots of filtering, weaving, acceleration and braking, so need something that can take all of that. Don't plan to do many motorway excursions.

If anyone has any advice , it would be appreciated.
All the best.

What's wrong with the Tmax?

The issues with the Forza will all be sorted under warranty.
They are simple niggly little manufacturing faults which once fixed shouldn't be a problem.
Although mine has had one issue and awaiting a fix for a second, it has never once failed to get me to work and back and is very cheap to run.
The Gemma would be absolutely no use at all for London.
For city use you would be better with an SH300 or a Vespa 300.

The Gemma shares its engine and some mechanical parts with the 250 Burgman, but trying to get anything else (panels etc.) will be a nightmare. Also, it's far too nice a scooter to wreck commuting in London, just get something like a Forza or a Vespa 250/300 instead.

I do 25 miles a day on the Forza into SW1 and back out to Essex and touch wood it does the job well.

The screen is too small and I plan to get another once I have the cash.

The only thing I have done so far is mirror extensions as I got fed up looking at my shoulders.

Maybe you should look at a Honda SH300, fast, flickable. reliable and fun

I like the look of the Gemma
I haven't owned one but I have owned other rare beasts and getting parts is always a major problem - imports aren't too bad if you have contacts in the home country or there is a club/community with a UK branch (don't think the Gemma has.

Only consider it if you can live with that

Jaz wrote:The Gemma shares its engine and some mechanical parts with the 250 Burgman, but trying to get anything else (panels etc.) will be a nightmare. Also, it's far too nice a scooter to wreck commuting in London, just get something like a Forza or a Vespa 250/300 instead.

Love to add a gemma to the stable.
Would look at home with my cn,s
Also on my watch list would be a maxum 400
have to get the 250 first. or maybe the tmax engine.
Now thats very intersesting

Whilst a Gemma might be an interesting scoot, I suspect that have such a specialised thing isn't great for a London commute. You need something strong, reliable and easily & quickly fixable - you don't want to be waiting weeks for spares to be flown in from Japan. Isn't it quite a long thing anyway? Thus not so great for gridlock combat.

So, if you'd love a Gemma, buy one, but use it for weekend jaunts.

That's 24 carat forum insider knowledge in action, thanks for everyone's input.
I'd love to keep the TMax but my foot was fractured in 5 places in a crash in May! I just can't take the weight of it! Also the TMax is quite thirsty for my journey. Been driving them for years and will miss them.
I did toy with sh300 but it's just not what I'd spend my money on. I can't quite put my finger on it but I don't fancy it!
In hindsight I think the gemma was just a mod - life crisis, I'm over it. When I win the lottery, I'll buy one for everyone!
The forza seems to be the one, reliability is the key, cheap to run by the sounds of it. I can't wait to fully heal as taking the bus, tube & train everyday, is too much after riding for 25 years. I don't advise it.
Thanks to everyone for the useful info.