Hi, A complicated question here, and possibly a case of how Scotts are perceived by folk more used to a vintage single cylinder four-stroke machine, and how it sounds at say 50 mph, compared to a Scott ridden at the same speed. A two-stroke engine of course, fires twice as often as a four-stroke, and a twin twice as often as a single, per revolution of the engine. SO….. a Scott engine is firing FOUR TIMES as often as your four-stroke single, assuming similar gearing, so they sound to a vintage four-stroke single man as if they are being thrashed unmercifully, when in fact it is only the magneto and its drive chain that are working very hard, spinning twice as fast, and producing four times as many sparks, as the mag on a four-stroke single !
There is no reason why a typical vintage Scott should be any less reliable than any other machine of its age, provided that you have a good magneto, a well lubricated magneto chain, and a carefully adjusted oil pump, with no leaks from its pipework.
The only other issue might be the radiator, and renewal may be required if there any leaks from the core, an expense to be factored in when buying an incontinent Scott. Apart from all that, just use common sense and a careful inspection before handing over your money. Non-runners that cannot be tested or demonstrated by the vendor are best avoided unless cheap. A bike known to the SOC, and owned by a member/ex-member, would be preferable to a bitsa constructed from garage floor sweepings. If you can post photos of your intended purchase on this site you will soon get some hopefully good responses.
Good luck !
Brian
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