I have always wanted a MB and finally got going with one last year. I also went through the learning curve and frustration that most new riders experience, but after a couple weeks I got things tuned up and running pretty reliably.
Funny thing is, I had a Honda Elite 50 scooter sitting in my garage for almost 12 years that I got when I purchased my house, it came with the "Everything in the garage" deal. The kid told me "I rode the he11 out of it in college until the motor seized up" so I never messed with it. Last year I almost tossed out the scooter cause it was taking up space in the garage, I tried to kick it over and it was locked solid. While wheeling it out I took a look at it and saw all those parts, levers, cables, nuts and bolts etc and thought to myself, "Hey, I could use this stuff on a MB, why toss it out", so there it sat...
After a year riding and working on the MB I decided why not rip this scooter apart and see what's going on with it. To my surprise I found it was in pretty decent shape, the knuckle head that owned it just jammed up the kick start and burnt out the electric starter. I fixed the kick, then fixed the starter motor, all for free, and actually got her to fire up a bit. This encouraged me to push further, so I pulled the carb, it was gunked up beyond belief! I tried to clean it up but it was really bad, so it ended up in an overnight berrymans parts dip. I put in a new spark plug, new air filter and put the cleaned carb back on and hot damn, she fires up and runs freakin great, cost me less than $20 bucks.... (the damn thing sat for at least 12 years without a spark plug installed and still fired up and ran without too much coaxing, gotta love a Honda!)
I've had the scooter rolling all summer, and the MB too. I find that I do ride both, the MB is more fun to ride in a lot of ways, and I do still get a fair amount of exercise on the MB. The scooter parks and locks up easier and is a bit more friendly to drive in traffic, turn signals and all, and has a real headlight for riding at night. So I ride the MB more for recreation and the scooter more for running errands etc, but I do ride them both....
I guess what I am trying to say is, if you need something more reliable that you can put on a lot of miles without wrenching a scooter is a good choice, however, the MB is just more fun and sporty, so they both have their place. It's kinda funny, when I ride the MB everyone looks and smiles and asks questions seeming very impressed, when I ride the scooter people kinda seem to be holding back a chuckle. (like I give a damn!) Totally different experience. I'm glad I have the scooter but I'm definitely gonna keep my MB, perhaps you may consider doing the same? I like having them both, when I am wrenching on one I am riding the other, it works out nice...
If you do buy a scooter, after my experience I can't help but suggest you look at a Honda.....