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| Motorcycle Message Board - Motorcycle USA > MotorcycleUSA.com! > General Motorcycle Chat > Your Thoughts on Large Scooters | Forum Quick Jump
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GeoffG
Harley Ninja!
      
Date Joined Jun 2003
Total Posts : 9359
| Posted 4/10/2008 8:51 PM (GMT -8) |   | | My only experience was riding a Majesty 400 during a Yamaha demo. It was surprisingly fun! Not the bike I'd choose for strafing canyons, or at all really (I like to shift gears myself), but I can understand the attraction of the big scooters for city commuting and grocery getting. | | Back to Top | | |
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Andy VH
Forum Moderator
Date Joined Apr 2005
Total Posts : 4052
| Posted 4/10/2008 8:55 PM (GMT -8) | | Well what opinion are your looking for? You said a lot about them already, they are quick/fast like a cycle, they have disc brakes like a cycle, engine and two wheels like a cycle, they still lean like a cycle. With the longer wheelbase they commonly have they are quite stable even at higher speeds. I guess if the rider is capable to make it keep up with other cycles, in my opinion it runs more like a cycle than a scooter. I have not ridden one, but it would be fun to try out.
We have a used Suzuki Burgman 650 at the BMW shop I work part time at. Maybe I'll have to "test ride" it.
But also, since it can be ridden near anywhere a cycle goes, that also means it is just as dangerous as a cycle, especially when it comes to mixing it up with traffic. In fact, in my opinion, any scooter that gets over ten mile an hour is no less dangerous than almost any cycle, bodily injury wise. That means, wear the right gear and know what you are doing, just like on a cycle.
Training, the best safety and performance "equipment" you can get!
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jon
Registered Member
Date Joined Aug 2004
Total Posts : 4675
| Posted 4/10/2008 8:58 PM (GMT -8) | | | looks is always on top of my criteria and i haven't seen a scooter that appeals to me enough to buy it. however, scooters like the silverwing is plenty capable from what i've seen. so your money to spend, your choice! | | Back to Top | | |
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Evans89
Registered Member
Date Joined May 2005
Total Posts : 321
| Posted 4/11/2008 7:16 AM (GMT -8) | | | I like the suzuki burgman 400. The 650, in the tests, you can tour on it, kind of like a small gold wing. No getting around how practical they are, it's the image. I personally would not have a problem, but it kind of depends on who you ride with and what kind of bikes they have. I could easily see myself having one in the years to come, as I get older and need something fun, practical, and easy to ride. | | Back to Top | | |
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wisart
Registered Member
Date Joined Aug 2006
Total Posts : 295
| Posted 4/11/2008 9:51 AM (GMT -8) | | I ride a smaller-big scooter, the Honda Reflex. Most everything stated here is exactly right. The biggest pause most guys give is the step-through design and the smaller tires of the bikes. Just does not fit what bikers generally like about the looks of a bike. However if you can get past that they ride great, fun to tour on and have great features. I have and still do ride with friends who have traditional MC's from Shadow's, VTX and even a Harley. Sometimes they get uptight sometimes they don't. It really depends on how comfortable you are with yourself and what kind of image you need to feel good that day. I think what GAJ said is pretty accurate to the demographic, a lot of maxi-scooter riders are older in the U.S. Folks want to keep riding but clutching and throwing the leg over a bike becomes tiresome and painful and the scooters are a great alternative to stay on two wheels. That's not me though, I skew the age downwards for riders, I just like the fun and practicality of the big scoots.
On a technical side the Burgman 650 and the Silver Wing are different than other scooters sold in the U.S. They are the only two that have parallel twin engines and they are the only two that have the motors mounted to the frame instead of being part of the swing arm. Both are considered more mc like, especially the Burgman 650. They are incredibly smooth and the Burgman is smoother running and generally more sophisticated than the Silver Wing. One of the best features of scooters is the weight is down low which makes for easy handling when riding and managing the bike while parking or slow speed maneuvers.
Scooters aren't for everyone for sure. They are generalists in a field of specialists, you can tour comfortably, flick through twisties and do your day to day commute quite happily. If you get a chance take a test ride and you can be the best judge. Or if you like the whole automatic thing wait for the Honda DN-01 or the Aprilia Mana. | | Back to Top | | |
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Smitty
Registered Member
Date Joined Mar 2003
Total Posts : 18717
| Posted 4/11/2008 10:12 AM (GMT -8) | | |
I can see the good point about a small scooter from 125 to 200cc, but a large scooter GAJ put it well in "They smack of "old man" to me.", & I go along with him. I may be 77+ yrs of age but a m/c is what I use up in the mtn roads, while a cage is used to get me around town for groceries & such to haul me to the gun range with my f/arms or such. The small scooter would do for down to the drug store or to see the doctor, to my Post Office box & such----not a large scooter. In fact I cannot see a large scooter for any reason.
Last year I was surprised to be on my way home from some 300 miles out of town to come to see a cruiser then two Yamah 400cc scooters & a back-up Cruiser again. Probably a good set-up for safety. Mind you I only saw that once, but it was the farthest out I had seen a large scooter.
I know in a while I will no longer be able to ride, but when that comes I might think of a scooter as mentioned for putting around town while my Cage will be used for other purposes though I know my long 5 to 7+ hrs or riding up in the mountains will be no more.
Lastly the only person I know that rides a scooter is a chap that works out in the gym, but then he has a 4X4 truck with four doors, long box, & in 4X4, the scooter being an intown summer vehicle for saving fuel which is sensible. As for large scooters I saw a Burbman that hung around for a while last summer, but after a few weeks said scooter disappeared. If someone bought it I do not know & do not know if it was to sort of be around for advertising, but never saw a human on it or near it.
Remember all the others on the road are crazy & out to kill you.Post Edited (Smitty) : 4/11/2008 6:19:50 PM GMT | | Back to Top | | |
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Triumph Guy
Registered Member
Date Joined Mar 2008
Total Posts : 1424
| Posted 4/11/2008 6:31 PM (GMT -8) | | | I like riding my step through Honda 50, all chrome, Weber high lift cam. Scooters are cool too. If I pulled up to the coffee shop on a scooter the gals wouldn't give it a second thought. The bullet bikes guys wouldn't say anything either, they might however sniff around it for the smell of nitro. | | Back to Top | | |
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Evans89
Registered Member
Date Joined May 2005
Total Posts : 321
| Posted 4/12/2008 5:03 PM (GMT -8) | | Ah, the Yamaha Morphous, so strange, and cool I think. It does look like a jet ski with wheels. If money was no object I would have one if for no other reason a conversation piece.  Buck Rogers would have one too! | | Back to Top | | |
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newontwowheels
Registered Member
Date Joined Apr 2008
Total Posts : 12
| Posted 4/18/2008 4:27 AM (GMT -8) | | I am new here, but thought I would add to the mix. I am 57 yrs. old, our son graduated from college 3 yrs ago and now we are empty nesters. I haven't ridden motorcycles or any kind of motorized bike since my college days. So I did the old man thing.... I took delivery of a Kymco Xciting 250 just this week. For me..one who is starting over, this was an easy choice. Yep, I like the Harley's and the sport bikes that I see on the showroom floor, but I just wanted something to get me around. We moved out to the country last November and I have a lot of backroads I can discover. Then if I want to challenge traffic, or ride into town, I will do that after practicing awhile. I do not plan to ride to/from work yet, and it won't happen until I feel confident enough.
For those wondering - I am taking the MSF course a week from tomorrow, have a helmet, gloves, and am looking at a jacket. I will not ride until I have completed class, and have my state motorcycle endorsement. I also have the Ride Like a Pro DVD and will be using a local school parking lot for practice.
I may be an old man to some, but my maxi-scooter still has 2 wheels, a twist grip throttle, and some great features. I can't wait to get out there again.Post Edited (newontwowheels) : 4/18/2008 12:33:34 PM GMT | | Back to Top | | |
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newontwowheels
Registered Member
Date Joined Apr 2008
Total Posts : 12
| Posted 4/18/2008 1:21 PM (GMT -8) | | | Smitty, as far as the boots go I do have some. I am a hiker/climber from my days growing up in Colorado. I have had a pair of Raichle leather hiking boots that come up over the ankle, have lug soles, and are of high quality. These will more than do what I need them to do, and they are already broken in and comfortable. | | Back to Top | | |
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