Super Scooters [Archive]

wczimmerman

12-28-2004, 10:26 AM

I think they're interesting but I would not want to own one. They are, in my opinion, a reaction by the market to the increasing fuel costs. Hey, more folks on 2 wheels is always a good thing, and some of the ideas from the scooter market could come over to the motorcycle world (better storage, etc).

Bagwell

12-28-2004, 11:23 AM

In my opinion, it doesnt really matter to me much if ppl are on a scooter or regular motorcycle. They are experiencing the same kind of thing as regular motorcyclists are sort of. I personally prefer riding a motorcycle to riding a scooter. I commend (sp) anyone for wanting to ride on two wheels. Some people just want to go faster than others.
I dont know how much it weighs on my opinion, but my fater used to own a scooter dealer when I was very young. He never rode them much except for at work, but he rode motorcycles a lot. He tells this story of a man from NH who showed up one day in 1976 at the dealership on a 64 Vespa 125. This guy was preceeded by a phone call from another dealer asking that they give this guy anything he needed for his trip from NH to South America and back. The guy sent my father a not and picture of his loaded down Vespa from Cayambe, Ecuador. It was a story that kind of stuck with me. I find it pretty neat to attempt a trip like that, especially on a Vespa 125, and especially in 1976. I have the picture and note to remind me of the story.

2 wheels are better than more. Scooter, bicycle, motorcycle, moped... whatever. ;-)

kurt

12-28-2004, 12:06 PM

I think they have their purpose. If I were a studet in an urban area, lived close to work they might be an option. For me, they don't meet enough of my requirements.

Adan

01-02-2005, 08:44 AM

Curious to see motorcyclists opinions of new generation "super scooters"

:eek: :eek: :eek:

These pretty much re-defined the term "super scooters" for me... seen in Tokyo by ADVrider

http://img165.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/2/3/8/3/g320l-img600x450-1104412938photo038.jpg

http://img165.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/2/3/8/3/g320l-img600x450-1104414670photo043.jpg

http://img51.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/1/1/3/0/marimari159753-img600x450-1104146507dscn0450.jpg

http://www.lacrose.jp/zaiko/data/yamaha/file/P1030021.jpg

Pinwheel

01-02-2005, 09:15 AM

Since I will be getting a Burgman this month, I think they are great. I would love to get the 650 Burgman however insurance is outrageous and I'll be getting a 400. The 650 is the better more performance one.
I don't want a sport bike because I just don't feel comfortable on one. My cruiser is great but can only ride 30 minutes due to back issues. The Burgman is very popular overseas but they also have models that won't be available here for years.
I could care less about gas mileage.
And I couldn't get one last year due to hubby's thoughts on them not being a real bike.
They handle great and I can't wait to get mine. I look forward to all the storage as well.
WOO HOO!!!!!

Adan

01-02-2005, 09:54 AM

I would love to get the 650 Burgman however insurance is outrageous and I'll be getting a 400. The 650 is the better more performance one.

:scratch

I don't see why it would be significantly different... same category, tupperware, etc.

It might be worthwhile shopping around for insurance if you haven't done this yet.

I highly reccomend Dairyland. My agent is Merry Bushong, BMI of Ft Worth (old FW BMW dealer). Progressive can also have good rates on some bikes.

Pinwheel

01-02-2005, 10:13 AM

kawgrl

01-02-2005, 12:58 PM

State Farm is great for motorcycle insurance. I believe that is who the Ninja and the Tuono are through.

Spider

01-02-2005, 01:21 PM

Tourmeister

01-02-2005, 08:29 PM

Would anyone wave at you Spider? :-P

Adios,

Spider

01-02-2005, 08:41 PM

Dunno. Don't suppose I'd expect them to. Its not a bike. Doesn't appear to be very many of them that look like they can get up to freeway speeds though. :-(

Tourmeister

01-02-2005, 09:20 PM

The Burg 650 will easily do 90mph and comfortably. These are scooters in name only in my opinion. About the only difference I can see between them and most bikes is the step through seating and automatic transimissions.

Adios,

pdef

01-02-2005, 10:19 PM

I really wanna ride a 650 scooter. I don't care if people think they look goofy. I think they look cool. Especially that concept one that was in cycle world about 6 months ago that looked like it came out of Akira.

Anonymous

01-03-2005, 06:42 PM

MaxiScoot here with a maxi-scooter. I own a Honda SilverWing, 600cc, 48hp automatic motorcycle. :angel: I ride to work and I also take it on trips. It's very comfortable. I've had it up to 90mph and I could have rolled the throttle up some more. The speedometer goes to 130. Don't expect to be goin' that fast 'cause I'm a wuss. :-P

Here's a pic of my baby. :-D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/SWingGirl/GeorgieSm.jpg

Spider - I get waved at all the time.
SuzukiJane - You're gonna love your Burger!

Ride safe & far,

Spider

01-05-2005, 07:50 PM

I like it. Sadly enough it has a higher top speed and more horsepower than my Blast!. What kind of mileage does it get? Its rather attractive.

Dragwn

01-05-2005, 08:18 PM

Now, what kind of engine mods can be done to the big scooters..hmmm, a scooter with 120HP :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

Spider

01-05-2005, 09:25 PM

Now, what kind of engine mods can be done to the big scooters..hmmm, a scooter with 120HP :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

http://www.studmonkeyracing.com/v2/vids/vidpagegoped.html

Tourmeister

01-05-2005, 10:56 PM

That was hilarious! Wonder how the scooter stops!? :shock:

Adios,

Pinwheel

01-05-2005, 11:05 PM

SuzukiJane - You're gonna love your Burger!

I'll have it next Saturday. Going to Florida to get it. Woo Hoo!! It's only a 400 but we couldn't afford the insurance for me on a 650. :-|
Give me some practice time so I can move up to the 650 when the executive model hits the US in a few years.

Spider

01-05-2005, 11:30 PM

That was hilarious! Wonder how the scooter stops!? :shock:

Brakes? You've got to be kidding me?! Those things add weight!!!!:shock: Its the best of your classic red neck "Hey, ya'll, watch this!" moments in history.

Anonymous

01-06-2005, 03:01 PM

I like it. Sadly enough it has a higher top speed and more horsepower than my Blast!. What kind of mileage does it get? Its rather attractive.
He, he, he.

I can't believe I'm admitting to this, but I don't know what kind of gas mileage I get. I ride with my hubby alot and am always filling up/topping off when he gets gas. When he fills up after 110-120 miles, I often have anywhere from a 1/3 to 1/2 tank left depending on the ride. (I have a gas guage.) However, I will make a concerted effort next time I fill up and check the mileage so I can figure it out. :oops:

SuzukiJane - Two days and that Burger is yours! WooHoo! I checked out the 650 but the seat was too high and I couldn't come close to flat-footing it. I asked the salesman if there was any way to lower the seat. His replay was, "Only if you let the air out of the tires." :roll: :scratch :-P

There will probably come a time when I'll want a bigger scoot. If Honda would only make an automatic GoldWing. :rofl

Ride safe & Far,

Tourmeister

01-06-2005, 04:49 PM

You can flat foot a Goldwing but not the 650 Scooter? :scratch

Adios,

STrider

01-06-2005, 04:55 PM

I like it. Sadly enough it has a higher top speed and more horsepower than my Blast!. What kind of mileage does it get? Its rather attractive.

Dragwn said
Now, what kind of engine mods can be done to the big scooters..hmmm, a scooter with 120HP

Maybe spider can put the pipe from his B-last on one- a loud pipes save lives silver wing, maybe?

Spider

01-07-2005, 12:52 AM

Maybe spider can put the pipe from his B-last on one- a loud pipes save lives silver wing, maybe?

Hey now. I have a little story to tell about that Kerker pipe. That bike is not supposed to be THAT loud. The Kerker is quite a nice little system. It has this nice air column snorkle on one side, and the exhaust pipe on the other. Well, the thing is a hole happened to rust out on the snorkle side. A hole strangely enough the exact diameter of the pipe, thereby converting the snorkle into the exhaust pipe, and the muffler into kind of snorkle. Soooo straight pipe. I am actually trying to find time to get that fixed. Fork seal and brakes are taking priority though.

STrider

01-07-2005, 07:42 AM

just ribbin ya, spider :chug:

Anonymous

01-07-2005, 01:44 PM

You can flat foot a Goldwing but not the 650 Scooter? :scratch

Uh, well, actually no. But if they put the engine under the seat like on my SilverWing, then I could slide off the seat and flat-foot it. :lol: But then I guess I could do that on the 650, too.

(I was trying to be funny, Scott) :angel:

Ride far & safe,

Red Brown

03-03-2005, 12:37 AM

Howdy,

I went through a search process when looking for a high-quality scooter that could easily handle the highway highway speed as well as be nimble on
the twisties.

While I don't want to make negative comments about certain scooters, I would strongly encourage you to also include a Suzuki Burgman 650 as a possible candidate. Check out the excellent site at:
http://www.burgmanusa.com/.

The demo ride usually wins people over. Now, check out a prototype by Suzuki called the G-Strider. You can Google it.

BTW, the super-scooter market was a very fast growing segment now that there are quality scooter hybrids above the 250 cc area.

Red

Gilk51

03-03-2005, 07:43 AM

Aprilia has two very nice 500cc scooters - the Atlantic and Scarabeo.
http://www.apriliausa.com/models03/scooters/eng/mondo.phtml

Unknown to most, Vespa has a super scooter, too: :shock:
http://www.vespismo.com/filmati/Vespa750.wmv

Anonymous

03-10-2005, 07:22 PM

Howdy,
check out a prototype by Suzuki called the G-Strider. You can Google it.

Red

I Googled it: G-Strider (http://www.mcnews.com.au/NewBikeCatalogue/2004/Suzuki/G-Strider/Intro.htm)

I'm now waiting impatiently for these to come to the US.

Ride safe and far,

Anonymous

05-30-2005, 04:23 PM

Whilst in Palma de Mallorca some time back, with petrol going for close to US $5.00 a gallon, scooters were super popular... The little 50cc/80cc two-stroke smokers buzzed around like flies when the kitchen door gets left open. Of course, another interesting thing, on the playas (beaches) at least half the nubial young female types wore only imaginary bikin bottoms too. Seems the Europeans have some things much better than we do, even if their fuel prices are high enough to force people out of their cages and onto scooters.
DocJR

Chirpy

05-30-2005, 11:33 PM

Well, as a former (recovering?) Pacific Coast owner, I had what some now consider the original super scooter! What's the big deal about 16" wheels? The PC800 had 'em in '89.

The attraction is the built-in lockable storage. Since the "bags" were actually in the body work, you had huge bags in a slim package as there was no wasted space with mounting brackets and such. If the PC800 had the Shadow 1100 motor I'd probably still own it, as it was the most practical thing I'd ever owned. If it had been updated with modern tire sizes and maybe the Varadero motor (VTR 996 with fuel injection) retuned for fuel economy and lose the full tupperware I think Honda would have a minor hit on it's hands.

That said, I also love my wife's (she'd dispute ownership) Zuma, to the point that if I didn't think drivability would suffer the tuning demons at AF1 would already have preyed upon it. Like it needs to be more wheelie prone :shock:

I showed my dad a Silver Wing Saturday, while he wasn't impressed, my step-mother was. Especially when I said it was an automatic. All you really need is enough spunk to out-accelerate the two-wheeled traffic, and anything over 250cc will do that. I've ridden the Aprilia Atlantic, and that thing would unload the front end with a good whack of the throttle.

The first one to add molded saddlebags ala the PC will have a winner on their hands... As it is I'd consider one if I ever got a real job where I had to go to work everyday in a cube farm.

ben1364

08-28-2005, 04:07 PM

I'm actually contemplating trading in the Blast for something along those lines just for the commute. Someone will probably smack me up the back of the head, but I'm giving it some serious thought now as to how economic it is.
+++++++++++++++++
As strange as it may seem, a Burgman 650 will outperform a Blast assuming equal competence by both riders.

Willie TKana

08-28-2005, 07:23 PM

I would venture to say, that 35%, or more of folks that don't like a Siverwing for any reason, have not ever bothered to ride one. I have. That 600, automatic scooter will scoot! If I had the money I would have various motorcycles, various sizes. I'd have a Harley, and so 4th,and this and that, but by golly, one I'd have to have around the place, would be a Honda 600 Silverwing. My wife and I rode one, and we hit 80mph, it seems like in a quarter or less. I believe it would take a Shadow600, maybe even a Shadow1100, in a quarter. Well, maybe not, but you would be amazed at the take off power they have. One weird feature is both front and back brakes, are on the handle bars. (no foot brake), that was hard to get use to.<> If ya ain't rode one, son, do your self a favor and go to Honda store, and act like ya wanna buy one, and
test Ride it. (remember ya gotta have Riders License right?) ~~WllieT~~

Gilk51

08-28-2005, 07:46 PM

One weird feature is both front and back brakes, are on the handle bars. (no foot brake), that was hard to get use to.<>
No kidding! That threw me for a loop, too, when I test rode an Aprilia Scarabeo back in April at EuroSportCycle's open house. My wife ended up ordering an Atlantic 500 (460cc) scooter. She loves hers and has been riding to school for more than a week now. It has good acceleration and can cruise all day at 70-80 mph.

We looked at other stuff but she prefers the step-through frame and the auto transmission (she had a severe accident to her left arm 17 years ago that left her partially disabled).

Now, I like it because of the storage space - the top case and under seat storage is terrific...

ben1364

09-10-2005, 04:54 PM

Oh yeah, I've shopped around for months. The lowest quote was through Dairyland, our current agent, and it was $750 a year for the 650 and $257 for the 400.
Bike-line and progressive were higher.
I don't need much anyway. I do not carry passengers so the 400 will do.
****************************************
I doubt that I will ever understand insurance pricing. I recently sold an 800 cc M/C and replaced it with a 650 cc Burgman. Insurance on the Burgman is substantially higher! The agent said something about the 800 cc displacement threshold. Mumble, mumble..............

ben1364

09-10-2005, 04:59 PM

I think it important to note that there are scooters and there are scooters. The new mega scooters, particularly are motorcycles disguised as scooters. They perform every bit as well in normal use as m/cs with similar displacement and weight with the benefit of more room to stretch one's legs and storage. Whether they will ever become widely accepted for their utility in this country is argueable. Style is very important to some while others value utility. It helps make the world go 'round, right?