I'm losing that GS feeling.....to a scooter???

[spyug]

I think I am officially getting old.

The weather today was cool ( maybe high 40s low 50s) and dry and I had no chores on the agenda. The wife was taking the daughter to Buffalo for a day of shopping so I figured I could get out for a few hours of fun and fresh air.

Then it started spitting a bit so I figured I'd wait a bit. After lunch its still looking iffy so I figure nuts I'll just veg and watch a bit of tube. I fall asleep watching some Jim Carey nonsense.

Sometime later my buddy comes in. "Lets go for a scoot".Still iffy out so I beg off. "Well at least try my new ride", he says. I go outside and sitting in the driveway is a 250cc Honda Scooter Yikes!

So not to be rude, I suit up ( non official leather jacket, regular gloves and garage helmet), climb on, push in the foot brake and push the button. Where's the clutch??? Oh yeah not clutch...full auto.

Twist the wrist and we're off.....like the boosters on a Saturn 5. This puppy really flies. Light and flickable too. What a hoot. Got to get me one of dees!!! This is too much fun. Maybe I should get one for the wife.

Now if a 250 goes like this what would a 400 or 600 feel like:-k

Save me from myself, I'm too young for a scoot....aren't I?

Ride safe everyone.
Cheers,
Spyug

 

[NATEO]

haha, every once and a while, I get to test ride a scooter at work. mostly 150 china crap, but sometimes halfway decent rides. I had a customer come in today with a honda silverwing (the goldwing of the scooter world). he was from moscow russia and has ridden that thing all across the world. europe, america from new york to california to arizona, and then who knows where. he was an interesting character....:-k

 

[Guest]

If you want one, get one.I've ridden a Kymco 500 and a Vectryx for gits and shiggles.

 

[spyug]

This was actually my second scoot ride. Last year the future daughter in law bought a Vespa. A nice ride for sure but not as peppy as this thing. It does have an aftermarket muffler but I'm not sure if there are any other mods. I wonder what you can do to them for hop up...not that it really needs it.

Definitely a fun ride and I'll bet they run right under the cop's radar so to speak.

Not sure if I would go out looking for one but if one turned up at a good price I might just grab one. I'm thinking when I get to be a really old fart one of these would suit me well.

There is only one drawback from what I can tell. For some reason you don't feel you have to suit up to ride. Throw on a helmet and jacket and off you go. That mindset could be dangerous

Bothing beats the GS but we've got to keep an open mind don't we.

Cheers all,
Spyug

 

[80GS1000]

My wife has a Zook Burgman 400 and she loves the thing. I've ridden it a few times and was pleasantly surprised how much torque it has and the fact it'll cruise at 70-80 MPH on the freeway, no problem. Top speed is 110ish. 65 MPG gas mileage doesn't hurt either for commuting duty for her.

 

[Rocky]

My wife has a Zook Burgman 400 and she loves the thing. I've ridden it a few times and was pleasantly surprised how much torque it has and the fact it'll cruise at 70-80 MPH on the freeway, no problem. Top speed is 110ish. 65 MPG gas mileage doesn't hurt either for commuting duty for her.

That's exactly what I have and I love it. Scotty goes riding on the Harley and I am right up in front on my "cadillac", which is what I call it. It beats his in get up and go and speed any day. I love going shopping with my Burgmann, too. PLeanty of storage space.

And BTW, I do wear leathers...boots, gloves, vest, jeans and my helmet when I ride. It doesn't get cold enough around here to wear a leather jacket, so I wear a jean jacket when it is "cold".

However, when Scotty rides his Suzuki 1100E, I may as well stay home. He's an animal on that bike. All souped up and nowhere to go.

I still have my little Honda CM200T, too.

 

[marvinsc]

[ However, when Scotty rides his Suzuki 1100E, I may as well stay home. He's an animal on that bike. All souped up and nowhere to go.

Knowing Dom, this made Me LOL because I'm quite sure He acts like My Dad used to when He could ger behind the wheel of My first car, a Dodge Challenger with a 383 Magnum under the hood. Mom said He embarassed Her, Revving the motor and Squeeling the tires.

 

[seuadr]

bring back, that GeeeeeESsssss Feeeling!

Wooooaaah that Geeee ESssss Feeeling!

Bring back, that GeeeeESssss Feeling 'fore it's gone.. gone.. GONE.. WOAAAAH AH WOAAAH!

 

[mdole]

However, when Scotty rides his Suzuki 1100E, I may as well stay home. He's an animal on that bike. All souped up and nowhere to go.

Not mild manned, poke along, Dom!
:>)

 

[Rocky]

Not mild manned, poke along, Dom!
:>)

Only time he goes fast is when he rides one of his bikes.

 

[jbs80106]

To each their own....

To each their own....

Just doesn't pass the test for me. Cost as much as a mid-sized bike and just as much to insure. Can't really see the upside unless you're some how physically unable to straddle a proper motorcycle. Funny, now that gas is back below $2.00 per gallon and its winter, I'd be curious to see how many of these are listed on craigslist. Can't see them holding value better than a motorcycle. I'd buy a 250 Ninja before I bought a scooter on 'roids.

Just me, as I said, to each their own....

BTW, I do wave at the scooter riders in their tennis shoes and street clothes. I agree, its scary in the perception that these are NOT motorcycles and therefore not dangerous....ATGATT....

 

[Flaggo60]

My first motorcycle was a scooter, back in 1961-63. It was a 1960 Harley Davidson Topper (the one in my avatar). I desperately wanted a Lambretta or a Vespa, but this showed up, sooooo..... It was a demo and if memory serves, I paid about $600 for it.

It was a nice looking machine, with bigger wheels and good brakes. The body was fiberglass, start was by pull cord, and it had a centrifugal clutch. The motor was a 165 cc two stroke. Top speed was pretty lame only about 45 mph or so, but I commuted and traveled around on that little machine happily for two to three years.

A few times I took the body off it and took it to the local scrambles field... definitely not a scrambler, but at least I didn't break it ...

 

[maro]

the scooter craze is upon philadelphia BIG TIME. I see them everywhere. far more than commuter motorcycles. I have to say though... most riders are just plain ignorant as they do not where the proper gear... at all. they have as much of a chance, if not more due to poor visabilty, of getting hit by someone blowing a red light or stop sign.

just because your legs are tucked behind some cheap plastic doesn't make you invincible. Just becuase you are only going 15 -20 mph, doesn't mean your unprotected head won't get hurt when it hits the pavement. you'd think they were riding a hardley.

plus they are for chicks.

 

[Guest]

I saw quite a few (20-25) on the roads last spring but they have all slowly disappeared .

 

[Jethro]

I'm too young for a scoot....aren't I?

That depends on how old you are? Nevermind, I don't need to know... yes you are too young for a scooter.

 

[Greg O.]

Spyug ,

You are not getting old until you decide it is time to make a trike out of your GS 750 E

 

[C.V.]

All my first rides were Vespa scooters 79 and 80 p200's, late sixties Rally, p125x, primavera 125, 150 super. Fast 2 strokes with a 4 speed manual shift.

 

[Skateguy50]

My Dad said he was considering getting a scooter, but he lives out in the woods and most wouldn't go fast enough to keep up with traffic.

Here if you get over 150cc on a scooter you should get a motorcycle as you need the reg insurance and license anyways. Then again I'm sure it rides different...

Now that I think of it I could picture him on a Burgman 400 or even 650.

 

[kerrfunk]

I've had my GS all of four weeks now, but I considered a scooter before I made the plunge.

Now I've never seen one like that Burgman thing, but to be blunt, I'm real happy with the motorcycle look (and feel) of my ride. When I see a scooter now, I think "ooh. I'm glad I got a motorcycle."

(said the noob with the 550 )

 

[mottyl]

I think scooters have their place in the world. The wife has a Yamaha BWS. Her second one because some cell phone talking idiot rear ended her while she was sitting at a red light.

Her commute is city traffic all the way so lots of stop and go. That automatic transmission is handy in that. If I take my bike downtown I get really bored of shifting and stopping every 20 feet. Plus with a couple of hundred dollars in upgrades it now does around 85 km instead of 60km that actually makes it fun to ride. So long as no one recognises me.

I thought that after a while she would want a bigger bike but the scooter is fine with her. She wears all the gear including a vest and rides almost year round. I think she's tougher then I am.

Well after all that babbling Scooters can be useful and fun. They just lack that invigorating acceleration of the big bikes.

C