Thoughts on motor scooters

[mike]

Honda should bring back the S90. Do 80 mph with a passenger and get 90+mpg. Nice looking bike, too. I miss mine.

[MillCreek]

My very first bike ever, that I got in 1977, was a Honda Passport with the 70 cc engine.  It could make it up to about 50 mph on the flat, but had excellent gas mileage.  It was my primary commuter to work and college.  The carb needed a lot of fussing with, though.

[Silver Bullet]

I've seen complimentary references to the Yamaha C3:

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelhome/529/0/home.aspx

but it's only 49cc.  It's also only $2100.

My wife was trying to talk me into getting her a scooter, until I did the math and showed her that it would cost more (price of scooter amortized over ten years, insurance) than she would save in gasoline, for what she was planning to do with it:  use it as a second vehicle to make short trips to the store; she was still keeping her car.

[Tallpine]

My wife was trying to talk me into getting her a scooter, until I did the math and showed her that it would cost more (price of scooter amortized over ten years, insurance) than she would save in gasoline, for what she was planning to do with it:  use it as a second vehicle to make short trips to the store; she was still keeping her car.

Get her a wheelbarrow instead

 

[Silver Bullet]

My wife was trying to talk me into getting her a scooter, until I did the math and showed her that it would cost more (price of scooter amortized over ten years, insurance) than she would save in gasoline, for what she was planning to do with it:  use it as a second vehicle to make short trips to the store; she was still keeping her car.

Get her a wheelbarrow instead

 

Or a backpack to go along with her inline skates.

[Brad Johnson]

Get her a wheelbarrow instead

 

A regular wheelbarrow or a tactical wheelbarrow?

Brad

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

if your gonna play on highway weight is good! i rode lil bikes wind pushed me around

[Tallpine]

Get her a wheelbarrow instead

 

A regular wheelbarrow or a tactical wheelbarrow?

Brad

Depends on the neighborhood, I reckon ... 

[LAK]

MillCreek

I know!  By way of comparison with other maxi-scooters, the Yamaha TMax comes in at 489 pounds, the Honda Silver Wing at 540 pounds, the Piaggio X9 comes in at 469 pounds and the Suzuki Burgman 650 comes in at 522 pounds.  All that bodywork really packs on the pounds compared to a naked bike.  But in comparison to a touring model, the maxi scooters compare well.

That's alot of bodywork; how many do they sleep? 

[Monty]

Liking the looks of the Yamaha Zuma 125



GENERAL INFORMATION   
 Manufacturer        Yamaha    
 Model Year        2009    
 Model        Zuma 125    
 MSRP        $2,999.00    
 Engine        SOHC, 4-valve, 4-stroke single    
 Cooling        Forced-air    
 Displacement        125 cc    
 Bore x Stroke        52.4 x 57.9 mm    
 Carburetion        Electronic fuel injection    
 Compression Ratio        10:1    
 Clutch        Dry centrifugal automatic    
 Final Drive        V-belt    
 Transmission        Automatic    
 Suspension        Front: 27 mm telescopic forks
Rear: Dual shock    
 Brakes        Front: 220 mm disc
Rear: Drum    
 Tires        Front: 120/70-12 51L
Rear: 130/70-12 56L    
 Length        75.2 in.    
 Width        30.1 in.    
 Height        43.8 in.    
 Seat Height        30.7 in.    
 Wheelbase        50.8 in.    
 Miles Per Gallon (MPG)        88 mpg    
 Fuel Capacity        1.6 gal.    
 Colors        Two-tone Team Yamaha Blue / White, Raven, Bright Yellow

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelhome/608/0/home.aspx

Monty

[MillCreek]

I had actually thought about the new Zuma 125.  It is expected to be in the dealerships by September or so.  I asked our local dealership about it, and he said they were likely going to sell for about $ 3200 or so list price.  More than MSRP.  Apparently, several people have already put down deposits, and over half of their first shipment was already spoken for.  If they made it in 250 cc, I would be all over it.

[Monty]

I had actually thought about the new Zuma 125.  It is expected to be in the dealerships by September or so.  I asked our local dealership about it, and he said they were likely going to sell for about $ 3200 or so list price.  More than MSRP.  Apparently, several people have already put down deposits, and over half of their first shipment was already spoken for.  If they made it in 250 cc, I would be all over it.

Saw a post over on Adventure Rider forum where a guy was quoted ~$4700 out the door for one.  I'm sure the supply is limited but still....

Would like something closer to the 250-400cc range myself, I'm a big guy.

Monty

[Matthew Carberry]

I've seen several folks zipping around town on the Honda bigger scooters lately. 

The two guys I've really noticed though seem a little "off".  They are wearing full racing leathers with matching helmets, color coordinated with the bike.

Running WOT, leaning into corners on those little tires...  at a certain point it seems they should have just gotten a motorcycle.  Unless there's a international scooter racing circuit I'm not aware of.

[MillCreek]

I have to say that I am really enjoying the big Aprilia scooter.  It is interesting to me how quickly my motorcycle skills have come back after not riding for about 25 years.  I wonder if being a serious bicyclist helped.  Countersteering and lean are the same skills regardless of if you have a motor or not, I suppose.  I have been doing some familiarization rides through the neighborhood and taking it onto some local state highways up to 55 mph.  This is a very steady bike.  I am still being very cautious and practicing some low-speed handling since the front end is heavier than I am used to. 

I can already tell it was a good decision to get this scooter with 460 cc of displacement as opposed to a smaller urban scooter.  When I was out on the highway going up a hill, I was close to being boxed in by a couple of dump trucks while I was already going 55 mph.  A good twist of the throttle and the bike powered me right out of there.  A 250 cc scooter/motorcycle would not have been able to do that. 

PS: and the digital readout says that I am getting between 57 and 62 miles per gallon. 

[Boomhauer]

FWIW, I've seen -several- of the 2-in-front, 1-in-back motorcycle dealies around here lately... Kinda fun looking....

Sounds like the Bombardier Spyder



I like the look of the Campagna T-Rex

[MillCreek]

FWIW, I've seen -several- of the 2-in-front, 1-in-back motorcycle dealies around here lately... Kinda fun looking....

He is probably referring to the Piaggio MP3: http://www.piaggiousa.com/pscooters/mp3.cfm

Currently being sold in 250, 400 and 500 cc displacement.

[Boomhauer]

Well, those are pretty weird looking...

[mgdavis]

I'm glad you're enjoying your new ride. Once Balog gets up and running we'll have to do an APS PNW group ride.

The riders I know of in this area are you, Tokugawa, myself, and Balog.

[Tallpine]

Gosh, I hope those 3-wheelers don't steer with the rear wheel ?