300cc Scooter

[djdave]

Hi all

I recently passed my full test and was going to buy a Kawasaki J300 scooter. I am after a twist and go 300cc as a 125cc is not going to get me to London and back from quite a way out in Essex.

I am about to start the knowledge to be a London cab driver.

I have had a last minute problem with the J300 as the dealer says that they can't fit the knowledge board without obstructing the speed dial display etc. so I cancelled the deal.

Today, I went to sit on a Honda Forza 300, which is very similar to the Kawasaki J300.

My problem is that I am almost 6' 3" and I felt a bit tapped up for leg room on the Forza. It's ok to sit on, but when I turn left or right on the bars to over 45 degrees I find the bars hitting my knees. There would also be a small issue where the knowledge board would partially obscure the displays on the bike.

I can't remember if this was the case on the J300 as it's been a while since I sat on it.

I also looked at a SH300i, which seemed to have more room when steering, but less room for the feet to sit in overall. The other problem is obviously they don't make the SH300i anymore, so I would have to buy second hand. One positive with the SH300i is that the knowledge board can go on without obstructing the displays.

Can anyone offer me any advice, or even an alternative bike? I need a twist and go as I cannot be messing about with gears in London. I'm not sure what to do. I think there will have to be some sort of compromise somewhere.

[barrkel]

[Val]

You need to try few scooters to see which one suits you better.

Aprilia Sport City 300 and Piaggio BV (Beverly) 350 are both excellent scooters for London. The BV has more power compared to most 300cc scooters.
____________________
Adrian Monk: Unless I'm wrong, which, you know, I'm not...
Yamaha Fazer FZS 600, MT09, XSR 900

[Rogerborg]

He just needs enough POWAH to get him to London. Once he's there, it'll be rubbernecking all the way.

Please be aware that the 'Kawasaki J300' is a Kymco Downtown 300i with a badge that costs about £1000 more.

Having the instruments obstructed wouldn't bother me that much. On a scooter, it really only matters for going past speed cameras, in which case you just err on the slow side, or tuck in with other traffic.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[barrkel]

On the topic of SH300, the new model for 2015 has LED lights, keyless ignition and is a kilo lighter (169kg on the road - compare with Forza at 194+).

https://www.motociclismo.it/nuovo-honda-sh300i-abs-2015-presentazione-a-roma-moto-61303

But not in the UK.
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Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[dungbug]

You could consider the Suzuki Burgman 400, a mate of mine had the use of one for a weekend (works for Suzuki) & he rated it highly......He's around 6.3 tall and had no issues on it with space.
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CBT: Pass 25/06/2011 Theory Test: Pass12/06/2012 Mod 1: Fail 08/07/2012
Mod 1 Retest: Pass 15/0702012 Mod 2: Pass 03/08/2012
Suzuki GN125 (Sold) ~ Current bike: Yamaha YZF 600R Thundercat

[Rogerborg]

The Burgman 400 is indeed big and roomy, but that might make it a bit of a handful in London. I was never that confident filtering on mine.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[andyscooter]

would also have the same trouble with instruments as well

would of suggested a vespa gts without a screen but use the screen fixing to put the board on


but then vespa 300 London is not a good comination at the moment
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[Taught2BCauti...]

If you really really like the J300, could you still fit the knowledge board and add a cheap bicycle computer for the speedo function?

You would need one that covers the wheel diameter, but you could probably clip it to the side of the board.

Just a thought.
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www.TheFutureIsHere.eu

[djdave]

Thank-you all very much for your replies. Some good advice there, thanks.

The reason I took my full test was because I live quite a way out in Essex, so I need to be able to get up and down roads like the A12 / A13 and on a 125cc that was going to be hard work, plus it would of been no good for the scooter.

There are a few minor modifications between the Kymco Downtown 300i and the Kawasaki version. Even my local Kymco dealer acknowledged that.

I will take a look at some of the other models suggested, thanks. I think the size(s) of the J300/SH300i would be about the limit for Central London, even the J300 looks and feels a bit big, as does the Forza 300.

After sitting on a Forza 300 at a dealers on Saturday, I have to say I was a bit concerned about the lack of room for my knees if I was turning the bike sharply left or right. I daresay I am going to find that with most scooters being almost 6' 3", but I felt that the SH300i had more room for my knees, but there was less foot room to rest on whilst riding the bike.

I daresay that there will have to be some sort of compromise as I am quite tall and none of these scooters are going to give me 100% adequate room as well as having a knowledge board fitted on them.

[DrSnoosnoo]

[djdave]

[djdave]

[djdave]

Thanks for all the replies.

I think I am going to go for the Piaggio Beverly 350.

No problem with leg room and has a bit more power too. It's also more practical for Central London and is straight forward fitting the knowledge board without obstructing any of the dials.

[andyscooter]

they tend to dissapper very quickly

there has been a case of about 15 people off a vespa forum all had scooters nicked

there is also a lot of the 300s being sold as older 125s to cover themselves a bit

bv350s also seem to go at the moment

there is also scooter gangs nicking them for smash and grab raids as they are good in London traffic
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[stevo as b4]

I'm not really wanting to ask/know, but does anyone need a 350cc engine in a scooter in central London to get from point A-B? Or have I just missed a major point?

I can see 15bhp in the right weight of machine 80-120kg being useful as could a 20-25bhp 200-250cc machine of under 140kg.

But an 80-90mph 30bhp+ 300cc+ and probably over 160kg in some cases, does that work well overall?

I don't like big scoot's and have a Harley style hate for these big silverwings and burgervans, but then I never did ride one or have someone sit me down and explain why they are a fantastic idea and a great ride too?

[Rogerborg]

It's in the third sentence:

[barrkel]

[djdave]

As previously stated, a 125cc is not going to be much fun 40 miles each way on an A road each day from Essex to London, hence the need for a bit more power. Plus a 125cc constantly opened up each day is not going to last too long.

I found that the Piaggio 350 (which is a 330cc engine by the way) was very similar to the Honda SH300i in terms of size.

Scooters like the J300, Honda Forza 300 and Suzuki Burgmans look and feel much bigger and are going to be hard work to manoeuvre around London for 5 to 6 hours a day.

Anyone recommend a decent chain for the odd parking moment in London? Can't have anything too heavy as it will have to travel with me under the seat. Most of the time the bike will not be out of my sight, but I need a lock of some description.

[barrkel]

[djdave]

[Rogerborg]

If you go with a long-link chain you can (although it'd be a bit of a fuss) use a lock at either end and be able to use most of the length of the chain rather than half of it.

A Pragmasis noose chain does the same thing with less hassle, but they only do it up to 13mm:

https://securityforbikes.com/security-chains.php#noosechains
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[bigjim1974]

[mattyfattyboo...]

[Rogerborg]

They say it's not practical to use on 16mm or 19mm but I reckon I could live with it on a 16mm chain. Pity they don't do it on that size.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike