'Big' scooter as daily / bad weather commuter?

[smithyithy]

Currently on my A2 restricted license, riding a CBR400RR that to be fair is really clean and I like to keep it that way as such..

Daily is a pretty unreliable old VW Polo.

Ideal situation is to just ride year round, wouldn't bother me really.

My work commute that I drive, or ride if the weather's okay, is about half an hour each way on the motorway, or 45 mins on the A-road route (preferable for the bike, just means setting out earlier).

So it just came into my head, a big-ish scooter as a daily? Mainly cause they're much lazier to ride and more comfy, slap a big screen on, heated grips etc, and your legs stay kinda dry as they're shielded. Not to mention generally a lot of storage space and very good MPG. Wouldn't need to worry about cleaning it or anything, just use it as a workhorse.

So what are your views? Anyone own / had a bigger scooter, recomend any models to check out, other options? I wouldn't mind a second a proper bike, I'm just thinking about practicality, and cost..

[c_dug]

If it is as an alternative to the car I would keep the car. I get why a big scooter is appealing, but as somebody who lives in a household with one bike and no cars, I can really see the downsides. Weekly shopping is the main one, also family events where you need to turn up smart or take lots of things (christenings or Christmas). It is all possible on a bike, I have the last 5 years to prove that. But it would be much easier with a car.

If it is along side the car and bike and you can afford a third vehicle then I see no reason not to.
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[smithyithy]

Well I live and at home currently, for the forseeable future in all honesty, so it's really just for commuting.

Very occasionally I'll give someone a lift or whatever but they can catch a bloody bus lol

[P.addy]

You don't need a car for shopping

https://super-user.co.uk/shop2.jpg

I'd probably end up getting a Deauville if I wanted to do all weathers and have decent protection.

[-Matt-]

I always wondered how people filter on some of those really big scooters they look wider than a goldwing sometimes

[c_dug]

[Rogerborg]

What's-his-chops on MCN is raving about his Suzuki Burgervan[*] Executive as a commuter. The mirrors fold in electrically, it has loads of storage space and comfort gubbins, and he reckons it's narrower than just about any bike.

And it's only nine thousand pounds. Nine. Thousand. Pounds.

Eh, worth a look, but no bike is all-year-round. There will be a couple of days when there's just too much snow / ice / wind, and then what do you do?

[*] I believe that Turdman and Burgmong are also acceptable.
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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

[j.silvs]

I think people forget that every supermarket does online delivery!

[Marmalade]

I had a piaggio X9 250 for a while and makes an excellent commuter. You can buy leg covers as well that stop your legs getting wet and the radiator air gets pushed under it as well keeping you warm.
You look and feel a bit of an idiot but you are a warm and dry idiot and it made it worthwhile for me.

Fast enough to be first off the lights, will cruise at 70 and uses not a great deal of petrol.
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[Tarmacsurfer]

The shop that used to service the works bike issued either a Burgman (450cc) or an X9 (500cc) as a courtesy bike, so I've done a good few thousand miles on both as short haul despatch machines (ten hour day inside a 40 mile radius of Birmingham), can't fault them. Surprisingly good weather protection, felt solid on the motorway and handled traffic far better than I expected. The X9 even had en electric centre stand

I'd certainly run one as a commuter
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[stevo as b4]

The thing is though that a disposable run it into the ground daily beater on 4wheels is always cheaper than a bike and more so with a big scooter, as they are expensive and seem to hold their price as well.

Unless you don't have the room/space or inclination to use a car, id stick with a small cheap banger, and when it packs up, you'd get another one easy for peanuts as well.

I think some sort of covered over bike trailer is a better and more useful thing to have than a big scooter, as you can carry more and don't need to take it with you unless your planning on buying something very big/heavy which probably would be awkward and maybe unstable to carry on a scooter.

If you want a scooter for the summer to nip down town for a few cans wearing your shorts and slipper's, then either get a cheap 50cc twist and go, or go for an old classic full bodied Lammy or Vespa FTW! You really don't want a big daft huge scooter, so have a word with yourself!

[smithyithy]

Cheers for the advice guys. It's mainly cause driving just bored me now, I really don't like commuting in the car and I wish I could be bothered to take the CBR out in all weather, so wanted a kinda happy medium. I guess buy/run/replace idea with the car is a good one!

[calyx]

Commuted on/in a burgervan 400 for 2 years.
It really is as comfy as it gets on a 2 wheeler. If you are not looking for morning fun (I am not talking about blowjobs here) it is the machine.
I also have to admit most of the time preferred burgervan over proper bike.
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