thinking of buying a scooter convince me I'm wrong

[Prawny]

[Andy_Pagin]

My first two wheeler was the tiny 8bhp Yamaha Vity, for inner city commuting it was great, running costs basically zero, filter through everything and a surprisingly large under seat box and rack on the back. TBH I can't see the point of the big scooters, if your doing distance get a bike, inner city go 125cc, your average speed will still easily be double that of a car.
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They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[Stalk]

I have a 650 Burgman executive, do 50 miles a day Monday to Friday. It just works, good weather protection, reasonably quick, heated grips and seat. Not the most exciting bike but it’s a tool for going to work on. Loads of storage and 100 odd mph. Would I have another for commuting? Yes. Would I have one for pleasure? No.

If you’re close to Northampton, come and have a go

[Fat Angry Scotsman]

[Stalk]

As a to b transport it’s great, but boring. If you wanted to get from one place to another to see touristy places it would be fine, but if you want to enjoy the ride between the places, pick something else.
That’s just my opinion, others have successfully toured on them with plenty of space for luggage, and in comfort, but it’s all personal preference as to what you want from your bike.

[Brava210]

[slowasyoulike]

I got a 400 Burgman when I was faced with doing a 25 miles each way commute for a couple of years; a mixture of NSL A-roads and city traffic. If you can be arsed changing gear while riding in town and filtering, stopping and starting every other minute, then best of luck to you. I certainly can't.

Obviously a 125 would be sufficient for that scenario, but I didn't want to be wringing the neck of such a device once I got to the faster bits. The Burgman was no wider and just as handy as any 125 in the traffic, with a ton more acceleration, and it could also sit at 80mph on the A-roads. Mine had a Givi screen that once I had cut 2cm off so I could see over it meant I could ride in the pissing rain and arrive home bone dry. My laptop and the other associated guff I needed for work was stashed under the seat, rather than sliding up and down my back every time I braked in some rucksack.

I even went on holiday on it... it swallowed up all my camping gear and was armchair comfortable to the point where you could easily do 250 miles a day, even with a dodgy back like mine. Obviously, no hot chicks threw their knickers at me as I rode by, but you can't have everything.

OP - if you are seriously considering a scooter I would suggest the 400 Burgman. The 650 is very capable, but a bit lardy for town work, and the transmission isn't a simple rubber band CVT and is known to go expensively wrong. Shaft's suggestion of the 600 Silverwing is good; a mate of mine has had a couple of those and they are decent machines that had a long production run, so spares aren't hard to find. They were also reliable and well made too; he threw one of them up the road on the ice one time, and after some GRP repairs to the bodywork it was back in use again. The Piaggio Xevo 400 is worth a look if one turns up - they don't hold their value so well, so a bargain is possible. They can have electrical issues - but nothing like older Italian stuff - and the FI makes them very frugal. I rode one back from London for a mate one time - about 200 miles - and pottering (it wasn't mine, OK?) I got 90+mpg.

Even more heretical - the 400cc version of the Piaggio MP3 is a really good bet if you are planning on commuting in all weathers. I had one as a courtesy bike for a couple of months a few years back and marvelled at how it could be chucked through roundabouts etc. in appalling weather with absolutely no fear of ending up on my arse. The front wheels are closer together than the ends of the bars, so if it looks like you can get through that gap, then you will. As above, no-one waved. No-one nodded. Oh well.

ATEOTD buy what suits your purpose, not what you imagine that Real Bikers will approve of.

[slowasyoulike]

[A100man]

[Brava210]

Deleted
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Honda Novio, Puch Grand Prix, Suzuki AP50, CZ 125, Wassell 125, Montesa 348,Honda 125TDC, Suzuki 100ER, Suzuki GSF650 Bandit, Aprillia Pegaso, Honda PCX125, Honda Forza300, BMW G310 GS, Suzuki SFV650, Honda CB500X

CHARLEY SAYS " ALWAYS TELL YOUR MUMMY BEFORE YOU GO OFF SOMEWHERE"

[Prawny]

[colinM]

Thanks for all the replies, been pretty busy lately.
Enjoyed reading all the posts, thanks for all the advice and I was surprised at the amount of positive replies.

I did end up buying a Yamaha majesty 400, it's an older scooter but it had low miles and was in good condition. I've ridden it for a bit now and while it is boring to ride it is very practical had plenty of storage.

[Adame]

the truth is that most bikers are in denial

"I will never ride a scooter", until you did ride one... is like with a car and automatic transmission - just so easy!

It's the scooter that's a real commuter.
If you just ride twice a day to work for 20min, sure a motorcycle is fine for a ride, but If ride everywhere and all the time in cities your hand will go numb from the clutch and get angry with frustration. while scooter is so chill and easy and just goes. Honestly a GS is not a machine to just sit and go, run errands in London, a PCX is.

Perfect setup is a scooter to do chores and second "real" bike for fun and when you want to have a ride (like my setup)


If you mostely do under 40mph just get a 125 scooter, Honda SH, tall screen, muffs, leg cover, box, 130mpg, deliveroo style, you can ride it anywehere, dressed for the occasion not the ride, if you do A road, a 300 is enough.