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Motorcycle V Scooter: Your Thoughts?

Gabe

Gabe

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Name
Gabe
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AMA #: 1006675
I'm writing a story for MotorcycleUSA about the merits of a motorcycle vs a scooter. The two bikes in the test are the Honda SH150i
2010_SH150i_580x385_MetallicBlack_42515B.jpg
($4495) and the Kawasaki Ninja 250R ($3999)
Kawasaki-Ninja-250R-1.jpg
.

I'm doing the story because it seems like every time I write about a scooter that costs over $3000, I get a lot of "why don't you just buy a motorcycle" type comments. What do you guys think?
 
I agree. If you are going to buy something easy to commute on for cheap, why would you buy a scooter for $500 more than a ninja 250? The 250 will be better on the freeway, and way more fun and IMO safer everywhere. Some people say they can't operate a motorcycle, you know shifting and the like, and my thought there is that they also cannot possess the reflexes to safely operate ANY two wheeled vehicle amongst traffic. Maybe on a closed course, or of course a segway, but if you can't shift, you don't got what it takes to stay alive out there. Buy a moto!

PS- just had wisdom teeth out so lots of vicodin right now. Cut my lack of coherence some slack :twofinger
 
Why don't you just buy a USED motorcycle?

To me, scooters' appeals are limited to people living/working in the congested inner cities. For those of us living outside the City, where the traffic isn't so bad, and the distance travelled is greater, I don't see the point of having a scooter.
 
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I am not going to bash scooters because Europe proves that if you just travel around town, and maybe do a picnic lunch in the nearby countryside, scooters are fine. And some of the bigger scooters are quite nice. As a comparison in all around vehicle efficiency I think it is like comparing a Yugo to a Jaguar.

Scooter gangs - beware of the future.
 

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I started on a Bergman 400 when my ex husband bought it for me. It was a good intro to 2 wheeling but within a year I sold that and bought a shadow 750. I liked the storage capabilities of the Bergman and how easy it was to put my feet down but I eventually wanted a bike with a clutch and no knee passthru i.e. a "real" bike, for lack of a better word. Mind you this was back in the early 2000s when toys could be bought and sold more easily. For people intimidated by a clutch and high seat height (although there are lots of bikes with lower seat height) I can see why a scooter would be appealing.
 
Scooters are muy useful to own in addition to a bike for local errands and such. I wouldn't pay $4000+ for one. I wouldn't pay that much for a Ninjette, either, though.
 
Scooters have more starage than a motorcyle and are great in downtown traffic. If you live in the city and just want to run a couple of erands scooter wins. The automatic transmision makes navigating city traffic a breeze, just a lot easier to ride. Scooters are more newb friendly as well. Obviously scooters will not replace motorcycles but serve their purpose. If it wern't for scooters I probably wouldn't ride motorcycles today. I got my m1 so I could legally ride my 250 scooter.:ride
 
Gary856 said:
Why don't you just buy a USED motorcycle?

To me, scooters' appeals are limited to people living/working in the congested inner cities. For those of us living outside the City, where the traffic isn't so bad, and the distance travelled is greater, I don't see the point of having a scooter.
Click to expand...

Have you ever commuted on a scooter?
 
ScotSteele said:
Scooters have no right to exist.
Click to expand...

As much we wish it weren't so, there are lot of people that don't want a motorcycle, because:

1) they're intimidated by it
2) they don't consider themselves "motorcycle" people
3) they prefer the convenience of a scooter (storage, flat-footing it, etc).

I'd much rather see these people running errands on a scooter than in their Escalade.
 
Gabe said:
Have you ever commuted on a scooter?
Click to expand...

I have a 500cc scooter I've taken from Alameda to Sunnyvale many times with no trouble at all. Plenty of power for the freeway and gets over 60mpg.
 
I think if you live in a college town, beach community, or just about anywhere in Europe and Asia, scooters make perfect sense. Just about anywhere else, though, a motorcycle is usually the right call, in my book.

Occasionally, I pass guys and gals cruising down the 101 at rush hour on little vespas with hardly any gear on and I just have to shake my head.

If I were to ride a scooter, I would no doubt spice it up a little to make it look like a racer of some sort. Maybe add a flame paint job, number plates, etc.

Plus, a Vespa or the like wouldn't be my first choice. I'd go with a Honda Ruckus (which already looks badass) or a Yamaha Zuma.
 
I saw a Scooter I'd buy...it was a CPI. Had motorcycle sized wheels and pegs.

But was as expensive as a NINJA 250!

I paid $3500 for my Yamaha, how can these scooters cosr $4000+?

My issue with the scooter is the tiny tires, the weird sitting (Why do scooters have the legs in front vs. pegs?) and lack of ability to shift. Do they make manual shift scooters?
 
HappyHighwayman said:
I paid $3500 for my Yamaha, how can these scooters cosr $4000+?
Click to expand...

Comparing used and several-years-old bike price to new OTD scooter price?


Zippy994 said:
I'd go with a Honda Ruckus (which already looks badass) or a Yamaha Zuma.
Click to expand...

The Zuma can be gotten used for a very reasonable amount and has good aftermarket support. The other advantage to the small-wheel scooters over the big-wheel scooter pictured in the OP is underseat storage space.
 
Scooters with their inclosed bodywork were desighned so you wouldn't get grease, bugs, etc on your clothes. Thus no pegs.
 
Gabe said:
Do you think it's fair to compare a used 600 sportbike (about $5000) to a new Ninja 250R (about $5000 otd)?
Click to expand...

I don't think scooter vs sportbike is a fair comparison. Small standards, dualsport or cruisers vs scooters yes. That way at least the decision cycle is closer. Body position, range, storage, ease of riding etc...

On the other side, new vs used is not cool, I could find a Busa for $5k. So show used scoots prices if comparing to used bikes.
 
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