I had been obsessed with getting a "real" motorcycle over a scooter for quite sometime now. But after doing some touring on my scooter, I realized that scooter might be the right choice all along for my riding style. 1) I don't go fast. That's not how I enjoy my motorcycle experience. 2) I don't particularly enjoy manual shifting. I drove a stick shift car for almost 20 years. I literally could do it in my sleep -- when I got a bit of highway hypnosis and dozed off for a second, I found myself shifting and pushing the clutch correctly anyways. So it's not the lack of skill that I don't prefer standard. I'm just experienced enough to admit that vast majority of the time, automatic transmission will do the job better than most humans claim they can. 3) I'm kind of paranoid about theft, so having an integrated under-seat compartment definitely put me more at ease than having my luggage strapped haphazardly on a motorcycle -- it's just a big ass billboard advertising that you are from out of town. My backpacking experience taught me to be discreet when travelling.
I love the way you do. I also have a small scooter for same reasons besides a manual geared car. In cities it's flexible, in rural it's smooth and steady. Two crucial things I'm sure to claim are scooters have very high mileage and very low cost of maintenance if you ride them properly. No chain lubricating and adjusting after #$% kms :)) just have the gearbox cleaned after 10,000 kms. In Vietnam we only replace driving belts and other parts after at least 50,000 kms or let them broken themselves :)). The mileage of my 2013 Honda Vision is 58-60kms per litre of A95 gasoline. To me until now it's enough for life and job. In future I probably add a Honda PCX to my scooter list for further tourings
Weird tho ain’t it how sometimes ya can be out of it in a daze maybe asleep even but still drive to where ya going fine? I’ve done that a lot! My uncle would to he’d drive home asleep snoring wake up at his house I’d be knocking on his window his eyes glasses over foot on brake hand on stick on neutral same when inroads w him he was snoring driving curves!
I remember how around of 40 years ago all men said that the automatic transmission on the car is the fault and nobody will use it. But now everybody say that the manual gearbox is the bullshit and if you drive it, you are the strange guy. Concerning motorbike, I believe that in 20 years the percentage will be the same. The manual gearbox is the past and pain. So, as soon as the electricity will lead the motorbikes market, the manual gearbox will become like the actual retro cars.
You can't compare the comfort and convenience of a scooter. Underseat storage, easy handling and enough power for most. In bad weather you hardly get wet! Scooters stay cleaner too, and since you don't have to sit on your balls all the time, scooter riders are much more virile....
@@iramanuca3556 these are better for everyday riding because you can ride with skirt and heels or sandals. You have storage space. Automatic gearbox… It’s really good actually I agree. Motorcycle on another hand as bigger wheels and longer suspension for off-road riding. With motorcycle you also usually have easier access to your engine if it breaks down somewhere in African desert or sth. But with motorcycles your seating is compromised and you do need to wear boots and change gears and stuff. I think if you live in the US and have nice paved roads, you should choose a scooter. But if you plan to go around the world, I’d rather go for a adventure motorcycle.
Got a new kymco ak550 10 weeks ago..I could not be more happy with this bike..it is an absolute gas to ride..comfort, great handling and loads of tech . Great for this retired guy battling osteoarthritis
Just ordered a new Kymco AK550 in pale blue and cannot wait until it arrives. Like you I'm retired and have ridden lots of motorcycles and just sold a Triumph Tiger 1050. looking forward to stressless touring. Already got a new Givi top box to put on it and ordered grip puppies. New model has electric screen and electronic cruise control and TCS with ABS. My Tiger had none of those things! Will be the fourth scooter that I have owned in my life. At 68, maybe my last toy to see me out....
I have a Yamaha T Max 530cc maxi scoot. It's really a very powerful motorcycle dressed up as a scooter! Very fast, super comfy, relatively economical, but really super easy to ride...Just went down from Auckland, NZ to the bottom of the south Island...best ride ever...
I've ridden many motorbikes to Scotland to see family, about a 500 mile trip, but the most comfy and fastest was my TMax 500. Why fastest? They're so comfy you dont need to stop and stretch so spend more time riding.
Here in Europe scooters and maxi scooters are much more common than in North America. They are just such efficient and comfortable transport. They are excellent for the smaller roads in most European cities. People go for long distance touring with them, they are actually really good for that kind of riding.
A 125cc Honda's scooter is what i ride for commute everyday through rural areas from home to work. Torque is sufficient and fuel economy also the simplicity is immense. I really like your point of view.
Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive rider here! .. I’ve had Honda Elite 50, 80, 125, 150 Deluxe, 250 .. Suzuki Burgman 400 and now A 2009 Burgman 650 Executive… There is nothing like hoping and that fine piece of refinement for a ride anywhere!!! SPEED, AGILITY, COMFORT, GOOD LOOKS!! I love my Burgman 👍🏽😎
Yo bro, I'm due to purchase a 2021 Suzuki burgman 400. What was ur experience with the burgman 400 like? Is it suitable for long distance highway journeys or is it best kept as a commuter? Any advice is appreciated bro
@@zaydgill545 Honestly I loved my Burgman 400!! I picked it up used with 1700 miles on it and in pretty much FLAWLESS MINT CONDITION!! Tires still had all the nobby hairs all on em 👌🏽😁 I loved riding that bike soooo much, that in 2 NJ riding seasons, my odometer read over 9K miles! 💪🏽😁 Yeah I rode that bad boy everywhere! All NJ highways EZ PASS equipped or not, I was on them… The most I’d get her up too was 109MPH💨 Yeah she was quick, agile and light for all city commutes but I kept her on the highway 90 percent of the time. If there is one thing I hate about the 650 over the 400 is when you cut back on the throttle as if you’re trying to coast AKA save some gas 😂 the 400 coasted farther down the road thus giving you more MPG as opposed to the 650 which immediately engine brakes from that CVT trans thus holding you back from being able to coast/save gas smh .. Either way the 400 has a bulletproof motor setup that would give you many years of trouble free riding on any road 💪🏽
@@proplife635 dude really appreciate ur reply, thanks alot man. I've heard great things about the burgman but wanted to hear about personal experience from somebody who's actually owned 1. U know with all the anti scooter sentiment everybody recommends I get a "real" bike but I really love scooters and the burgman sounds like a dream come true to me. Looking forward to getting my hands on 1 now, thanks alot bro 👊🏽
@@zaydgill545 You’re Welcome! I have 2 questions for you tho. First will this be your first Maxi Scooter? And second do you think you’ll outgrow the 400 and want a 650 eventually down the line? I always wanted the 650 but at the time that I found that 400 there were NO 650’s for sale in my price range around me.. One things for sure and two things for certain… You’ll always be asked what kind of bike is it? How fast does it go? And how much they cost 😂
@@proplife635 previously I owned a piaggio xevo 125 which is built like a maxi scoot bc they use the same body for the 250cc and 400cc versions aswell but it didn't have the maxi scoot power. I brought it bc I was on a learner license and where I'm from the max u could get on dat license was a 125cc. I've ridden a few scooters but nothing with the kind of power the burgman has. I don't think I'll outgrow it anytime soon as I live in London so for city riding I don't think I'd need anything more powerful than this really. Once I get the chance to take it on an open road though I'll be able to tell if this will be enough for me or if I'll need a bigger bike for the long distance journeys
Kymco is not Chinese. It's a Taiwanese brand & it has the 2nd largest market share in Taiwan, topped by SYM (also a TW brand) & followed by Yamaha. Although they make cheap scooters, both SYM & Kymco had deep ties with Honda half a century ago - they were both established with Honda's help on single cylinder engine technology. Nowadays, they both still couldn't compete with the Japanese big 4 on a global scale, but they still make descent quality bikes with great reliability. In Taiwan, most people ride scooters because we understand it's utility & convenience. I'm a Taiwanese & I approve your opinion!
Kymco is a damn good motorcycle manufacturer. Half Asia and Europe rides with these and nobody rides motorcycles as much as we do in Asia. I see grandmas riding bikes with mileages that go from 100k back to zeros every now and again. If I ask them how many miles they have made on their Kymcos they don’t even know nor care. All their life pretty much. And they don’t even consider themselves a motorcyclists. Kymco and SYM are a legends.
Let me start by giving my "credentials" to comment. I currently own a Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive and a Kawasaki Voyager 1700. I previously owned a Yamaha XV1100 and a Piaggio MP3 400 (the last one was bought hoping the wife would get the riding bug - she never did and it was sold). All up I reckon I put close to 300K/kms on bike/scooters. I don't say that to boast but to establish that I do know a bit about the subject. I love the Kawasaki but it is not a bike suited for riding in town - it weighs close to 400kgs so it's not a bike for zipping in and out of the traffic. It is however great for the open road with 6 speed transmission, cruise control and on board radio with music player connection via a 3.5mm plug. Now onto the maxi-scooters. I consider anything over about 250/300 displacement to be a maxi scooter. Because of the cost and then the on road costs you don't buy one of these be it the TMax, BMW 600/650, Burgman 650 or Aprilia 850 to deliver pizza or just for the daily commute. You buy one because you intend to take to open road and do some touring on the weekend. They'll zip around the city and lane split (if that is legal where you live) so they'll always cope with the commute but keeping up with the cruisers, sports bike and tourers is done just as easily. The Burgman has a CVT (as they all do) but it has a manual over ride so you can access a 6th gear and give you an over drive for better fuel economy when touring. For comparison the Kawasaki has a 20 litre tank and can in ideal conditions (which include using the cruise control) go for about 350kms on a tank but in my experience you need a break about every 2 hours or about 200kms. The Burgman has a 14 litre tank and my best performance would be about 200kms on a tank. Others claim much better performance so it may be to do with my riding style. I have plenty of storage on both bikes. The riding position on both is quite comfortable but of course you have the tank between your legs on a bike whereas with a scooter you're sitting on the scooter. In Australia the Burgman 650 is no longer available only the 400 and the 200. In my view put aside any prejudices you might have about the scooter v bike argument and enjoy the ride on whatever you can afford that suits your riding and takes you where you want to go. Remember it is ride not what you're riding, it is being on the road not how fast you can go or how quickly you can get there.
hey Roger, can you tell me from your experience, on long rides (4-8 h) wich is more comfortable, a scootre position or a bike position? I have a bike and I get really stiff, would a maxi scooter make a difference?
As I noted in my original comment, I have a Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager (a big 1700 V twin Harley look-a-like) and the Suzuki Burgman. The Voyager has cruise control which I use when I'm on the highways but the Burgman does not. I would recommend either a palm rest or a throttle lock for whatever bike you have - it reduces the grip of death on the right hand. As a general rule I try not to ride more than about 2 hours without a stop whether I need fuel or not. I find I'm getting a bit stiff and a bit tired so even a few minutes to get off the bike and walk around a bit is a good idea. A good screen on your bike reduces the strain on arms and shoulders when riding at high speed on the highway. The Burgman has an electrically adjustable (while riding) screen so it can be lowered for better air flow when riding at low speed in towns and so on. The Voyager has a tall screen that is fixed - it keeps the wind off but in summer doesn't give you good airflow. I guess it all comes down to whatever your preference is. A maxi-scooter may not make a lot of difference if you're riding for 4 - 6 hours or longer. In Australia (where I live) the road safety people always advise taking a break every 2 hours and if possible, swapping drivers. I know you can't always do that on a bike (swap drivers) but you can take a break get some petrol and a coffee (or whatever you prefer) and then keep going. I don't know if that is of any help. You don't say what bike you ride. The Voyager is a Harley look-a-like cruiser which I find is more comfortable than any sports bike I've ever ridden and even more comfortable that some tourers.
@@rogersmith5371 thanks! I have a aprilia mana(is a naked) and even after an 1h my back starts to hurt(I kinda have back problems). So now even if I love my mana I want to change it. I am trying to understand if I should buy an adventure or a maxi scooter. More exact should I buy the honda nc 750 or the Forza 750/ xadv. These are some examples but actually what I am trying ask is if a traditional bike position is more comfortable then a maxi scooter. If I would like to go in a trip in Europe, 14 days (6-8h a day riding) what would be more comfortable? A big scooter or a adventure bike?
@@dorincristianminea4587 I don't know the Aprila Mana I don't think it was sold in Australia. In my view the Suzuki Burgman is the benchmark for maxi scooters in that it has a lot of the features that I look for. It's no longer sold in Australia. The BMW 600/650 scooter looks pretty good and comfortable as doe the TMAX or even the Kymco 550. There is an Aprilla 850 that looks a cross between a scooter and a sporty bike. My advice would be if you're going to do a lot of riding, I'd get a cruiser or touring bike like a Honda ST 1300 if that fits your budget. I hope that helps.
Another Aussie here. 40 years of Ducatis and now I'm going from my Ducati Diavel to a Kymco AK550. Temporarily got a Burgman 250 after my heart attack a few years ago and LOVED it. The comfort and convenience beats motorcycle riding for me. I am keeping my Ninja 400 for the time being. Scooters are just as much fun as bikes, just ina different way.
@@jeeves6490 It sits on 110km/h (the legal speed limit) on highways and freeways here in Australia. I like to poke fun at Australia as much as the next guy but our freeways/highways are generally first world.
@@WildStuff You seriously telling me that the ADV150 sits on a rock solid 110km/hr? I'd love to believe that, but I have my doubts, PCX150 won't according to those I've asked. Not having a go, just doubtful, speedo might be optimistic?
I won't post the links directly here as the spam filter will likely block my comment, but have a look on my channel for 2 videos called: "Honda ADV150 - 110km/h Expressway Test" and "Scooter-Touring Outback & Central West NSW (HONDA ADV150)". The expressway test shows it comfortably sitting on 110km and mixing with traffic, as long as I'm not doing a steep incline or facing a strong headwind. I still get overtaken a lot but happens even when I'm in my car doing 115km/h. The scooter touring video was a 4 day trip around outback NSW on 110km/h roads. I eased off the throttle and sat mostly on 100-105km/h because I wasn't in a rush and slower speeds give better fuel economy. When I did give it full throttle though, it got to 110 without much drama. The rev limiter kicks in at 116km/h. I can't rule out speedo over-read and I haven't GPS tested it yet, but I'm happy with the results so far.
Dead right . Im 66 and seeing these silly old sods trying to relive their teens on a shit off a shovel is pathetic. I did the quick and dead thing on various bikes both British and Japanese in the 70s I'm not trying to impress I'm just out for a relaxing watch the world go by ride. It's not even a Maxi it's a little Honda PCX But I tour with camping gear on board . Got a little 300 mile run set for tomorrow . Two wheels is fun don't be a bike snobs just ride the bloody things.
60 here I've ridden had them all now I'm riding mid size Scooters it took 2 spine fusions I had to get something more comfy wish I would have done it sooner
Me too. I go camping and ride hundreds of miles with 125 little yamaha. Real good journeys and very cheap to fill up. Plus I never get speeding ticket 😂
Holly truth. I've also got a tiny honda pcx. My honda's second name is 'one dollar twenty five' 😉. Every year I do about 10k kilometers. Wonderful kilometers. My friend is 'a dedicated motorcyclist'; anything below 1litre and 150 HP is not a bike for him. The funniest thing is he and the other guys ride on their powerful bikes round the chimney and stop at almost every gas station to talk, smoke and take a brake. What to say; he's got the style and I've got big adventures on my tiny '$1.25'. 🛵
I have a 2003 Honda silverwing, and one of the reasons I bought it is for the huge amount of under seat space. You can put two full face helmets under there. I have gone to the grocery store countless times and had bags of groceries in a cart, and people would say, "where you going to put all that", then I pop the trunk and strategically place the bags inside sometimes having to move a few things around so the seat will close. The scooter manufacturers now are trying to make them look more like street bikes and sacrifice the under seat space. Now my silver wing has a big butt, but I don't mind. 😍
Lmao 😂 I know what your trying to say. And the saying actually go’s “scooters are like fat chicks, there fun to ride but you don’t want your friends to see you riding them”
Love my Kymco AK550 Premium for day touring. With the 33 litre top box and 30 litres undersea storage and cruise control it is a great mid sized tourer. Nothing in that engine size in a motorcycle comes close and I've owned more than forty motorcycles in my life. Kymco is quality too; having started as a Honda part owned company.
Forza 350 owner never, coming form Super sports, best thing i ever did. 12k service intervals, great fuel economy, huge underseat storage, comfortable, no gear changing, no chain maintenance, electric windshield, no hot engine between your legs, different feet position, blow 95% of cars and bikes 0-100 in 7 seconds, bluetooth control, navigation, weather protection, able to mount all sorts of touring gear, smaller and cheaper tires, cheaper maintenance. It goes on and on. Scooters are probably the best 2 wheels you can get. Don't listen to those guys who by bikes just for looks or egos.
I'm an old guy(64) with arthritis in my hips, knees, and back. 4 years ago when I sold my last motorcycle I decided that I would get a maxi scooter. Now on the motorcycle it had gotten to the point of only being able to ride about 30 to 45 minutes at a stint before having to pull over and take a long break because of the pain from the arthritis. Now on my scooter, I still have to pull over eventually for a break, but on the scooter I can ride 4 or 5 hours non stop before needing a break. Get home and eat a little something and go back out on the scooter again. Could never do that on the motorcycle after the arthritis took over my life. Maxi scooters rule and wish I would have went to maxi scooters 30 years ago. Later man, think I'll go for a scooter ride!!😁
I agree. Girls can ride these with skirts and heels while we can hop on with sandals. I ride my scooter with sandals all the time. Btw, Kymco is Taiwanese and it’s very good brand. The only con with scooters is that they don’t look as we are normally used to. Motorcycles are a little more classical and therefore many find them better looking but yeah. For everyday riding, scooter beats motorcycles anytime. With scooters you don’t need some motorcycle boots and stuff. Just sandals on and to the beach or Walmart or something. Hop on and go. No gear changes. But if I’d ride in wilderness like Africa or central Asian, I’d still get a touring bike because of its bigger fuel tank and easy access to the engine and of course slightly bigger wheels and longer suspension. Motorcycle is better for crappy roads and off-road riding.
Riding a scooter does not negate the need for safety gear. Wearing sandals is stupid. Crashing on a scooter at 50 mph is no different than doing the same on a motorcycle.
@@rogermurph101 yeah man but I never ride so fast. I do 20 kph when with slippers. Just cruising down the beach… the the seven eleven to get few beers every now and again. Here in Taiwan, scooter is very practical thing. Super pretty girls with stockings and heels riding to work and places. People just have no time to gear up because scooters are mostly used as moving chairs. Old ladies do their morning market shopping on scooters. We have so many scooters here. Almost all are 125-150. We have some crashes but mostly happens to those who go faster than they should. As I get older, I feel less desire to ride fast. Now I just enjoy that 20-60 kph range. But my scooter can do 100kph. No problem.
They are purpose built mile devourers, even more so than dedicated „touring bikes“. They‘re meant to be daily drivers and they‘re sort of 2 wheeled cars. They‘re cheap, use little fuel and they‘re cheap to fix because most of the time spare parts are easy to come by (at least for Piaggio and Piaggio adjacent companies like Aprilia and Kymco/Sym models) and because most of them are singles, if you can work on a dirtbike you can work on a scooter. Also a cvt is way easier to work on than a transmission. You have insane amounts of storage ranging from 30-50l helmet compartments, hardcases and topcases, sometimes even gloveboxes. They provide excellent weather protection and are extremely accessible. Easy to maneuver in tight streets and you can park them anywhere. Almost all have in-built theft protection like a steering lock. Also most scooter riders are maniacal wrenchers that know their machines in and out, which you can‘t say about most motorcycle riders anymore. And most scooter riders ride all year around, through rain and snow. In my opinion a weathered scooter riders are much more spirited than fair weather „real motorcycle“ riders.
I have owned regular motorcycles in the distant past and now I ride a old SYM RV250 2009 Scooter and love it. I live in Tacoma WA and it rains allot and the weather is not ideal most of time but the Wind Protection offered by a Maxi Scooter is nice in the winter compared to a traditional naked bike. I seldom travel on the freeway but have the ability to go 65mph if necessary. The CVT no shift drive system makes around town riding so laid back and effortless. I really find the Maxi scooter a great fun way to get to work and run errands when driving a car is just boring and you never worry about parking like a car. I have ridden my scooter in the rain numerous times and found it way more tolerable than a regular bike. I will eventually sell my old RV250 for a fuel injected modern maxi scooter because I feel the newer ones might handle better at high speed and have better ABS brakes etc.
If you have an old 250 switching to a new 150 can be almost as fast. I live in Vancouver BC and have owned a Piaggio Liberty 150 for 2 yrs now. It can maintain 100 km/h in normal conditions. Not exactly a maxi scooter but add a windscreen and top case then its pretty close.
Good to hear from another scooter rider in Washington state. I ride a Yamaha T-max in Spokane: probably the only one in this town. I get compliments frequently. I agree with everything you mentioned. Best of luck on finding your upgrade scoot.
You are absolutely right, scooters are pretty good people in central or South America use this vehicles even in rural areas.... Dirt roads and such. But is not only limited to those countries also in parts of asia or africa the scooter has taken over 👍🏿
Glad I ran across this vid! I’m considering a maxi or a Honda Rebel. I need more oomph but wasn’t sure about the price discrepancy between the options. Thanks!!
Agree about bikers and their egos. I mean c'mon not everyone likes to ride a motorcycle for show. I personally ride a maxi scooter for the convenience. A full face helmet fits underneath the seat and I don't have to carry it with me. Riding a bike is just so stressfull. I'm done with those things.
Maybe they are. I have been through Honda sh300, Burgman 650 and Tmax 530 before my Tiger, and now I'm quite certain I'll get a T-max when I'm done with really long touring. One thing is for certain - I'll never again buy a mc without cruise control! Even with panniers I miss the under seat storage, and the ease of jumping on... There are a couple of drawbacks though. You cannot anchor yourself to the tank with your legs. Smaller wheels wear rubber faster. Cornering is not as easy (the t-max comes close, though) and loading luggage for long rides is more trouble... A bag on the rear seat negates the under seat storage practicality and panniers don't come natural to scooters. Thank you for this video.
I love the way you talked about some guys using their bikes to support their egos. I have been riding bikes sense I was 18 years old, everything from 28cc mopeds to the biggest best BMW. I'm now 63 years old. I doin't ride bikes to support my ego. I ride them because they are fun. I have ridden and had more 49cc scooters than anything. Right now I have two 49cc scooters. I am seriously thinking about buying a larger scooter, not the biggest thing out there. Not sure, but I think i am going to buy a brand new Yamaha XMAX. I am also getting a mew Honda Metropolitan.
My Burgman 400 IS my touring bike. It has the room, comfort, and luggage space I need for a couple of weeks on the road. The weather protection compared to my motorcycle is a bonus. Also If I took my 'cool' motorcycle on a trip I would be constantly worried that it would be ripped off. This is much less of a worry with my rather beat up scooter. When I took my Burgman up the Cassiar to Yukon, people were amazed I was doing it on a scooter. So funny.
That was a really good comparison between scooters and motorbikes. My hips started to make swinging my leg over bikes painful but I didn't want to give up riding so I forced myself into buying a Honda Forza and boy I soon grew to love it once I got over a tinge of embarrassment at first and now I wouldn't swap back.
I could have written that comment for you..After over 50 years of riding all sizes of motorbikes my hips starting to pain me even after a short run.5 months ago I bought a Piaggio mp3 530 exclusive and I love it,Plan on taking it from Ireland to Spain and Portugal in 2024 and touring for 6 weeks
I got a used Piaggio MP3 300cc this year. No need to get a motorcycle licence and it rides so well. Going into corners a bit to quick is no problem, burningout on wet streed is no problem.
Great video! I totally agree with your opinion and arguments. I own a Yamaha Tenere 250cc and recently bought a Honda ADV 150 cc scooter. I'm in love with it, it's very funny and easy to ride it! Now I'm planning a big trip and it will be with the Honda ADV. Greetings from Brazil man \m/
I've had super sport bikes , a cruiser, now I have a naked bike and dual sport, soon to acquire a honda metropolitan and pcx. Scooters are lots of fun, every bike and Scooter has its purpose. I see and treat everyone the same.
That scooter might have been top of the line a good while ago. Kymco's are good - I own a CruiSYM 300. I would love to ride the new Kymco AK 550, or the SYM TL 500.
Kymco and SYM are good Taiwanese brands. Here in Taiwan we ride them tens of thousands of miles and these things hold up very good. Mine has 35k miles on and it’s like brand new scooter. Btw, mine isn’t even maxiscooter, mine is a little 125. Very good fun
Love the ak550 got it like a month ago and put already about 600 miles and is not even comparable with burgman 400 and honda forza 300 and even the awesome gt300i people , I got 3 bikes now and one is a big cruiser that's a fun to ride but I don't ride for ego I ride because I enjoyed and for fun, If was for ego I won't have a scooter as one of my other rides, always keep a scooter on the side for those conform rides and easy days, but when I want to feel the Torque and burn some tire that's when I get in to my cruiser, I sold the sport like 3 years ago and selling a honda forza 300 now but not sure if get me a sport bike or just keep the money. Love people like you! Your not to impress others and you are a truly humble person! , keep up! And I love scooters and have many of them but you say it right maxis are best , I didn't like much the Burgman 400 comparing with the ak550 center of gravity how is balance is awesome! , the way suspension is and all what it has is the most conform bike I ever owned , yes I go on my toes at almost every stop light but loving it! , wish I could have cruise control but I put one of those go-cruise clamp type and does very good for me.
I did my manual bike certificate i cant decide if a scooter or motorcycle is right. I even drive a manual car. But for safety and practicality scooters for sure. Motorcyclists that say scooters arnt real bikes never actually ridden a 300 or 600cc maxi scooter. Its an ego thing for sure. Im suprised kymco and sym (which were apart of honda's staff) scooters quality has gone up in recent years near hondas level. I really want to see more scooter riders mixing with motorcyclists.
When my friend gave up his Yamaha 900 tracer just at a time when I was thinking about getting a Yamaha fjr1300.. after taking his Yamaha TMAX 560 tech Max for a test ride, it wasn't long before I went out and bought a brand new one in 2020 I have already done 31,000 miles on it, these bikes has all the extras,more than some big bikes, such as electric screen, cruise control,heated seat, heated hand grips, better agility, more comfort for pillion passengers,0-60 4.8 seconds, under seat storage, the Handling comfort and all-round rider satisfaction is just amazing.... I have no regrets at all after 31k, best bike ride just like brand new, when I get on and through when I get off , and that is in any weather, maxi scooters are simply superb👍🏽👍🏽💛🙏🏽
You just have to be aware though if you own several motorcycles with your maxi scooter, you will have to train your left hand muscle memory that the left hand lever for the maxiscooter is for the REAR BRAKE and not for the CLUTCH.
I'm looking to get a motorcycle and maxiscooters seem to be the most pragmatic. I want something that is easy to deal with in the city, but can handle the highway with ease. There's a lot of option here in the US: Honda Forza and Silver Wing, Suzuki Burgman 400 and Burgman 650, Yamaha XMAX and TMAX, BMW C400X and C650GT... Hard to choose. I don't think I need more than 300cc... But I can't really be sure. I haven't ridden one.
One of the things too to consider is usually the smaller displacements have budget suspension. The higher cc's i found have better suspension to go along with the price tag. Like the silver wing and tmax. The bmw's i've seen are expensive to work on.
I ride a 2007 Suzuki Burgman AN400 in Brisbane Australia. It has 72000Km mileage and goes very well. I have a GIVI DT266 aftermarket screen and wind goes over my head (I'm 1.8m tall) The scooter has a massive boot, it's fast and very comfortable, I can stretch my legs. Good for town and motorway. Does 110Km/hr easily, takes 4L/100Km. I think one of these plus a 250 dual sport if you do off road is the perfect stable collection.
Integra NC750D from Honda. highway handling... city practicality... 17" wheels chain driven 750 cc comfortable seat low fuel consumption ( 3 - 4 ) L/100 km what else? you can tour the world in it... it is my current bike, i enjoy it very much , i traveled on it 800 km in one day, no pain no regrets whatso ever... Good luck..
Get something secondhand and cheap. I’ve had a new scooter scratched by other motorcycles in the tight parking lots. I hate that feeling. Of course it depends on your location but if I was in Italy or here in Taiwan… I don’t want the stress of having a spotless new scooter or motorcycle. I ride it everyday so, not really babying it at all.
i used to ride a yamaha xmax 300 maxiscoot and it felt great cruising on long rides the storage is also great you could put one baby in it or 2 fullface helmet it is so convenient but i sold it to buy a naked bike because i upgrade i still miss it though
I think the problem is, with maxi-scooters at least, they ARE motorcycles just a different genre of motorcycle - much like cruisers, adventure, sports, touring, etc. I have a cruiser-style 250cc and a 600cc sports bike, but the last couple of years had the opportunity of riding a Suzuki Burgman 400 K1 for volunteer work. With the headgasket on my 600 just gone, I've decided to buy the Burgman off my friend but I'm still torn by the 'it's the best motorcycle I've ever ridden - luggage space, handling, performance, etc.' and the 'but it's a scooter!' in my head! In any case, this is a great video and thanks for sharing your thoughts! :)
I went another route, Honda ctx700dct. Nice to not have to think about shifting, enjoying more. Especially nice in town and commuting. Also averaging 70 miles to gallon.
I have buy my Kymco Xciting 500 (2008) almost 2 years ago. I make 12000km whit it. Nice scooter, wery comfortable, fast enougt for higway (145km/h) in the city wery maneuverable. Fuel capacity 12.5l,average consumption 4.2l /100km. Longest trip 360km in one day whit my dougter.
I want a 150 cc scooter or minimoto and take up camping here in Quebec. I had a great Motorino electric scooter before, far better than the 2 lemon electric bikes I suffered in the last 2 yrs.
I guess in the USA they haven't caught on like in Europe, for example the gangs in Italy use them plenty and also businessmen can be seen going to work dressed for the office on them.
I put almost 80,000 miles on a Yamaha Majesty 400. Valves only had to be checked/adjusted every 26,000 miles, and I let the dealer do it, even though I am an auto mechanic by trade. I have done a lot of work on motorcycles, but have kind of an aversion to working on scooters. I did do all the other maintenance on it. The biggest problem for me over a motorcycle is just how fast the tires wore out. I could get 20,000 miles out of the tires on my Kawasaki Vulcan 750 set up for solo touring. The Majesty got about 6,000. LOTS of tire changing.
@@ricardojohnsonthon7547 Scooter tires are much smaller in diameter than motorcycle tires, meaning they have to turn a lot faster at any given road speed, which puts a lot more wear on them. Also, the 400cc Majesty weighs 434 pounds, almost as much as my Vulcan 750, plus I'm on the heavy side myself at nearly 240 pounds.
@@robertsalyers1351 Usually a little less expensive, but that doesn't make up for having to change them three times as often. I now have a Vespa GTS300. The front tire is easy to change. Changing the rear tire requires taking half the scooter apart.
>Scooters in the United States are cheap I feel like they're actually more expensive because the demand is low enough that dealers trying to order the minimum amount can't get rid of stock and make a profit. I'm tried convincing a dealer to get some ak 550s in and he said he couldn't justify the minimum order knowing he wouldn't sell 50 of them.
Used to own a Kawasaki Versys-X when I was young. As I get older and my body no longer can stand sitting on a bike for long ride, I sold my Kawasaki and bought a Kymco Downtown i. And I regretted my decision shortly after I took a ride on my new scooter. Why haven't I get this before, instead of the Kawasaki?
Easy to ride, cheap insurance, easy to repair and maintain, all controls are right at your finger tips. Don't have to worry about down shifting and hitting the rear brake with your right foot in emergency stops, like when someone pulls out in front of you.
I missed the opportunity to buy a used Suzuki Bergman 600 .. But common sense and the bike getting sold before I could get to her caused me to make a more sensible decision and start off with a Genuine 125
Very enjoyable video. Totally agree, had owned motorcycles when young. In 2012 bought a Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive. Loved it, and not having to change gears anymore. But my Suzuki dealer warned me that with the Burgman discontinued it would get hard to service! I was in shock. So I decided to get a different maxi. But was in the Real shock when I found Yahama had also discontinued the T-Max, and Honda discontinued the Silverwing, and BMW discontinued the 650 GT. So disappointing. Nov 2021 I got lucky and found a new 2020 BMW, the last of the breed! LOVE the cycle, though a challenge to service. Everything seems to have gone to 400 cc in America. Was told by a District Sales Manager of BMW that during the Obama years, the administration pushed new laws and restrictions that (for all practical purposes) forced all the hefty Maxis out of the market. Such a shame. As the USA ages, older riders like me appreciate the ease of a scooter but I still want the ability to get a girl on the back and go riding comfortably on the highway. The 400s struggle there! Glad to read some of the other comments about the Kymco 550 being a solid alternative.
Yeah, I'm actually selling my Ducati Diavel (40 years of owning Ducatis) for a 2022 Kymco AK 550 ST. Thanks for explaining why all the big maxis are no longer in production.
I own a BMW C650GT. That Obama nonsense is false. If that was the case then motorcycles over 600cc would be all discontinued. Lets stop throwing around false political comments. The true reason is that large displacement maxi-scooters were not popular. The cost was prohibitive for most riders except older and more affluent rider. The same crowd that Harley was competing for and are also struggling for sales. Also the maxi-scooters lost a lot of prospective buyers to popular trikes which were easier for most beginners and experienced riders who wanted something safer and different. Another reason is because the lower displacement scooters are more popular being they have a lower entry cost. Economics not political. Easier to buy something for 6 to 8k versus 12 to 15k. The same reason why motorcycles in the lower price range sells more.
@@wetland3010 That is not the reason why maxis are no longer popular. Think cost and the introduction of electric motorcycles and trikes that compete for that market. Companies produce something only if there is a strong demand. Even in Europe gas scooter sales are down while trikes and electric motorcycles are up. The Obama comment was garbage!
I totally agree with having a scooter over a motorcycle, i love my honda 300 scooter, cant argue with 90mpg, the only reason i keep my honda nc750 is to use when i go runs with both my brothers
I had a 13 Majesty put 13k on it sold it for a cruiser big mistake sold the cruiser bought a Yamaha Smax puts a big smile on my face every time I ride I do a lot off back country road riding
I just bought yamaha x max 300 (7000eur-6800$) so in Europa scooter are not cheap,you are so lucky to live in America...but ,what a great scooter-motorcyle..
Scooters are the engine room of much of Asia.. The western market is only relatively new. But most of Asia (especially eastern) has been using them as the main form of road transport for decades. Go to Phnom Penh or Hanoi or Bangkok ,there are more scooters than cars or other bikes.
Having owned a few T Max's a while back, I was always amazed by the power delivery and comfort, but not the repair and servicing costs which were higher than my best of both worlds Hi onda 750s.
The term "scooter" gets a bad rap, especially in America where people think they are toys only useful for renting while on vacation to cruise around the small towns. Not all scooters are created equal though, and some of them are quicker and faster (top speed) than some motorcycles. The main thing for me is how easy my bike is to ride and operate. I prefer simplicity over heavy and complicated because that's the stage of life I'm in right now. Everyone is different and that's why there's choices out there. The more important thing is enjoying the liberation that any bike provides, not the label. Sadly, there's lots of immature mindsets out there who are still learning who they are. Give them time, maybe they will grow up one day. Talking about the people who make fun of scooters. Don't give them the attention and they'll move on.
I have four bikes. 1) Harley Streetglide 2) Adiva ad3 300cc 3) Kymco myroad 700cc 4) Honda silverwing 400cc. I have to agree. Eventually I will just sell all my bikes. And keep one maxi scooter.
Even in asia, Scooters/Maxi Scooters are the kings! Motorcycles are viewed as luxury and are not really suited for the crowded, traffic filled streets. It's just not a viable option. I have friends who bought bikes and told me they'll use it as a commuter vehicle but after a few months later, went back to their cars because the stop and go traffic annoys them even more than their airconditioned cars lol. While I on the other hand, have scooter and weave through the cars. The problem here is most people view motorcycles as masculine and superior while scooters are seen as cute, cracker jack toys. It's always about "showing off" Best to have both! Most likely you'll use the scooter more due to the convenience/storage it offers.
I bought a new BMW C600 Sport Scooter. I loved riding it but sold it after only 10 000km as the reliability was terrible. I believe they are made by Kymco so that would explain the poor quality. Still I am test riding a new Tmax soon and I hope that will be comfortable.
maxi scooters and motorcycles in the same cc range both have their pro's and con's . 1 pro for a maxi /super scooter ( they are referred to as both ) It is a good starter bike 1 con for me any way is the scooters only come in automatic transmissions . I prefer manual transmissions over auto trans in general ( this apples to cars as well ). 1 pro about the auto trans is good if the person does not know how to shift gears and pro for a scooter is MSRP they are generally cheaper then most motorcycles in the same CC range . I do agree the super/maxi scooters do1 thing i totally disagree with you on at 1:53 I am against wearing scandals ( or any kind of open toe footwear ) on any kind of 2 wheel bike for any reason even on a scooter . ( unless your scooter is a trike version)
@@Edwinbraun20 When I was a volunteer firefighter, I responded to a motorcycle accident where the rider lost control of his 125cc scooter and did a foot-plant at about 25 mph. Because he was wearing flip-flops, he lost 3 toes and the remaining 2 were just bones covered with shredded flesh. I've been riding for 45 years...everything from 50cc mopeds to 1600cc touring BMWs. My mantra is "all the gear, all the time", and it's (literally) saved my ass several times. The pavement doesn't care if you fall off a 50cc moped, a 600cc crotch rocket, or a full-dress Harley...it's going to shred your flesh like a cheese grater.
@@steverandall5814 I understand. It’s dangerous, but it’s really very warm here in Taiwan. And because I see most people riding with sandals here so I didn’t really think about it before. But I totally get it. It can end very badly
I enjoy my scooter, i may be too tall, my head and therefore my helmet is xl, the knees pop out the side a bit but for local getting around its a blast, i put in 60 zar and get like 200km out if i take it easy. Lmao its like the toyota cressida to pensioners 20 yrs ago, automatic, chilled and fast enough to wipe out properly. My regret is that i didnt buy one 20 yrs ago. I agree, the cops by me dont care about scooters, bikes too for that matter unless you are flying.
I’m debating but while I appreciate the automatic transmission I’m not convinced about the sitting position, it looks not safe, on a bike you are grabbing the bike like a horse with your legs, on a scooter you are too loose. Right now I’m thinking about the Honda Silverwing 600 scooter and the Honda ST1100 sport touring, both have plenty of under seat storage and enough power.
I ride a Honda SH125i. I ride all year, have a large screen, heated grips and hand muffs. It's max speed with the screen is about 68 mph so it's not very fast, however it only holds a little over 7 litres of fuel and so far I've done 200 miles on one tank. I use it to do just eat, deliveroo and Uber eats. I've had my Honda for under a year, done over 17,000 miles. I also have a diesel smart car which I've had for over 10 years, used for shopping and going to the forest with my wife and little border terrier.
I had been obsessed with getting a "real" motorcycle over a scooter for quite sometime now. But after doing some touring on my scooter, I realized that scooter might be the right choice all along for my riding style. 1) I don't go fast. That's not how I enjoy my motorcycle experience. 2) I don't particularly enjoy manual shifting. I drove a stick shift car for almost 20 years. I literally could do it in my sleep -- when I got a bit of highway hypnosis and dozed off for a second, I found myself shifting and pushing the clutch correctly anyways. So it's not the lack of skill that I don't prefer standard. I'm just experienced enough to admit that vast majority of the time, automatic transmission will do the job better than most humans claim they can. 3) I'm kind of paranoid about theft, so having an integrated under-seat compartment definitely put me more at ease than having my luggage strapped haphazardly on a motorcycle -- it's just a big ass billboard advertising that you are from out of town. My backpacking experience taught me to be discreet when travelling.
I love the way you do. I also have a small scooter for same reasons besides a manual geared car. In cities it's flexible, in rural it's smooth and steady. Two crucial things I'm sure to claim are scooters have very high mileage and very low cost of maintenance if you ride them properly. No chain lubricating and adjusting after #$% kms :)) just have the gearbox cleaned after 10,000 kms. In Vietnam we only replace driving belts and other parts after at least 50,000 kms or let them broken themselves :)). The mileage of my 2013 Honda Vision is 58-60kms per litre of A95 gasoline. To me until now it's enough for life and job. In future I probably add a Honda PCX to my scooter list for further tourings
Yeah in a lightweight vehicle some types of automatics are better!
Weird tho ain’t it how sometimes ya can be out of it in a daze maybe asleep even but still drive to where ya going fine? I’ve done that a lot! My uncle would to he’d drive home asleep snoring wake up at his house I’d be knocking on his window his eyes glasses over foot on brake hand on stick on neutral same when inroads w him he was snoring driving curves!
To make a point he had narcolepsy and slept w eyes open sometimes
I remember how around of 40 years ago all men said that the automatic transmission on the car is the fault and nobody will use it. But now everybody say that the manual gearbox is the bullshit and if you drive it, you are the strange guy. Concerning motorbike, I believe that in 20 years the percentage will be the same. The manual gearbox is the past and pain. So, as soon as the electricity will lead the motorbikes market, the manual gearbox will become like the actual retro cars.
You can't compare the comfort and convenience of a scooter. Underseat storage, easy handling and enough power for most. In bad weather you hardly get wet! Scooters stay cleaner too, and since you don't have to sit on your balls all the time, scooter riders are much more virile....
shut up i got a motorcycle and a scooter and i still carnt get it up lol
😂@@archiemillington306
I know it’s a 2 year old comment but…bruh 😂
I've owned lots of motor cycles, but after buying a SYM GTS300i a few years ago, I'll never own another motor cycle again. Maxi scooters are awesome.
My sym citycom 300 have same engine with gts 300. Both are efi. Although citycoms are smaller in size and with bigger tires 16".
Why do you like it better?
@@iramanuca3556 these are better for everyday riding because you can ride with skirt and heels or sandals. You have storage space. Automatic gearbox…
It’s really good actually I agree.
Motorcycle on another hand as bigger wheels and longer suspension for off-road riding. With motorcycle you also usually have easier access to your engine if it breaks down somewhere in African desert or sth. But with motorcycles your seating is compromised and you do need to wear boots and change gears and stuff.
I think if you live in the US and have nice paved roads, you should choose a scooter. But if you plan to go around the world, I’d rather go for a adventure motorcycle.
Oh really? Thats rare to find someone with that mentality. Is there semi automatic scooters available?
@@iramanuca3556 Comfort, convenience, practicality, weather protection.. Need I go on?
Got a new kymco ak550 10 weeks ago..I could not be more happy with this bike..it is an absolute gas to ride..comfort, great handling and loads of tech . Great for this retired guy battling osteoarthritis
Bingo! The chickens are coming home to roost for many of us and if yer feet are numb, these are the cat's meow!
How is the aftermarket support for the ak550? I really want it but Yamaha and Honda support might keep me with them.
How does it compare to the new Suzuki Burgman 400 ??
Just ordered a new Kymco AK550 in pale blue and cannot wait until it arrives. Like you I'm retired and have ridden lots of motorcycles and just sold a Triumph Tiger 1050. looking forward to stressless touring. Already got a new Givi top box to put on it and ordered grip puppies. New model has electric screen and electronic cruise control and TCS with ABS. My Tiger had none of those things! Will be the fourth scooter that I have owned in my life. At 68, maybe my last toy to see me out....
I have a Yamaha T Max 530cc maxi scoot. It's really a very powerful motorcycle dressed up as a scooter! Very fast, super comfy, relatively economical, but really super easy to ride...Just went down from Auckland, NZ to the bottom of the south Island...best ride ever...
I've ridden many motorbikes to Scotland to see family, about a 500 mile trip, but the most comfy and fastest was my TMax 500. Why fastest? They're so comfy you dont need to stop and stretch so spend more time riding.
Yamaha T max is so expensive lol 🇮🇩🇮🇩🇮🇩
Here in Europe scooters and maxi scooters are much more common than in North America. They are just such efficient and comfortable transport. They are excellent for the smaller roads in most European cities. People go for long distance touring with them, they are actually really good for that kind of riding.
You guys get all the cool cars and Scooters we get trucks , SUVs, and harley Davidson
@@johnmitchell2741 😂
@@johnmitchell2741 actually we like what we dont have:SUVs, trucks and harleys :))
But I agree, scooters are much more common here.
Maxi scooters are brilliant for commuting, and I evangelise them all the time.
My friends with manual bikes would say just get a real bike. But I love the look of maxi scooters
@@steve00alt70 Then you need new friends.
A 125cc Honda's scooter is what i ride for commute everyday through rural areas from home to work. Torque is sufficient and fuel economy also the simplicity is immense. I really like your point of view.
Me too. I ride 125 everyday in Taiwan.
@@Edwinbraun20 yeah. The traffic is pretty much similar in Indonesia
Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive rider here! .. I’ve had Honda Elite 50, 80, 125, 150 Deluxe, 250 .. Suzuki Burgman 400 and now A 2009 Burgman 650 Executive… There is nothing like hoping and that fine piece of refinement for a ride anywhere!!! SPEED, AGILITY, COMFORT, GOOD LOOKS!! I love my Burgman 👍🏽😎
Yo bro, I'm due to purchase a 2021 Suzuki burgman 400. What was ur experience with the burgman 400 like? Is it suitable for long distance highway journeys or is it best kept as a commuter? Any advice is appreciated bro
@@zaydgill545 Honestly I loved my Burgman 400!! I picked it up used with 1700 miles on it and in pretty much FLAWLESS MINT CONDITION!! Tires still had all the nobby hairs all on em 👌🏽😁 I loved riding that bike soooo much, that in 2 NJ riding seasons, my odometer read over 9K miles! 💪🏽😁 Yeah I rode that bad boy everywhere! All NJ highways EZ PASS equipped or not, I was on them… The most I’d get her up too was 109MPH💨 Yeah she was quick, agile and light for all city commutes but I kept her on the highway 90 percent of the time. If there is one thing I hate about the 650 over the 400 is when you cut back on the throttle as if you’re trying to coast AKA save some gas 😂 the 400 coasted farther down the road thus giving you more MPG as opposed to the 650 which immediately engine brakes from that CVT trans thus holding you back from being able to coast/save gas smh .. Either way the 400 has a bulletproof motor setup that would give you many years of trouble free riding on any road 💪🏽
@@proplife635 dude really appreciate ur reply, thanks alot man. I've heard great things about the burgman but wanted to hear about personal experience from somebody who's actually owned 1. U know with all the anti scooter sentiment everybody recommends I get a "real" bike but I really love scooters and the burgman sounds like a dream come true to me. Looking forward to getting my hands on 1 now, thanks alot bro 👊🏽
@@zaydgill545 You’re Welcome! I have 2 questions for you tho. First will this be your first Maxi Scooter? And second do you think you’ll outgrow the 400 and want a 650 eventually down the line? I always wanted the 650 but at the time that I found that 400 there were NO 650’s for sale in my price range around me.. One things for sure and two things for certain… You’ll always be asked what kind of bike is it? How fast does it go? And how much they cost 😂
@@proplife635 previously I owned a piaggio xevo 125 which is built like a maxi scoot bc they use the same body for the 250cc and 400cc versions aswell but it didn't have the maxi scoot power. I brought it bc I was on a learner license and where I'm from the max u could get on dat license was a 125cc. I've ridden a few scooters but nothing with the kind of power the burgman has. I don't think I'll outgrow it anytime soon as I live in London so for city riding I don't think I'd need anything more powerful than this really. Once I get the chance to take it on an open road though I'll be able to tell if this will be enough for me or if I'll need a bigger bike for the long distance journeys
Kymco is not Chinese. It's a Taiwanese brand & it has the 2nd largest market share in Taiwan, topped by SYM (also a TW brand) & followed by Yamaha. Although they make cheap scooters, both SYM & Kymco had deep ties with Honda half a century ago - they were both established with Honda's help on single cylinder engine technology. Nowadays, they both still couldn't compete with the Japanese big 4 on a global scale, but they still make descent quality bikes with great reliability. In Taiwan, most people ride scooters because we understand it's utility & convenience.
I'm a Taiwanese & I approve your opinion!
Kymco have consistently dominate the Taiwanese domestic 2wheel market for over a decade while Yamaha and Sym fighting for the second place
@@williammiao8862 Yamaha is definitely 3rd, they always fall behind by about 5% market share
Thanks for sharing the info
John China doesn’t approve this comment, and he apologizes to 🇨🇳. I pray for Taiwan.
Kymco is a damn good motorcycle manufacturer. Half Asia and Europe rides with these and nobody rides motorcycles as much as we do in Asia.
I see grandmas riding bikes with mileages that go from 100k back to zeros every now and again.
If I ask them how many miles they have made on their Kymcos they don’t even know nor care. All their life pretty much. And they don’t even consider themselves a motorcyclists.
Kymco and SYM are a legends.
Not having to shift definitely makes the ride more enjoyable !
Let me start by giving my "credentials" to comment. I currently own a Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive and a Kawasaki Voyager 1700. I previously owned a Yamaha XV1100 and a Piaggio MP3 400 (the last one was bought hoping the wife would get the riding bug - she never did and it was sold). All up I reckon I put close to 300K/kms on bike/scooters. I don't say that to boast but to establish that I do know a bit about the subject. I love the Kawasaki but it is not a bike suited for riding in town - it weighs close to 400kgs so it's not a bike for zipping in and out of the traffic. It is however great for the open road with 6 speed transmission, cruise control and on board radio with music player connection via a 3.5mm plug. Now onto the maxi-scooters. I consider anything over about 250/300 displacement to be a maxi scooter. Because of the cost and then the on road costs you don't buy one of these be it the TMax, BMW 600/650, Burgman 650 or Aprilia 850 to deliver pizza or just for the daily commute. You buy one because you intend to take to open road and do some touring on the weekend. They'll zip around the city and lane split (if that is legal where you live) so they'll always cope with the commute but keeping up with the cruisers, sports bike and tourers is done just as easily. The Burgman has a CVT (as they all do) but it has a manual over ride so you can access a 6th gear and give you an over drive for better fuel economy when touring. For comparison the Kawasaki has a 20 litre tank and can in ideal conditions (which include using the cruise control) go for about 350kms on a tank but in my experience you need a break about every 2 hours or about 200kms. The Burgman has a 14 litre tank and my best performance would be about 200kms on a tank. Others claim much better performance so it may be to do with my riding style. I have plenty of storage on both bikes. The riding position on both is quite comfortable but of course you have the tank between your legs on a bike whereas with a scooter you're sitting on the scooter. In Australia the Burgman 650 is no longer available only the 400 and the 200. In my view put aside any prejudices you might have about the scooter v bike argument and enjoy the ride on whatever you can afford that suits your riding and takes you where you want to go. Remember it is ride not what you're riding, it is being on the road not how fast you can go or how quickly you can get there.
hey Roger, can you tell me from your experience, on long rides (4-8 h) wich is more comfortable, a scootre position or a bike position? I have a bike and I get really stiff, would a maxi scooter make a difference?
As I noted in my original comment, I have a Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager (a big 1700 V twin Harley look-a-like) and the Suzuki Burgman. The Voyager has cruise control which I use when I'm on the highways but the Burgman does not. I would recommend either a palm rest or a throttle lock for whatever bike you have - it reduces the grip of death on the right hand. As a general rule I try not to ride more than about 2 hours without a stop whether I need fuel or not. I find I'm getting a bit stiff and a bit tired so even a few minutes to get off the bike and walk around a bit is a good idea. A good screen on your bike reduces the strain on arms and shoulders when riding at high speed on the highway. The Burgman has an electrically adjustable (while riding) screen so it can be lowered for better air flow when riding at low speed in towns and so on. The Voyager has a tall screen that is fixed - it keeps the wind off but in summer doesn't give you good airflow. I guess it all comes down to whatever your preference is. A maxi-scooter may not make a lot of difference if you're riding for 4 - 6 hours or longer. In Australia (where I live) the road safety people always advise taking a break every 2 hours and if possible, swapping drivers. I know you can't always do that on a bike (swap drivers) but you can take a break get some petrol and a coffee (or whatever you prefer) and then keep going. I don't know if that is of any help. You don't say what bike you ride. The Voyager is a Harley look-a-like cruiser which I find is more comfortable than any sports bike I've ever ridden and even more comfortable that some tourers.
@@rogersmith5371 thanks! I have a aprilia mana(is a naked) and even after an 1h my back starts to hurt(I kinda have back problems). So now even if I love my mana I want to change it. I am trying to understand if I should buy an adventure or a maxi scooter. More exact should I buy the honda nc 750 or the Forza 750/ xadv. These are some examples but actually what I am trying ask is if a traditional bike position is more comfortable then a maxi scooter. If I would like to go in a trip in Europe, 14 days (6-8h a day riding) what would be more comfortable? A big scooter or a adventure bike?
@@dorincristianminea4587 I don't know the Aprila Mana I don't think it was sold in Australia. In my view the Suzuki Burgman is the benchmark for maxi scooters in that it has a lot of the features that I look for. It's no longer sold in Australia. The BMW 600/650 scooter looks pretty good and comfortable as doe the TMAX or even the Kymco 550. There is an Aprilla 850 that looks a cross between a scooter and a sporty bike. My advice would be if you're going to do a lot of riding, I'd get a cruiser or touring bike like a Honda ST 1300 if that fits your budget. I hope that helps.
Another Aussie here. 40 years of Ducatis and now I'm going from my Ducati Diavel to a Kymco AK550.
Temporarily got a Burgman 250 after my heart attack a few years ago and LOVED it.
The comfort and convenience beats motorcycle riding for me.
I am keeping my Ninja 400 for the time being.
Scooters are just as much fun as bikes, just ina different way.
Honda ADV150 rider here, and loving it. A super comfy, highway capable bike with Grom-like fuel economy. And I can fit so much crap under my seat.
Best will in the world, there is no way a ADV150 is highway capable on a first world highway.
@@jeeves6490 It sits on 110km/h (the legal speed limit) on highways and freeways here in Australia. I like to poke fun at Australia as much as the next guy but our freeways/highways are generally first world.
@@WildStuff You seriously telling me that the ADV150 sits on a rock solid 110km/hr?
I'd love to believe that, but I have my doubts, PCX150 won't according to those I've asked.
Not having a go, just doubtful, speedo might be optimistic?
I won't post the links directly here as the spam filter will likely block my comment, but have a look on my channel for 2 videos called:
"Honda ADV150 - 110km/h Expressway Test" and "Scooter-Touring Outback & Central West NSW (HONDA ADV150)".
The expressway test shows it comfortably sitting on 110km and mixing with traffic, as long as I'm not doing a steep incline or facing a strong headwind. I still get overtaken a lot but happens even when I'm in my car doing 115km/h.
The scooter touring video was a 4 day trip around outback NSW on 110km/h roads. I eased off the throttle and sat mostly on 100-105km/h because I wasn't in a rush and slower speeds give better fuel economy. When I did give it full throttle though, it got to 110 without much drama.
The rev limiter kicks in at 116km/h.
I can't rule out speedo over-read and I haven't GPS tested it yet, but I'm happy with the results so far.
My ADV 150 top speed is 118kph
Dead right .
Im 66 and seeing these silly old sods trying to relive their teens on a shit off a shovel is pathetic.
I did the quick and dead thing on various bikes both British and Japanese in the 70s
I'm not trying to impress I'm just out for a relaxing watch the world go by ride.
It's not even a Maxi it's a little Honda PCX
But I tour with camping gear on board .
Got a little 300 mile run set for tomorrow .
Two wheels is fun don't be a bike snobs just ride the bloody things.
60 here I've ridden had them all now I'm riding mid size Scooters it took 2 spine fusions I had to get something more comfy wish I would have done it sooner
Yep same here, at 70 after 50 years riding I bought my first scooter a Yamaha xmax300. Hardly ever use the car now,any excuse to use the scoot.
Me too. I go camping and ride hundreds of miles with 125 little yamaha. Real good journeys and very cheap to fill up. Plus I never get speeding ticket 😂
Holly truth. I've also got a tiny honda pcx. My honda's second name is 'one dollar twenty five' 😉. Every year I do about 10k kilometers. Wonderful kilometers. My friend is 'a dedicated motorcyclist'; anything below 1litre and 150 HP is not a bike for him. The funniest thing is he and the other guys ride on their powerful bikes round the chimney and stop at almost every gas station to talk, smoke and take a brake. What to say; he's got the style and I've got big adventures on my tiny '$1.25'.
🛵
@@pir520 Absolute truth....Piaggio FLY 150cc here...:)) Had a 50cc, but it truly was too confining, even at my 75 yrs.
I have a 2003 Honda silverwing, and one of the reasons I bought it is for the huge amount of under seat space. You can put two full face helmets under there. I have gone to the grocery store countless times and had bags of groceries in a cart, and people would say, "where you going to put all that", then I pop the trunk and strategically place the bags inside sometimes having to move a few things around so the seat will close. The scooter manufacturers now are trying to make them look more like street bikes and sacrifice the under seat space. Now my silver wing has a big butt, but I don't mind. 😍
fellow SW rider here, couldn't agree more.
SW side compartment will fit a cup of water bottle
Lmao 😂 I know what your trying to say. And the saying actually go’s “scooters are like fat chicks, there fun to ride but you don’t want your friends to see you riding them”
Ah yes, but hings change once these boys grow up a bit and stop trying to impress each other. :-)
Love my Kymco AK550 Premium for day touring. With the 33 litre top box and 30 litres undersea storage and cruise control it is a great mid sized tourer. Nothing in that engine size in a motorcycle comes close and I've owned more than forty motorcycles in my life. Kymco is quality too; having started as a Honda part owned company.
I own a Honda Forza 300 2016. Let me tell you guys I love my maxi scooter. Very comfy 👍🏼
Mee too I love my red Honda Forza !
Forza 350 owner never, coming form Super sports, best thing i ever did. 12k service intervals, great fuel economy, huge underseat storage, comfortable, no gear changing, no chain maintenance, electric windshield, no hot engine between your legs, different feet position, blow 95% of cars and bikes 0-100 in 7 seconds, bluetooth control, navigation, weather protection, able to mount all sorts of touring gear, smaller and cheaper tires, cheaper maintenance. It goes on and on. Scooters are probably the best 2 wheels you can get. Don't listen to those guys who by bikes just for looks or egos.
I'm an old guy(64) with arthritis in my hips, knees, and back. 4 years ago when I sold my last motorcycle I decided that I would get a maxi scooter. Now on the motorcycle it had gotten to the point of only being able to ride about 30 to 45 minutes at a stint before having to pull over and take a long break because of the pain from the arthritis. Now on my scooter, I still have to pull over eventually for a break, but on the scooter I can ride 4 or 5 hours non stop before needing a break. Get home and eat a little something and go back out on the scooter again. Could never do that on the motorcycle after the arthritis took over my life. Maxi scooters rule and wish I would have went to maxi scooters 30 years ago. Later man, think I'll go for a scooter ride!!😁
Recently got a Honda Helix - can't wait for warmer weather to do some touring
I regret selling my helix!
i wanted one so bad . but i got the Majesty instead . its 400 so im happy
I agree. Girls can ride these with skirts and heels while we can hop on with sandals. I ride my scooter with sandals all the time.
Btw, Kymco is Taiwanese and it’s very good brand.
The only con with scooters is that they don’t look as we are normally used to. Motorcycles are a little more classical and therefore many find them better looking but yeah.
For everyday riding, scooter beats motorcycles anytime. With scooters you don’t need some motorcycle boots and stuff. Just sandals on and to the beach or Walmart or something. Hop on and go. No gear changes.
But if I’d ride in wilderness like Africa or central Asian, I’d still get a touring bike because of its bigger fuel tank and easy access to the engine and of course slightly bigger wheels and longer suspension. Motorcycle is better for crappy roads and off-road riding.
Riding a scooter does not negate the need for safety gear. Wearing sandals is stupid. Crashing on a scooter at 50 mph is no different than doing the same on a motorcycle.
@@rogermurph101 yeah man but I never ride so fast. I do 20 kph when with slippers. Just cruising down the beach… the the seven eleven to get few beers every now and again.
Here in Taiwan, scooter is very practical thing. Super pretty girls with stockings and heels riding to work and places. People just have no time to gear up because scooters are mostly used as moving chairs. Old ladies do their morning market shopping on scooters.
We have so many scooters here. Almost all are 125-150.
We have some crashes but mostly happens to those who go faster than they should.
As I get older, I feel less desire to ride fast. Now I just enjoy that 20-60 kph range. But my scooter can do 100kph. No problem.
They are purpose built mile devourers, even more so than dedicated „touring bikes“. They‘re meant to be daily drivers and they‘re sort of 2 wheeled cars. They‘re cheap, use little fuel and they‘re cheap to fix because most of the time spare parts are easy to come by (at least for Piaggio and Piaggio adjacent companies like Aprilia and Kymco/Sym models) and because most of them are singles, if you can work on a dirtbike you can work on a scooter. Also a cvt is way easier to work on than a transmission. You have insane amounts of storage ranging from 30-50l helmet compartments, hardcases and topcases, sometimes even gloveboxes. They provide excellent weather protection and are extremely accessible. Easy to maneuver in tight streets and you can park them anywhere. Almost all have in-built theft protection like a steering lock.
Also most scooter riders are maniacal wrenchers that know their machines in and out, which you can‘t say about most motorcycle riders anymore. And most scooter riders ride all year around, through rain and snow. In my opinion a weathered scooter riders are much more spirited than fair weather „real motorcycle“ riders.
👍 Your comments are just so true but motor bike riders just don’t understand Maxi scooters , until they ride one.
I have owned regular motorcycles in the distant past and now I ride a old SYM RV250 2009 Scooter and love it. I live in Tacoma WA and it rains allot and the weather is not ideal most of time but the Wind Protection offered by a Maxi Scooter is nice in the winter compared to a traditional naked bike. I seldom travel on the freeway but have the ability to go 65mph if necessary. The CVT no shift drive system makes around town riding so laid back and effortless. I really find the Maxi scooter a great fun way to get to work and run errands when driving a car is just boring and you never worry about parking like a car. I have ridden my scooter in the rain numerous times and found it way more tolerable than a regular bike. I will eventually sell my old RV250 for a fuel injected modern maxi scooter because I feel the newer ones might handle better at high speed and have better ABS brakes etc.
If you have an old 250 switching to a new 150 can be almost as fast. I live in Vancouver BC and have owned a Piaggio Liberty 150 for 2 yrs now. It can maintain 100 km/h in normal conditions. Not exactly a maxi scooter but add a windscreen and top case then its pretty close.
Good to hear from another scooter rider in Washington state. I ride a Yamaha T-max in Spokane: probably the only one in this town. I get compliments frequently. I agree with everything you mentioned. Best of luck on finding your upgrade scoot.
You are absolutely right, scooters are pretty good people in central or South America use this vehicles even in rural areas.... Dirt roads and such.
But is not only limited to those countries also in parts of asia or africa the scooter has taken over 👍🏿
Glad I ran across this vid! I’m considering a maxi or a Honda Rebel. I need more oomph but wasn’t sure about the price discrepancy between the options. Thanks!!
Agree about bikers and their egos. I mean c'mon not everyone likes to ride a motorcycle for show. I personally ride a maxi scooter for the convenience. A full face helmet fits underneath the seat and I don't have to carry it with me. Riding a bike is just so stressfull. I'm done with those things.
Maybe they are. I have been through Honda sh300, Burgman 650 and Tmax 530 before my Tiger, and now I'm quite certain I'll get a T-max when I'm done with really long touring. One thing is for certain - I'll never again buy a mc without cruise control! Even with panniers I miss the under seat storage, and the ease of jumping on... There are a couple of drawbacks though. You cannot anchor yourself to the tank with your legs. Smaller wheels wear rubber faster. Cornering is not as easy (the t-max comes close, though) and loading luggage for long rides is more trouble... A bag on the rear seat negates the under seat storage practicality and panniers don't come natural to scooters. Thank you for this video.
I love the way you talked about some guys using their bikes to support their egos. I have been riding bikes sense I was 18 years old, everything from 28cc mopeds to the biggest best BMW. I'm now 63 years old. I doin't ride bikes to support my ego. I ride them because they are fun. I have ridden and had more 49cc scooters than anything. Right now I have two 49cc scooters. I am seriously thinking about buying a larger scooter, not the biggest thing out there. Not sure, but I think i am going to buy a brand new Yamaha XMAX. I am also getting a mew Honda Metropolitan.
My Burgman 400 IS my touring bike. It has the room, comfort, and luggage space I need for a couple of weeks on the road. The weather protection compared to my motorcycle is a bonus. Also If I took my 'cool' motorcycle on a trip I would be constantly worried that it would be ripped off. This is much less of a worry with my rather beat up scooter. When I took my Burgman up the Cassiar to Yukon, people were amazed I was doing it on a scooter. So funny.
I love my scooter. Sadly, the only time it got me laid was when I fell off it! :)))
That was a really good comparison between scooters and motorbikes. My hips started to make swinging my leg over bikes painful but I didn't want to give up riding so I forced myself into buying a Honda Forza and boy I soon grew to love it once I got over a tinge of embarrassment at first and now I wouldn't swap back.
I could have written that comment for you..After over 50 years of riding all sizes of motorbikes my hips starting to pain me even after a short run.5 months ago I bought a Piaggio mp3 530 exclusive and I love it,Plan on taking it from Ireland to Spain and Portugal in 2024 and touring for 6 weeks
Nice one. I too am off to Spain next May with my son although he'll be on a 1400 ZZR should be interesting 🙂@@patwatters8205
Ill run my Hyosung 125cc scooter until the wheels fall off or it blows up whichever comes first.
Wish we got Hyosung scooters here.
I got a used Piaggio MP3 300cc this year. No need to get a motorcycle licence and it rides so well. Going into corners a bit to quick is no problem, burningout on wet streed is no problem.
Great video! I totally agree with your opinion and arguments. I own a Yamaha Tenere 250cc and recently bought a Honda ADV 150 cc scooter. I'm in love with it, it's very funny and easy to ride it! Now I'm planning a big trip and it will be with the Honda ADV. Greetings from Brazil man \m/
Love the ADV! I upgraded to Xmax but kinda miss it for local trips. Xmax is awesome too though.
I love scooters ! For me I would take it over a motorcycle anytime
I've had super sport bikes , a cruiser, now I have a naked bike and dual sport, soon to acquire a honda metropolitan and pcx. Scooters are lots of fun, every bike and Scooter has its purpose. I see and treat everyone the same.
That scooter might have been top of the line a good while ago.
Kymco's are good - I own a CruiSYM 300. I would love to ride the new Kymco AK 550, or the SYM TL 500.
I just picked up the Kymco AK 550 I posted video if you want to check it out.
Kymco and SYM are good Taiwanese brands. Here in Taiwan we ride them tens of thousands of miles and these things hold up very good.
Mine has 35k miles on and it’s like brand new scooter. Btw, mine isn’t even maxiscooter, mine is a little 125. Very good fun
Love the ak550 got it like a month ago and put already about 600 miles and is not even comparable with burgman 400 and honda forza 300 and even the awesome gt300i people , I got 3 bikes now and one is a big cruiser that's a fun to ride but I don't ride for ego I ride because I enjoyed and for fun, If was for ego I won't have a scooter as one of my other rides, always keep a scooter on the side for those conform rides and easy days, but when I want to feel the Torque and burn some tire that's when I get in to my cruiser, I sold the sport like 3 years ago and selling a honda forza 300 now but not sure if get me a sport bike or just keep the money.
Love people like you! Your not to impress others and you are a truly humble person! , keep up! And I love scooters and have many of them but you say it right maxis are best , I didn't like much the Burgman 400 comparing with the ak550 center of gravity how is balance is awesome! , the way suspension is and all what it has is the most conform bike I ever owned , yes I go on my toes at almost every stop light but loving it! , wish I could have cruise control but I put one of those go-cruise clamp type and does very good for me.
I did my manual bike certificate i cant decide if a scooter or motorcycle is right. I even drive a manual car. But for safety and practicality scooters for sure. Motorcyclists that say scooters arnt real bikes never actually ridden a 300 or 600cc maxi scooter. Its an ego thing for sure.
Im suprised kymco and sym (which were apart of honda's staff) scooters quality has gone up in recent years near hondas level.
I really want to see more scooter riders mixing with motorcyclists.
Yeah, lots of sports bike riders deride scooters as girls bikes, but some do wave!
When my friend gave up his Yamaha 900 tracer just at a time when I was thinking about getting a Yamaha fjr1300.. after taking his Yamaha TMAX 560 tech Max for a test ride, it wasn't long before I went out and bought a brand new one in 2020 I have already done 31,000 miles on it, these bikes has all the extras,more than some big bikes, such as electric screen, cruise control,heated seat, heated hand grips, better agility, more comfort for pillion passengers,0-60 4.8 seconds, under seat storage, the Handling comfort and all-round rider satisfaction is just amazing.... I have no regrets at all after 31k, best bike ride just like brand new, when I get on and through when I get off , and that is in any weather, maxi scooters are simply superb👍🏽👍🏽💛🙏🏽
You just have to be aware though if you own several motorcycles with your maxi scooter, you will have to train your left hand muscle memory that the left hand lever for the maxiscooter is for the REAR BRAKE and not for the CLUTCH.
Good point, i did that going from my motorcycle and grabbed the left brake lever thinking it was the clutch. Definately somethig to keep in mind
You are compaining about the exhaust being low....BUT... its NOT a standard Kymco exhaust!!!. its an aftermarket one! thats why its scraping!
I agree with you regarding comfortable seating and storage
I'm looking to get a motorcycle and maxiscooters seem to be the most pragmatic. I want something that is easy to deal with in the city, but can handle the highway with ease. There's a lot of option here in the US: Honda Forza and Silver Wing, Suzuki Burgman 400 and Burgman 650, Yamaha XMAX and TMAX, BMW C400X and C650GT... Hard to choose. I don't think I need more than 300cc... But I can't really be sure. I haven't ridden one.
One of the things too to consider is usually the smaller displacements have budget suspension. The higher cc's i found have better suspension to go along with the price tag. Like the silver wing and tmax. The bmw's i've seen are expensive to work on.
I ride a 2007 Suzuki Burgman AN400 in Brisbane Australia. It has 72000Km mileage and goes very well. I have a GIVI DT266 aftermarket screen and wind goes over my head (I'm 1.8m tall) The scooter has a massive boot, it's fast and very comfortable, I can stretch my legs. Good for town and motorway. Does 110Km/hr easily, takes 4L/100Km. I think one of these plus a 250 dual sport if you do off road is the perfect stable collection.
Integra NC750D from Honda.
highway handling...
city practicality...
17" wheels
chain driven
750 cc
comfortable seat
low fuel consumption ( 3 - 4 ) L/100 km
what else?
you can tour the world in it...
it is my current bike, i enjoy it very much , i traveled on it 800 km in one day, no pain no regrets whatso ever...
Good luck..
Get something secondhand and cheap. I’ve had a new scooter scratched by other motorcycles in the tight parking lots. I hate that feeling. Of course it depends on your location but if I was in Italy or here in Taiwan… I don’t want the stress of having a spotless new scooter or motorcycle.
I ride it everyday so, not really babying it at all.
I Love my Suzuki Burgman 400...traded in my Honda pcx 150
i used to ride a yamaha xmax 300 maxiscoot and it felt great cruising on long rides the storage is also great you could put one baby in it or 2 fullface helmet it is so convenient but i sold it to buy a naked bike because i upgrade i still miss it though
I own a honda forza 300 2014 and I love it! Great Video!!
I own that honda model n
Year too.
I love it.
Will b putting heavier shocks on rear though.
Loves scooters but you won't catch me dead riding it wherein pink lol
Just got my 500cc shipped out today!
I think the problem is, with maxi-scooters at least, they ARE motorcycles just a different genre of motorcycle - much like cruisers, adventure, sports, touring, etc.
I have a cruiser-style 250cc and a 600cc sports bike, but the last couple of years had the opportunity of riding a Suzuki Burgman 400 K1 for volunteer work. With the headgasket on my 600 just gone, I've decided to buy the Burgman off my friend but I'm still torn by the 'it's the best motorcycle I've ever ridden - luggage space, handling, performance, etc.' and the 'but it's a scooter!' in my head!
In any case, this is a great video and thanks for sharing your thoughts! :)
Got a 2009 Honda Silver Wing about a month ago. I absolutely love it. I’ve already put about 1000 miles on it.
kymco/sym scooters are now same or better quality than japanese scooters .THe 2008 financial crash in japan forced cutting corners
I went another route, Honda ctx700dct. Nice to not have to think about shifting, enjoying more. Especially nice in town and commuting. Also averaging 70 miles to gallon.
Thats a nice scooter and it rides super nice...It rides very smoothly and at a nice speed.. Thanks for the video and keep on riding.
I have buy my Kymco Xciting 500 (2008) almost 2 years ago. I make 12000km whit it. Nice scooter, wery comfortable, fast enougt for higway (145km/h) in the city wery maneuverable. Fuel capacity 12.5l,average consumption 4.2l /100km. Longest trip 360km in one day whit my dougter.
I want a 150 cc scooter or minimoto and take up camping here in Quebec. I had a great Motorino electric scooter before, far better than the 2 lemon electric bikes I suffered in the last 2 yrs.
Nice phone holder 😅
I'm considering a maxi scooter to replace my People S 200 but I'm concerned of the weight.
I guess in the USA they haven't caught on like in Europe, for example the gangs in Italy use them plenty and also businessmen can be seen going to work dressed for the office on them.
I put almost 80,000 miles on a Yamaha Majesty 400. Valves only had to be checked/adjusted every 26,000 miles, and I let the dealer do it, even though I am an auto mechanic by trade. I have done a lot of work on motorcycles, but have kind of an aversion to working on scooters. I did do all the other maintenance on it. The biggest problem for me over a motorcycle is just how fast the tires wore out. I could get 20,000 miles out of the tires on my Kawasaki Vulcan 750 set up for solo touring. The Majesty got about 6,000. LOTS of tire changing.
I just bought one 300 miles ago and noticed the scalloping. Its good to know that it's a known problem.
@@ricardojohnsonthon7547 Scooter tires are much smaller in diameter than motorcycle tires, meaning they have to turn a lot faster at any given road speed, which puts a lot more wear on them. Also, the 400cc Majesty weighs 434 pounds, almost as much as my Vulcan 750, plus I'm on the heavy side myself at nearly 240 pounds.
But, scooter tires are less expensive than regular motorcycle tires
@@robertsalyers1351 Usually a little less expensive, but that doesn't make up for having to change them three times as often. I now have a Vespa GTS300. The front tire is easy to change. Changing the rear tire requires taking half the scooter apart.
idk where ur buy'n scooter, but you can get a 50cc scooter shipped to ur house for under a grand and used for like $800 or cheaper.
I love my 2007 T-Max 500 , 51,500 miles !
>Scooters in the United States are cheap
I feel like they're actually more expensive because the demand is low enough that dealers trying to order the minimum amount can't get rid of stock and make a profit. I'm tried convincing a dealer to get some ak 550s in and he said he couldn't justify the minimum order knowing he wouldn't sell 50 of them.
Used to own a Kawasaki Versys-X when I was young. As I get older and my body no longer can stand sitting on a bike for long ride, I sold my Kawasaki and bought a Kymco Downtown i. And I regretted my decision shortly after I took a ride on my new scooter. Why haven't I get this before, instead of the Kawasaki?
Easy to ride, cheap insurance, easy to repair and maintain, all controls are right at your finger tips. Don't have to worry about down shifting and hitting the rear brake with your right foot in emergency stops, like when someone pulls out in front of you.
2800 miles in a week on a 600cc Honda Silverwing scooter. Sustaining over 100mph, blew rear tire out at 110 in a corner and got death wobble.
I missed the opportunity to buy a used Suzuki Bergman 600 .. But common sense and the bike getting sold before I could get to her caused me to make a more sensible decision and start off with a Genuine 125
Very enjoyable video. Totally agree, had owned motorcycles when young. In 2012 bought a Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive. Loved it, and not having to change gears anymore. But my Suzuki dealer warned me that with the Burgman discontinued it would get hard to service! I was in shock. So I decided to get a different maxi. But was in the Real shock when I found Yahama had also discontinued the T-Max, and Honda discontinued the Silverwing, and BMW discontinued the 650 GT. So disappointing. Nov 2021 I got lucky and found a new 2020 BMW, the last of the breed! LOVE the cycle, though a challenge to service. Everything seems to have gone to 400 cc in America. Was told by a District Sales Manager of BMW that during the Obama years, the administration pushed new laws and restrictions that (for all practical purposes) forced all the hefty Maxis out of the market. Such a shame. As the USA ages, older riders like me appreciate the ease of a scooter but I still want the ability to get a girl on the back and go riding comfortably on the highway. The 400s struggle there! Glad to read some of the other comments about the Kymco 550 being a solid alternative.
Yeah, I'm actually selling my Ducati Diavel (40 years of owning Ducatis) for a 2022 Kymco AK 550 ST.
Thanks for explaining why all the big maxis are no longer in production.
I own a BMW C650GT. That Obama nonsense is false. If that was the case then motorcycles over 600cc would be all discontinued. Lets stop throwing around false political comments.
The true reason is that large displacement maxi-scooters were not popular. The cost was prohibitive for most riders except older and more affluent rider. The same crowd that Harley was competing for and are also struggling for sales. Also the maxi-scooters lost a lot of prospective buyers to popular trikes which were easier for most beginners and experienced riders who wanted something safer and different.
Another reason is because the lower displacement scooters are more popular being they have a lower entry cost. Economics not political. Easier to buy something for 6 to 8k versus 12 to 15k. The same reason why motorcycles in the lower price range sells more.
@@wetland3010 That is not the reason why maxis are no longer popular. Think cost and the introduction of electric motorcycles and trikes that compete for that market. Companies produce something only if there is a strong demand. Even in Europe gas scooter sales are down while trikes and electric motorcycles are up. The Obama comment was garbage!
damn I wish there were more maxi scoot options here in the US
I could go new on a Piaggio or used on an S or N-max or Vespa. Also interested in Honda minimotos. CF Moto 125-must test ride.
I totally agree with having a scooter over a motorcycle, i love my honda 300 scooter, cant argue with 90mpg, the only reason i keep my honda nc750 is to use when i go runs with both my brothers
I don't care what nobody thinks I'll ride maxi scooters all day, just throttle and go, and some are as fast as motorcycles these days.
You could either take the muffler off or take the whole bike to a welding or muffler shop where they have pipe benders .
It also is a good protection against surprise rain for city riding.
I have a Kawasaki J300 and a ZZR 600. But the scooter is better for city living in all areas, comfort, ease weather protection and so.
Nice video, scooters rock, I have the smax 155, Piaggio 350, and recently purchased AK550, yeah I enjoy scooters👍😁😎
I have Yamaha majesty 400 and it’s is great ride and just bought a kymco super 8 150
I had a 13 Majesty put 13k on it sold it for a cruiser big mistake sold the cruiser bought a Yamaha Smax puts a big smile on my face every time I ride I do a lot off back country road riding
I sold the majesty to a friend and bought a 2014 Honda forza 300 and it’s great , the majesty was faster but this will do 85 on the interstate
I agree, every home garage should include a motor scooter.
i have a honda helix that im rebuilding . looking forward to the ride
Kymco make BMW scooters, I believe... so no doubting the quality
My Burgman 650 was the best touring bike I ever owned. I could ride it all day and could still go more.
Scooter is cool very comportable to ride
I just bought yamaha x max 300 (7000eur-6800$) so in Europa scooter are not cheap,you are so lucky to live in America...but ,what a great scooter-motorcyle..
Scooters are the engine room of much of Asia.. The western market is only relatively new. But most of Asia (especially eastern) has been using them as the main form of road transport for decades. Go to Phnom Penh or Hanoi or Bangkok ,there are more scooters than cars or other bikes.
Try the new 2021 Honda NC750X for the best of both worlds.
He had an NC and didn't like it.
@@BassOutcast But has he tried the 2021 NC750X? I think not!
That could be my next purchase
Having owned a few T Max's a while back, I was always amazed by the power delivery and comfort, but not the repair and servicing costs which were higher than my best of both worlds Hi onda 750s.
yes they are very comfortable,,, but they feel every bump... have had both motorcycles and scooters... got a xmax 300 new a week ago.
The term "scooter" gets a bad rap, especially in America where people think they are toys only useful for renting while on vacation to cruise around the small towns. Not all scooters are created equal though, and some of them are quicker and faster (top speed) than some motorcycles. The main thing for me is how easy my bike is to ride and operate. I prefer simplicity over heavy and complicated because that's the stage of life I'm in right now. Everyone is different and that's why there's choices out there. The more important thing is enjoying the liberation that any bike provides, not the label. Sadly, there's lots of immature mindsets out there who are still learning who they are. Give them time, maybe they will grow up one day. Talking about the people who make fun of scooters. Don't give them the attention and they'll move on.
I have four bikes. 1) Harley Streetglide 2) Adiva ad3 300cc 3) Kymco myroad 700cc 4) Honda silverwing 400cc. I have to agree. Eventually I will just sell all my bikes. And keep one maxi scooter.
Even in asia, Scooters/Maxi Scooters are the kings! Motorcycles are viewed as luxury and are not really suited for the crowded, traffic filled streets. It's just not a viable option. I have friends who bought bikes and told me they'll use it as a commuter vehicle but after a few months later, went back to their cars because the stop and go traffic annoys them even more than their airconditioned cars lol. While I on the other hand, have scooter and weave through the cars. The problem here is most people view motorcycles as masculine and superior while scooters are seen as cute, cracker jack toys. It's always about "showing off" Best to have both! Most likely you'll use the scooter more due to the convenience/storage it offers.
I bought a new BMW C600 Sport Scooter. I loved riding it but sold it after only 10 000km as the reliability was terrible. I believe they are made by Kymco so that would explain the poor quality. Still I am test riding a new Tmax soon and I hope that will be comfortable.
Kymco is very good. I’ve done 35 k miles on it and its like a new scooter.
Did you ever purchase a new Scooter yet?
My Suzuki Burgman 400 is a Beast or gentle as a lamb
maxi scooters and motorcycles in the same cc range both have their pro's and con's . 1 pro for a maxi /super scooter ( they are referred to as both ) It is a good starter bike 1 con for me any way is the scooters only come in automatic transmissions . I prefer manual transmissions over auto trans in general ( this apples to cars as well ). 1 pro about the auto trans is good if the person does not know how to shift gears and pro for a scooter is MSRP they are generally cheaper then most motorcycles in the same CC range . I do agree the super/maxi scooters do1 thing i totally disagree with you on at 1:53 I am against wearing scandals ( or any kind of open toe footwear ) on any kind of 2 wheel bike for any reason even on a scooter . ( unless your scooter is a trike version)
No, you don't just hop on a maxi-scooter that will go 70 mph wearing sandals! Ask any ER Doctor why!
I do
@@Edwinbraun20 Do you wear a helmet?
@@steverandall5814 yes I do. It’s mandatory here where I live
@@Edwinbraun20 When I was a volunteer firefighter, I responded to a motorcycle accident where the rider lost control of his 125cc scooter and did a foot-plant at about 25 mph. Because he was wearing flip-flops, he lost 3 toes and the remaining 2 were just bones covered with shredded flesh.
I've been riding for 45 years...everything from 50cc mopeds to 1600cc touring BMWs. My mantra is "all the gear, all the time", and it's (literally) saved my ass several times. The pavement doesn't care if you fall off a 50cc moped, a 600cc crotch rocket, or a full-dress Harley...it's going to shred your flesh like a cheese grater.
@@steverandall5814 I understand. It’s dangerous, but it’s really very warm here in Taiwan. And because I see most people riding with sandals here so I didn’t really think about it before. But I totally get it. It can end very badly
Piaggio scooter rider here and i wouldnt buy a motorcycle has newcomer or veteran after expiernceing the ckmforts and utility of my piaggio liberty
Your fly screen is a little too opaque for me. You don't need to do chain maintenance. I think a variaotor assembly is easier to understand.
I enjoy my scooter, i may be too tall, my head and therefore my helmet is xl, the knees pop out the side a bit but for local getting around its a blast, i put in 60 zar and get like 200km out if i take it easy.
Lmao its like the toyota cressida to pensioners 20 yrs ago, automatic, chilled and fast enough to wipe out properly.
My regret is that i didnt buy one 20 yrs ago.
I agree, the cops by me dont care about scooters, bikes too for that matter unless you are flying.
And it goes pretty well offroad when i feel like taking the other other road.
I’m debating but while I appreciate the automatic transmission I’m not convinced about the sitting position, it looks not safe, on a bike you are grabbing the bike like a horse with your legs, on a scooter you are too loose. Right now I’m thinking about the Honda Silverwing 600 scooter and the Honda ST1100 sport touring, both have plenty of under seat storage and enough power.
I dont think sitting on it is any safer or unsafer than a motorcycle. If you hit something on a scooter or motorcycle you will leave the bike.
@@motardsquid I agree on that, but I’m thinking about controlling the bike
say no to adult peer pressure
I’d be ok with buying a maxi scooter over a motorcycle, if every scooter didn’t look like some sort of alien transport pod.
I smell that!
I got offended
Look at the honda nc750x dct is probably the best motorcycle ever
What are you talking about??? Kymco has a excellent reputation. They made the scooters for BMW. I own one and haven't had any issues with it!
There is the problem, you think BMW is reliable 😁
Thought about a larger one for touring instead of a touring motorcycle.
I ride a Honda SH125i. I ride all year, have a large screen, heated grips and hand muffs.
It's max speed with the screen is about 68 mph so it's not very fast, however it only holds a little over 7 litres of fuel and so far I've done 200 miles on one tank.
I use it to do just eat, deliveroo and Uber eats. I've had my Honda for under a year, done over 17,000 miles.
I also have a diesel smart car which I've had for over 10 years, used for shopping and going to the forest with my wife and little border terrier.