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Why do you ride a maxi-scooter vs a motorcycle?

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Was going to buy my son's Honda 650 shadow (glad I didn't :D) but found that because of a 30 year old injury to my left foot it is very hard for me to up-shift. Ankle just doesn't have the range of motion so the CVT has worked great :cheers:
 
I'm not voting because most (not all) of the reasons listed are valid for me. The "cheaper" reason certainly isn't valid, though. For the price of, for example, my B650 new, you can get a bigger cc "real motorcycle." But, it will be less capable in most of the listed ways.

The automatic transmission thing is, of course, a very big plus in all ways. I can shift a shifty motorcycle, I've had them. Not having to deal with all four of my appendages working different stuff at the same time leaves my mind more free to control the motorcycle and have a great time out-cornering BMW's. For me, the largest limitation on the 650, and especially my 400, is center stand clearance, not the bike or the rider. Hmmm, maybe I'll remove them , I've almost worn the one on the 650 off, anyway. :D
 
I had a 1979 Suzuki GS850 which I loved dearly, but it seemed like I spent more time fighting electrical gremlins and trying to get it started if I left it alone for a week or two than riding it.

I wanted something I could just jump on and go: to work, across the country, whatever. I was pleased to find that the Burgman also happens to be the most well-mannered, easy driving bike I have ever had. Then I discovered one of the very best features of being a Burgman owner, THIS FORUM! Particularly LeDude, Colchicine, and the helpful moderators. It is very reassuring to have all this information available. You certainly can't get it from the Suzuki dealers!

I was dubious about the automatic transmission, but I love it now that I have it. I don't miss shifting at all.
 
As Kevin (Calvin) mentioned, it's the closest thing out there to the old Honda PC800 (former owner here).

I'd gotten used to practical bikes.

The fairing and engine-heat isolation make it possible to ride in early spring and late fall, as well as in the heat of mid-summer -- I live in a high-desert climate, and like to get as much use out of the bike as possible!
Vast (relatively :) ) integral storage makes it possible to ride to places where carrying a helmet and armored jacket would be awkward, such as stores or nightclubs. One could use the motorcycle's helmet hanger, and a cable to secure the jacket, but it's probably not wise when it's raining or 95 degrees (and is in any case an invitation to mischief).
It's got the power and stability (and comfort!) for relatively easy 500-mile days. Not too unusual in a motorcycle, but not common among ordinary scooters.

I don't like fussing with drive chains, and can't say I'd relish replacing V-belts and pulleys as often as my 8-10K mile/year riding habit would dictate, either.

To top it off, my commute involves bumper-to-bumper traffic which can be wearying with a clutch.

Oh, and it's fun. But you all knew that :D

One other thing -- you really can't go wrong owning vehicles that have a friendly and knowledgeable online community!
(Seriously. If you want a particular car or motorcycle, check out its associated messageboards or mail lists. You won't regret doing so.)

AN650K5 - Wild Blue
Airhead BMW, awaiting eventual resurrection
Large-frame Vespa, waiting even longer for resurrection
'89 PC800, totalled
 
I had a career ending accident 12-6-2006 thanks to a drunk driver. My left leg was toast so I got my 650 burgy so I could strap crutches in the back and wouldn't have to worry about shifting. Oh, and I could hold it up at a light with my right foot. I can walk and shift sort of now so my girlfreind rides it most of the time now. I still love and charish it though.
 
Step-through design and automatic transmission were the main reasons my wife and I chose scooters.

Added extra was the underseat storage
 
DewaltDakota said:
In the category of "Other", I also like the wind/elements protection that the body fairings provide
+1. This is the main reason I chose the burgman, outweighing all other features.
DewaltDakota said:
.....(though I guess that's available on touring bikes, none of which fit my inseam)....
I disagree. There are no other bikes that offer such complete rain,wind,bug protection. This is important to me, as I move from client-to-client, and must arrive loking professional.

DewaltDakota said:
....and having multiple foot positions available. On a motorcycle, the pegs always want to hook in the notch of my boot's heel, which puts my toes too far from the controls (brake & shifter). ....the Burgman's two, larger areas....
While I wasn't aware of this benefit when I bought the burg, it turns out to be a big deal for me. My GoldWing is nowhere near as "roomy" as the Burgman.
 
I must admit, the Burgman was part of my diabolical plan. My wife is firmly against motorcycles but I wanted to get into riding. Step one was a cheap chinese scooter "just to run around town". Since it was small and innocent, my wife went along. Step two was the Burgman, because I needed "more power" commuting back and forth to work. Step three was going to be a regular motorcycle but after riding the Burgman, I'm done. Like many around here, I have some physical problems that make it hard to throw a leg over. The CVT, storage, and ease of ride make the Burgman the perfect bike for me. I do plan on upgrading to the 650 next year (because I promised the wife I would wait). The 400 is good (for me) for about 200 miles before my butt goes numb and I want to do some touring. After a year on my 400, it's now my preferred mode of transportation. It really causes me less pain than driving my car or truck and it's so much more fun. At this point, I'm thinking I'm a Burgman for Lifer!
 
Capt82 said:
I bought the Burgman for 2 reasons, 1 is because I have bad knees and hips and have a hard time getting my leg over a tank and, 2 the Burgman is a lot more comfortable for longer rides
Same here, just add spine problems to the legs and hips

Capt
Same here. I don't have to reach down and grab my pant leg to help get my leg over. Real nice to jump on and run errands because of easy on/off yet comfy for longer trips. I got mine 3 weeks tomorrow and over a thousand miles since.
 
I wanted a bike 1 all-round bike with ABS, no chain, easy on my bad right knee. These were the observations of my candidates:
FJR - Too Cramped,
ST1300 - Too Hot,
Gold Wing - Big and heavy for a commuter and a bit expensive,
BMW - Expensive, Not an abundance of dealers (like Suzuki, Kawasaki, etc.) reported final-drive problems.
Cruisers - No likey

The 650 Burgman was the machine that best met my needs. So, I bought one.

I would like to try the Honda Deauville, 700 cc, but they are not sold in the US :x In the future, I might also try a Gold Wing, but, for now, I'm having a blast riding the Burgman 650. You can't beat it for around town. It's a great all-round bike!!
 
BCH said:
I wanted a bike 1 all-round bike with ABS, no chain, easy on my bad right knee. ..
BMW - Expensive, Not an abundance of dealers (like Suzuki, Kawasaki, etc.) reported final-drive problems...
R-75/6. Virtually indestructible and very stylish. And BMW likes to support the older bikes, since they make it look like BMWs are very dependable when you see them on the road all the time.
I'd wait on the new ones until they show that the rear end problems have been solved.

8) Claude
 
I bought my Burgman for two reasons: (1) It fit in my garage (narrower handlebars really helped) and (b) I'm too flippin' old to toss my leg over my V-Max seat! :-(
 
Automatic transmission, learned to ride on a scooter, never shifted. And nobody seems to want to loan me a bike to practice shifting on. After testing a couple of motorcycles for about an hour each on Saturday (auto or manual hand shift), the noise, vibration and wind all made me glad to have a Burgman. My wife's 400 is louder and vibrates more than my 650, but it was quieter and smoother than the 2 bikes. I can still lean into corners like mad (but carefully) on the 650 like the better of the two bikes and don;t have to worry about down-shifting. Also, like the two handle bar brakes over a foot and handle bar brake. More storage with the trunk and the Givi V46 top box.
 
I started riding late (age 58), and at first only to save on gas on my daily commute (50cc scooter). Two wheeling proved to be a whole lot of fun so I wanted something bigger, something I could safely ride on the Interstate. Trips around the state. (The entire state of RI is about the size of Marion County, Indiana -- that's the city of Indianapolis.) Trips to Cape Cod, trips to New Hampshire and Maine.

I really can't even picture myself on a motorcycle. I don't fit the HD stereotype by a long shot. A very long shot. Besides, as a kid and into my 20s I had enough boats with outboard motors that I've had my fill of noisy, vibrating rides. Outboard motors from the 60s were pretty primitive compared to the technology in today's engines.

Sports bikes? My back aches just looking at 'em.

And then one day I saw... and heard... a Burgman 650. The silence amazed me, the styling wowed me, and the storage capacity blew me away. I didn't know anything else about it, but I had to have one.

Now there's something really perverse about a scooter that will do 100+ MPH. And I love the way people react.

"Oh, you ride a scooter?"
"Yeah, it's lotsa fun."
"One of the 50cc jobs?"
"No, a little bigger."
"I used to have a Vespa. I loved it. I could go up to 60 MPH."
"That's great. Mine goes a little bit faster than that."
"Oh, really? How fast does your scooter go?"
'I don't know. I don't plan to find out for myself, but depending on who you talk to, somewhere between 105 and 115 MPH."
***Dead silence*** followed by, "A scooter?"
"Yup. Well, gotta go. Nice talking to ya."
:)
 
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