Bike magazine race - R1 vs. Scooter
Discussion
Did anyone read last months Bike magazine? They did a race from the Alps to Calais between an R1 (ridden by an endurance racer) and some large step through scooter type thing. Anyway, the interesting thing was that the scooter won! The R1 was nicked for speeding, which did delay him some what, but even so, the scooter was still going to win as it’s longer tank range, thus less stops, gave it a slightly higher overall average speed. Interesting I thought with some good lessons for anyone planning trips away this year where they may need to cover some big mileages.
I was on the way to work the other morning and a chap on one of those Suzuki 500cc scooters pinned it from the lights and was about 10 meters in front of me by the time I'd released the clutch........to be honest I was quite impressed and thought if you want a very easy and lazy ride in to work, a big twist and go would do the job......
Andy Oh said:
I was on the way to work the other morning and a chap on one of those Suzuki 500cc scooters pinned it from the lights and was about 10 meters in front of me by the time I'd released the clutch........to be honest I was quite impressed and thought if you want a very easy and lazy ride in to work, a big twist and go would do the job......
I hope you went past him on your back wheel in defence of your honour!
I ride a scooter to work, as it is just so easy, and fits through the gaps. It is definitely faster than my R1200GS on the commute. It corners well enough that it will ride round the outside of the "all the gear, no idea" guys who bought an R1 but never learned to use it, and, very often, results in blind fury from them. Some people cannot stand seeing a guy on a scooter stuffing them round the outside.
It is fun, though.
And I still appreciate the "proper" bikes when I get back on them.
I think every biker shoudl have a twist and go at some point. They are great toys.
It is fun, though.
And I still appreciate the "proper" bikes when I get back on them.
I think every biker shoudl have a twist and go at some point. They are great toys.
northernboy said:
I ride a scooter to work, as it is just so easy, and fits through the gaps. It is definitely faster than my R1200GS on the commute. It corners well enough that it will ride round the outside of the "all the gear, no idea" guys who bought an R1 but never learned to use it, and, very often, results in blind fury from them. Some people cannot stand seeing a guy on a scooter stuffing them round the outside.
It is fun, though.
And I still appreciate the "proper" bikes when I get back on them.
I think every biker shoudl have a twist and go at some point. They are great toys.
It is fun, though.
And I still appreciate the "proper" bikes when I get back on them.
I think every biker shoudl have a twist and go at some point. They are great toys.
Aye, whenever I'm on holiday I usually have a great laugh on a "twist and go". Not much good up here though as you'll know.
I thought it was a really interesting article showing a number of things, some of which I already knew, others of which I didn’t already know.
Scooters are more versatile than I thought. They’re not just up to town work (especially the bigger ones).
You don’t need a large capacity bike to tour Europe on.
When riding long distances, average speeds are much more important than top speeds. – Try to stop as little as possible
French ‘plod’ are getting a bit mean. The R1 was only doing 110mph!
However good/versatile they are, scooters still look naff.
Scooters are more versatile than I thought. They’re not just up to town work (especially the bigger ones).
You don’t need a large capacity bike to tour Europe on.
When riding long distances, average speeds are much more important than top speeds. – Try to stop as little as possible
French ‘plod’ are getting a bit mean. The R1 was only doing 110mph!
However good/versatile they are, scooters still look naff.
I think a lot depends on if you want to get from A to B quickly or want to have fun getting from A to B as to which is the best mode of transport.
Personally, I'm quite enjoying commuting up from the Midlands on my GSXR and don't care that it only does 120 miles on a tank (just enough door to door) as when the repmobiles want to play, it's really really amusing. Not sure I'd be as happy on a twist & go...
Mind you, I was glad of my observation skills and the GSXR's good mirrors last night as 2 South Yorks S60 Volvo's joined the M18 behind me
Personally, I'm quite enjoying commuting up from the Midlands on my GSXR and don't care that it only does 120 miles on a tank (just enough door to door) as when the repmobiles want to play, it's really really amusing. Not sure I'd be as happy on a twist & go...
Mind you, I was glad of my observation skills and the GSXR's good mirrors last night as 2 South Yorks S60 Volvo's joined the M18 behind me
black-k1 said:
However good/versatile they are, scooters still look naff.
You took the words right out of my mouth! I know I've never tried one and that maybe I'd love it and I can see all the positive arguments, but I'd struggle with the looks!
Mind you, I recently sold my TVR that I'd owned for 9 years (don't use it enough - prefer the bikes!) and last week was looking at Smart cars for their economy . . . . and . . . . errr . . . . ummm . . . can't think of any other reason . . . . must book a session with my shrink!
Good read wasnt it? i wasnt that surprised, 2 years back a friend and me went to the south of france, he on a Fireblade and me on my hayabusa...as we got further south speeds crept up and we cruising at 120-130MPH.somestimes a lot more.after one fuel stop we spotted a "superscoot" , with a pillion on board..about 2 hours on another fuel stop, the scoot pulled in behind us...we was gobsmacked!
I see Honda are planning a new 900cc scoot with around 120BHP..that'll surprise a few sports car owners from the lights!
Didnt slow down thou, we was having far to much fun.
I think the diesel car that won the gumball that year was a tweaked BMW 330d
I see Honda are planning a new 900cc scoot with around 120BHP..that'll surprise a few sports car owners from the lights!
Didnt slow down thou, we was having far to much fun.
I think the diesel car that won the gumball that year was a tweaked BMW 330d
gethyn said:
black-k1 said:
However good/versatile they are, scooters still look naff.
You took the words right out of my mouth! I know I've never tried one and that maybe I'd love it and I can see all the positive arguments, but I'd struggle with the looks!
I choose each morning from an R1200GS, Husqvarna Wr250 Supermoto, M3 (car) and a Honda PS125i
The only days I leave the Honda is if I left it at work, or I need to run the BM bike to keep the batter y good.
northernboy said:
gethyn said:
black-k1 said:
However good/versatile they are, scooters still look naff.
You took the words right out of my mouth! I know I've never tried one and that maybe I'd love it and I can see all the positive arguments, but I'd struggle with the looks!
I choose each morning from an R1200GS, Husqvarna Wr250 Supermoto, M3 (car) and a Honda PS125i
The only days I leave the Honda is if I left it at work, or I need to run the BM bike to keep the batter y good.
Just sold my WR250 in jan this year,it was slowly killing me. Used it over the winter for the last 6 years. From Alnwinton car park to Dear street. Realy hard work.
I need to get rid of my WR250, too. It is a ridiculous bike, really. Runs of premix, eats spark plugs, gives me a stinging headache, and just never gets used.
It is not much use to me off road, either. I suspect it is actually the MX version, not the enduro one (it was played around with, as I bought it from a film company who had used it as the stunt bike in Tomb raider), which might explain why it is so extreme. It simply will not "pootle".
I have had no interest in it (except a 1,000 pound bid which is too low fo me), so may get it sent up to my familt back North. I have an uncle in Hexham who would like it, and, up there, get some use from it.
It is not much use to me off road, either. I suspect it is actually the MX version, not the enduro one (it was played around with, as I bought it from a film company who had used it as the stunt bike in Tomb raider), which might explain why it is so extreme. It simply will not "pootle".
I have had no interest in it (except a 1,000 pound bid which is too low fo me), so may get it sent up to my familt back North. I have an uncle in Hexham who would like it, and, up there, get some use from it.
Mine was the Enduro version, which took quite a bit of looking after,gearbox oil changed every second outing, air filter washed and re-oiled and as you say premix oil. Had a complete engine re build three years ago and new piston/rings before Christmas.
Pleased it's gone as it's the one bike that scared me.
Nice. Looks very similar to mine, except that yours has a diffeent rear mudguard, so I think maybe yours is a bit newer.
Mine is too scary, too. I always thought that I wanted the most exreme in everythng I bought. This bike showed me otherwise. I want a nice stroke next, like a KTM EXC (I did the sahara on one of those), or a CRF.
Any chance you'd say what you got for yours?
Mine is too scary, too. I always thought that I wanted the most exreme in everythng I bought. This bike showed me otherwise. I want a nice stroke next, like a KTM EXC (I did the sahara on one of those), or a CRF.
Any chance you'd say what you got for yours?
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