Big (ish) scooters - recommendations, please
Discussion
Hopefully completing the move to our new house in Dorset/East Devon in a few weeks, a fairly rural area - tucked away in a valley between Lyme Regis and Axminster.
Thought a scooter might make sense for getting around, popping to the shops, local errands and so on. Roads will get busy during summer holiday periods (if lockdown ever ends), so scooter would make more sense than getting the car out. Short trips to Lyme (3 miles), and Bridport (10 miles), that sort of thing. Might occasionally go crazy and go as far as Exeter, 30 miles.
I’ve never had a scooter before, and know little about them, tbh. I want something easy to live with, reliable and fast enough to ‘make progress’ in summer traffic.
Thoughts? Engine size? Manufacturer? Model? etc. etc. Won’t be buying new, looking to spend £2k ish. Is that enough? I was thinking a 400cc Burgman sort of thing.
Anyone got any experience?
PS My last two wheeler was a bit of a contrast, Buell Lightning XB12S
Thought a scooter might make sense for getting around, popping to the shops, local errands and so on. Roads will get busy during summer holiday periods (if lockdown ever ends), so scooter would make more sense than getting the car out. Short trips to Lyme (3 miles), and Bridport (10 miles), that sort of thing. Might occasionally go crazy and go as far as Exeter, 30 miles.
I’ve never had a scooter before, and know little about them, tbh. I want something easy to live with, reliable and fast enough to ‘make progress’ in summer traffic.
Thoughts? Engine size? Manufacturer? Model? etc. etc. Won’t be buying new, looking to spend £2k ish. Is that enough? I was thinking a 400cc Burgman sort of thing.
Anyone got any experience?
PS My last two wheeler was a bit of a contrast, Buell Lightning XB12S
Edited by Tim O on Thursday 23 April 09:28
Similar thread from me a few years ago...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Still have the Downtown and very good at everything I need it to do, and good enough to ride for for fun every now and then.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Still have the Downtown and very good at everything I need it to do, and good enough to ride for for fun every now and then.
Honda PCX125 is great for economy transport around town.
120mpg and easy to self service.
But it is flat out at 60mph
If you want to cruise longer journeys you should look at the bigger ones, maybe the 300 Forza, but you'll be dropping to 80mpg
I haven't tried a Forza 125 though, I read somewhere they'll do closer to 70mph. Anyone?
120mpg and easy to self service.
But it is flat out at 60mph
If you want to cruise longer journeys you should look at the bigger ones, maybe the 300 Forza, but you'll be dropping to 80mpg
I haven't tried a Forza 125 though, I read somewhere they'll do closer to 70mph. Anyone?
I’ve always recommended the Yamaha Xmax300, rear suspension is a little hard compared to most scooters but that’s the downside of the luggage capacity which is huge. The best part is the engine, it’s plenty nippy enough, will cruise at 80 easily and I’ve seen 95 on my dash many times with no issues, returns 80mpg if you rise like a tit and you’ll see 100+ if you take it easy. Also one of the better looking scooters in my opinion.
Thanks for all replies. Food for thought. I’m not really bothered about fuel consumption, just pottering about my mileage would be so small to make fuel bills significant. I would want to be able to keep up with the traffic, ‘make progress’ as the saying goes. A 125 wouldn’t hack it, and I suspect a 250 would struggle a bit, and a 400 would open up the possibilities of motorway use. I’ll start looking.
From those in the know! Are there any makes/models to be avoided? Troublesome in some way, or lack of spare parts, that kind of thing? (I’d probably do my own maintenance)
From those in the know! Are there any makes/models to be avoided? Troublesome in some way, or lack of spare parts, that kind of thing? (I’d probably do my own maintenance)
rat840771 said:
My mate has a forza 300 for sale, around 1600 miles, 66 plate for just over 3k. Brilliant scooter.
Thanks but beyond my budget. I can’t really justify £3k for something that is for occasional use only, but the mileage is very attractive. So too it being a Honda, I’ve had quite quite a few - 3 x Fireblades, CBR600, Hornet, Transalp, RVF400!Edited by Tim O on Friday 24th April 07:59
Edited by Tim O on Friday 24th April 08:00
I've been running a Vespa GT300 for the past 5 years. It's brilliant.
I did have a TMax which handled like a sports motorbike and loads of fun but being in London it was number one on the most nicked list and paranoia made me sell it, once I got my Vespa back after being gone a year, due to it being nicked.
I did have a TMax which handled like a sports motorbike and loads of fun but being in London it was number one on the most nicked list and paranoia made me sell it, once I got my Vespa back after being gone a year, due to it being nicked.
Tim O said:
Thanks but beyond my budget. I can’t really justify £3k for something that is for occasional use only, but the mileage is very attractive. So too it being a Honda, I’ve had quite quite a few - 3 x Fireblades, CBR600, Hornet, Transalp, RVF400!
I had one of the best days round Wales on a 250 a few years ago! I was bikeless at the time and my mate suggested I use his caravan scooter...
I had a Burgman 400 2005 it was more than fast enough to keep up with motorway traffic.
The needle would go off the end of the clock if you had the nerve.
Massive under seat storage and with a box on the back you could carry more than enough. I bought it to run around London on whilst i got used to filtering properly and I also did some longer trips with it (200+ miles back up to Lincolnshire or down to Eastbourne) and it was like riding a big armchair it was so comfortable.
The screen on it was great at deflecting the wind and with an apron on it in winter it was never cold.
Easy to work on as well.
The needle would go off the end of the clock if you had the nerve.
Massive under seat storage and with a box on the back you could carry more than enough. I bought it to run around London on whilst i got used to filtering properly and I also did some longer trips with it (200+ miles back up to Lincolnshire or down to Eastbourne) and it was like riding a big armchair it was so comfortable.
The screen on it was great at deflecting the wind and with an apron on it in winter it was never cold.
Easy to work on as well.
Used to use a Honda NC750 Integra as a BIG scooter on the fleet at the training school I worked at. Seemed tough and reliable enough, but the brakes struggled with the weight until I worked out you have to use significantly more back brake than you would on a motorcycle. However, the DCT autobox feels like the auto in a car from the bad old days, rather than a scooter's CVT that's nice and smooth.
I know Honda now also do a soft roader version but these are extremely popular with the criminal classes in London so depends where you live. EDIT - just seen you're in the SW so hopefully must less of an issue, but steep hills round your way!
We used to use a Burgman 400 as well and that was decent enough and quite tough. I also had a Forza 125 in on a test ride and it was not slow. PCX is quick but like a TMax popular with the criminal crowd, you'd need a serious lock. Forza 300 must be reasonably fast as a result.
I know Honda now also do a soft roader version but these are extremely popular with the criminal classes in London so depends where you live. EDIT - just seen you're in the SW so hopefully must less of an issue, but steep hills round your way!
We used to use a Burgman 400 as well and that was decent enough and quite tough. I also had a Forza 125 in on a test ride and it was not slow. PCX is quick but like a TMax popular with the criminal crowd, you'd need a serious lock. Forza 300 must be reasonably fast as a result.
Edited by Stuart Fordyce on Friday 24th April 11:58
Tim O said:
Thanks for all replies. Food for thought. I’m not really bothered about fuel consumption, just pottering about my mileage would be so small to make fuel bills significant. I would want to be able to keep up with the traffic, ‘make progress’ as the saying goes. A 125 wouldn’t hack it, and I suspect a 250 would struggle a bit, and a 400 would open up the possibilities of motorway use. I’ll start looking.
From those in the know! Are there any makes/models to be avoided? Troublesome in some way, or lack of spare parts, that kind of thing? (I’d probably do my own maintenance)
I wanted something with plenty of poke but didn't want a bit old unit to drag about like the touring scooters. I narrowed it down to the Vespa GTS 300 and the Piaggio Beverly 350. Vespa looks cool, traditional looks and that but I'm a big guy and felt the Beverly might be more suited to me. I managed to find one for £2k, it had a few miles on and had clearly been used all year round for commuting but rode well enough.From those in the know! Are there any makes/models to be avoided? Troublesome in some way, or lack of spare parts, that kind of thing? (I’d probably do my own maintenance)
Edited by Tim O on Friday 24th April 07:59
Edited by Tim O on Friday 24th April 08:00
Arrived home with it to find my dad had bought a GTS 300! Having tried both fairly extensively, the Vespa is a lovely looking bike but I just struggled to get to grips with the small wheels. It felt super light a nimble around town at 30-40mph but anything quicker it just felt a bit wobbly and unstable.
Turns out the Bev was the perfect balance, nimble enough to throw about town but stable on a fast A/B road. While it might not be the most economical in small bike terms a tank lasts me a while, I worked it out at 70mpg roughly but I don't hang about. It will max out at 100 on the clocks, sits at 80 nicely without feeling out of it's depth. Lods of space, looks tidy for a scooter too. Had a few niggles with it, spark plug cap, headlight relay but nothing major.
I was suppose to be selling it before lockdown but I quite like it tbh, cheap to run and more fun than you'd expect it to be. I'm going to use it for a bit to make sure there's no more niggles then decide if it's going or staying. They're not common but do come up from time to time at decent prices.
I've taken a PCX with me (over 100kg), my partner and our stuff from Hampshire to Dover, ferry to Dunkirk. Then through Belgium, before heading to Amsterdam. And then came back. I have also taken it over to Jersey on the ferry and did 200miles a day exploring the little island. So if you need something bigger than a 125 for 30miles max I can't say I understand.
A PCX isn't slow up to about 40mph. Unless a car is trying and has some performance you won't be left behind. In fact you will get to the front of the traffic and you will leave the traffic behind. It maxes out at standard at just over 60mph. And tbh getting there doesn't take that long. I take it on motorways and dual carriageways and even 2 up by the end of a slip road I'm doing okay.
Now I'm not going to recommend a PCX for long distance touring. But... it's sort of what I have found myself doing with it. I am planning on doing a much more ambitious euro trip, and considered a Suzuki v-strom 650. But I think doing it on the scooter will be more fun. You won't get 120mpg if you are riding it with a full-throttle none stop. But you will still get high 90's to low 100 mark. Which is fine as far as I'm concerned.
OP if you are considering this then do let me know and I'll give a shed load more practical scooter advice. I can recomend locks that I find work well etc... And mods I have done to make life a lot nicer. I'm not talking a new engine for the comedian big bikers between us. But little things you can do to make life much nicer.
A PCX isn't slow up to about 40mph. Unless a car is trying and has some performance you won't be left behind. In fact you will get to the front of the traffic and you will leave the traffic behind. It maxes out at standard at just over 60mph. And tbh getting there doesn't take that long. I take it on motorways and dual carriageways and even 2 up by the end of a slip road I'm doing okay.
Now I'm not going to recommend a PCX for long distance touring. But... it's sort of what I have found myself doing with it. I am planning on doing a much more ambitious euro trip, and considered a Suzuki v-strom 650. But I think doing it on the scooter will be more fun. You won't get 120mpg if you are riding it with a full-throttle none stop. But you will still get high 90's to low 100 mark. Which is fine as far as I'm concerned.
OP if you are considering this then do let me know and I'll give a shed load more practical scooter advice. I can recomend locks that I find work well etc... And mods I have done to make life a lot nicer. I'm not talking a new engine for the comedian big bikers between us. But little things you can do to make life much nicer.
milkround said:
A PCX isn't slow up to about 40mph. Unless a car is trying and has some performance you won't be left behind. In fact you will get to the front of the traffic and you will leave the traffic behind. It maxes out at standard at just over 60mph. And tbh getting there doesn't take that long. I take it on motorways and dual carriageways and even 2 up by the end of a slip road I'm doing okay.
I’ve always had a scooter in the garage along with my other bikes, 125 and now a 300, I myself struggled and got frustrated with the 125 for anything more than 10-15 miles, yeah you can keep up with traffic but that’s about it, you certainly won’t make any progress unless you’re just doing town work which the OP isn’t. As for motorways there is no way I’d go on one with a 125, I had to do 10 miles on a dual carriage way on my 125 and I hated it, I felt so vulnerable as I was barely keeping up with the traffic at full throttle, worse on inclines.
The 300, that’s fast enough to keep up with most bikers I’ve followed.
Thanks all for the replies and info.
Took the bull by the horns and did something I’ve never done before and bought something unseen. Suzuki Burgman 400, 2006, 3600 miles, elderly lady (NHS nurse) owner, one previous owner. Very short MoT but can’t believe there will be much wrong with it. Made an offer and she accepted.
Not sure how I’ll collect it or get it to Dorset but I’ll worry about that later.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Took the bull by the horns and did something I’ve never done before and bought something unseen. Suzuki Burgman 400, 2006, 3600 miles, elderly lady (NHS nurse) owner, one previous owner. Very short MoT but can’t believe there will be much wrong with it. Made an offer and she accepted.
Not sure how I’ll collect it or get it to Dorset but I’ll worry about that later.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Edited by Tim O on Saturday 25th April 10:53
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff