More Talk, less action..?'s about Maxi's

[GREY.HOUND]

Yesterday, I sat on a new CBR250. I couldn't imagine riding on that for very long. It was a really nice looking bike but again, not my style/preference. The Majesty and Burgman 400 just seemed too bulky, at least at this point, meaning still wet behind the ears. The good news is that there are so many choices, I just wish there were more in the 250-500 range.

On that note, the dealer that had the Sportscity 250 also sells Vespas. I have to admit, I was smitten by the Vespa 300, not sure which model exactly. Between the shiny chrome, the leather seat and beautiful paint, it is a work of art. And surprisingly bigger than I imagined.

[cdwise]

Originally Posted by GREY.HOUND

On that note, the dealer that had the Sportscity 250 also sells Vespas. I have to admit, I was smitten by the Vespa 300, not sure which model exactly. Between the shiny chrome, the leather seat and beautiful paint, it is a work of art. And surprisingly bigger than I imagined.

It was mostly likely the GTS or the GTS Super which is a different seat, shocks, different gauges and a few other cosmetic differences. Unless it had a two part seat with the headlight on the fender in which case it was a GTV, another body style variant but they all have the same engine and are large frame Vespas. GTS stands for Gran Tursimo - aka Great Tourism for the direct English translation. Seeing as how I have a GTS that is my daily around town scooter you could say I'm a fan as well. The Sports City is a good scooter, favorite of my husband, son and my brother's fiance (she is probably the biggest fan of it I know) but for me it a classic Vespa is where it is at so if I could only have one that would be the scooter I'd keep. As you say it is a functional work of art and a true classic.

BTW, the Sports City is a good all around scoot that is freeway capable and while I would never do it my husband rode ours from Colorado to San Diego though he admitted that a real windshield would have improved the ride considerably. My brother's fiance has the OEM summer windshield on it and she goes everywhere on her Sports City my brother goes on his BMW 1200RT (as long as he doesn't open his trottle wide when they are on the freeway and keeps it at 80 or so.) It doesn't fit me as well as the Scarabeo or GTS but as you said that's why there are options.

[Starbuck21]

Originally Posted by TrashCan

But to each his own...(66 years old)
i too did a 1700 mile ride and was very comfortable. (700 mile one day)

Granted; but if the pic above is the bike in question, it is not a true sport bike. It has an upright posture that I could live with OK. Most of the Ninja ilk keep one bent way over the tank and my back can not take that for long...

[TrashCan]

Originally Posted by Starbuck21

Granted; but if the pic above is the bike in question, it is not a true sport bike. It has an upright posture that I could live with OK. Most of the Ninja ilk keep one bent way over the tank and my back can not take that for long...

Oh, I know that my bike is a standard, but I thought you were using a pretty broad brush on comfort..

[klaviator]

Originally Posted by Starbuck21

Granted; but if the pic above is the bike in question, it is not a true sport bike. It has an upright posture that I could live with OK. Most of the Ninja ilk keep one bent way over the tank and my back can not take that for long...

I would consider an SV650 to be a true sport bike. It is just not a race replica sport bike. There have been numerous sport bikes that where comfortable enough to tour on. I had an 89 EX500 which I took numerous trips on. My longest trip was 7200 miles and longest single day was 700 miles. No matter how hard I ran it, it consistently got 60 MPG. The older 250 Ninja's were quite comfortable and the newer ones can be with an aftermarket seat. The old 750 Ninja's were also very comfortable. I used to own a 99 SV650. It was not as comfortable as my EX500 but it was faster.

Just as there is a wide variety in scooters, there is also a wide variety of sport bikes. However, it is somewhat useless to compare them directly to scooters. It's an apples and oranges thing. They both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Recommending a sport bike to someone looking for a scooter just doesn't make sense unless that person's top priority is speed and performance.

[TrashCan]

What I was trying to point out, it's not really about what bike you ride.

They are all usually more capable than the rider.







Well klaviator I guess you are right.

http://www.sportrider.com/features/1...e/viewall.html

[GREY.HOUND]

Well, I'm not ruling out the CBR250 ABS or the suzuki TU250 buuuut....I still am 99% sure a scooter is for me. At least for now. It's just the variety in the 250 range is limited in scooters; but I'm only buying one so while there might not be a huge selection I know I will be able to fill my needs with the choices I have.

[knucklehead90]

Originally Posted by Starbuck21

Also sport bikes are much more dangerous see below:


"Supersport bike riders have death rates that are four times greater than average for all motorcycle types, says the IIHS.

http://news.consumerreports.org/cars...ycle-deat.html

Not that sport bikes don't have their place just be advised of the dangers...

I think the danger is not the bike but the experience and attitude of the rider. Younger riders are the bulk of the sport bike buyers - it stands to reason that the danger is more between the ears of the rider than whats under the rider. When I was young I had a very fast bike - not my first - I bought a new 69 Kawasaki 500 triple. I went everywhere on the rear tire - or seemed like it anyway. I could pull the front tire at will with a flick of the wrist in any of the first three gears above 4000 rpms. I was lucky to not have crashed. I never lost a street drag race - never had a car pull out in front of me while I was doing 75 and accelerating - and never ran off the road. Like I said - I was lucky.

Sport bikes are like guns and guns don't kill people - people kill people.

[klaviator]

Originally Posted by GREY.HOUND

Well, I'm not ruling out the CBR250 ABS or the suzuki TU250 buuuut....I still am 99% sure a scooter is for me. At least for now. It's just the variety in the 250 range is limited in scooters; but I'm only buying one so while there might not be a huge selection I know I will be able to fill my needs with the choices I have.

Have you looked at the Kymco DT300 and GT300?

[Starbuck21]

[QUOTE=knucklehead90;19664907

Sport bikes are like guns and guns don't kill people - people kill people.[/QUOTE]

Absolutely! Testosterone and an 100 hp bike can be a dangerous combination... I used to run over 100 mph frequently when younger. And like you amazingly lived to make it now as a scooter rider .

That said I can still break 100 mph on my Silverwing I just choose not to...

[GREY.HOUND]

Originally Posted by klaviator

Have you looked at the Kymco DT300 and GT300?

Only online. It is the GT300 that turned me on to scooters. I think in my early searching on motorcycles there was an add or picture or something about the 300GTi. I saw 300cc (perfect size),16" wheels (aha), underseat storage and a top box as standard (what more could I ask for?).

So I've been checking cycletrader for dealers that carry them, very few within 250 miles of me. There is a dealer that has the DT300 within a 4 hour drive, but it sounds like it might be kind of limited on leg room. My local Kymco dealer only has the Super 8 150. I haven't contacted them aboout trying to get the 300's but it might be time.

Thanks for the advice.

[klaviator]

Originally Posted by GREY.HOUND

Only online. It is the GT300 that turned me on to scooters. I think in my early searching on motorcycles there was an add or picture or something about the 300GTi. I saw 300cc (perfect size),16" wheels (aha), underseat storage and a top box as standard (what more could I ask for?).

So I've been checking cycletrader for dealers that carry them, very few within 250 miles of me. There is a dealer that has the DT300 within a 4 hour drive, but it sounds like it might be kind of limited on leg room. My local Kymco dealer only has the Super 8 150. I haven't contacted them aboout trying to get the 300's but it might be time.

Thanks for the advice.

If I was looking for a scooter today, the GT300 would be at the top of my list. The local dealer here has two and is selling them for $4799 plus tax. I also like the DT300 but I'm 6-2 and I fit on the GT300 much better. My only real complaint about the GT300 is the tiny under seat storage.

I also saw that you replied in my Sport City 250 review thread. If you can still find a new Sport City for around $3500, I'd definitely consider it. I now have 12,500 miles on my Sport City and have had absolutely no problems with it except for one leaky fork seal which was fixed under warranty. If you are interested in the Sport City, or the GT300, check out my ride reports to see what a midsize scooter is capable of:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=803404
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=694932
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=693143


:

[GREY.HOUND]

Signed up today, class is at the end of October. Temps during the morning class 7AM-12 noon should be in the low to mid 60's barring unusual weather.

It's a Small Virtual World after-all, Klaviator. I have read some of your posts on other scooter sites while researching the Super 8 and more recently the Sportcity 250. I have read your reviews on here too. Actually, many riders here can be found on their home scooter sites as well. And to think we only live 1000's of miles apart.

The dealer that sells the Sportcity has 2 in stock, they are 09's but have tags marked full MSRP plus fees. After the course I'll see what I can achieve as far as price goes. I'll also contact my local Kymco dealer and see if they have plans to get different scooters. Otherwise, it's likely going to be an out of town purchase. Well, the new PCX can be had locally and I do like it.

[scudder]

Originally Posted by klaviator

If I was looking for a scooter today, the GT300 would be at the top of my list. The local dealer here has two and is selling them for $4799 plus tax. I also like the DT300 but I'm 6-2 and I fit on the GT300 much better. My only real complaint about the GT300 is the tiny under seat storage.

I also saw that you replied in my Sport City 250 review thread. If you can still find a new Sport City for around $3500, I'd definitely consider it. I now have 12,500 miles on my Sport City and have had absolutely no problems with it except for one leaky fork seal which was fixed under warranty. If you are interested in the Sport City, or the GT300, check out my ride reports to see what a midsize scooter is capable of:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=803404
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=694932
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=693143


:

ho has the GT300 for $4799?

[klaviator]

Originally Posted by scudder

ho has the GT300 for $4799?

Midway Cycles in Madison, AL., next to Huntsville. He also has the DT300 for $4899. I bought my Super 8 from them. If you are interested they will most likely prep one so you can test ride it. They prepped My Super 8 so I could ride it when I was interested in buying.