SCOOTER TRASH

[TRoy]

I already have the ultimate FJ for sport touring adventure!

Sometimes I wish I had the ultimate scooter for local runabouts that might have the capability to run some light sporty riding and maybe some highway speeds from time to time. Any experience or suggestions?

[Waiex191]

I recommend the 1981 Suzuki GN400.  Fits your mission but is still a real motorcycle.  Plus it has a kickstart.

[gumby302ho]

 I heard from someone on this site that mentioned the Suzuki Burgmen 650 was a bit of a mover! If I was stuck in a major tight traffic city I would give it a go, must hold a tonne of storage. I wonder the stats if they record less leg injuries in crashes on scooter trash, your subject line.

[andyoutandabout]

DR-Z400 supermoto

[Millietant]

So TRoy, do you actually mean "SCOOTER" as in Lambretta/ Quadrophenia type, of do you just mean a lighter, easy to manage bike ??

If it's the latter, then a Supermoto could be ideal, so I'd agree with the DRZ 400 SM or a KTM.

Personally, I'd be looking for an old RD 350 LC (or YPVS), I guess they might have been sold as RZ 350's to you guys. Rare as hens teeth, but fun 

Then, as Bryan says, there's the likes of the GN 400, or the Yamaha SR 500 (or an old XT/TT 500 with Supermoto wheels).

If you really don't want something old, what about one of the recent 300cc bikes from Kawasaki/Yamaha/Honda (Ninja 300/R3/CBR 300), or a KTM Duke 390.

There's plenty of choice, if you can find any decent ones for sale. Over here, because we didn't have the aversion to sub 500cc bikes (likely due to our tiered licensing system and historical insurance bracketing) that the US/Aus had, there's a lot more choice, but I'm sure you'll find something.

Good hunting 

[TRoy]

do you actually mean "SCOOTER"

Yes actually  looks like the burgman 400 or 650 is the solid, proven choice.. but damn I didnt realize they cost so much.

Now to find someone who wants to trade their scoot for an R1100RS 

[FJ_Hooligan]

Now to find someone who wants to trade their scoot for an R1100RS 

I don't think even Scooter Trash are that stupid

[Millietant]

If yôu can find one over there, what about a Yamaha T Max 500 (or 530, pr 560). They're a step thru scooter, but built much more like a motorcycle, hence dynamically better than traditionally built scooters and get great reports in comparison tests. A little less powerful than the Burgman 650, but about 65kg lighter (that's a pillion passenger!!!).

Apparently the horizontal twin ountrbalanced engine I see very smooth and initial acceleration from a standstill is more immediate than others.

[Motofun]

A friend had a Burgman 650 for a while.  It handles 2 up duties with ease.  It did have some problems though.  The fuel door got stuck closed 100 miles from home.  He had no choice but to lever it open and fix it when we got home.

[ribbert]

Over some 30 or so bikes and 55 years I can recall only two occasions where bikes I would never have bought in a fit found their way into my garage and impressed me enormously.
One of these was relatively recently and took the form of a near new scooter that was left with me for a couple of years.
250cc, CVT which worked brilliantly, alternator starter, discs, cavernous storage, great lights, good handling, plenty of grunt around town and enough for the highway, 135kph top speed and the absolute winner – the step though!

Did I mention the carrying capacity?

I once did a 400km day trip on it and was even further impressed.

I live in the middle of a large city (5 mil) and would have one today if rego and insurance wasn't so expensive. Here, third party insurance is carried on the vehicle, not the drivers licence so even though I can only drive one at a time, I pay full insurance on each vehicle, which is about $1000 annually and I already have four on full rego.

If I was buying one tomorrow, I would still buy a 250. I've ridden the big ones and to me their size actually detracts from some of what makes a scooter great, not that the 250's are small. If you plan on 2-up with gear, the 250 definitely wouldn't cut it on the highway, but that's what the FJ's for.

Good decision and good luck finding the right machine.

Noel

[red]

Over some 30 or so bikes and 55 years I can recall only two occasions where bikes I would never have bought in a fit found their way into my garage and impressed me enormously.  250cc, CVT which worked brilliantly, alternator starter, discs, cavernous storage, great lights, good handling, plenty of grunt around town and enough for the highway, 135kph top speed and the absolute winner – the step though!   If I was buying one tomorrow, I would still buy a 250.
Noel

Noel,

So, why won't you tell us the year, make, and model?       
.

[ribbert]

Over some 30 or so bikes and 55 years I can recall only two occasions where bikes I would never have bought in a fit found their way into my garage and impressed me enormously.  250cc, CVT which worked brilliantly, alternator starter, discs, cavernous storage, great lights, good handling, plenty of grunt around town and enough for the highway, 135kph top speed and the absolute winner – the step though!   If I was buying one tomorrow, I would still buy a 250.
Noel

Noel,

So, why won't you tell us the year, make, and model?      
.

Haha, it didn't even occur to me, my recommendation was more about the concept, I imagine they're all much the same. It was a SYM. I think the current version is now 300cc and is a "SYM Firenze GTS300i"

They've been around for quite a while and have proven themselves to be a good thing. I would think an older second hand one would be great value.

Noel

[FJ Flyer]

You need a Cushman.

[Troyskie]

Just a Vespa.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYYBYGFI8kE

[aviationfred]

I found the perfect Scooter as a potential addition too your stable.

Fred