All new here!

[Steev68]

Hello everyone, I seem to have stumbled upon a great little forum here!
I have been riding motorcycles, in various guises, for just under 50 years. My journey started with an old Honda C50, blasting around the fields at home, and made it all through the different types of on, and off road bikes until I am now in possession of a few old trail bikes that I love to fix up, and ride. But, I now have this strange urge for a Maxi-scooter, am I going mad??
My main reason for wanting one is that my car, a diesel, is dying going back and to to work, so I thought I'd pick up a scooter to save the car a bit, but the more I've thought about it, the more I think I'm going to enjoy it!

I have no idea which one to buy, originally I thought about a Bergman 650, as I was talking to a guy a few years ago who owned on, and he said it was amazing, but I understand that the drivetrain can give problems, are the 400's the same? Are all scooters the same?

I will have a look around this forum and see if there is any advice I can take in.

Great to be here, and I'm sure I'll chat with some of you soon!

[Waldorf]

Hello and welcome!
I, too, took to two wheels for more or less the same reasons as you.
Honda Silverwings and 650 Burgers are old-hat; why not go for something more modern?
There are plenty of good maxis available.

[Steev68]

Hi Mike,
Thanks for the reply, I'm open to anything to be honest, and I have seen a lot of nice looking scooters advertised, I guess I've looked at the "bigger" scooters ad I've been so used to riding 1200cc Adventure bikes, and as I'm over 6ft I've seen many taller riders say that the Burgman is ideal for them. I am just at the start of my search, so I know I haven't even scratched the surface yet, I'm not planning on spending a lot of money either, after all it will probably only be used for 100 miles a week, and the odd bimble around, no serious touring, I've done all that on the BMWs.

I think I would like at least a 300cc bike, where I live is quite hilly and wouldn't want to have to get off and push it!
I'd love to hear from other taller owners, and what they ride

[Waldorf]

I have no doubt that in due course you'll get lots of advice and opinions what to buy.
The reason, the only one, that I traded in my Silverwing 600 for a Forza 350 was the reason you highlight, the difficulty of having to push it! I know that wasn't quite what you said but it is a consideration.
The Silverwing at one fifth of a ton was lighter than a 650 Burgman.
The Forza is something I can manage to push as I get older and more decrepit.
The only things I miss from the Silverwing was its ability to go at more than 100 MPH (do I miss that?) and its presence on the road - not that the Forza doesn't have presence.
It will reach 90 MPH and cruise well at 70 MPH and is a darn sight more economical.
I'm 6' tall and large build and it's comfortable for me; it maintains its speed up hill and down dale.
Food for thought, perhaps.

[Steev68]

I am certainly no stranger to pushing big bikes around, up until 2 years ago I used to tour on a GS Adventure, fully loaded that was heavy.. REALLY heavy! I get what you're saying though, I'm really looking for a decent sized scooter to get me back and to to work, but, I know that I'll get out and about on it more seeing as there will be more storage available, so I trip to the shops would make more sense on the scooter than getting the car out. I've still got a couple of 80's trail bikes that I knock about on too, so I won't be stuck for transport.

It's amazing how we still hanker after a bit of speed, isn't it? I never used to hang about whilst touring but my average speed over the space of a week was very rarely 50mph, it was usually more like 40mph, it is nice to be able open the throttle and feel the wind, and the bugs, hitting your face!

I'm currently scouring the Internet for every review I can find on the various options out there, I haven't even sat on a scooter yet so that will be the next step, from Adventure bikes to a scooter will no doubt be very different, but I am very much looking forward to it.
Thanks for the input, it's been very helpful

[mottza]

That silverwing was a good bike. Comfy and fast.

It's still going at 55k miles at its last MOT