Topic: The Motorcycling Thread

[rrocket]

You can’t do this in a motorcycle without a top case! No they’re not quite as fun as motorcycles but they’re so awesome for commuting.

Oh I have that beat!!

I could carry a medium pizza and a 6 pack on my Burgman.  Under the seat.

[mlin32]

I like the big engined scooters but struggle to under its value-add in places like the US where parking is plentiful and cost of car ownership is fairly low. In urban centres, sure. But the cost insuring a larger engined scooter, plus licensing equipments equivalent to that of a motorcycle, the value proposition drops off.

Actually, my 400cc scooter was cheaper to insure than my 400cc dual sport.

I don't know about exact insurance figures, but I know for licensing and insurance requirements, anything 50cc or above where I used to live in the US required a Motorcycle license. Now the insurance cost I'm not sure, but I can't imagine a 300cc scooter being much cheaper than the 240 $US I paid annually for comprehensive on my R3.

[dirtyjeffer]

I don't know about exact insurance figures, but I know for licensing and insurance requirements, anything 50cc or above where I used to live in the US required a Motorcycle license.

it's the same way here...you can buy a 49cc scooter and not have a motorcycle license to drive it, but you do have to have a drivers license (car)...as in, you can't drive it on public roads without a license (legally).

[rrocket]

I like the big engined scooters but struggle to under its value-add in places like the US where parking is plentiful and cost of car ownership is fairly low. In urban centres, sure. But the cost insuring a larger engined scooter, plus licensing equipments equivalent to that of a motorcycle, the value proposition drops off.

Actually, my 400cc scooter was cheaper to insure than my 400cc dual sport.

I don't know about exact insurance figures, but I know for licensing and insurance requirements, anything 50cc or above where I used to live in the US required a Motorcycle license. Now the insurance cost I'm not sure, but I can't imagine a 300cc scooter being much cheaper than the 240 $US I paid annually for comprehensive on my R3.

I paid about $26 a month for my 400cc scooter in Ontario...land of the highest rates in North America.

[dkaz]

I paid about $26 a month for my 400cc scooter in Ontario...land of the highest rates in North America.

Sorry, BC's got Ontario beat. $37/mo liability only for my Yamaha Vino 125. All 111-400cc bikes pay the same for liability so my CB300F costs the same. $225 for collision and comprehensive coverage on top.

Albertans pay under $300/year full coverage for their 600 super sports.

[rrocket]

I paid about $26 a month for my 400cc scooter in Ontario...land of the highest rates in North America.

Sorry, BC's got Ontario beat. $37/mo liability only for my Yamaha Vino 125. All 111-400cc bikes pay the same for liability so my CB300F costs the same. $225 for collision and comprehensive coverage on top.

Albertans pay under $300/year full coverage for their 600 super sports.

If for sure depends...age and riding experience too.

But size for size...a scooter here is always cheaper than most anything else.

I guess the stigma of a scooter being an old man's vehicle works out in this situation.

[Arthur Dent]

Is the maintenance/tires for scooter expensive like it is for bikes?

[rrocket]

Is the maintenance/tires for scooter expensive like it is for bikes?

No..the tires are quite cheap.  I almost laughed at how cheap top of the line Michelin were. $200 for a pair.

Oil changes are cheaper (less oil).

The only thing that might suck is if you have to completely remove all the body panels.

[dirtyjeffer]

I paid about $26 a month for my 400cc scooter in Ontario...land of the highest rates in North America.

Sorry, BC's got Ontario beat. $37/mo liability only for my Yamaha Vino 125. All 111-400cc bikes pay the same for liability so my CB300F costs the same. $225 for collision and comprehensive coverage on top.

Albertans pay under $300/year full coverage for their 600 super sports.

when i was going to pull the trigger on a CB400 last year, the insurance was $148/year...$278/year if i wanted collision (top of the line coverage)...it's another reason why i like scooters...they are so cheap to run (the CB400 isn't a scooter, but a 400cc or less scooter would likely be a similar price, i can't imagine it getting much cheaper than that).

[dkaz]

If for sure depends...age and riding experience too.

But size for size...a scooter here is always cheaper than most anything else.

I guess the stigma of a scooter being an old man's vehicle works out in this situation.

In BC, they use my driving experience for riding for liability. My riding experience, age, marital status, etc. only matters with the optional coverage portion which I get through a private insurance company.

I'm still excited that I'll be able to insure a super sport and a scooter in Alberta for the same price as my small bike in BC.

[dkaz]

Is the maintenance/tires for scooter expensive like it is for bikes?

The tires on my Vino 125 were $80 a pair, but they needed to be replaced every 4k on the rear. I did it myself because the 10" tires were somewhat easy if not tedious to do myself and I didn't care about scratching the rims but I'd get a bigger scoot with bigger tires so I can get the long wearing Michelin City Grip.

Another huge advantage of scooters is that the CVT belt does not need to be cleaned and lubed every 800km. Have the CVT serviced every 8k to 10k for 49cc scooters to 18k to 24k+ for bigger scooters, I heard some may even have 48k intervals.

The big one to pay attention to is valve adjustment intervals. Smaller engines with the nut and screw type valves recommend adjustment every 4k although people claim to have observed that 12k is a more reasonable interval after the first couple. On most scooters, this is easy to do although I think incorrect adjustments was a contributing factor to my old Vino 125's engine grenading so I had the dealer do it after the rebuild. On most scooters, the valves are easy to get to and take no more than half an hour labour, but the Honda PCX is terrible for needing at least 2 hours labour to remove all the body plastics to get to the valve. Larger scooters will have shim type valves which hold longer (25.6k for Honda, 42k for Yamaha) although they are more labour intensive to adjust if required.

[dkaz]

when i was going to pull the trigger on a CB400 last year, the insurance was $148/year...$278/year if i wanted collision (top of the line coverage)...it's another reason why i like scooters...they are so cheap to run (the CB400 isn't a scooter, but a 400cc or less scooter would likely be a similar price, i can't imagine it getting much cheaper than that).

I'm quoting one message at a time because I'm purposely trying to boost my post count.  No, I'm just dumb.

Man that's cheap.

[rrocket]

I'm dealing directly with the owner of the dealership for the possible purchase of the Duke. Such a breath of fresh air. Really good guy, answered all my questions...and most shockingly has been sweetening the pot with every email.  Though I think we're at the end of the sweetening part. After the last email, I jokingly asked "Anything else you want to throw in to temp me further?"

His reply?  "Free smiles for the transaction! Let me know if you’re ready to pull the trigger, I’d love to make a deal! "

Great guy, outstanding salesman.

 

[dirtyjeffer]

I'm dealing directly with the owner of the dealership for the possible purchase of the Duke. Such a breath of fresh air. Really good guy, answered all my questions...and most shockingly has been sweetening the pot with every email.  Though I think we're at the end of the sweetening part. After the last email, I jokingly asked "Anything else you want to throw in to temp me further?"

His reply?  "Free smiles for the transaction! Let me know if you’re ready to pull the trigger, I’d love to make a deal! "

Great guy, outstanding salesman.

 

you should reply "Pffft...if i wanted free smiles, i'd go to McDonalds".   

[Triple Bob]

I'm dealing directly with the owner of the dealership for the possible purchase of the Duke. Such a breath of fresh air. Really good guy, answered all my questions...and most shockingly has been sweetening the pot with every email.  Though I think we're at the end of the sweetening part. After the last email, I jokingly asked "Anything else you want to throw in to temp me further?"

His reply?  "Free smiles for the transaction! Let me know if you’re ready to pull the trigger, I’d love to make a deal! "

Great guy, outstanding salesman.

 

Do it.

[dirtyjeffer]

Yamaha USA has the XMax, nothing announced in Canada yet, if ever.

i checked out that scooter...i like it.

the Missenden Flyer was really impressed too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXswXVCRnfY&t=1s

[rrocket]

Yamaha USA has the XMax, nothing announced in Canada yet, if ever.

i checked out that scooter...i like it.

the Missenden Flyer was really impressed too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXswXVCRnfY&t=1s

I really prefer the new Forza.

And if Yamaha, I'd want the 530 DX.

[dirtyjeffer]

Yamaha USA has the XMax, nothing announced in Canada yet, if ever.

i checked out that scooter...i like it.

the Missenden Flyer was really impressed too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXswXVCRnfY&t=1s

I really prefer the new Forza.

And if Yamaha, I'd want the 530 DX.

it looks good too, but it's too new...i haven't seen any videos of it.

[rrocket]

Yamaha USA has the XMax, nothing announced in Canada yet, if ever.

i checked out that scooter...i like it.

the Missenden Flyer was really impressed too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXswXVCRnfY&t=1s

I really prefer the new Forza.

And if Yamaha, I'd want the 530 DX.

it looks good too, but it's too new...i haven't seen any videos of it.

You mean the Forza, right?

Lots of videos of the 530 DX.

Did you see this one?

https://youtu.be/F_bft1YBcmg

[dirtyjeffer]

you mean the Forza, right?

yea, the Forza is too new.