Motor bike vs scooter (1 Viewer)

[Take2]

Im thinking of buying a bike suitable to get me and my dearest around when touring with our chausson 610. I've a full bike licence so, size not a problem, at least in in this situation.
To keep costs and weight down I wonder if a 125cc would suffice?
Dont imagine journeys longer than 25 miles. All scooter bike opinions welcome

 

[funflair]

I moved from a Honda Fireblade to a Honda SH125 step through, good to ride though and OK two up, advantage over a bike is room for shopping under the seat, in the top box, and a bag between your feet if required.

Martin

 

[Blackadder]

If I were going down the petrol-powered route I'd also go for one of the Honda 125 scooters. I have a Kawasaki 300 scooter in addition to a Harley-Davidson; guess which one gets used most! If I was buying again I'd buy a Honda as the quality is so much better than my Kwacker (actually just a re-badged Kymco).
For the van we have a pair of fold-up e-bikes. Much less hassle with insurance (especially abroad), tax, MOT etc. and not such a hit on payload. Range seems to be about 30 miles at present.

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[Lanerboy]

KTM 250 exc nice and light and great for taking short cuts

 

[Stealaway]

Loads of power and quite light - bit radical.

Sensible option - bit lighter but boring.

 

[Lanerboy]

on a serious note one of those little Hondas that they have in India and Thailand etc with about 5 people on them seem very light bullet proof and cheap to run

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[DonA4000]

I have had both in the past and the scooter is great for what you want, just last night with looking at the Honda forza 125 got some nice features and plenty of storage.

https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/range/scooter/forza-125/overview.html

 

[Jands]

Hondas always have been bullet proof.
Like you looking at getting a bike, 125 is big enough for most sensible trips, just take a bit more time. I had an old Honda cb125 43 years ago went everywhere would think nothing of a 200 mile trip even 2 up.
Was brought up in the biker mods days so don't feel right getting a scooter.
Noticed on my personal travel insurance is I am only covered up to 125cc without further costs, so staying below that.
125's are lighter so manhandling it would be easier.

 

[Richard n Ann]

The Honda scooters are annoyingly practical, if you're buying with your head buy one. If you're buying with your heart, buy a nice bike with more power.

Problem is, when you've had bikes in the past scooters are, err... What's the word... Oh yes, shit!



PS. The Sh125 'mode' version is cheaper than the sh125i and still 11.3bhp our Honda Vision 110 is 8bhp it's OK on small hills and flats two up, it will do 50 odd mph

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[Nasher]

Scooters are for mods, motorbikes are for rockers

Me, I'm a rocker, motorbike every time & to hell with practicality

 

[haganap]

I have had a Honda vision 100 to underpowered but lightweight
A honda PCX 125 as said by @Richard and Ann amzingly just too bloody good and practical and annoyingly brilliant but no street cred at all.
A Symjet 125 (currently on sale on this forum) really good bike for the prices they go for and a great weight and power ratio but Nikki won't let me keep it because I also have
A Vespa gts 300. plenty quick enough cool as f&8K Nikki likes riding on it but it is slightly and I mean mm's too tall to get in my garage although it can be done.

I therefore have been thinking about a KTM duke 390 but probably going to keep my Vespa and pimp it up a bit.

 

[Take2]

Thanks all for your speedy replies....brmm, brmm.
The Honda sounds the way to go

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[Richard n Ann]

On a side note, I had a dream I had an R1 last night, then i woke up ... As if that wasn't bad enough, I had to go to work

 

[Richard n Ann]

Thanks all for your speedy replies....brmm, brmm.
The Honda sounds the way to go

Get one with a kick start. You never know when you'll need it. Don't know if the SH Honda has one but the vision doesn't

 

[Richard n Ann]

The Suzuki Address has a kick start

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[Nasher]

Get one with a kick start. You never know when you'll need it. Don't know if the SH Honda has one but the vision doesn't

The Suzuki Address has a kick start

Pah..... Us rockers just bumpstart our motorbikes

 

[MikeD]

Scooter for us, especially in the warmer parts of the world.

Hate being baked by the engine when the air temperature is already 30+ c

Also lots of room for shopping etc.

But would not like to travel more than about 15-20 miles in one trip on our Honda 125cc.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Pah..... Us rockers just bumpstart our motorbikes

Can't do it on an automatic. They just free wheel. bikes are best yes

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[Baldeagle7470]

Have had bikes all my life,my current wife has difficulty getting aboard!!
For the trailer behind the van I have tried everything Honda PCX 125 was great.But advancing years has made me rethink,for loading and wifey I have a Suzuki Address 125,so light about 105 kgs and has a kickstart.
Also for longer jaunts we have a Sym Cruisym 300 which is as comfortable as a Goldwing,again speaking from experience,I may try it on the trailer,just prefer bigger wheels,decisions,decisions,good luck.

 

[Nasher]

Slightly off topic, my Honda classic race bike (see avatar) occasionally gets used on the road

As it is bump start only , I have developed a special technique to get it started

I simply wait for a pretty young lady to appear who has a strapping young man on here arm

I then ask the young man to give me a push and to impress his lady there is no way he will stop pushing until the bike starts!

Works every time

 

[Binky]

I have had both in the past and the scooter is great for what you want, just last night with looking at the Honda forza 125 got some nice features and plenty of storage.

https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/range/scooter/forza-125/overview.html

Forza is a great scooter but quite pricey. For my 6'3" svelteness, the pcx was far too small. Forza takes us both in comfort with space under the seat for 2 full face helmets (or loads of beer). Its a big scooter though.

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[maison]

Had both bikes and scooters for over 50 years.

Currently tow a Honda PCX125 on a trailer.

Roomy enough for two, relatively light and will cruise comfortably at 50mph two up.

Ourfurthest trips tend to be within a 20 mile radius so it does fine for us.

Last Thursday it was due for its MOT, (6 years old). It hadn’t been started for five weeks and the temperature that morning was -2C. Pressed the starter and it started immediately. No sound of engine turning over just an instant start. A brilliant little scooter if you just want to poodle around.

 

[suavecarve]

Another vote for the Suzuki Address 110.
It looks like a 50 cc.
Got turned over by the gendarmes doing 70mph downhill with the mrs on the back and farting.
They couldn't believe how fast it went for the size.
One helmet in the seat and one in the top box. I think it was either 98 kgs or 102 kgs and this is the bike they use at Grands Prix when the driver needs a lift home. Kick start as well and £2,000 interest free for 4 years brand new purchase. Top box needs to come off to get in a "normal" garage

Whatever you decide Do not order one of the Indian ones that come in the post. If you want to know why go to a bike dealer and tell them you have one for trade in and see if they give you more than £100 even if you said it wa sa year old with 500 miles on it.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Just been looking at the Honda sh300i. It's 170kg! I don't know how Honda manage to pack all the kilograms into such a small package. Genius. Not.

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[martin2603]

I have a PCX125. Weight 125kg carried on a chassis mounted Memo Rack , drives itself up on the throttle the Wheel chock holds it fine 4 straps to secure it. Have a 2 helmet top box also good for the shopping . It even has stop start technology!

 

[autorouter]

To keep costs and weight down I wonder if a 125cc would suffice?
Dont imagine journeys longer than 25 miles.

Another vote for Honda SH125. Perfect for exploring villages and country roads, big wheels better for remote dirt roads, enough power to effortlessly get up Mont Ventoux with two non-lightweights.

Get one with a kick start. You never know when you'll need it. Don't know if the SH Honda has one but the vision doesn't

From the top of a mountain pass in darkest Spain near the Portugese border, I switched off the engine and freewheeled down for miles, stopping frequently for the view and to take pictures of the eagles circling below. When I reached the valley floor, the electric start wouldn't turn the engine. I'd left the headlights on and the battery was flat. Twenty minutes of kick-starting and cursing, then I noticed a garage in the distance, pushed it there, and he had it running in two minutes with jump leads.

That's the only time the kick-start has ever been used on my SH125. Bought new in 2002, it's on its third battery and apart from that it's never let me down. It's the Spanish version, unrestricted apparently.

 

[SpeedyDux]

Get one with a kick start. You never know when you'll need it. Don't know if the SH Honda has one but the vision doesn't

I never owned a Honda with electric start anyway. The 125 twin could be started by pressing the kick start lever with one hand it was so light and easy.

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[Littlewheels]

I moved from a Honda Fireblade to a Honda SH125 step through, good to ride though and OK two up, advantage over a bike is room for shopping under the seat, in the top box, and a bag between your feet if required.

Martin

Absolutely and plenty of power two up,another benefit is if you go for the “Mode” model it comes in at only 90kilo not forgetting Honda’s legendary reliability.

 

[tuscancouple]

Don't think you can better bikes for a wander around the local sights. We take our Harleys on a trailer, great fun!

Even makes shopping an enjoyable event!

Mick

 

[PaulW2]

Just been looking at the Honda sh300i. It's 170kg! I don't know how Honda manage to pack all the kilograms into such a small package. Genius. Not.

Mind you, the additional weight (about 30-35kg over say a 125) gives you considerably more oomph and the ability to comfortably ride at motorway speeds 2-up. Over a 300cc or similar motorbike it has the advantage of practicality. So not all things to all people but I think a pretty good compromise (and yes, I carry one on the back of my motorhome!)

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