Scooter or towed car

[Rustyspanners]

Hi going for a test ride on 125 scooter next week. We own a 821 burstner planning month long trips around Europe we'd like to hear peoples experiences of small towed car vs scooter in garage.

 

[Campervan_man]

I like scooters but having had other drivers nearly kill me several times by pulling out in front of me I recommend a small car with some external tin protection and seat belts..

 

[David and Sally]

Just bought a Yamaha Xmax 300 to tow behind. We also have the option to trailer our Aygo.

Will watch this thread with interest.

 

[Vic]

The advantages of a scooter is that it fits in your garage, you are self contained, so there will be no trailer to lug around or worries where you put it when you park up. On trips, parking a scooter is never an issue where as a car could be.

 

[Richard n Ann]

We love the scooter, it's ideal for the dry warmer climate of southern Europe and it's fun to ride, just ride it as though everybody wants to kill you and you'll be ok.. Towing a car would be a right ball ache, imagine all the buggering about at the Aires. Plus the chunnel would be more expensive and more fuel used towing.

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[Nasher]

A compromise

But seriously, do you have a full motorcycle licence and recent experience of riding a 2 wheeler?

 

[peterc10]

We have a lightweight scooter in the motorhome garage. 110cc Suzuki Address. Works well for us. IMHO if you are towing something you might as well be using a car and caravan

 

[David and Sally]

We have a lightweight scooter in the motorhome garage. 110cc Suzuki Address. Works well for us. IMHO if you are towing something you might as well be using a car and caravan

Not really the same.

 

[Ian.s]

We've found the scooter to be so much easier, Allows you to get places that even a car struggles with.

 

[Shrimp]

We started with a scooter in a box trailer, was lovely on fine weather days, could get shopping onboard ok but when weather was rough it wasn’t very nice plus you have the gear to stow-helmets, warm/protective coats and maybe wet weather clothing too!
We now have a small car, ideal as any excess baggage can go in the car, we stay dry and can wear what we want!
Unless you have ridden a motorbike of any size recently I would be careful, the roads/traffic has changed a lot and a lot of drivers are not very forgiving!

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[suavecarve]

Suzuki address in the garage. Never had the thought process of getting a toad.
98 kgs and sits at 60mph 2 up. Fill it up for 4 euros and get 100 ms range. If you go this route get a double helmet top box as you probably have to remove top box when getting bike into garage (20 second job including moving top box to garage) As per previous you can park your bike where the hell you want in France. We have just gone to full protective gear but last year just wondered around in shorts and a proper jacket but we do areas with no traffic not town centres as a general rule.
Personal choice but for us a scooter has given us loads of freedom and i think the towing, especially around parking at aires, could cause headaches. If youre a campsite person and stay there for the whole of the holiday I can see the attraction of having a toad but it is (imv) a better option to have a caravan and big car.
Similarly if not overly confident as rider or pillion that would negate a scooter.

We still wear shorts under our protective kit and just put a loop through the legs and arms and then they are D locked to the bike and we can walk around a town/village in comfort.

 

[Rustyspanners]

A compromise

View attachment 409298

But seriously, do you have a full motorcycle licence and recent experience of riding a 2 wheeler?

Face nice but not for the pilllion or shopping. Yes full licence 30 years of bike riding. We also have a small dog westie anybody used a topbox called pet on wheels

 

[Ian.s]

Suzuki address in the garage. Never had the thought process of getting a toad.
98 kgs and sits at 60mph 2 up. Fill it up for 4 euros and get 100 ms range. If you go this route get a double helmet top box as you probably have to remove top box when getting bike into garage (20 second job including moving top box to garage) As per previous you can park your bike where the hell you want in France. We have just gone to full protective gear but last year just wondered around in shorts and a proper jacket but we do areas with no traffic not town centres as a general rule.
Personal choice but for us a scooter has given us loads of freedom and i think the towing, especially around parking at aires, could cause headaches. If youre a campsite person and stay there for the whole of the holiday I can see the attraction of having a toad but it is (imv) a better option to have a caravan and big car.
Similarly if not overly confident as rider or pillion that would negate a scooter.

We still wear shorts under our protective kit and just put a loop through the legs and arms and then they are D locked to the bike and we can walk around a town/village in comfort.

I have the address as well. We bought in new and have only used it out of the MH nearly a thousand miles on the clock now. I confess we only wear flip flops and shorts, I raced bikes for many years and there was interesting test done. Wearing full leathers helmet etc a lap time was set around Cadwell park, its was then repeated with no leathers, just gloves boots and helmet and underpants. The rider said he pushed as hard as he could and assumed a similar lap time. He was fourteen seconds slower. Of course there is no doubt protection is essential Id be a fool to promote otherwise, however I reckon I ride slower than I would on a push bike. With my head on a swivel, Of course we always wear a helmet. The only only time I thought "what have I done" was the N340 near Malaga, I felt very exposed. Foolish perhaps

 

[SpeedyDux]

Electric full size moped / scooters equivalent to a 50cc or 125cc petrol version are also available. I saw lots in Italy.

Electric Mopeds

From NIU to Supersoco, electric mopeds are gaining in popularity over their petrol counterparts. Ideal for delivery companies, food outlets and commuters. Choose from road and street legal electric scooters that are equivalent to 50cc and 125cc petrol achieve speeds of 28mph+, all with removable...

urbanebikes.com

 

[Spriddler]

It'll be a right faff and you won't be popular if you plan to stop on busy Aires/Stellplatzen.
You might find this thread informative on the legality of A frames in Europe.............
Read from post no. 8

A Frame advice

Hi all, hope you are all enjoying a little new found freedom here and there, we certainly are. We currently have a not so young Smart car , towed on an Aframe. The problem is that the current TowingAframes unit which came with the car, is so heavy for me to use. Whilst I understand that it has...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

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[Geo]

We have a lightweight scooter in the motorhome garage. 110cc Suzuki Address. Works well for us. IMHO if you are towing something you might as well be using a car and caravan

That's novel not heard that one before

 

[Taran_Las]

I carry a Honda CB300R in the garage of my van. It's great fun for motoring around the med coast. While not as practical as a scooter it's what I prefer.

Mousy (Dawn & Martin) carry their pup around in a top box on their scooter.

In my opinion it really depends on what type of touring you propose. Firmly ensconced on a site for months on end, perhaps a car would be preferable. Limited mobility may make a bike difficult to mount but easy to park close to your destination. A scooter doesn't have the previously stated limitation and generally has greater carrying capacity. If you plan on only staying a couple of days at each location the encumbrance of the car/trailer may be too much hassle.

Each situation dictates a slightly different solution.

Good luck with your choice.

 

[Lanerboy]

IMHO if you are towing something you might as well be using a car and caravan

I agree 100% i cant see the difference just the other way round really plus a caravan has more room and is at least half the price

Get a scooter who wants to faf around towing a car

 

[peterc10]

Electric full size moped / scooters equivalent to a 50cc or 125cc petrol version are also available. I saw lots in Italy.

Electric Mopeds

From NIU to Supersoco, electric mopeds are gaining in popularity over their petrol counterparts. Ideal for delivery companies, food outlets and commuters. Choose from road and street legal electric scooters that are equivalent to 50cc and 125cc petrol achieve speeds of 28mph+, all with removable...

urbanebikes.com

AFAIK they cannot be used on UK roads

 

[Drum Major]

We love having the freedom of the scooter brings to traveling also easy to get in and out of the motorhome

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[suavecarve]

AFAIK they cannot be used on UK roads

Suspect, but not totally positive, they can if they have MOT insurance correct licence etc

 

[suavecarve]

One other matter on aires and the hassle.
If you turn up with a toad on trailer, you have to park the trailer and the toad as well as your motorhome as you are unlikely to load the car onto the trailer overnight if staying another day. It may well be that you need another space or have to park them in the adjacent car park (obviously depends on what sort of aire). Wo betide taking a frenchmans parking space with your car and trailer !

 

[Rustyspanners]

The scooter seems to be winning. Thinking of a honda pcx125. Anyone had one of these for their dog. https://www.petonwheels.eu

 

[peterc10]

The scooter seems to be winning. Thinking of a honda pcx125. Anyone had one of these for their dog. https://www.petonwheels.eu

How much payload do you have. If you want a Honda the Vision is lighter and cheaper than the PCX. We bought the Suzuki Address which is their take on the Honda Vision. Similar but cheaper than the Honda and has a kick start as well as electric start. Essential if you leave it in the motorhome garage and let the battery run flat!!!! We never go far on it, because if we want to visit somewhere more than 20 miles away, we find somewhere to stay closer.

 

[Richard n Ann]

If I were buying again I'd go for the Honda SH Mode 125. It's only 13kg heavier than the Vision but 4bhp more (12bhp)

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[suavecarve]

If i were buying again, i would buy the address again only with dam site nicer seats. Over an hour on the bike and you know it !
We use it as a car but really like the balcony roads of france. Its been up the glossglockner !!!

 

[Minxy]

The scooter seems to be winning. Thinking of a honda pcx125. Anyone had one of these for their dog. https://www.petonwheels.eu

I'm not a fan of those simply because if you have an accident you could end up decapitating the dog!

A normal large top box, perhaps the 2 helmet one mentioned previously, with a couple of sections cut out and replaced with mesh so the dog can see out would be much safer IMV, as you need to think about how hot a dog will get in it too this would help keep it cool - obviously when using it to carry shopping etc you need to put the stuff in a bag to protect it in case of rain but other than that I can't see any issues.

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[Rustyspanners]

Wow those topboxes are cheap. No issues with payload tag axle but think 125 best wife could use it when at home on l plate. Think we will start with cheap topbox leave the dog off the bike for now.

 

[IanRJ]

The only only time I thought "what have I done" was the N340 near Malaga, I felt very exposed. Foolish perhaps

I felt similar on that road - I was driving a Shogun at the time too ;-)

 

[Lanerboy]

I was in your position 12 months ago didnt know what to do in the end after advise on here i bought a Honda sh125, best thing i ever did it goes in our garage along with 2 ebikes and it is brilliant, plenty of power with 2 of us on it no hastle with trailers and free parking when out and about plus it does about 100 mpg