@@LogicalQ that is because you never raced one on a green light with other random dudes delivering pizza...until the next stop light... Reset, every light a drag Race. :) So. Much. Fun.
Ya, the Italian made scooters are super popular. Also Italian made Honda SH’s are quite coveted in parts of Asia. Like Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam etc.
Here in Arizona some of the new squids that come on high speed nights are 16/17. Mostly on 600s. Sad to see em go down. Most recent was an amateur motorcross champion. Car forced him into the guardrail. Heads on the swivel guys.
@@andrewjensen6744 YOOOO I’m from the Chandler area 🤜 Honestly a fall or an accident is always traumatic, but I always tell the people and friends I ride with to get back on. Shouldn’t stop just because of 1 bad experience. That’s how you miss out on the fun 🙏
@Q N 520 street bikes represent. Yeah I've had a number myself. Cagies here just don't pay attention. Right bicep ic paralyzed and I still pop woolies and slay the streets. Lol last time I was up there I wheelied thru 2 intersections in Mesa only to discover the dude behind me was undercover. Luckily it was dope enough (3/4 mile) to get let off with a warning
I think all over Europe there is a huge scooter culture. It depends on countries what they favour but wherever you go there is always a big selling 50cc that people will go mad for. Here in Hungary it's the East German Simson that was the champion of the people. I have one, everyone at least knows someone who has or had one. I'm sure it's the same in Italy with the Vespa! It's the feeling of freedom that captivates you. A basic engine wrapped in functional but stylish package. When you're 14 or 15 you can't vote or drink but you can get on your 'bike' and ride into the sunset with your friends. A scooter or 50 is our first taste of freedom and the basis of our addiction to go a little faster, make a bit more noise, it teaches us the basic principles of riding and let's not forget that our saviour Rossi started out on a scooter!
in yugoslavia it wasn't really a scooter, more like the tomos 50 cc mopeds. even now the demand for them is crazy and i know that because my uncle flips them and currently has around 120 waiting to be resrored
Well said, brings a tear to the eye. Imagining my 16-year-old self and all of my friends riding into the sunset on scooters sounds amazing. Unfortunately we're from the states. Everybody gets cars here when their first learning, even if you have a bike infatuation
I've owned over 60 motorcycles, and been riding for well over 50 years Have ONE Harley left in the garage. (at one time, there were 5) A couple months back, I picked up a Honda PCX 150. I flat out LOVE it! Will run all day at 55-60 (bout half throttle) and return 85-95 mpg. Surprisingly quick off the line. Its just so damn easy to grab it and go!
Honestly, as much as I despise scooters (stupid things are so fun they invalidate my need to shill $20,000 on a turbo'd out 1000cc crotch rocket), the US needs to see more scooters when literally everywhere else in the world agrees that small displacement motorcycles (dirt bikes, mopeds, scooters) are the quintessential means of transportation that trumps ever needing a car if you're just out buying groceries. Especially when gas prices are stupid expensive, scooters should be more normalized and commonplace so that the next generation won't have to live to see the abomination known as electric kick scooters.
Honestly Electric kick scooters don't bother me so much as the people that seem to ride them. Sure, yours truly has an E-bike and has been known to do dumb shit from time to time, but it really does seem like folks try to be as much of a road/sidewalk hazard as possible.
I agree to this, in our country, scooter and small displacement motorcycles (125cc to 150cc) are the means of transportation. My mileage is between 38Km-40Km per liter/ 94Mpg.
If in the states where you can drive a 50cc or 1500w electric scooter/motorcycle without a motorcycle endorsement bumped up the limit to 125 or 150cc. We'd see a lot more people riding around I bet
I was a scooter squid years before I got on a motorcycle. Never wore any gear. Yamaha Zuma 49cc. I was totally fearless until one day an ATGATT guy on a harely told me an accident on a scooter going 35mph is the same as one on a motorcycle
I own a Vespa 125 to supplement my "real" bike. It's so much more convenient for city riding than a motorcycle. During summer I hardly ever take the car.
Several of my friends and I just recently bought Honda Navis. It’s honestly been fun having to plan backroad routes cause you can’t just jump on the highway. They’re also quiet as hell so you can go places you wouldn’t typically go and do things you wouldn’t typically do on a big bike. Good cheap fun.
@@mermaidmane808 Deal, Honda? No is right. I traded my one year old Fury (%5.99) for a C90T and Suzuki gave me 0% interest and my insurance was cheaper. Honda isn't what they used to be.
Each time I walk out into the garage I have the choice of scooter or motorcycle. And as Yammie said, they're both fun but the scooter is different in a way I've been trying to express for years on my blog or RUclips channel. The closest I've come is that the smooth, simple, and quiet operation of my Vespa scooter makes me feel as if I'm a bird flying along the road. On a motorcycle, I'm always aware that I'm operating a machine. I'm not a bird but rather something like a fighter pilot. Both are exhilarating but both are entirely different. One last thing, as I get older and the years creep toward 70 I have reluctantly accepted that I'm not as strong as I once was and don't have the patience for a heavy machine anymore. I recently downsized a BMW K75C to a Royal Enfield Himalayan. But someday my hips will tell me it's time again for a step-through scooter only. The good thing is that riding a scooter is more fun that I'm entitled to have!
Lol, everything you say is totally valid but the funny part for me is that my Vespa experience was totally different. My 1st ride was a 1961 Vespa with a 2009 engine (the Stella engine is a copy of P series is a copy of my era Vespa.) Omfg, it was a noisy 2 stroke metal body manual transmission wonder on wheels! When the exhaust was new it sounded like someone was playing cow bell while it idled. I was extremely aware of the mechanical aspect because for one thing I had to measure out the 2t oil to mix in with the gas, but also the bike was so simple even a newb rider like I was back then could do almost any work it needed. The engine was basically like a lawn mower, the wheels side mounted and had split rims, so patching tubes and replacing tires was a breeze. All the lines were cable (no hydraulics). Cranking that thing into gear always gave this feeling of "wait, this dinosaur might actually work!?" And then pulling the throttle gave more than an answer.
@@petercoene5930 I always forget to differentiate my Vespa experience which has been with modern, four-stroke engines and twist-and-go transmissions from vintage Vespa machines which inhabit all the things you outline. I've never warmed to the vintage machines and lean towards something a friend once said after growing tired of the sounds of chainsaws, weed whackers and other two-stroke powered things: "They should have hanged the guy who invented the two-stroke engine." That said, I realize some swear by them and think the modern Vespa is just something unconnected to the classic machines other than being branded as a Vespa product. There's a lot of diversity in the scooter realm!
Honda PCX 160 owner here. I bought it new 4 months ago and I love it. Ridiculously useful, practical, looks unlike a Vespa or cheap Chinese thing, and feels like riding a SeaDoo down the streets. Can't help but smile when using it. Bonus: Supposedly unkillable with minor maintenance. I just avoid interstates (although it can technically do them)
I had a Silverwing 600 for a few years Way more practical and way more comfortable than a motorcycle, not quite as fmuch un in the twisties So yeah, I think a scooter makes a great complement to a motorcycle, or perhaps vice versa
while living in phuket, thailand, I had a PCX 150 and Honda CB400 cafe racer. The cb400 was a work of art and I loved it. But I drove the scooter way more
I sold my Ninja 650 two years ago because of back problem (I'm 63). Purchased a 2016 Burgman 400. Its more comfortable, has more storage. You have the option of moving your legs anywhere on it. Has enough power for all my needs. I do mostly touring on it. I average 100 to 120 miles each ride. Could not be happier. I've put some 14k on it in two years. With proper maintenance should last me for years to come..
I'm glad you finally mentioned scooters! I've been riding my 50cc Chinese scooter since 2018. It was brand new for $750 shipped to my door. A year later after 2000km I installed a 60cc bbk and tuned the engine and transmission to go 30+mph up most hills. Tops out at 45mph. My scooter saves me so much in gas money during the warm seasons, and keeps miles off my new car. I want to get my motorcycle license so I can pick up a Honda Trail cub at some point
Great video. I recently spent three months in Thailand and had a 125cc Honda PCX. A lot of fun. I'm considering getting one for tooling around town, instead of pulling out the Kawasaki Voyager just to run up to the store. I'm fairly new to the channel. I'm enjoying the content. 👍🏻
I’m a Harley guy but there’s nothing I love more than my ruckus and I love my custom crf50 even more. The scooter is the best for just getting around my neighborhood and sometimes I’ll even go get a few groceries on it. The cool thing about the ruckets is it’s got a good aftermarket support like my Harley.
I'm a 6'2" 240lb man, and I can honestly say I love riding scooters. My parents have 2 honda ruckus'. They're great for quick trips to the bar, the gas station for beer, the liquor store. What I'm trying to say is, they're fun as hell, but in my area, they're a DUI machine. Lol
i have a 2003 piaggio liberty and am 6'4 and 190 lbs. It's a load of fun and sips fuel and because of the large wheels you can even take it on a few trails. The only problem is because i'm so tall on tight corners i hit my knees into the handlebar and the rear suspension has a tendency to bottom up on potholes unless you're standing up because preload isn't adjustable. So when riding trails is just fold out the pillion pegs and stand on them.
I have 6 Bikes...and got a Vespa last year, it was the best summer ever, I've barely used my bikes! I'm hooked, I now sold the Vespa and now getting a BV400S
Same as Europe, in southeast asia here theres a whole culture around scooters (or underbones) from 110cc to 155cc's, the bigger the cc the bigger your social status is, from a honda beat to a yamaha aerox, kids love em.
Glad to see this scooter segment! I have an '03 Burgman 400, and all I can say is don't deny til you try! 70+mpg, room under the seat for 2 full face helmets, the ability to get groceries, 2 up riding with power to spare, and it keeps up with all traffic! The downside? It's a 400# bike that the wife wants to ride and physically cannot handle. 😕
I too have a Burgie 400 and love it. At least its a "bike" and can do 85-90 mph. I had a mild stroke a few years ago and the scooter relies on fewer rider inputs to make it go and stop safely. Yeah, its a bit heavy but hard to get lighter unless you go to a little 50cc scooter for the most part. its comfy, as you note, and it carries more than you might think. OH! and yes I have a Cardo on both my helmets as well. Next up for me will be to change the color of mine to make it a bit more stealth than the white color it is now.
I started out on a 06 Burgman 400 before I got my current Vulcan 900. That Burger took me 1400 miles round trip on vacation last year and never complained.
I just bought an 06 Burgman 650. I was looking for a good starter bike and this thing was way below my price point so I couldn’t say no. It got me on 2 wheels, it does what I wanted (2 wheels, saves gas, let’s me learn to ride well enough to get something more robust.)
@@jonathancain7243 I'll bet that 650 is fairly robust as is! The 400, even from 2003, has the ability to move my 6'1" 400# butt at speeds well over 70mph without hesitation! Have fun and stay safe, I know that I make sure to use gear when riding my 400. 😁
I started riding on scooters for decades then dirt bikes just recently during the pandemic. When all my buddies started getting higher cc motorcycles. They kept bugging me to get one. So watching this channel a lot, I got a vitpilen 401. I use the scooter a lot still. It's faster to get around manila, cheaper to maintain, cheaper to gas up. Finally a scooter content from this channel!
I love my scooter. I drive a Lance Cabo 200i. I live in downtown Sacramento, and it is the perfect way to get around. The storage is always helpful and it is reliable. Definitely worth it in a city.
My intro to two wheels was a 13 Honda PCX 150 with some minimal performance upgrades by the previous owner. I was able to hit 65mph and take off from stops faster than I ever actually needed to. Not mention it's light and handles very well. If I were a better rider I could have been dragging knee around the round-abouts and curves.
Glad to see some scoot love here. I have three different scooters, two are 170cc's. All three are Sym brand from Taiwan. Those two are EFI, and 90+MPG. I was able to get my lady on two wheels utilizing these "under powered" scooters. We absolutely love our time on them and yes I'm already putting an MT-03 on my wish list. The scoots are great for short trips to run errands, or for simply exploring around the city's and finding roads we never knew existed, riding for the sake of riding. Absolute joy to own these. Thanks for including us in the Motorcyclists group Yammi. Seems almost all of the sport-style riders out there give us the two finger 'hello', while the bigger chrome-y-er leatherbound riders look like they'd rather give the one finger hello. We still wave anyway. 😜
If I take my Triumph downtown for coffee and park it on the sidewalk between the ornamental trees I am going to at least get cited and possibly towed. I take my small wheel scooter and do the same thing and it's invisible. Cops drive by and don't even blink at it. Nobody is offended by the little scooter. Once I realized that between the under seat, between feet and backpack I have a S$%T load of storage it has become my go to urban machine. I get laughed at all the time by "real" riders and I don't give two S$%Ts anymore. I get 100mpg, insurance is dirt cheap, registration in California, which is communist confiscatory, isn't a house payment, and it takes like 5 minutes to change the oil and wipe the filter screen clean. Best $2400 OTD I ever spent. BTW, I park right in front of Costco too!
Here in India scooters or scooties what we call them is how most people survive with petrol prices high enough to make you go bankrupt most people take their cars when it's a long dist journey or more than 2 people Honestly scooters and actual small displacement bikes (~125cc) deserve a lot more love for their usefulness
We are so worried about not appearing manly in the US (more so Texas) that most of the dealerships seem to refuse to stock scooters. I got mocked when I went in asking if my local place had any or could order one. I had to go to another town to find mine. That dealership told me they sell any within a week of getting them.
I am gonna get shot for this comment, but as much as I love motorcycles (I will sell my soul for an Indian) I just don't have the patience for gear shifting, I don't have experience and most of my two wheels has been 150 scooters. I know Yammie is talking about little scoots (frankly they are just retirement toys for a lot of folks) but I like 250cc and up, I rode a Kymco Like 150 and that bike was a champ before she got stolen. Now I have a Kymco Grandvisa and just love her, she moves so well and its so nice just to ride and actually enjoy the road. I am hoping to do more touring with her and really travel with it. Scoots are the way to go for me
Burgman 200 owner here, and I absolutely got my Burgman as more of a car replacement than a motorcycle replacement - whenever I drive my car, it's to be lazy or because I don't feel like carrying my backpack. With to scooter, I now have a great lazy way to stay on two wheels - I can chuck my backpack under the seat and ride comfortably. I did opt for 200cc option so it is highway capable (barely), but it allows me to take those 1 hour trips more comfortably and affordably, especially to see live music. I can leave my gear, including a full-faced helmet, under the seat, locked away, and parked basically wherever I want. The 200 isn't as efficient, but 80+MPG still isn't bad at all. And when I bop around town, I can dress for the destination rather than the ride. That point alone cannot be overstated. I've missed out on too many adventures because I didn't feel like spending 10 minutes fiddling with gear.
It seems accepted that scooters don't require gear but motorcycles do. I'm not completely sure I understand why. Commuting in the city on my bike at up to 45MPH I'm totally geared up, but same thing on a scooter its not necessary? Isn't other cars hitting me still the main risk?
@@ChadWinters You're not missing anything, there's no reasoning behind it, it's all mental gymnastics. If you're on two wheels on the road you should have gear
in italy they use scooters since 1953 when they started massive production because of practicality. its small, agile and consumtion is insanely low. if you go to italy today there is i would say 50:50 ratio cars vs scooters. and italians are crazy about flat footboard. i bought my honda pcx 125 in italy because someone who did a reservation for that scooter canceled the order because this scooter has fuel tank between your feet and italians dont like that. they preffer flat footboard to cary bags from supermarket and other minor things. scooters are so practical for city or if you have 500ccm+ its also powerful enough to go on holiday and you have no problem doing 130km/h on a highway
In Finland we have a flourishing moped culture. Basically 50 cc dirtbikes and scooters, although they are usually tuned with performance pipes and an increase in engine volume
honestly an automatic in the light to light, block to block city traffic just makes so much more sense. I hate the block by block "shift up...shift up..... shift up....shift down down down" repetition
I used to always hate on scooters and make fun of them. But now given current gas prices I have been looking into small scooters as a possible way to get to work without burning a hole into my wallet. Scooter has the advantage because I can take my lunch into work without needing to get an extra bag to go with it. For now I have been opting to use my motorcycle instead of my car because it is at least a little cheaper. Though for my commute a $3000- scooter would pay itself off in 2 years of use over my car, or 4 years of use over my motorcycle in gas savings alone, and if gas keeps going up it would only pay itself off faster. Which is really weird to think about. I don't like thinking about it.
I’ve been wanting to buy a motorcycle for around 3 years, as soon as I sat on a scooter I fell in love and bought myself an Nmax 125cc, now I just need to wait for it to arrive at the store!
Thanks man I drive a Honda metropolitan and it’s definitely not the coolest thing but I love it but let’s just say I don’t get a lot of waves but hey it no big deal lol but I appreciate your kindness is scooter guys usually do need a moral boost lool 😅😂
Yam I would love to see you on the Aprilia scooter or maxxi scooter. The big chunggus ones that will do 100mph. Just so you could gauge the comfort of riding them highway or long distance.
I've ridden scooters and motorcycles for over 20 years and it's important to understand that jumping from large capacity motorcycles to scooters is not a seamless transfer of skills. Yeah, they're simpler and slower, but require a different way of thinking out there. Scooters have smaller wheels, which changes what you thought you knew about traction and stability. It has a dimmer headlight, so don't expect to rely on it. The horns are softer. It's hollowed out where the engine would be, which radically alters the centre of gravity and disables the benefits of proper countersteering. And for some reason, scooter culture generally forfeits proper riding gear, when we all know a bail at 40 miles per hour is more than enough to ruin your month, if you're so lucky. It's easy to get lazy in this area. Assess where you live too. It's very traffic dependent. Automatic transmission means you get stuck between two trucks, there's no dropping a gear out of there, and when you've just got off a 600cc, you forget. It works in high density areas likd India or Vietnam because they rule the road, essentially setting the pace for cars around them. In the west, cagers don't give a shit about them and rarely see them. As I said, 20 years riding all capacity motorcycles and my most serious accident was on a 125cc scooter because I was flat out invisible to another car in broad daylight with almost no other traffic. T-boned a car, flew over the bonnet and landed in a hospital bed on the other side. I'm still amazed the guy didn't see me coming towards him. The worst accident I ever saw was two guys riding a scooter in shorts and flip-flops get taken out by a car in a suburban intersection. One had a half-pot that came off while he was mid-air. I was about ten feet away when I saw his head hit the road, killing him. The other dudes shin snapped. They were going about 40 miles per hour. That said, scooters can be very fun, efficient and useful when used right. But use them right. Their little load weights don't cater for ego.
I started on a Burgman 400 and I do not regret it AT ALL. Amazing gas mileage, predictable and extremely linear power band, more storage than a Honda Civic, comfy seat with a backrest, and really cheap to maintain.
Yammi, 200cc+ scooters (which are called maxi scooters) have all the benefit of scooters (high mpg, cvt transmission, more storage than even regular scooters) but are fast enough to take on the highway or long rural roads with 55mph speed limit. It's the perfect vehicle for suburban and rural riders who need to take the highway to get from point a to point b. My yamaha xmax 300 get's 70mpg on the highway.
Also you can get one at 14 not like here in the UK 16-17 and pay ridiculous insurance premiums and vehicle tax every year. France way better more fun to ride than crappy UK laws regulations speed camera's every meter on the road.
As a former scooterboi who graduated up to regular motorcycles I have to say you left out the most important parts (to me) 1: You talk about the offerings of the big 3 Japanese moto-cos, but left out the companies from around the world who specifically make scooters, not as side offerings but just scooters. 2: Among these are the historic Italian scoot cos that truly popularized this form of riding. You think your Ducati is prime Italian pasta-boi territory? How about a Piaggio or Lambretta? 3: The classic historic options, especially from Piaggio/Vespa have their own fanboy (and girl) following that could rival Harley. As far as vintage bikes go they are amazingly simple and easy to work on. Long before Triumph started it's fake vintage resurgence Genuine was selling the Stella; such an exact copy of the Vespa P-series that you could swap parts with the older Vespas. (My very 1st ride was a 1961 Vespa vb with a 2009 Stella engine) 4. 2 stroke. Ok, like with other bikes 4 stroke is more common now days but scooters were one of those bikes where a 2 stroke just made sense and they kept making 2t models up until less than a decade ago. Edit: also, those old scooters are not automatic, so talking about automatic transmission as universal to all scooters is just wrong.
I own 2 bikes today an Indian FTR 1200s and a Suzuki Burgman 650. I love riding that scooter so much that I rarely get on my Indian. The practicality of it makes it perfect. It’s got enough storage that I can do all my grocery shopping with it. Scooters are really nice to have. I might pick up a cheap small displacement scooter just to yeet around in parking lots and off road.
I have my 1978 J.C. Penny Pinto II and use it all the time for grocery runs. Though it's a moped but.... still you can't ride it w/o a big smile. And it tops out at..... 24mph,
My first bike back in the day was a KZ-900 so you know where I started from. Now I mostly ride a Honda PCX 150 and routinely put got on 100 - 200 mile trips on rural back roads. Most fun I've ever had for the least money.
I long time ago I started my two wheel journey on a Honda Elite 80cc scooter in high school. Didn’t need a motorcycle license and learned a lot of the basics. It’s not a bad way to learn.
Picked up an ADV150 a few weeks ago, things a blast. All the times where you have to run into town for that one part or a home depot run.. plenty of room, 100mpg and does 60mph. (Big plus when your 3 miles out of town) took the permit test and good to go. The wife even takes it to work.
@@thekerbeyhouse1920 wife works at a Motorsports dealership. Someone dropped it once in grass, got freaked out, traded it in on a ATV. Got a screaming deal on a “used” one with 50 miles.
I have the newest version of the Burgman 400 … the motor you weren’t so sure about. I have owned other scooters w/150 and 250 cc motors. The 150 got close to 100 mpg and was fun until you wanted to go over 60. The 250 was better for 2-up riding and gave me the ability to take it on the interstate highway (but it wasn’t fun around trucks). The 400 can go anywhere, is Euro-4 spec, carves any road, and will always pull faster when given the throttle, which the smaller motors could not do. The 650 has a heated seat and electric adjustable windshield, so you can have it all in the scooter world. If you don’t want to (or can’t easily) shift, the cvt tranny allows you to keep riding on 2 wheels. There are simply too many advantages to laugh off the scooter. ✌🏼 thanks for the video.
I've had three Bugman 400s but now I have a Burgman 650 I pretty much use as my commuter vehicle when the weather is decent enough. 32 miles each way. $16 will do about 3½ round trips (fuel currently being about $4.60/gal) where my older Honda Ridgeline $85 will get me to work 5 days. Even when fuel prices where under control, I still would ride as much as possible. Just plain enjoyable way to get to work. Even find myself usually taking the longer and slower "scenic route." For weekends, I have other 2 wheelers to ride. 1996 Heritage Classic, a TW200 and a 2022 Royal Enfield INT 650. They all have their purpose. The Scooter gets the most miles by far. Just turned 20K on my Burgman 650. Get yerself a dang scooter and tell em all STFU!!!
I only ride scooters. I was close at one point to buying a 'real' motorcycle but why should I really? Scooters have better storage, more comfortable, tend to have better mileage, don't need to fiddle with a clutch and gears in traffic, less effort to control, quieter, etc. Scooters are still fun to ride. Making the every day chore into a play thing. Why should I buy a 'real' motorcycle?
Some of the most fun I've had on two wheels was when dicking around on my old Ruckus. Thing was INDESTRUCTABLE and would happily go places I wouldn't even take my single track bike. They are like a cheesy 80's action popcorn movies, so bad they are good. Scooter-bros are made of sterner stuff than most motorcyclists I know, riding their faithful steed in the rain, snow, wind, ANYTHING.
Most people knock scooters till they sit on one and take it for a spin. After a minute or two you shed the ego and feel the freedom of putting around without a care in the world. I rode a 49cc scooter for 2 years before getting my MSF and honestly it taught me so much about riding and about myself.
I've ridden all sorts of bikes all around the world, ridden the Dakar rally, ridden the worlds highest roads and yet the bike I currently ride and am happier than I have ever been, a Honda ADV 150
I have a 125CC Lance Cabo…. It’s awesome. It’ll only go 60 (downhill) but whenever I need to go to 7/11 or travel a quick 10 miles I can take that instead of my 650, because the scooter gets about 85 mpg. Plus it’s fun to have one long gear, not worry about shifting and having a huge storage box on the back and under the seat. And it was only $3,000 ….with insurance being $11 a month. I even got the nerdy 3/4 helmet with the bubble shield for it. It’s fun in its own way, just like an R1 or 650 are fun in their own ways. And yes I even got an electric kick scooter as well (Segway F40). Lol.
I have four bikes in my garage, Yam FJR1300, Triumph Bonny, VMax and a Honda scooter. Guess which one gets the most miles put on it? Here in the UK scooters aren't that popular, it's my go to choice simply for the convenience and the effortless riding! Great video guys!
I've got an '87 Honda Elite 250 I'm doing my first street riding on. It's been laid down hard (twice that I know of) and left to sit in a garage for years, and it still starts easy and runs like a dream. I had it up to 55 yesterday and it was more stable that I had expected. My goal is to ride it on Kentucky's "Eye of the Dragon" this fall. If you've never ridden a scooter > 50cc you don't know what you are missing. Actually I might be missing out not having ridden a 50cc.
I had a Honda PCX 150 for a couple years. I could hit 70 and go on the interstate if I really wanted, but just zipping around town I could get 100 mpg. They are awesome little bikes really.
Great content! In Indonesia's big, heavily congested cities like Jakarta and Surabaya, the scooter is the norm! Although I prefer cubs and sports bikes, there is no denying the scooter's practicality. They are also super agile, easy to weave and filter through traffic on.
I own Burgman 650 that I got from a buddy at work who moved out of state and could not take it with him. The thing is a total blast to ride! With no clutch to work with just a twist of the wrist you'll hear the CVT spin up like a jet engine and it just pulls and keeps pulling. I got it up to 110 mph on the highway just to see if it was possible to hit 100 and it totally is. The thing so fun to mob around town on its also great fun to take on twistys!
I had a 250 honda reflex the same time I had my fat bob. The reflex was alot of fun to ride. Not only was it comfortable but so easy to ride. It being full auto was alot of fun. I'd cruise that thing all over town. It was great to use to run errands. Man was it cheap on gas. I'd buy another one in a heart beat for the right price. If I come across one needing work I'm buying it as it's so much fun. I'd like a 400cc one now. Don't knock it till you try it. Guarantee it'll put a smile on your face.
I bought a Ruckus 4 years ago; put mid foot pegs on them to lowe my feet, change the feel & lift off the seat easier; loaded a bag on the front rack, a trunk on the back, a custom bag under the seat, saddle bags enough for 4-5 full oaoer bags of groceries; installed forward pegs for lashing points and have hauled back 3x5x48 inch boxes of garage springs, a dog statue and 2 large dog food bags (different trips). It gets 100+ MPG and I ride even through Winter unless there’s snow or ice. Only goes 35 MPH, less uphill or into the wind; but it’s great fun around town. Traded up for a new Yamama BWs 125 Zuma though. My daily commuter. Larger bike is a 2013 Honda Shadow Spirit.
I just started on an Aprilia Scarabeo 500ie, and I would like to say that large displacement scooters have their place. I live in a more rural town where it's fairly commonplace to have to take either the interstate or a highway to get places
There has been a stigma against scoots and I’m glad to see that’s changing I stared on a 50cc scoot and recently got a Honda helix 250 in great condition for only $750 there cheap to buy and work on not to mention 100mpg really hope you end up getting a scoot ahhhh I can see it now the scoot squids
Yeah bruh. Like I've said on last videos, I would rather own a 150cc scooter than any sportbike out there. Fuel efficiency wise and as a daily ride, nothing is better than a ride you just twist a throttle to make it run and most of them feel comfortable due to its sitting position.
Bought a used scoot back in may to dip my toe into the 2 wheeled realm. 2 months in, and I've already put about 800 miles on it. Perfect beginner bike while I acquire the gear, tools, and skills I need for something bigger.
I have an old 400cc bike in my fleet for the short trips to the shops and poking around town. I’m seriously thinking of getting a scooter instead for those reasons you said, in particular the onboard storage. It would need to store the usual milk and bread, as well as a few small items that I would normally put in a backpack. On a side note, with my many travels to Asia I’ve seen the scooter step through section used for standing kids, pets, boxes of stuff, containers of water etc. You get the picture, they are so versatile.
As someone who has crashed 3 scooters despite only owning sports bikes and never crashed those, scooters aren't safer than motorcycles. Wear your gear.
I started on a Genuine Hooligan 170cc scooter, had it a little over two months and a lady in an SUV turned left on me and I slammed right into her, flew up and hit her windshield. Luckily I had a motorcycle jacket, helmet, and gloves, but still had about 6 weeks of physical therapy. Went to a 883 Sporty, for 10 months, now have a Softail Standard, lol
True. Had a guy ask me a few weeks ago why I was geared-up to ride a scooter when I told him I only rode it three miles. I spared him the story of my wife breaking her knee on one (armored overpants kept her skin on, at least) and just said the asphalt doesn’t care how far I am going or what I am riding. I’m not very witty. I’ve crashed enough on bicycles to know road rash hurts and takes a long time to heal. Speed and weight only make it worse.
Totally agree, and Maxi scooters like the Burgman 400 I own are just as fast and nimble as most beginner bikes! I always use a full face helmet, riding gloves, and boots. The jacket is an issue since I can't find one to fit my oversized torso. I also recommend a high viz vest to call attention to yourself.
You should try the 400cc Burgman before dismissing it. It is the most practical way to move on 2 wheels. I can keep up with motorcycles and traffic on the highway is no problem.
@@pleasedontwatchthese9593 I bought a non OEM belt for my Burgman 400 and have about 250 miles on it so far without any issue. It cost about $40, way cheaper than a stock belt. I'm not saying it will hold up like an OEM, I did have lots of concerns after installation last week, but so far so good, and there was a significant performance boost after it was installed.
I live in South Africa and just bought a Yamaha XMax 300 as my first bike back to riding in a few years (ok quite a few years). I must say I love it. It is fast enough to pull away and be "competitive" in traffic but not fast enough for me to lose control (my skills are rusty). The smaller scooters are not respected in traffic and people tend to push them out of the way because they think they will slow them down. It also is not a lot of cognitive load and is just a lot of fun to ride. I often go the looooong way around to the shops ,etc. My original plan was to get my skills up to scratch and then buy something like an KTM ADV but after riding this for a while, I am not sure I even need or will use that. The nice thing is that they seem to hold their value pretty well (2nd hand) so if in the future I decide to change my mind then I won't have lost too much money in the process.
Spent my first 6 years on a 125cc scooter commuting to work and back. Then did my big bike test. 4 years later of big boy bike ownership I too miss those care free scooter days. Sipping fuel, not paying big insurance, cheap maintenance (never did any ) and didn’t clean it every weekend 🤣. Thing is I’m really considering going to a smaller displacement bike or scooter for my next ride 😱
I bought a Honda Ruckus two weeks ago to save so money on commuting, and it was definitely one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. On average every week I am saving seventy dollars on gas. And since it doesn’t require insurance in my state, that’s all I have to spend on it per month. It’s just barely quick enough to get me anywhere in town, and good enough on dirt trails to get me anywhere out of town. It’s got its issues. It’s mindbendingly slow, and you’ll have to put down some cash to get any storage, but damn, I’ve driven this thing more in the past two weeks than I drove my truck last month.
I have a battered old Sinnis Scooter (old bike) as a backup for my main work Yamaha SR125 motorcycle. Reduces my downtime when my Yam needs garage time.
The best way I can sum up a scooter compared to a motorcycle is the difference between your first single shot 410 shotgun and your 12 gauge pump you have now. Sure, the 12 gauge is bigger and more effective and a real gun.. but it's not as much fun as the 410 was. I'm putting on a cheap half face helmet and no leather gear is so much better than the alternative.
Been riding my 2015 Honda metropolitan for 2 years now . The practicality of having a scooter makes me question getting a sports bike . What would I do without all that storage! 0 insurance ,normal license, 100miles per gallon . I didn’t know when I got on the thing that I was instantly part of a community and would get waves from “real bikkes” pretty cool . Glad to see yammie showing love to our subsection of the community
I'm about to sell my Yamaha XV1600 and buy Suzuki Burgman 650. I don't care "it's not a real bike", it looks practical and comfortable for touring and i want to try scooter life
Hell yes scooters are smart 🤓. Ultimate urban city transport. When everyone else is looking for a carpark and you can basically park anywhere it feels like a real smart play.
I have a 2020 GsxR 1000, but for everyday use and errands, I have a 2015 Yamaha Crypton 110cc, it has a semi automatic 4 speed gearbox, and it's amazing for what it was designed to do.
It's refreshing to hear something positive about a "scooter". Don't know what it is about American bike culture, but I enjoy my Honda ADV 150 and I've built my channel around it. I can't believe the following it receives so I feel the mindset is slowly changing. I can reach speeds of near 70mph, sip fuel at 100mpg, and it looks more like a motorcycle. I call it "Twist-N-Go" fun on two wheels and it helps with my mental health. I don't care what people say, I enjoy it. Why should it matter what we ride? The more important aspect is the liberation riding brings to people.
Just bombing around town doing errands getting great fuel mileage, will do over 60mph, has plenty of storage under the seat, and a hanger for a grocery bag or two. You don't have to worry about yeeting yourself to the moon going wide open throttle either. It was purchased used for $1,200 with 6k miles on the clock and is insured for about $60 a year. You really can't beat the value and the amount of fun a scooter offers.
![Stromae, Pomme - “Ma Meilleure Ennemie” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Visualizer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1F3OGIFnW1k/mqdefault.jpg)
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turbo honda rukus sir
@@LogicalQ that is because you never raced one on a green light with other random dudes delivering pizza...until the next stop light... Reset, every light a drag Race. :) So. Much. Fun.
I think a copy cat is trying to spam people
You would enjoy watching Mamba-LIN on you-tube, great scooters and motorcycles in fast cornering!
WTF is this? I make a comment and you wanna sell me something? Aiya, gotta love the push though😂😂😂
Here in Italy you see 14 year olds in 70cc tuned boosters and nrg's and i think its beautiful
Quebec is similar
Ya, the Italian made scooters are super popular. Also Italian made Honda SH’s are quite coveted in parts of Asia. Like Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam etc.
Here in Arizona some of the new squids that come on high speed nights are 16/17. Mostly on 600s. Sad to see em go down. Most recent was an amateur motorcross champion. Car forced him into the guardrail. Heads on the swivel guys.
@@andrewjensen6744 YOOOO I’m from the Chandler area 🤜 Honestly a fall or an accident is always traumatic, but I always tell the people and friends I ride with to get back on. Shouldn’t stop just because of 1 bad experience. That’s how you miss out on the fun 🙏
@Q N
520 street bikes represent. Yeah I've had a number myself. Cagies here just don't pay attention. Right bicep ic paralyzed and I still pop woolies and slay the streets.
Lol last time I was up there I wheelied thru 2 intersections in Mesa only to discover the dude behind me was undercover. Luckily it was dope enough (3/4 mile) to get let off with a warning
I think all over Europe there is a huge scooter culture. It depends on countries what they favour but wherever you go there is always a big selling 50cc that people will go mad for. Here in Hungary it's the East German Simson that was the champion of the people. I have one, everyone at least knows someone who has or had one. I'm sure it's the same in Italy with the Vespa! It's the feeling of freedom that captivates you. A basic engine wrapped in functional but stylish package. When you're 14 or 15 you can't vote or drink but you can get on your 'bike' and ride into the sunset with your friends. A scooter or 50 is our first taste of freedom and the basis of our addiction to go a little faster, make a bit more noise, it teaches us the basic principles of riding and let's not forget that our saviour Rossi started out on a scooter!
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in yugoslavia it wasn't really a scooter, more like the tomos 50 cc mopeds. even now the demand for them is crazy and i know that because my uncle flips them and currently has around 120 waiting to be resrored
Fellow tintahalak 🦑👋
Well said, brings a tear to the eye. Imagining my 16-year-old self and all of my friends riding into the sunset on scooters sounds amazing. Unfortunately we're from the states. Everybody gets cars here when their first learning, even if you have a bike infatuation
Magyarkáim, magyarkáim!
I've owned over 60 motorcycles, and been riding for well over 50 years Have ONE Harley left in the garage. (at one time, there were 5) A couple months back, I picked up a Honda PCX 150. I flat out LOVE it! Will run all day at 55-60 (bout half throttle) and return 85-95 mpg. Surprisingly quick off the line. Its just so damn easy to grab it and go!
Honestly, as much as I despise scooters (stupid things are so fun they invalidate my need to shill $20,000 on a turbo'd out 1000cc crotch rocket), the US needs to see more scooters when literally everywhere else in the world agrees that small displacement motorcycles (dirt bikes, mopeds, scooters) are the quintessential means of transportation that trumps ever needing a car if you're just out buying groceries.
Especially when gas prices are stupid expensive, scooters should be more normalized and commonplace so that the next generation won't have to live to see the abomination known as electric kick scooters.
Honestly Electric kick scooters don't bother me so much as the people that seem to ride them. Sure, yours truly has an E-bike and has been known to do dumb shit from time to time, but it really does seem like folks try to be as much of a road/sidewalk hazard as possible.
I agree to this, in our country, scooter and small displacement motorcycles (125cc to 150cc) are the means of transportation.
My mileage is between 38Km-40Km per liter/ 94Mpg.
If in the states where you can drive a 50cc or 1500w electric scooter/motorcycle without a motorcycle endorsement bumped up the limit to 125 or 150cc. We'd see a lot more people riding around I bet
My PCX is showing 102 mpg while still being over 150cc. And it loves swurvy roads. B)
I love kicking my bike to life before going anywhere
I was a scooter squid years before I got on a motorcycle. Never wore any gear. Yamaha Zuma 49cc. I was totally fearless until one day an ATGATT guy on a harely told me an accident on a scooter going 35mph is the same as one on a motorcycle
I own a Vespa 125 to supplement my "real" bike. It's so much more convenient for city riding than a motorcycle.
During summer I hardly ever take the car.
Several of my friends and I just recently bought Honda Navis. It’s honestly been fun having to plan backroad routes cause you can’t just jump on the highway. They’re also quiet as hell so you can go places you wouldn’t typically go and do things you wouldn’t typically do on a big bike. Good cheap fun.
Did u guy get a bulk discount
@@Enrique-peralta hell naw, Honda don’t care that much lol.
@@mermaidmane808 Deal, Honda? No is right. I traded my one year old Fury (%5.99) for a C90T and Suzuki gave me 0% interest and my insurance was cheaper. Honda isn't what they used to be.
Each time I walk out into the garage I have the choice of scooter or motorcycle. And as Yammie said, they're both fun but the scooter is different in a way I've been trying to express for years on my blog or RUclips channel. The closest I've come is that the smooth, simple, and quiet operation of my Vespa scooter makes me feel as if I'm a bird flying along the road. On a motorcycle, I'm always aware that I'm operating a machine. I'm not a bird but rather something like a fighter pilot. Both are exhilarating but both are entirely different.
One last thing, as I get older and the years creep toward 70 I have reluctantly accepted that I'm not as strong as I once was and don't have the patience for a heavy machine anymore. I recently downsized a BMW K75C to a Royal Enfield Himalayan. But someday my hips will tell me it's time again for a step-through scooter only. The good thing is that riding a scooter is more fun that I'm entitled to have!
Lol, everything you say is totally valid but the funny part for me is that my Vespa experience was totally different. My 1st ride was a 1961 Vespa with a 2009 engine (the Stella engine is a copy of P series is a copy of my era Vespa.) Omfg, it was a noisy 2 stroke metal body manual transmission wonder on wheels! When the exhaust was new it sounded like someone was playing cow bell while it idled. I was extremely aware of the mechanical aspect because for one thing I had to measure out the 2t oil to mix in with the gas, but also the bike was so simple even a newb rider like I was back then could do almost any work it needed. The engine was basically like a lawn mower, the wheels side mounted and had split rims, so patching tubes and replacing tires was a breeze. All the lines were cable (no hydraulics).
Cranking that thing into gear always gave this feeling of "wait, this dinosaur might actually work!?" And then pulling the throttle gave more than an answer.
@@petercoene5930 I always forget to differentiate my Vespa experience which has been with modern, four-stroke engines and twist-and-go transmissions from vintage Vespa machines which inhabit all the things you outline. I've never warmed to the vintage machines and lean towards something a friend once said after growing tired of the sounds of chainsaws, weed whackers and other two-stroke powered things: "They should have hanged the guy who invented the two-stroke engine."
That said, I realize some swear by them and think the modern Vespa is just something unconnected to the classic machines other than being branded as a Vespa product.
There's a lot of diversity in the scooter realm!
Honda PCX 160 owner here. I bought it new 4 months ago and I love it. Ridiculously useful, practical, looks unlike a Vespa or cheap Chinese thing, and feels like riding a SeaDoo down the streets. Can't help but smile when using it. Bonus: Supposedly unkillable with minor maintenance. I just avoid interstates (although it can technically do them)
I had a Silverwing 600 for a few years
Way more practical and way more comfortable than a motorcycle, not quite as fmuch un in the twisties
So yeah, I think a scooter makes a great complement to a motorcycle, or perhaps vice versa
while living in phuket, thailand, I had a PCX 150 and Honda CB400 cafe racer. The cb400 was a work of art and I loved it. But I drove the scooter way more
I sold my Ninja 650 two years ago because of back problem (I'm 63). Purchased a 2016 Burgman 400. Its more comfortable, has more storage. You have the option of moving your legs anywhere on it. Has enough power for all my needs. I do mostly touring on it. I average 100 to 120 miles each ride. Could not be happier. I've put some 14k on it in two years. With proper maintenance should last me for years to come..
I'm glad you finally mentioned scooters! I've been riding my 50cc Chinese scooter since 2018. It was brand new for $750 shipped to my door.
A year later after 2000km I installed a 60cc bbk and tuned the engine and transmission to go 30+mph up most hills. Tops out at 45mph.
My scooter saves me so much in gas money during the warm seasons, and keeps miles off my new car. I want to get my motorcycle license so I can pick up a Honda Trail cub at some point
Just get a Chinese 150cc and change over the vin plate lol no need for a license
Gayyyy
Probably pays for itself in gas savings
I bought the Honda navi but I really wanted the trail 125 but I'm not paying 6k-6.5k for that bike
I feel that. The dealer markup is killing the idea of people like us getting MSRP equipment, I've seen the used ones go for MSRP in my local area
Great video. I recently spent three months in Thailand and had a 125cc Honda PCX. A lot of fun.
I'm considering getting one for tooling around town, instead of pulling out the Kawasaki Voyager just to run up to the store.
I'm fairly new to the channel. I'm enjoying the content. 👍🏻
I’m a Harley guy but there’s nothing I love more than my ruckus and I love my custom crf50 even more. The scooter is the best for just getting around my neighborhood and sometimes I’ll even go get a few groceries on it. The cool thing about the ruckets is it’s got a good aftermarket support like my Harley.
My oversized truck and 1970s steel driving mechanic friend absolutely loved his Ruckus.
I regret selling my ruckus. It was more satisfying to drive than my Harley. It's more fun goes fast on something slow than slow on something fast.
My wife and kids took over the ruckus , I found myself jealous so I bought the zuma too
Find a nice old Honda Elite.
@@TheBandit7613 No more old project bikes with aging electric systems. Life is too short.
Finally! The Yam talks about scooters! The only thing left is for you guys to actually do a ride vlog on one!
Do it!!!!
We need an episode on Tomos mopeds!
I'm a 6'2" 240lb man, and I can honestly say I love riding scooters. My parents have 2 honda ruckus'. They're great for quick trips to the bar, the gas station for beer, the liquor store. What I'm trying to say is, they're fun as hell, but in my area, they're a DUI machine. Lol
i have a 2003 piaggio liberty and am 6'4 and 190 lbs. It's a load of fun and sips fuel and because of the large wheels you can even take it on a few trails. The only problem is because i'm so tall on tight corners i hit my knees into the handlebar and the rear suspension has a tendency to bottom up on potholes unless you're standing up because preload isn't adjustable. So when riding trails is just fold out the pillion pegs and stand on them.
this guy gets it
I have 6 Bikes...and got a Vespa last year, it was the best summer ever, I've barely used my bikes! I'm hooked, I now sold the Vespa and now getting a BV400S
Same as Europe, in southeast asia here theres a whole culture around scooters (or underbones) from 110cc to 155cc's, the bigger the cc the bigger your social status is, from a honda beat to a yamaha aerox, kids love em.
Glad to see this scooter segment! I have an '03 Burgman 400, and all I can say is don't deny til you try! 70+mpg, room under the seat for 2 full face helmets, the ability to get groceries, 2 up riding with power to spare, and it keeps up with all traffic! The downside? It's a 400# bike that the wife wants to ride and physically cannot handle. 😕
I too have a Burgie 400 and love it. At least its a "bike" and can do 85-90 mph. I had a mild stroke a few years ago and the scooter relies on fewer rider inputs to make it go and stop safely. Yeah, its a bit heavy but hard to get lighter unless you go to a little 50cc scooter for the most part. its comfy, as you note, and it carries more than you might think. OH! and yes I have a Cardo on both my helmets as well. Next up for me will be to change the color of mine to make it a bit more stealth than the white color it is now.
I started out on a 06 Burgman 400 before I got my current Vulcan 900. That Burger took me 1400 miles round trip on vacation last year and never complained.
Depending on what I got, I could carry four grocery bags in my 2011 Burgman. The best part was that I could park right NEXT to the door!
I just bought an 06 Burgman 650. I was looking for a good starter bike and this thing was way below my price point so I couldn’t say no. It got me on 2 wheels, it does what I wanted (2 wheels, saves gas, let’s me learn to ride well enough to get something more robust.)
@@jonathancain7243 I'll bet that 650 is fairly robust as is! The 400, even from 2003, has the ability to move my 6'1" 400# butt at speeds well over 70mph without hesitation! Have fun and stay safe, I know that I make sure to use gear when riding my 400. 😁
I've had 3 maxi scoots now next to motorcycles, ... they're great for what they are.. in my humble opinion
I started riding on scooters for decades then dirt bikes just recently during the pandemic. When all my buddies started getting higher cc motorcycles. They kept bugging me to get one. So watching this channel a lot, I got a vitpilen 401. I use the scooter a lot still. It's faster to get around manila, cheaper to maintain, cheaper to gas up. Finally a scooter content from this channel!
A scooter is a type of motorcycle. Saying a scooter is different from a motorcycle is like saying a sedan is different from a car.
I love my scooter. I drive a Lance Cabo 200i. I live in downtown Sacramento, and it is the perfect way to get around. The storage is always helpful and it is reliable. Definitely worth it in a city.
My intro to two wheels was a 13 Honda PCX 150 with some minimal performance upgrades by the previous owner. I was able to hit 65mph and take off from stops faster than I ever actually needed to. Not mention it's light and handles very well. If I were a better rider I could have been dragging knee around the round-abouts and curves.
Glad to see some scoot love here. I have three different scooters, two are 170cc's. All three are Sym brand from Taiwan. Those two are EFI, and 90+MPG. I was able to get my lady on two wheels utilizing these "under powered" scooters. We absolutely love our time on them and yes I'm already putting an MT-03 on my wish list. The scoots are great for short trips to run errands, or for simply exploring around the city's and finding roads we never knew existed, riding for the sake of riding. Absolute joy to own these. Thanks for including us in the Motorcyclists group Yammi. Seems almost all of the sport-style riders out there give us the two finger 'hello', while the bigger chrome-y-er leatherbound riders look like they'd rather give the one finger hello. We still wave anyway. 😜
Had a SYM RV 250 forv years and it was flawless. They make very good product. Njoy ✌🏼
If I take my Triumph downtown for coffee and park it on the sidewalk between the ornamental trees I am going to at least get cited and possibly towed. I take my small wheel scooter and do the same thing and it's invisible. Cops drive by and don't even blink at it. Nobody is offended by the little scooter. Once I realized that between the under seat, between feet and backpack I have a S$%T load of storage it has become my go to urban machine. I get laughed at all the time by "real" riders and I don't give two S$%Ts anymore. I get 100mpg, insurance is dirt cheap, registration in California, which is communist confiscatory, isn't a house payment, and it takes like 5 minutes to change the oil and wipe the filter screen clean. Best $2400 OTD I ever spent. BTW, I park right in front of Costco too!
I recently bought a Vespa GTS 300. Love it! its a great 2nd or 5th bike.
Here in India scooters or scooties what we call them is how most people survive with petrol prices high enough to make you go bankrupt most people take their cars when it's a long dist journey or more than 2 people
Honestly scooters and actual small displacement bikes (~125cc) deserve a lot more love for their usefulness
We are so worried about not appearing manly in the US (more so Texas) that most of the dealerships seem to refuse to stock scooters. I got mocked when I went in asking if my local place had any or could order one. I had to go to another town to find mine. That dealership told me they sell any within a week of getting them.
Honda wave 125i, the way to go.
@@Mojomanultra We (US) don't get that one. :/
I am gonna get shot for this comment, but as much as I love motorcycles (I will sell my soul for an Indian) I just don't have the patience for gear shifting, I don't have experience and most of my two wheels has been 150 scooters. I know Yammie is talking about little scoots (frankly they are just retirement toys for a lot of folks) but I like 250cc and up, I rode a Kymco Like 150 and that bike was a champ before she got stolen. Now I have a Kymco Grandvisa and just love her, she moves so well and its so nice just to ride and actually enjoy the road. I am hoping to do more touring with her and really travel with it. Scoots are the way to go for me
Burgman 200 owner here, and I absolutely got my Burgman as more of a car replacement than a motorcycle replacement - whenever I drive my car, it's to be lazy or because I don't feel like carrying my backpack. With to scooter, I now have a great lazy way to stay on two wheels - I can chuck my backpack under the seat and ride comfortably. I did opt for 200cc option so it is highway capable (barely), but it allows me to take those 1 hour trips more comfortably and affordably, especially to see live music. I can leave my gear, including a full-faced helmet, under the seat, locked away, and parked basically wherever I want. The 200 isn't as efficient, but 80+MPG still isn't bad at all. And when I bop around town, I can dress for the destination rather than the ride. That point alone cannot be overstated. I've missed out on too many adventures because I didn't feel like spending 10 minutes fiddling with gear.
It seems accepted that scooters don't require gear but motorcycles do. I'm not completely sure I understand why. Commuting in the city on my bike at up to 45MPH I'm totally geared up, but same thing on a scooter its not necessary? Isn't other cars hitting me still the main risk?
Boom! Burgman 200 owner here as well. Very fun and practical. Twist and go!
@@ChadWinters You're not missing anything, there's no reasoning behind it, it's all mental gymnastics. If you're on two wheels on the road you should have gear
in italy they use scooters since 1953 when they started massive production because of practicality. its small, agile and consumtion is insanely low. if you go to italy today there is i would say 50:50 ratio cars vs scooters. and italians are crazy about flat footboard. i bought my honda pcx 125 in italy because someone who did a reservation for that scooter canceled the order because this scooter has fuel tank between your feet and italians dont like that. they preffer flat footboard to cary bags from supermarket and other minor things. scooters are so practical for city or if you have 500ccm+ its also powerful enough to go on holiday and you have no problem doing 130km/h on a highway
In Finland we have a flourishing moped culture. Basically 50 cc dirtbikes and scooters, although they are usually tuned with performance pipes and an increase in engine volume
As one of the resident scooter bois on the discord... Thank you for this papa yam
honestly an automatic in the light to light, block to block city traffic just makes so much more sense. I hate the block by block "shift up...shift up..... shift up....shift down down down" repetition
I used to always hate on scooters and make fun of them. But now given current gas prices I have been looking into small scooters as a possible way to get to work without burning a hole into my wallet. Scooter has the advantage because I can take my lunch into work without needing to get an extra bag to go with it. For now I have been opting to use my motorcycle instead of my car because it is at least a little cheaper. Though for my commute a $3000- scooter would pay itself off in 2 years of use over my car, or 4 years of use over my motorcycle in gas savings alone, and if gas keeps going up it would only pay itself off faster. Which is really weird to think about. I don't like thinking about it.
I’ve been wanting to buy a motorcycle for around 3 years, as soon as I sat on a scooter I fell in love and bought myself an Nmax 125cc, now I just need to wait for it to arrive at the store!
I still wave to scooters, they always look like they need the morale boost.
Me too
@@_Safety_Third_basing your self worth on the kind of bike u ride is not normal.yall need help.
@@slimfit767 I only base it on the fact that I'm riding a bike 😆 I love all bikes. It's driving cars that makes you a worse person.
Thanks man I drive a Honda metropolitan and it’s definitely not the coolest thing but I love it but let’s just say I don’t get a lot of waves but hey it no big deal lol but I appreciate your kindness is scooter guys usually do need a moral boost lool 😅😂
Yam I would love to see you on the Aprilia scooter or maxxi scooter. The big chunggus ones that will do 100mph. Just so you could gauge the comfort of riding them highway or long distance.
Yes, that would be the bomb!
I've ridden scooters and motorcycles for over 20 years and it's important to understand that jumping from large capacity motorcycles to scooters is not a seamless transfer of skills. Yeah, they're simpler and slower, but require a different way of thinking out there. Scooters have smaller wheels, which changes what you thought you knew about traction and stability. It has a dimmer headlight, so don't expect to rely on it. The horns are softer. It's hollowed out where the engine would be, which radically alters the centre of gravity and disables the benefits of proper countersteering. And for some reason, scooter culture generally forfeits proper riding gear, when we all know a bail at 40 miles per hour is more than enough to ruin your month, if you're so lucky. It's easy to get lazy in this area. Assess where you live too. It's very traffic dependent. Automatic transmission means you get stuck between two trucks, there's no dropping a gear out of there, and when you've just got off a 600cc, you forget. It works in high density areas likd India or Vietnam because they rule the road, essentially setting the pace for cars around them. In the west, cagers don't give a shit about them and rarely see them. As I said, 20 years riding all capacity motorcycles and my most serious accident was on a 125cc scooter because I was flat out invisible to another car in broad daylight with almost no other traffic. T-boned a car, flew over the bonnet and landed in a hospital bed on the other side. I'm still amazed the guy didn't see me coming towards him. The worst accident I ever saw was two guys riding a scooter in shorts and flip-flops get taken out by a car in a suburban intersection. One had a half-pot that came off while he was mid-air. I was about ten feet away when I saw his head hit the road, killing him. The other dudes shin snapped. They were going about 40 miles per hour. That said, scooters can be very fun, efficient and useful when used right. But use them right. Their little load weights don't cater for ego.
wow, great comment, all of what you said ^^^^^^^
I started on a Burgman 400 and I do not regret it AT ALL.
Amazing gas mileage, predictable and extremely linear power band, more storage than a Honda Civic, comfy seat with a backrest, and really cheap to maintain.
Yammi, 200cc+ scooters (which are called maxi scooters) have all the benefit of scooters (high mpg, cvt transmission, more storage than even regular scooters) but are fast enough to take on the highway or long rural roads with 55mph speed limit. It's the perfect vehicle for suburban and rural riders who need to take the highway to get from point a to point b. My yamaha xmax 300 get's 70mpg on the highway.
Growing up in france nothing but scooters and supermotos everywhere and some sport bikes, it’s just a different scene than in America
Also you can get one at 14 not like here in the UK 16-17 and pay ridiculous insurance premiums and vehicle tax every year. France way better more fun to ride than crappy UK laws regulations speed camera's every meter on the road.
As a former scooterboi who graduated up to regular motorcycles I have to say you left out the most important parts (to me)
1: You talk about the offerings of the big 3 Japanese moto-cos, but left out the companies from around the world who specifically make scooters, not as side offerings but just scooters.
2: Among these are the historic Italian scoot cos that truly popularized this form of riding. You think your Ducati is prime Italian pasta-boi territory? How about a Piaggio or Lambretta?
3: The classic historic options, especially from Piaggio/Vespa have their own fanboy (and girl) following that could rival Harley. As far as vintage bikes go they are amazingly simple and easy to work on. Long before Triumph started it's fake vintage resurgence Genuine was selling the Stella; such an exact copy of the Vespa P-series that you could swap parts with the older Vespas. (My very 1st ride was a 1961 Vespa vb with a 2009 Stella engine)
4. 2 stroke. Ok, like with other bikes 4 stroke is more common now days but scooters were one of those bikes where a 2 stroke just made sense and they kept making 2t models up until less than a decade ago.
Edit: also, those old scooters are not automatic, so talking about automatic transmission as universal to all scooters is just wrong.
+1
Started on scooters so I totally endorsed everything you said. I love scooters and still dream of owning a Vespa 150 get🤤
I own 2 bikes today an Indian FTR 1200s and a Suzuki Burgman 650. I love riding that scooter so much that I rarely get on my Indian. The practicality of it makes it perfect. It’s got enough storage that I can do all my grocery shopping with it. Scooters are really nice to have. I might pick up a cheap small displacement scooter just to yeet around in parking lots and off road.
I have my 1978 J.C. Penny Pinto II and use it all the time for grocery runs. Though it's a moped but.... still you can't ride it w/o a big smile. And it tops out at..... 24mph,
There is one in my garage. Along side my r1 and ninja 250. I take it to the convenience store and grocery store at least twice a week.
My first bike back in the day was a KZ-900 so you know where I started from. Now I mostly ride a Honda PCX 150 and routinely put got on 100 - 200 mile trips on rural back roads. Most fun I've ever had for the least money.
I long time ago I started my two wheel journey on a Honda Elite 80cc scooter in high school. Didn’t need a motorcycle license and learned a lot of the basics. It’s not a bad way to learn.
Picked up an ADV150 a few weeks ago, things a blast. All the times where you have to run into town for that one part or a home depot run.. plenty of room, 100mpg and does 60mph. (Big plus when your 3 miles out of town) took the permit test and good to go. The wife even takes it to work.
You are lucky. That, Navi's, and Yamaha XMAX 300s are very hard to find at dealerships.
@@thekerbeyhouse1920 wife works at a Motorsports dealership. Someone dropped it once in grass, got freaked out, traded it in on a ATV. Got a screaming deal on a “used” one with 50 miles.
I have the newest version of the Burgman 400 … the motor you weren’t so sure about. I have owned other scooters w/150 and 250 cc motors. The 150 got close to 100 mpg and was fun until you wanted to go over 60. The 250 was better for 2-up riding and gave me the ability to take it on the interstate highway (but it wasn’t fun around trucks). The 400 can go anywhere, is Euro-4 spec, carves any road, and will always pull faster when given the throttle, which the smaller motors could not do. The 650 has a heated seat and electric adjustable windshield, so you can have it all in the scooter world. If you don’t want to (or can’t easily) shift, the cvt tranny allows you to keep riding on 2 wheels. There are simply too many advantages to laugh off the scooter. ✌🏼 thanks for the video.
I’ve been riding a Vespa 300 hpe for a couple of years now. Best decision I’ve ever made.
About how fast is that? Drz400 fast? or klx250 fast?
Yammie is going to end up going full circle in the BUSA boi life cycle and buy the HalfaBUSA known as the Burgman Exec.
I've had three Bugman 400s but now I have a Burgman 650 I pretty much use as my commuter vehicle when the weather is decent enough. 32 miles each way. $16 will do about 3½ round trips (fuel currently being about $4.60/gal) where my older Honda Ridgeline $85 will get me to work 5 days. Even when fuel prices where under control, I still would ride as much as possible. Just plain enjoyable way to get to work. Even find myself usually taking the longer and slower "scenic route." For weekends, I have other 2 wheelers to ride. 1996 Heritage Classic, a TW200 and a 2022 Royal Enfield INT 650. They all have their purpose. The Scooter gets the most miles by far. Just turned 20K on my Burgman 650. Get yerself a dang scooter and tell em all STFU!!!
I only ride scooters. I was close at one point to buying a 'real' motorcycle but why should I really? Scooters have better storage, more comfortable, tend to have better mileage, don't need to fiddle with a clutch and gears in traffic, less effort to control, quieter, etc. Scooters are still fun to ride. Making the every day chore into a play thing. Why should I buy a 'real' motorcycle?
Because motorcycles are more fun. I've ridden both scooters are a cheap imitation of riding motorcycles. Get a motorcycle you'll thank me.
@@House_of_Zodd I actually do have a 'real' motorcycle since posting this video. I am not thanking you.
I stand behind everything I said.
@@SirNarax it's better than the scooter tho isn't it?
@@House_of_Zodd In many ways, no.
I picked up a older, 03 Burgman 400 last summer and have been commuting with it since. Very useful ride and cheap to run.
Some of the most fun I've had on two wheels was when dicking around on my old Ruckus. Thing was INDESTRUCTABLE and would happily go places I wouldn't even take my single track bike. They are like a cheesy 80's action popcorn movies, so bad they are good.
Scooter-bros are made of sterner stuff than most motorcyclists I know, riding their faithful steed in the rain, snow, wind, ANYTHING.
Most people knock scooters till they sit on one and take it for a spin. After a minute or two you shed the ego and feel the freedom of putting around without a care in the world. I rode a 49cc scooter for 2 years before getting my MSF and honestly it taught me so much about riding and about myself.
I've ridden all sorts of bikes all around the world, ridden the Dakar rally, ridden the worlds highest roads and yet the bike I currently ride and am happier than I have ever been, a Honda ADV 150
I have a 125CC Lance Cabo…. It’s awesome. It’ll only go 60 (downhill) but whenever I need to go to 7/11 or travel a quick 10 miles I can take that instead of my 650, because the scooter gets about 85 mpg. Plus it’s fun to have one long gear, not worry about shifting and having a huge storage box on the back and under the seat. And it was only $3,000 ….with insurance being $11 a month. I even got the nerdy 3/4 helmet with the bubble shield for it. It’s fun in its own way, just like an R1 or 650 are fun in their own ways. And yes I even got an electric kick scooter as well (Segway F40). Lol.
I have four bikes in my garage, Yam FJR1300, Triumph Bonny, VMax and a Honda scooter. Guess which one gets the most miles put on it? Here in the UK scooters aren't that popular, it's my go to choice simply for the convenience and the effortless riding! Great video guys!
If I lived in a big city I'd totally own a scooter, shit would be super convenient and practical.
I would never live in a city though...
I've got an '87 Honda Elite 250 I'm doing my first street riding on. It's been laid down hard (twice that I know of) and left to sit in a garage for years, and it still starts easy and runs like a dream. I had it up to 55 yesterday and it was more stable that I had expected. My goal is to ride it on Kentucky's "Eye of the Dragon" this fall. If you've never ridden a scooter > 50cc you don't know what you are missing. Actually I might be missing out not having ridden a 50cc.
I'd love to see some more scooter content
Thanks for this, I know it was painful for you but super important to feel represented for us scooter dads.
I had a Honda PCX 150 for a couple years. I could hit 70 and go on the interstate if I really wanted, but just zipping around town I could get 100 mpg. They are awesome little bikes really.
Great content! In Indonesia's big, heavily congested cities like Jakarta and Surabaya, the scooter is the norm! Although I prefer cubs and sports bikes, there is no denying the scooter's practicality. They are also super agile, easy to weave and filter through traffic on.
I own Burgman 650 that I got from a buddy at work who moved out of state and could not take it with him. The thing is a total blast to ride! With no clutch to work with just a twist of the wrist you'll hear the CVT spin up like a jet engine and it just pulls and keeps pulling. I got it up to 110 mph on the highway just to see if it was possible to hit 100 and it totally is. The thing so fun to mob around town on its also great fun to take on twistys!
I just picked up a white 2017 last week beautiful & well cared for with extras, rented a U-Haul trailer and drove 200+ miles to get it.
and seemingly coincidentally Ryan dropped a scooter video about 3 weeks ago.
I ride Yamaha Aerox 155 with 100+ mpg it cruises at around 70 mph and its the best small scoot I owned, use it more than my R6 or MT09.
I also own one and you mean it tops at 70 mph right? comfortable cruising would be around 50-55 mph.
I had a 250 honda reflex the same time I had my fat bob. The reflex was alot of fun to ride. Not only was it comfortable but so easy to ride. It being full auto was alot of fun. I'd cruise that thing all over town. It was great to use to run errands. Man was it cheap on gas. I'd buy another one in a heart beat for the right price. If I come across one needing work I'm buying it as it's so much fun. I'd like a 400cc one now. Don't knock it till you try it. Guarantee it'll put a smile on your face.
Love my Honda PCX, great little scooter, and it's very comfortable to ride.
I own one, i love the comfort exept the suspensions bc my town has awful streets
I bought a Ruckus 4 years ago; put mid foot pegs on them to lowe my feet, change the feel & lift off the seat easier; loaded a bag on the front rack, a trunk on the back, a custom bag under the seat, saddle bags enough for 4-5 full oaoer bags of groceries; installed forward pegs for lashing points and have hauled back 3x5x48 inch boxes of garage springs, a dog statue and 2 large dog food bags (different trips). It gets 100+ MPG and I ride even through Winter unless there’s snow or ice. Only goes 35 MPH, less uphill or into the wind; but it’s great fun around town. Traded up for a new Yamama BWs 125 Zuma though. My daily commuter. Larger bike is a 2013 Honda Shadow Spirit.
I just started on an Aprilia Scarabeo 500ie, and I would like to say that large displacement scooters have their place. I live in a more rural town where it's fairly commonplace to have to take either the interstate or a highway to get places
About time! I have a 125 scooter next to my Er-5, let me tell ya, scootlife in the city is KING
There has been a stigma against scoots and I’m glad to see that’s changing I stared on a 50cc scoot and recently got a Honda helix 250 in great condition for only $750 there cheap to buy and work on not to mention 100mpg really hope you end up getting a scoot ahhhh I can see it now the scoot squids
Yeah bruh. Like I've said on last videos, I would rather own a 150cc scooter than any sportbike out there. Fuel efficiency wise and as a daily ride, nothing is better than a ride you just twist a throttle to make it run and most of them feel comfortable due to its sitting position.
Bought a used scoot back in may to dip my toe into the 2 wheeled realm. 2 months in, and I've already put about 800 miles on it. Perfect beginner bike while I acquire the gear, tools, and skills I need for something bigger.
I love scooters, currently living in Thailand. So funny to split lanes in traffic and go past big bikes haha
I have an old 400cc bike in my fleet for the short trips to the shops and poking around town. I’m seriously thinking of getting a scooter instead for those reasons you said, in particular the onboard storage. It would need to store the usual milk and bread, as well as a few small items that I would normally put in a backpack. On a side note, with my many travels to Asia I’ve seen the scooter step through section used for standing kids, pets, boxes of stuff, containers of water etc. You get the picture, they are so versatile.
As someone who has crashed 3 scooters despite only owning sports bikes and never crashed those, scooters aren't safer than motorcycles. Wear your gear.
I started on a Genuine Hooligan 170cc scooter, had it a little over two months and a lady in an SUV turned left on me and I slammed right into her, flew up and hit her windshield. Luckily I had a motorcycle jacket, helmet, and gloves, but still had about 6 weeks of physical therapy. Went to a 883 Sporty, for 10 months, now have a Softail Standard, lol
True. Had a guy ask me a few weeks ago why I was geared-up to ride a scooter when I told him I only rode it three miles. I spared him the story of my wife breaking her knee on one (armored overpants kept her skin on, at least) and just said the asphalt doesn’t care how far I am going or what I am riding. I’m not very witty. I’ve crashed enough on bicycles to know road rash hurts and takes a long time to heal. Speed and weight only make it worse.
Totally agree, and Maxi scooters like the Burgman 400 I own are just as fast and nimble as most beginner bikes! I always use a full face helmet, riding gloves, and boots. The jacket is an issue since I can't find one to fit my oversized torso. I also recommend a high viz vest to call attention to yourself.
You should try the 400cc Burgman before dismissing it. It is the most practical way to move on 2 wheels. I can keep up with motorcycles and traffic on the highway is no problem.
I have one and agree with you.
Forgot to mention the lack of chain maintenance!
@@pleasedontwatchthese9593 I bought a non OEM belt for my Burgman 400 and have about 250 miles on it so far without any issue. It cost about $40, way cheaper than a stock belt. I'm not saying it will hold up like an OEM, I did have lots of concerns after installation last week, but so far so good, and there was a significant performance boost after it was installed.
@@pleasedontwatchthese9593 I've done my belt and I don't remember it being expensive.
I live in South Africa and just bought a Yamaha XMax 300 as my first bike back to riding in a few years (ok quite a few years). I must say I love it. It is fast enough to pull away and be "competitive" in traffic but not fast enough for me to lose control (my skills are rusty). The smaller scooters are not respected in traffic and people tend to push them out of the way because they think they will slow them down. It also is not a lot of cognitive load and is just a lot of fun to ride. I often go the looooong way around to the shops ,etc. My original plan was to get my skills up to scratch and then buy something like an KTM ADV but after riding this for a while, I am not sure I even need or will use that. The nice thing is that they seem to hold their value pretty well (2nd hand) so if in the future I decide to change my mind then I won't have lost too much money in the process.
Cheap form of transportation with the comforts of sofa and storage of a Large backpack. I highly recommend as a daily commuter.
Spent my first 6 years on a 125cc scooter commuting to work and back. Then did my big bike test. 4 years later of big boy bike ownership I too miss those care free scooter days. Sipping fuel, not paying big insurance, cheap maintenance (never did any ) and didn’t clean it every weekend 🤣. Thing is I’m really considering going to a smaller displacement bike or scooter for my next ride 😱
I bought a Honda Ruckus two weeks ago to save so money on commuting, and it was definitely one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. On average every week I am saving seventy dollars on gas. And since it doesn’t require insurance in my state, that’s all I have to spend on it per month. It’s just barely quick enough to get me anywhere in town, and good enough on dirt trails to get me anywhere out of town. It’s got its issues. It’s mindbendingly slow, and you’ll have to put down some cash to get any storage, but damn, I’ve driven this thing more in the past two weeks than I drove my truck last month.
I own a Raider and a Honda Ct125. They are each amazing bikes. I find myself on the Honda more these days. Simplistic and laid back.
I have a battered old Sinnis Scooter (old bike) as a backup for my main work Yamaha SR125 motorcycle. Reduces my downtime when my Yam needs garage time.
I just got a fat tire electric scooter delivered today and I love it.
Called mobility scooter in the UK for the disabled.
Professional motorcycles have a rear brake on the handlebar (ChampU: Rear Brake), and underseat storage cannot be underestimated.
The best way I can sum up a scooter compared to a motorcycle is the difference between your first single shot 410 shotgun and your 12 gauge pump you have now. Sure, the 12 gauge is bigger and more effective and a real gun.. but it's not as much fun as the 410 was. I'm putting on a cheap half face helmet and no leather gear is so much better than the alternative.
410 ammo is a lot more expensive than 12ga ammo though. Otherwise your analogy makes sense.
Been riding my 2015 Honda metropolitan for 2 years now . The practicality of having a scooter makes me question getting a sports bike . What would I do without all that storage! 0 insurance ,normal license, 100miles per gallon . I didn’t know when I got on the thing that I was instantly part of a community and would get waves from “real bikkes” pretty cool .
Glad to see yammie showing love to our subsection of the community
I'm about to sell my Yamaha XV1600 and buy Suzuki Burgman 650. I don't care "it's not a real bike", it looks practical and comfortable for touring and i want to try scooter life
Hell yes scooters are smart 🤓. Ultimate urban city transport. When everyone else is looking for a carpark and you can basically park anywhere it feels like a real smart play.
I have a 2020 GsxR 1000, but for everyday use and errands, I have a 2015 Yamaha Crypton 110cc, it has a semi automatic 4 speed gearbox, and it's amazing for what it was designed to do.
It's refreshing to hear something positive about a "scooter". Don't know what it is about American bike culture, but I enjoy my Honda ADV 150 and I've built my channel around it. I can't believe the following it receives so I feel the mindset is slowly changing. I can reach speeds of near 70mph, sip fuel at 100mpg, and it looks more like a motorcycle. I call it "Twist-N-Go" fun on two wheels and it helps with my mental health. I don't care what people say, I enjoy it. Why should it matter what we ride? The more important aspect is the liberation riding brings to people.
I love my Genuine Roughhouse 50! Plan to mod it. If you want cheap commuter, it's great, cheap road toy, it great, cheap tinker toy, it's great
I have multiple motorcycles, but still enjoy riding my GF's yamaha 125cc vino.
Just bombing around town doing errands getting great fuel mileage, will do over 60mph, has plenty of storage under the seat, and a hanger for a grocery bag or two. You don't have to worry about yeeting yourself to the moon going wide open throttle either. It was purchased used for $1,200 with 6k miles on the clock and is insured for about $60 a year. You really can't beat the value and the amount of fun a scooter offers.
i have maxiscooter because i want a relax riding and still have big compartment for my things