Nice, but at those prices you might as well buy a Sport Bike or a Harley!! Scooters buyers are more value focused and these will sit on the showroom floors!
False. Scooters are luxury, comfort, convenience and in some sense better safety. Motorcycles are fun. I'd pay more for the prior the way the industry's moving.
There is a big market in the USA that the manufacturers are ignoring. The baby boomer generation is aging out of motorcycling and it is doing so prematurely because there is not enough choices to meet their specific needs. I am one of them, now in my sixties. I don't want to give up riding, but do to career injuries, bad knees and age, I can no longer even think of handling the big baggers. But it is essential in the USA to have freeway capable machines as back roads are not always available, especially in the Western States. But instead of seizing this opportunity for market share, the manufacturers keep assuming that only college students want scooters and the 50cc urban only machines flood the market. What we need is more Maxi scooter choices. At this time, only Kymko brings it's flagship AK550 to the US. BMW has two Maxi's but try to find one! Dealers refuse to carry them on the showroom in favor of R19's. Honda has the a great dealer network in the USA but only gives us an ADV 160. Suzuki still carries the Burgman 400 but it is a bit under powered, highly priced, and dealers don't stock them. Sym keeps trying to sell a 15 year old Citycom 300i without ABS and is at least $1000 overpriced for an aged out model. Senior riders have money to spend but want automatic transmissions, heated surfaces and cruise control. Used Burgman 650 Executives are with low mileage sell quickly. That should say something to the dealers and manufacturers. Hopefully an upstart like Zontes will see the market and go for it. Euro 5 emissions compliance means easy 50 state certification in the USA. Yamaha is last with the Xmax 300. It is has a good tech package but is lacking for 2 up touring. Finally is Piaggio with its tour de force 550 3 wheeler. This scooter has everything for the senior rider including cruise control and even reverse with a backup camera. Problem is the dealer network is very scarce, the brand is not well known in the USA and local independent shops don't want to touch one. It's 200 miles to the nearest dealer for me. It is a shame because it looks like an amazing machine! I have I have the big 4 Japanese brands in my home town so I prefer to go with one of them for parts and service. Scooters were the bastard stepchildren of the US market with Vespa valiantly persevering through the years. But I think there are a lot of senior rider like me looking to get a few more years in the saddle with a Maxi scooter. I may go with the Kymko because I bought their Like 150i years ago and it has been very reliable and my go to when my body says that is all I can handle for certain days. America is a huge market now ripe for scooters. When I was young and healthy I wouldn't be caught dead on one, but with age comes the sweet wisdom of not giving a damn what anyone thinks!
@brunothepug8807 I can't say about 2 up....because I haven't. I haven't rode interstate much but when I did it seemed fine at 70 mph ! The 18 wheelers will push you for a second when they pass just like my Corolla ! It seems very stable in all situations !!! Very comfortable and fast !
OMG they are all world class from my broke perspective, and as a Vino and Elite owner I got sticker shock when I saw the Yamaha TMAX 560 is $18,000 .
Today we are looking at some the newest offerings within the maxi scooter class. Which of these is your top pick?
Peugeout and zontes 500 look intrigue.
Nice, but at those prices you might as well buy a Sport Bike or a Harley!! Scooters buyers are more value focused and these will sit on the showroom floors!
Not necessarily. , I don't like motorbikes, I prefer scooters.
False. Scooters are luxury, comfort, convenience and in some sense better safety. Motorcycles are fun. I'd pay more for the prior the way the industry's moving.
To each his own indeed.
There is a big market in the USA that the manufacturers are ignoring. The baby boomer generation is aging out of motorcycling and it is doing so prematurely because there is not enough choices to meet their specific needs. I am one of them, now in my sixties. I don't want to give up riding, but do to career injuries, bad knees and age, I can no longer even think of handling the big baggers. But it is essential in the USA to have freeway capable machines as back roads are not always available, especially in the Western States. But instead of seizing this opportunity for market share, the manufacturers keep assuming that only college students want scooters and the 50cc urban only machines flood the market.
What we need is more Maxi scooter choices. At this time, only Kymko brings it's flagship AK550 to the US. BMW has two Maxi's but try to find one! Dealers refuse to carry them on the showroom in favor of R19's. Honda has the a great dealer network in the USA but only gives us an ADV 160. Suzuki still carries the Burgman 400 but it is a bit under powered, highly priced, and dealers don't stock them. Sym keeps trying to sell a 15 year old Citycom 300i without ABS and is at least $1000 overpriced for an aged out model.
Senior riders have money to spend but want automatic transmissions, heated surfaces and cruise control. Used Burgman 650 Executives are with low mileage sell quickly. That should say something to the dealers and manufacturers. Hopefully an upstart like Zontes will see the market and go for it. Euro 5 emissions compliance means easy 50 state certification in the USA. Yamaha is last with the Xmax 300. It is has a good tech package but is lacking for 2 up touring. Finally is Piaggio with its tour de force 550 3 wheeler. This scooter has everything for the senior rider including cruise control and even reverse with a backup camera. Problem is the dealer network is very scarce, the brand is not well known in the USA and local independent shops don't want to touch one. It's 200 miles to the nearest dealer for me. It is a shame because it looks like an amazing machine! I have I have the big 4 Japanese brands in my home town so I prefer to go with one of them for parts and service.
Scooters were the bastard stepchildren of the US market with Vespa valiantly persevering through the years. But I think there are a lot of senior rider like me looking to get a few more years in the saddle with a Maxi scooter. I may go with the Kymko because I bought their Like 150i years ago and it has been very reliable and my go to when my body says that is all I can handle for certain days. America is a huge market now ripe for scooters. When I was young and healthy I wouldn't be caught dead on one, but with age comes the sweet wisdom of not giving a damn what anyone thinks!
I currently have the Kymco 300i ABS. My next bike is definitely the Kymco AK Premium 550.
you should also have mentioned the SYM adx400tg.
It's a nice suggestion. I've been thinking about that too
$18,000 for a 560 cc scooter??? Ridiculous. No way. I can get a more powerful motorcycle for half that price.
Of course, it wouldn't be a scooter though
I'm good with my PCX 160 to cruise locally, anything more you might as well buy a real motorcycle 🏍
Why trade in comfort and luxury for longer rides if power speed and safety are catching up in both categories?
I like my 2023 Xmax 300 for $6299 out the door way better than paying twice as much for WHAT ????
How does it do on the freeway? Do you ride 2 up? Thanks
@brunothepug8807 I can't say about 2 up....because I haven't. I haven't rode interstate much but when I did it seemed fine at 70 mph ! The 18 wheelers will push you for a second when they pass just like my Corolla ! It seems very stable in all situations !!! Very comfortable and fast !
Honda xadv750‽¿
Is it your favorite option in the class?
Yamaha needed to make a 350 or 400cc max. 290 cc doses not cut it.
You should put sym 508 insteed of 400
WHEN WILL SUZKI MAKE A NEW BURGMEN
There is some information that they are working on an electric model.
Italjet Dragster 💪💪
2024 and there is still no windshield washer on the bubbles.