| Author | Message | ||
     Thepod |
Rode past a scooter yesterday and he gave me the two finger wave. I didn't wave back. Am I a bad person? I sorta feel like scooters aren't real motorcycles. Also, I notice that scooter riders tend to not take being on two wheels seriously and don't have much if any protective gear on. So are they motorcyclists or not, and should I be giving them the two finger salute? | ||
| Svh |
The way I see it they are out there sharing the road with us "real" bike riders so why not? They are out there facing the same death trap drivers and if he/she is being kind enough to wave its the least I can do to wave back. I even point to my helmet and shake my head at the ones not wearing helmets. Up to you but why not if they do it to you? I don't want to be one of those guys | ||
| Dbird29 |
There are almost as many scooters as bicycles here in Portland. Maybe he was flipping you off the English way? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_(gesture)  | ||
| Froggy |
Yes.
What makes a motorcycle real? Engine displacement? There are some scoots with 750cc and other larger engines. Seriously, define real motorcycle, otherwise I will group you in with the stereotypical arrogant Harley rider that feels everything else is an inferior piece of crap. | ||
| Thepod |
Seems to me they have smaller tires with poorer traction, inferior braking, suspension and handling and are often sold to people who don't understand how to ride well or the importance of protective equipment. They are fuel efficient,relatively cheep, and designed to be less intimidating. This gives me the impression that the scooter riders themselves don't think that they are the same as a motorcycle. I'm not being stereotypical or arrogant. I see a lot of young people get hurt on them. Maybe because they don't understand the aspects of braking, throttle control, and handling that comes with being a good and capable rider. | ||
| Slaughter |
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| Littlebuggles |
Scooters are good fun! That said, most of the scoot riders I see are oblivious, they usually don't even see me wave. If someone says howdy it's appropriate to say howdy back. Course I wave to bicyclists too, and honk at roadside cattle... soooo maybe I'm not the best example. Live your life as best you can, smile, wave, or at worst be polite if it's all you can muster.  | ||
| Thumper74 |
I'm the dork on the motorcycle waving at anyone that makes eye contact | ||
| Scotty_j |
I see some kid riding the piss out of a Ruckus every morning; hanging off the side of it in the corners, winding it out at stoplights on the centerstand and then launching... Dude is serious. I don't know who said it first, but it's better to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow. I guess I'm the latter. | ||
| Davefl |
Not everyone on a scoot is a noob. I rode "real bikes" for 20 years before I got a scooter. http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/ViewAlbum.aspx?a=3 77881 | ||
| Ratbuell |
Scooters scare the hell out of me. Most of them are physically incapable of keeping up with even in-town traffic, the drivers haven't had an iota of additional training, they're not licensed, tagged, or insured. They might as well be on a wheelbarrow as far as I'm concerned. Things just move too fast around here (northern DC suburbs). I wish they'd keep 'em off the roads, or at least train the drivers the right way. | ||
| Davefl |
Mine will do at least 8mph faster than the tires are rated for  Tires are rated for 62mph. It really pissed off the Harleys on Deals Gap when they were getting passed by a pair of scooters. | ||
| Dbird29 |
Those Chinese no name clone scooters have the slickest tires. They must have problems with the tires releasing from the molds, there is a deep coating of mold release. My wife biffed on hers even after 200 miles of break in. | ||
| Jaimec |
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| Barker |
I have had mine for about 18 months w/ about 10k on clock. I find that most "real" motorcycles will not return a wave from scooters. I do fool alot of sport bikes. When I come @ them tight tuck with full leathers on they cant quite make out my form and they wave back only to do a double take. So now, I do not wave @ "real" motorcycles unless they way first.  | ||
| Greenlantern |
I see a lot of young people get hurt on them. Universal statement, will work within any subject and/or observation. | ||
| Oddsc |
I rode past a guy on his harley the other day with my Zuma 125, boy was he pissed! He had to race past me with his drag pipes blaring. I'm actually surprised how many bikers wave at me when I'm on the scoot, it's just never any HD's. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
A couple weeks ago I was visiting my family in missouri. Had to get my riding fix since my bikes are down for maintenance, so I took her $800, 49cc scooter for a spin. That thing is amazing! Its so much fun to ride the piss out of something that has very little chance of hurting you. I had it on streets without traffic rounding corners full throttle with the kickstand scraping the road. I kinda want to get myself one now. No required insurance.. And the looks I got riding a scooter in full leathers and the shoei were priceless  | ||
| Limitedx1 |
i just yell "SCOOTEEEEEEEEEEEER" in my helmet when i see one!!! | ||
| Damnut |
My Vespa will SMOKE my Blast but the Blast will catch up eventually since the Vespa tops out at 73mph. Vespa= 200cc, need a MC license to ride it as well as registration/insurance in MA. | ||
| Vortec57 |
I've got one that the GF rides most of the time. Stupid little bugger is fun to ride. I've got it tweaked out to run 40-45 pretty easily. Tires on it aren't the best by any means but I can throw it into a corner and rail around like its a big "real" bike. Just ask Michael_Hill about scoots. 45mph 2up on his scoot through downtown passing cars. | ||
| Jaimec |
I hate to say it, but back in 2006 at Biketoberfest I had a LOT more fun on the Suzuki demo ride riding the Burgmann 650 than I did on the Buell demo riding the Ulysses. Of course, that might have to do with the Buell leaders insisting on riding at or BELOW the posted speed limits, and on perfectly straight roads. Yeah... I'll see how a Buell feels on a demo route like that. On the other hand, the Suzuki leaders took us on an AWESOME route and EVERYONE came back with big grins on their faces. I almost bought a Burgmann when I got back home. Only problem was no place to put it. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Scooter.... These make me want to do very bad things, very bad things indeed.  | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Jaimec, that was a great link, I found a 4min vid link of races in Amsterdam, those folks were tearing it up!! (and not crashing like the other vid) Davefl - Sweet way to own the corners! Cool pics. Two wheels is two wheels in my book, especially when you can really ride. | ||
| Svh |
I used to have a Kymco Super 9 that was 49cc but I put a "big" bore kit on it and some other changes to the clutch. Would easily hit 75 and I could pull wheelies on it easily. Great fun. Sounded like one of those unlimited chainsaws in the lumberjack competitions. | ||
| Edgydrifter |
I rode scooters and mopeds for years before I ever hopped on a "real" bike--I even wrecked one on the highway when the front tire was swallowed by a pothole (and me in my t-shirt and cord shorts at the time: Not Fun). Suffice it to say I've been ATGATT for almost twenty years since that little episode. Personally, I always wave at scooteristas. I like them. The frame may be different, but the concept's the same--two wheels in tandem, open air, 'nuff said. I draw the line at Segways, though. No way am I waving to them . | ||
| Cadhopper |
Live your life as best you can, smile, wave, or at worst be polite if it's all you can muster. +1 to that. We have a couple of people in the local BMW riders club that ride Burgman scooters and the do fine on group rides. If we get into the twisties I occasionally slow down to make sure they are still back. I guess those little tire aren't very good in the curves. | ||
| Jramsey |
A good rider on a 650 Burgman can out brake, corner, and most of the time out accelerate most others with its ECVT tranny. I wouldn't call a 120/70x 15 and 160/60x14 tire little, there good enough to drag hard parts and body work. I have seen 116 indicated on my Burgy with its 6% optimistic speedo and it still had 500+ rpm left but the windshield started doing weird things. | ||
| Carbonbigfoot |
I was stuck riding my wife's scoot (piaggio bv500) for a month and a half while waiting on my CR. Guy at work with an R1 was f***ing with me, finally I had enough, and told him, "O.K. Bitch. C'mon. Follow me." He's a fairly new rider, and didn't last long. Kept him under 30-40 miles an hour, and blew his tank off. Respect the Scooter...... R | ||
| Gregtonn |
"Kept him under 30-40 miles an hour..." Sounds like BattleTrax. One of the most fun things the average rider can do on two wheels. Two hours of BattleTrax will teach you more about riding than two weeks of high speed riding on public roads. G | ||
| 86129squids |
Tadpoles. Rode a PC800 behind a skilled rider on an RD60, another on a YSR80, and a meat like me on another RD60. On Deals Gap. When gravity gets on their side, momentum will leave meat. (Message edited by 86129squids on April 10, 2009) | ||
| Swordsman |
To not wave at someone that waves at you based on what they ride is arrogance, period.   ~SM (Message edited by Swordsman on April 10, 2009) | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Couple of the dudes from OCC last night on scoots rolling around Boston. Looked like they were having a good time. Curly red haired dud with glasses said it was like sex and beer at the same time... Never tried it myself but it sounded like he thought it was great. |
