Scooters.Is the Future Feet Forwards?

Blog Date - 20 April 2012

Honda’s new NC700 becomes the Integra by redressing the chassis.  BMW are unleashing questionable 600cc scooters soon.  Suzuki’s had the Burgman range for some time now.  It seems that scooters are no longer the small buzzy 2 stroke rev-n-rip machines ridden by yoofs sporting trackies and an unfastened helmet.  I saw 3 bikes at the traffic lights the other day, an R6, a Ducati of some description and a bloke wearing full race leathers complete with knee sliders perched on a large Aprilia step through.  I had to laugh…

I’ve ridden a Burgman 400 quite some time ago.  I was actually rather impressed!  Coming from the old school of motorcycling I felt a bit silly with my feet tucked into the footwell, I felt like I was on a shopping trolley.  But riding it was a pleasing revelation.  The motor’s perky, it rides well and the handling, although not up to typical bike standards, was fine.  The lack of clutch makes town riding so easy, I just missed the gears when out on the open road.

So what’s the score with the new range of big scooters?  Why would someone choose a glorified shopper over a real man’s bike?  Because I guess more and more people are man enough to buy what really suits them rather than constantly trying to prove they’re a big man with a big engine and super fast looks.  Not everyone’s into doing 100mph everywhere and they prefer ease of use over stunning performance.

What’s the advantage?  The biggest difference is where your feet are.  Rather than hanging out in the wind and the rain your feet are tucked within.  I can only imagine that this keeps the rain and cold off your legs.  For some it will be much more comfortable too, the larger machines allow quite a lot of legroom without bending the knees double.  It also strikes me, having come off my bike and broken my knee between the tarmac and the fuel tank, that it may be a little safer.  If you fall you’re leg is not trapped below the bike.  If you’re side-swiped your leg is not crushed between the car and the bike.  I’ve absolutely no evidence to substantiate this claim, it’s just a thought.

Most scooters also come with some storage.  Typically there’s a bit of space beneath the seat, hopefully enough to put your helmet into.  It doesn’t seem much but it’s a feather in the cap, being able to leave your lid someplace safe.  Or maybe to safely stow some milk and tea bags after a visit to the shops.  Most typical bikes have a tiny space beneath the seat, not even large enough for some waterproofs. 

Most scooters come with automatic gears, or variable gearing, and are automatic or semi automatic.  I like having gears, but I’m something of a traditionalist.  The old rubber band variomatic gearing was OK, but a little annoying.  The modern dual clutch and digitally controlled systems are supposed to be much better.  I guess they must be, they’re fitted on Ferrari’s and Porsche’s.  Gears with clutches are great if you like to be involved with the machine but in traffic and slow running through towns it becomes a bind all too soon.  Considering the level of traffic and ever decreasing speed limits an auto box seems more and more attractive.

Another advantage is the way the motor is usually hidden away under bodywork.  Oh it’s lovely to see a big fat chunky motor growling away under a fuel tank, but it’s a bloody nightmare to keep clean.  The rain gets in and corrodes the motor and fries the electrics.   When do you ever clean the motor on your car?  You just wash the bodywork and if you’re really good you’ll remove the leaves and rubbish from the engine bay if the mood takes you.  I hope the covered motor on most scooters helps keep the motor in good order and protects the electronics.  The downside is that it may be harder to work on. 

The larger machines now come with proper sized wheels which must improve the handing.  So, what’s not to like?  Apart from being an old stick-in-the-mud about scooters being the realm of kids bikes or shopping trolleys for old ladies, nothing much really.  Perhaps it’s about time I got over my pathetic macho ideals and take scooters much more seriously.  Maybe I should test ride one…

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