What do people make of bike and scooter culture today?

I think that to all intense purposes all scooters are motorbikes, except that they have a step through and are automatic....

When you consider the threads and many of the scooter forums mentioned here, it seems that many folk do use scooters as an increasingly popular and viable solution, and choice instead of (and sometimes, as well as) bikes......

Many scooters at a glance look more more bike like, and some handle more like bikes, for example the Yamaha Tmax and the GP Gilera.

I was thinking a little how sad it is that many bikers won't wave to scooters, and or just ignore them when frankly many scooters especially maxis are much the same thing, perhaps just not as powerful, but probably more versatile......

The old rift between scooters and bikes is still apparent, but why? Is this a kind of narrow mindedness, a different perception or just another element of modern culture that is still adjusting...... There is a bit of an irony when in the past, for example the 60s, the mods and rockers culture did polarize things.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mods_and_Rockers


I an not ageist, but there also have been changes in that since the advent of the Maxi scoot, they have become an increasingly popular choice for older riders who previously had bikes. Some ride scooters because they are more versatile, others because they are more comfortable, or both. Also there seems to be another group of younger riders who choose a scooter because it suits them more..

My brother in law now in his late 60s recently bought a Piaggio x9 as a run around when his kawasaki GTR 1000 (concours) was stolen. He loved it so much that eventually he bought a 650 burgie. Interestingly in the past prior to the kawasaki he had a Honda Deauville, but had said it was an old man's bike.

I was thinking there is a big blurring of boundaries happening especially with the advent of automatic bikes, for example the Aprilia Mana. That bike even has the same engine as the GP Gilera 800 scooter..... You can also buy Yamaha's flagship tourer the FJR1300 as an automatic...

Is it OK to refer to your scoot as a bike? I think it is....

What are eveyone elses thoughts?

I'm not sure anymore, the difference between a scooter and a motorcycle is converging now days and was never that clear to me. I had a few Honda mopeds in the 1960's that had pedals but were still stepthru frame, and Honda had the hondamatic back in the 1970's.

I think when talking about the big scooters, that it is hard to determine the difference with m/c's. I know that my Silver Wing is just as powerful and fast as the Sportster I had once, and it is really much more comfortable and smoother. I do wish these big scoots had bigger tires and a little better suspension, but other than that they are closing the gap with motorcycles.

My son is a long time BMW rider, I was to for about 16 years. Because of that I go out of my way to call the Silverwing a Scooter (just for his and his HD riding friends reaction). I love to see the expressions when I show up at the local biker bars with the SCOOTER. LOL!!

Jon:
I must admit, I like to tell people I ride a scooter,and watch their reaction. They look at my size (6'5" and 240) and gasp! Then I laugh and tell about the Silverwing. But when they finally see it they usually say "that's not a scooter, that's a motorcycle". But whatever you want to call it - it sure is fun to ride...

Right on. (that tells you how old I am?)

I agree, lately, I have just been saying I bought a Honda Silverwing. If they don't know bikes they think I bought a Goldwing and wonder how I can handle a bike that big. If you say scooter to many people they just think of the young kids on the 50cc. I explain I can go up on the Interstate and they gasp.
I look at my retired group I ride with and most of them had bigger motorcycles at one time. I think they find them comfortable, easy to handle and so maintenance free...more time to play.

I admit that I skirt around using the word scooter. I refer to my SW as a Honda Silver Wing. When I first got it, I was telling a group of guys about my new scooter. I pretty much was the subject of jokes the rest of the day. The biggest jokester saw it about a month later and he said he was glad that I got rid of my scooter and upgraded to a motorcycle. When I told him THIS IS my scooter that you guys were laughing at, he was amazed. He later asked if he could take it out for a spin, I told him I doubt he could handle it. BTW, the only person that has rode my scoot... uh, SW since I bought it was my 21 year old son, and a friend who already owns a SW.

Skiwoods~great pictures of you bike!!! I want to get a Givi trunk, that looks good on that bike.

We call our SilverWings Scooters, Bikes, Motorcycles, Scoots, Rides...

Most everyone in our circle of family and friends know that we have the SilverWings and that they are technically (based on appearance only) scooters. But since we have travelled long distances and use our blog to keep them informed of our travels most of them also call them motorcycles. Few of our family ride two wheeled motorized conveyances (not a term I use regularly). Those who do ride - ride HD, and some of them partake in some good natured ribbing, but have yet to show me the pink slips when I've offered to take it from them.

We wave at everyone we see, and most wave back. Some times I've been busy with traffic or looking at something and I miss waving at someone. Is it possible that they are on a site somewhere telling everyone how rude scooter people are?

I'm not certain why people become stand-offish or defensive about their ride. But, from a short stint in the HR-EEO world I do know that for many the only way they can feel that they have made the correct choice is to belittle someone else's choice. Self esteem is a tricky thing.

I get the same response as Coralee. I just say I have a Honda Silverwing and let them draw their own conclusions. Most think scooters are kid's toys and not 600cc powerhouses. Scooter or Motorcycle? Who cares, I love my SWing.

I belong to Classmates and moderate a thread called Motorcycles. Yesterday a new rider came along with this: " My first bike was a 1982 Honda 500 Silverwing. I kept that until I bought a 2002 Harley Ultra" (in 1982 the Silverwing was a precursor to the Pacific Coast, if I'm not mistaken).

So, just saying "I have a Honda Silverwing" could be open to a misunderstanding.

Your right Jon. That is what happens. They immediately think I'm talking about a 500 Silverwing. Sometimes I will correct them and move on.

Most of the time it boils down to a macho thing, "Oh I have to have a motorcycle, I can't be caught on a scooter"