I agree fully. That's why I love the scooter. Even though I have some 40 years of motorcycle experience and less than one year of scooter time, I have never felt part of the "motorcycle experience" bs. Of course, I have never had nor did I want any of the big "cruiser" things. I had a sport bike before it was cool to have one, I had a dual purpose bike at the same time (in fact the same bike, a BSA 500 single, served as both at different times in my time with it).

OK, being 34, I generally tell people I have an aprilia, now a honda. usually followed by scooter. When they look confused or what ever, I laugh and tell them the truth.

REAL men drive scooters, what are you compansating for?

Just to clear up the Silverwing thing, the name was first used by Honda in the early 80sfor a 500cc little Goldwing clone for a lightweight touring bike. It was increased to 650CC in '83 or thereabouts because it was widely claimed to be underpowered. Honda resurrected the name for the scooter in 2003 of course which did generate a little resentment in those who still ride the original SW.

I've owned motorcycles and a scooter or three for at least 54 years now and don't care what anyone thinks about either. I enjoy riding my Goldwing and my Silverwing. I wave to other riders and I get waves back more often from motorcycle riders than from scooter riders, even when I'm on my SW. I wonder why?

Personally I don't think it's the step through that's the biggest problem for most bikers (although for some it will resonate as a 'ladies' bike), but the lack of gears and the stodginess.

Whilst an automatic gearbox seems lazy to some, more importantly (bash the hornets nest) we just don't have the same degree of control afforded by a manual gearbox when it comes to cornering/braking.

I suspect some will disagree, but this is my personal opinion having ridden a considerable number of bikes and a few scooters. For me what it boils down to is liking all the positives of a scooter but admitting it is not a motorcycle. Having said that it is also not a scooter... as most would perceive them.

I'm afraid we are a breed unto ourselves and anyone outside the fraternity is... well.... confused

Wing:
I think you are correct about the automatic transmission. I have heard the same type of comments in the automotive world concerning "sports cars" with automatics. When the bike was stock there were a few times that I wished I could have dropped it down a gear while climbing a hill or exiting a curve, but since I put on the J Costa variator, as soon as I twist the throttle it kicks right into the power band and away I go. Granted, it still isn't as quick as a sport bike, but it is a lot more comfortable, carries a lot more gear, gets far better fuel economy, and provides better protection from the elements, so overall for me it is a better choice. And if the Harley weenie compensators don't want to wave at me, I'm OK with that..

I agree with wingnprayer, even though my current motorcycle is by far not a sport bike I can push it to it's limits in the twisties, especially up and downhill twisties much better than my SW. The automatic transmission doesn't allow the fast gear changing needed to keep the engine in the power band. On the bike I can drop or pick up a gear in a fraction of a second, the CVT can't match that. Not that the scooter is a slouch mind you but there is a price for that great convenience of the automatic shifting.

bikers wear leathers because chiffon wrinkles too easily.

The divide between bikers and scooter riders is definitaly narrowing I believe. The days of the mods and rockers has long gone.

As more of the larger scooter owner are joining owners clubs and the like and spreading the good word. I know my time with the Suzuki owners over here in the UK I didn't convert anyone but they accepted me and my ride, (Burger 400), I tend to be quite enthusiastic and that carried over too.

The summer rice rocket riders are the main protagonists of scooters as they don't understand technology hasn't just advanced sports bikes but has actually passed over to the world the scooter.

When riding I tend to receive acknowledgement from other riders, mainly I believe because they recognise I ride all year in all weather, it seems to count for a lot round here at least. Whenever I park up and bikers are milling around I tend to start chatting to them and in the main respond, usually asking about engine size and speed etc.

I have to say that in my part of southern England the most ignorant riders are other maxi riders!! I know not why but even I think a lot are a right ignorant bunch.

Toaday with bikes and scooter all capable of 100mph+ we all share the same risks in an accident and on the road in general.

I personally don't care what any one rides. I love fast bikes but would never own one because I know my limitations. If a machine is capable of silly speeds I would have to do silly speeds, (at least once) Because of that, I restrict myself to something functional and to my personal liking.

Love live the Wing.

LOL.... My wife is releived I didn't go back to a trimph sprint for the same reason. I am not smart enough to not go and find out if it can go as fast as it says.

A DISCLAIMER - A general statement is bound to be be wrong sometimes.

However, I think Waspie is right on target with his observation about the general ignorance of scooter riders as a group about other scooters and riding in general.

This would be a good time to review the disclaimer above.

Kim and I have been to a few rides and rallies and at these events we meet all kinds of people. Often we hear other scooter riders ask or make one of the following statements: "What kind of bike is that?" "Oh, I didn't know Honda made a big scooter." "You rode here on those?" "You rode how many miles?"

I once lost about 20 minutes of my life listening to a guy moan about how "real bike riders" don't wave at scooter riders. The ride leader briefed us, we mounted up and he fell into a spot between Kim and I then spent the next 40 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway ignoring the same people he claimed ignore scooters. Kim waved, I waved, but the pompous rider was struggling to maintain control of his scoot on the gentle curves of the BRP, and couln't have waved if a gun was pointed at his head.

We once (at a rally) headed out on a out and back group ride - probably about 40 miles round trip - about halfway to the intended destination we were surprised to find that we were pulling off the route to rest. 10 miles of riding and we're going to rest?

We also meet some very savvy folks on scooters so I acknowledge the need for the disclaimer.

The best way to spread the word about scooters - show an interest in other riders and their rides. People will generally reciprocate and when they do, be knowledgable about your own bike and it's capabilities.

Nice post ,I always wave at other bikes .Most wave back ,some don't some time I don;t notice them wave at me until it is to late .Usually because I was looking at some thing else. So if that happens to me it could happen to other riders as well .

An interesting thought is why do bikers (and flavours thereof) wave at all? When you're driving your car, riding your bicycle/skateboard/horse or any other form of transport you don't wave or acknowledge your other road peers, so why do we do it on bikes?

There must have been a place and time where this first started and it's interesting that it now seems somewhat international since they obviously do it in Europe and North America.

Answers anyone?

My first experience was with sports cars. In fact, almost all imported cars were part of some sort of "club" and we acknowledged that fact by a "thumbs up" on the road. This was in the the early 1950's.

We also do it in OZ, and it was very prolific amongst motorcyclists. More recently the influx in scooterised commuters has diluted the rider pool and the freindly gestures seem to go unnoticed except for us older diehards.



Oddly enough, when travelling long distances in the outback or eg the Nullabor, everyone , bikes, cars, trucks, semi's etc will wave to each and every vehicle is treated as travelling companions, at least until one gets back to sillyvisation.

Used to be common in the countryside when there wasn't as much traffic as there is now to wave to passing motorists. In the late 50s and early 60s it was very common to wave to other drivers of sports cars. I sure remember that when I had my '57 MGA. Motorcyclists probably will quite doing it if we became more numerous. I've often made the joke that I need a glove on a stick hanging out on the left side of my bike in some of the more popular bike riding areas.

Here in the states the JEEP community also does the wave thing.

I've read on the Net that there is even a secret motorcycle language (particularly among Harley riders) whereby leaving a helmet in front of your bike when parked up has significance as does the way that you wave or the tapping of your helmet (eg 'there's a cop ahead').

AA (Automobile Association) patrol men used to salute members sporting an AA badge on the front of their cars.
If the patrol man didn't salute, the driver knew there was a policeman ahead so slowed down.
Incidentally, the AA men then rode motorcycle combinations - vans came later:

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/aa-heritage-vehicles/bsa-m20-and-m21.html

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/aa-motorcycle.htm

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/archive/article4114540.ece?slideshowPopup=true&articleId=4114540&sectionName=PhotoGalleries

Now gone full-circle (scroll down to the bottom):

http://www.twistngo.com/news-twg.htm