Another reason to like your Silver Wing

Today, I pulled into a parking place at a local supermarket. I was in the process of backing away from my 2012 Swing, when, as I turned around, behind me a very nice looking young blonde was walking by and said, "Nice bike."

Now I have to say, I have gotten compliments about various bikes I have owned, but I think this is the first time I got one from a lovely female.

1.I had not washed the Swing for about 5 months.
2. My helmet was off of my grey-haired head, so she was not by any means complimenting me.
3. The comment was unsolicited.
4. I'm sharing this because no matter what your Harley friends say, your SWing is a chick magnet. Ride with pride.

She was right...Silverwings are nice bikes. I bet it made you feel pretty good hearing it from someone else even though you knew it all along. Hard to beat those lines and curves on a SW.

carolina wing rider wrote:

She was right...Silverwings are nice bikes. I bet it made you feel pretty good hearing it from someone else even though you knew it all along. Hard to beat those lines and curves on a SW.

Or the lines and curves on a nice looking Blonde...

I have noticed that on trips people are apt to stop me and ask me about the Silver Wing. More so than any other bike I have owned (including Goldwing). I attribute it possibly to a non-threatening scooter and people do not worry about talking to us "vicious" scooter riders? LOL

GHM-PM wrote:

I have noticed that on trips people are apt to stop me and ask me about the Silver Wing. More so than any other bike I have owned (including Goldwing). I attribute it possibly to a non-threatening scooter and people do not worry about talking to us "vicious" scooter riders?  LOL

I live in an area where all adult males that are able, still ride motorcycles/scooters. We have had this debate ongoing for years. Seems when a rider is alone, he is more approachable in general. The debate is still open though as we have different perceptions of cause vs effect.

Far from scientific, my own observation has been:
Fewer bikers together = more approachable.
If you keep your helmet on and don't smile, less likely to be spoken to.
If you smile, nod, or wave at others, you're more likely to be approached.

Your looks makes a difference too in the same situations. My brother was on the receiving end of the DNA enhancements and is better looking than I. He is approached more by females when we are both on bikes or scooters.
Our local retired state trooper has been approached less than the rest of us. He has grown a beard and pony tail since retiring.

Most of this is could easily be replicated or proven false in various situations.

So my final conclusion has come down to simplicity. Scooters make you smile more and almost everyone likes a person smiling. YSPMMV (Your Smiles Per Mile May Vary)

bikehiker wrote:

Today, I pulled into a parking place at a local supermarket.  I was in the process of backing away from my 2012 Swing, when, as I turned around, behind  me a very nice looking young blonde was walking by and said, "Nice bike."  

Now I have to say, I have gotten compliments about various bikes I have owned, but I think this is the first time I got one from a lovely female.  

1.I had not washed the Swing for about 5 months.
2. My helmet was off of my grey-haired head, so she was not by any means complimenting me.
3. The comment was unsolicited.
4. I'm sharing this because no matter what your Harley friends say, your SWing is a chick magnet.  Ride with pride.  

At least she didn't add; "My granpa had one just like it"

L O L ........Good one "Hi Yo". As I remember........."You meet the nicest people on a Honda".

For me the novelty of answering queries and questions about my maxi scooter waned within a couple of years of owning a Helix back in the Nineties. Back then it was the one and only original maxi scooter and a very rare sight on the UK's roads. At first I was quite happy to engage with strangers curious about it, Then it became irritating politely answering the same old questions because they hadn't seen one before.

Nowadays the Silver Wing is just another scooter out there, and the questions I get are from bikers. Usually ones that that been riding at least as long as the Silver Wing was in production, and unless they're illiterate they'll have already had the opportunity to read numerous magazine articles on them over the years. And if they haven't it's not my job to educate them, especially in this Internet age.

If their opening question has even the merest hint of sarcasm about my Silver Wing, I make it very clear I'm not playing their game.

As for waving at other riders, I've mentioned on here a few times I stopped that meaningless nonsense a long time ago. I don't wave at other car drivers when I'm out driving, cyclists when I'm on my push bike, or the bloke over the road when he's using his lawnmower the same time as me.

When riding with my son in law, it seems that no matter what bike he rides people come and look at my Silver wing. He gets a bit annoyed as he spends hours polishing and adding little bits to his bikes, he currently runs an XJS 1800. I am not a people person, and ignore most people, sometimes I just say it is a motorcycle with a scooter framework,so they nod and say oh now I see.

Old Limey I'm sure your son in law's bike is a great looking machine but Silverwings are something so different looking to most people that they do attract attention. Most have seen the smaller 50cc scooters but when a big machine like a Silverwing pulls up it seems to have a unique WOW factor. Thanks for sharing.

carolina wing rider wrote:

Silverwings are something so different looking to most people that they do attract attention. Most have seen the smaller 50cc scooters but when a big machine like a Silverwing pulls up it seems to have a unique WOW factor.

Are you basing this wow factor solely on your three months ownership of a Silver Wing? Because I've never seen it that way.

The Silver Wing has been around forever, it's dated, I don't suppose you've ever seen the twin headlight SW-T version either. I've been to cities crawling with scooters like London, Paris, Berlin, Milan, and Bologna to name but a few, and it's just another scooter being ridden on the streets or parked up with loads of others.

No one is standing around admiring them, because there's not many about of them about. When I see one somewhere I only give it a second glance because I have one myself, and check it out simply to see if any interesting accessories may have been fitted by the owner.

Neither are they particularly practical scooters if you live in some old French or Italian city with narrow winding streets or limited space to park them, and they're far too heavy to move about much.

As a tourer they're great, but even waiting along with fellow riders waiting to board one of the North Sea ferries, my lone Silver Wing in the midst of mainly fully kitted BMW adventure bikes is basically ignored. Any questions I'm asked are usually directed at me about where I'm going to, or where I've been.

I understand where you are coming from and I certainly cannot make any opinion on what folks are attracted to in Europe because I have never spent any time in Europe. In this case I trust your opinion as you have a lifetime experience there. All I can say is that the Silverwing does attract attention here on the East Coast of the US...probably as you said...because there just aren't many of them around. There are probably many other great machines to choose from and perhaps I may own one of them in the future but for now I really enjoy my Silverwing. Thanks Meldrew.

Carolina,
Here in Hawaii, I do get many questions about my 2013 Swing. Most people are surprised that I ride it on our highways. Since it has the basic shape of a scooter, most people think that the top speed is around 35MPH. Their facial expression is of disbelief when I respond with the published top speed is 115MPH. There are fewer maxi scooters here in Hawaii as compared to the states. I never gone faster than 90MPH. The funny thing is that it happened when I was late to my MSF class. The instructor warned us that we automatically fail if more than 15 minutes late for class. I made it with less than a minute to spare. Good thing it was early in the morning and the highway was clear of vehicles. The only other vehicle was a Ninga who could not loose track of me. He was also going 90MPH.

These bikes may be dated to some but they are still interesting and great bikes for their purpose. In time I may forget how to use a clutch unless I change up sometimes.Every once in a while I still grab that left (clutch) lever and take a sudden lunge forward.....brain fart I guess. I enjoyed your post.....Thank you.

They are dated, on that 'other forum' that most of we Brits frequent the Silver Wing has long been regarded as an old mans scooter and the complete opposite of something cooler and sportier like the TMax.

From it's launch in 2000 and numerous magazine road tests the Silver Wing became known for being a thirsty beast, and that reputation overshadowed all it's other good points for years. Honda made it complicated for buyers too, initially offering only a non-ABS version, then a more expensive ABS one alongside it before finally dropping the non-ABS one.

For years I was only mildly interested at all this thirsty beast and rode Burgmans. It wasn't until I got fed up with my lardass 650 Burgman in 2010 that I showed any interest in the Silver Wing. Mainly because it was only alternative large capacity maxi scooter, apart an oddball like the chain driven Gilera GP 800.

Even back then online discussion about the now more fuel efficient Silver Wing would be contradicted by those who'd owned the earlier thirsty versions.

Now it seems to have finally sunk in that the later versions are better in that respect, but the Silver Wing is still regarded as an old mans scooter and it's true.

The blokes that seem to graduate to them tend to be old bikers that have had other maxi scooters that may have been troublesome. Or old bikers with the usual dodgy wrist, knees, or back problems buying them as their first maxi scooter.

The very same bikers that would have sneered at and someone on a maxi scooter back in the day.  

About the only comment I get is ..... Do you ever wash that ? it's filthy .... yes I wash it regularly, once after the winter salt's gone & again before it's MOT in June


Edit : Ohh lok, I just got another red mark  

Yes.........I am old..........and I still love my Silverwing. Did somebody say "You meet the nicest people on a Honda"?

The Bern wrote:

About the only comment I get is ..... Do you ever wash that ? it's filthy .... yes I wash it regularly, once after the winter salt's gone & again before it's MOT in June


Edit : Ohh lok, I just got another red mark  

It was still funny!!!!!

I was still working when I looked at the Swing. Since I serviced computers and POS register equipment, I looked for a bike with storage to carry monitors, keyboards, and computers. All which have to be protected from the weather here in Hawaii. In 2012 I found a 2002 Swing with a large GIVI top box. It served me well until I sold it in 2014 when I purchased the last new 2013 Swing for which I had to have it shipped from the Hawaii island to Oahu where I lived. I ride it every chance I can. Hope the rain stops by this afternoon, because I have a meeting downtown and will be riding my Swing. Well, it temporarily stopped raining. Need to go and get my lunch. Ride safe everyone!