Comments on: Beginner Bike or Scooter? http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/09/02/beginner-bike-or-scooter/ Motorcycle News for Positive People Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:13:30 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Toney http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/09/02/beginner-bike-or-scooter/comment-page-1/#comment-253115 Toney Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:14:14 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=2091#comment-253115 I learned how to ride a AR80 motorycle back in the 80's without a motorcycle license. I then got my motorcycle license in Washington Dc but ended up selling my motorcycle about 1 yr. later. Now I have a Kymco motor scooter 49cc and still have my motorcycle license, I was really thinking about moving up to a 125 or 150, but do to my disability, my doctors don't want me to upgrade, due to the speed. I really think the laws should be that anyone whom rides a motor scooter needs to have a scooter or motorcycle license and safety class. Its really dangerous riding on the road with other vehicles not knowing the safety of operating motor scooters, which is simular to operating a motorcycle with the difference of the motorcycle has gears and the scooter does not. I don't travel too far on my 49cc, just local destinations and I obey all laws and safety policies. It's very hard to find a motor scooter club or group that will accept 49cc riders. With my disability, I wish I could find local motor scooter 49cc riders like myself. I learned how to ride a AR80 motorycle back in the 80’s without a motorcycle license. I then got my motorcycle license in Washington Dc but ended up selling my motorcycle about 1 yr. later. Now I have a Kymco motor scooter 49cc and still have my motorcycle license, I was really thinking about moving up to a 125 or 150, but do to my disability, my doctors don’t want me to upgrade, due to the speed. I really think the laws should be that anyone whom rides a motor scooter needs to have a scooter or motorcycle license and safety class. Its really dangerous riding on the road with other vehicles not knowing the safety of operating motor scooters, which is simular to operating a motorcycle with the difference of the motorcycle has gears and the scooter does not. I don’t travel too far on my 49cc, just local destinations and I obey all laws and safety policies. It’s very hard to find a motor scooter club or group that will accept 49cc riders. With my disability, I wish I could find local motor scooter 49cc riders like myself.

]]> By: Tim E. http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/09/02/beginner-bike-or-scooter/comment-page-1/#comment-207438 Tim E. Sun, 08 Feb 2009 22:58:57 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=2091#comment-207438 I ride a 275cc scooter to and from work, and on errands, 12 mile commute on country roads. Mostly 35-55mph. Went with the scoot instead of a MC because I like the extra storage on board, the large fairing up front (which would've cost me 3x as much on a MC), and I like not having to give attention to shifting and clutching. I can drive a stick-shift, but 2-wheeling is dangerous enough. Why not reserve that extra attention for staying safe, instead of shifting and clutching? Just my 2 cents. My scoot will top out around 80-85mph on the flat, and most of the roads I ride are 55 speed limit, so I have enough to stay out of trouble most of the time. And yes, most MC riders around here wave at me! I ride a 275cc scooter to and from work, and on errands, 12 mile commute on country roads. Mostly 35-55mph. Went with the scoot instead of a MC because I like the extra storage on board, the large fairing up front (which would’ve cost me 3x as much on a MC), and I like not having to give attention to shifting and clutching. I can drive a stick-shift, but 2-wheeling is dangerous enough. Why not reserve that extra attention for staying safe, instead of shifting and clutching? Just my 2 cents. My scoot will top out around 80-85mph on the flat, and most of the roads I ride are 55 speed limit, so I have enough to stay out of trouble most of the time. And yes, most MC riders around here wave at me!

]]> By: B*A*M*F http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/09/02/beginner-bike-or-scooter/comment-page-1/#comment-151097 B*A*M*F Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:37:52 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=2091#comment-151097 Having ridden many scooters as small as 50cc and motorcycles over 1000cc, I can honestly say I don't think that the size of wheels or potential gyroscopic effect thereof really has much impact. Even with scooters, there are some with 10" wheels and others with 16". I've not noticed a significant difference in stability that I can attribute to the size of the wheels. Wheelbase, suspension tuning, etc. makes a huge difference. Weight and the proportion of unsprung weight to overall weight also make an impact on stability. A 300lb scooter with 12" wheels tends to be more stable than a 250lb scoot sporting the same footwear. Personally, I love both, but for different reasons. In an ideal world, I'd have a building with over 100 bikes in it. Each ready to ride at a moment's notice. But when it comes to city riding, I like scooters best for their size. Having ridden many scooters as small as 50cc and motorcycles over 1000cc, I can honestly say I don’t think that the size of wheels or potential gyroscopic effect thereof really has much impact.

Even with scooters, there are some with 10″ wheels and others with 16″. I’ve not noticed a significant difference in stability that I can attribute to the size of the wheels. Wheelbase, suspension tuning, etc. makes a huge difference. Weight and the proportion of unsprung weight to overall weight also make an impact on stability. A 300lb scooter with 12″ wheels tends to be more stable than a 250lb scoot sporting the same footwear.

Personally, I love both, but for different reasons. In an ideal world, I’d have a building with over 100 bikes in it. Each ready to ride at a moment’s notice. But when it comes to city riding, I like scooters best for their size.

]]> By: Dave http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/09/02/beginner-bike-or-scooter/comment-page-1/#comment-150908 Dave Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:26:43 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=2091#comment-150908 I've had both starting out with a medium size bike then moving upscale to large bike. I now have a scooter and with the "New Maxi" scooters the only difference to me is convienience of not having to shift. I get the same enjoyment as a big bike on the scooter at half the cost and better gas maileage. That's my story and I am sticking to it! I’ve had both starting out with a medium size bike then moving upscale to large bike. I now have a scooter and with the “New Maxi” scooters the only difference to me is convienience of not having to shift. I get the same enjoyment as a big bike on the scooter at half the cost and better gas maileage. That’s my story and I am sticking to it!

]]> By: PEGGY SCOTT http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/09/02/beginner-bike-or-scooter/comment-page-1/#comment-150765 PEGGY SCOTT Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:40:15 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=2091#comment-150765 Is there a scooter that you straddle like a bike? I like the feel of riding a bike, with my feet set apart like on a bike. But I love the bigger scooters like the Honda Silver Wing, but hate the feeling of my feet so close together on the floorboard. Is there a scooter that you straddle like a bike? I like the feel of riding a bike, with my feet set apart like on a bike. But I love the bigger scooters like the Honda Silver Wing, but hate the feeling of my feet so close together on the floorboard.

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