I'm Through Being Big and Bad.
By Laurie Sherfey(Owner), Sep. 17, 2008
I traded in my motorcycle for a scooter - everyone is still in shock. I liked my motrocycle (a Suzuki V-Strom 650 dual-sport), and had it for over 3 years. So why sell it and buy a scooter?
It comes down to what you want. Despite having daydreams of riding across the entire country on the old
...Lincoln Highway from New York City to San Francisco, California, my reality is far more mundane. I commute to work most days, ride around town on weekends, and occasionally head out for a trip up into the mountains of western Virginina, or down to the coastal portion of North Carolina. Instead of sleek leathers, I wear a mismatched assortment of protective riding gear, mostly waterproof cordura, and none of it the same color. I should also mention I'm not getting any younger.
Riding a motorcycle means my legs are locked in position, with my feet on foot pegs. After several hours or several hundred miles of this, my legs don't work too well the next day. On top of that, pulling a large, top-heavy motorcycle out of the garage, putting on all the safety gear, and getting turned around and on the road is a miserable experience during the hot, humid days of Summer. Sometimes, the ride to work just didn't seem worth all that sweat and effort.
It's all about trade-offs, going from a full-fledged motorcycle to a scooter. Granted, the Majesty is not a little toy. With 400 cc's, it has a surprising amount of oomph. You give up shifting, which I totally miss. It doesn't have great low-end acceleration. With a single cylinder, it runs a little rough off the block. However, once you get it moving, it just gets smoother and sweeter, the faster you go. It can cruise all day long at highway speeds, and never miss a beat. I noticed a lot less vibration in the handlebars than I had with my motorcycle, which means a lot when you ride all day.
For me, the floorboard on the scooter is priceless. It allows me to find several comfortable seating positions which allows me to stretch out my legs, and prevent the aches and pains I always suffered after riding a motorcycle.
The scooter may look a lot smaller than most motorcycles, but it is also a lot more comfortable for a back seat rider - you never feel scrunched up, and the scooter stays nicely balanced even when fully loaded. It can still cruise along at breathtaking speeds, though starting and stopping are affected somewhat by the extra weight.
When it comes to stopping, the scooter's low center of gravity makes it extremely stable, and the brakes do an outstanding job. You quickly develop a lot of confidence that the scooter can handle just about anything the mean streets can throw at it. It's like a wolf in sheep's clothing. It's also amazingly easy to pull out of the garage, and it can park in a very tight amount of space, when you need to.
Since the scooter's front end looks very motorcyclish, bikers even wave at you. Then they do a double take, to try and figure out what it is as they see its side view. It's funny to see the different reactions. You get a lot of comments and questions about it, wherever you go, mostly about how fast it will go, or what kind of gas mileage you get.
Of course, there's some down side. I get a lot of wind noise, even with a higher than stock windscreen. Ear plugs are a must on road trips. The rear suspension is a bit harsh, especially riding two-up. The rear view mirrors are too close together for good visibility behind you.
But the positives outweigh the negatives. There's the ease and convenience, which makes it ideal for everyday riding. The stability and nimbleness of the scooter are delightful. Having never previously owned anything made by Yamaha besides a saxophone, I am totally impressed with their quality, as well as their engineering. The engine is easy to work on, even for a non-mechanic like me. The scooter also seems like it will be extremely durable and dependable, and low maintenance to boot. And last, but not least, the storage is extremely generous. There's a huge glove box (locking), and a smaller flip-open cubby. The under seat storage can hold two full-face helmets, or in my case, everything I need to ride off for 3 or 4 days, if I pack wisely. With a bag secured behind me, I can pack stupidly for a week (possibly more). Everything about the scooter is practical, and yet still a whole lot of fun!
I've ridden almost 2000 miles on the scooter in less than 3 months of ownership, and I wouldn't go back to my motorcycle for anything. For the riding I do, the scooter is a perfect fit. More people should give them a try - take a walk on the mild side!
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