Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Are scooters gaining popularity? Are you now seeing more and more on the roads each year?

Myself, I have noticed that since they started selling greater than 50cc scooters in Canada they are all over the place more and more. Cheap to buy, cheap to run and cheap to insure.

How about where you live?

Mike

NO! Dealers can't give them away and only a few select dealers stock scooters and refuse to order you one unless you pay full msrp price in advance, nobody takes scooters serious
at least in my area, might be different in other parts of the country

Check the stats , worldwide the sales are up

A few years ago I used to laugh and make fun of people riding scooters, then a friend allowed me to ride his Suzuki Burgman and I was hooked, but got the Tmax instead of the Burgman.
Many people out there want a scooter but are afraid to be seen riding one cause what other people will think and say about them.
I don't care what other people say or think, I simply tell them "I bought that scooter cause it impressed me, NOT YOU"
Most people choose a motorcycle by sight and sound (it looks good and sounds good) scooters are at the bottom of that list

Marvin wrote:I don't care what other people say or think, I simply tell them "I bought that scooter cause it impressed me, NOT YOU"
Most people choose a motorcycle by sight and sound (it looks good and sounds good) scooters are at the bottom of that list

Well said!

If you can find a Yamaha T-Max to test drive do so. You will never look at scooters the same way again. These, and to a large extent most other large displacement scoots such as the Burgman, Majesty, SilverWing, etc are fully developed, fast and nimble road bikes with touring and interstate capabilities. Chinese scoots in the 150CC range and below have also come a long way but they have serious limitations. They cost very little however and would be a great starter bike for anyone to learn on.

They are definitely gaining popularity...and I think it is the twist & go and the absolute utility of them...check out the storage of a scooter compared to a bike...but as for them being cheaper, check again...they're not as cheap as you might think...

Suzuki Burgman 650 MSRP - $11,099
Yamaha Majesty 400 MSRP - $7,499
Yamaha TMax 500 MSRP - $10,499

Comparable motorcycles...

Suzuki SFV650 Gladius MSRP - $9,399
Suzuki Boulevard M50 MSRP - $9,499
Kawasaki Ninja 650R MSRP - $8,299
Kawasaki Ninja 400R MSRP - $7,199

The 49cc scoots are pretty cheap, but compare them to a 125cc bike or a 250cc bike...and they are a little cheaper, but you loose a lot of range (you can't take a 49cc scooter on the hiway, but you can with the bikes)...

Yamaha BWs 50 MSRP - $3,079
Honda Ruckus 50 MSRP - $3,069

Honda CBR125R MSRP - $3,499
Honda CBR250R MSRP - $4,499
Kawasaki Ninja 250R MSRP - $4,999
Suzuki TU250 MSRP - $5,299
Yamaha Vstar 250 MSRP - $4,499

Obviously these are Canadian MSRP not the actual price you will pay, there are lots of incentives out there right now...but it puts them on a level playing field...I will probably be picking up a 49cc scoot this summer for my wifey to try out and if she likes it we will get her something larger, if not my daughter will ride it next summer...but the utility of them is undeniable...there is as much storage under the seat of a 49cc scooter as there is in most top boxes for bikes, and if you look under the seat of a Maxi Scooter...piles of room...plus it is less intimidating for someone just learning or getting into the sport...for my wifey, it is the only way she would even consider riding...she has no interest what so ever in learning the skills of shifting and feathering the clutch...

Later.

Every bike dealer I've been to, has scooters for sale, and they're selling...

More scooters on the roads for sure. The cost of fuel is making them more and more popular. Not to mention the fun factor.

I see more scooters on the road every year.

I also noticed no mention of the Italian scooters. When I no longer have a 25 mile highway commute to work, I might let the Shadow go in favor of a Vespa. I miss wearing dresses.