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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: hypophthalmus on December 01, 2017, 06:28:52 PM
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Can anyone provide some insight in how a 250cc cruiser compares to a 250cc scooter? Especially in terms of acceleration and long distance comfort?
I'm seriously considering getting a Yamaha XV250, but I don't want to be surprised to find it less responsive and less comfortable on long trips than my People 250 was.
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Can't say as I've ridden one for any distance, though I've contemplated the same (Those, & the TU250, Royal Enfield & , if it ever launches, the G400C).
My thought would be go find one to test ride.
Off the top of my head, you'd lose storage and weather protection in exchange for a more efficient drive train. The former would have more impact on a longer ride.
Other factors like vibration, suspension, ergonomics are going to vary a bit and will have notable subjective & personal impact on the ride.
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I have been looking at a few motorcycles lately (mainly around the 300cc) but I will stick with a scooter as I need the storage for my gear.
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I don't think I'll be able to test ride one, especially in any meaningful way. So other people's subjective experiences are helpful.
The lack of storage has been the main reason I've never gone that route before. It's always going to be at a disadvantage there, but with saddlebags, tailbags, tankbags, or whatever else I can bolt/strap onto it, I think it'll be adequate.
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I have been looking at a few motorcycles lately (mainly around the 300cc) but I will stick with a scooter as I need the storage for my gear.
Ditto...well, that and my knee hates shifting. ::)
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I also want to know the insights as well. If it's someone telling me it can help me decide to buy it.
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A 250cc motorcycle and a 250cc scooter are very different , in ride character, weather protection, sound, and yes acceleration. For one who's ridden a motorcycle and has the shift, clutch rhythm down pat, the motorcycle will beat the scooter off the line every time. (same cc's). Ride characteristic is mostly dictated by wheel size which changes the CG. Cargo space has already been mentioned. As for myself, I love riding both, but I would say that my scooter gets the nod when the north winds are howling, and the wind chill is below 40. Both are great fun and those who have never ridden either are cheating themselves.
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250cc Motorcycle
Pros:
A 250cc motorcycle will be faster off the line. Gives you some options for gearing with different sized sprockets to cater around what kind of riding you will end up doing. Lower your RPM at cruising speed or wind up faster for urban riding. Your wheelbase and rake will be different so it's a bit harder to navigate tighter areas, but will be more stable when going flat out. Big wheels let ya tackle rougher roads with a more planted stance. 250-300cc naked/sport bikes will let ya grab the tank with your knees and lean it over with a lot more confidence. If you ultimately want to graduate to riding big bikes, a 250-300cc motorcycle will offer the most analogous experience you'll need to jump up to 650s safely. You're up higher and you're easier to see (but remember you're still invisible), but you can also see over cars easier and what's around you. Changing rear tires is way easier! More engaging to ride, ya feel in control of everything and some people dig that.
Cons:
You'll often lose cargo carrying convenience. Lets say you're often going to get stuck in snail's pace stop'n'go traffic, your clutch hand will start to get tired. Your passenger will be less comfortable as there's not a lot of seat on the pillion of most motorcycles and can't think of any 250-300cc bikes with a decent seat with passengers in mind. Depending on where you live you may not have a lot of options. Here in the USA we're enjoying a bit of a resurgence of small displacement bikes, new/old Honda Rebel, CBR, CRF, Versys 300 (my pick), TU250 and a handful of others. But finding something you like AND that you fit comfortably in your price range is tricky. They hold their value as they're temporary stepping stones for people to learn on. When ya find a used one don't be surprised if you're the 18th owner and who knows how well it was taken care of with that many generations of noobs and their mistakes piling up. Chain maintenance is mandatory and it gets old. I ride my wife's 150cc around and even tho it's a slug compared to my Versys 1000 and V-Strom 650, not having to mess with gears and the clutch I'm actually faster in congested areas like parking lots and our neighborhood on her scooter.
Get ya a garage and fill it with all sorts of bikes, it's gonna happen eventually!
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i drove a kawasaki 125 cruiser at the motorcycle class and i could barely shift because of crampness of the ergonomics most small cruisers i tried were the same that's why i like my scoot easy riding position and no shifting i invite you to punch that bike into cycle ergo before anything good luck
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not an exact answer to your question..but I have both a People S200 (163cc) and a Kawasaki Ninja 300..and the riding experiences couldn't be more different!
The scooter is softer, slower, more comfortable, has relatively poor brakes but is 'easier' to ride...twist N go!
The motorcycle is...thrilling...power (all relative, here), handling, brakes, the sound with a slip on muffler, the joy of running through the gears..all much more enjoyable for me..
I used to prefer the scoot to make my runs to the store for beer...6 pack under the seat, no problem....but then I bought a tail bag for my motorcycle that fits a 12 pack and now I find myself riding the motorcycle for just about everything.
In a perfect world you get both...heck, in a perfect world I'd have a 9 stall garage filled with about 10 or 15 different 2 wheeled vehicles!
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If you're plan is for longer trips (as oppose to recreational riding) I would ask what can you do more off the dealer room floor? In other worlds could you back up your bike (scooter or MC) and head off for a day trip and ride with more comfort, or would you need to buy additional items like a top case, tank bag, or pannier's.
Which offers better comfort on longer rides and start and stop riding in traffic and traffic jams?
Which offers better weather protection, or storage to hold weather gear and or tools?
Which has amenities -- cell phone charger, glovebox, hazard lights, etc. ... ?
If I'm not mistaken a 250cc scooter (new) is something of a rare bird unless you're thinking of something new, or a Chinese brand.
- Wolf
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I used to prefer the scoot to make my runs to the store for beer...6 pack under the seat, no problem....but then I bought a tail bag for my motorcycle that fits a 12 pack and now I find myself riding the motorcycle for just about everything.
Sounds like someone has their priorities right. ;D
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Another option for me would be either a Honda CB500X or a Kawasaki Versys 300 because at least with these you can get hard panniers fitted easily and that would solve the storage problem.
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I have a Honda Helix. There is NO 250 cc bike that will beat it in long distance comfort, weather protection, and practicality. I can tour the mountains on it, ride it to work every day, and go grocery shopping with it.
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Sounds like someone has their priorities right. ;D
https://photos.app.goo.gl/mHxeqvZXjKMw2kXy1 my top box is for CostCo beer runs.
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Thanks for all the help!
I guess I can definitely cross performance off my list of concerns.
No question that scooters are just inherently geared towards carrying things. I seem to recall someone saying they're like two wheeled pickup trucks, which is apt. I'm sure I could fit quite a lot of beer in the top box, under the seat, and by my legs on a People 250.
On the motorcycle I'm considering in particular, it sounds especially sounds like it takes some effort to get it ready for all the bags. For me, at this point, that just sounds more fun than discouraging though.
Also agreed that for cities / stop and go traffic, scooters are an obvious choice. But less of a concern for me, living in the middle of nowhere -- I'm more concerned with the 40-100 mile trip to get to the city than how it is driving around it.
Also, that motorcycle ergonomics website is amazing, although I'm not totally sure how to interpret the information.
http://cycle-ergo.com/ (http://cycle-ergo.com/)
According to it, it seems like the small cruisers and the People 250 have you in very similar positions though?
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Thanks for all the help!
I guess I can definitely cross performance off my list of concerns.
No question that scooters are just inherently geared towards carrying things. I seem to recall someone saying they're like two wheeled pickup trucks, which is apt. I'm sure I could fit quite a lot of beer in the top box, under the seat, and by my legs on a People 250.
On the motorcycle I'm considering in particular, it sounds especially sounds like it takes some effort to get it ready for all the bags. For me, at this point, that just sounds more fun than discouraging though.
Also agreed that for cities / stop and go traffic, scooters are an obvious choice. But less of a concern for me, living in the middle of nowhere -- I'm more concerned with the 40-100 mile trip to get to the city than how it is driving around it.
Also, that motorcycle ergonomics website is amazing, although I'm not totally sure how to interpret the information.
http://cycle-ergo.com/ (http://cycle-ergo.com/)
According to it, it seems like the small cruisers and the People 250 have you in very similar positions though?
At some point I will probably get a Honda Pacific Coast. They are older but worth a look.
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Hey Hypophthalmus, check this out. It's a 300i Downtown set up with plenty of storage. outstanding weather protect, with the larger Givi windscreen and it's good for both around town and on the super slab. Will cruise at 65 t0 70 all day long and with the added motorcycle style forward foot pegs you can stretch out cruiser style. and if 85mph WOT is not enough for you, you can not get a 400icc.
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The Downtown looks really nice.
There's some reasons I want to make the XV250 work though:
I've always thought it was pretty. It sounds really nice too.
I feel like I should jump on the opportunity for something different.
It gets 78 miles to the gallon, often more.
It has an air cooled engine, which means no catastrophic coolant failures.
If the engine does fail, replacing it or rebuilding it would be relatively inexpensive and easy.
I've considered more powerful bikes too. But I keep thinking that I'd be happy with smaller and lighter. And the XV250 only weighs about 300 pounds.
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You gotta get what works for you. I'm sure you'll make the right choice.
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http://genuinescooters.com/g400c.html (http://genuinescooters.com/g400c.html)
Is one of the bikes I keep watching for. They decided to go 50 state on release & were last heard waiting on CA (of course) so it's been delayed a couple years.
Essentially this http://www.mash-motors.fr/en/400cc-motorcycles/4982-mash-five-hundred-400cc.html (http://www.mash-motors.fr/en/400cc-motorcycles/4982-mash-five-hundred-400cc.html)
Not dead sure on Fuel economy in the real world. The 86 mpg sounds kinda optimistic, but the extra HP would be enough to make it more usable on highways without making it a beast in town.
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I recently came across the Yamaha SR400 and thought it looked impressive. The G400C evidently is lighter, more powerful, cheaper, and looks a bit better. And much better mileage if that is actually accurate.
I'm looking to buy used though -- I'd save $3000 and I won't have to feel so bad about taking it on forest service roads. Also, there's all the cheap parts floating around.
If I were buying new though, that'd be really compelling.
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Well ya could get a used SR400...the older ones actually had electric starters, & I think better brakes.
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What is your budget? Do you have riding experience? How tall or short are ya?
I'm a bit of a modest giant at 6'5" so motorcycles are a must for me and even then I'm limited on what I can ride comfortably. Second hand motorcycles can be had pretty cheap if you're patient and know what to look for. Got my Vstrom for $1,300 and my Versys 1000 for $3,000. Both were good buys and I could have certainly paid a lot more for either example if I got in a rush. But my method is just be patient and wait for the right bike at the right price.
My opinion is consider getting something with easy to source parts. Also, keep the valve clearance checks in mind. I've had some Hondas that required it every 5,000 miles and I ended up adjusting valves 6x's a year. That gets old! My current line up of steeds require checking every 20-25k miles. Some bikes eat tires up quickly, had some only last 3k miles, others last me 15k+. So take your time, do your homework and buy with your head and your heart will not ache.
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Scooters are a whole different world! Stand out from the crowd and go scooter! ;D
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Scooters are a whole different world! Stand out from the crowd and go scooter! ;D
Yeah, baby!!