Ride quality on country roads

[steve_h80]

Ride quality is mostly down to the suspension and how its designed. Maxi scoots cope better on country roads because that's their remit, 125's are designed to be agile in smoother surfaced town environments.

[Deleted User 4154]

Having tested the XMAX 125 in a few situations, I have noticed that the ride quality on country roads (pot holes, drainage covers, other ruts etc) seems a bit harsh.

I am assuming this is quite normal for a scooter that has smaller wheels and suspension? Or will a bigger scoot (Burgman 650 etc) be more forgiving on these types of roads?

How would a maxi scooter compare to a bigger (example Honda CB500X) motorbike in terms of comfort on bumpy roads where you have to do over 50mph?

IMO it's more to do with all the unsprung mass you have on a swingarm-engined scooter than the wheel size.

[XP500FUN]

I`ve often said why not more proper swinging arm scoots, be such an improvement.

Even the new BMW is a unit engine swing job sadly.

At least you have city grips on, but a good a pair of not too firm shocks might help a little and an air seat cover too.

Best Mark.

[XP500FUN]

I`ve seen both air and gel ones touted as taking some of the bumps transmission out a little.

Certainly reducing it getting in to your spine to a degree. I used to use one on my bump your back to bits sym Joyride.It did help on that front to a point.

Blimey that scooter was harsh. You could feel the odd shock go right up your spine and land in your head, sounds nasty and was.

Theres quite an affordable gel and foam one from M and P and Brooks barn on ebay.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-M ... SwFWdbKSaL

Theres a larger and smaller one.

Some times taking your scooters hump off ( if it will come off, not an X max that looks quite far back ) and being slightly further back helps a little too.

If the roads were`nt so flippin terrible you wouldn`t be having an issue.

[defscoot]

I do have a Wild Ass cushion which is a clone of the Airhawk. I haven't tried it on the scoot yet but to be honest I didn't think it made much difference for me on the CB125F.

I tried numerous air pressures but it was hard to tell whether it made a difference.

Might try it on the Xmax.

r.e. the roads, I agree, they have got worse and worse over the years. I am really surprised how bad they are around Harrogate as it's supposed to be a fairly wealthy area. You'd think some of these 'rich' councillors would like smooth roads for their vintage jags.

[rayb]

I went on the A44 on Saturday and I held a Porsche up for a while because I was reluctant to go into the bends too fast. The surface would look ok going in but on the exit, there were rift valleys just waiting to trap a front wheel. He gave me a nice wave when I let him past.

[XP500FUN]

I`m not sure what North Yorkshire Highways are doing, they keep putting down crap tar binder and covering in chippings. The more recent, more hopeless than ever binder lets the chippings go all of the time and worse in the cold. Gravel everywhere and huge patches lifting off.

Last years surfaces are well on the way and looks like they are 15 + years old and need doing again.Some places all gone left to right on the road and not a year old.Well much was like that by March.

It also starts to melt much easier from about 16 dgrees, its useless. All the roads are self buggering in the heat and only been early 20`s here as a bit fretty etc.

The company provider !!! owners must just sit on thier yachts and laugh all of the way to the bank.

The melted smoothed strips are lethal in the damp or wet.

[mottza]

At least you get roads resurfaced. Only ones around here are done are near Councillors houses.

[MrGrumpy]

At least you get roads resurfaced. Only ones around here are done are near Councillors houses.

No, North Yorks CC don't resurface roads, they 'surface dress' them, which is basically dumping a load of stones on them, leaving local car drivers to act as rollers to bed them in. As XP500Fun says, the whole process is useless, and the chippings start wearing away within months, and all the holes and bumps that were there before remain.

[steve_h80]

So many roads are now in need of full resurfacing it's ridiculous.
As with all these things though it comes down to money, full resurfacing is very, very expensive. All this blaming the contractors just shows ignorance, the contractor will do exactly what the specification calls for.
I for one would happily pay 1% more income tax or fuel duty to sort it, the vast majority won't and will start blithering on about we already pay road and fuel duty. Very true but that is been redirected to cover the general income tax cuts this country always votes for.
As the song says "it's what your votes condone".