So I decided an SH300 is the scoot for me but I could buy a Honda CBF500 for less money and it will do just the same job.So anybody else in the same predicament or had the same thoughts prior to making your purchase and what reasons got you to your decision ?

Thanks in advance.

I bought a scooter for the fuel economy, auto gearbox, onboard storage and some weather protection.
In short, for the practicality.
They're just far better suited to commuting than a conventional bike and travel to work is by far the biggest part of my riding.
The SH300 isn't the most practical scooter having almost no onboard storage and I mostly don't like flat deck step-throughs, but in a choice between one of them and the (excellent) CBF500 I would take the SH300 every time.
I can identify with your dilemma, when I bought my first ever scooter (PCX) it replaced a Triumph Daytona 900.
Shortly afterwards someone else traded in a Bonneville for one at the same dealer.
Having now owned a scooter (after many years of thinking about getting one) I doubt I will ever buy another conventional motorbike.

I got a auto license because I wasn't bothered about sports bike. I love the maxi scooter because of the above. Twist and go storage, weather protection. I do about 40 a day commuting and it's a joy to go to work.

I tried a manual on my CBT, then tried an auto and I have stuck with auto ever since, its just easier and I found have more focus on the road.

Aside from that, storage, comfort, weather protection and still sporty

maybe you need to test ride both, and see which you prefer, after owning lots of bikes I do prefer auto's, luggage capacity with my sh 300 wasn't a problem as they come with a top box.

could depend what stage of your biking life you are at..? if you are newish to biking you would prob be better off with a "proper" bike....lol....
but if you have had loads...and really want just a work tool... then a scoot is a good move....

i rode down to hastings last w/e on the mayday run with me x8.... i did not envy the bike riders CONSTANTLY clunking up an down the gearbox...but i was same when i was younger.... id never commute into a city ever again on a geared bike...too much hard work clonk clonk clonk....

For me, a maxi is the right tool for the job, I wanted honest, practical transport:
Huge onboard storage without adding boxes, prefer auto to gears in town traffic, round town handling, weather protection, comfortable seat, relaxed seating position, choice of foot positions.

I like the fun, aesthetics and image of crotch rockets and cruisers etc but wanted a single bike that would do the open road stuff but also carry more and be the least hassle around town

[quote="gn2"]I
Shortly afterwards someone else traded in a Bonneville for one at the same dealer

That someone else was me. Having had a 650 Bandit, then traded it for a 400 burgman. I then traded the Burgman for the Bonneville as I just loved it's looks but after a year and a half realised it wasn't getting used as it should have. So it got traded in for a PCX and after about 11 months the scoot had covered more miles that the bike had done in 18 months. Just find scooter far more practicle. Use it every day for going to work, shopping even trips to Track etc. Now just traded it for a 300 Sym. Can't see me every buy another geared bike again.

Aha, so it was.
Your bike history strengthens the case for scooters imo.

I started my bike history with a gilera runner as i loved their looks and never really had the desire to own a sports bike. Then i decided to get a full licence and bought a 50cc sports bike with 6 gears! Then with my licence i bought an 600cc sports bike.

The thing that made me find myself on a maxi scoot was when i had to commute to a client for one week between slough and gatwick. Although it wasn't as bad as london commuting (which i never had experienced by then), it still was a tiresome journey giving me painful wrists after a while.

That week i decided to buy something different, and that's how i came across burgman 650... the rest is history.

I would like to buy a geared bike again in the future, but ONLY IF i can keep my maxi scoot next to that