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Wet weather riding ST200

Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 11:10 am
by macp
I was thinking as I rode to work in the pouring rain this morning why is it I feel so much happier in the wet on my new scoot than I did on my motorcycle. I feel relaxed and happy and the scoot feels more planted and stable than my BMW R850R ever did. The Beemer used to wiggle & squirm but the scoot feels fine.

Re: Wet weather riding ST200

Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 11:29 am
by Dave Weller
Light weight, low power, low centre of gravity, dry feet and weather protection all help, you get better feed back from the scooter, tyres are warmer as the wheels revolve more being smaller.

Re: Wet weather riding ST200

Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 11:43 am
by macp
Dave Weller wrote:Light weight, low power, low centre of gravity, dry feet and weather protection all help, you get better feed back from the scooter, tyres are warmer as the wheels revolve more being smaller.
That makes a lot of sense Dave all of which increase rider confidence. I was never a fast rider but I swear I am riding faster wet or dry :D

Re: Wet weather riding ST200

Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 3:45 pm
by Data
I think there is something in what Dave says. Coming from big bikes to a Burger, I can say the same as you Mac. I ride much more, and further, faster (mostly, accept on motorways where I keep to 70 now instead of errrr...faster speeds!!) and I get a real buzz from riding the scoot. A buzz that sadly had gone from riding the big bikes. Funny old things aren't we! :lol:

Re: Wet weather riding ST200

Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 4:17 pm
by mightbesane
Yep, I ride my scoot all the time in weather that would have kept my bike parked in the garage. It's strange that one of the reasons that I switched to a scoot was to keep my right hand under control but I feel so much more comfortable on my scoot that I'm a bit more aggressive than I used to be on my bike. Like Data says, though, an extra 'gear' might be nice on the highway.

Re: Wet weather riding ST200

Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 5:51 pm
by macp
Maybe spoke too soon chaps not sure if it was me (very possibly) but I thought I felt the front twitch on a slow left hander. It wasnt the only thing that was twitching :D

On the front I have a Sava MC28 Diamond S and on the back a new but scrubbed in Pirelli Diablo. Im now thinking of ditching the Sava and sticking a matching Pirelli on the front or perhaps a Michelin citygrip ?

So what do you guys do in the wet lean over the front in the wet ?

Re: Wet weather riding ST200

Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 6:29 pm
by Earl
I'd go with diablo's front and back, I had them on my nexus 300, but the best small wheeled tyres I ever had were Hutchingson Funzys which are no longer in production :(

Re: Wet weather riding ST200

Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 6:57 pm
by ridinhigh
from riding big sportbikes ,now down to a scooter i felt better in the wet on a big bike ,than i do on my gts ,fitted with diablo sports

Re: Wet weather riding ST200

Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:33 pm
by Earl
One thing I would like to say, in my opinion the centre of gravity on a Runner is higher than on a motorbike not lower, on a motorbike you have the engine under you.

Re: Wet weather riding ST200

Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:45 pm
by macp
Thinking about it I am getting too deep here I may just change the front tyre for something of a little more quality.