British Attitude to Scooters

[bornagainbiker]

Here is an extract from Suzuki Bulletin http://suzukibulletin.co.uk/2012/08/14/ ... e-journey/

“I had to be at work for 6:30am, and the obvious thing to do was to get a bike. I thought I’d just get a scooter, but my boss, who was into bikes, said, ‘if you get a scooter, I will fire you.

I'll start the debate off. Why are many British bikers against scooters? Is it a macho thing?

[gn2]

For starters that story is a work of fiction.
It is also fiction that we don't like scooters in the UK, just look at the sales figures.
As for what a few ignorant bikers think, well who really gives a shit?

[Data]

Gn's right! Total sales of PTW in the UK is made up of 46% scooters and 54% bikes (source: MCM 8/8/12). MCN got the figures from some nice official source but can't remember who. The sales of scooters is set to rise and take a bigger proportion of the total sales this time next year.

I think I know what you mean though bornagain. It's the general attitude of some bikers towards scooters that a bit strange. But then, it's mostly because they just don't know anything about scooters. I confess that I didn't either until I had the good fortune to have to ride one. The experience was an 'awakening'!

[StephenC]

MCIA are the source. http://www.mcia.co.uk/

I too hope for more people to take up scooters (especially one I have for sale right now!) but the latest prices for maxis seem to me to be a bit steep.

[gn2]

Some maxis are definitely priced way too high but there's always the Kymco Downtown or Sym GTS.

[StephenC]

EDIT - posted on there now.

Just saw this. Oh dear.

There are so many assumptions made by the writers in just a few short posts. The best one is probably that the scooter was trying to beat him away. I think the reality is that the scooter rider just twisted and went, with not a care for the poor "biker" who was struggling with clutch/gears, etc.


http://londonbikers.com/forums/957303/2 ... s-get-lost

[ridinhigh]

I dont reckon motorcyclists hate scooters, i think its a speed thing
i started riding motor bikes which in those years late 50,s 60s were a lot more reliable than the few scooters that were around,
also bikes were a lot faster still are ,so my mates all had fast bikes bikes such as they were in those days,scooters just were not thought of.
Even now,i would still prefer to run and ride a motorbike for its speed and power,
just im now too old and getting onto a big bike is a problem, so i ride around on a gts 300 to get my kicks on two wheels, i owned a two fifty triumph scooter years and years ago ,
clutch operating lever used to wear out very fast,then rear stub axle broke ,throwing me off breakink my leg ,that was end my scooter days till very recently,

[Deeping]

They really don’t like scooters on there do they, especially if they are quicker? .

[Earl]

I would have loved to have met that original poster when I had my italjet Dragster, I blew a R1 off at the lights on the east lancs (a580) one Sunday, and fair play to him at the next set he gave me a nod and a thumbs up. He totally under estimated the power/speed of a 125cc cough cough cough LOL!

[ridinhigh]

Ive never seen any scooter faster than a big bike,,my slowest big bike was my Harley, scooters could leave me at the
lights but not on the open road ,and none ever got near my cbr 600 or VFR750,only reason scooters leave big bikes at traffic light is,because a big handful of throttle
will send front wheel skywards making dangerous in town ive done it ,whereas scooter most likely wont wheelie,
and just takes off ,