An epiphany!

[oldbear]

Ok, so my trust S10 and I take a long ride the other day. Just a loop, but fairly long @ 300 miles. Anyway, on the return leg about 230 miles out I stopped at a little Yamaha/Suzuki shop about 70 miles from home. I've dealt with the folks there in the past and they're good people. Anyone, it was a weekday afternoon in small town KY and nothing was going on at the shop. Sat there and BS'd with the owner about bikes, and the subject of motorcycle comfort came up. He stated "If I had to take off on a long ride today, it would be on that and pointed across the showroom at a 400cc BURGMAN!!!!! I was like, "yeah, right", and he said, "tell you what, there's a 2011 model sitting out front with the key in it. Put on your gear and take a little ride. You will come back with a smile on your face". Seeing that nothing else was going on I said, what the heck, and did take it for a 10 mile run. Now I'm a guy who always gently made fun of the scooter guys, but I've got to say, the little beast was fun to ride and was VERY comfortable. What a seat, and at 5'11" I could actually straighter out my legs and still have my feet on the floorboards!!! Pretty darn slick! No substitute for a heavy road bike but I was impressed.

It's kinda like being in high school. You didn't mind taking the ugly girl out for a little foolin' around, but you wouldn't want any of your buddies to see you..... :

So, anybody else ever tried one of these puppies? If so, whadda ya think?

 

[Dogdaze]

I've had a Yamaha T-Max, Piaggio 250 and 400, Burgman 400 (found legroom lacking, more to do with the seat) T Max was fun and fast. Even today, am toying with the idea of either a Honda NC750 Integra or another T Max (530). Did demo a BMW C600 Sport, too vibey but long service schedules............. And from the front they all look like sports bikes, only faster off the line to 40 mph. Food for thought. Oh, and great weather protection and no one waves at you, that could be a good thing around these parts on Sundays up the mountains.

 

[greg the pole]

rode a 400 yammie a few years back...the tranny is like a rubber band, wind it up and it goes..
love the look of the tmax.

Scooters are like fat chicks. Fun to ride, till your friends spot you on one ::015::

 

[XTZELEE]

I have a TMax 500 for commuting and use in bad weather. In the right hands can give most 'proper' bikes a hard time in the twisties.

Fast, good handling, comfortable and unbeatable weather protection - the ultimate all weather urban transport.

 

[tomatocity]

The Tmax 530 ($10,490) looks and sounds very nice. The FJ-09 847 ($10,490) had intrigued me since I test rode it twice. Might have to build a new garage

Or a 2016 Burgman 650 Executive ($10,999) w/ ABS, more storage, electric windshield and mirrors, three shift modes, heated grips, heated seats, adjustable rear suspension, storage on the dash, and...

 

[FrontRangeRider]

My wife's first bike was a used Suzuki Burgman 400. She loved it. Comfortable, good fuel economy and wind protection and functional. Our riding friends used to call her Mary Poppins because of the amount of stuff that would fit under the seat. She loved it and logged about 8000 miles on it before upgrading to her G650GS. We rode all over Colorado over many mountain passes and spent enough time on I-25 at 70 mph to know that it has all the guts it needs.

 

[Squibb]

I still have the original experimental Honda in the back of the garage - a pearl white PC800 Pacific Coast. Fully faired, V-twin, shaft drive.

Honda California mixed the DNA of bikes & scooters back in 1989 & designed an oddball. Didn't sell too well, but proved to be the forerunner of todays super scoots, with loads of luggage space in the trunk & a relaxed ride. Very much the Integra of it's time & more than capable in today's traffic conditions. Mine only has 14k on the clock & is in A1 condition, but it has to be said that the S10 is a far more exciting prospect, particularly when 2-up.

In my Hayabusa days, we shadowed a guy on a 400 Burgman, all the way back from Andalucia, to the UK. Over several days riding - there he was again. Got to the Ferry & there parked up was the same Burgman, so we got chatting - turned out he did the trip 4/5 times a year. Hates flying, so uses the scooter, which can maintain a steady 70 mph, so gets him down to Spain easily & is great for short rides to the shops/wherever once at his Villa. Not to be under estimated these things, they still provide some 2- wheeled fun; or even 3 wheels, if you try the Gilera/Piaggio with twin front wheels.

Ride Safe ...................... KEN

 

[greg the pole]

The Tmax 530 ($10,490) looks and sounds very nice. The FJ-09 847 ($10,490) had intrigued me since I test rode it twice. Might have to build a new garage

Or a 2016 Burgman 650 Executive ($10,999) w/ ABS, more storage, electric windshield and mirrors, three shift modes, heated grips, heated seats, adjustable rear suspension, storage on the dash, and...

Don't get the FJ Tim....