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[BuriBuriZaemon]

Howdy all,

I want to buy a scooter for recreational use (weekend/holiday ride). I choose scooter over motorbike because it is less common (I see a vehicle as accessory, an extension of one's personality), offers more utility (large storage space), and more comfortable for long rides due to its seating position.


While I am very comfortable with driving a car, I have never ridden a two-wheeled vehicle before, except for bicycles when I was younger. Because of this lack of experience and safety reasons, I am considering to buy a three-wheeled scooter, Gilera Fuoco 500. It has two front wheels that can tilt independently and is more stable due to having more traction on the road. I am just wondering if any of you has experience with owning and riding a scooter and could give some pointers to a newbie.

Cheers,

BBZ

[Tellemurius]

Scooters uncommon? man they out-populate the motorbikes around here
Since they don't go really fast its about as easy to balance on those like a regular bike. Don't get a three wheeler though :/ they are a pain in the ass to turn and can roll easily.

[Funk]

do remember that you are really just a slow bike with out any of the badass/sexy trappings.
and it looks like your riding a toilet / are a take away driver
haveing two frount wheel will make you the but of load of jokes about stabilisers and other things.

round here there are loads of the things, hated due to being slow and driven by the untrained.

[Cthulhu]

It depends on where you are.  In America at least, you don't want a scooter as an extension of your personality because scooters say "I am very very lame."

[BuriBuriZaemon]

Yes, understandable about the image of lameness of riding a scooter. I don't mind that and I prefer to ride a scooter than being "another hotshot on a fast bike". My preference is actually cruiser bike, like Honda Goldwing, but alas, I have no experience to speak of and they cost a fortune. So the Fuoco 500 will be a stop gap before I reach mid-life crisis and buy a cruiser bike.

[lordcooper]

How about a trike like Billy Connolly had?

[DJ]

As a postman I drive a scooter all the time, and I can tell you that you seriously don't need three wheels. Scooters are a lot more stable than bicycles, and you really have to try to fall off one. And since you can't really go all that fast, injuries should be minimal as long as you wear your helmet. Anyway, I don't think they're cool looking at all, but I'm still planning to buy one for personal use because their fuel efficiency is just awesome.

[Tellemurius]

Yes, understandable about the image of lameness of riding a scooter. I don't mind that and I prefer to ride a scooter than being "another hotshot on a fast bike". My preference is actually cruiser bike, like Honda Goldwing, but alas, I have no experience to speak of and they cost a fortune. So the Fuoco 500 will be a stop gap before I reach mid-life crisis and buy a cruiser bike.

yea motorcycles are damn still expensive but so versatile, good luck and wear that damn helmet.

[Zrk2]

Where do you live? If you live in NA, don't buy one. They are too slow to travel on a road and too fast for the sidewalk. I'd recommend a motorcycle instead.

[Mullet Master]

This idea seems far fetched for me.
Buy one of the most expensive scooters out there, simply because a bike might be harder to ride?
I wouldn't buy a nearly 10,000usd vehicle as a first scooter/bike, simply because if you accidentally drop it, you'll do about $1500 of fairing damage.

Plus, the three wheel superscooters basically have none of the charming aspects of scooters (extremely inexpensive ownership, universal appeal like a Vespa) and none of the fun aspects of motorcycles ( shifting gears, clutch control)

I'd first take a motorcycle safety course - which also very helpful for anyone wanting to purchase a scooter, then make a decision about what you want to ride.

[BuriBuriZaemon]

I don't want a bike because they are far too common compared to scooters here in Melbourne, Australia. Plus I prefer the utility of a scooter. Its compartment is large enough for me to do weekly groceries. And, yes a car would be a better value for that price but I don't need a car and I am doing this for fun. Plus a scooter is cheaper to run (better fuel efficiency, cheaper insurance) and free to park. Point being, I am dead set on getting a scooter, not a bike, and I am looking for scooter-related advise.

Here to ride a scooter you have to get a bike license, so motorcycle safety course is part of the process of getting that license.

I've done some more research and a three-wheeled Piaggio scooter (Gilera is a child brand of Piaggio) would be pricey to maintain because of its complicated hydrolic suspension system. So I'd go for a Japanese brand, either Suzuki Burgman 650 (first choice) or Yamaha TMAX. Burgman could actually go up to 160kmh and is very stable on the highway.

[Tellemurius]

woah woah woah, you're Australian that wants to drive on a scooter? I can picture now Mad Max on a Vespa.

[DJ]

Seriously bro, two wheels. These things are stable as hell. I ride one on unpaved roads all the time, and I've yet to fall. Hell, I even rode on snow and ice in winter, but gave up on that because it's too damn cold.

And you should look into getting a used one, you can get it much cheaper and they're not exactly complicated machines so there isn't much of a risk of it having serious mechanical problems (but have a mechanic check it before you buy just in case).

[BuriBuriZaemon]

woah woah woah, you're Australian that wants to drive on a scooter? I can picture now Mad Max on a Vespa.

Snip.

Yes, I am considering two-wheelers. I just thought the one with three looked cool. What's cool is the maintenance of those fancy hydrolic suspension.

[Tellemurius]

nah suspension you wouldnt really have to worry about especially for a scooter unless you are hitting up gravel roads 24/7 but then you got other problems