Questions about Motorcycle/Scooter Purchase

[sdwindansea]

I'm a current Sportsmobile 4x4 owner and I'm in the market to buy either a motorcycle or scooter. Currently, our SMB is my every day driver. However, our office is moving downtown in a couple months which would allow me to ride a motorcycle/scooter to work (all surface streets). Besides, parking the SMB downtown would be next to impossible.

I've owned a street bike in the past. However, I figured since I'm buying something, it would be fun & convenient to also bring it on the SMB when traveling. I will get a rear hitch mount for this. I want to get a smaller bike/scooter (250cc or less). Also, I doubt I will ever be into the major trail riding or the desert scene, but it will need to be able to handle at least the same roads the SMB travels down. Finally, it needs to be capable of handling two smaller riders at once (wife & I). Highway driving is not a concern and I've never enjoyed this in Southern California (San Diego) and I will always avoid it.

The scooter I've been looking at is the Yamaha Zuma 125 The only reasons I'm consider a scooter is for the storage and the possibility of my wife riding it. However, I’m guessing there are plenty of aftermarket storage options for a motorcycle. Who knows, this may also be the perfect one for me as well. My biggest concern is that loading it onto a hitch mount on the SMB could be problematic due to the wider profile of a scooter.

As far as motorcycles go, I've been researching various small dual sports including the following:

• Yamaha TW200
• Yamaha XT250
• Suzuki DR200SE
• Kawasaki Super Sherpa

I'm guessing that 90% of the use will be on road. I'm hopefully going to do some test drives in the next couple of weeks. I'd love to buy used if the right one is available.

Any advice/comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

-Geoff

 

[Lichen]

If you google "motorcycle racks", you'll find ones made specifically for the wider scooters. I've been checking out the TW200, but used ones are hard to find.

 

[sdwindansea]

Thanks Lichen. The problem with the Sportsmobile is that the spare tire sits on the back door (275/75/16), so we would already need to use a hitch extension even for a motorcycle.

 

[Oni]

The Zuma 125 and the others you listed are two very different things.

I have a Z125, and it would probably be perfect for most of your needs. Commuting to work, it has underseat storage, easy to ride (especially if your wife doesn't know how to ride a real motorycycle) great gas milage, and you can park them almost anywhere. It is not, however, an off road bike. It's difficult to stand on them and the suspension is really lacking...not a whole lot of ground clearance either. You can putt down a smooth dirt road...but wouldn't want to do much more.

It is however loads of fun. I park the truck on the weekends and ride the scoot almost exclusively. Store runs, take out, Blockbuster, hardware store. You can carry a lot of stuff with the underseat storage and floorboard, even a 40lb bag of dog food, about the only exception for me so far has been pizza. Haven't figured out a way to carry a pizza without squishing it.

If you are planning fire road exploration and some trail riding...any of the real bikes you listed would be a lot better...but for local commuting...scoot all the way. Plus it's fun playing Valentino Rossi. Every twisty road is my own personal MotoGP track. :bike_rider:

When I eventually get a Sportsmobile...it's probably the scooter that will be taken on the back rather than my other bikes.

 

[robert]

If you are going to use an extension, you need to get something as light as possible or you risk bending the rack. As I'm sure you're well aware, the further out it sticks past the rear axle the more it's counter-weighted. You can of course build a custom rack with extra support but most of the ones store bought versions I've seen had the weight being carried by the 2" square tubing in the receiver.

There is a scooter forum on Adventure Rider.com that has an active group. The Zuma 125 gets good reviews; I was looking at them when they came out. There are skinnier scooters out there too though if that's a concern. the Rattler 110 seems to be pretty popular over there and the little Honda Ruckus is a perennial favorite also.

You need to get your wife and both of you go to a large motorcycle store and check some bikes out- they can range in height from short and compact like the Super Sherpa to full sized dirt bike like the new Yamaha WR250 (getting excellent reviews otherwise and it's fuel injected). Like anything else, fit is very subjective- if you are tall, you are probably going to feel cramped on the Super Sherpa; if your wife can't touch the ground well she's not going to be comfortable on a bigger bike.

Honestly, most manufacturers are making good products these days. There are some 250 street bikes that are excellent bargains too like the Honda Rebel (they make another 250 too but I can't recall the name of it), the Kawasaki Ninja 250 and the Suzuki GZ250 and TU250. Many folks buy them as starter bikes then sell them off cheap when they switch to a larger bike. A small standard bike is perfectly capable of running down dirt and gravel roads if you're careful.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

IMHO don't get a scooter... :sombrero:

 

[sdwindansea]

Thanks everyone for the advice and help so far. I completely understand that the four dual sports I listed are all quite similar overall and I would need to see for myself to make a determination. Based on specs and reviews, if I decide to get a dual sport, it would probably be the Suzuki based on it's mpg, fuel capacity and short seat height (I'm 5'7", my wife is 5'2"). Ultimately I'm buying this for myself, and I don't think she would have too much trouble learning to ride a real motorcycle.

I guess my real debate is whether to get a scooter or a dual sport. Like most choices, it is not completely obvious. I think the scooter would be better for my around town commuting and errands based on the storage capabilities. However, it would definitely be way more limited than a motorcycle when camping.

It looks like I'll be making make some sacrifices either way I go. Anyone have any compelling reasons to sway me one direction or the other?

 

[Deleted member 9101]

Thanks everyone for the advice and help so far. I completely understand that the four dual sports I listed are all quite similar overall and I would need to see for myself to make a determination. Based on specs and reviews, if I decide to get a dual sport, it would probably be the Suzuki based on it's mpg, fuel capacity and short seat height (I'm 5'7", my wife is 5'2"). Ultimately I'm buying this for myself, and I don't think she would have too much trouble learning to ride a real motorcycle.

I guess my real debate is whether to get a scooter or a dual sport. Like most choices, it is not completely obvious. I think the scooter would be better for my around town commuting and errands based on the storage capabilities. However, it would definitely be way more limited than a motorcycle when camping.

It looks like I'll be making make some sacrifices either way I go. Anyone have any compelling reasons to sway me one direction or the other?

Dual sport = more reliable, more durable, more power, more versatility, better brakes, better handling, almost limitless storage options if you are creative.

A scooter will get better mpg and thats about it in my book.

 

[MarcFJ60]

I'm not sure there is a wrong choice. But if you want my $.02:

I briefly rode a DR200 at my MSF class. Nothing wrong with it, but it really felt slow and dull.

XT250 - I think it's the best looking small bike there is. Great seat height for shorties like us.

TW200 - But this is the one I would get. It is just so versatile. It will do anything the others will do (maybe slower), but it will go anywhere. It's like the moped of dirtbikes. Low seat height but very capable. The versatility will match your SMB nicely.

 

[robert]

Dual sport = more reliable, more durable, more power, more versatility, better brakes, better handling, almost limitless storage options if you are creative.

A scooter will get better mpg and thats about it in my book.

And cheaper to insure and less likely to get stolen.

I'd go with the dual sport and put a set of tires on that was mostly street oriented and call it good. :bike_rider:

 

[sdwindansea]

Thanks again everyone, your time and help is really appreciated. I've been leaning towards the dual sport as well. Now I have to see them all in person and figure out which one is best for me. Or hope that a good, used one crosses my path.

 

[Oni]

You should add the Honda CRF230L to your list. My buddy bought one for his wife and she loves it.

http://powersports.honda.com/2009/crf230l.aspx

Check out ADVrider for lots of great info. :bike_rider:

 

[trevpiee]

can't beat a 90! :sombrero:

 

[David_in_TX]

Better yet, a Honda CRF230F with a Baja Designs dual sport kit.
https://www.bajadesigns.com/NET/P-121050/Dual+Sport+Kit%2c+Crf230f+%26+06-on+Crf150f

You should add the Honda CRF230L to your list. My buddy bought one for his wife and she loves it.

http://powersports.honda.com/2009/crf230l.aspx

Check out ADVrider for lots of great info. :bike_rider:

 

[roscoFJ73]

Someone mentioned the YAMAHA TW200

They sure look like a lot of fun. You could let those big tyres down and cruise through soft sand