Maxi Scooters & Prejudice?

I ride and appreciate both motorcycles & Maxi scooters for different reasons (I have a Suzi Rf900 at the moment), but I don't understand all the negative attitude from parts of the motorcycle community. Have you ridden a large maxi scoot?

Two well balanced answers so far thanks.
I don't think Maxi scoots are underpowered (obviously they are compared with a bike of the same cc. Until recently I also had a Malaguti Madison K400 scoot and it didn't half go. It handled well to and gave me plenty of confidence while at the same time I could pop down the shops and put a bag and half of shopping underneath the seat while on a ride out.

i havent yet been able to ride a scooter the size of a silverwing yet, but compared to the scooters of 'dad's day', today's scooters pack as much punch as an 883. they're usually thought of as woefully underpowered and suitable only for grandma i supposing.

Yeah, I borrowed one for a short spin. Felt kinda strange, but certainly more stable than a traditional scoot.

But I won't be changing from my bikes, I still prefer to be able to grip the tank with my knees - I feel it gives far more control.

Re the negative attitudes - I guess we're all Luddites in our own way!

here's a link on ebay motors where you can read reviews of them by ebay members

I've ridden scooters from mopeds up to & including the T Max.

I don't really have any issue with people who ride scooters, it's horses for courses as far as I'm concerned. I do consider them to be inferior from a design point of view though.

The weight distribution of a "normal" motorcycle is better as the engine mass is centered between the wheels which gives more predicatable handling. Motorcycle frames are generally stiffer which also helps with handing. Scooter wheels are too small which also causes less precise handling (17" wheels are generally considered the optimum size for road bikes).

I like speed, performance good brakes & handling & I find most scooters are weak in these areas.

I don't think that most of the negative attitudes are anything more than taking the mick, which has been traditional between bike & scooter riders for many generations.

It's not really any different to the p1ss taking that goes on between custom riders & sports bike riders, it's just banter between the two different camps. Nothing personal intended.

if i was going to get a scooter, i would get either a silverwing or a burghman. more engine power, and the wheels are a bit bigger than the 50cc scooters.

I love maxi scooters i've never ridden myself but i have had scooters before. I would love a BMW C1 they look great. Maxi scooters are to me the same as a luxury car on but two wheels.

Hi I have owned two Honda Silverwing scooters,a YamahaYP400
a Sukuzi 650 Burgman and have just sold my Piaggio B500 so i think maxi scooters are great.
All my mates think I'm nuts as they all own sports bikes but when we go on a ride outs I'm not that far behind them,i have also done a track day on the first silverwing i owned.
We attended a ride out to the ace cafe just before Christmas and i had person after person slagging my scooter off,when i asked if they had ever ridden one they all said no and they would not been seen dead on a "girly" scooter.
Just last week we went to a new local bike meeting held at a pub and i was told i was not welcome if i came again on my scooter!
I work in the motorcycle trade and have use of any bike i want but usually pick the big scooters to use.
Say no more.

Good on ya mate maxi scooters rock i would also like the gilera nexus,i have been for a spin on the 500 but the 850 yea.
I have a few scooters traditional and maxi if i go on a rally on my gilera 180(190now) i get some bad vibes from other scooterists but the maxi's are the way forward keep the faith!!

You know what, I think they look OK. Never ridden one though but I bet they are a comfy commuter. Keep the worse of the weather off as well. I've been riding bikes for donkeys years and style wise, I have to say they are not my bag - but if I passed someone riding one, I'd nod just the same, and if I saw someone stuck on the side of the road. I'd still pull over and offer to help. We are all bikers after all, no matter what we ride!

The younger riders seem to love these scooty things. It seems to be an image problem with us old farts though. I wouldn't have one but I don't know why. I think its because when I was a young idiot with something to prove, a lad like me wouldn't have ben seen dead on a scooter. They were for girls and grandads and lads that wore espadrilles and pastel coloured sweaters and Italians. They were not for a rebel without a brain like myself. I guess I just can't shake that association. Still, 2 wheels are preferable to 4. I just can't help thinking I'd feel stupid on a 'Speedfight'

I don't think its really to do with maxi scooters, its more a throw back to the fifties with the mods and rockers type of thing.

We will always be different, and at least these days you don't get the major bust ups in places like Brighton where both groups used to meet up for a weekend of fun and fistfights.

Motorcyling in general is far more civilised today than it used to be, but I can't help feeling that a maxi is not really a real bike, more like a Trabant in a world of Ferraris.

Ride safe.

I ride a vtr1000 for fun and commute on a sukida 125 scoot, and its funny how few nods I get on the scoot, scoots are a laugh and I think the big scoots are a bit extreme personally but if you look at the way the big tourer market is heading they are basically turning into scooters, auto gearboxes/ abs big padded seats etc give it a few years and it will be hard to decifer which is which and then you can have the last laugh at them