Scorpio as a first bike?

[orographic]

I'm an incredibly green n00b to riding, and if you find folk don't mind, I'd like some advice please.
I am interested in starting with motorcycles, at least partly because of lower fuel consumption.

After wandering into a couple of bike shops, and asking for advise, a bike that I am strongly considering getting, is the yamaha scorpio.
How does this bike rate as a first bike for the very green?... at least green enough, that I think I gave Chris at Bayride a surprise with the simplicity of the stupid questions I was asking as he was showing me it. ( He was talking me though getting on it, and I asked if I was right to assume the lever on the handlebar he was holding was the front brake ....Hell, I'm not gonna trust any control does what I assume it will, 'till I have had it confirmed)

so anyway, how does this bike rate as a first bike for "teh clueless n00b", and are there any major pitfalls I should watch for on this?

[PirateJafa]

Scorpios are nice bikes. Pretty forgiving, and you can do the Coro loop on 'em even.

They are not - and never will be - a sports bike. But that is not what they were designed for. :)

[Sparky Bills]

Perfect is the best way to put it.

[davereid]

Yes, a very good choice.

[orographic]

They are not - and never will be - a sports bike. But that is not what they were designed for. :)

If by "sport" you mean racing, then good, ( hey i did say i was green), i'm not about to go racing, legally or otherwise. the bikes primary 'mission' would be the commute to work, and school ( school has been a two hour car trip, so not precisely close). Its secondary ( and less often ) mission would be longer distance trips between cities. ( I am a friend of Kasper, who is getting me out of the 'cage' and onto bikes, and who drags me along on some of the weekend runs)
the tertiary, ( and total time, i don't doubt) is to give me more up to date experience, than can be gained as a toddler more than 20 years ago. :D

so given that?

[tate35]

Hey there,

I've read a few posts over the last couple of months on KB, and people do tend to like and suggest the yamaha scorpio as a first bike.

They are nice looking bikes in my opinion :yes:

[Edbear]

Perfect is the best way to put it.


Yes, a very good choice.


Hey there,

I've read a few posts over the last couple of months on KB, and people do tend to like and suggest the yamaha scorpio as a first bike.

They are nice looking bikes in my opinion :yes:

Yup! My pick of the current "learner" bikes.:yes:

[dyls]

Note: was in a dealership today and was told the Scorpio (as of Thursday?!) is now $4,400 (or $4,500, I forget), "because of the dollar", instead of $3,800.

[orographic]

Note: was in a dealership today and was told the Scorpio (as of Thursday?!) is now $4,400 (or $4,500, I forget), "because of the dollar", instead of $3,800.

um, as of several weeks ago i was getting quotes on it of $4500( exc orc) to $4350 ( inc orc) so not just a recent, but given fuel and currency markets, it sounds about right

[Badjelly]

I'm not about to go racing, legally or otherwise. the bikes primary 'mission' would be the commute to work, and school ( school has been a two hour car trip, so not precisely close). Its secondary ( and less often ) mission would be longer distance trips between cities.

The Scorpio has a top speed of 130 km/h, maybe 140 km/h, and will do 100 km/h with something in reserve. But the engine is spinning over pretty fast at that speed and on the whole you get the impression it would rather be going a bit slower. I use mine for commuting around the (hilly) southern suburbs of Wellington and it's brilliant at that. I take it up to the Hutt Valley from time to time and it copes OK, and keeps up with traffic, but feels a bit out of its element. I'm sure I could drive it to Auckland if I felt like it, but there are many other bikes that are better suited to this sort of thing.

What I'm saying is, if you want to do a lot of open-road running, think about one of the gruntier 250s. Or get a Scorpio and upgrade once you have a clearer idea of what you need.

[Badjelly]

Note: was in a dealership today and was told the Scorpio (as of Thursday?!) is now $4,400 (or $4,500, I forget), "because of the dollar", instead of $3,800.

The problem is that people on places like Kiwibiker are recommending them to all & sundry, and this is increasing demand and pushing prices up. So, come on people, from now on the official story is that Scorpio's are crap. :whistle:

[FROSTY]

Note: was in a dealership today and was told the Scorpio (as of Thursday?!) is now $4,400 (or $4,500, I forget), "because of the dollar", instead of $3,800.
No mate the reason for the price rise is the blue spoked wheel scorps have been replaced with the new brown alloy wheeled scorpy

[Badjelly]

No mate the reason for the price rise is the blue spoked wheel scorps have been replaced with the new brown alloy wheeled scorpy

I think "excuse" would be a better word than "reason". Surely alloy wheels can't cost $600 more than spoked wheels.

And surely it's red, not brown.

But anyway, shop around :yes:

[FROSTY]

I unhesitatingly recomend a scorpio ove about anything else for a learner rider.
so many reasons why.
1) kick start so if the battery is a bit weak you can start it.
2)Normal riding position--Not racer crouch or cruiser slouch
3)petrol gauge
4)price is comparable to a GN
5) sod all to break if it falls over
6) enough power for motorway or country riding.
ETC ETC

In my opinion the only changes I would make would be A)replace the front tyre. and B) cut that friggin heel change off

After a couple of months I'd probably suggest fitting slightly lower flatter bars and a small handlebar fairing.

[Badjelly]

...a small handlebar fairing.

Not a bad idea, that. My birthday's coming up and so is my bike's. Do you have any experience with after-market handlebar fairings? Can you suggest a make/supplier.

No need to answer if nothing comes to mind. I'll ask around.

[FROSTY]

Im hoping to get my hands on a scorpio thats had cosmetic damage but not derego'd
I reckon it would be fun to give one a bit of a makeover. Maybee FXR like or RGV150

[savante]

Note: was in a dealership today and was told the Scorpio (as of Thursday?!) is now $4,400 (or $4,500, I forget), "because of the dollar", instead of $3,800.


hmm that sucks, if the scorpio goes up too much then it will lose part of it appeal to me, as i see it as a good cheap bike to start out on. If it's starts creeping up in to the range of some of the more sporty 250's then id' probably sway in that direction.

Then again, shop around as it may just be that particular bike shop that has upped it...?

[FROSTY]

Not a bad idea, that. My birthday's coming up and so is my bike's. Do you have any experience with after-market handlebar fairings? Can you suggest a make/supplier.

No need to answer if nothing comes to mind. I'll ask around.
GIVI comes to mind. The one I was thinking of was a SV650 /gs500 as a bolt on.
BUT I was thinking heck why not think outside the square.
The last of the GSX400 twins before the GS500 had a really neat fairing that with lower bars would look pretty neat -A bit harder thatn the givit to fit up but worth it

[dyls]

hmm that sucks, if the scorpio goes up too much then it will lose part of it appeal to me, as i see it as a good cheap bike to start out on. If it's starts creeping up in to the range of some of the more sporty 250's then id' probably sway in that direction.

Then again, shop around as it may just be that particular bike shop that has upped it...?


Exactly mate, once it hits that 4.5k mark then you automatically start thinking, well, what about *these* ones that are $4,995 for example? Are they better value for money?

That said, once I got home this evening I looked on tardme and there is still the Scorpio, listed by the same dealer I spoke to today, as 3.8k, so who knows.

[toyboy]

I just got myself a VTR250 Honda (2003 model), supposed to be really good for learning and a bit more grunt than the Scorpio, also looks more like a Ducati than a dirtbike :)

[Badjelly]

I just got myself a VTR250 Honda (2003 model), supposed to be really good for learning and a bit more grunt than the Scorpio, also looks more like a Ducati than a dirtbike :)

Ooh, that's hard! But fair :mellow:

[Jorja]

The Scorpio has a top speed of 130 km/h, maybe 140 km/h, and will do 100 km/h with something in reserve. But the engine is spinning over pretty fast at that speed and on the whole you get the impression it would rather be going a bit slower.

I have to disagree with you sorry. I am not exactly light. My scorpio has a hell of a lot in reserve at 120km. (Only tried it once at that speed to see what it had in it) Its top speed I have been told is 140 which seems about right so if yours is having trouble doing 100km then there is something wrong.

[EJK]

Pity you didn't get the Scorpio... Well yes it's a fact that Scorpio lacks power compared to other 250s.

[Badjelly]

The Scorpio has a top speed of 130 km/h, maybe 140 km/h, and will do 100 km/h with something in reserve. But the engine is spinning over pretty fast at that speed and on the whole you get the impression it would rather be going a bit slower.


I have to disagree with you sorry. I am not exactly light. My scorpio has a hell of a lot in reserve at 120km. (Only tried it once at that speed to see what it had in it) Its top speed I have been told is 140 which seems about right so if yours is having trouble doing 100km then there is something wrong.

Mine is not having trouble doing 100 km/h. In fact it will do 100 km/h with something in reserve (see above). OK quite a lot in reserve. But it is spinning at almost 7000 rpm, which feels rather busy.

I'm just trying to give the OP an idea of the performance of these things. They will keep up with traffic on the open road & motorways, but if you want to do a lot of open road running, I think you will be better off with something gruntier. Like a VTR250.

Another data point: mine will go up the Wainuiomata Hill Road from the Hutt side at 80 km/h, which is about as fast as you want to go, given the corners. I'm sure if I caned it I could go up there at 100 km/h. This is quite a steep road and I am not light (90 kg).

[DMNTD]

I think I gave Chris at Bayride a surprise with the simplicity of the stupid questions I was asking as he was showing me it. ( He was talking me though getting on it, and I asked if I was right to assume the lever on the handlebar he was holding was the front brake ...

Heh...gidday mate! Don't worry about the questions you were asking me as the only stupid question is the one you don't ask.
I hope that I was able to answer your queries in a manner that will enable to make you decision making a little easier despite which direction you choose.
Feel free to fire a few more at me either here or via PM.




I think "excuse" would be a better word than "reason". Surely alloy wheels can't cost $600 more than spoked wheels.
The Scorpio's have only gone up $200.00 since their make over. They are $3999.00 +ORC which in our shop comes to a total of $4,350 OTR.

BTW...yes it is now red/silver.

[McJim]

I just got myself a VTR250 Honda (2003 model), supposed to be really good for learning and a bit more grunt than the Scorpio, also looks more like a Ducati than a dirtbike :)

The VTR is the current pick of the 250 bunch IMO having owned one for a year HOWEVER it must be noted that it costs twice as much as a scorpio so the Yamaha is porbably better value for money. Also there is the CB250 single cylinder honda. Again at $7,000 it's a bit pricey compared to the Scorpio.

I think you should go with the Scorpio - if you've never ridden a bike they all feel powerful.

[Badjelly]

The Scorpios have only gone up $200.00 since their make over. They are $3999.00 +ORC which in our shop comes to a total of $4,350 OTR.

Still damn good value then.


The VTR is the current pick of the 250 bunch IMO having owned one for a year HOWEVER it must be noted that it costs twice as much as a scorpio so the Yamaha is porbably better value for money. Also there is the CBF250 single cylinder honda. Again at $7,000 it's a bit pricey compared to the Scorpio.

And the CBF250 is not significantly more powerful than a Scorpio, as I understand it.

Middle of last year, before I bought my bike, I saw these prices quoted on the Aussie netrider site (caution: may have got these wrong)

Australia: CBF250 AU$5500, Scorpio AU$4500

New Zealand: CBF250 NZ$6500, Scorpio NZ$3800

Conclusion: Scorpios are really good value in NZ.

The explanation seemed to be that the NZ market for commuter-type bikes is more competitive, due to the Suzuki GN250 being available (then) for $3300.

[sleeqe2000]

If you phone around the Honda dealers you can get a CBF250 for $4995 plus ORC's
There isn't many of them left as Honda have discontinued them. I um'ed and ahh'ed between the Scorpio and CBF250 and eventually decided that I liked the look of the CBF more than the blue spoked Scorpio (mind you the new one looks alot better).