Bike or Scooter?

[Biff]

Firstly thank you all ever so much for encouraging Ms Biff in a recent thread. Now she is adamant that Mr Biff purchases a two wheeled motorised vehicle for her. I will be around to collect donations shortly.

Having just had lunch with my 'significant other', the topic was once again at the top of the agenda. The question was raised as to whether we should invest in a scooter or a 250cc 'proper' bike.

I asked her, "When do you see yourself riding on this machine?". To which she replied, " Maybe to the shops, and when the kids grow up a bit or we find a babysitter we trust I could join you on some rides".

Now, from her response I would recommend that she get's a scooter at this stage, and maybe a 250cc later if she so desires.

Because:

a) She may not enjoy riding in the open air (forquit cage drivers, flying Kamikaze insects etc).
b) It may be several years before Ms B (as per her comments) will trust anyone enough to leave the kids with a babysitter for any length of time, in order to join me for a lengthy ride.
c) It's cheaper, and as rich as I am, I'm also really mean.
d) I'm scared she'll end up with a bigger and faster bike than me.

So guys n gals. Your input would be greatly appreciated.

[dhunt]

Hey biff have you looked at any of those larger than 50cc scooters, I know suzuki used to make a 5 speed FX 125 I think it was scooter which would probably be idea for cruising round town and would be able to do 100k as well. Not sure what sort of rego you need for these.

[Hitcher]

Although I have nothing against scooters, I would recommend that she buys a bike. That way you can both go riding together, should you choose. Little scooters are OK for that down-to-the-shop-sidesaddle stuff but not so good for a fang-out-to-Waipara-for-a-vineyard-lunch stuff...

[vifferman]

Do what the vifferbabe suggested to me - buy her summat that you won't feel too much of a pillock communtering on, or that you can actually have fun on. It would be better if you do buy a bike that it gets ridden not too infrequently. Otherwise, buy summat really cheap'n'cheerful, so if she finds out she hates it (being on two wheels), there's not much chance of losing money on it.

[Monsterbishi]

Bike gets my vote, imho scooters have a even worse reputation out there than what actual Bikes have, which may well translate to more angry cars out there being unpolite, not giving way, etc.

Think about how often you see scooters flat tack tearing up the inside of a stopped lane of traffic, now compare that to how many bikes you see doing the same thing.

[MSTRS:Me]

Firstly thank you all ever so much for encouraging Ms Biff in a recent thread. Now she is adamant that Mr Biff purchases a two wheeled motorised vehicle for her. I will be around to collect donations shortly.

Having just had lunch with my 'significant other', the topic was once again at the top of the agenda. The question was raised as to whether we should invest in a scooter or a 250cc 'proper' bike.

I asked her, "When do you see yourself riding on this machine?". To which she replied, " Maybe to the shops, and when the kids grow up a bit or we find a babysitter we trust I could join you on some rides".

Now, from her response I would recommend that she get's a scooter at this stage, and maybe a 250cc later if she so desires.

Because:

a) She may not enjoy riding in the open air (forquit cage drivers, flying Kamikaze insects etc).
b) It may be several years before Ms B (as per her comments) will trust anyone enough to leave the kids with a babysitter for any length of time, in order to join me for a lengthy ride.
c) It's cheaper, and as rich as I am, I'm also really mean.
d) I'm scared she'll end up with a bigger and faster bike than me.

So guys n gals. Your input would be greatly appreciated.

I never encouraged her, so I'll be out when you come to collect. Anyway she'd be better off with a BMW/sidecar combo & forget about the babysitter.

[Hitcher]

Do what the vifferbabe suggested to me - buy her summat that you won't feel too much of a pillock communtering on, or that you can actually have fun on. It would be better if you do buy a bike that it gets ridden not too infrequently. Otherwise, buy summat really cheap'n'cheerful, so if she finds out she hates it (being on two wheels), there's not much chance of losing money on it.

I'd recommend a Kawasaki EL250 Eliminator.

[crashe]

Ok I will stand up and say yep I encouraged Mrs Biff Baff to get a bike...
Note I said "bike"

I think what you need to do, is the both of you go to the bike shops,
and let Mrs Biff Baff sit on them... when she has sat on a few,
she will know what she would really like to ride.
It is Mrs Biff Baff that will be riding this bike after all.

If she chooses a bike over a scooter then thats great.
But let her sit on cruiser's, sports and tourer bikes.
Get her to also sit on a few scooters.
Mrs Biff Baff really needs to get the feel of them and the weight,
that she will have to push up from when its on the stand.
And also be able to have both feet firmly on the ground,
when the bike is at a stand still.

A 50cc scooter she can ride it around just on a car license.
Scooters also come in all sorts of cc ratings now.. 50cc up to 500cc.

But I would go for a bike over a scooter.
She will soon let other people look after the kids....
in fact it could be you, Mr Biff Baff looking after them,
when Mrs Biff Baff wants to go on a KB ride.

Mrs Biff Baff all the best having a look at the bike etc...
Remember, Mrs Biff Baff, dont let Mr Biff Baff talk you into
something that you don't like.
:spudwave:

[vifferman]

I'd recommend a Kawasaki EL250 Eliminator.

As being...?
Cheap'n'cheerful?
Fun?
Summat one wouldn't feel too pillocky on?
All of the above?
None of the above (i.e., an idea just plucked from out of your bottom or summat)?

[Biff]

Superb advice so far guys.

Mrs Biff Baff, dont let Mr Biff Baff talk you into
something that you don't like.
:spudwave:

She wouldn't let me!

[Joni]

A bike gets my vote too!

A scooter will never give her a real biking experience which means she will never understand your passion until she rides a real bike herself... imo...

[flyin]

a tidy 250 (say a gn or sumthin similarly economical) costs about the same as a late model scooter and theres a whole lot more options once she has it.

-they are big enough to ride on the open road and maintian a reasonable speed without having a chance of embarrasing you on your toy even through the tighter roads.

-she can learn a whole lot more about braking and clutch control (as scooters dont have them...

-she will be able to sit restricted and full licenses on it.

-you wil be able to ride it wen your bikes at the shop without looking like a complete plonker on a scooter in full racing kit

[sAsLEX]

something nice and simple to keep going like a GN especially if it could sit in the garge for a time! and then you could commute on it to save your tyres for decent rides!

[Hitcher]

As being...?
Cheap'n'cheerful?

Yes. They're not too pricey -- boi racers prefer things with double rs on the end or vacuum cleaner hoses on the front. I think that the Eliminator is quite a nice looking ride -- not too cruisery. I think the engine is a detuned version of the GPX250 or summat. Still redlines at 12,500rpm though.

Fun?

You betcha. They are surprisingly nippy and nimble. And a six-speed box gives them legs to stretch on the open road. Mrs H had one and rode it around the North Island, and a range of other places, covering 16,500km in nine months. Even going sideways down the Hutt Motorway in the rain didn't do too much damage to it.

Summat one wouldn't feel too pillocky on?

Not at all. The ergonomics suit both short and tall riders. They're not true peg-forward cruisers, so the riding position is quite "natural".

All of the above?

Guess so.

None of the above (i.e., an idea just plucked from out of your bottom or summat)?

[SuperDave]

How about a nice FXR150? Perfect to learn on with the gear indicator, plus they look real good in blue.