Centre of gravity

[kaz]

Thanks for all the replies about CoG. I am starting to see that I was thinking it was more important than it is (for my needs).

Riding on the motorway is a major reason why I have been seriously looking at a Gilera VXR200 Runner. The wheels are a bit bigger than many scooters (at 14 inch front and 13 inch rear) - still not as large as a bike but still small enough for good manoeuvreability and easy parking round town.

I don't need to go near the open road or motorway for my main purpose - commuting from about 7kms out into town. But I have friends to visit further out of town at the weekend (in Porirua for example) and other places I could go...

I have been a bit puzzled as to why people think the FXR150 is better than, say, a Vespa ET4 150. But from reading the replies on this thread, I think it must be to do with stability (as well as feeling more "at one with the machine"). And I'm learning that engine size is not important on its own and that there's this thing called horsepower that's important here too (ET4 is about 12hp and I imagine the FXR is more than that. The Gilera Runner is 21hp).

So can anyone explain horsepower?

[Pwalo]

Kaz. There isn't any way that someone else can give you a solution.

Have you ridden a motorbike yet? You really need to try one to see how it compares to a scooter.

The larger modern scooters perform pretty well, and you'll have no trouble keeping up with traffic on the m/way. It all comes down to what you feel most comfortable on.

Besides it's a good excuse to take a few test rides.

[Rosie]

A small engineering diversion about Horsepower:
The hp figure quoted for a bike is the amount of power it will produce at a certain number of engine revs. Usually this is the maximum amount of power the engine will produce. So, theoretically, a bike/scooter with 20hp would have more acceleration, go faster etc than a bike/scooter with 15hp.
Because the engine isn't producing maximum power most of the time, hp figures aren't going to tell you very much about the way the bike is going to handle on the road (will it accelerate sluggishly in 50km/h traffic? Will it get to 100km/h going uphill? etc). For small bikes (and maybe scooters too, I've not looked) it can be hard to find data on power output anyway.

And continuing your original motorbike-or-scooter dilemma:
Test ride as many different bikes and scooters as you can. Even styles of bike you don't think you'd want to own. Take them around the sorts of roads you'd normally ride on, and try a few new things as well - maybe go out into the country, since you normally use your scooter to commute.
This gives you a good idea of what is out there, how different bikes/scooters are going to perform under various conditions, and, most importantly, you'll be able to figure out the things you like and dislike about each.

[kaz]

Thanks Rosie. I just found this on the relationships between torque and horsepower http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mhorsepower.html
I got a little lost at first the but example near the end (where they graph Car A and Car B's torque and hp as a curve) is really good. It fits with your explanation about taking in to account what you are actually wanting to do (how you use the bike) - e.g. to accelerate quickly, to get up hills, etc.

[mbazza]

I believe a 15km commute on a scoot needs to be evaluated not only in terms of CoG, comfort or safety, but also in terms of driver attitudes towards the rider.
On my scoot I get NO respect from drivers as evidenced by them not seeing me in a lane or at an intersection.
On my bike (probably because of size) I get more respect from drivers.
I ride defensively on the bike and paranoically ( is this a word? ) on the scoot. I love riding both.
Can you get a test ride of a scoot on the motorway to get a 'feeling' of whether you loke it or not? Cheers.

[delusionz]

Not to mention respect from fellow bikers too, Scooters get no nods & no thumbs.

[UberRhys]

Not to mention respect from fellow bikers too, Scooters get no nods & no thumbs.

Speak for yourself, when out on the open road I get a heap of nods and waves from bikes. Those that generally don't are Sunday HD riders who may be too busy trying to keep upright or remembering what gear they are in.

I think it is great how those on 2 wheels regardless keep an eye out for others and say gidday in there own ways.

[delusionz]

Speak for yourself

I am, I've had both, I know.

I think it is great how those on 2 wheels regardless keep an eye out for others and say gidday in there own ways.

Nobody gives 2 squirts about scooters, as for HD riders, most of them are gang members anyways

[kaz]

Nobody gives 2 squirts about scooters, as for HD riders, most of them are gang members anyways

So if you don't give two squirts, what are you doing getting aggro about scooters on the scooter part of this forum? We don't criticise bikers for riding bikes. Some of my best mates are bikers and none of us have a problem with each other's rides. We are even secure enough as people to hang out with bicycle riders sometimes

[merv]

Scooters, mopeds, and bikes - I happily wave at them all as I ride by.

You're all bikers to me - enjoy!!

[kaz]

Scooters, mopeds, and bikes - I happily wave at them all as I ride by.

You're all bikers to me - enjoy!!

We have more in common than we have differences. And if we have differences too, well that just makes for a more interesting world.

[Jantar]

I am, I've had both, I know.


Nobody gives 2 squirts about scooters, as for HD riders, most of them are gang members anyways

Wrong, (don't they teach logic in school any more?)

Most gang members do ride HDs. But that doesn't mean that most HD riders are gang members.

Its a bit like saying "All female motorcyclists wear helmets -- delusionz is a motorcyclist who wears a helmet, therefore delusionz must be a female."

It is a an unfortunate and common mistake in logic to reverse a statement and claim something different.

[UberRhys]

I am, I've had both, I know.


Nobody gives 2 squirts about scooters, as for HD riders, most of them are gang members anyways

Hey no worries, you must be in the group that don't give the nod or wave at scooters. Next time a 2007 Kawasaki Ninja 250R refuses to return the salutation I will know it is you.

[delusionz]

Hey no worries, you must be in the group that don't give the nod or wave at scooters. Next time a 2007 Kawasaki Ninja 250R refuses to return the salutation I will know it is you.

Hey if you nod, I'll nod back, I'm not a snob, all I'm saying is when I was on a scooter I got no nods. I'm not getting agro in this thread I'm just stating what I've experienced with scooters and bikes.