Bike or Scoot

osic · Post by **osic** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:17 pm

I originally wanted a scooter because I was scared of riding a bike. I loved the shifting aspect of it so I chose the stella. I put a deposit on it and last weekend I took the motorcycle learning course to get my license. I then realized that a bike isnt that scary and enjoy it alot. I haven't ridden the scooter yet so I might have the same feeling of it but I just dont want to waste 4000 dollars. It would be a 250cc bike.

My question is who has the scooter and a bike or who choose the scooter over the bike and why????

izark47 · Post by **izark47** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:32 pm

I have had a honda GL1000 and a BMW r75/6 cycle. I prefer the Stella over both, I still have the same routine of suiting up but for some reason I love the minimalistic attitude of the Stella. I feel i can just hop on her and go. Much lighter and easier to handle and I don't have to worry about going so fast that i get myself into trouble. It is much more maneuverable and just all around more fun for me. I really enjoy riding around for a week and when i fill it up it takes 5 to 6 bucks. I commuted all last year at 50 miles a day and it was averaging me around $12.00 a week. Will you get the same satisfaction from it, I cannot say but these are a few reasons I love MsStella.

osic · Post by **osic** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 4:13 pm

that is good to hear. Maybe I should drive both and see. I just dont want to feel underpowered and with a 250 I can at least do highway for a short period if I ever needed too but normally wouldnt be too concerned with too much power. I like the look of the scoot but the bike has its advantages as well.

Bcon · Post by **Bcon** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 5:12 pm

I'm assuming your questioned is premised by the fact that you can only have one.

I've had motorcycles forever, dirtbikes as a kid through cross country sport touring as an adult. I bought my first scooter 2 years ago, and I now have both. They're different tools. If I need to get somewhere as fast as I can in a car (meaning interstates), the motorcycle wins. If I want to enjoy the ride on streets in a more relaxed way, the Stella wins.

I may ride the motorcycle more miles in a year than the Stella, but I ride the Stella way more times per year. I enjoy the Stella every bit as much, if not more than the motorcycle.

So, what if I could only have one? Tough call, but at this point in my life (hardly any long distance riding anymore due to kids), I'd probably pick the Stella. It's much better suited for commuting and around the city, which is most of my riding time now.

In the end though, it really depends on what you _want_. Go with your gut and don't try to rationalize something that you don't really want, you'll just end up selling it later, at least that's been my personal experience.

desmolicious · Post by **desmolicious** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 5:22 pm

osic wrote:that is good to hear. Maybe I should drive both and see. I just dont want to feel underpowered and with a 250 I can at least do highway for a short period if I ever needed too but normally wouldnt be too concerned with too much power. I like the look of the scoot but the bike has its advantages as well.

You should get the bike then.

The Stella is about mellow cruising as its top speed is maybe 60mph in perfect conditions.

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 7:13 am

desmolicious wrote:
osic wrote:that is good to hear. Maybe I should drive both and see. I just dont want to feel underpowered and with a 250 I can at least do highway for a short period if I ever needed too but normally wouldnt be too concerned with too much power. I like the look of the scoot but the bike has its advantages as well.
You should get the bike then.

The Stella is about mellow cruising as its top speed is maybe 60mph in perfect conditions.

I hit 65 once! Once. But usually, 60 is tops.

Keith · Post by **Keith** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 11:05 am

I still have the same routine of suiting up but for some reason I love the minimalistic attitude of the Stella. I feel i can just hop on her and go. Much lighter and easier to handle and I don't have to worry about going so fast that i get myself into trouble. It is much more maneuverable and just all around more fun for me.

That says it all for me. I driven them all over the years and I prefer scooters. I do have a second, larger scooter in addition to the Stella which gives me the ability to roam further into the countryside at greater speeds.

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 3:08 am

Buy both!. It works for me

I really enjoy my Stella, I have a garage full of motorcycles, and all I've ridden this week is the Stella.

That being said, for a 2 up ride for 300 miles in one day? I'm taking the Kawy or Honda.

Right tool for the job

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 5:04 am

As a former (and vowed to be returning) owner of a Stella as a primary means of transportation, it depends on the main application.

Many people insist that the "smallest size that is safe" for a motorcycle is a 250cc. And, while I love almost everything on two wheels, I can say that this factor isn't true. A 250cc is a great bike, but you will find the Stella a far better fit if you do alot of rush hour driving downtown or in traffic at or under 55mph. The 10-inch wheels aren't "unstable" as big bike proponents insist, but an advantage between 25 to 45mph. The light weight, rear-favored weight distribution and overall design make the Stella a delight to fight traffic on. You actually look FORWARD to rush hour! And, a manual gearbox gives you more control than a CVT over your torque.

Get a CBR250r, Ninja 250 or even the more sedate Suzuki TU250 or Honda Nighthawk 250 and you'll find that they're not as "flickable" in traffic as the big bike brigade says they are. At least, not compared to a scooter. They aren't as comfortable either in that environment. The Stella allows for plenty of shifting of body weight, and the P-series scooter has some of the most comfortable saddles of any bike made next to the old Honda CB's in my opinion.

Is it a cross country machine? Not unless you're doing it by backroads, which many actually do. It won't have the easy high speed freeway smoothness, but that's not it's job. It's all about the right tool for the job.

Also, style is a huge factor in motorcycles. We tell ourselves it's about the facts and dynamics of riding but let's be honest with ourselves: We wouldn't buy the bike if it wasn't cool in some way! (well, most of the time. Don't take my purchase of a Rattler as an example...). We gravitate towards certain looks, and the Stella fits a look just right. Call it "Urban Hipster" or "Fashion forward" or even "Retro Cool"; the bike spoke to you. Same with sportbikes, Harley and Harley-wannabes and all bikes in between. There is no such thing as a bad bike, except if it's a Chinese scooter

If you have doubts, think of why you bought it in the first place. If it "spoke" to you, then it was a right choice. Speaking as someone who didn't think about the desire of the bike and buying something out of pure facts, it makes for a crap bike purchase.

And, I've ridden everything from vintage Hondas to Triumphs to Harleys and back to scooters. There are bikes I love of all shapes, and it's only my current income that keeps me from wanting to pick up another CB360T or a KLR650. I think they're ALL cool! But, for urban commuting, amazing gas mileage, easy riding in close quarter heavy traffic with more style than anything else on the road, the Stella is my first pick.

Post by **ericalm** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:01 pm

Displacement creep across the industry has led to some pretty skewed opinions about "smallest size" and what some bikes do that others don't.

When people talk about being able to accelerate out of trouble, they're talking about situations which rarely arise and an action most scooters over 100cc are just as capable of. Is rocketing forward on a 1100cc sportbike really the safest thing to do when someone is creeping into your lane?

On the freeways, it's a bit different, but even then we're talking 200cc or 300cc versus "as big as it comes." There are times when you need to accelerate to stay in a safe position or avoid trouble and you can't do that if you're at WOT and maxing out your scooter's capabilities.

Keith · Post by **Keith** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:56 pm

Neotrotsky, well stated!

osic · Post by **osic** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 1:57 pm

thanks for all the feedback. I went with the scoot and its a ton of fun!!!

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Tue May 01, 2012 1:56 am

I know I'm too late with this but just a few thoughts:

Re: "Cool Factor", may I mention that my current is a Honda PC800? Perhaps the uncoolest thing on 2 wheels but the best commuter ever made.

Also I totally agree about the needless displacement situation, especially since said big numbers come with excessive weight and surprisingly low HP with it.

Lastly, there are larger scooters, 250cc and more, and not all of them in the superscooter category.

Enjoy your scoot. I intend to keep a motorcycle. but stiil hanker for a scoot.

Beamster · Post by **Beamster** » Sun May 13, 2012 3:18 am

One scooter and three bikes, all different sized motors.
Each has it's place in our world.

When we want to make a full day trip to a far away lunch, the smaller ones would become painful and ruin the day.

On the otherhand, running out for milk or to work 5 miles away, the smaller and lighter the better. Too much trouble hauling a 550 pound bike out for a 10 minute run. Scooters fit tat bill.

Maybe you'd do well to buy one with the plan to add the other.

As a postscript, one post above noted a 250cc as a minimum motorcycle. We have one and I swear that the 125 Buddy can smoke it, so think bigger. My first bike was a 650 and it was comfortable after just a week or so.

We're only keeping the 250 for the coming days in the old folks community because it is light, non-threatening and Hondas seem to last forever.

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Sun May 13, 2012 12:31 pm

Beamster wrote:One scooter and three bikes, all different sized motors.
Each has it's place in our world.

When we want to make a full day trip to a far away lunch, the smaller ones would become painful and ruin the day.

On the otherhand, running out for milk or to work 5 miles away, the smaller and lighter the better. Too much trouble hauling a 550 pound bike out for a 10 minute run. Scooters fit tat bill.

Maybe you'd do well to buy one with the plan to add the other.
...............................

I agree.

So I guess my ideal "pair" would be a Stella and a Rocket III Touring.

Leo 4Td · Post by **Leo 4Td** » Sun May 13, 2012 1:17 pm

A true motorcyle loving person dose understand that anything with two wheels and a motor is COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Sun May 13, 2012 7:02 pm

SO true!