Moderator: Modern Buddy Staff
Aside from those mentioned above, the one that's rumored that I'm most curious about is the Vespa GT 850cc. Just because, well, that's insane.BGK wrote:I wonder if any new scooters will be out at the show.
Me too. I just need to find someone to pay me to go and to pay my way!One of these years I'll make it to Intermot, EICMA and/or the Tokyo motor show.
The Downtown isn't on the main Kymco corporate site either yet, so they're probably awaiting the official unveiling. Or, like a lot of companies, just take a while to update their sites.babblefish wrote:Hmm, interesting...Kymco USA doesn't mention or show the Downtown scooter. They do have the fuel injected versions of the 250cc and 500cc Xciting scooters. Their international website shows a 300cc FI Xciting, but no mention of a "Downtown". There's also 3 different versions (although they all look alike to me) of the 500cc.
Wonder what the "Sw" is, other than a twin?EICMA News Release wrote: Japan and Italy like together for Honda
The presentation of the new Honda scooters on the opening day of the 66th edition of the Milan Bicycle and Motorcycle show confirms the strong
links created between the Japanese company and Italy thanks to the factory in Atessa, to where the hugely popular Sh scooters are made. The Sh
model is 25 years old but is still the best selling scooter in Italy.
The latest model of the Sh was the star of the show, with the new Sw also unveiled to the press at the Convention Centre at the Milan Exhibition centre, during to presentation called `New Beginnings'.
Honda Europe's president Shigeru Takagi provided details of the Japanese company's results and was pleased with 13 million scooter and
motorbike sales around the world. The objective for 2009 is to continuous to please Honda clients thanks to further research and development and
the creation of products that are both safe and ecological.
The Sh series was officially unveiled and yet again was received with applause. It was first created in 1984 and has continued to be successful and to inspire to growth in sales ever since. The new model has to fluid designs, with soft angles that offers an elegant and also aggressive look. It is made in Italy thanks to
the work of the engineers and technicians in Atessa, the central town of Chieti.
The Sw model is to unique new model because it is the first twin-cylinder scooter in its class, combining reliability with ecology. (My emphasis...)
Heh, I totally missed your sarcasm here on my first read, but I know what you mean. The industry is definitely moving towards bigger scooters of all styles. Consumers seem to want bigger rides. I love my 125 and 150 (uh, 190) and think they're perfect for the kind of riding I do 90% of the time. If I lived in another city, though, who knows?BGK wrote:Those are some nice looking automatic motorcycles. I wonder if any new scooters will be out at the show.
+1. I don't get it either. Why not just get a motorcycle? But I do agree the Scarabeo 500 (and the Piaggio BV500) are awesome looking maxi's. But the only reason we think they look awesome is because they look like smaller displacement scooters. They don't have the suppository look of most maxi's. It's not so much a displacement issue as it's a styling issue. Although, along with added weight the scooter looses it's fun handling. For fun, nothing beats a 50cc to 200cc.ericalm wrote:Heh, I totally missed your sarcasm here on my first read, but I know what you mean. The industry is definitely moving towards bigger scooters of all styles. Consumers seem to want bigger rides. I love my 125 and 150 (uh, 190) and think they're perfect for the kind of riding I do 90% of the time. If I lived in another city, though, who knows?BGK wrote:Those are some nice looking automatic motorcycles. I wonder if any new scooters will be out at the show.
I was never a fan of the maxiscoots until Scarabeo 500. The Piaggio BV 500 is also not bad-looking. But these modern things like the Honda above don't appeal to me at all. I hope with all this push for more CCs, companies don't forget about those of us who are quite happy in the 125-200cc range.
Well… I don't like the looks of them, but I also don't belong to the "why not just get a motorcycle?" camp. To me, the answer is: "Because this is just another form of two-wheeled transport that offers some different features and benefits." It's like asking why someone gets an automatic hatchback instead of a manual coupe—all in the same family, just a matter of preference and what suits you. Also, some of these scooters seem to be hitting some "sweet spots" where you get more for your money than you would with a lot of motorcycles or, like the 300CC scooters, offering people who are already scooterists something to "step up" to.k1dude wrote:+1. I don't get it either. Why not just get a motorcycle? But I do agree the Scarabeo 500 (and the Piaggio BV500) are awesome looking maxi's. But the only reason we think they look awesome is because they look like smaller displacement scooters. They don't have the suppository look of most maxi's. It's not so much a displacement issue as it's a styling issue. Although, along with added weight the scooter looses it's fun handling. For fun, nothing beats a 50cc to 200cc.
You're probably right. I'm letting my personal preferences get the better of me. But if more motorcycles came with auto transmissions I might argue with you a little more.ericalm wrote:Well… I don't like the looks of them, but I also don't belong to the "why not just get a motorcycle?" camp. To me, the answer is: "Because this is just another form of two-wheeled transport that offers some different features and benefits." It's like asking why someone gets an automatic hatchback instead of a manual coupe—all in the same family, just a matter of preference and what suits you. Also, some of these scooters seem to be hitting some "sweet spots" where you get more for your money than you would with a lot of motorcycles or, like the 300CC scooters, offering people who are already scooterists something to "step up" to.
From purely anecdotal evidence and observation, in the US, most maxis seem to appeal to first-time scooter owners looking for something easier and less expensive than a touring-sized MC. Outside the US, I don't think that there's nearly as much cultural and practical distinction between scooters and motorcycles (aside from vintage vs. modern).
ericalm wrote:Heh, I totally missed your sarcasm here on my first read, but I know what you mean. The industry is definitely moving towards bigger scooters of all styles. Consumers seem to want bigger rides. I love my 125 and 150 (uh, 190) and think they're perfect for the kind of riding I do 90% of the time. If I lived in another city, though, who knows?BGK wrote:Those are some nice looking automatic motorcycles. I wonder if any new scooters will be out at the show.
I was never a fan of the maxiscoots until Scarabeo 500. The Piaggio BV 500 is also not bad-looking. But these modern things like the Honda above don't appeal to me at all. I hope with all this push for more CCs, companies don't forget about those of us who are quite happy in the 125-200cc range.
100% agree. Well said.ericalm wrote:Well… I don't like the looks of them, but I also don't belong to the "why not just get a motorcycle?" camp. To me, the answer is: "Because this is just another form of two-wheeled transport that offers some different features and benefits." It's like asking why someone gets an automatic hatchback instead of a manual coupe—all in the same family, just a matter of preference and what suits you. Also, some of these scooters seem to be hitting some "sweet spots" where you get more for your money than you would with a lot of motorcycles or, like the 300CC scooters, offering people who are already scooterists something to "step up" to.k1dude wrote:+1. I don't get it either. Why not just get a motorcycle? But I do agree the Scarabeo 500 (and the Piaggio BV500) are awesome looking maxi's. But the only reason we think they look awesome is because they look like smaller displacement scooters. They don't have the suppository look of most maxi's. It's not so much a displacement issue as it's a styling issue. Although, along with added weight the scooter looses it's fun handling. For fun, nothing beats a 50cc to 200cc.
50% agree. In the European market, which I am a bit familiar with because I lived there, there are huge distinctions in the cultures and there is a major division in the motorcycle culture which is transparent to us in the USA. The division which doesn't exist in the USA is the "adventure touring" market, which is almost invisible in the USA, but which is a huge motorcycle market segment in Europe. Most Americans have never even heard of something called the Paris - Dakar race, but that event is (was) a BIG DEAL in Europe and drives (or used to drive) the whole adventure touring bike market (and culture). Then you have the sport bike culture in Europe which is *totally* about motorcycle racing culture, which is a big deal there. Again, most folks in the USA have never heard of MotoGP or World Superbike racing. The culture surrounding sportbikes there is amazing, with most riders dressed head-to-toe racing quality leathers and boots and helmets and (frequently) sporting the colors and logos of their favorite racing hero (GO!!!!!!! Valentino Rossi!). Scooterists are quite a different culture from that, mostly being centered around youthful and stylishly-dressed commuters.ericalm wrote:From purely anecdotal evidence and observation, in the US, most maxis seem to appeal to first-time scooter owners looking for something easier and less expensive than a touring-sized MC. Outside the US, I don't think that there's nearly as much cultural and practical distinction between scooters and motorcycles (aside from vintage vs. modern).
It's because they have graduated licensing by displacement of the motor. Smaller motor, easier to get license.k1dude wrote:I also notice that scooters probably outnumber motorcycles in Europe 100 to 1. Whereas in the US, motorcycles probably outnumber scooters 200 to 1. I have no facts, just anecdotal observation.
You mean like this? The Honda SH300i (now also SH300i ABS)??? Available at your local Honda Italy dealer already in a 2008 model? That scooter?k1dude wrote:Wow. That SH150i is one nice looking scooter. I wonder if they plan on bringing them here? If they would make one in a 250i or 300i that looked the same, I would be all over it. I'd buy it over almost any other make. I've always been a big honda fan, just not the scooter styles they currently sell here in the US.
Can you feel my frustration?!?
Whoa! No way. A 300i with a flat floorboard made by Honda. Yup. That's my next scoot. Get it here already dammit Honda! Why do we never get the good stuff in cars, scoots, and electronics? Europe and Asia always gets the good stuff.jrsjr wrote:You mean like this? The Honda SH300i (now also SH300i ABS)??? Available at your local Honda Italy dealer already in a 2008 model? That scooter?
I was just thinking the same thing, at least in regards to scoots. This one looks like it has most if not all of the things I'm looking for.k1dude wrote:Whoa! No way. A 300i with a flat floorboard made by Honda. Yup. That's my next scoot. Get it here already dammit Honda! Why do we never get the good stuff in cars, scoots, and electronics? Europe and Asia always gets the good stuff.jrsjr wrote:You mean like this? The Honda SH300i (now also SH300i ABS)??? Available at your local Honda Italy dealer already in a 2008 model? That scooter?
It gets worse. That motor in that bike is based on the CRF motor and it has a ton of stomp. That bad boy can go almost 100 miles per hour! Even worse is the fact that the SH300i is actually built in Italy so it's native currency is the euro which (despite recent falls) is still sky-high against the dollar. Honda could import them, but they'd be too expensive. Disappointed? Yeah, you and everybody else. Economic reality is a bear. There's just no getting around it.k1dude wrote:Whoa! No way. A 300i with a flat floorboard made by Honda. Yup. That's my next scoot. Get it here already dammit Honda! Why do we never get the good stuff in cars, scoots, and electronics? Europe and Asia always gets the good stuff.jrsjr wrote:You mean like this? The Honda SH300i (now also SH300i ABS)??? Available at your local Honda Italy dealer already in a 2008 model? That scooter?
Waaaaaah!!!!!!!jrsjr wrote:It gets worse. That motor in that bike is based on the CRF motor and it has a ton of stomp. That bad boy can go almost 100 miles per hour! Even worse is the fact that the SH300i is actually built in Italy so it's native currency is the euro which (despite recent falls) is still sky-high against the dollar. Honda could import them, but they'd be too expensive. Disappointed? Yeah, you and everybody else. Economic reality is a bear. There's just no getting around it.
