Compliments Thread
- Thread starter Edumakated
- Start date
SteveADV
Active member
When "SUV" first started to be used by manufacturers, most potential buyers were clueless. The same may be true of the "UMV" moniker. The thing is that the maxi-scooters heritage is from the world of scooters...And there is not nothing wrong with that.
From a US marketing point of view, I agree, "scooter" has a softer connotation than "motorcycle". For those looking at buying one of these, if being concerned about what the bike is, rather than what it does and how it does it is a major part of the buying decision, you might want to consider a Honda DCT bike.
As for me, I'll take my C650GT.
By way of disclaimer, I also own a dual purpose....my beemer is my preference, however.
From a US marketing point of view, I agree, "scooter" has a softer connotation than "motorcycle". For those looking at buying one of these, if being concerned about what the bike is, rather than what it does and how it does it is a major part of the buying decision, you might want to consider a Honda DCT bike.
As for me, I'll take my C650GT.
By way of disclaimer, I also own a dual purpose....my beemer is my preference, however.
Skutorr
Active member
It's all about perception.
Here is the Aprilia "Scooter" page in the UK:
View attachment 657
...and the "Bikes" page:
View attachment 658
Note that the SRV 850 maxi is in there with all the go-fast Aprilia BIKES...'cause it IS!
Here is the Aprilia "Scooter" page in the UK:View attachment 657
...and the "Bikes" page:
View attachment 658
Note that the SRV 850 maxi is in there with all the go-fast Aprilia BIKES...'cause it IS!
Edumakated
New member
Skutorr, that is exactly my point. Most of the maxi-scoots are closer to motorcycles these days than scooters imho. it doesn't bother me one way or the other as my C600 fits me needs, but at the same time I think they are losing potential customers with the nomenclature.
Oldscoot
New member
I fell in love with the 2009 Yamaha T-Max. It spoke directly to my motorcyclist sensibilities. By the time I decided to buy one they were no longer available. Hence -my Burgman 650. On that bike I felt more like Captain Ahab than a Grand Prix jockey. My Kymco 500 was easier to live with and easier on the eye but she disappeared into the used bike lot as soon as I laid eyes on the C600. If there had been a Yamaha 530 available I would have likely bought it as I am a Yamaha Fan Boy at heart. But - as I've said before - the C600 offers everything I'm looking for in this stage of my lifelong two-wheeled hobby and I am totally satisfied with my purchase decision.
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Scorpion56
Member
There's been a rash of compliments in the last three days including a police officer: Cop: "What is it, a motorcycle or a scooter?" Me: "It's an urban mobility vehicle, officer." He was just walking his beat. I wasn't pulled over. Then, an 80-something guy who used to ride, but was too hunched over now. He was really excited. "That's a 650? Let's hear it. Start it up." And the best one was today: A two year old boy screaming "MOTORCYCLE!!" who sat on it and watched the instrument cluster do its thing. And his mom......smokin!. Think Shania Twain in her early days. "My dad used to ride a big BMW like yours".
Do "regular" bikes get this much attention?????
Do "regular" bikes get this much attention?????
justscootin
Member
No, it is an ultimate motor vehicle
Ahh those Canadian girls (when Shania was (really) young she was not a dream catch, she grew into it)
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justscootin
Member
She wore that outfit when I saw here in Vegas
Edumakated
New member
Just thought this was funny. I sometimes ride my Vespa or BMW to a company meeting. Several of the employees know I have a Vespa, but not many know about the BMW. Anyway, a co-worker who also has a Vespa came up to shoot the sh*t and mentioned he saw someone else rode a blue sport bike to the meeting. Of course ,the "blue sport bike" was my C600. I just thought it was funny a guy who owns a Vespa didn't realize the BMW was a scooter.
My new neighbors have a Vino. I pulled the c600 out to put some air in tires and again, a scooter owner didn't realize the c600 was a scooter and thought it was a motorcycle. Most of the people I talk to about the c600 think it is motorcycle and are surprised when I say it is really a scooter.
My new neighbors have a Vino. I pulled the c600 out to put some air in tires and again, a scooter owner didn't realize the c600 was a scooter and thought it was a motorcycle. Most of the people I talk to about the c600 think it is motorcycle and are surprised when I say it is really a scooter.
SteveADV
Active member
I have had only one guy stick his nose up and comment, "It's a scooter. It won't go that fast" (we were at a golf outing).
He saw it in passing a few days earlier and when I told him it was a BMW, he changed his tune somewhat. He's just one of those guys....owns a 30 year old standard.
He saw it in passing a few days earlier and when I told him it was a BMW, he changed his tune somewhat. He's just one of those guys....owns a 30 year old standard.
Skutorr
Active member
When they rolled-out the Mark3 Tmax in 2008, Yamaha did a smoking European promo vid, calling it "The Automatic Supersport".
That's my favorite way to describe it, and it would also fit the C600 to a Tee!
Check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3x6JZuVWLM&list=FL3iyrvtpXI_n-S96ckRKOBQ
Edumakated
New member
I really feel BMW made a huge marketing mistake calling the C series scooters. Traditionalist hear scooter and immediately get closed minded or start judging without really giving it a chance. I do tend to describe my c600 as a cross between an automatic motorcycle. However, most of the folks who thought it was a motorcycle were also surprised when I told them it was an automatic too!
Xian Forbes
New member
You are on to something there. My scooter buddies don't like my Sport any more than a classic car club appreciates a 2014 Dodge Dart. It's just really not a scooter other than having a cvt. And let's get real, I don't think it's a true step through design. I mount my Sport just like I do any traditional bike. The way I describe my BMW is... "It's a smaller RT with CVT"
Edumakated
New member
Yeah, I really didn't get why they put a step through. It really is more like a "hop over". I stopped trying to step through because my shoe heel kept scratching that hump. I would have preferred they just threw a trunk in the middle for more storage space kind of like the Honda NC has where the gas tank should be. They should have just called it a "city bike" or something.
JaimeC
New member
Their target was the best-selling Maxi scooter in Europe: The Yamaha TMAX. The TMAX has the same "hump" and for the same reason: The very stiff frame that allows the motorcycle-like handling runs through that "hump." If it were flat like a traditional scooter, the frame would flex like al dente pasta and wouldn't be much fun to ride at all.
The reason Vespas and the like have a flat board there is that their wimpy little engines and SHORT wheelbases don't require as much rigidity as our larger, longer and more powerful scoots.
The reason Vespas and the like have a flat board there is that their wimpy little engines and SHORT wheelbases don't require as much rigidity as our larger, longer and more powerful scoots.