Empty Vessel
New Member
Many of the reviews, not to mention Honda marketing, have suggested that the NC700x is a good step up for people who have been riding scooters. As a scooter rider who did just that, I want to share my experience and impressions with any who might be thinking about doing it too. For the last few years, I have been commuting (about 5 miles each way) on a Kymco People 150, while keeping my car for longer drives and buying lumber. The People is a large wheeled scooter, with about 150cc. I decided to buy a motorcycle because I want to continue commuting, but want to be able to take longer rides on the weekend. I chose the NC700x because all the reviews made it sound like the perfect commuter motorcycle, that I could also take on longer rides. So what do I think of the switch? The short version is that a scooter really is the perfect vehicle for short trips in town, but the NC700x is the better all-around vehicle.
Before I go on, I do want to say one thing. If you are a scooter rider and are thinking of switching to a motorcycle, any motorcycle, first take a MOTORCYCLE SAFETY CLASS. The class costs a few hundred bucks and gives you a good introduction to riding a motorcycle. If you like it, you can go on and start thinking what motorcycle you want. If you don’t like it, the class will make you a far better scooter rider than you were before. Since I ride a 150cc scooter, I had to get a motorcycle endorsement—including a skills test on a closed course. I aced it on my scooter…perfect score…the first time. Even so, I became a far better scooter rider after I took the motorcycle safety class. So, take the class, there is no downside and it will not be a waste of money.
One of the major concerns I had switching from a scooter to a motorcycle was shifting, since my scooter is an automatic. I was worried that shifting would be difficult, annoying and I might kill myself learning. I thought about getting the DCT version, but chose not to because I am too cheap to spend the $2,000 on it. What I have learned in one month of riding is that scooter riders really don’t need to worry about the whole shifting thing. I learned how to shift in the Motorcycle Safety Class, and after one week of riding I pretty much had it down. I am still working at shifting smoothly, but it really isn’t a big deal. So, if shifting is what’s scaring you, really there is no need to be scared.
The real difference between the scooter and the motorcycle is size and weight. The NC700x is much heavier, much bigger and is less maneuverable than the scooter. The reason I aced the motorcycle test when I rode a scooter is because it is much easier to weave and do tight turns on a scooter than on a motorcycle (its much easier to stop fast on a motorcycle). Despite what many motorcycle folks think, a 150cc scooter has more than enough power in town. With 150cc, a scooter can keep up with traffic (I am 240 pounds and still goes 55 mph easily) and I am typically off the line at stop lights faster than other cars and motorcycles. Strictly in terms of taking short (less than 5 mile) trips in town, I far prefer the scooter. But, the scooter can’t go on the highway and really it isn’t even that enjoyable to take for longer rides on secondary roads, where traffic here in Arizona often hits 60-70 mph.
In terms of safety, in theory a scooter and a motorcycle are just about the same. Let’s face it, the main danger on either motorcycle or scooter is getting hit by a car pulling out of a driveway, turning at an intersection or changing lanes. When in town, scooters and motorcycles are travelling at about the same speed…so the damage caused by hitting the pavement at 40 mph is going to be about the same whether you are on a scooter or motorcycle. There is, however, one difference. When I ride my motorcycle, I wear almost all the gear all the time (everything but motorcycle pants—I wear jeans [my bad]). When I ride the scooter, I wear ¾ helmet and otherwise nothing that is going to save my hide in a crash. Even now that I own all the gear, I still don’t wear it when I ride the scooter. Seriously, I can’t think of anything more silly looking than a scooter rider in full motorcycle gear, I’m just not man enough to look that dumb. On a motorcycle, however, I look like one of those safety conscious riders. Sure, the Harley guys might scoff, but I am not alone. So, in practice, the motorcycle is safer because I am wearing all the safety gear.
The last difference I have found between the scooter and NC700x is convenience. When I need to run out and pick up Chinese food for dinner, I head straight for the scooter. I get on it faster, start it faster and I am half-way down the road well before I would even start the motorcycle. What I have realized, however, is that almost all that convenience comes from not putting on all the safety gear. If I just stuck a helmet on my head, getting out on the motorcycle would be pretty convenient too. So, in essence, all of the additional convenience of the scooter is the result of not being safe.
So, all in all, I am happy with the NC700x, it is a better all-around vehicle than my scooter…for the simple reason that I can actually ride it all-around, not just in town. The motorcycle is also safer, if for no other reason than I wear almost all of the safety gear whenever I ride it. So, after one month, I am happy I bought the NC700x. I’ve taken several long rides, I’ve commuted to work and gone grocery shopping (the space in the frunk is equivalent to the under-seat storage on the scooter and the OEM top box is cavernous). I have decided to sell my car (I can use my wife’s car for those rare times I need one), but I am keeping my scooter. There isn’t a good reason to keep the scooter, but there is still something about it that makes me smile, and it is truly a joy to bop around town with it. My advice to other scooter riders is this, if you are looking for a better in-town vehicle, don’t get a motorcycle. You already have the best in-town vehicle possible. But if you want an all-around vehicle for in-town and longer rides in the country, the NC700x would be a very good choice.
Before I go on, I do want to say one thing. If you are a scooter rider and are thinking of switching to a motorcycle, any motorcycle, first take a MOTORCYCLE SAFETY CLASS. The class costs a few hundred bucks and gives you a good introduction to riding a motorcycle. If you like it, you can go on and start thinking what motorcycle you want. If you don’t like it, the class will make you a far better scooter rider than you were before. Since I ride a 150cc scooter, I had to get a motorcycle endorsement—including a skills test on a closed course. I aced it on my scooter…perfect score…the first time. Even so, I became a far better scooter rider after I took the motorcycle safety class. So, take the class, there is no downside and it will not be a waste of money.
One of the major concerns I had switching from a scooter to a motorcycle was shifting, since my scooter is an automatic. I was worried that shifting would be difficult, annoying and I might kill myself learning. I thought about getting the DCT version, but chose not to because I am too cheap to spend the $2,000 on it. What I have learned in one month of riding is that scooter riders really don’t need to worry about the whole shifting thing. I learned how to shift in the Motorcycle Safety Class, and after one week of riding I pretty much had it down. I am still working at shifting smoothly, but it really isn’t a big deal. So, if shifting is what’s scaring you, really there is no need to be scared.
The real difference between the scooter and the motorcycle is size and weight. The NC700x is much heavier, much bigger and is less maneuverable than the scooter. The reason I aced the motorcycle test when I rode a scooter is because it is much easier to weave and do tight turns on a scooter than on a motorcycle (its much easier to stop fast on a motorcycle). Despite what many motorcycle folks think, a 150cc scooter has more than enough power in town. With 150cc, a scooter can keep up with traffic (I am 240 pounds and still goes 55 mph easily) and I am typically off the line at stop lights faster than other cars and motorcycles. Strictly in terms of taking short (less than 5 mile) trips in town, I far prefer the scooter. But, the scooter can’t go on the highway and really it isn’t even that enjoyable to take for longer rides on secondary roads, where traffic here in Arizona often hits 60-70 mph.
In terms of safety, in theory a scooter and a motorcycle are just about the same. Let’s face it, the main danger on either motorcycle or scooter is getting hit by a car pulling out of a driveway, turning at an intersection or changing lanes. When in town, scooters and motorcycles are travelling at about the same speed…so the damage caused by hitting the pavement at 40 mph is going to be about the same whether you are on a scooter or motorcycle. There is, however, one difference. When I ride my motorcycle, I wear almost all the gear all the time (everything but motorcycle pants—I wear jeans [my bad]). When I ride the scooter, I wear ¾ helmet and otherwise nothing that is going to save my hide in a crash. Even now that I own all the gear, I still don’t wear it when I ride the scooter. Seriously, I can’t think of anything more silly looking than a scooter rider in full motorcycle gear, I’m just not man enough to look that dumb. On a motorcycle, however, I look like one of those safety conscious riders. Sure, the Harley guys might scoff, but I am not alone. So, in practice, the motorcycle is safer because I am wearing all the safety gear.
The last difference I have found between the scooter and NC700x is convenience. When I need to run out and pick up Chinese food for dinner, I head straight for the scooter. I get on it faster, start it faster and I am half-way down the road well before I would even start the motorcycle. What I have realized, however, is that almost all that convenience comes from not putting on all the safety gear. If I just stuck a helmet on my head, getting out on the motorcycle would be pretty convenient too. So, in essence, all of the additional convenience of the scooter is the result of not being safe.
So, all in all, I am happy with the NC700x, it is a better all-around vehicle than my scooter…for the simple reason that I can actually ride it all-around, not just in town. The motorcycle is also safer, if for no other reason than I wear almost all of the safety gear whenever I ride it. So, after one month, I am happy I bought the NC700x. I’ve taken several long rides, I’ve commuted to work and gone grocery shopping (the space in the frunk is equivalent to the under-seat storage on the scooter and the OEM top box is cavernous). I have decided to sell my car (I can use my wife’s car for those rare times I need one), but I am keeping my scooter. There isn’t a good reason to keep the scooter, but there is still something about it that makes me smile, and it is truly a joy to bop around town with it. My advice to other scooter riders is this, if you are looking for a better in-town vehicle, don’t get a motorcycle. You already have the best in-town vehicle possible. But if you want an all-around vehicle for in-town and longer rides in the country, the NC700x would be a very good choice.
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