So similar, yet so different

"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
09/06/2020 at 23:00 • Filed to: two wheels good

I’ve scooted to school all but two days so far this year. I’ve been riding the Hooligan almost exclusively lately. It’s cavernous under seat storage, combined with the saddle bags I added, have made The Hooli the ride of choice for hauling my laptop, my lunch, my drinks, and my GoPro plus accessories to school and back.

I’ve been riding it so much, that I started to think I should sell my Zuma 125. In addition to the extra storage, the Hooligan is quicker, faster, rides softer, and has WAY better brakes. The point of riding a scooter over a motorcycle is its practicality, and the Hooligan is way more practical. Plus, the Zuma is worth significantly more money. Being a well equipped Yamaha ... and having a title and all. Selling that puts enough money in my pocket to pay for half to all of a real motorcycle (depending on what I’d get).

Last night I took a 35 mile ride in the Zuma, and I was reminded why I don’t want to sell it. It handles So. Freaking. Well.

The one Achilles Heel of the Hooligan is handling. Which is really over stating it, because it handles pretty well ... but not as well as the Zuma. The Hooligan is a little twitchy. The front end geometry just isn’t as good as the Zuma. The Zuma handles almost telepathically. I swear you just think where you want it to go, and it goes there.

So yeah. I have two scoots that are direct competitors on the market. It doesn’t really make sense to keep them both. It’s far more logical to diversify and get something different to have a different kind of riding experience.

But I just can’t bear to part with either of them.

DISCUSSION (42)

Just Jeepin' > shop-teacher
09/06/2020 at 23:06

Given how hard I’m trying to find a second Jeep...I have absolutely no room to mock.

shop-teacher > Just Jeepin'
09/06/2020 at 23:11

Yeah, I know what you mean. Although I think a Wrangler and an XJ are reasonably different.

jminer > shop-teacher
09/06/2020 at 23:14

I understand where you’re coming from. There is a 71 CB500 and a 15 CB500x in my garage.

Every time I think about selling either of them I'm reminded why I like them both.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > shop-teacher
09/06/2020 at 23:18

Sell the Zuma and get a small sport bike. If the highlight of the Zuma is handling then get something that handles even better, practicality be damned.

Or sell the hooligan and get a cruiser with big saddlebags and a top case, handling be damned. Lol

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > jminer
09/06/2020 at 23:23

Those newer CB500Xs are on my “next bike” list it’s a long list. With the Marauder, and the XT, I want something sporty, but not too fast too fast.

The list is a long one.

shop-teacher > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
09/06/2020 at 23:34

Honestly that is reasonable advice . However, I don’t want a sport bike. I’m too old and fat, and I’m not interested in being hunched over like that. I’d really like to get a newish Rebel 500, but to have any hope of pulling together enough money to buy one, the Zuma would have to be the one that gets sold.

I'm eyeballing cheap old Honda cruisers instead. I could probably keep both scooters and get one of those as a winter project.

shop-teacher > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
09/06/2020 at 23:39

I may end up going with a cheap project bike, because I could pull the cash together for that pretty easily. While I’d like something newer and reliable, I don’t really NEED reliability. I have the scooters to ride to work and back.

I’m really digging the newer Rebel 500 though. I have very short legs, so the super low seat height is appealing to me. Plus I can like the way they look.

But then I’m also eyeballing bikes like this.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1227635317596380/

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > shop-teacher
09/06/2020 at 23:42

It Maybe something the a GS500F? That the direction I’m headed in. I have no interest in clip on bars the GSf and CBRF. Both offer a more sporty experience with taller bars and a softer suspension.

Also I can say that something like idk a Suzuki Marauder 800 is a great budget option if you can find one that already had saddle bags. Really any middle weight Japanese cruiser from 95-05 can be had for less than 2500 bucks. Hell find the right sell and you could probably straight up trade.

glemon > shop-teacher
09/06/2020 at 23:49

I have been thinking about getting a scooter lately, but have never ridden one. Lots of time on pedal bikes, and motorcycles (long ago), but I think I read somewhere you lean and steer different on a scooter—is that true—will I have to unlearn things? Maybe to old to unlearn.

Keep them both if it makes you happy.

jminer > shop-teacher
09/06/2020 at 23:51

I’m not a fan of the rebel looks, but owning a bike that has the same powertrain I’ll vouch for that. They’re nearly as economical as a scooter with plenty of highway power.

I get 62-65 mpg on my CB500x and I ride it pretty hard.

Man that CB350 looks good and the front Drum isn’t any worse than a front disc of that era. I actually get as much stopping power out of the rear drum on my old CB500 as the front disc.

Those color matching headlight ears just make me tingle inside.

jminer > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
09/06/2020 at 23:52

It’s a really nice middleweight bike. I don’t like heavy bikes so it is spunky and handles well while being really efficient (mid 60s mpg while being flogged by me).

Aftermarket is solid for them too. I’ve only farkled mine out a bit with bags and a center stand but you can go full on baby africa twin too.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > jminer
09/06/2020 at 23:57

Oh the X is more of an ADV style bike. I was thinking of the CB500F. Altho now that I look at the X it seems much more my style? Do you ah w knobbies on yours? Done any offroading with it?

shop-teacher > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
09/07/2020 at 00:01

The GS500F looks quite nice, and I would definitely consider something like it. I quite like the Honda Nighthawks too.

Middle weight Japanese cruisers are definitely a possibility for me. I hadn't actually thought of putting the scooter up for a trade, but that's not a bad idea. Trade offers can be funny, if nothing else.

jminer > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
09/07/2020 at 00:04

I almost bought the F but found a really good deal on a 2 year old but new X.

No nobbies but contemplating some TKC 70 or 80 tires when the ones on it wear out.

She’s spend a good deal of time on gravel fire roads, no trails though. Camped off of her once, but should have more.

shop-teacher > jminer
09/07/2020 at 00:09

I like the way your CB500x looks as well, but I think with my 28" inseam, I’m probably going to have to stick with cruisers. Maybe not, but we'll see.

That's good to know about the drum brakes. I was wondering about that. If I could pick that up for $400 and spend a couple more breathing on it, I wouldn't have to sell a scooter.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > shop-teacher
09/07/2020 at 00:18

Ive always liked the look of the 750 Nighthawk. Plus being a V4 They sound great too. Definitely a fast bike for the money.

jminer > shop-teacher
09/07/2020 at 00:20

I’ve got a 32" inseam so I can flat foot everything but a KLR so I’m a terrible judge of bike height, my 5' 3" wife can just keep it up on her tip toes though so with a bit of foam out of the seat it may be comfortable for you.

Now it won’t stop like a modern bike and will require planning, quick reactions and engine braking but they’ll do alright . It’s the biggest difference between an early 70's bike and a modern one.

My dad used to have a big honda 1100 Shadow cruiser and halfway through a ride once we traded bikes and first time I hit the brakes it nearly threw me over the handlebars when I grabbed the front lever with all my might like I was used to.

If you were closer I’d let you take both of mine for a spin to help you get a feel , but your ~300 miles away.

jminer > shop-teacher
09/07/2020 at 00:30

You also might look for a CB300F, they’re more upright than the R but they only imported them a couple years so they’re not super common.

shop-teacher > jminer
09/07/2020 at 00:45

That's good to know that it may be an option. I always forget you can change the seat. I'm 6' tall, but I'm built like a Weeble. All torso.

shop-teacher > jminer
09/07/2020 at 00:49

Apparently a dealer not far from me still has a new CB300F in stock.

https://www.dsphonda.com/—xInventoryDetail?id=9219123

jminer > shop-teacher
09/07/2020 at 01:00

Man I love that Honda dark red so much. Since it’s 2 years old you may be able to talk them down a bit, I almost bought one instead of my 500 I liked it so much.

Also an option is the NC700x, it’s an usual a bike with half a fit engine as its power plant and it’s low revving, but good on gas and decent power. I couldn’t get past the low redline. I grew up on two strokes to something that redlines at like 6k just doesn’t do it for me.

It also has under seat storage too, it’s like a big scooter that’s also an ADV bike, you could even get it with a DCT. I remember it having a pretty low seat height for as big as the bike is too.

shop-teacher > glemon
09/07/2020 at 01:02

No, you lean and steer just like a motorcycle. The Zuma hardly requires any steering input at all at speed.

If you're near Chicagoland, you're welcome to have a go on one of mine.

AestheticsInMotion > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
09/07/2020 at 01:08

Raodtrip over here and become bike brothers with me https://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/mcy/d/tacoma-2001-honda-vfr800/7187886850.html

shop-teacher > jminer
09/07/2020 at 01:10

The NC700x is one I’ve been looking at actually. They do have a low seat height, and can be had for about the same money. Most of them are DCT. The manual ones are rare, and they don’t make them anymore. I don’t have any preconceived preferences of engine or even transmission style. I have only ridden scooters.

Any of the newish bikes will have to wait a year. I don’t have enough mad money at my disposal right now . I’d have to sell both of my scooters, which I am not willing to do.

jminer > shop-teacher
09/07/2020 at 01:17

I only ever ran across manual ones for sale down here. They’ve replaced it with the NC750x but it’s basically still the same bike just with a slightly larger engine.

A coworker has the DCT 750 and loves it.

Definitely makes sense to not sell both scooters, a motorcycle isn’t a replacement for a scooter. They complement each other well.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > AestheticsInMotion
09/07/2020 at 01:18

That blue is nice. But if I bring home another bike my wife will leave me.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > shop-teacher
09/07/2020 at 07:06

I still need to find a way to get one in my life at some point...

shop-teacher > jminer
09/07/2020 at 09:26

That one is definitely on the short list of modern bikes I’d like to buy. I do think I’d prefer something smaller and more tossable like that 300. Given that I’ve ridden precisely none of them, I don’t really know.

Tucked in nicely between the newish stuff and the 70's stuff, in age, modernity, and price, would be something like this Nighthawk. I really like the way these look, and I could more or less swap this for the Zuma in terms of price.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3406518206037472/

shop-teacher > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
09/07/2020 at 09:29

Just found a nice Nighthawk on FB for basically what the Zuma is worth.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3406518206037472/

shop-teacher > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
09/07/2020 at 09:30

Yes. Yes you do.

jminer > shop-teacher
09/07/2020 at 11:29

It has gotten really hard to do test rides anymore, which doesn’t help.

Those night Hawks looks have aged well and while still carbureted would be a nice step up in a lot of ways from a 70s bike.

Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher
09/07/2020 at 12:05

Oh man if it were two years ago that thing would already be in my possession! Solid choice. :)

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > shop-teacher
09/07/2020 at 12:14

Yeah the most expensive one I’ve seen was 2450 but that was at a dealership. This one made me wish I hadn’t bought my Suzuki. But it also seems too good to be true. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3170436169738810/

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > shop-teacher
09/07/2020 at 12:20

That does look really good, I love the yellow decals on the black.

Just Jeepin' > shop-teacher
09/07/2020 at 16:26

How close are you to Willowbrook? Without knowing more about the issues, and given that it’s been two weeks and hasn’t sold, I don’t think I’d want to pursue this one, but I dropped the owner an email.

https://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/cto/d/clarendon-hills-jeep-cherokee/7183157832.html

shop-teacher > Just Jeepin'
09/07/2020 at 18:36

I’m pretty close actually. This week is pretty jammed . There is an outside chance I could take a look at it Thursday, but it’s more likely that next week is the earliest I could look at it. There is actually a bike for sale near there that I want to look at for my wife, so I could knock out two birds with one stone.

Just Jeepin' > shop-teacher
09/07/2020 at 18:38

That’d be amazing. I’ll let you know if I hear from the seller.

shop-teacher > jminer
09/07/2020 at 18:45

Yeah. I'm probably have to go private party to test ride things. I should be able to have a go this weekend on my buddy's old Rebel 250, so I can at least get my feet wet.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter
09/07/2020 at 18:45

Lol! Thanks :)

shop-teacher > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
09/07/2020 at 18:46

Oh, I love that blue!

Just Jeepin' > shop-teacher
09/07/2020 at 20:09

Yeah, never mind. I can already tell the seller is going to be annoying to deal with, and the asking is too steep for the condition it’s in.

shop-teacher > Just Jeepin'
09/07/2020 at 21:46

Yeah, when things stay for sale longer than they should, usually it's because the seller is impossible to deal with.