Bu-Lai-En said
quote[quote]What about those new scooters (mostly blue yamahas) that are made out to look like off-road bikes. I’m interested in trying one. The tires are definitely fatter (which means safer) [/quote]
I hate them, but then again, I’m against all two-strokes now, just because most owners don’t maintain them and they end up becoming pollution spewing machines. Did you know that most 2 strokes in Taiwan emit more pollution than cars? (4 strokes emit considerably less)
FOr those who can’t tell the difference: 2 strokes go “rinnnnng, rinnnnng” and 4 strokes go “vroom, vrooom” Or something like that…As far as the tire things go, safety depends on the road surface being used and the correct corresponding inflation of the tire. The whole firestone/Ford brouhaha stemmed from the fact that Ford had recommended a lower inflation pressure for the tires than the manufacturer so that the car would have a cushier ride. It also made things even more dangerous, apparently. For off-road travel, a softer tire is a great idea, but for travel at higher speeds, on pavement and especially on rainy days, you want to have a firmer tire. (On rainy days a good tire that is properly inflated can disperse the water from under the tire quite efficiently, preventing hydroplaning.)
The first generation of MaJESties had crappy local tires that were made out of the cheapest kind of rubber. I replaced them with Dunlops within a week. I’m happy to report that the current generation of MaJESties comes with Dunlops.
Now, on to Dummy My Poo Poo. Now, I know you’ve been here for five years. (Oooh, I’m all impressed), but you really should stick to topics you know something about. (Unfortunately you’d then have nothing to say.)
quote[quote]What makes you think that it’s gonna be “safer” if you ride a bigger bike? [/quote]
Granted, anyone on a motorcycle or scooter is more vulnerable in a crash than in a car, but the safety factors in a bigger bike should be obvious.Motorcyles and Scooters can not swerve out of danger the way cars can. You can’t just crank the wheel and off to the side like you can in a car. There are basically three ways to get out of trouble:
- Accelerate your way out of the situation - bigger bikes tend to be more powerful, and can usually power their way out of trouble quickly. (Very small two strokes are also capable of this, but only at lower speeds.)
- Brake your way out of the situation - bigger bikes usually come equipped with disk as opposed to drum brakes, and the bigger the bikes, the bigger the disks. “Real” motorcycles (over 400 ccs) usually have double disks. This lets them stop on a dime.
- Swerves. While all bikes risk losing control in sudden swerves, a bike with good suspension, brakes, power and most importantly, an experienced rider can usually swerve out of the way of danger. Because of the terrible repercussions one would face if one misjudged, I wouldn’t recommend this option to less experienced riders.
Bigger bikes have a longer wheel base - this means more stability on the road. They also have bigger wheels, which tend to iron out the bumps. Basically compare the rides of an Austin Mini and a Jag, and you’ll know what I’m talking about.
The safety differences between a 50cc or 90cc scooter and a bigger bike are obvious. You just have to know something about motorcycles.