Back in 2003 Suzuki broke all the rules and introduced the scooter worlds FIRST touring (mega) scooter, the Burgman 650. The Burgman is one of the most popular modern scooters in America due to its large displacement and it’s even more popular in Europe where the line includes a 125cc and 250cc version.
Well, Suzuki has owned the title of Largest Scooter for quite some time, but the heat is on. You can bet that by the end of 2007 you’re gonna see someone take that title unless Suzuki kicks it up a notch.
Who are the players? First off we have Kymco. Yes they’ve FINALLY introduced the 500cc Xciting in the USA and it’s promising, but to steal the title they’re gonna have to go forth with their plans for a 700cc version (April reported on this back in June). Whether or not it will be an upgrade to the Xciting or a whole new design like the super cool Oberdan Bezzi “Bikester” is yet to be seen. From what I hear that design is still waiting to be claimed and is designed to be a 700-800cc scoot. Do it Kymco! Bring out the Bikster! (A more recent Bikester article with Bezzi write up can be seen here.)
Next in line, trumping a 700cc Kymco offering would be a Mega Scooter from Piaggio – The Gilera (read: Won’t see in the USA). Dudel, gave us a scoop “photo” of this new hotness (seen below). As Dudel states, please take this image with a grain of salt. We’ve nearly fallen for a “scanned magazine report” once before. Looking at this image of the Nexus 850 is enough to make even the hardest classic scooter elitist drool. Check out the rough translation after the photo.
GILERA NEXUS the 850 range Nexus would have to be become larger with the intruduzione of a true one maxi: the matore that pushes it could be corposissimo the V90 Piaggio (equipped of electtronica management of the transmissione). The design, abundantly see again would trace that one of the family of scooter the Gilera. Between novita 2007 piu marked interesting Gilera: soto the reflectors a mega scooter pushed from bicylindrical to V90 850cc endowed Piaggio presumablly of the automatic transmission the head on the Iron. Stiff and abondanti shapes and a look aggressive like those of the scooter of farmiglia its particuliarita one.
Which sums up as 850cc, 90 degree twin cylinder, electronic transmission that you’ll never have the joy of placing your butt on (prove me wrong Piaggio!). I can’t make anything else useful outta that.
So, who else is scheduled to break the 650cc record? How about BMW? They’ve been pretty hush hush lately. I know Oberdan Bezzi had a design up his sleeve for a BMW S 850 RT. If they actually make it is one thing and if they bring it to the USA would be a whole ‘nother thing.
There is also the Victory Vision 800, but I still think calling it a scooter is a REAL stretch.
So, who’s gonna do it? Who will be the first to break 650cc? We’ll serve up the scoop as soon as it’s out of the oven!
2. September 2006 at 6:38 pm
RE: “presumablly of the automatic transmission the head on the Iron”
This is referring to the servocambio system used on the Ferro (‘Iron’ in Italian). If correct, then the wheel would be driven by a chain like a regular motorcycle and would use a computer controlled clutchless shifting mechanism similar to the FJR1300-aemi-auto. A system like this would put a lot more usable horsepower to the rear wheel.
Technically, the Vision-800 concept is a motorcycle because it’s not a step-through but considering the fact that the ‘fuel-tank’ is actually a front storage pod (ala the Bezzi Bikester and the GRF1/Griffon) we can safely call it our own. I actually like the Vision-800 and the only thing they did wrong was the odd angles on the front-end and the lack of an integrated windshield to pull it all together. However, the Vision-800 is dead because the Victory “like a Harley but different” customer-base went insane when that concept was unveiled. Polaris is now building a big fat heavy modern-styled bagger with all the bells and whistles to attract the Goldwing and BMW-K1200 crowd. Wrong direction in my opinion.
This is what will be next:
* Honda DN-01 700 auto-tranny motorcycle (07 JP & EU)
* Piaggio/Gilera 850cc auto-tranny motorcycle, ala Ferro (07 EU)
* Honda E4-01 900cc scooter (08 JP)
* Piaggio/Gilera 850cc scooter (08?) – I’m inclined to think we will see a Gilera first and than a big-Beverly model later (09-11?)
Also, rumors that Honda is producing a flat-four are still surfacing which means there might be a Griffon-inspired 750 in the future.
3. September 2006 at 1:59 am
I find it interesting that the 900 cc Honda was left out of your list. While down enjoying “Scootercade” in Ar., I met two scooter owners that claim to have ordered the 900 honda and the dealers accepted their orders and wanted them to choose a color for the order. This sounds to me that the 900 is closer than we think.
3. September 2006 at 3:17 pm
I too was quite disappointed that you completely skipped the potential next biggest maxiscooter Honda’s E4-01. I was very impressed with what I saw – it’s basically a big Burgman with a 903cc engine. The fact that ABS is included is also interesting. On my 650 in two years I’ve had two accidents that I believe ABS would have prevented.
4. September 2006 at 2:12 am
Dudel! Looks like you’ve really done your homework!
As for me, looks like I get a C. I had forgotten that the Honda was gonna be. THAT large. The body seems deceptively small. I. really would like to see that Griffon come to be.
28. September 2006 at 10:26 am
Why is that that the author of the article totally forgot about the very FIRST megascooter: Honda 600cc SilverWing!!!
28. September 2006 at 2:56 pm
Dude,
I think you might be jumping the gun with that Nexus article. That is very much the standard 500cc bike with a few cosmetic tweaks and an upright rear shock grafted on in Photoshop because that’s where people would expect it to be (the real one is concealed under the bodywork).
There have been rumors of an 850cc vee twin from Piaggio for years, which weren’t helped when the Gilera Ferro concept appeared during 2003 (check out http://www.maxmoto.co.uk/gilera_850_ferro.shtml for more). While we may see this engine sometime soon, I’m not inclined to believe that it is a certainty given the length of time that these rumors have been circulating. I also very much doubt that it will be used in a “traditional” twist and go scooter of the type that Piaggio/Gilera produce, but probably something very different.
Let’s also not forget that Europe and Asia have been riding around on big scooter for almost 10 years already. Before the B650 came out there was already plenty of choice of scooters over 250cc.
29. September 2006 at 2:05 am
I see that this is a pretty hot topic for many readers.
One thing I’d like to point out is that the article is intended to point out that someone is going to break the current record for cubes on a scooter, which currently stands at 650cc. That’s the reason I left off the good old Silver Wing (sorry). I also didn’t include the “Copper Wing” Honda Helix, because we know it’s not moving above 650 anytime soon.
So, who’s it gonna be? I’m not placing my bets until October is over with. At that point I’m willing to wager.
29. September 2006 at 2:14 am
The UK’s own Paul B., Journalist and Photographer extraordinaire, wanted to post a comment, but Google was being a little b1+ch, so I pasted it here for him. Thanks PAUL!
“In your introductory blurb you’ve forgotten that the Burgman 650 was actually launched (in Europe) in 2002 and that it was predated by two different versions of Burgman 400 and post-dated by a Mk3 fuel-injected Burgman 400 which has been available in the USA since 2003!
You also forgot to mention Craig Vetter’s extraordinary monster Harley-engined Scoot, the Defiant. That’s got the most cubes of all!
Meanwhile, on this side of the pond, we’re predicting the imminent appearance of a Yamaha Tmax750, to follow the excellent Tmax500 which was actually the biggest, fastest scoot available (briefly) when it was first launched in 2000.
Paul Blezard in London, UK. (owner of a Mk1 and Mk2 Tmax and a Burgman 650)”
I love the look of the T-Max and wanna see a 750 with my own eyes. It’ll prolly never happen… maybe if I take a trip to Europe and Yamaha gives it the go-ahead, then I’ll be proven wrong.
As for Craig’s Defiant… Since it’s not likely to be commercially available, I’m not gonna add him to the list. Looks like a fun ride though!