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Well it could be ? Wy should a guy with a BV350 set up consider this bike ?

Because the AK550 is just awesome. It is a well done machine that is a joy to ride.

Anything near 500lbs is heavy. It's a quarter ton. So, whoever 'they' are - they're not lying.
And I agree with those who say that my $$ goes further into two-wheel fun if I skip the fat & pricey mega-scoots and buy a motorcycle.
However - I'm pleased that you like your scooter.

Stig

Compared to the competition in its class it’s the lighter of the mega scooters. Again it is about prospective. My Huskey weighs about 350lbs. While this weighs less it is heavy for a dirt oriented machine. Is it heavy? I have owned Goldwings. Now those could be classified as heavy. What I was trying to convey is that compared to other mega scooters(maxi sounds so feminine) it is of less weight.

Every article I read about the AK550 says it’s heavy. It’s 495lbs wet. The Bergman 650 is 618lbs. The BMW c660 GT is 575lbs. The MP3 500 is over 600lbs. The Tmax 560 is 481 lbs. So don’t believe the lies that the AK550 is heavy. In the scooter segment it is the second lightest mega scooter! It handles better then all of them except the Tmax. I expect it is equal to the Tmax in handling. The fit and finish is equal or better then many of the scooters listed. I think motorcycle only types often review or edit the reviews about our Mega scooters.
   To my Triumph street triple it is heavy and underperforms. For all of my riding needs it performs fantastic. It has a very low center of gravity. My scooter hating motorcycle buddies don’t understand why someone would buy a scooter. They believe a motorcycle offers more bang for the buck. If your metric is just pure performance then a scooter is hard to understand. Until you ride one with an open mind. The AK is a fantastic machine and it feels like a recombinant motorcycle vs a step through scooter. Very motorcycle like but more comfortable. Anyway sorry for the long winded post.

If you have the itch go buy it.

HeyZeus! Good report! I rode my 1960 Honda Hawk to Palomar Observatory and Julian in '60 to '62! I hear Julian still has great apple pie! You can also ride out past Otay Lakes to the skydiving center just short of Pio Pico. That is not such a great road anymore with all the population out there.
Your report almost makes my mouth water to look at the AK! Check in often with updates!

Banner grade and Palomar Mountain is where i was today!

So I bought a AK550 from Fun Bike Center in San Diego. They made the purchase easy. The dealer took good care of me without a ton of B.S. I have owned Mana’s, Vespa, Burgers, Tmax, MP3’s and BMW scooters. I find this AK550 to be as nice or nicer then any of the ones mentioned. The bike has the stiffness of the chassis like the Tmax. It has storage as good as my 650 sport. The motor has more character then any of the other maxi’s I have owned. Acceleration is fantastic for a 550 CVT bike.  The bike is comfortable. The fairing is just right for me. I do not like the giant bulbous fairings on most scooters. I am protected from the cold but get enough wind to not overheat. The heated grips are fantastic. The fit and finish is good. The exhaust sound is nice. It sounds like a proper motorcycle. I think an aftermarket exhaust would probably just enhance the exhaust sound.  The bike handles very good. I own a Street triple, and a Thruxton as well. I could keep up with either bike in the twisties. I have not topped it out but I expect it will go plenty fast. The brakes are amazing for a scooter. It is a great machine. It also has lots of tech but I need to own it longer before I comment. I have the Space grey color. I had to move the wind screen up one notch to reduce wind noise. It was done with tools and it is easy enough. I am 5’9”. Anyway the AK550 is available and in the USA.