Scooter or Motorcycle?

[pa-outdoorsman]

Of course, it's no secret that we in the USA don't get access to many of the coolest models bike makers produce. Happened to come across this new "moped" being offered by Yamaha overseas. It's the 2021 Sniper 155. Yamaha calls it a moped, but it appears to have a 6-speed manual clutch and foot pegs, which makes it a motorcycle to me. But the seat, engine size (155 CCs) and overall design very much yells scooter.

https://www.yamaha-motor.com.ph/product/sniper-155/sniper-155.html


Regardless, that is one cool-looking bike. Hard to imagine these companies couldn't sell machines like that here, but what do I know?

[Kansas kymco]

I don't know about PA but in Kansas everything tagged over 50cc is classified as a motorcycle.  To me a manual transmission is a motorcycle.  Step through frame blurs the lines. To me the Honda Sniper is a motorcycle.  Does it have a rifle holder?

Kind of like a SUV and a CUV. The majority of vechicles on the road are CUV's (Car Utility Vechicles ) still they are referred to as SUV'S which were based on truck chassis. 

[Stig / Major Tom]

I thought bikes over 149CC's had to have at least front wheel ABS?
And, is that a drum brake back there?

I think this is the most common type vehicle in certain parts of Asia. The "underbone" or something like that.

Stig

[Kansas kymco]

I thought bikes over 149CC's had to have at least front wheel ABS?
And, is that a drum brake back there?

I think this is the most common type vehicle in certain parts of Asia. The "underbone" or something like that.

Stig

I see a rear disk on the back.

[Stig / Major Tom]

First read, I thought that was a question: "Scooter or Motorcycle?"

I think if I had it to do all over again 8 years ago it would have been: HONDA motorcycle, RED of course, probably the 300F naked.




...but that wasn't the question....
Stig

[Kansas kymco]

First read, I thought that was a question: "Scooter or Motorcycle?"

I think if I had it to do all over again 8 years ago it would have been: HONDA motorcycle, RED of course, probably the 300F naked.




...but that wasn't the question....
Stig

I thought you didn't like angler lines and leaned towards the rounded look? You could always trade for the Honda. You only go around once.

[Stig / Major Tom]

I thought you didn't like angler lines and leaned towards the rounded look? You could always trade for the Honda. You only go around once.

Pull up the handlebars as far as the brake lines and throttle will alow, sit up and ride for coffee. I raised the heck out of the Forza's bars!
Stig

[mousejunks]

It's an underbone motorcycle, much like the superclub style bikes. Very popular in Asia because they are ubiquitous and cheap to maintain.

[pa-outdoorsman]

Well whatever it is, it's a cool little machine. Would love to add a little 150-200 CC motorcycle to my garage, but really not offered here except in miniature bike versions such as a Spade or Grom. I think about the smallest full-sized motorcycles here are about 300 CCs.

[Kansas kymco]

Well whatever it is, it's a cool little machine. Would love to add a little 150-200 CC motorcycle to my garage, but really not offered here except in miniature bike versions such as a Spade or Grom. I think about the smallest full-sized motorcycles here are about 300 CCs.

Actually a 300 cc is a small motorcycle here.  I know I wouldn't consider anything smaller then a 300cc.  My motorcycle's are considered small at 650cc.

[klaviator]

I thought bikes over 149CC's had to have at least front wheel ABS?
And, is that a drum brake back there?

I think this is the most common type vehicle in certain parts of Asia. The "underbone" or something like that.

Stig

In Europe bikes over 125cc must have ABS.  That doesn't apply in the rest of the world.

[jak51]

Now to totally confuse things, what the heck is this?

https://www.summerrshop.com/products/4-wheel-scooter

Notice in the video as the scoot is going around columns, it looks like the first scoot has a single front wheel.

Jeff

[Stig / Major Tom]

Actually a 300 cc is a small motorcycle here.  I know I wouldn't consider anything smaller then a 300cc.  My motorcycle's are considered small at 650cc.

I once lit up the Vespa forum by proposing that there really was no need for any scooter to be larger than a 150cc.
My thinking..."scooters obviously were never intended to be on an interstate highway - and certainly have no sane reason to be there. Ergo....."a 150 will do all a scooter was ever intended to do!"
That went over really well.....😊

Stig

[Kansas kymco]

I once lit up the Vespa forum by proposing that there really was no need for any scooter to be larger than a 150cc.
My thinking..."scooters obviously were never intended to be on an interstate highway - and certainly have no sane reason to be there. Ergo....."a 150 will do all a scooter was ever intended to do!"
That went over really well.....😊

Stig

Stig there was probably some truth to that before maxi-scooters.  That changed when they brought out touring models in the 80's .  My Xiciting's are more comfortable at highway speeds then my  BMW Scarver for long distances. Length and weight make a big difference in ride quality.  I Imagine a BV-350 would ride nice on the hwy as well.

[Stig / Major Tom]

Stig there was probably some truth to that before maxi-scooters.  That changed when they brought out touring models in the 80's .  My Xiciting's are more comfortable at highway speeds then my  BMW Scarver for long distances. Length and weight make a big difference in ride quality.  I Imagine a BV-350 would ride nice on the hwy as well.

Maxis....twist and go motorcycles with a lot of plastic.
??
Call that 550 a scooter, you're liable to get beat up 😊
Stig