An Observation

Went to my local Honda Dealer to pick up some odds and ends
(oil, Etc) and parked next to a Triumph 900 Thruxton in the
lot. You don't realize what an imposing mechanical work of art the Silver Wing is until you see it next to another bike.
It made the the Triumph almost look like a minibike .
I get the same impression when I park to my co-worker's
Harley Sportster at work .

Probably one of the most commented remarks whenever I park the Wing. Just how much of a physical presence it actually has.

All is relative:

before buying the SWing, I had a ride on an early Moto Guzzi Quota 1000.

With specs as V-twin, 70 HP, weight 210 kgs, one could think 'not far off' the SW

until you see the seat hight: 890 mm (35 inches or nearly 3ft !!!)

I decided not to go for the Guzzi, because I have to ride it in and out of an underground parking place, that is only 1m90 high, and I feared to hit the ceiling when mounted...

Next to the Quota, the SW and all other bikes are dwarfed

Compared to a Hayabusa........

No wonder so many sport bikers wave at me on the SW. It does look like a sport bike from the front. I'll bet they go wash their hands after they get a look at the Swing from another angle. I haven't had one of the chase me down and ask for their wave back so far.

I must admit every time i park up, no matter where, i always get talking to people who are looking at my Silverwing. The most interest seems to be how comfortable it looks , followed usually, by surprise at the 600 cc engine. Now riding at temperatures just above freezing, there are not that many bikes around, usually older riders like me. My favourite time of year for riding is now, no leather clad boy racers around. Lovely clear sky's(usually) and no Sunday drivers dawdling along the country lanes.

I wish Honda had put "Silverwing 600" on the bike. It might help reduce the predjudice against scooters. Seems everyone who asks is surprised about the engine size.

Suzuki put 400 and 650 on the sides of the two Burgmans I had and they were still "only scooters" to bike riders. I can't say anyone has commented to me on the physical presence of my Silver Wing either, compared to the lard a** bulk of the 650 Burgman it's positive slimline.

I find people are interested in my Silverwing nearly as much as passersby would ask about my GL1800. I really think Honda is missing out on advertising these big scooters. I know Honda's real money is in sport and dirt bikes; but if anyone remembers the "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" ad campaign that changed the whole country's look at motorcycles.
I think they could do it again with the Silverwing and other big scooters if they'd mount a real advertising campaign based on the larger scooters.

One of the office girls did ask, " Is that your new big moped out there?"

I could only answer in the affirmative.

(Not sure if they have mopeds in the US - but they are typically less than 50cc and limited to 30mph (used to have pedals, too, back in the 80s))

Exavid wrote :

"I find people are interested in my Silverwing nearly as much as passersby would ask about my GL1800. I really think Honda is missing out on advertising these big scooters. I know Honda's real money is in sport and dirt bikes; but if anyone remembers the "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" ad campaign that changed the whole country's look at motorcycles.
I think they could do it again with the Silverwing and other big scooters if they'd mount a real advertising campaign based on the larger scooters."

Only if they don't use me and Meldrew as examples !

Well yeah, Duh! :lol!:

In German language, there is a difference between a moped and a mokick , both being Mofa (Motorisiertes Fahrrad or motorized bicycle).

A Moped is any Mofa with pedals, a Mokick has a ... kickstarter instead of pedals. (These Teutons haven't heard of the electrick starter, yet )

In Dutch, a moped is called a bromfiets or brommer. The word is derrived from the verb 'brommen' which has a couple of meanings, suchs as to hum, to buzz, to grumble. So over here we 're riding a 'hummer', a 'buzzer' or a Meldrew

But the nicest word for a moped is to be found in Denmark, where it is called a Knallert refering to the sharp sound of a badly-silenced two-stroke engine.