NEW Silverwing Review.

http://www.ridermagazine.com/road-tests/scooter-shootout-2014-bmw-c-650-gt-2013-honda-silver-wing-2013-suzuki-burgman-650.htm/

Warning: Even though it is a comparison test between the other
two real competitors--slamming Kymco, here--it is a very abbreviated,
very low-rent review.

At least they didn't say the Silverwing sucked.  But they said
more negative things about the BMW than I have read in other
reviews.

I would be disappointed with all three were I to pay over $10K
out the door. But I paid only $2200 last year, so I'm not too
unhappy.

Interesting review, albeit short. One comment as to the Silver Wing they mention that no top box is available... Hmm guess they haven't looked at many actually on the road eh?   

Sounds like lack of real world scooter/motorcycle experience. I have test ridden BMW----if I want a bike with Taiwan heart I will buy Kymco----SilverWing has pre-drilled holes....although I used Givi Rack---box can be bolted directly to rear wing.

As I get closer to March and the time I get new bike, new left-over SilverWings are looking more attractive to me.....having purchased over 75 new bikes/scooters.....I have criteria.....like windshield (Givi adjustable works great on SilverWing!), Rear Rack/box, lots of dealers for on the road trouble, etc-----I like to Spend $6-10,000.

Trade at BMW sucked (I am BMW owner since 1958) $9200 and my 2011 Burgman 400.....and High ownership costs!.

Burgman 650 interesting, but $11,000, 2014 they changed color and took off passenger back rest and scooter is HEAVY!! I will be 75 in May, good shape but you have a loss of power as you get older. SilverWing still goes up on lift easy for me.....My NT700V did not for example. Magazine road tests usually suck in US----some German mags actually do long hard tests and take bike apart at end to see what is really screwed up.......and they show how rear wheel comes off, etc,

Interesting that the reviewer says there's no trunk (topbox) available for the Silverwing; mine has the Honda one fitted and I had a Givi box on my previous one.

I read the article. I did not get the sense that the writer knew much about maxi-scooters in general, nor did he have a good feel for how useful and capable they really are. If I recall, he ended the article with an endorsement of the B650, then commented that after it's all said and done, you still only have a scooter, or words to that effect.

Not really surprising, in all honesty. There's a lot of ignorance out there about these machines and also a certain attitude that only people who can't shift or ride use scooters. I've run into it many times on the road, but sometimes, it's possible to educate folks...like when you pop the seat open at a gas station and the Harley or BMW guy next to you sees all the storage space...then starts to converse a bit and finds out that the bike is quite quick and capable of high speeds and handles well. Can't say I've made any converts, but did motivate a BMW GS rider to start riding the Piaggio BV500 scooter he has stashed in his garage...

Sorry, got off track there a bit. Bottom line is that at least the magazine saw fit to discuss our bike and the others in a more or less rational and adult way...for that, I am appreciative...

Wait, there's more!

(Can you tell I'm surprised that reviewers still figure the Silverwing
is current enough?)

http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs/2013-uber-scooter-shootout-video


=======

Much better review in my opinion! And true the SW is 12 years old but it still sounds viable to me. And yes Honda DOES offer a 12 volt tap for the front fairing cubby... I have one.

But finishing BEHIND the Kymco?

I think the reviewers were giving credit for what
the Kymco COULD be---were it developed for a
year by Honda...or ten years by Kymco.  

lowkey wrote:

But finishing BEHIND the Kymco?

I think the reviewers were giving credit for what
the Kymco COULD be---were it developed for a
year by Honda...or ten years by Kymco.  

You need to take in consideration that motorcycle mags emphasize the "sportiness" and "handling" more than "practicality" and "reliability". Determine what is important to YOU. Most car mags are the same. They get excited about a car than can smoke 150 mph and ignore how a cage is "around town". I read the review and just try and apply it to MY needs. Personally the vibration of the Kymco and "tiring after 100 miles" would drop the Kymco to the bottom. In addition the seat height of the BMW (my inseam is 32 inches) would drop it down to third...

Just saying.

Another short video review.
She is entertaining.

(And the Swing is silver, prettier than my ugly black one.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaQNSvUEQo0


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That review is dated 2003!

Colin B wrote:

That review is dated 2003!

In many senses, so is the 2013 Silverwing!  

(Honestly, for me it was almost more about the British
woman, her interesting vocabulary and her delivery of it.
Those British people, both men and women, some can
be fun to listen to.)

She's "Northern". We don't all speak like that.   

I do! The current price of the Silverwing in the Uk is £6995. I have been looking as, i will be changing my bike this year. I want to try out the Maxsym 600 that should be in the UK in Spring at £5999.. It will need to be very good to make me change from another Silverwing.  When i have been in the USA i have had people just wanting to hear my accent, they love it apparently!! In London there are so many immigants parts of it no longer speak English. Like our accent or not it is part of where we come from.

Colin B wrote:

She's "Northern". We don't all speak like that.   

  Same problem we have here.             Or they have.      

@Old Limey
If the Maxsym 600 is anything like the Maxsym 400, do not touch it, it is simply horrible. Vibrates at low speeds, not stable above 130 KPH and nowhere near as reliable as the Honda.

Just my two cents.

jspiero, Having just come back from a great days riding, I really think the Silverwing is in a class of it's own. I have more or less decided to replace my seven year old, it was three year old when i got it, forty thousand mile( well it will be in late spring) with a new Silverwing. 

There's a couple of used low mileage Silver Wings in www.castlemotorcycles.co.uk in Castleford, West Yorkshire if you want to save a few bob.  

I have my eye on a 2013, Bike in Hunt's  of Stockport. It's got 1,785mls one owner, with an Airflow screen and colour coded top box for £5395. I could buy it now, but it's not my Birthday till August. I will just have to wait till then.  

Old Limey wrote:

It's not my Birthday till August.

But it is your Un-Birthday tomorrow!  

... "Un-Birthday" ...        

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Un-birthday

Un-Birthday - from " Through the Looking Glass, and what Alice found there", by Lewis Carroll . If you haven't read the book, you must have seen the Di$ney film "Alice in Wonderland"..??

The principle; why wait for your birthday, when you can have un un-birthday every other day of the year.

 

Colin B wrote:

Old Limey wrote:

It's not my Birthday till August.

But it is your Un-Birthday tomorrow!  

   And a half-birthday in less than a month!  Better grab that S'Wing now!     ½ 

I am quite confidant that when July/ August comes around, my next bike will be out there somewhere. Meantime, nothing wrong with the one i have.  

[quote="Colin B" wrote"
Un-Birthday - from " Through the Looking Glass, and what Alice found there", by Lewis Carroll . If you haven't read the book, you must have seen the Di$ney film "Alice in Wonderland"..??
[/quote]

Aha...  never saw the 'Looking Glass' thing and it's just been to darn long since I saw "Alice in Wonderland"...