New here, and about to get my first SW-T

Hello,
I'm new here and very happy I found this forum.
I'm about to buy my first SW-T here in Belgium, after reading about big scooters for a few months. Been doing a few test rides (on piaggio bv350, burgman400, kymco xciting500 and on a Honda 300sh). I know this will sound a bit weird, but I decided to go for a SW-T, the one I didn't get to test. Maybe I've been reading too much..  Or maybe it was because i absolutely loved that little sh300..i know, not really a big scooter, but what a machine that was!!
Since it will be my first big scoot, i will get me a good second hand.
But I cannot decide to choose between a 400 or a 600.
Here in Belgium, there are more 400's then 600's on the second hand market, but i have read many pro's and contra's for both models.
Some say the 600 gives that much needed extra power when overtaking on the motorway, other say it's barely noticeable.
Some claim it's not worth the difference in mpg and price.
Others who have owned both of them, say they would never go back!
In other words.. i can't decide.
I do realize the 400 had never been on the US market. But Honda is no longer offering it in most European countries either. And the new 600's on sale here are made in 2013 as well, according to the local Honda dealer. They will end too in the near future.
Anyone has a few convincing arguments for me on which to buy?
Thanks guys!

Good morning Eduardo, and welcome to the "Fold" I'm new to the forum as well, as I have not long had my 600 SW. I have not ridden any other Scoot's so I can't give you any help with that one, all I can say is there is no substitute for Cubes (cc) Having said that you will find that you will get all the information you need on here, it's a great site.

Morning Tommo!
Thank you for my first reply!
I guess you are right about "the more the better", but i also think that it matters too where one comes from. I mean, in my case, i have been riding electric scooters for years in my home town here. About the equivalent of 30cc... Unbeatable for me and my use though. I'm classed as a (push) bike here, means going in all directions in every street. No-one, honestly, is faster then me when delivering a package within the walls of my city centre. That's why I will always keep those little electric monsters..
I will buy an sw-t to replace my car, fed up with car driving, no fun, only hassle. Life's too short for traffic jams, and this small country is 1 huge traffic congestion on a daily basis!
I suspect, having read that you recently bought your first scooter, you more then likely owned motorcycles before. And probably "heavy" ones too... I can understand that going back in cc's is more difficult then the other way around. For me, a 400 or a 600 will be an unbelievable increase in power anyway. I just would love to find out if it makes sense to pay more in purchase and in mpk for the extra 185cc. Taking into account that i hope to make 1 holiday trip a year in summer to South Europe.
I think (i hope) there must be people out here who own or owned both of them.
Greetings Tommo!

I have a 600 and just installed 26g sliders .. can you say "whip lash"

I can : whip lash .

(Sorry, still only 1-0 in favor of the sw-t 600)

Eduardo 100 first welcome aboard. Second it's better to have extra CC and not need them than to need them and not have them. In a city no problem but once you hit the open road you will want to at least keep up with traffic and that's a lot easier with the extra power.

When I was living in Belgium I met a chap who had just bought an SW-T400, one of the first in the country.
He had previously owned an FJS600.
He reckoned the 400 was every bit a good as his previous Silverwing: as quick, more fuel-efficient, in fact better in all areas.
If they were available here I'd buy one.

Thanks for the replies!
A very convincing pro for the 400 there Mike! Nice to hear you were a Belgian citizen once (hope you liked it a bit anyway..) So you will surely understand what i mean with our small country-situation. This country is probably the exact opposite from the US, regarding open spaces and huge distance quality motorways for touring.
I understand and appreciate that our US colleagues live in a very different situation over there and I'm sure that was the main reason for Honda only offering the 600.
Personally, I will only use the motorways when i have to, because they're jammed most of the time anyway. And besides, what's nicer then driving on a decent local and rural road?
To be honest, i just want to make sure that if i want to do my yearly holiday (2weeks) to the hilly areas of southern Europe on my SW-T, that i won't regret i went for the 400.

I lived in Oostkamp, 8kms south of Bruges, from the end of 2008 for four years.

I loved it and often wish I was still living there.

I'm quite sure the 400 will be more than adequate, even for the hilly bits of Europe.

Eduardo 100...Welcome to the best Silverwing site on the net! I have no experience with a 400 Swing, but I enjoy my 600 immensely. I suspect you are like all of us amateur riders, we spend more time at 55 MPH than we do at 100 MPH. From my understanding, both the 400 and 600 will do either speed adequately. So, unless you plan on a lot of high speed riding, it makes sense to get the Swing that will be easiest on your pocket book in terms of initial cost and operating costs. Just my 2 cents...

Yes Kenjj50, I do indeed. 60mph is our speed limit here on all national roads, and 80 mph on motorways.
With speed camera's every few miles. The pro's for the 400 are adding up here. Interesting.
I know Oostkamp Mike, nice flat rural area with beautiful Bruges just 5 minutes away. Bet you visited Damme too. I wonder did you ride a Sw-T too in your Belgian years?

Eduardo Welcome I live in the UK and ride a 600 but I have a friend in LAVAL in France who has a 400 and he loves his, especially the higher number of kilometres per litre! He used to ride big motorcycles too and his wife thinks the scooter is much more comfortable!

No 400 SilverWing experience----but 2 new 600's----since the 400 and 600 are both physically same size.....both same handling....both scooters, 400cc might be fine---especially if registration/tax/insurance same is cheaper with 400.

Two 400cc Burgmans worked fine for me. I lived/rode 20 years in Europe so have idea of traffic conditions you have to live with.

Thanks Tone & John for the replies.
It is getting more and more in favour of the sh-t 400.
I haven't come across someone who owns (or owned) both of them, but i guess that will be hard to find.

Im a fan of buying as much technology as you can afford. If you can afford the 600, go for it. Is there such a bad thing of 200 more cc's for torque when youre riding outside of a cage? (On a bike, not in a car)?

Get what you can afford and makes sense to you, welcome to a great site!

I love the flatness of West Flanders; from the tops of the bridges over railways and canals, the highest points on the roads and countryside in general, one can see for miles and miles. The sky is indescribably 'big'. I'm sure some of you in the States know what it's like.

Oostkamp isn't the most attractive town in Belgium but it's quiet, clean and orderly.
Everyone was friendly towards me and many, including the girls on the check-outs in Delhaize, wanted to practise their English on me!

Bruges, as you know, is indescribably beautiful.

My Silverwing was a 600 of the older type. I bought it new in Ostend.
Buy a 400!

Thanks for nice reply Mike. Funny you remember the Delhaize..
I am indeed strongly tipping over to the 400 by now. Interesting though... Most US members in here would go for the 600, but about all the others think 400.
Anyway, a decent learning experience here!

Eduardo,

I think there are several reasons that US riders might favor the 600cc model vs the 400cc from my limited travel and knowledge of Europe vs the USA. Some of the reasons might be:
- the price of gasoline (petro) is higher and favors better economy and gas mileage.
- lower speed limits and I believe more enforcement with cameras and other devices. Over here these seem to frowned upon and looked at as Big Brother interfering with freedoms.
- we tend to have larger vehicles (gas prices) and so we want to keep up and not get run over by these vehicles so looking for all the speed and horsepower we can get.
- less wide open areas where speeds are needed to get from place to place.
- The 400cc model is not sold in the USA, so we don't have the option in the Silverwing.

As mentioned previously the 400 SW isn't available in the USA, but several other 400cc scooters are. There are a number of reasons the larger displacement is attractive in the US, but in the end it really comes down to your personal needs. I opted for the SW 600 and have added quite a few performance mods to give it a bit more boost, but I happen to live at a high elevation and frequently ride at elevations over 10,000 feet above sea level, so really all my mods do is restore the performance the SW600 has at sea level. I will say that once while on a trip through the high country I had a chance to ride a 400cc Burgman and I can tell you for a fact that the performance wasn't even close to my SW600. Maybe it would be different at sea level. It really comes down to your specific needs and how well the bike fits you.

Hey Eduardo. My take on it is that you should consider where and when you are going to be doing most of your riding. Is this bike going to be your main conveyance, or is it a pleasure craft? Consider the roads and volume of traffic when you would be riding.
You really can't go wrong with either one: 400 or 600. Go with your heart, it seems you have done enough homework: go get your reward !!!
Jay.

I see many good comments here pro and con. In my opinion the argument for the 600 is made if you plan on riding two up (or maybe heavily loaded?). That's where you would feel the benefit of a fifty percent increase in displacement.

Thanks for the replies guys!
Personally, I would never go for a burgman 400, because I prefer a 2 cylinder bike.
It will become my main transport, in and around the town on national roads. And the odd motorway drive on holidays or weekends. And always on my own too.
I have to admit when i found this great forum, i actually did not realize that most members in here drive a swing 600. 
Yes, I know... this forum is called silverwing600. Pretty obvious in hindsight. My mistake:oops:
But i am learning an awful lot in here.
And i believe that, just like preparing an amazing holiday is as much fun as the holiday itself, it's a bit the same as getting ready to buy a bike..