The small size of a scooter brings to its sexiness. Many scooter enthusiasts enjoy that they are light, easy to maneuver, and easy to toss around curves. Many folks just do not want or want the heaviness that comes with a large motorbike. But, the compact scooter size might make it difficult for taller riders to get a pleasant ride. At 6’2″, I’m all too familiar with this issue.
Fortunately, there are several excellent scooter alternatives for tall riders. As well as some crucial changes you can do to every scooter to make it function better when you’re not such a regular size guy or gal.
A few basic ideas
Go for a seat that is flat and spacious.
When you’re tall, modifying your seating posture is crucial. It’s surprising what you can ride when you simply shift back on the saddle. Evermore contoured and saddle-like the seat, the more tied you are to a single riding posture.
When you’re tall, a saddle built for the average rider won’t be comfortable for you, so go for a scooter with a bench-style seat.
Don’t ignore the need for hardness. A very soft seat can be less pleasant than a seating with more support. Check for something thin enough to sit on, like a bicycle, or something large enough to fully engage and support your sitting bones.
In either situation, if the scooter you’re interested in doesn’t come with a seat that’s comfortable for you, you may hire a local upholsterer to make one for you. That tailored seat might cost you some money, but the additional comfort will be well worth it.
Look for adjustable suspension and be prepared to upgrade if necessary
Unfortunately, motor scooters are not designed to fit every person. Scooters come with a pre-set suspension system right out of the box.
The setup is designed for the regular rider. It does not consider bigger riders, riders who often transport rear-seat passengers, or riders carrying big luggage.
Your suspensions are responsible for more than simply road comfort. During the highly active movements of riding a scooter, they keep the wheels on the ground.
It increases grip, which improves turning, braking, and speed. As a result, your driving experience will be more pleasant, quicker, and safer if you have good suspension.
Always check for changeable pre-load rear shocks. Even better is adjustable dampening. If such an option isn’t possible, most scooters may be modified with improved, adjustable rear shocks for a few hundred dollars. I
t will make your riding more pleasant and improve the bike’s cornering performance. Talk to your local scooter expert about getting progressive springs or, at least, a thicker fork oil.
It will tighten the front end, which will improve comfort, handling, and braking. Since the scooter may seem rigid to smaller riders, it is likely suitable for larger riders.
Key point: if your scooter is bottoming out the road when you hit bumps and curves, you’re not getting the ride you need.
These simple optimization tweaks can help a lot
Riders of today’s twist-and-go scooters frequently modify the variator roller weights, clutch springs, and clutch contra springs to perfect how the engine’s power is used. I highly recommend changing some of these items or having your local scooter service tweak them for you if you are a larger rider. Although, of course, every scooter is unique; however, these are the modifications that have worked successfully for me:
Lighter variator weights
The target is for a 10- 15% weight drop. It will make your scooter more eager to “downshift” when you press the throttle, but not completely. No hot-rod starts here. Instead, we want to improve the engine’s power response in the low and middle. This is because the engine is in more power range when it starts to spin up the clutch weights and activate the clutch bell.
A more rigid clutch counter spring
I suggest leaving the main clutch weight springs untouched and using a “medium” stiffness contra spring. Contra pressure helps the clutch engage at greater RPMs.
The clutch will engage later. As a result, the engine creates maximum power. The CVT is in optimal ratio before power is delivered to the rear wheel. We want a slight delay in clutch engagement, not a dramatic change.
Those two adjustments together will help reduce the delay between twisting the throttle and getting power from the moped.
As a result, you’ll be faster and have more fun without sacrificing peak speed. Obviously, contact a trusted professional while modifying your scooter’s drive train parts.
Check out the following tall-riders-scooters:
KYMCO X-TOWN 300
Powerful enough for the highway, yet fast enough for city riding. This scooter is a real sport touring vehicle at a meager price. ABS is standard on the 2019 X-Town 300i.
The Yamaha Tricity 155cc
Yamaha’s Tricity 155 is an excellent small scooter with a sporting appearance and an unusual twin front-wheel configuration from Yamaha.
The 2018 Yamaha XMAX 250cc
The XMAX 250 is powered by a 250cc single-cylinder engine, making it HLYM’s largest scooter. While the others may be classified as “city” scooters, the XMAX is a maxi/GT model. As a result, the XMAX is substantially larger, with a larger windscreen and a larger fuel tank. The under-seat trunk is also substantially larger, with enough room for two helmets or a helmet and a backpack with a 15-inch laptop.
The 2018 Honda PCX 125cc
The PCX125 is a silent success story in Honda’s two-wheeled line-up, with over 140,000 units sold in Europe since its introduction in 2010. Its success is due to a formula Honda has perfected over many years: its powerful, modern design lets it blend beautifully into a style-conscious urban lifestyle, while smaller proportions allow it to navigate congested traffic – and park – with ease.
KYMCO People S
In 1999, the first People scooter was introduced. People and its successor People S have been the most popular KYMCO scooters in Europe for the last 17 years, making the People series one of the most famous KYMCO scooters in Europe.
Go to your nearest dealership
The ideal scooter for you as a large and tall rider is the one you feel most at ease on. Prioritize ease of use and proper fit over flashy brand names and trends. Visit your local scooter dealer and get some time on the various scooters. Take a seat. Test the grips by putting your hands on them. Hang out a couple of minutes and notice how your body reacts to the position you’re in. Allow yourself extra time to get tense. Rotate the handlebars. Do your knees cause you problems? If there was enough space on the flooring for your feet? Do you have more than one seating spot available? These are the crucial questions to consider no matter how tall you are. Determine your fit, and then focus on which scooters that fit you have the style you want are from your preferred brands and are within your budget.