Forza 300 - FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 8:34 pm
Another old guy on a scooter. This one in Canada. The weather here has come up with the odd day that is nice enough to go for a ride, so i picked up the Forza (which i had bought 3 months ago) from the dealer.
Yeah, it was a long wait. This was the first scooter i have ever ridden, and the experience is pretty much as i had hoped.
My first impression was how well a single cylinder 280cc engine can propel me and the heavy machine down the road. Many long years ago i rode all kinds of motorcycles and i can remember a single cylinder 441 BSA Shooting Star i owned that would have been embarrassed in a showdown with this unassuming scooter.
I am a bit over six feet tall and have mixed impressions about how well the Forza fits me. I have no problems with the knee/leg room. The seat is comfy and i find the scoot controls well from the almost vertical rider position. I do notice, however, that i want to scoot back a bit more on the seat, but can't do so. I would like to stretch my upper body a bit forward of my butt (traditional motorcycle position) at times in order to relax back muscles. But that comfy back seat ridge is there to stop me. This may be no problem for a younger man, but for someone nudging 70, and with chronic back pain........ well, you see what i mean.
Touching on power again, the bike just feels good. It feels, in fact, like it wants to get out and stretch its legs at highway speeds. The smooth acceleration, from a standing start and down the length of a city block, brings a huge smile to my face. You can feel quick, smooth efficient work the belt is doing climbing up the variator, and doing it without the need of any annoying shifting work from the rider or power interruption to the engine.
I was quite pleased as to how well it runs through the curves, doing so in a predictable and confidence building manner, leaning well over without any surprises, and pulling strongly out when you are ready.
The shorty fairing/wind screen works amazingly well. I had worried that, especially since i am a bit tall, that the wind blast would be a problem. I remember it always being so on motorcycles. But this thing seems to tunnel through the air and i have no problem at highway speeds with either frontal blast, turbulence, or side wind. Quite amazing.
The only thing i am fussing with at the moment is the ignition switch. On a couple of occasions i was unable to effect the key position that would unlatch the seat. Maybe that's just me, we'll see.
Yeah, it was a long wait. This was the first scooter i have ever ridden, and the experience is pretty much as i had hoped.
My first impression was how well a single cylinder 280cc engine can propel me and the heavy machine down the road. Many long years ago i rode all kinds of motorcycles and i can remember a single cylinder 441 BSA Shooting Star i owned that would have been embarrassed in a showdown with this unassuming scooter.
I am a bit over six feet tall and have mixed impressions about how well the Forza fits me. I have no problems with the knee/leg room. The seat is comfy and i find the scoot controls well from the almost vertical rider position. I do notice, however, that i want to scoot back a bit more on the seat, but can't do so. I would like to stretch my upper body a bit forward of my butt (traditional motorcycle position) at times in order to relax back muscles. But that comfy back seat ridge is there to stop me. This may be no problem for a younger man, but for someone nudging 70, and with chronic back pain........ well, you see what i mean.
Touching on power again, the bike just feels good. It feels, in fact, like it wants to get out and stretch its legs at highway speeds. The smooth acceleration, from a standing start and down the length of a city block, brings a huge smile to my face. You can feel quick, smooth efficient work the belt is doing climbing up the variator, and doing it without the need of any annoying shifting work from the rider or power interruption to the engine.
I was quite pleased as to how well it runs through the curves, doing so in a predictable and confidence building manner, leaning well over without any surprises, and pulling strongly out when you are ready.
The shorty fairing/wind screen works amazingly well. I had worried that, especially since i am a bit tall, that the wind blast would be a problem. I remember it always being so on motorcycles. But this thing seems to tunnel through the air and i have no problem at highway speeds with either frontal blast, turbulence, or side wind. Quite amazing.
The only thing i am fussing with at the moment is the ignition switch. On a couple of occasions i was unable to effect the key position that would unlatch the seat. Maybe that's just me, we'll see.
