I FINALLY have my Honda Silverwing 600 – the maxi-scooter I’d been lusting after for so long to turn a dreary commute into the best part of the day – even in a downpour!
The Silverwing keeps me sheltered behind its vast fairing and it’s fast, incredibly comfortable, graced with fantastic Honda build quality, has ABS brakes as standard and so much underseat storage it’s like a walk-in wardrobe.
Plus it’s not even second-hand as I’d originally intended it to be. It’s brand spanking new
The problem with buying new is the instant depreciation of around £1,000 you suffer on a bike that costs in the region of £6,500 – the Silverwing’s RRP.
But I even managed to avoid depreciation by getting £1,500 knocked off the recommended retail price, simply by pouncing when I found a dealer who’d pre-registered a 2010/11 Silverwing to improve post-Christmas sales figures.
However, one of the reasons I had intended to buy second-hand was the fact that you get all the aftermarket essentials already fitted,
I’m talking top box, heated grips, taller screen, and alarm to keep thieves at bay.
Still, I have a pristine bike and, by fitting all the additional extras myself, I can get exactly what I want.
Although I quickly decided to go elsewhere rather than fit the manufacturer’s own very expensive kit!
Honda’s heated grips are around £300 fitted. And so I got some from Keis – www.keisapparel.co.uk - for £49 and fitted them myself. Ok then, I got the boyfriend to fit them, but then, I’m useless with electrics. He’s done a fine job, and within ten minutes they’re red hot and keeping my hands warm for the entire 26-mile commute to work and back again.
Next up on the shopping list is security. Although I didn’t go the whole hog of fitting an alarm – it comes fitted with Honda’s factory standard HISS immobiliser, so the Silverwing can’t be hot wired – I got the best chain and lock I could get hold of – Xena’s Sold Secure lock and chain.
The chain is 1.5 metres long so I can wrap it around trees, lampposts or whatever’s available; and if there’s nothing to lock it to, I wrap it twice round the wheel. Unlike a motorcycle, it’s not an easy job to remove the wheel of a maxi-scooter! Changing tyres will definitely be a job for the dealer!
Finally, it’s time for a top box to add even greater carrying capacity – there’s already space for two full-faced helmets under the Silverwing’s vast seat. Givi do the original Honda versions, or if you don’t want to go to that expense, you can buy one directly from Givi, including a rack so you don’t have to drill any holes in the Silverwing’s rear fairing.
The standard screen isn’t quite tall enough to keep me thoroughly sheltered. When I crouch beneath it the world goes all silent, so I’ve add a flip-up section to it, also from Givi, improving further the already excellent motorway comfort.
And there I have it – the world’s most perfect machine for commuting.
The 16 litre tank and strong fuel economy means I manage on average 150 miles before having to fill up again, and this will improve as the tight new engine loosens up.
