A scooter is brilliant for getting around town easily and cheaply: super nimble, parks anywhere, is easy to ride, sips gas, and extremely practical. But, take them out of town, and they are simply too slow to be any good at covering longer distances.

That’s where the maxi scooter comes into its own: all the practicality of a scooter but with more power and comfort, better chassis and suspension dynamics, better rider aids, excellent weather protection, underseat storage, and longer wheelbases for added stability. They also have twist-and-go automatic transmissions that can have some of the larger engine models give sports bikes a good run for their money in the light-to-light drag races. Some even have three wheels for even more confidence-inspiring grip on wet or loose surfaces. Here’s our pick of the ten best maxi scooters.

Updated February 2024: Scooter manufacturers continue to strive to bring us one option after the other that is comfortable for everyday use as well as have some of the latest tech and features on board. Each year, there are significant improvements made to the existing models. To keep you up to speed on all the latest developments, this article has been updated with new information and a comprehensive list of pros and cons for each scooter.

Pulling data directly from manufacturers, reputable news sites, and other reliable sources, we've put together a list of the best maxi scooters ever made.

12 Honda PCX

Year Released: 2009

Initially unveiled as the Honda PCX125 in 2009, the PCX has undergone many redesigns throughout time. The engine gained 7cc more than its previous displacement of 149cc, hence the 150 name was dropped. Enclosed within is a four-stroke, 156.9cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, fuel-injected engine with an automated gearbox and eSP+ technology (enhanced Smart Power), which basically employs a new four-valve design. The PCX160's svelte front fairing blends in perfectly with the rear bodywork.

It has ABS, electronic instrumentation, and contemporary LED lighting. A 12V USB charging station, a comfy stepped seat, adequate legroom, and 7.9 gallons beneath the seat — enough capacity for a helmet and a grocery bag — are all included. The PCX is a trustworthy Honda, just as a Honda has always been.

Performance Specifications

Pros

• The ever-reliable Honda engine
• 7.9 gallons of usable storage space
• Looks stylish and modern

Cons

• The utilitarian handlebar isn't anything to boast about
• Lack of pillion comfort
• Don't expect a generous ground clearance

11 Suzuki Burgman 650

Year Released: 2003

With a parallel twin engine producing a healthy 55 horsepower, coupled to a CVT transmission, the Suzuki Burgman 650 has all the performance you could need with a whole dose of luxury tech: ABS, electric folding mirrors and adjustable screen, heated grips and seat, an immobilizer, not to mention two power modes.

It’s big, but that means excellent comfort for two (there are even grab rails for the pillion) and equally good weather protection, combined with a cavernous underseat storage area that can be supplemented by a top box. It’s not especially light at 610 pounds, but as that weight is worn low down, it’s not too much of a problem. 59 MPG is also excellent, and with a gas tank capacity of nearly four gallons, it’s great for touring.

Performance Specifications

Pros

• Comfortable riding ergonomics
• 10+ gals of underseat storage
• Low seat height

Cons

• May feel a bit too heavy
• Comes with a hefty price tag
• It's tough to get one these days

10 Yamaha TMAX

Year Released: 2008

Perhaps the best-known of all the maxi scooters, the Yamaha TMAX was the model that first convinced a lot of people that such a motorcycle could combine practicality with performance and fun. The 562cc parallel twin engine pushes out 47 horsepower, which might be less than the Suzuki Burgman but, then again, it does weigh 170 pounds less, which is not to be sniffed at.

The chassis frame is aluminum, which helps with weight reduction and also adds stiffness, although the design does reduce rider floorboard size slightly. There’s cruise control, heated seating grips, traction control, and an electrically adjustable screen. The center stand can be locked in the ‘open’ position, which is a great theft deterrent and storage is adequate, although a top box can be fitted. Your pillion passenger will never complain about comfort, and as a way of adding sportiness to practicality, the TMAX is hard to beat.

Performance Specifications

Pros

• Oozes of comfort
• Significantly lighter than most maxi scooters
• Great wind protection

Cons

• Limited storage space
• Expensive
• The rider floorboard is a tad bit narrow

9 Honda X-ADV

Year Released: 2017

Take one Honda NC750X motorcycle in maxi-scooter form, and equip it with wire wheels, taller suspension, and dual-purpose tires and here you have something unique: The Honda X-ADV, an off-road capable maxi scooter that’s pretty unique. Another unique feature is Honda’s well-developed dual-clutch transmission, which is a step up from the CVT transmissions of every other scooter on this list. The 745cc parallel twin produces 58 horsepower and a 520-pound all-in weight is pretty much par for the course. Traction control, ABS, a TFT dash, excellent storage, and power modes make this one of the more interesting choices in the maxi scooter class.

Performance Specifications

Pros

• Great, modern styling
• Off-road capable
• Honda's DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission)

Cons

• Not the most affordable option
• Its niche appeal will only attract a select few
• The upside-down forks may feel a bit soft

8 Piaggio MP3 500

Year Released: 2014

The Piaggio MP3 is by no means the only three-wheeler maxi scooter, but it is one of the better examples of leaning three-wheeler technology. Adding an extra wheel, hub, disc brake, and caliper, not to mention all the sophisticated suspension components that allow the wheels to remain in contact with the road while allowing the bike to lean in corners. This adds weight, but it also increases safety by an appreciable amount by increasing front-end grip, braking power, and stability.

The suspension can be locked in an upright position, meaning you don’t have to put your feet down when stopped or worry about the side stand when you park it. Comfort and wind protection are on a par with the rest, although the 530cc single-cylinder engine, with 44 horsepower, does have to work quite hard to push along 538 pounds.

Performance Specifications

Pros

• Adjustable, lockable suspension
• Safer than a conventional two-wheeler
• The presence of a reverse gear

Cons

• You do feel its 538-pound weight
• The lighting is not fully LED
• High maintenance costs

7 Honda Forza

Year Released: 2000

When the first Honda Forza model was released in 2000, it was hailed for its exciting ride, generous storage capacity, and cutting-edge braking technology. This legacy is upheld by the latest Forza 350, which has undergone changes, including the addition of Honda's S MATIC electronically controlled CVT, Smart Key functionality, fuel injection, and combined ABS brakes.

The 330cc engine of the Honda Forza 350, which debuted in 2023, produces 28.8 horsepower. It keeps Honda's exclusive eSP+ technology and adds traction control with Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC). The Forza has an electronic windscreen and an LCD screen with built-in Bluetooth, but it still retains most of its original features.

Performance Specifications

Pros

• The tall windshield is really useful
• A responsive, powerful engine
• Low running costs

Cons

• Stiff rear suspension
• Tall seat may not suit everyone
• The brakes are a hit-and-miss affair on this one

6 BMW C 650 GT

Year Released: 2012

Typical for BMW, when they do something, they do it extremely well, if not extremely cheaply! The 647cc twin-cylinder engine produces a class-leading 60 horsepower, while the chassis is a mixture of steel tubing and cast aluminum sections, making an extremely stiff structure while being light, although the overall weight is still 575 pounds. This is reflected in BMW’s typically excellent build quality, and the use of high-grade materials, and the C 650 GT still manages to return 61 MPG from its 4.2-gallon gas tank.

ABS, traction control, twin front discs, power sockets in the front cubbyhole, and illuminated underseat storage which is large enough for a short weekend away or two full-face helmets. As is common with BMW, the accessories range is huge, but you’ll bump up the price significantly, equipping it to the standard of other bikes on this list.

Performance Specifications

Pros

• A good range of after-sales accessories
• Great, functional side-view mirrors
• Premium build quality

Cons

• Expensive
• High maintenance cost
• There’s a considerable CVT “wind-up” until the 45 MPH mark

5 BMW C 400 X

Year Released: 2018

While we’re with BMW, we can’t ignore the C 400 X, a smaller-engined version of the C650, which is trying to ape the Honda X-ADV in having slightly chunkier, go-anywhere looks. The 350cc single-cylinder engine produces 34 horsepower, which seems a little breathless for the 450-pound weight, but the upside is a claimed 80 MPG, with a tank capacity of 3.4 gallons.

There are a few 400cc maxi scooters around, but the C 400 X stands out by having ABS and traction control, LED lighting, phone connectivity, and a charging socket in the glove box. Underseat storage is expandable to take a helmet, which has to be clipped back up to ride away, with a locking system that prevents the bike from being ridden while it is down.

Performance Specifications

Pros

• Comfortable, plush seat
• Forward-mounted foot pegs
• ABS and traction control for a sub-400cc scooter is a rarity

Cons

• The power-to-weight ratio isn't great
• High maintenance cost
• For a 400cc, it sure is pricey

4 Yamaha Tricity 300

Year Released: 2014

All the benefits of three wheels, as with the Piaggio MP3 500, but giving greater gas mileage. The 292cc single-cylinder engine of the Tricity 300 produces 28 horsepower, which isn’t great for the 527-pound weight, but it does achieve 75 MPG and has a top speed of 90 mph. Practicality, weather protection, and riding security are the main features, although it does lose out on the rider aids that mark out the larger-engined models on this list. It’s on the borderline of being able to tackle longer journeys and would be a bit breathless two-up, but it is a practical and safe scooter that is larger than most small-displacement scooters.

Performance Specifications

Pros

• The reliability of Yamaha
• Delivers a good mileage per gallon
• Safer than a conventional two-wheeler

Cons

• Only 28 horses for a 500+ pound scooter!
• A lack of modern tech
• The paint quality lacks a premium touch

3 Kymco AK550

Year Released: 2017

Kymco is largely known for its small-displacement scooters, but the AK550 will force people to think again. The 550cc parallel-twin engine produces 53 horsepower, the chassis is aluminum and the suspension and braking components wouldn’t be out of place on a sports bike: upside-down forks and Brembo four-piston calipers.

At nearly 500 pounds, it’s not overly light, but that just adds to the secure, planted feel of the bike. Handling is dynamic and fun, and the weather protection from the slick bodywork is slightly less than on, say, the Suzuki Burgman, as is the underseat storage, but the compensation comes in the form of a full-color dash with extensive connectivity options. Great quality abounds and the performance more than makes up for inferior storage.

Performance Specifications

Pros

• Offers great handling
• Comes with an appreciable infotainment kit
• Comfortable rider ergonomics

Cons

• The storage space isn't the greatest
• A lack of adequate wind protection
• You need spanners to adjust the position of the adjustable screen

2 Yamaha XMAX

Year Released: 2004

Baby brother to the TMAX, the XMAX has a 292cc single-cylinder engine producing 33 horsepower, in a package that weighs a mere 397 pounds, with gas mileage of 76 MPG. ABS and traction control are valuable additions and both the screen and handlebars are adjustable to enable the perfect riding position to be dialed in.

Underseat storage is good enough to fit two full-face helmets and LED lighting is a classy touch. If it looks like a slightly scaled-down TMAX, that is no bad thing, and it certainly doesn’t lack rider and passenger comfort, even if the engine might be a little small for longer touring journeys. Twin discs up front give all the stopping power you could need.

Performance Specifications

Pros

• The ride quality is really, really good
• Funky design language
• A peppy, economical engine

Cons

• It is a little pricey considering its segment
• Shorter riders may not like the tall seat height
• Not suited for long trips

1 Honda Silver Wing

Year Released: 2006

Officially called the FJS600, it was aimed directly at the Suzuki Burgman and Yamaha TMAX, and being lighter than the Suzuki and offering more comfort than the Yamaha, it was a good middle-ground maxi-scooter. The 582cc parallel twin engine produces 50 horsepower and typical Honda engineering integrity and build quality means that, with regular servicing, it will last for years. Comfort is excellent, weather protection is great, and single discs front and back are perfectly good enough. If your budget is limited, this is an excellent choice.

Performance Specifications

Pros

• One of the most comfortable scooters out there
• The Honda reliability
• Lighter than most maxi scooters in its segment

Cons

• It weaves a little at high speeds
• Fuel economy will drop drastically if you push it
• The rear suspension may feel a tad bit stiff