This touring maxi-scooter is comfortable, practical and, most of all, fun.

“Bob, what are doing riding this scooter?” I asked my friend in Victoria, B.C., in 2006. At 65, Bob said that the arthritis in his clutch hand made it uncomfortable to ride his nice big Harley more than an hour because of the shifting. In fact, Bob told me he rode his 650 cc Suzuki Burgman all the way to Baja, Calif., Mexico and back with no problems. His obvious passion for the bike stuck in my mind. 

After returning to Nova Scotia and having some hip arthritis myself, I found my regular Kawasaki Vulcan uncomfortable even for short jaunts. In 2007, I test drove a Honda Silver Wing 600 from Pro-Cycle at the end of November on a cold dry day. I was amazed at the comfort and protection with the aerodynamic fairing. The next spring, in 2008, I visited Pro-Cycle again to see if I could buy a used 2006 delta blue Silver Wing, and ended up leaving with a brand-new 2006 Silver Wing. My wife loved the seating, and with the 2008 recession starting, the salesman gave me a discount on the bike and threw in a helmet for my wife. 

PLENTY OF STORAGE

I have put almost 80,000 km on my Silver Wing over the past 16 years, and have never tired of the bike. It brings a smile to my face every time I twist the throttle. With almost 107 litres of storage (22L tunnel bag, 55L under seat and 30L in the top case), I can shop, camp, or carry a compact set of luggage for both my wife and I under the seat while riding two up. 

Maintenance has been minor, with…