The trunk space

[sbowles]

I've heard a lot of conflicting reports about the trunk space of the Atlantic 500. I'm supposed to pick mine up in two weeks, but it has me concerned. What's the real-world capacity? One full face helmet and a soft bag? No full face? The Silver Wing has tremendous cargo capacity under the seat (two full face helmets) and a dash compartment that could hold a quart of milk, but I don't want to fork over the extra two grand unless there really is no loading potential with the Atlantic.

[ScudaMax]

The underseat trunk will easily hold a full face helmet once you learn how to do it. Maybe two, but I haven't tried to do that yet. My helmet is XL, so perhaps if my head was smaller it would be easy. There is lots of room for a helmet and soft stuff tho. The dash compartment of the Atlantic will certainly not hold a quart of milk - unless it is removed from the carton. ;)
Perhaps a glove or two if folded just right. There is a nifty 12V outlet in there tho. If your primary concern is cargo space, you might consider an m/c with hard luggage.

[DarcyJames]

Not meaning to knock the Atlantic, but after reading a few posts here, the Wing is starting to look better and better. I'm not trying to start a flame war here in the Atlantic forum, but I'm gonna think aloud as I go, since I have until spring to choose and buy my bike of choice. I'm going to share here why I would (so far) choose the Wing.

I'll be the first to admit, yes, the Wing is too expensive. Still, you get more storage space (two full face helmets easy), you get 100 more CCs and a V-twin, parking brake, you get to see the bike before you buy it, parts availability and service are never a problem with Honda, and it's easier to sell a Honda when the time comes. The bike is not unmanageably larger than the Atlantic, and although I alone prefer the look of the Wing, neither bike makes the other look ugly.

For what you get, I still think the Wing is overpriced. However, the peace of mind that I can get parts within a couple of days, and have a wide variety of dealers to deal with, makes it worth it to me in the end.

I've been reading rider impressions of the Wing and Atlantic online, and although people seem to love their Atlantics, I tend to read a better review of the Wing every time. The windscreen is apparently adequate on the Wing, whereas the Atlantic's screen, if you got one with the bike, is not good.

Be as critical of the Wing as you want, I want to make an educated choice in the next couple of months. A full side-by-side comparison would really help. Something more than size, price and weight.

[Gnome25coxnet]

Darcy I have been reading your posts for months. Why don't you leave it alone. You have your reasons for wanting a Silverwing and I agree with you. If I lived as far as you from a Aprilia dealer I would get a wing also. The Honda has many more places to be serviced and get parts. I think both are fine machines. I prefer the Aprilia. My windshield came in two weeks after the bike its installed and I find it to be fine. Tall people will always want a taller windscreen and short people will always want a shorter one. Fact of life, you will never please everyone. The storage is fine I keep a Symax full face in there and have room for a cover, flashlight some extra tools and a change of clothes. If I was riding two up I would get the top case but I don't need it.I know people who bitch about the lack of luggage space on a Goldwing and a Harley UltraGlide.Try to get a full face in a saddlebag. For what it is the Atlantic is a fine bike. If you want to praise the Silverwing go post on the Silverwing site. Aprilia is not Honda and won't be for years if it ever is. As far as resale the Atlantic will proably have a better resale that the Honda, do to Italian make and the fact that there will proably not be as many around. I love this little scooter and recommend it to any one. I won't slam the wing its fine. But I am tired of hearing the Atlantic slamed by someone who does not own one and stated several months ago he was going to the wing. Go ahead and go.

[sandiego2]

Here is one thing to factor into the decision between the A500 and the Silverwing: Which dealer, and which dealer's mechanics, do you like and trust more? Here is San Diego the Aprilia dealer, GP Motorcycles, has supremely competent mechanics. In contrast the biggest Honda dealership, the Fun Bike Center, has the opposite. As an example, I once took a flat tire from my Elite 80 in to be fixed. They replaced the innertube, but didn't think to remove the nail from the tire. A day later it was flat again.
Regarding trunk space, I was a little disappointed not to be able to fit 2 helmets in, but I can fit one in along with a full Aerostich riding suit, permitting me to go anywhere and switch to shorts or street clothes. It also contains a week's worth of groceries for two, but I also carry a duffle bag and bungie cords in case the load exceeds the trunk space (it hasn't happened yet).
I test drove both the A500 and the Silverwing before buying the Aprilia, and the A500 is definitely the lighter bike, for better and worse. It's much more maneuverable in town, which I love, but not quite as well planted on the freeway.

[jlb43]

I agree. I really like my A500 and it is now my ride of choice for most of my around town short hauls (I also have a Suzuki LC1500). I have had numerous compliments on it and attracts attention almost everywhere I park it. I find the underseat storage adequate and I too can get an XL FF helmet in there with room to spare. The front compartment holds my vehicle registration and insurance card along with my cell phone and has an outlet to keep the phone charged up. If storage is your main concern then by a Gold Wing with a trailer. A parking brake would be nice but I am just careful how I park it and carry a small wheel chock in case it need it. I too wish it had a taller windshield but it doesn't, so I wear a face shield or a FF helmet. Problem solved!

I looked at and rode a Silverwing a couple of months ago and to me it is not worth 2G's more than the A500. As to resale only time will tell.

[atlanticbound]

darcyjames works for a honda dealer.

Fact is if Aprilia hadn't come to the USA with beautiful, good performing scooters and scored some sales success, Honda would still be selling Helixs, elite 80s and whatever 1980s designed scooter they could foist on the public.

Now we have a choice. Aprilia, Benelli, Honda, Italjet, Kymco, Malaguti, Piaggio, Suzuki, Vespa, and Yamaha. If you hadn't heard Suzuki, Malaguti, Piaggio, and Yamaha are all rumored to bring 400cc-600cc scooters next year.

Thank you Aprilia for taking a chance in America.

[DarcyJames]

You'd think you were all harley riders or something. Talk about sensitive!

I didn't come here to bash the Atlantic, and I haven't. What I'm doing is thinking aloud. Tough sh*t if you can't fathom the thought of someone actually bringing up the topic of the Atlantic's competition.

Fact is, I may very well end up buying the Atlantic, who knows? And no, I'm not a Honda dealer, and I've owned several jap bikes over the years. I'm just an avid rider.

What I'm trying to do is get to the bottom of what people don't like about the Aprilia. I'm taking my shots at the Wing too, as they present themselves.

What I have seen, and again, I don't care if you're offended by my observations - The Aprilia dealers have very little contact with Aprilia overseas. The scooters actually came without windscreens after buyers waiting for months. The belt drive has to be replaced very early. The windscreens are too short. There's no parking brake. Parts might be a big hassle and affect resale. Storage space is not adequate enough for many riders. These things don't damn my purchase plans, but they are issues brought up by real Atlantic owners. They are facts I am bringing up, not fabricated flames.

So, basically, I am here to discuss the Atlantic, but I don't come here to kiss Aprilia a*ss and dump a load over their bike just because they made a good product. I KNOW Aprilia makes a good product, I'm just weighing my options, and I'm doing so aloud. Some people lurking about in here are actually in my very situation and want to make an informed decision before blowing thousands of dollars on what could be a bad idea or a great one.

So, if you want to act super-sensitive and defensive about a stupid scooter, go ahead and flame away. I came here to weigh the pros and cons of the Atlantic and its competition. can't handle that? Put me on ignore or talk to your local troll to boot me off. No loss to me.

[atlanticman]

DarcyJames,

You're a bit anal about this analysis. Be a man and make a decision.

[DarcyJames]

I have until spring to make my decision. I'll do it whenever I want....or does a real man act THEN think? I have some time to discuss the pros and cons, and if it isn't too much to ask of you, I would like to do it without walking on eggshells. I have an opportunity now to monitor how Atlantic owners like their bikes once they've put a few miles on them. I would also like to hear what people have to say about Wings, if there are any owners out there willing to share their opinions.

Not all posts are going to be of dire necessity or be rabidly pro-Aprilia. Live with it. It's a bike, not a way of life. I don't know where all the hostility came from all of a sudden.

[jlb43]

Me thinks by now anyone who has been following this board has a pretty fair idea as to the pros and cons of the Atlantic vs the Silver Wing. To repeatedly restate them every so often really serves no purpose. The differences between the two have not changed over the past few months I can assure you.

If you want to learn everything you can before you buy that is commendable and you are perfectly free to do so.

I don't think anyone who has an Atlantic is going to slit their wrists or run out and trade on a Silver Wing based on your opinions. The SW may in fact be a better scooter. One usually gets what one pays for and you pay more for the SW.

There is another thread here titled reviews or something like that. Read the posts there and you have a pretty good overview of what those of us who actually have an A500 and ride it occasionaly list as it's good or bad features. You say you are not buying until next year so you no doubt will get plenty of feedback between now and then.

I think though from the tone of your posts you have made your mind up. Great! Go out and buy a Wing and make yourself happy. You are the only one here you have to please no one here really cares what you ride as long as you ride.

[DarcyJames]

Sure, no problem. What may have been coming across as repeating the differences between the two scoots over and over again, was actually my summarizing things, and usually I add one or two things. It's ok to find it annoying, just don't go on the attack like I'm some spammer looking to throw sh*t at someone's choice of ride. The place was starting to sound like a cult for a while.

I haven't actually made my mind up yet, but like I said, it's leaning towards the Wing. That doesn't mean I'm definitely buying it, nor does it mean I don't want to hear about what people have to say about either bike.

This seems to happen in many forums, where a group of posters don't like the topic to stray or the beloved bike being discussed to be put under scrutiny. It's nothing personal, it's just a bike.

Wing:

It's too expensive, its rear suspension is too soft for very long trips, its gas mileage is ho-hum for a 600, and the seat, although adjustable, is apparently not great for taller riders. The handling, I've heard, is great but the bike tends to be tough to maneouver in a hard turn.

Atlantic:

2000 bucks less than Wing, great gas mileage, better looking, handles better at low speed, lighter, 12V adapter, Aprilia a true veteran of scooters.

I hope I have sufficiently crapped on the Wing here. Don't worry though, all, I will disappear soon enough.

[atlanticman]

DarcyJames,

I think Aprilia and scooters in general are cult. I'd be proud to own either because the SW and Aprilia are truly unique. It's just that you have to pick between a Ford or Chevy type thing. There's good things about either one. If you're looking for something to brag about then I wouldn't get a scooter. They're still not considered cool unless you're buddy has one too.

When I bought my car I just bought it - a Ford Focus - didn't even know anything about it when I saw it at the dealer. If I made a bad choice I would have sucked up the loss and put in on the block for sale. If you buy an A500 and don't like it - sell it. There's very few that are available and another person is dreaming of one probably. On your side, the A500 will costs less and probably be easier to sell because of that.

[atlanticbound]

Darcy,

I'm not slamming you for bringing up the Honda as competition, I'm slamming you because you have restated and summmarized and rationalized and deduced as if this is life altering choice.

Go ride both then choose. If I see you on the Honda gr8, I'll wave. If I see you on the Atlantic, I'll wave.

[DarcyJames]

I never intended to be so repetitive, but after about four posts about stickers, I thought I was in safe water.....

I see your point, though. If someone's already made the decision and bought what they want, they don't want to hear about what possibly makes another scooter better, especially over and over.

I've gathered enough info anyway, but may be in from time to time to see how reliable these Atlantics are. I'll leave you all alone for a bit.

Darcy

[ebetzs]

If you are power hungry, by all means buy the Wing. If you are not satisfied with 90 to 95 top speed with plenty of reserve in the power band to pass with two-up from 60 to 80 then buy the Wing.
I'm sure that if power alone is your big thing, that the Silver Wing will blow off any Atlantic 500 made.

This, however, begs the question: If this is what you want, why the hell buy a scooter instead of a motorcycle?

But if not, since the Atlantic is better looking, better handling and you can go on a cruise with your extra $2000.why not go Aprilia?

[ScudaMax]

Good to hear from you ebetzs. I was worried about you - you had not posted for many days. Have you gotten your Givi windshield yet?
Max

[Gnome25coxnet]

By the way Darcy if your still reading this thread. The
Silverwing is a Vertical twin not a V-twin. It has counter balance shafts that are suppost to do a good job of cancling the vibration not that 300CC cylinders would put out that much.Ask a Wing Rider. I don't quite understand all the mechanics of the transmission. I think it is a redesign of the old auto they had in the 1980's which seemed to be good. That is proably why the belt does not need changing as often. Its just a drive belt not a Variator drive. I am new to scooters so I don't know how often the drive belts on the little scooters need changing. I read an artical in Twist & Go that was about upgrading the Variator on a Bergman you need to pull and replace the belt to do that and it looked like a snap.Most motorcycle chains need to be replaced from 7500 to 15000 miles maybe thats why I have a shaft on my Vulcan. I don't know how much the drive belts cost but $2000 will by quite a few I'am sure. Hay SanDiego2 did you buy the Atlantic Blue one at GP. What part of town do you live in? I'am in Santee

[sandiego2]

Hey Gnome25! My A500 is silver, as I think your's is. I live northeast of Old Town, in the shadow of the University of San Diego. Incidently there is a flag store in Old Town which I THINK sells Italian flag stickers, but call before you go (unless you're just looking for an excuse to ride).
And to everyone, if you lived in San Diego the debate over which motorcycle to buy NEXT YEAR would be moot. In San Diego we ride 'em all year round!

[ebetzs]

The wife and I went on a seven day cruise to Alaska, the inland passage. Celebrity Lines. Fantastic!
I put on so much weight that I'm afraid when I jump on the Atlantic, I'll blow the tires.
Had to schedule my GIVI delivery after my return. Should arrive on Tuesday.
Oh, by the way, saw a post complaining about replacing the stock windshield and that with the Silver Wing this is not necessary.
Not so!
If you read the Silver Wing forums, you will find that most have replaced the stock shield with the GIVI as well.