The big scooter

In 2006, Honda Canada imported the Silver Wing, following other manufacturers in the large touring scooter market. This Honda is among a group of eight high-caliber scooters that can criss-cross the roads and highways of our great country. It's no coincidence that the Silver Wing shares part of its name with the legendary Gold Wing: Honda engineers designed their full-size scooter as a comfortable and reliable touring machine. The Japanese company wants to lure in consumers dreaming of long worriless rides and a simplified riding experience allowed by an automatic transmission. Well established in Europe since 2003, the Silver Wing targets the same audience as the likes of Suzuki's Burgman 650.

Travelling with the Silver Wing is all about comfort and simplicity -- both for the rider and the passenger.

Modern size
The Silver Wing's styling is not particularly distinctive, though the sleek and stylish lines are inspired from the Gold Wing. It stands out mainly because of its bulk, an impression emphasized by the massive fairing. The ultra-modern, almost aggressive appearance is set off by a dual-reflector headlight up front and a highly streamlined taillight assembly in the back. Despite a seat that stands 754 mm-high, short riders are able to easily put both feet on the ground at idle thanks to a narrow floorboard design. Of course, you have to keep in mind this is a 232-kg machine. Yet, all this weight is cleverly distributed and balanced. Another quality of this big scooter is the protection against the elements: the bodywork and windscreen do a great job of isolating the rider from the rain and the wind.

Safe riding position
I had an easy time finding a good riding position. The integrated floorboards allow your feet to rest flat or to be angled against the well-designed front fairing. My only complaint comes from the fact that I could not adjust the backrest properly. The instrument panel, meanwhile, is very comprehensive. I would have preferred easier-to-locate analog temperature and fuel gauges, even though they almost never reflect sunrays. The decently-sized mirrors are easy to adjust and they suffer little from riding vibrations.

The instruments are positioned so as not to reflect sunrays.