An advertising pitch for the 2008 Honda Silver Wing ABS scooter could mirror the original Miller Lite beer slogan: less bulky, rides great.

Honda's top-line scooter is nimble enough to maneuver sharply through tight spaces, but is smooth and powerful enough to handle a long-distance journey. At 551 pounds, it's not tiny, but no one will mistake this for a fully dressed Harley, either.

Best of all, it sips gas. In two weeks of riding in a variety of conditions, the Silver Wing averaged 50.2 miles per gallon. It took a week to budge the fuel display off full. At that rate, there is a 211-mile cruising range.

For $8,599, you get two-up capability with 55 liters of lockable underseat storage that can accommodate a full helmet and a jacket — or a small bag for a weekend getaway. There also are two glove boxes, one lockable. The analog speedometer and tachometer are paired with LCD gauges for fuel, engine temperature, clock and two trip odometers.

But what makes this scooter desirable is the lack of a clutch and gears. The Silver Wing employs Honda's V-Matic belt-drive system, a continuously variable transmission by which the rider simply twists the right wrist to go. The scooter gets up to speed quickly, and the throttle then evens out depending on how much throttle is twisted. It is a capable freeway commuter.

The biggest adjustment for experienced riders is realizing that the left lever is not a clutch, as on a traditional motorcycle, but a brake.

Many riders like the idea of stepping through the scooter to settle onto the seat, instead of having to hoist a leg over. And because the 582 cc fuel-injected engine and the transmission are positioned toward the rear and under the seat, riders get a comfortable and balanced seating position at 29.7 inches off the ground.

There's enough room on the footboards to place your feet forward and extend your legs. It's not quite the same as sticking your feet on highway pegs attached to engine guards on a motorcycle, but it's enough to relieve pressure on the hips and buttocks if your legs begin to feel fatigued.

The grips are comfortably located and the handlebars are narrower in area than a motorcycle's, and that reinforces the feeling of comfort and control.

The windscreen did a superior job of directing the wind away from the rider's chest and over the helmet. While this created more wind noise in the helmet, it wasn't a distraction. It effectively tempered wind gusts or turbulence when passing other vehicles.

There was plenty of ground clearance, so enthusiastic riders can have some fun pushing hard into turns.

Scooters come in a variety of sizes to scratch any riding itch. The Silver Wing, along with Suzuki's Burgman, Yamaha's Majesty and Piaggio's three-wheeled MP3, are among the biggest. They have enough muscle to take you on long haul comfortably, but are small enough to maneuver easily and aren't a big drain on the wallet.

Less bulky, rides great — sounds like a slogan for a refreshing trip.

HONDA SILVER WING SPEX BOX

2008 Honda FSC600A Silver Wing

Engine: 582 cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke parallel twin

Transmission: automatic V-Matic belt drive

Fuel capacity: 4.2 gallons, including 0.9-gallon reserve

Dry weight: 551 pounds

Wheelbase: 62.8 inches

Seat height: 29.7 inches

Tires: 120/80-14 front; 150/70-13 rear

Brakes: single 276 mm disc with three-piston caliper with ABS, front; single 240mm disc with two-piston caliper with ABS, rear

Suspension: 41 mm hydraulic fork, 4.7 inches of travel, front; swingarm with dual hydraulic shocks with five-position spring preload adjustability, 4.5 inches of travel, rear

MSRP: $8,599 ($8,099 without ABS)

CAPTION (This is a Honda photo)

Joe Taylor writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Contact him via email at joe.taylor@uniontrib.com.

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