This scooter does what no other scooter has done before – it’s a crossover vehicle. The motorcyclists don’t know if it is a scooter or some new racing sport motorcycle. It is so much fun to ride (so much fun)! Also, it is well made and looks great!

I was planning to buy a motorcycle but backed off on purchasing a bike because of ALL the shifting I would do driving it around town. Now I have that motorcycle, but one that is twice the fun to ride! The Blur SS 220i.

It is an excellent vehicle I suggest you seriously consider it if you are looking to purchase a scooter or motorcycle.

Pricing’s going to be key. Pricing is all over the place in that range because the bigger bikes get so much more diverse and complicated, there are a lot of good 200s well under $4k (Kymco People 200 is closer to $3000), but then 250s and 300s generally cost closer to (or over) $5000.

Hopefully they can keep the price close to $4000, if it’s under, it’ll be an amazing value. If it starts to edge towards $5000, it’s going to be a pretty hard sell, I’d think.

Obviously, there’s a lot of risk involved, in this economy and this crowded scooter market, especially considering the 150 wasn’t a big success. So I’m sure pricing will be an important consideration when they decide whether to pull the trigger or not. Rumor had it that the proposed Blur 200 was dropped because the performance increase over the 150 wasn’t worth the difference in cost. That bike just had an upgraded top end, so even though the performance of the 220 is not in doubt, the added cost of EFI, a whole new engine, and other upgrades might be more than the U.S. market will want to pay.

I never have a customer in my shop who is seriously going back n’ forth between a GTS250 and a Citycom 300 or Grand Vista 250.

I think the Blur 220 e.f.i. and Retro-Touring Scooter 300 are both important additions to the Genuine line. Putting a top floor on the best supported and best marketed brand in the US could ensure market dominance.

My $0.02

P.S. Bb, you really should try the HD. It’s pretty good, it really is.

It has an oil cooler like the original Blur, but yes, it’s air-cooled. But I think you’re right about it’s niche in the market, it’s fairly small for its displacement. (150cc frame with 200 or 250cc-ish performance.)

I know everyone loves the HD200, and SYM’s offered me the chance to try out any bikes, but I haven’t had a chance to try the HD yet. I think the HD is pretty blah-looking, though, so unless riding it offered some serious user-experience revelations, if they’re priced similarly, I’d go with the Blur just on looks.

Is the bike air cooled? If so, I think its going to be the bike’s only downfall as its power output isn’t going to rival a GT(S) (21 HP) series Vespa or any other liquid cooled, large displacement scooter. Right now this Genuine is putting out about HD200 HP numbers with a 50cc advantage. That being said, with the new 280cc-300cc touring model coming I suppose it would make sense to create this Blur in such a way that is wouldn’t compete with other models. In this light the 220cc displacement make sense as it will essentially be the largest displacement small framed scooter in the states with not much competition.