For me, a scooter doesn't necessarily have to be agile and light.
Imho that is a misconception, resulting from comparing totally different sizes (eg 50cc engine vs 1000cc).
Personally, I had/have "economy" scooter and motorcycle of roughly comparable size:
Scooter: Kymco Xciting 500: 38hp, 230kg, 1590mm wheelbase.
The Xciting drove very stable, like a tree trunk. Long and heavy. No trace of agility.
Motorbike: Husqvarna TR650: 58hp, 186kg, 1501mm wheelbase.
The Husky is smaller, significantly lighter and stronger. Drives just as stable as the Xciting.
And with the Husky you can confidently climb West Alpine gravel passes (with a higher degree of difficulty than tarmaced passes), where you need agility.
(I didn't posses the former Baotian Ecobike 50 scooter and the current Motorhispania RYZ SM 50 at the same time, so I don't compare them here.)
Examples from the luxury class (but not from personal experience):
Suzuki Burgman 650, the epitome of the luxury tourer. 55hp, 270kg, 1595mm.
Yamaha Tmax 560, for years the TMax series has been considered a real sports scooter: 48 HP, 218kg, 1575mm.
Husqvarna 701: 74 hp, 148 kg. 1502mm.
KTM Duke 690: 67 hp, 136 kg. 1502mm.
Again: the motorbikes are smaller, much lighter and even more powerful.
And also they were/are cheaper in all 3 comparisons!!!
Again: don't compare the price tag of a 50cc scooter to the tag of a 1000cc motorcycle.
So if you comare a 50cc (or 125cc or 650cc) scooter with a motorycycle of a similar displacement, the motorcycle will probably be more agile and nimble. And maybe even cheaper - they have less bodywork, so why they should be expensive?
For me, a scooter means a certain amount of
storage capacity and
weather protection.
In order to have a lot of storage space, it should have small wheels.
This saves wheelbase and weight and adds agility, but also adds nervousness too.
Here is an example of scooters with differently sized wheels and the impact on storage capacity.
My standard luggage in the FL125 with 17" wheels. It can't be labelled as a "trunk" or "helmet compartment", only small items fit.
A jet helmet doesn't fit, no chance!
Now the UK110 (many of you know the scoot) with 14".
Easily holds a jet helmet, but a modular helmet can be too big.
You know yourself, what your Grand Dink etc. (with even smaller wheels but more overvall size) can hold.
So the typical scooter has an undeniable disadvantage when it comes to (pleasure) riding itself. But adds "utility".
As a biker, you need both,
and !