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Which Gas-Sipping Scooter is Right for You?
In the 2009 Farmers’ Almanac, freelancer Jim Kneiszel wrote a story, "Creating a Buzz with Scooters." The story reveals how cost-effective and gas-friendly scooters can be. Be sure to read the article in full on page 176, and check out the many different types of scooters available here.
Three classes of scooters:
Basic urban transport (50 cc or less): The smallest class of scooters, often incorrectly called mopeds, carry one rider legally and, in many states, don’t require the rider to have a motorcycle license. They reach top speeds of 30–40 mph, perfect for navigating city streets, but they are prohibited from going on major highways. 80–100 mpg.
All-around city/suburban (125–200 cc): Riders are required to have motorcycle licenses with the versatile mid-range scooters that allow a driver and passenger. With top speeds of 55–65 mph, these scooters have the power to keep up with traffic on county and state highways and are comfortable on rides of as long as about 100 miles. 60–80 mpg.
Maxi scooter (250 cc and up): These scooters are heavier, larger, and have more comfortable seats to carry driver and passenger on cross-country trips. They are often liquid cooled, operate quietly, and easily maintain freeway speeds. 50–70 mpg.
Tips and terms:
Two- or four-stroke: Two-stroke engines are sturdy, efficient power plants, which run on a mixture of gas and oil. They could not be imported to the United States for a time because of strict emissions standards, but are coming back with environmentally friendly designs. Reliable gas-only four-stroke engines have become more popular.
Twist & go: Most modern scooters utilize an automatic belt-drive transmission called a CVT, or continuously variable transmission. A CVT requires no shifting, no clutch, little maintenance, and provides optimal gas mileage. Twist & go refers to the ease of driving—twist the handgrip throttle and go—automatic transmission scooters.
Choose the right wheel size: Many scooters have small wheels, (10- to 12-inch rim) and fat tires that are good at gripping pavement on city streets and at low speeds. Other scooters use larger size wheels (16- and 17-inch), similar to standard motorcycles, which are better at absorbing bumps from potholes and offer more stability at highway speeds.
Mileage savings calculator: With rising gas prices, riders justify purchasing a scooter by calculating their savings over driving a car on a regular commute. To do the math for yourself, turn to the Scooter vs. Car Fuel Savings Calculator at www.justgottascoot.com.
Get training: Though scooters don’t always require a motorcycle driver’s license, taking a Motorcycle Safety Foundation, or MSF, beginning motorcycle class could save your life or help prevent a painful injury. The 16-hour course teaches valuable defensive driving skills and helps new riders determine what type of cycle or scooter is the best fit.
Safety gear: Forget the notion of wearing a bikini and flip-flops when you hop on your scooter. Long pants, sturdy ankle-high boots, a leather or specially padded motorcycle jacket, eye protection, and a helmet are recommended even for casual around-town riding. Helmets come in three basic types: a half-helmet covers the top portion of the head; a ¾ helmet covers the head and sides of the face; a full-face helmet also protects the chin area.
Be an informed buyer: Shop at local motorcycle or scooter dealers that carry established name brands with one- or two-year parts and service warranties and have qualified mechanics. Test drive as many scooters as possible to identify the one that’s most comfortable with handling characteristics that match your driving skills.
Vintage scooters: With their distinctive look, Old-school Vespas and other vintage scooters offer a definite “cool factor,’’ but they suffer from a few performance shortcomings. Their drum brakes are less reliable than the disc brakes found on new scooters, and they generate less speed for the horsepower compared to new scooters. If you’re going vintage, be sure you’re prepared to maintain the scooter or find a mechanic who can help you.
To learn more about scooters and how they may offer you a great gas-saving alternative commute, get a copy of the 2009 Farmers' Almanac today.
