Why you might consider a motorcycle instead:
Many scooters appeal to first-time bikers because they’re cute and approachable. However, motorcycles are safer in nearly every regard. Unlike motorcycles, scooters suffer from small and thin tires, poor brakes, slow acceleration, twitchy handling, high-speed instability, and uneven weight distribution, which results in less effective front brakes.
A motorcycle can be purchased for nearly the same cost, offer nearly the same gas mileage and other benefits, yet it offers much greater safety and visibility over most scooters. But many people wouldn’t make the leap to two wheels if it weren’t for scooters, so they're still an important first step for getting a bike.
The most important part of buying a scooter:
If you’re a first-time biker, please consider taking a MSF Rider Safety Course. It’s easy and fun, and chances are there is one near you. Also, please consider proper safety gear as an essential part of riding. Armored jackets and pants, boots, gloves, and a full-face helmet are essential for surviving even a low-speed crash. Any scooter dealer worth his salt will offer good gear to go along with your scooter. And please stay away from open-face helmets—they offer much less protection than full-face helmets. Nobody wants to rub his face on asphalt at 50 MPG.
Scooters in America are bound to enjoy a resurgence and I hope the trend continues. Whether or not they’ll gain the acceptance of Europe is yet to be seen, but one thing is for sure—we’re going to see a lot more buzzing around the streets in months to come.
Ten Things You Should Know About Scooters
By: Sasha Pave (View Profile)
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Comments
Nice balanced writing. Vespa are REALLY fun to ride and take very little skill to operate. Scooters tend to keep to the streets, but that makes them more vulnerable to traffic coming from all directions rather than freeways in which everyone is traveling the same direction. Your driving skills improve greatly as you learn to be watchful, aren't distracted by cells, tv, radios and children in the vehicle, and you learn to pace the lights. MSF Rider Safety Course is essential to safe riding and if you are on a big bike, you skip the figure 8 DMV test that most cruisers can't manage. I dont like the full face helmets and they do not guarantee your head will be safe. I do love the matching helmets that Vespa makes. Sports bikes are similar in cost, but require a lot of skill and intelligence to be safe. And for those who don't ride, bikes cut traffic because most are air cooled and need to keep moving, not to be rude to other drivers.
One more problem with either motorcycle or a scooter: just released road safety statistic tell us that number of deaths on the roads have been climbing since 2006, after a period of long decline. These additional deaths are attributed to increase in motorcycles on the roads. Be careful out there.
I purchased a 250cc Piaggio BV250 last month and commute 30 miles each way to work. 16 inch wheels and 60+ mph make every commute a "fun" one. I get 80 miles to the gallon with a top case and love every cent that I'm saving on gas. My Forrester gets driven once a week now and my monthly gas bill has been reduced by more than half. Gotta love it!!
Scooters may get great gas mileage, but some scooters actually pollute more than a full size SUV. Cheaper and older scooters are still 2-stroke engines which does not completely burn the fuel during combustion. They also don't come with all of the emissions technology that motorcycles or cars have that cleans the exhaust. This isn't the case with more expensive higher end models, but at those prices, I'd rather go with a motorcycle. I own both a scooter (for short trips to the train station) and a motorcycle (for longer trips with no easy access to public transportation).
Why a scooter instead of a small motorcycle? I've never understood why you'd want smaller tires and no stabilizing seat between your knees. Scooters are supposed to be "less intimidating", but sure seem a lot less secure than motorcycles to me. A 250cc motorcycle will get 60+ mpg, and is usable on any road -- including highways if needed.
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