Do Scooters Make Sense?

[passport]

I just paid $3.19/gallon (mid-grade). The expectations are that gas will hit ~$3.50 in the spring and maybe $4.00 next summer when the driving season starts. Here's my situation. I have two cars which both get 30mpg. I drive 40 miles/day and the gas is starting to bite. I might buy a 65mpg scooter when the winter is over. Here in the south east I could ride it maybe 10 months/year.

This will save me lots of $$ and besides scooters are fun.

Will this country ever adopt low powered, two wheel transportaion the way many eurpoean and asian nations have or are we too addicted to huge cars to do this? :???:

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: passport
Will this country ever adopt low powered, two wheel transportaion the way many eurpoean and asian nations have or are we too addicted to huge cars to do this? :???:


Their cars may get twice the mpg, but their gas costs double or more. You can save gas money only by using a vehicle that consumes less gas compared to other vehicles in your own market. Lower all-over fuel consumption will increase the price of fuel.

There is one place in the Bay Area where one gallon of regular costs now $4.15.

 

[dwendt44]

A mid size motorcycle might do a better job for you, Passport.
Safer too!
A larger scooter, one that will get out of it's own way, costs almost as much as a cycle and is less stable.
More protection in so-so weather though.
They still look dorky.
My 2¢

 

[moribundman]

I will get me a 25 cc mofa as soon as most people ride motorcycles and scooters. Then I'll be back to zipping around on what I rode at age 15.

 

[NJC]

All depends on how heavy traffic is. I cross a major 6 lane bridge each day and riding a motorcycle would be - IMO - too big of a risk.

 

[moribundman]

Until the majority of vehicles on the road are motorcycles, I wouldn't use a motorcycle as my regular means of transportation.

 

[Al]

I have a Kawasaki 250 EX (Ninja). Gets 75 mpg and can definitely get out of its own way. Having said that. 10 miles one way is a max ride to work. (for me). It gets old fast.

 

[Pablo]

I'm going here: http://www.motoredbikes.com/index.php

 

[oilyriser]

Price of gas in China is similar to in the US, though you have to add your own detergents, which adds 30 cents a gallon. Price in Thailand is also smilar to that in the usa. I'm not sure about the detergent content. Both places, people drive small efficient cars.

A saturn sl1 will get 45 mpg at 70 mph, protect you in a crash, and you can carpool if there's someone who wants to join in the commute. that person could pay all the gas cost, if you provide the car and driving,

 

[tom slick]

your scooter would have to be at least 250cc to ride on the highway/freeway. keep that in mind when you are looking at them. I know a decent vespa gets into the $6000 range. the cheap chinese made scooters are, as you can guess, junk.

 

[Matt_S]

Scooters are hawt!

I'd second, third and fourth the suggestion to get a small motorcycle instead. Much more practical and IMMENSELY better for your image.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: Al
I have a Kawasaki 250 EX (Ninja). Gets 75 mpg and can definitely get out of its own way. Having said that. 10 miles one way is a max ride to work. (for me). It gets old fast.


My daughter has one of these. I think that it peaks out well over 100mph without too much effort. the 12k+ red line probably has something to do with it.

If I had a longer ride..I'd have the un-Ninja version where you sit a little more upright. You may look like a sissy on it ..but it looks like it would be far more comfortable a riding position.

 

[Shannow]

Down here you can get three wheeled scooters (saw my first one today, two front wheels.

Dunno what advantages in confers, or maybe allows you to use a car licence (trikes let you use a car licence).

There's a guy in town with a scooter, who I've seen taking brooms home from the store...held across the handles.

A mate had a Kawasaki 1000, and T-Boned a lady who drove out in front of him. Dropped back to a scooter, feeling it was safer in that sort of event.

 

[Big O Dave]

My wife has had a Yamaha Vino 125 scooter for a little over a year, now, and it has 220 miles on it. The problem is that we live on a rural road with a 55 mph speed limit, and the Vino will only go 50 mph (unless you're going down hill, of course). Once in town, where the speed limit is 45 mph, the Vino doesn't have good enough acceleration to keep up with the flow of traffic.

It does get about 75 mpg, but considering how scary it is to ride it, it's not worth the stress.

The most significant problem, though, is the fact that my helmet has "Harley-Davidson" emblazoned on it, so I obviously can't put miles on it.

Basically, it just gets ridden around our property, and that's about it.

It was nice of my Dad to give it to us...

 

[Dad2leia]

Big O Dave, how bad are they really to control? Believe it or not, even I have kicked around the fact of maybe investing in one, if to just go to and from the convenience store and pharmacy (things that are close, and that you really don't feel like starting the car to go do).

 

[Big O Dave]

Dad, the problem is a combination of slow acceleration, low top speed and wobbly cornering with ultra-quick steering response. If I was going to get a two-wheeler with the intent of doing errands, I'd get a larger scooter than 125cc, at least around here.

I'm not sure if the larger scooters are more stable at speed or not, but I do know that they have adequate acceleration, since they seem to have no trouble keeping up with the flow of traffic.

The chief advantage of a scooter (over a motorcycle) as an errand runner is the large "trunk" under the seat where you can put a lot of stuff.

 

[Dad2leia]

Meaning it would help if I "pedaled" faster eh? So much for cheap honest transportation.

I've never been on one, but my daughter is in love with motorcycles, and I figured this might be a "safer" way (meaning lower speed capability) to introduce her to motorized two-wheeled vehicles.

I'll definitely do some more research though, thanks Big O Dave.

 

[Big O Dave]

One thing to keep in mind is that an integral part of safety on a motorized two-wheeler is its ability to maneuver, stop and accelerate. Our scooter does okay on the first two (it has a disc front brake) but is not up-to-snuff on the last one.

When you're riding in traffic it is critical to avoid remaining in a static position relative to cars/trucks around you, and you HAVE to have the ability to accelerate quickly enough to adjust to changing conditions.

Slow two-wheelers are not safe two-wheelers, at least when there are other vehicles around.

 

[Quattro Pete]

I too considered a scooter as a means to get to work, but my commute is now 14 miles one way. Then I found out that to insure one of those would cost me an additional $700 a year. And then I thought of all the crazy drivers we have down here in Miami area, and I think I'd rather be in a car if someone ever decided to run me over.

 

[road_rascal]

I don't get the comments on scooters being wobbly, unstable or slow. I've ridden a Burgman 650, 400, and an Aprilia Atlantic 500 and they all will go over 80mph and handle very well- much better than some of the newer bikes on the market. As for safety, I hear this all the time. You really have to know what you're doing when riding a scooter or MC. You have to have a sixth sense about other motorists and what crazy stuff they're going to pull. It's not for everyone, and I suggest proper training and riding gear. Although I ride to work as much as I can, I can't ride 365 days here in the snowbelt- so saving money on gas is somewhat of a wash. I do have fun though when riding.