Motor Scooter Buyer's Guide

The motor scooter's popularity as a mode of transport is a global phenomenon. Already motor scooters are a ubiquitous sight on the streets of continental Europe and Asia, and with today's skyrocketing gas prices, more and more North Americans are looking to cash in by investing in a motor scooter in place of a gas-guzzling car or truck (according to the Motorcycle Industry Council, motor scooter sales have more than doubled in the US since 2000.) In this article I will describe which type of scooter and engine size will suit your needs, who is eligible to drive a motor scooter, plus I will be revealing some top motor scooter brands on the market and doing a guide for those looking to purchase a used motor scooter.

One of the most commonly asked questions is whether motor scooters are legal for taking on to the roads. Unfortunately the answer is not simple. Firstly, the question of legality differs from state-to-state in the US. For example, Pennsylvania recently warned motor scooter customers that many scooter models are not equipped for legal use on public roads, and cannot be legally used on sidewalks either, while further stating that those scooter models which can be used, are actually terms as “motorcycles”, and as such require vehicle registration and a motorcyclist's license. Secondly, motor scooters have limited speed capacities (see “Engine Size” below) and as such are unsuitable for roads with a high speed limit, such as highways. It is important to check the laws on motor scooters in your area before making a purchase, or you may be stuck with using your scooter only on private property.

In most states of the USA you will need a special Motorcycle License to drive any type of motor scooter with an engine size higher than 50cc. The good side of this for young people is that in many states you don't need a license at all to legally drive a smaller motor scooter that is 50cc or under (see “Engine Size Vs. Performance” below.) This makes motor scooters the perfect, indeed the only, choice for young people who have not yet reached their state's legal driving age.

Motor scooters are a great way to save money on insurance. According to a recent report from the news station MSNBC, Bret Bolton – a former truck driver from Texas – cut his insurance bill by more than 70% when he changed to using a motor scooter. He said: “my old truck got about 19 miles to the gallon. Insurance ran $100 a month, plus tags. I now pay under $100 a year for insurance, I get over 90 miles per gallon. I sold the truck last year.” Obviously other variables such as age, location and engine size will affect the price of insurance as well, but there is no doubt that insuring a motor scooter is far cheaper than insuring a conventional vehicle.

Apart from choosing whether to opt for a gas or electric motor scooter (see “Gas Versus Electric” below) the first major consideration when purchasing a motor scooter should be its engine size, which is calculated in cubic centimeters (cc). The size of your engine affects the power and speed your motor scooter and it often has legal implications too – for example, with a 49cc motor scooter you might not need a driver's license, but with a 150cc motor scooter it is likely that you will.

Here is a rough speed and performance guide for standard motor scooter engine sizes:

49-50cc

Motor scooters with an engine size of 49cc or 50cc have an average speed around 20-39mph, and in many cases are prohibited by law from traveling on highways and public roads.

150cc

The 100cc scooter can average a speed of around 30-40mph, with a maximum speed usually around 60mph. Note that in some states scooters with an engine size higher than 50cc are often legally classified as motorcycles and require registration and licenses.

250-300cc

Motor scooters with an engine power of 150cc or more are getting into the motorcycle terrain in terms of power and speed. With a 150cc motorcycle you may be able to reach up to 70-100mph, and in some cases even higher.

The other major choice to consider when buying a motor scooter is whether you go for a gas or electric powered vehicle. Here are some of the basic arguments for choosing both sides:

Electric Scooter

• Is usually cheaper to buy than a gas motor scooter
• Designed to go short distance
• Usually has a low top speed of around 20-25mph
• Needs recharged on average every 4-8 hours (or every 30 miles traveled)
• May not be suitable for certain roads and highways
• Certain models might not require a drivers license or registration
• Is environmentally friendly

Gas Scooter

• Is usually more expensive to buy than an electric motor scooter
• Is more powerful than an electric motor scooter
• Usually has a higher top speed than an electric motor scooter
• Needs refueling with gas
• May not be suitable for certain roads and highways
• Certain models might not require a drivers license or registration
• Is environmentally unfriendly

The choice between a gas or electric motor scooter really depends on how you want to use it. Most electric motor scooters need a frequent recharge every 30 miles or so, and few travel faster than 20-25mph. If that is not enough for you then you need to go with the increased power and speed of a gas motor scooter. However if you only want to travel a regular short-distance commute between two points, with an average speed around 25mph, an electric motor scooter is a cheaper, easier choice, that is also friendly towards the environment.

Vespa S, LX and GTS Range

Engine Size: 50cc–300cc

Engine Type: Gas

Price: From around USD$3000 for the S50 or LS50, to USD$6000 for the GTS 300 and 300 Super

Vespa is a vintage Italian brand of motor scooter which has recently been reintroduced in North America with great success. The Vespa S, LX and GTS ranges are hardy, reliable scooters which offer the full range of designs, speeds and engine sizes, from 50cc up to 300cc. The only downside of Vespa scooters is their mid-range cost, which does not suit everyone.

Honda 2009 Ruckus and 2009 Metropolitan

Engine Size: 49cc

Engine Type: Gas

Price: Around USD$1800-$2400

Honda, of course, need no introduction. They are the Japanese manufacturers famed for quality craftsmanship, which thankfully translates into their motor scooter range as well. The 49cc 2009 Ruckus and 2009 Metropolitan models are solid and dependable, with their only main difference being in their appearance. The 2009 Ruckus and 2009 Metropolitan are more affordable than the Vespa range and equally reliable.

Vectrix 2009 VX1

Engine Type: Electric

Price: Around USD$8000-11000

The Vectrix 2009 VX1 was designed with commuting professionals in mind, and is a purely electric vehicle that can reach up to 60mph. Vectrix are a major player in the motor scooter industry, and this ecologically-friendly scooter is strictly on the high-end of the market, with a brand new model costing almost three times as much as the Honda 2009 Ruckus and 2009 Metropolitan.

Other Brands and Manufacturers

Other respected and reliable motor scooter manufacturers include:

• Aprilia
• Bajaj
• Genuine
• Kymco
• Piaggio
• Suzuki
• Yamaha

When purchasing anything you should always be careful and make sure you know what you are getting into, but this is especially true when buying a second hand motor scooter. Here are some tips for purchasing a used motor scooter.

• Where to buy – one of the best places to buy used motor scooters is online at the website eBay, although of course you should always check the seller's reputation and history before you do so. Another good option is to search for motor scooter dealers in your local area and pay them a visit or phone call.
• Helpfulness – it is worthwhile locating a retailer who is happy and willing to answer your questions about purchasing a motor scooter, and more importantly, who actually knows what they are talking about. If they can not answer basic questions about scooter model, engine size and performance, then you should probably avoid them.
• Road worthiness – you should always ask the seller for a guarantee on what condition the bike is in, or else you might end up paying for unsuspected parts and repairs later.
• Vehicle Registration - if any vehicle registration documents are required to use the scooter, you should request to see them before purchasing.
• Shop Around – it would be a nightmare if you bought a second hand scooter and then saw the next day for sale at half the price. For that reason you should always shop around to find the best offers available to you.

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