why a scooter and not a motorcycle?

[rootbrewskies]

what made you choose a scooter over a motorcycle. obviously if you have a 50cc its fairly clear that you arent comparing equal machines, but if you have a 250 or up (maybe even a 150 and up) you are essentially buying a motorcycle with an automatic transmission. is it that you dont like changing gears or is there another reason for buying a scoot for you?

[rootbrewskies]

oh and i just noticed....my karma is down to -8. i think i'm in last place and proud of it.

[newc77]

Well rootbrew, we are in our early 5os and wanted to geth into two wheeling for years. Scooters are lower to the ground, a more comfortable, less rigorous ride, and pretty low maintenance, as long as you do your routine maintenance. For a starter bike the automatic transmission twist and go were a plus too. Also on our models all controls are at the hands.
These would be the plus issues for us. Plus, we really like scooters.
Tom

[savage223]

For me it was a matter of budget, mpg, and the "no clutch" feature.

I've done an extensive amount of road riding on pedal bikes over the years, but because this was to be my first motorized two-wheeler: I didn't want changing gears. I grew up in a family of cyclists. All but one of them rides today. To my great dismay, I've been turned-off of the MC market because of the accidents and close-calls my family had.

I went into it thinking, "I've never changed gears, and riding is a dangerous thing when you think about it. I want to be as safe as I can."

I didn't do a great deal of research, but I've been told numerous times that larger motorcycles don't get near the MPG that a bike like mine, (150 Pegasus) would. If I was going to convince myself that I really wanted the bike to save some money, this was a key issue. (Though at heart I really wanted to ride, and it is addicting enough that I'd be riding right now in 40 degree mornings if it was working.)

Combined with this was the price. On a full-blown 250 motorcycle, (Like the Virago,) the Pegasus price tag came in at nearly a thousand dollars less, and sported a no-spoke wheel; which is a big sticking point for me. This meant that I could spend decent money on all the other gear that I BELIEVE is utterly necessary for riding: a protective jacket, gloves, helmet, pants, boots, and cargo equipment to carry the lunch box and perhaps some clothes.

The Pegasus featured an included cargo box, (it isn't the best quality, but with easy and cheap modification it completely does what I needed it do,) and a large under-seat storage area- it held plenty. On the Virago I'd have to buy another $300-$600 worth of carry gear in terms of saddlebags. (Have to? Probably not. I might have been able to make something work; but I was comparing an off-the-shelf configuration.)

Now, the Pegasus, except for the issues I've had with it, did it's job very well. Up to this point. For various reasons, I'm seriously considering moving up to something more substantial- most importantly something with domestic local support. Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha... shops I can find when I'm out of town, buy a part, and get it fixed back up.

I do want the power in a larger bike now, where I think I was a bit hesitant when I started looking. Of course, that horsepower will keep the bike at a steady speed over the extremely varied terrain around my place. The weight and footprint will be more comfortable and safer at the same speeds- tracking better over metal-grated bridges or resurfaced pavement with grooves that track in your direction of travel.

Other than serviceability and local support being the number one priority when I start shopping again- there is another serious reason for my upgrade.

I've driven across the country. East to West and back, to New Orleans and back, to Canada and Florida. I've commuted through countryside and packed urban areas like Philadelphia. I have NEVER in such a short amount of time ever witnessed people tailgating two-wheelers like I have riding my scooter.

I think the general public is ill-educated when it comes to scooters OF ANY SIZE. (I know I was completely confused about their regulations, their size and speed capabilities, and even who had the right-of-way.)

The result is, if my observations have been correct, that motorists expect scooters to move over and let them by. This is surely the case if you're going under the speed limit. It is also the case if you're simply being cautious around rushing people. It is further the case if you're doing the speed limit and someone thinks you should go faster- you know the areas: those where cops never are, and where a 45mph speed limit IS utterly ridiculous.

To offset my paranoia, I've paid very close attention since I bought mine and noticed this happen on the way to work one morning. I've seen hundreds of motorcycles and dozens of scooters. Not one of the motorcyclists had a tailgater or a follower at an unsafe distance. I've noticed about 5 or so scooters that were being trailed while doing the legal limit- so close that they'd have been crushed if they even slowed down. Let alone a spill or accident.

Then I started thinking about my perceptions prior to buying the bike. I don't think very many people with a steady mentality would follow a Harley Davidson too close. Sport bikes also command respect, because we've all seen them blow by us like we were driving in reverse.

Scooters tend to maintain the speed limit wherever they are- and only severely exceed it in zones like 35 or 45mph. (I'm guilty.) Perhaps this is the difference.

I feel so strongly about this that I've all but made up my mind about it. It wouldn't be this way, except there are about four ways I can get to work, and two of them are unusable because of this tendency for unsafe followers.

The State tells you to "slow down and encourage them to pass" in the MC handbook- but has been spewing public service announcements enlightening us to the fact that they will now ticket people for "road rage," who slow down in an attempt to disturb trailing traffic. The thing about passing is that most places the pass is not legal. Now more than ever, you run the risk that some bimbo (guy or gal, please...) will have their face stuffed into a cell phone right when you move over, and they'll simply run you over as they chat to someone about the dude's breath in the next cubical at work.

I'd rather die for something important.

I enjoy the -expletive- out of the scooter, no doubt about it. They are a little goofy or quirky or eccentric in a way when compared to motorcycles- but I like that uniqueness that I would only find in an expensive custom chopper. (Or a vintage scooter with some wicked retro body.)

So mine is for sale casually, pending the repair that is supposed to fix it... again... this weekend. I'll be looking for off-season deals, and/or shopping for a new non-scooter this spring.

I know this will not apply in a lot of situations, so please only consider carefully whether or not the conditions and expectations meet your own- or that I am or am not completely out of my nugget.

[bunnii]

I looked at both motorcycles and scooters recently. It had suddenly occurred to me a few months ago that I should get a scooter and while searching, I found some used motorcycles. The scooter I wanted was still the cheaper option and I'm not particularly comfortable with 2 wheeled vehicles yet so I didn't need something that could go over 80. I'm also not sure I could handle changing gears when I'd never been on anything 2 wheeled and motorized.

What it came down to was being able to park a scooter in the bike racks (cause it's so small), the look of the scooter, price, and automatic transmission. I got a great deal on mine cause I bought it right at the end of warm weather season and I'm loving it to pieces. I've only had it 2 weeks and have already done a bit of damage to the poor thing, but I'm still very happy with my choice. I think I'm going to be getting the most for my money out of it and for me, having a little less power is probably a good thing as I'm a speed demon in the car. (I have a 150cc scooter, btw).

[kitcarguy]

I have owned sport bikes, mopeds, and scooters. while the sport bikes are nice I just have no need to go 200mph . There is just no place I need to get that fast. So why spend the money?

I have had a recent new interest in scooters for several reasons.

- Automatic
- Great gas mileage
- I only have a 6 mile commute to work each way ( on 35-45 mph roads.)
- I just want one

[sting]

There's probably quite a few people that have both cycles and scooters. The idea of having a toy that you can go somewhere on is nice.

[gusset]

I wanted to save some gas, and two wheel commuting seemed like a good way to get started at it. Between the full front fairing and its accompanying weather protection, storage capacity, and ease of riding, I just figured a scooter would be something I'd ride more often...a 250cc motorcycle would likely get slightly better fuel economy than my 250cc scooter, but a small motorcycle won't carry as much as easily, and it wouldn't offer the protection from wind, rain, and spray. Between those, I'd be more likely to leave it in the garage when the weather takes a turn for the worse or when I need to carry a little more stuff with me to work.

[scootwes]

Ditto:
1) Better weather protection, esp. around the knees/lower legs
2) More storage
3) Safety: it could be argued that scooters offer more protection to the legs should you crash, than a motorcycle. I demolished my first scooter going 45, hit a curb, flew 25 feet through the air with the scooter. I should have died, but I stood up and brushed myself off. A motorcyclist would have had at least one or two broken legs. And EVERY 2-wheel driver will eventually go down. Guaranteed.
4) Cultural: in a "liberal" city like Portland, it is MUCH cooler to ride a scooter than a motorcycle.
5) Sex Appeal: A must for young single guys! The girls go crazy for them . . . when I've got my full helmet on and they can't see the old fart that I am, they shout out for rides! (I think the retro styles get more shout-outs than modern styles)

[newc77]

Ok price was a deal for me too. Even in scoots. We were lloking at entry level and for pleasure only. we lloked hard at Honda and Yamaha and liked them a lot but two Znen Lances (a 150 and a 250) cost us about half of a Yamaha 250 scooter. OK they were cheap but the Znen line are pretty good cheap scoots and for what we need right now the price was right.
Tom

[scooterollie]

Been the cycle route years ago. Like them but like the style and features of scoots - CVT, low center of gravity, ease of approach, mpg, fun factor - better, now. Can get all the power and speed I need in a scoot. Besides, cycles are everywhere around here, scoots are more unique and draw more attention.

[WarrenS]

I have owned a lot of cycles and scooters. Traded the last motorcycle, a Honda Pacific Coast, on the Burgman. The reasons are I am 69 years old and the Burgman was easier to push in and out of the garage. The fact that I got more use out of my scooters because I didn't have to fool around with a manual choke and clutch.

[powerride]

Whats a motor cycle..?

[guyruss]

Good question. I used to hang out with MODS in the middle eighties, and they use to ride on vespas and older retro scoots, and I thought it was really cool. I have always rode motorcycles and still like them but scoots are more practical, and plus there is such a nice variety of styles. And everybody rides bikes and I like to show people that scoots are cool also.

Scoota-Rollin-Friend,
Russ

[mgreenfield]

Finally got tired of downshifting at every stopsign after riding cycles for almost 40yrs. Got rid of a 650cc. Got a Burger400, and havent ever looked back. I'll never again be on a cycle.

Also have a Roketa 150, and think the 150 class is the "perfect" scooter size for most fun. Just avoid roads posted above 35-40mph.

[Dennis D]

savage223 said:

Not one of the motorcyclists had a tailgater or a follower at an unsafe distance. I've noticed about 5 or so scooters that were being trailed while doing the legal limit- so close that they'd have been crushed if they even slowed down. Let alone a spill or accident.

Scooters tend to maintain the speed limit wherever they are- and only severely exceed it in zones like 35 or 45mph. (I'm guilty.) Perhaps this is the difference.

The State tells you to "slow down and encourage them to pass"; in the MC handbook- but has been spewing public service announcements enlightening us to the fact that they will now ticket people for road rage, who slow down in an attempt to disturb trailing traffic.

I ride a scooter because even at my age it is too compelling to go faster than I should if I can grab a gear and keep it in the powerband.

I get tailgated equally as much whether I drive my 92 New Yorker, my wife's 96 Escort, or the Helix. Especially when riding, if tailgated, I slow down til the moron behind me has to be getting somewhat perturbed. Then when I know I have their undivided attention, I turn around and give them a look, and with my left hand down, palm backward, I push my hand back about three or four times as a signal to back off. Usually they then begin to back off, and I speed up to normal speed of traffic or a bit more for a little while. They usually at that point stay back some 2 or 3 car lengths... not much for the 47-53 mph road speeds this usually occurs in, but better, they're obviously a moron so it probably seems like a safe distance to them. At that point we usually get along OK, and I keep a good distance away from traffic in front of me, since I have to think for both of us.
The total idiots who absolutely won't back off no matter what... I just turn off whether it's into a parking lot of whatever. Most of the time, though, I can wave them back some and they actually get somewhat of an idea that maybe a half carlength is a bit too close for comfort.

Very gusty days with a good crosswind make it easy to get people to back off. I'm already leaned into the wind, but the dizbrain behind me doesn't notice because they barely know which way is up... so, instead of holding my line the best I can, I just let the gusts push me around, sometimes I even just go with the new direction for a couple extra feet, then kind of "wobble around" while getting back to my original line. A couple times of doing that, and they back way off!

[Enviromoto]

I used to own a 2002 HD wideglide and I put some serious miles on the thing. Heavy as hell and just as hot to ride, just imagine stuck in highway traffic when its 90+ degrees out. My scooter is quiet, slow, clean, simple. I still have a softspot for sportbikes but thats another story.

["Big Guy"]

I own both, and my scooter has a totally different ride and handling than the fat-boy. I love the different feeling, from the handling to avoding the bugs and breeze, to the storage and MPG, and at $13,000.00 less, my scoot gets more looks and comments...

[swampsniper]

I rode motorcycles, off and on, for 50 years. Started having health problems and falling apart. I don't want to ride anything my legs can't hold up at a red light. I can still get on the biggest bike Harley can make, and ride it, but, if it ever started to fall no way could I stop it. This is just a simple fact, it happens, sooner or later, to most of us. No point in crying about it, just got to keep rolling.

[squire]

Still haven't bought a scooter but it's about the easy on and off, twist and go, and light weight. My last bike was a Goldwing that I had ten years and over 80,000 miles. Maybe it is a little about bringing by my youth when an Allstate Moped was the only "car" my mom and I owned.

Squire,
1948model.blogspot.com/

[81]

Swampsniper, you and I are in the same "old goats" boat here. My Suzuki 805 cc ( C50) cruiser just got too heavy for me when I stopped and I couldn't always hold it up. After this problem had done too much damage to my ankles/footbones, I went to a P250 because I just couldn't imagine not riding. I enjoy the P250 much more than I ever did the C50 for the hilly, twisty backwoods road riding I do plus the P250 will cruise at 65 mph just as well as the C50 on the few times I do this kind of riding.

Frank

[lewtwo]

Well ... when I started looking I was look for a small motorcycle (around 250 to 500 cc). A couple of things I did not want: a dirt bike, a dirt bike with lights (aka dual sport), a crotch rocket or anything else that I have to curl up in the fetal position to ride. I also wanted the capability to bring home the groceries. All of the above left very few choices ... so I started looking at scooters. Now I have three plus a Honda 450 Rebel.

[bobpt]

Scooter...less expensive, twist and go automatic, more onboard storage, smaller and lighter and highly maneuverable, easy to maintain, great gas milage. Gets me where I want to go at pennies/mile.

[Deleted]

• Storage
  
• Gas mileage
  
• Rush hour traffic
  

[Andi]

I've had many different motorcycles and I've always been especially fond of Dirtbikes and Dual Sport Bikes, as recreational fun.

I've looked at Scooters many times, but didn't get into it until my wife decided to get her bike license, it was obvious right away she'd start on something simple and easy with an automatic transmission, so we purchased a 150cc scooter for her. I've always thought scooters to be very functional and practical, by design rather then function though. I have an automatic scooter, because that's what was available in my budget. I don't mind the automatic, but I would also have looked at gears if available. What I most like about scooters compared to motorcycles is:

a) Protection from rain
b) Carrying and storage capacity
c) Simplicity and maneuverability

I can't say fuel economy, traffic congestion, maintenance ease or purchase price because any two wheeler in the same size range would be similar in price, provide similar performance and be similar in maintenance.

Andi

[T W I S T E R]

Truth is:

The average man/woman on the street hates motor cycles. They are loud, people look like misfits socially and most people ride them like they have no brain.

scooters are cute, get positive attention and are easy to ride as well as have more conveniences and are less expensive and get better gas mileage. Most people on scooters are more social and look like the man/woman on the street. why would anyone consider a motor cycle ?

you can get a 650 cc scooter that will go where any Harley / Gold Wing will go.

[scooterlizard]

Rode motorcycles for years, got back on two wheels do to the gas prices. At first I didn't even consider a scoot. I was motorcycle all the way but nobody had anything in the 400-450cc range so I started to look at scoots and I came up with the Yamaha Majesty as my choice. Great gas milage, weather and wind protection, lots of storage, not top heavy very easy to handle, price was not an issue, plenty of power for long distance and interstate travel, easy to maintain, no chain and sprocket to worry with or getting chain lube all over everything. being an automatic is nice feature. I drive a lot of standard vehicles so shifting gears was never a problem. Since having owned various bikes(dirt and street) I find the scooter to be more fun to ride.

[eggman]

Howdy,

I bought my Daelim S2-125 (my first motorbike, btw.) scooter because of 3 factors:

1. Auto transmission ( No clutch!)
2. Storage ( Onboard hauling capacity, too.)
3. Fairing protection

I admit that 6 weeks later I wish I had gone for the 250cc version, but paying $2700 for reliable transport that gets 75 mpg (and 60 mph) is something I can live with. Daelim makes a great scooter; too bad my dealer shut down just weeks after I bought it! All in all, my Daelim makes for a very practical and fun way to deny a little money to hostile foreigh regimes, greedy oil companies and save a little money by:

1. keeping miles off my gas-hungry truck (thereby prolonging it's life)
2. Saving at least $3/day I take it to work

Eggman

[loudest143]

I bought my scooter for the same reasons as most..... Gas mileage, (my truck does 14 MPG) Ease of use(I'm over standard trannys in cages, rush hour stinks!) added storage capabilites ("Honey, would you be a dear and run and get me..... ") I like the small lightweight, quickness in and out of traffic idea, and of course, perhaps the most important reason...

NOBODY ELSE IN MY HOUSEHOLD CAN RIDE IT!!

IT'S ALL MINE, MINE I TELL YOU!!!!

DON'T EVEN LOOK AT IT!!

loudest143
*so many issues I could fill a magazine rack

[mgreenfield]

Rode cycles for years. Went to a Burgman400 for x3 reasons: 1/ No more downshifting at every stop. It was just getting to be annoying. 2/ Readily available & useable luggage space. 3/ Windshield, fairings, etc already a part of the basic design and package. No need for add-ons. Nothing looks like an add-on.