How to Buy a Motor Scooter
Motor scooter sales have gone through the roof as consumers fight higher fuel expenses since in the last five years gas prices have just about doubled and many drivers feel that they have no alternative but to pay the price so that they can make it to work. Astute drivers have explored methods of reducing their fuel costs and the result has been the surge in motor scooter sales.
photo credit: SoulRider.222
As manufacturers have understood what the consumer wants, the underpowered small scooters which were fun as toys but had little other value have been replaced with scooters which may be driven almost everywhere you can drive a car. Those small 50cc scotters may still be found and are selling well, but the more recent, more powerful scooters are now the favored ones. Having engines in excess of 100cc’s and features like windshields, radios, and bigger tires, this new breed of motor scooters is providing consumers with new choices in individual transportation.
Probably the most significant factor to consider in making a decision on a motor scooter is the size of the engine, as this feature will determine where you will be riding. Should you purchase a small scooter with an engine less than 100cc’s, you will need to keep off highways and in fact, may be prohibited from riding on the highway at all in some areas. Should you intend to ride your new scooter on major highways, you will need a model with an engine greater than 100cc’s, and very probably one as large as your pocketbook will permit. Generally, the larger the size of the engine, the faster the scooter will go, so if you are concerned about having enough power, you need to opt for the larger engine sizes.
The features that you want will depend on your plans for your scooter, so if your intentions are to drive it a lot, you should select a model which has a good amount of storage, an improved suspension system, bigger tires, a radio, and a windshield. Further, pay attention to the seat, ensuring that it is adequate for your body type and that it gives you sufficient support for a long excursion.
Naturally, cost is typically one of the most significant concerns in your choice of motor scooters. If all that you need is a cheap motor scooter which will work in getting you from point A to Point B, an off brand model will probably be good enough. But if you can spend a bit more, choose a more popular model such as a Vespa, Honda, or Yamaha. Finally, if you are seeking “the mother of all scooters,” you can quite easily drop over $5,000 and purchase a Suzuki Burgman, which is approximately the size of a normal motorcycle but with the singularity of actually being a motor scooter.
The final issue to consider is the anticipated time frame during which you plan on keeping your motor scooter, so if you want to maintain it for a number of years and want one that will last, with the capacity of driving thousands of miles, make certain to choose one with a larger engine size. The larger engines are better designed for high mileage, while a small, inexpensive motor scooter is better for occasional driving or for a specific length of time. Many scooters are bought by students as a trustworthy and inexpensive vehicle to use during the summer break, for example, and in this instance, a small, 50cc model would do just fine. In addition, the brand of a motor scooter is a factor in determining its quality. If you pay attention, you will notice that there are many scooters still on the road which were manufactured in the 1970’s and 1980’s and they are still running well, so, as in everything else, if you will carefully maintain it, it will endure.