Street legal scooters - any opinions?

[Eileen]

I live about 5 miles from work, and don't have to go on any major roads. I've been thinking of getting a scooter to go to & from work.

Anybody here have a scooter and have opinions?
I found this link and it seems to be what I am looking for:
http://www.rightwayatv.com/category.cfm?category=Scooters&gclid=CPquxJexjpQCFQIqHgod2DyqhA

Do you need a special license to take it on road?

[Krystal]

My co-worker just started looking into this as well!

I don't know about elsewhere, but here in WI a scooter goes no faster than 35mph top speed.  Anything else and you need a motorcycle license

[BlueMoon]

The laws vary by state, but it looks like scooters are a no-no in New York. From the NYS DMV...

Motorized Scooters, Mini-Bikes, Dirt Bikes, Go-Karts, Motor Assisted Bicycles

You cannot register any of the motorized devices from the list below in NYS. You cannot operate these devices on sidewalks, public streets or highways in NYS. These devices are motor vehicles, but they do not have the correct equipment or design for operation on roadways.

    * Motorized Scooter - a device with a motor attached and a handlebar for a standing rider.  An example of a motorized scooter is the device called the Go-pedŽ.
    * Mini-bike - a small, motorized device with two wheels and created for off-road use. A mini-bike does not qualify as a moped, a motorcycle or an ATV.
    * Dirt Bike - a motorized device like a motorcycle, but created for and used for off-road use. Some "dirt bikes" qualify as an ATV. These vehicles can register and operate off-road as an ATV.
    * Go-Kart - a small, motorized device with four wheels, created for off-road use. You cannot register a go-kart as a motor vehicle or ATV because a go-kart does not have the same equipment.
    * Motor-assisted Bicycle - a bicycle to which a small motor is attached. A motor-assisted bicycle does not qualify for a registration as a motorcycle, moped or ATV and does not have the same equipment.

These devices are not allowed on any street, highway, parking lot, sidewalk or other area that allows public motor vehicle traffic. You are subject to arrest if you operate one of these motorized vehicles and do not have a registration, driver license, inspection, insurance or correct equipment. The DMV can not provide any information about operation of these devices on private property. Contact the local authorities and property owners.

How about a bicycle? 

[E!!]

As it currently stands, you do not need a motorcycle licences to drive a scooter. I think this is a hold over for when scooters really didn't go much faster than 35mph and were usually only 50 to 100cc (Most motorcycles start around 250cc).

There are scooters on the market that are very powerful and can hit speeds of 80mph.

On the sight bluemoom linked, they refer to this type of scooter as a Moped. Most places that i am aware of do allow motor scooters and mopeds on the road ways, but not interstates. I don't know about helmet laws and the such. Personally if I didn't have to take the highway to work, I would get a scooter in a heart beat.

And just to throw in my 2 cents... if you are looking to get anything more powerful than a 50cc scooter, or plan to ride it ALOT, I think it would be a very wise idea to take a motorcycle safety course. The stuff they teach you about awareness, how to try to fall in a wreck, breaking etc is just as applicable to scooters as motorcycles, especially if you get anything that goes fast!

[Pumpkinseed]

I have an El Bello
It goes 40mph MAX. but it gets me around town.
I love it. I chose the El Bello since I have short legs. If you are short you dont want to get the super wide ones because your feet wont touch the ground.. but that might just be my problem. PLUS. i love teh way mine looks. It gets.. 80 something Mpg or more. its great. and has teh flake paint.. and the old school cruiser look. I Love it haha.

We needed a motorcycle..but that was just for our base tags and privelidges. I spelled that wrong. Anyways. Depends on teh style you like really There are some that get 100 mpg... you just have to find the right one. theres one at teh dealership down the street.

[kmw]

Here in Michigan mopeds/scooters (seated riding, not stand up) are permitted on the shoulders only, and NOT on freeways.  Riders don't need a special license, and need only wear a bicycle helmet, not a motorcycle helmet.  However, there is now a big gray area on "What is a scooter?"  It used to be that scooters never went much faster than 25 or 30 mph, but now there are "scooters" out there that have powerful enough engines that travel just as fast as cars.  People still call them scooters so they don't need to get their cycle license. 

I agree with E - if you get a more powerful model, take a cycle safety course.  And whether on a scooter or bicycle, the safest way to drive is to pretend everybody else is trying to kill you, and act accordingly.    

[forkyfork]

You should be able to get some info by contacting a local motorcycle dealership. They are usually involved in setting up the plates and title so would be familiar with the cutoff cc if there is one. The best thing to do is call the MV place directly.

In Utah even a moped has to be plated and registered. You also are required to take the same MC course as the bigger bikes but then your license is tagged under 50cc.

In Cleveland a non plated motorized bike is not allowed on the roads you have to have a license also. The little bike scooters (refered to by NY) are not allowed on sidewalks and you have to have a MC license to operate them.

In NC under 50cc is allowed with no MC license I keep forgetting to see if they have plates, I doubt it.

As far as whether that scooter is good. A fair number of the non Japan imports are crap. The one that you linked to has a 1yr warranty but its parts only and you have to put the thing together when you get it. Not mechanically inclined, a motorcycle mech is $60hr usually and they often despise these things so it may take longer for them to put it together.

My advise. Get a genuine scooter HERE and  HERE is an interesting website. Genuine Scooters are well known for their quality.
If your going to get a scooter go to a scooter shop not a MC shop. If they dont have scooter shops try to find a MC place that also sells scooters that are not from the top MC manufactures. If they carry them then they usually arent crap because they dont want to be tied to them for the length of the warranty.

You will also want to make sure you have good gear helmet, gloves, mesh jacket with armor and always wear sturdy shoes and levis or mesh MC pants over your shorts.  You may be able to drive just fine but people are too busy on cell phones and putting on their makeup to notice you in the road. 

Its not a fashion statement but they wont be scrubbing rocks out of your palms, elbow, knees and thigh or skin grafting your ankles because you scraped it all off when you went asphalt surfing. I know riders that went down because they hit gravel in a turn going a normal speed.

50cc will only get you about 35mph take your drive home from work at 35 and see how comfortable you feel about it.

Since you arent replacing a car you dont have to ride in the rain but its good to have some rain gear anyways. Walmart sporting goods or any sporting goods store with hiking stuff. You want the rubber raingear not the nice nylon stuff the nylon sometimes doesnt hold up to the speed and water pushes through it.

Good luck. Dont get caught up in the excitement. Take your time and look around so you can make a good decision for yourself. 

[Pumpkinseed]

Here in Michigan mopeds/scooters (seated riding, not stand up) are permitted on the shoulders only, and NOT on freeways.  Riders don't need a special license, and need only wear a bicycle helmet, not a motorcycle helmet.  However, there is now a big gray area on "What is a scooter?"  It used to be that scooters never went much faster than 25 or 30 mph, but now there are "scooters" out there that have powerful enough engines that travel just as fast as cars.  People still call them scooters so they don't need to get their cycle license. 

I agree with E - if you get a more powerful model, take a cycle safety course.  And whether on a scooter or bicycle, the safest way to drive is to pretend everybody else is trying to kill you, and act accordingly.    

I think its funny because when me and my husband take the "small" roads to Down town people are always like.. scare of us.
I never have to worry about passing people.. theyre always like 4 lengths behind me lol  etc

[Eileen]

How about a bicycle? 

Bluemoon...how long do you know me. Do you really think I'll be riding a bicycle to work? Unless it has one of those motors attached to it...

The speed limit on the side roads here is 35MPH anyway, so I wouldn't be going over that (and the police enforce it, so even in a car, we don't go over 38).

Good points about the safety course; I actually have ridden my share of mopeds growing up, and wiped out a few times - on gravel, so I know what that is like.

I am a lightweight, meaning, I don't intend to ride it all the time. In bad weather, or in the cold, I would take the car. I just think it would be good for, not only going to work, but running up to the store.

A few people in my town have Vespas, so they must be legal in some sense. Checking with a local motorcycle store is a good idea. Thanks!

[forkyfork]

I guess its not the 35mph we have here. 35=44 45=54. Most of the roads are 45 and the school zones are 35mph 

Yellow means go faster and the first couple of seconds of red are pink.  But what should I  expect its Nascar wannabe country 

 

[blowingkisses]

    * Motorized Scooter - a device with a motor attached and a handlebar for a standing rider.  An example of a motorized scooter is the device called the Go-pedŽ.
    * Motor-assisted Bicycle - a bicycle to which a small motor is attached. A motor-assisted bicycle does not qualify for a registration as a motorcycle, moped or ATV and does not have the same equipment.

That's not a scooter as in a 50-100cc scooter; that's like a scooter for young children with a random motor attached to the back (trust me, they're crazy).  Also that's not a moped but an actual bicycle with a motor attached.  Real Mopeds and 49-100cc scooters (like Vespas) are both legal in New York.

I have mopeds and love them but they break all the time.  Scooters in NY I believe require a motorcycle license; mopeds under 20mph (Class C) do not.  I think NY just goes on a speed system; they don't distinguish between scooters and mopeds.  Anything over 30mph requires a motorcycle license, and anything over 20mph needs insurance.

Also, don't get a random foreign scooter, invest in a good one, like Vespa or Piaggio!

[pinkie1205]

I would say find one you like (like on that website) and find some forums and just read.  You should really do your research as far as the scooter or moped.  I know with mopeds there are some things that they tell you you should take off, one being the oil injection.  My boyfriends started leaking oil around 100 miles....he's looking into either trading in the moped for a scooter or just taking off the oil injection. 

I'm sure mopeds and scooters are legal in NY you'll just have to see what kind of laws as far as licenses and tags go.  In MD you have to have a drivers license or if you're under 16 you have to go to the MVA and get a special license just for the bike.  Here there aren't helmet laws for mopeds but like forkyfork said you should wear one anyway as well as some other kind of protective gear. 

If you maintain your scooter or moped it will last a REALLY long time.  They're kind of like motorcycles, you have to do stuff before you put them away for the winter, then do other stuff when you get them out etc.  I would just say read around and ask around dealerships (a lot of motorcycle dealerships sell scooters too, because really a lot of companies that make scooters make motorcycles). 

My boyfriend rides around a Tomos Arrow (moped) and he gets 100 miles to the fill up.  It's only a gallon size gas tank.

[PirateCaptainLoo]

I've been looking into getting a scooter, too, and the one I found with the best reviews so far is the Buddy by Genuine Scooter Co.

A moped/scooter is legally one that has only a 50cc engine, which means it's top speed is about 40mph, at least in WI. I'm partial to 100cc or 150cc scooters, which require a motorcycle license to be street legal. Personally for five miles, though, I'd look into getting a nice, comfortable bicycle with the gas prices. Even with a scooter it's almost a waste for such a short distance, but then again it depends on what kind of work you do, because if it's super-labor then after work no one would want to bike five miles. There are a few scooter forums around, just go to some engine and search "scooter forum", some should pop up. Good luck finding a scooter that works for you!

[Addicted2Rats]

With the price of gas going up and up, more and more people are looking into buying scooters.  From what I've heard, they can be VERY difficult to get hold of one.  I've seen people riding them around my town and it makes me nervous to see them on such a little "bike" in traffic.  I ride a motorcycle and have been since 1996.  I took the safety course to get my license, and with the bigger size of the motorcycle and more power, I still feel nervous around cars.  There are way too many idiots talking on cell phones and not paying attention, who have cut off people on motorcycles and caused accidents.  So I guess I'd just caution you about that.  Do your research and don't jump into anything too quickly.

Deb

[Zombie]

I live in a college town

they are everywhere in the city

I think they are cool

[forkyfork]

I live in a college town

they are everywhere in the city

I think they are cool

We have scooters everywhere here with scraggley old men astride them.

We call them liquorcicles