I think vespas are cute, but I’m not sure what advantages such a low powered vehicle would have over a real motorcycle. I think the smaller wheels are dangerous too, not to mention the lack of acceleration while in traffic. I have a Kawasaki Ninja that gets 70 mpg. It’s zippy and cute, too. I notice people on scooters and mopeds often don’t wear safety gear and I always wondered why that was. If you’re not worried about how slow they are and mainly want to save gas mileage, I’d recommend riding a bicycle instead.
Good point…The truth is, I definately would ride my bicycle if I didn’t live in a town that was one huge hill…I could make it home from my work easily on a bicycle, but I would have a helluva time to make it up a 2-3 mile hill that I have to downshift in my gf’s car to make it up part of…it’s mostly the fact that I also don’t want to show up at work all covered in grease and sweaty (has happened on the way to school on my bike a good bit)
Also, here in Ohio, I am pretty sure you do not have to have a motorcycle endorsement to ride a scooter moped, so I wouldn’t have to pay to get the added to my license or anything…also, I’m a 20 year old male with a decently bad driving record (one stop sign ticket, 2 speeding) so I’m rather high risk when on a motorcycle that could possibly be incredibly fast (my bro in law had one, and I rode it, it was a honda, and I broke 100 like it was nothing and got scared and slowed down) I’m sure the insurance on something like that, let alone my life insurance, would be dramatically different than if I was riding a small scooter that tops out at 45 or 50…
I don’t even know if my life insurance would care to know if I had a moped type bike but they would definately notice a motorcycle, especially a crotch rocket…
I’m going to a car dealership who also carries motorcycles and scooters tomorrow…he’s an old friend, so yeah, it’s easter, but he is gonna let me test-drive a few…so, it works for me…I’ll keep ya posted on how it goes…
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- In most US states, mopeds are limited to around 2 Hp (1450 watts if electric, something like that) and that means about a 35 MPH top speed. They also need bicycle-style pedals capable of propelling the vehicle to qualify. Usually a regular car’s drivers license covers operating a moped. Mopeds are not allowed in insterstate highways at all, due to the fact that they cannot hold the minimum speeds (usually 45MPH).
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Most of the cheaper scooters sold now (after the “pocket bike” craze) simply aren’t really built for extended use. If you are considering a new moped, I would suggest you look at used Japanese motorcycles instead. The licensing is only a one-time hassle and the insurance cost of a smaller plain motorcycle is not that great. The new-manufacture mopeds (that are built well!) from the big Japanese companies are not cheap; they cost nearly what a new motorcycle does–$1500-$2000+. For the same price you could probably find a used 350-500cc motorcycle and have a lot more on-road power, you would have the option of interstate use and still get a lot better MPG than a car.
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Get a motorcycle, not a scooter.
Those smaller wheels make it much less safe in the event of potholes or other road damage. And, it’s better to have more power than less.
What about the small motorcycles, or maybe they are mopeds, that are so popular in many other countries?
Here is a picture of this type of motorcycle/moped:
Honda doesn’t seem to show them on their USA web site, although they appear to sell them in Mexico.
What **Argent Towers ** said.
You don’t necessarily want or need a large 1,000cc motorcycle, but you DO want something that has the power to get you out of a jam, like a large truck veering into your lane because the driver doesn’t see you.
The small vs. large wheels mentioned by **Argent Towers ** is also a good point.
A good “starter” motorcycle may be right for you, like a Honda Rebel 250 , a Yamaha Virago 250, a Suzuki GZ250, or a Suzuki Savage (now called the Boulevard S40). I’m an S40 owner and I love it!
All the above bikes are very lightweight and maneuverable.
You will, however, need a motorcycle endorsement to operate these.
But, you won’t look like a dork … which you would riding a moped 
(sorry, but it’s true)
I am 73 years old and I have a 1993 Yamaha 50 cc moped that I bought new. If you break into my garage and want to steal a vehicle please steal the car and leave the moped. I live in a small town. Population 4000 and I use the moped almost every day fron April until about the 1st of Nov… Gas mileage is around the 100 mpg mark. I don’t use the machine for joy riding very much but use it to run to the store, bank or whatever. I put sta-bil in the tank every fall and in the spring it starts right up. Never had anything go wrong with it. Top speed is rated at 32 mph but you can now buy 50cc machines that will go about 50 to 60 mph. You only have to have a drivers license here in Wis. to drive anything 50ccs or less. Anything over 50ccs you need to have a motorcycle license. As far as peope think that you drive one because you have a DUI or are too poor to afford a car is nothing but BS. My next door neighbor just sold the business for 20 million and he has two of them. One for him and the other for his wife. the president of one of the banks also rides one.
Slight hijack:
Wired magazine notes that the 2-stroke engine of your average scooter is very harsh on the environment.
Oh, and whatever you get, scooter or MC, be sure to wear full protective gear at all times.
That’s not just a helmet, even though that’s the most important piece of gear. But gloves, pants, boots and a jacket … even when it’s really hot out. (The new mesh fabrics are great for hot weather!)
Buy stuff specifically made for motorcycles, with padding in the arms, shoulders, back and knees.
When you drop your two-wheeler – **AND YOU WILL DROP IT ** — you will be glad you protected yourself.
Road rash sucks.
And finally: Take a rider course operated by the MSF. It could save your life.
I’ve always been told that everyone lays down their first two wheeler-regardless of which one, scooter or motorcycle…
I’ve laid down a kawasaki ninja (my first bike…I loved it cause it was red…haha…and I was very young…like 16 by a month)
just went into a turn the wrong way and hit a few little rocks…
it wasn’t half as bad as I expected, but I did always wear helmet, riding jacket, and usually pants…so the jacket and pants did have the padding…and I was on my way home from work, so I had to have boots on to be at work, therefore it worked out that I had them on the go home…
I can honestly say wrecking my hyundai bubble was scarier…mostly because it involved me colliding with a van, which was a mother and her three kids, and once I saw the car seat in the back, I got so scared…but that’s a different story…haha
I love my scooter, a 1985 Yamaha Razz or Riva, depending on which side’s logo you read. It is my main transportation in the summer, and yes, I get 100MPG easily. I am now on the second 10,000-mile run of the odometer, up to 12,000 total. Clean out the carb in the spring, replace the batt every few years, and away we go. Yearly maintenance averages under $100.
It has separate tanks for oil & gas. I couldn’t hassle with premixing them.
I would advise getting a luggage carrier of some sort and a windscreen, two accessories I couldn’t do without. The carrier is lockable, big enough for small groceries and to keep moisture off stuff if you get caught in a downpour.
2-stroke pollution? I imagine a tiny engine like this puts out less than a SUV’s 4-stroke with pollution controls. Adults on scooters look juvenile? I smile all the way to the gas pump.
Rain? Hah! I is to laff!
I laid down my Yamaha scooter once . . . pretty much literally. I was slowing down in traffic for a red light and kind of lost my balance. I was in the right lane and just sort of tipped over on the right side into a driveway. Just like Arte Johnson (look him up, kids) on his tricycle. How embarassing.
Mr. S laid his Honda down once also, but at least he got some gravel in his arm to show for it. (No leather, just a denim jacket)
Any good advice on shopping for a used scooter/moped?
Do they show up in used car lots frequently?
Musicat,
I also have a Yamaha Razz (1993) and I would not trade it for anything. I live in a small town but I don;t know if I would want one in a big city. Too damn much traffic! I use mine to run to the stores around town and I can get to the store or wherever, faster with the scooter that I can with the car. By the time that I open the garage door, back the car out of the driveway I’m half way to the store with the moped. Don’t know what the milage is but I do know that it is at least 100, MPG.
I must be honest, this last post makes the idea sound even better…
I own a cheaper, 12 speed, bike and ride it a lot…I don’t take it to work because of time and how I often just have to hurry…and by hurry I mean drive my truck a little quicker (read: 45mph)
I can honestly make it through town faster on my bicycle because I am just good (jk) but I can make it faster to most places simply cause I park right by the door and ride it right onto my porch…it’s better than parking, walking, parking, walking…ugh…
heh
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- Actually, , , , -you could be wrong.
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- In another SDMB thread it was discussed how lethal a car’s exhaust was–and there was a link to an external web page that noted that due to computer controls and catalytic convertors that modern cars use, it is possible that a typical 2-stroke chainsaw or weedwhacker engine can put out ten times as much exhaust as a typical car.
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Not having the technical equipment to measure exhaust components, I can’t challenge that statement with any facts. But mine is a 50cc, one-banger engine compared to a 2.4 liter 4-banger in my small truck, and that sure looks like a heap of difference. Not to mention I only burn 1/4 as much gas to travel one mile in Lil Scoot.
I think the fact that a 2-stroke engine burns oil as well as gasoline accounts for the higher pollution associated with most mopeds. That’s what the Wired article seemed to imply. I’m going by the print article; the information in the linked article might be a bit different.
I have over 2000 miles on my moped and I just used the last of my first qt. of oil. I’m sure your car is spewing out more poluttion than a moped.
This is the time of year when prices go up – because it’s sunny and everyone wants to be on two wheels.
I’ve never seen used scooters at a car lot. I have seen the odd used scooter at a motorcycle shop or dealership, but most of the time people buy 'em through the classified ads, either in print or online. That’s how I sold my 50cc Yamaha BWS (called the Zuma in the U.S.).
So far as I know in every jurisdiction in North America, your standard car license includes certification for driving a 50 cc two-wheeler. (Technically it’s 49cc, but everyone says 50 cc because it rolls off the tongue better.) For any larger engine, you need some sort of motorcycle certification.