Motor scooters gain in popularity (Sales Soaring)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9041933/

Gasoline pushing $3 gallon? Why worry? Buy a motor scooter like thousands of other Americans and stretch that single gallon of gas a week or more.

“As people start driving them, they start finding more reasons to use them,” said Doug Day, owner of Scooter Centrale and Vespa Hartford in Plainville, Conn. “They’re practical, easy to park and get great gas mileage. I put $5 worth of gas into mine when it’s totally empty, compared to $50 in my SUV.”

As gasoline prices soar, the popularity of peppy, fuel-sipping motor scooters — most easily get 50 miles per gallon and some of the smaller ones get up to 80 mpg — is soaring. Sales, estimated at 86,000 last year in the U.S., have doubled from 2000, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council.

<snip>

Even the larger scooters are more economical to drive than cars, says Day. He says sales at his shops climbed nearly 200 percent last year and are doing well this year, too.

[1932]

1. Soon we'll look like SE Asia: motorcycles and bikes everywhere.

[PurityOfEssence]

23. This is bad?

As the world evens out, the rich nations obviously will lose some ground. Bummer.

I can't really tell from your post whether you see this as a bad thing or not, but from your other posts, I think you probably welcome this, as do I.

[1932]

29. Public transportation would be best.

Thailand has very high traffic fatality rates because of motorcyle accidents.

But, I would like to see more people use more fuel efficient (and smaller) vehicles.

Incidentally, I believe the vehicles noted above get about the same mileage as the Hondo Insight, there appears to be a balance of safety and speed and mileage that falls somewhere between a nation of motorcyle riders and a nations of car drivers.

My comment was bascially that it was interesting that the US was getting less developed (but I do agree that America probably should scale back in terms of consumption and materialism and it wouldn't be a bad thing).

[primavera]

32. Typically better mileage than an Insight

I have a little Honda Metropolitan scooter and it gets pretty close to 120 mpg and puts out essentially no emmissions whatsoever. Admittedly, the Metro is an underpowered scooter only suitable for getting around in-town, but even the beefier scooters capable of speeds up to 70mph get around 80mpg. The downside is performance: they attain the high fuel economy and low emissions through very, very small motors, so acceleration is pretty seriously compromised, but you don't buy a scooter to do drag racing.

[Rich Hunt]

50. scooters are wonderful

I wish I had one, I thought of buying one when I was out in the burbs, but I do worry about theft.

Still, much more practical than a car if you live in the city - for those situations where walking or riding a bike isn't practical, and public transportation is not available.

[discordian]

60. In regards to performance, I have one word for you...

TURBO!!! Modify that thing and put a tiny turbo on it. Few things improve the efficiency of a gas powered engine better than a turbo charger. I'd bet you could get one put on a scooter for about $2k. Not very cheap, but it'll get up and go for you and still get good gas mileage (if you don't get addicted to all that power). If that's too expensive for your wallet, you could always put a small nitrous kit on it. :)

The point being that scooters are like cars. If you want more power, better handling and so on, modify that thing. Put better tires on it, performance shocks, rebuild the motor for more go, it goes on forever. With the coming gas crisis, the scooter aftermarket will blow-up in parallel to the scooter market explosion.

[democracyindanger]

26. ...and Italy and Greece...

:shrug:

[qanda]

2. Just about everyone in Bermuda owns a motor scooter

They are only allowed one car per household there and gas is over $6 a gallon. They seem to be a good supplement to having a car.

[kestrel91316]

3. In LA the climate is perfect for nearly year-round scootering. But

I think we are a long way off from Angelinos giving up their beloved SUVs driven with nary a passenger.

[giant_robot]

4. Cool! At least some people are dealing with gas prices...

...in a smart way. Besides, I think Vespas are pretty cool! I'd love to have one!

[bleedingheart]

5. Oh the Horror!!! Where do you put all the shopping bags!!!!

:evilgrin:

I like the idea of scooters...I particularly like the vespas..

[RandomKoolzip]

6. They're very popular in Chicago.

Hipsters have been driving scooters for decades here...a lot of it has to do with the fact that Chicago was the only American city with a Mod scene (Scooters are a big part of the Mod lifestyle).

In the last year, though, I've seen literally thousands of scooter drivers here. :thumbsup:

[Hell Hath No Fury]

7. Scooters rock!

I drive a piece of shit 85 Honda Elite, and there is nothing I like better than forking out a whopping $2.59 a week for my gas and knowing I am doing my little bit to fight BushCo. Living in a great scooter town like San Francisco helps -- the weather is mild generally, even in winter. With a scooter, there is no such thing as having a parking problem. Even in the busiest neighborhoods with zero available parking all I have to do is pull up on the sidewalk and lock up. And with a crate wired on the back, I can handle three bags of groceries -- two in the crate and one on the floorboard.

And another plus: I have driven scooters since 1986, and I have found them 100% more reliable than any car I have every had. And when a repair is needed, it isn't $400 plus a pop like with a car.

[obxhead]

9. Our family had an 86 Elite

Boy do I miss that thing now. I'm sure I'll be looking into getting a new one soon.

[trogdor]

12. The winter is brutal here.

100 plus inches of snow a year and at least a month where the high barely scrapes 0 degrees F. The summer was nice, though. It would have been nice to have a scooter or a small motorbike in upstate NY this year.

[MidwestTransplant]

8. Just filled mine up...$6 to fill up with premium at $3.19/gallon

Don't know if it really helps to put in Premium but for another buck or so I figure it can't hurt.

[politicat]

54. Read your owner's manual.

You can damage an engine (any engine) by using a fuel with the wrong octane rating. You should only use the fuel with the recommended octane rating. It has to do with the fact that higher octanes burn hotter, causing more carbon build-up.

There's a big discussion about this at the cartalk section of cars.com that kept me from ruining an engine.

[confusa]

10. Love my Lambretta

Loved my Vespa and love my Lambretta even more. Think I spent about $4 this month going to work and back...etc. Not to mention it is a way cooler ride. You see the world so differently when you are not in your moving bubble.

[chopper]

17. har

you'd have even more fun on your scooters if you didn't spend so much time on the scooter BBS.

[confusa]

21. hahaha

Hey, this is work time!

[Kolesar]

11. I'll bet the liability insurance is cheap

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

63. In some states, mandatory insurance is not required for

motorcycles/scooters.

Poor insurance companies. :cry:

[Megahurtz]

13. Vespas are Cool!

I got one!:7

[northzax]

14. after all, you know the old joke about scooters...

which I probably shouldn't repeat here...

[htuttle]

15. I love my Chetak!

108 mpg, 55 mph, four speed manual transmission, $2400 MSRP (or so).

In India, the Bajaj scooter division's slogan is: "Seats Two, Carries a Nation."

I've been riding year round in Madison, WI except for the days when there is ice on the streets for the last couple years. I just bundle up when it's cold, but even then, IT'S STILL FUN!

[burythehatchet]

19. mine will be shipped from India in December

I can't wait. Its the 05 model and the MSRP has gone up to 2900 or so.

[matcom]

16. my xmas present this year is a new Honda Reflex

can't WAIT! :bounce:

[0007]

25. Yeah? What color ya gettin', mine's a green one.

[matcom]

28. only comes in black and red

i'm gonna opt for red

[Xithras]

44. Make sure you look at the new Yamaha Morphous

The coolest looking scooter yet, plus it can reach 55MPH and STILL gets 100+ MPG. It'll be available in September.





I'm planning on getting one to augment my already fuel efficient car when they hit the market. I really like the fact that I won't be stuck in the bike lane puttering along at 35MPH with this thing.

[RamboLiberal]

47. Wow that is cool - what's the price

Love the looks of that!

[Xithras]

57. $5200

Not the cheapest, but IIRC the Reflex sells for $5,900

[Deja Q]

18. Sip this, people:

Use your fuckin' legs and buy a bloody bicycle... you'll be going faster than a mincing scooter and you'll be building muscle tone and building calories. That's better than all the sugary Slim Fast Cortislim Hydroxycut Ephinedrine pill shit they hawk onto you...


(note: This is aimed at scooter/segway users in general)

[MadHound]

49. Get this friend,

Some of us have a twenty plus mile commute, and while I would love to, and still can easily, bike that far, the time factor is crucial. I really don't want to be leaving for work at 6:00 am to get to work in time to shower and change clothes by 8:00. A scooter going fifty-fifty five mph is quite the good option.

[Le Taz Hot]

51. 'Scuze me

I'm an asthmatic in an area that has one of the worst air qualities in the U.S. Bikes are wonderful and I love riding mine when the air will allow. I've tried it on smoggy days and came very close to being hospitalized. Let's not assume everyone who is not riding a bike is lazy.

[Beam Me Up]

20. Can an old man ride one safely? That's my biggest concern.

I only have a few miles to go to work and am not worried about the weather so much but am scared to death of auto drivers. Haven't been on a two-wheel vehicle since my 20s, and then I had more than one (thankfully non injurious) accidents.

[Im_Your_Huckleberry]

22. saw a thing on.....

the discovery channel about bikes. they talked to a 79 year old guy who still rides his 800 pound 1940's indian. you can handle it. just keep your head up and your speed down.

[CountAllVotes]

24. yeah or a disabled person?

I have crap balance and I am worried. I cannot ride a bicycle any longer due to physical problems.

I ended up having to trade my Honda Civic in for a Honda Accord being they are higher up off of the ground and have a power lift built into the driver's side but being it is an automatic (another "requirement" I need) it gets about 25 mpg around town. I almost fell and got hit by another driver trying to get out of the Civic and after that event, I decided to trade it in because I more or less had to.

I suspect scooters like we see pictured here are just perfect for some, but a hazard for other people that might have problems or disabilities.

However, I drive very little (that is the good news). A tank of gasoline tends to last me about 2 or 3 months and I have a 17 gallon tank. :shrug:

[htuttle]

27. Look at one of these, maybe

Street legal in the US, 175cc 8.5 hp Scooter engine, 80+mpg, four speed manual transmission. Top speed is about 40-50 mph. Cost: $6500 or so.

They have three configurations: Rickshaw, pickup truck and panel van.
http://www.bajajusa.com/3-wheelers.htm

Not sure if it's easier to get in and out of than a Civic, though.

[CountAllVotes]

34. 4-speed manual transmission

I can't drive a stick shift anymore. If you have other idea, let me know please.

:kick:

[AnneD]

39. Wow...

That brings back some of the fonder memories that I have of India. I really like the auto rickshaw. I would see a whole family of 9 jammed into one. And talk about thrilling ride...If I could design a game, I would do Auto-Rickshaw (you'd dodge cows, pigs, goats, street dogs and pedestrians). If a beggar grabbed your car, you loose power. I think it would be a great idea. I would want a section where you could pimp your ride too.

[Booster]

48. Now we're talking. But the cost is a little outrageous. These

certainly look like something that might catch on though.

[rustydad]

30. motor bikes

I am 63 and put over five thousand miles last year on my motorized mountain bike. I haul home bulky stuff in a kiddy trailer that I tow. Go 30mph, pedal a bit going up hill and from start. Get 250 mpg. Kit cost $600. Bob

[bobo4u]

31. Yamaha Zuma--there is no substitute

I'm 54, and drive a Yamaha Zuma. 49cc, automatic. Top speed is 40 MPH. No motorcycle license needed--it's considered a moped since it's under 50cc.

You do need to be careful though. I think alot of car people resent scooter people. They're just so unamerican, and they hate us for our freedoms.

[primavera]

Personally, I think they're safer than bicycles

The main advantage a scooter has over a cycle in terms of safety is that you have better ability to accelerate and keep pace with traffic. As a cyclist, my main fear in riding on city streets is that I won't be able to keep up with traffic, so cars will get impatient and try to pass me any way they can, even if that means pushing my out of my lane. Moreover, the speed differential between myself on a bicycle and a motorist in an automobile is such that the driver of the car has very little time to notice me before s/he's overtaken me. In contrast, on a scooter, if I'm going 35 mph and the car behind me is going 38mph, they have much more time to see me before they overtake me and run me over. Plus, I'm moving at a speed that is not so different from what other vehicles are doing, so the car driver doesn't feel quite as burning an impatience to get past me as soon as possible and can afford to remain behind me or at the very least wait for an opportunity to pass me safely.

All that said, I'm sure scooters are more dangerous than cars, as you have so little protection. But, as another poster noted, you keep your speed low and your eyes open and you'll probably be just fine.

[Beam Me Up]

36. Thanks everyone who replied to my question. Answers very helpful!

This is not something I'd thought about but now I'll give all this some serious consideration.

:hi:

[Zech Marquis]

33. I'm going to look at some motor scooters myself!

:evilgrin: i haven't dropped the idea of a mountian bike, but the fools around here don't seem to respent anyone NOT in a car.

Motor scooter, mmmmmm :-)

[noonwitch]

35. I like Vespas, but I'd rather have a Harley!

I'm from a serious Harley family. My grandpa had one, my uncle and cousin both have them, my mom's boyfriend has one, and I have a second cousin who owns one and is in a motorcycle gang.

[Buns_of_Fire]

52. Me, too. Marlon Brando on a Vespa wouldn't have had the same impact...

;-)

[WI Independent]

64. He rode a Triumph in The Wild One...

There were some on Harleys though...

[bottomofthehill]

59. Look at the Buell's

They are owned by Harley. The Blast starts at about $4500 new and you can find them used for a lot less. A great bike all around. FUn to ride, great to learn on.

[GoneOffShore]

37. In my neighborhood

I just saw a motor scooter (not a motorcyle) with a side car. Kind of strange, but I suspect that we'll be seeing a lot more soon.
(added on edit)
Or there is, of course, that great staple of the British geek class, the Reliant - a fiberglass body enclosed three wheeler. Underpowered with the ability to flip over and kill its occupants when making a hard turn or braking too quickly. (Actually, they can't go that fast, it's the other cars crashing into them that kill the passengers)

[htuttle]

43. 'Cozy' makes sidecars for scooters

They cost around $1200-$1500 bucks, straight out of India.

Been thinking of getting one for my Chetak, but the cost puts me off. Also, I'd miss leaning into corners...:)

[Rob H.]

38. Got my motorcycle license last year specifically 'cause I want a scooter

I'm still looking, though--I guess there is a downside to having more choices every year. :P

Now I figure I'll wait to see what the selection of '06s is gonna be like.

[Petrodollar Warfare]

40. eGo Vehicle - advertises 700 mpg (elec bike)

eGo Vehicles use in their advertisement:

"How does 700 mpg sound." (This is based on the electrical cost of producing 1000watts/1KW is takes to fully charge the battery, which is good for about 23 miles)




So, as long as you have 110V electricity, you can charge the batteries - no need for fossile fuels in this example (except the power plant could be fossil-fueled, but anyhow, I like my Tuxedo Black eGo LX2...(here's some testimony)

http://www.egovehicles.com/Why_ego/index.cfm?doc_id=15

[slackmaster]

41. Watch the rate of injuries and fatal accidents soar

:argh:

[Danieljay]

53. I live in Portland and not a week goes by

thats I either see someone or hear of someone getting hit on a bike or scooter. Be careful people...cars aren't watching for you.

[WI Independent]

65. Best advise I've heard... "Ride like you're invisible" n/t

[Akoto]

42. I'm 20 and don't yet have my own car, but ...

I am thinking about getting one of these scooters instead. Because I'm one of those crazy people that follows their passion, I don't have much cash for a full-blown car plus gas. :P

Are these easy to use? I'm moving to a smaller town soon, so I think it might be more economical for me.

[truth2power]

45. Do you need a motorcycle license for any of these?

edit:

A couple of years ago I was going to take one of those motorcycle training courses offered here. Given by ODOT and only $25 for the weekend. But they're booked up nearly a year in advance. Almost impossible to get into one of them.

[brystheguy]

46. It depends on your state.

Get an old school moped from the 70's or 80's. Cooler and most states do not require a motorcycle license or insurance. They are slower though. (30mph stock and 45 with a speed kit) Total investment for the two below was $565. They're going up a little in price now though.

[bobo4u]

56. Cool. Although, they should have....

...spelled the name 'Phuc' ;-) In Washington, you don't need a special motorcycle liscense if your scooter's engine is under 50cc.

[Megahurtz]

55. I Love my Vespa!

:loveya:

[Blue_Tires]

58. even though there has already been a resurgence

in high-performance sport motorcycles, i expect that number to climb even higher---I've been a car guy for awhile now, and even i'm starting to give the bikes a second look

[HuckleB]

61. Let's note that this increase also has much to do with increased power...

of today's scooters. Those things move. Combine that with the demographic group most likely to purchase them, and you've got a recipe for an increase in death and severe injury on the road.

That said, I do hope vehicle manufacturers begin to get the message that we need more efficient vehicles.

[henslee]

62. Great combo -- Humunous SUV's sharing the road with little scooters...

I don't trust other drivers enough to drive one regularly.