Scooters 101

Scooters attract more attention these days, and not just because they're fun. High fuel prices make them a practical alternative to cars and motorcycles.

Selling Points

Scooters have several advantages over motorcycles. For starters, they're more affordable. Some of the smaller-engine types cost less than $1,000, while the larger-engine models are in the $4,000 to $6,000 range.

Scooters offer much better gas mileage. It's quite common for a scooter to get 50 to 80 miles per gallon―a godsend in times of rising energy prices and environmental concerns.

Scooters are a blessing for those with mobility problems. Due to the scooter's step-through design, there's no need to swing your leg over a large motorcycle engine, making scooters easier to mount. Its engine is instead either tucked under the seat or attached to the rear axle.

Scooters are a breeze to drive, maneuver, and park. They have automatic transmission, hand brakes, a handlebar accelerator, smaller wheels than a motorcycle, and they don't weigh much.

Many claim that scooters are just plain fun to drive. Although they're favored by the teenage and college crowd, many older adults get a kick out of riding them, too. Some say it's just the coolness factor, while others say that scooters are simply less intimidating to ride than motorcycles.

Scooters have been around a long time, and are widely popular in Asia and Europe due to their fuel efficiency, compactness, and maneuverability.

Most scooters have bodywork, including a leg shield in front, that hides the "guts" of the machine. Riders often have a little cargo space, too, under the seat, or maybe in the leg shield.

Safety and Regulations

Scooters vary widely in power and options. Some have very small engines, in the neighborhood of 50cc. Those with larger engines, such as those in the 400cc to 600cc range, can reach highway speeds. Some of the upper-tier scooter models now come equipped with niceties such as windshields, clocks, and heated hand grips.

You need to be especially alert and careful when driving a scooter, though, as they can be difficult for other motorists to see due to the vehicle's relative smallness. Also, scooters offer little in the way of protection should you be involved in a crash.

Along those lines, states regulate scooters in different ways, mostly according to engine power. In fact, manufacturers will often classify scooters as being moped legal, street legal, or highway legal.

Some states classify scooters with a motor of 50cc or less as a moped. That means fewer regulations and lower registration fees. Scooters with more powerful engines may be regarded as motorcycles. This means you'll probably need to get a special license or endorsement, and you might have to wear a helmet. Liability insurance will also be required.

Because states vary so widely in how they categorize and regulate scooters, it's a good idea to determine what your state says about them before rushing out and buying one.

Scooter Alternatives

There's a cheaper, less powerful form of scooter known as a motorized scooter. These scooters simply have a footboard, seat, small engine, two or three wheels, and a long steering handle. The fastest most of these scooters can go is 25 mph. They come with either a gas or an electric motor, with the gas units having more power, being capable of higher speeds, and going longer distances.

Most of these smaller scooters are not regulated by state governments. Be careful, though. While these scooters might be great for traveling along the sidewalks of your residential neighborhood, they're not considered safe for use on the streets.