I purchased my first motorized two-wheeler in a 2004, an old, 70s moped. After learning the basics, I moved on to a larger scooter, and have never turned back.

Currently, I commute on my 49cc scooter, primarily on Clayton Rd.

A couple of years ago, I would have heard the occasional “Get a real motorcycle!” comment while waiting on a red light. Now I hear “How many miles per gallon does that thing get?” or “Where’d you get your scooter?”

When the weather’s inclement, I take the family car. But when you’re geting 80 mpg on the scooter, the car’s not as attractive, even when it gets 29 mpg.

If you’re considering a scooter, stick with Kymco, Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Genuine, Vespa, or Piaggio. Avoid the rinky-dink Chinese made scooters you might see advertised on craigslist.

Scooters under 50cc dont’ required the rider to be motorcycle (State) qualified. Now we have a bunch of Treetards going out buying motorized bicycles to mingle with traffic. Let’s give out children guns!

I don’t care about gas mileage. St. Louis City drivers are so bad the thing to do is put your loved ones in a Volvo and hope for the best. Motorcycles are fun toys but are too dangerous if used as regular transportation.

I am the proud owner of a 250 scooter. I had a motorcycle for five years in college before I came home and purchased a scooter. A motorcycle in college saved me a great amount of time and money by being able to park right in front of my classes. More people should look into the scooter as a form of transportation. They are easy to ride, conserve on oil consumption, and have the capability of getting you almost anywhere.

I am not at all surprised at the folks who are going through the “those are too dangerous” talk right now. It is such a misconception that riders are somehow putting a great danger upon themselves. As experienced riders, we do everything we can to keep our of trouble. Mainly I dress in bright colors and use my horn like a mad man to make sure other vehicles know I’m there. So many cars and trucks are driven by people who are more dangerous than the scooter it self. If everyone would pay attention inside their air conditioned, music blasting, cell phone using, social scene bubbles they call cars, we would have a much safer ride. I would ask everyone to watch out for your two wheeling motorists as well as that huge truck on the road. And please talk to your teenagers who pass us in the suicide/parking lane because we are not doing twenty over the limit on grand or Gravois. Car drivers are going to have to learn to coexist on the road with scooters and motorcycles soon. Gas prices are not going down!

There is a reason that so many other countries already have more scooters than cars. It’s because they already get it. Two wheeled vehicles are just a better option in cities. You can get from Fenton or Arnold or Kirkwood or Brentwood to The Arch without getting on a highway. Do you believe that!? I bet it never even crossed your mind. Highways are not the only option!

If you want gas prices to come down……you have to use less gas. So keep your SUV that you wont be able to sell for much anyway, and also pick up a scooter. Take the safety course, start slow, be aware of your surroundings, and use it as your daily ride. Do the math and you will likely find that you only have to ride it for a year or so until it pays for itself in gas savings. And that is if we actually stay around $4 a gallon. Which we all know it will not.

Scooters! Coming in large numbers to a traffic light near you.

I live near Lindell and Kingshighway in the CWE. A lot of bad drivers in big cars that tend to run the lights. I wouldn’t want anyone I cared about on two wheels at that intersection.

For me it’s no longer just about saving on gas so, I’d like to speak to a couple of issues.

First - neither scooters nor motorcycles are toys. They are very capable modes of transportation or recreation. Never underestimate the power of the bike and ease with which you can lose control even on a 50cc bike.

Second - as Marc mentioned, riding requires you to be very aware of everything going on around you. Who are the ones to worry about on the road (and we’ve all seen them)? People on cell phones top the list, then there are readers, makeup appliers, drivers turning around to talk to or discipline their kids, movie watchers, and more.

We realize the hazards that go hand in hand with each ride, and accept that responsibility. I ride year round, barring a downpour or snow, and have the gear to get me through every season. I’m on the highway everyday. Am I crazy…..possibly, but I know that riding has made me a much more responsible driver, because I am aware of the danger I can create for others. When you see a scooter or motorcycle on the road be courteous and allow a little extra room. It will make the commute or errand run that much more pleasurable for everyone.

They scare the hell out of me. Saving money on gas is not worth losing my life over.
I was driving home the other day on west bound 70 by the airport. I wanted to change lanes and I looked in the side mirror and glanced over my shoulder and saw no vehicle I had to yeild to, I then pressed the lever for the signal and looked in the mirror again and just about the time I was going to change a motorcycle appeared out of no where. The checking to make sure the road was clear took all of about 3 seconds if that long. I never saw him, I have no clue where he came from, I got that sick feeling in my stomach. If I had not glanced in my mirror again I would have hit this guy and I know he would have been the one to lose in the encounter.

Thanks kdunlap for that post. This is the common thing heard from a driver when an accident with a bike occurs “I didn’t see it.” Virtually all drivers are conditioned to look for cars when driving, not scooters or motorcycles. So while the bike in many cases is there, your brain doesn’t register it because your’re expecting another vehicle.

One of the points stressed in the MSF basic rider course is to make yourself as visible as possible to all drivers. Whether it’s by wearing bright gear, adding extra lights, or using your lane to make yourself more visible when in traffic.

Bottom line, due to gas prices there are more riders on the road. Hopefully everyone becomes more aware of our presence and drives/rides accordingly.

If you ride a bike, please make sure it is as loud as tolerable. If we don’t see you, make sure we can hear you.

Bill, I hope that you are being ironic.
Otherwise, switch homes with me for a Friday or Saturday night when all the Harley riders leave the local pubs. It’s at least a half hour of “wake the baby” noise.

Now, I love a Harley but not so much at 1:30 AM.