Gas prices got you down? A scooter could be in your future.
Scoot over gas hogs, and make way for Vespas, Lambrettas and Hondas. More motorists are giving up cars, trucks and SUVs for motor scooters that get up to 100mpg.
A story in Friday’s Post-Dispatch has discovered that many first-timers to any motorized two-wheeled vehicle are checking out these frugal conveyances.
The Motorcycle Industry Council trade group says sales are up across the nation 300% over the last 10 years – and that is before gasoline topped $4 a gallon.
Many SUV owners are paying $100 for a fill up, while in comparison, you can fill up a motor scooter gas tank for less than $8.
“People who would never want a motorcycle, because of the size and noise, will buy a scooter,” said Jeff Bach, owner of the Extreme Toy Store, a scooter and motorcycle shop in Webster Groves.
With no let up in sight for high fuel prices, have you considered a motor scooter for your in-town commute?
I just bought my first scooter this week, a Vespa 250cc. I live out in Fenton and work downtown so using the sccoter for work transportation is not in my future. Even though my top end speed is 75 mph, I can’t see using I-44 both from a traffic density side and the pavement, which is bad enough for automobiles. What I did do was buy a fuel efficient Honda Civic which gives me 35 mpg for commuting.
The scooter will be used for pleasure riding, and local trips that stay off the interstate. At 70 mpg, it’s a blast to ride and insurance with coverage equivalent to my auto’s, costs slightly over $15 a month.
Quite honestly while many scooter riders stay off of the interstates, the real hazzards are on the back roads with turning cars, intersections and all kinds of distractions to motorists. I will be taking a safety class, wearing a neon vest, and a white helmet for visibility. Yes, if you are hit, your chance of injury is greater. All the kelvar in the world won’t protect you from impact. It will just save skin. The biggest safety feature is between the ears and I’ll do my part. To those thinking we are crazy, consider the fact of what happened on highway 40 the other day. If you get into an accident with a mismatch of vehicles, the little guy loses. So do I avoid driving because an 18 wheeler can wipe me off the road in a second? No, I understand the risk. Same goes with the scooter owner. We understand the risk and I dare say that most scooter owners are probably more aware of whats going on while driving than a typical auto driver.
I recently bought a used motorcycle to save on gas, a 535cc 1987 Yamaha. I still can get about 50-60mpg with this, 1987!
My car is a 2000 Xterra, but my real means of transportation is a 07 Vespa LX 150. With the current gas prices going up and up and up this has become the greatest purchase I have made in a long time. If you are considering buying a scooter and have questions please visit the St. Louis Scooter Clubs Website http://www.stlscooterclub.com and one of our members will be able to answer any question you throw out there.
I pondered purchasing one for over a year and made the decision right before Father’s day to get one, settled on a Piaggio 49cc model. It is a blast to ride, so much so that I have to remind myself to be serious about driving while enjoying myself!
Pros on under 50cc: No special driver’s license required, no plates. 93 mpg, just a lot of fun to ride!
Cons on under 50cc: Top speed will limit you to city street driving, uphill is limited to 20-25 mph depending on grade unless you have a good running start at it.
As for the weather, I have used my kayak dry top and dry pants in the rain and now plan on getting more use of the clothing on my scooter than my kayak!
Storage below seat for full size helmet or when riding to work my lunch and fanny pack (don’t lose your wallet like I did, keeping it in your pocket!) I added a rear storage box which allows me to make quick groscery store stop on way home from work.
Instead of +$49 to fill up my Subaru every two week I spend under $6 every two weeks!
Never. If I’m riding on two wheels, it will be with enough engine beneath me to accelerate out of the risky situations in which riders find themselves due to the inattentiveness of those driving cars and trucks. Scooters can’t do that.
I ride a bicycle mostly so a scooter would be quite an upgrade for me…
I’ve only put in about $50 in gas into my car between Memorial Day and right now so the high gas prices really haven’t been affecting me personally.
It’s great for us bicyclists that there are so many more scooters and so many fewer SUVs on the roads. The “air haulers” with their Ford 250s seem to be a vanishing breed nowadays. Hopefully gas will hit $7/gallon in a few years and the only people driving behemoths will be those who need them fulltime for work.
Don’t let fear dictate your choices. Once enough people get on scooters and motorcycles, it will completely change the dynamic of our roads.
I sold my Seadoo, that I hadn’t taken out in 3 years, 2 months ago and bought a 49cc Kymco Super 9 scooter for my 4 mile commute to the metrolink stop, and for running errands close to home. It get’s 80mpg, and I fill it up for about 6 bucks every two weeks. I can’t take it on the highway, or when I need to take my 14 month old somewhere, but in the last two months, I’ve put less than 500 miles on my truck, which I drive when it’s raining.
I have seen several comments regarding the safety and do agree that two-wheeled vehicles are riskier than autos. While that is true it is is only one factor in determining the validity of purchasing a scooter.
I am a memeber of the St. Louis Scooter Club (SLSC http://www.stlscooterclub.com/) which is a group of folks bound by our common facination/obsesion with scooters. The main attitude of our club is safety first. We realize the risk of smaller vehicles mixing it up with the big boys and we constantly push our members to consider the Motocycle Safety Foundation (MSF) training. This is one way to lessen the risk by learning and practicing the excellent defensive riding techniques the MSF teaches throughout their course.
The other factor to consider is FUN. Scoots are pretty much a Hoot to ride and puts the rider in a whole new world while riding to work, running errands, or just cruising the neighborhoods!
I’m not about trying to convince anyone that they should all park their “cages” and scoot. Just want to share a few tidbits from my past 40+ yrs of cycle and scooter experience.
I took the scooter plunge a several weeks ago and haven’t looked back. My Genuine Buddy 125 is my primary means of transportation at the moment. I live in South county and travel Downtown, Clayton, Maryville etc. True, the risks are much greater on 2 wheels, however with a little common sense and personal responsibility (Safety gear) the commute to work can be fun and therapeutic. My fuel cost per week has dwindled from $70+ to a mere $5. Since I average around 95MPG’s my scooter, taxes and safety gear will pay for themselves in roughly 2 years. Genuine scooters have a 2 year unlimited mileage warranty and 1 year road side assistance. See what I mean?
All the above pro’s are just icing on the cake when it comes to being a scooter owner. I meet new people every day who enjoy the same passion as me. The camaraderie associated with scootering is one you have to experience for your self.
Shiny up, rubber down!
Docutech
Probally not.I drive up and down Grand Avenue in the Lou to get to work every day.With all the low-riders Latinos and South Side Thugz driving like total”I don’t gave a —- idiots”,I fell a lot safer driving my GMC van,than a little motor scotter.If someone get creamed in one of those they might as well throw the deceased body and scooter in the casket together.-PS-The Jeff County Busch drinking Hooziers are rolling up and down Grand Ave.to!