Thinking of buying a scooter

[Tailgater]

I know I subjecting myself to ridicule, but they look like to fun ride. I would just ride it around my neighborhood or run small errands.

[MS256]

I know I subjecting myself to ridicule, but they look like to fun ride. I would just ride it around my neighborhood or run small errands.

My boss just bought a brand new one this week and has been riding it around the golf course when he's watering the greens and stuff.

I kept asking him about his "hog".

I've never owned any sort of motorcycle/scooter/mini-bike and haven't driven one since I was a kid but it looks like it would be a fun toy.

[JetFan1983]

I rented one in Greece once. It was really fun until I got the gas stuck and drove into a fence, fell off, and scraped the crap out of my knee. And people were laughing too, no one seemed to care how much that stung. Jerks!

[Hammer 4]

Buying new, or used..? With the cost of some of the new ones, and the insurance, ect. might not be cost effective, unless you can get a used one on the cheap. Also, having ridden everything from a 50cc step through honda, to 170 mph race bikes, riding anything on 2 wheels on the street scares the crap outta me nowadays, so I'd say ride at your own risk..

[David in FL]

On purpose, or did you lose a bet? :-D

[iacas]

I owned one in FL. I used to drive up A1A at midnight or so. I could fill the tank and get change back for $2. 100 MPG or so. Went 55 MPH. 49cc, 1.9 HP I think. Used a regular driver's license in FL back then too.

[FireDragon76]

I used to ride scooters back when I still had a license, it's one thing I definitely miss.  I really preferred the larger scooters- some of the smaller scooters are not as stable feeling so they really shouldn't be going above 30-35 mph or so.   A few times I went down a highway on a 150cc Vespa-style, going about 55 mph and it was hair-raising, not nearly as pleasant as cruising down a highway on a long 250cc Honda Reflex, or even a bigger Suzuki.  But to ride anything over 50cc in most states you will need a motorcycle license (and I'd recommend getting some lessons, or at least reading a motorcycle-riding instruction book or two, regardless).

I'd also echo what has been said about safety issues.  When I rode scooters I would wear a full helmet, jacket, gloves, jeans, and boots.  It was also often very, very hot in the Florida heat, but you can get road rash from even a little spill (I only had one minor accident on a ninja at 15 mph, I walked away with a sprained wrist and almost no bike damage, but it did wear a hole in my jeans and gave me a scrape).

They do get really good gas mileage . The Honda Metropolitan I started off with routinely got 120+ mpg, and the larger Honda Reflex averaged about 72.