What to Know Before You Buy a Motor Scooter

With the high gas prices these days, more and more people are looking into purchasing a scooter for commuting. A scooter is a good economical way to get your errand done and cruise around without hurting your wallet. Scooters are gaining popularity due to their convenience and efficiency, but there are certain factors you should know before buying a scooter. If you are looking into buying a scooter, here is everything you need to know.

You need a Motorcycle License:

Before you decide to buy a motor scooter, you need to make sure that you have the correct license to actually ride it. In the state of California, you must have a motorcycle license to ride a scooter. In order to get a motorcycle license, you must pass a written and drivers test. Make sure you have the correct license so that you do not get penalized with a driving ticket.

Take a Scooter Driving Course:

Although scooters look like they are easy to drive and maneuver, they can be a little harder to drive than you think. If you have never ridden a motor scooter or motorcycle before, it would be a good idea to take a motorcycle driving course so that you can get some riding experience. This course will teach you the basic skills you need to know about riding a scooter on the road. Many places have one-day courses that will teach you the basics of riding a scooter. Taking a course will help you out significantly and make you feel more confident on the road.

Required Safety Gear:

Riding a motor scooter is just as dangerous as riding a motorcycle because you are in the same traffic conditions and going at the same speeds as motorcycles. One of the best ways to stay safe when riding a motor scooter is to have the appropriate gear. When it comes to safety gear, the more gear you have on the better. You must also make sure you gear your safety gear at all times. Here is a list of required safety gear for motor scooters:

A helmet with a DOT approval label
Eye protection (goggles or glasses)
A long-sleeved jacket
Long pants
Full-fingered gloves
Quality ankle boots

Motor Sizes:

Deciding on a scooter can be really frustrating because there are different engine sizes. Scooters usually range from 50cc (cubic centimeters) to 800cc. The engine power and size of your scooter will all depend on what you are going to use the scooter for. A 50cc scooter is ideal if you are looking for something to just ride around town. Since it is a small engine, these scooters also get the best mileage. However, an ideal scooter should be between 125cc to 150cc for most scooter riders. This engine size is perfect if you want to ride beyond city limits. It has plenty of power for climbing hills and riding against the wind. If you are looking for a scooter that will do longer trips then a 500 to 800cc engine size will be the engine size for you.

MPG:

One of the best reasons to buy a motor scooter is because of their amazing MPG. With the gas prices going up, having a scooter with a high MPG can make gas prices more reasonable. The MPG on scooters all depends on the engine size. The smaller the engine size means they will have a higher MPG. A 50cc scooter has an MPG of 100 to 150. A 125cc to 150cc scooter typically has 90 to 100 mpg. A bigger engine scooter from 500cc to 800cc can range from 80 to 140 MPG. No matter the engine size, all scooters have amazing MPG that will not only get you to your destination but also save you a lot of gas money.

Maintenance Fees:

Scooters are becoming a very popular unit because they are inexpensive and can save you a lot of money on gas. Another way a scooter can save you money is on its maintenance. Scooters have very little service needs and they are easy to do and affordable. The most common service needed for a scooter is the oil change. Although the oil needs to be changed more frequently than a car (about every 600 to 1000 miles), it is inexpensive to do. Other services your scooter will need is to change the tires, air filter, plugs, and battery. If you keep your scooter well maintained, you will be spending less than any other vehicle.

Perfect for Commuting:

With the gas prices continuing to skyrocket, a scooter is a perfect vehicle for commuting. Whether you are commuting to work, school, or just cruising around, the motor scooter can take you to and from your destination without hurting your wallet with high gas prices. They are small in size which is also convenient on the road. More people are looking into buying a scooter because it is a game-changer in commuting.

Best Places to Ride:

Having a scooter is great because you can ride it like any other vehicle. Here are some of the BEST places to ride your scooter:

Within the city: Whether you have a short commute somewhere or you just want to cruise around the city, a scooter is a perfect alternative to do both those things without hurting your wallet. You will also get some fresh air as you cruise through the city streets.

Along the beaches: Enjoy the breeze as you cruise along the beaches.

Where NOT to Ride:

Although the state of California states that any motorcycle with a 150cc engine size or more is legal to ride on the freeway, we recommend not to ride anything on the freeway that is under 300cc. A scooter below 300cc is too small for serious freeway riding. Most 150cc scooters must be driven constantly at full-throttle and are designed lighter than a true highway capable vehicle. These scooters are also air-cooled instead of water-cooled which increases the motor wear at high rpm’s. A scooter that is 300cc or more is more capable of being ridden on the freeway because they are designed for it with a wider range of gearing, bigger tires and more protection from the wind/traffic turbulence.

Scooters are FUN!

If you are having doubts about buying a motor scooter, we want to let you know that they are pure FUN to ride! Having a scooter will give you the opportunity to cruise around the city and be out in the fresh air. The great MPG will let you cruise around as much as you would like without it hurting your wallet. Owning a scooter will not only save you a lot of money, but you will have a great time cruising around new places.

Conclusion:

A scooter is a perfect alternative for daily commuting. It is inexpensive and the MPG is amazing. If you are looking into purchasing a scooter, make sure to have the correct license for it as well as feel comfortable riding it. Once you begin to ride your scooter, you will not want to ride anything else because they are extremely fun to ride. Check out our scooter inventory today!

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Related:

- 5 Reasons To Ride A Motor Scooter

- Motor Scooter VS. Car

- Should You Ride a Motor Scooter on the Freeway?