Scooters

[ajaxfetish]

I'm thinking of buying a motor scooter some time in the next year. It would be a second vehicle for my new family, and I think a better choice in terms of purchasing costs and gas expenses. I've got two questions I'd like to pose about it.

First, how do I choose what to buy? Traditionally, I turn to Consumer Reports for most of my bigger purchases, but while their automobile research is extensive, they don't seem to have anything on scooters. My initial attempts online to find general comparisons and reviews of various scooter brands have been disappointing. Where can I find a good resource to compare options?

Second, is this a good decision? Do any of my fellow orgahs have positive experiences or horror stories to share about scooter ownership?

Thanks for any input.

Ajax

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

My cousin has one, and it's a fun and convenient method of transportation.

[Tribesman]

Started off with a 50 special , then switched to an SX then back for a GS before going mad spending out on a pristine series 1 LI .
Good fun but a lot of maintainance , though I don't suppose thats such an issue with the new ones .

[English assassin]

Second, is this a good decision? Do any of my fellow orgahs have positive experiences or horror stories to share about scooter ownership?

Gah. I really really hate scooters. Silly wheezy things that get in the way of real bikes. At least when I nip in at the head of a queue of traffic I can get out the way when the lights change. And it would be nice to be able to park a bike up without coming back and finding that two vespa riding morons have jammed their hairdryers so close on either side you can't get to your bike never mind get it out.

If you must have a low powered two wheeler why not get a small trail bike. Now I can see the sense in one of those

[Beirut]

Way back when the Earth was flat and I lived in the city I had a 50cc Honda Aero scooter. It was the ultimate form of transport; cheap to buy, cheap to own, got you where you were going, and small enough to park anywhere.

When I got my first motorcycle, I sold the scooter to my brother. He was into quarter-mile drag racing and apparently all racers have/need scooters to get around on the tracks. ('69 Camaro with a his-own-hands built 350 under the hood, in case you're curious.) Years later I took the scooter for a drive at his house and nearly killed myself. After years on full size bikes, the short wheel base and tight turns made the thing impossible to drive for me.

As long as you drive a scooter within its limitations, it's great.

[Craterus]

Way back when the Earth was flat and I lived in the city I had a 50cc Honda Aero scooter. It was the ultimate form of transport; cheap to buy, cheap to own, got you where you were going, and small enough to park anywhere.

When I got my first motorcycle, I sold the scooter to my brother. He was into quarter-mile drag racing and apparently all racers have/need scooters to get around on the tracks. ('69 Camaro with a his-own-hands built 350 under the hood, in case you're curious.) Years later I took the scooter for a drive at his house and nearly killed myself. After years on full size bikes, the short wheel base and tight turns made the thing impossible to drive for me.

As long as you drive a scooter within its limitations, it's great.

Does he still have the Camaro?

[Beirut]

Does he still have the Camaro?

He had to trade in the '69 Camaro when he got the '62 Wife.

[Craterus]

Shame. I love those cars.

[ends derailment]

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

He had to trade in the '69 Camaro when he got the '62 Wife.

Completely brilliant.

[rajpoot]

Scooter is good if you don't mind people zooming by you on bikes.
It used to drive me nuts when they did that. So I sold off mine long back and bought a 500cc Royal Enfield insted.

[TevashSzat]

He had to trade in the '69 Camaro when he got the '62 Wife.

Unfortunately, you can't trade in the '62 wife for a newer model