What Type of Scooter Should You Buy
Scooters are already popular in European countries such as Italy and many countries in Southern Europe. With the rising gas prices in the U.S, scooters have gained popularity due to their impressive fuel efficiency, ease of use and a host of other conveniences. So when you finally climb out of your 14 MPG SUV, what type of scooter should you buy?
Type of scooter
1. Mopeds
These are minimalist motor scooters with an engine capacity of 50 cc and below. The term moped was first used by a Swedish journalist Herald Nielsen. It was derived from two names; motor and pedal which describe some of the earlier versions that had an engine and at the same time had pedals. Even though most do not have pedals anymore, they are extremely economical. It is not difficult to get as much as 100 miles per gallon of gas.
However, due to their small engine size, their top speed rarely exceeds thirty-five miles an hour. Unlike with motorcycles, state laws governing mopeds are very friendly. There is usually no requirement of a license or registration (although this varies with different states). If you do not travel far and do not mind relatively low speeds, this is an excellent choice.
2. Street legal scooters
These scooters have an engine capacity of about 150cc and will give you a top speed of up to 60 miles an hour. While not supersonic, these scooters can do a short dash on the highway without burning too much gas. While it gives you more power and speed than a moped, a street legal scooter can get you as much as 70 miles per gallon. This is one of the most popular scooters due to its practicality and fuel efficiency. If you are not always on the highway, this scooter is right for you.
3. Performance scooters
What is life without power and speed? When the rubber meets asphalt, performance scooters will garner more than 75 miles an hour. They have an engine capacity of 250cc and are optimized to be fast enough. They usually have custom features to up their power and speed, and they rarely disappoint. Their larger engine lowers their mileage per gallon of gas, but at about 60MPG, they are still awesomely economical. If you are a heavy rider, this is the best scooter for you.
4. Maxi scooters
This is a large scooter with a bigger body frame than the other types of scooters. The engine capacity here ranges from 250cc to as much as 850cc. As you might expect, these are powerful scooters and can comfortably accommodate more than one person. As you might have guessed, they are the fastest scooters you will come across. Some models here have a genuine top speed of 114MPH. Maxi scooters come with premium features such as ABS, advanced shock absorbers, windscreen, etc. These scooters are more expensive than the rest and can cost more than $ 10,000.
5. Electric scooters
We have electric cars, and yes we have electric scooters! The concept is the same. These scooters have a rechargeable battery that powers the engine up to a certain mileage. Electric scooters have not been very successful in the past because of their low speeds and limited battery range. However, this narrative is changing with the introduction of more advanced models which have a battery range of as much as 70 miles on a single charge. Electric scooters may be the future of two-wheeled motoring.
6. Three wheeled scooters
These have been in production since World War 2. More recent developments feature two front wheels and a single rear wheel. These scooters have a larger storage space and have a classy look that will turn heads.
7. Enclosed scooters
These scooters will protect you from elements of the weather. They have a windshield and a roof and have more storage space than most other scooters.