SCOOTERS

If you yearn to escape the traumas of public transport, are fed up with sitting in car queues, or just want some weekend motoring fun, a scooter may be the answer.

What is a scooter?
The term "scooter" refers to a subclass of motorcycles with a distinctive structural design. These are generally two-wheeled vehicles originally based on motorized versions of children's push scooters, although some three-wheeled scooters are considered to exist. Scooters have been around almost as long as motorcycles and the distinction between the two has often been blurred.

Scooters are two-wheeled vehicles that have wheels between 8 and 14 inches in diameter (smaller than motorcycles), step-thru frames and engines that are typically low and close to the rear wheel. Scooters also often incorporate full bodywork, including leg shields and generally are designed to be easier to operate than standard motorcycles.

The term "scooter" is also commonly used for "medical scooters", which are typically 3 or 4 wheeled vehicles for people with mobility problems, but are quite unlike "motorscooters". There are also scooters with very small engines (under 40cc) commonly called "go-peds", which look like motorized children's push scooters.

How do scooters differ from mopeds & motorcycles?
It is a common mistake for people to confuse scooters and mopeds. In fact, many vehicles are both. By definition, a "moped" is any two-wheeled vehicle which meets local regulations commonly relating to speed restriction. The overlap simply goes to body design with speed restrictions. A common moped design has been large, motorcycle-type wheels on vehicles that can commonly look very much like scooters, blurring the distinction. Furthermore, scooters are by definition simply a specific motorcycle design. The reason that scooters are commonly not treated as equals in motorcycle circles is simply because they are generally slower, and not as performance-oriented as their larger cousins.

Advantages of scooters
Scooters originated very early on in the development of motorcycles generally to address problems that some felt were inherent to common motorcycle design:
- Covering of the engine compartment avoids inadvertent contact with hot engine parts.
- Covering the rest of the body, along with a front leg shield, protects the rider from mud, water and road debris that might drift up from the road below.
- The common step-thru design initially was so ladies could wear dresses without compromising their modesty, but it has come to be welcomed because it allows the rider to sit on the seat much like a chair, instead of straddling the vehicle, as is common on motorcycles. This tends to be a more comfortable riding position for the short distances that most scooters were designed to cover.
- The smaller wheels give faster turning response and many scooter designs mount these smaller wheels on one side only, making removal extremely easy and making it feasible to carry a spare tire.
- The smaller tires also allow enough room so that under seat storage is possible for helmets.
- Scooters also have far more bodywork available for custom paint schemes, and therefore lend themselves more to personal expression in their customisation.
- Scooters also typically are easier to learn to ride than many motorcycles and often have a more acceptable social image.

Disadvantages of scooters
- You are more exposed to the elements like wind and rain, and dangers such as cars and trucks.
- Most scooters have smaller engines than most motorcycles, and you may have problems keeping up with the speed of traffic. This is why it's so critical to have a scooter engine larger than you really need, to give you the power to pull away from trouble.
- Because the wheels are smaller, there is more of a concern with going over potholes.
- Scooters also have more bodywork so require more maintenance.
- Retail prices of scooters are generally higher than the same size capacity of motorcycle.
- Because scooters tend to be so lightweight, they are often easier to steal than many motorcycles.