29 December, 2009 at 12:18 pm
So You Want to Buy a Scooter?
By Scott Vawser
Just Which Scooter is right for you?
For some years now, I have been looking into buying a motor scooter or motor bike of some sort. I had my first bike licence lesson today and have thought of many many ways to save to be able to purchase the right one. But which is the right one? Which scooter is the one that will suit my various needs and desires?
There are so many scooter makers to choose from and once you “meet your maker”, then you have a great big job on your hands in choosing your model. In one Australian magazine alone you have listed 20 different brand names and each of them have numerous models listed.
Aprilia - 6 models; Benelli - 7; Bowell Scoota - 14; Bug - 6; Bug-Kymco - 2; Derbi - 1; Giamoto - 1; Gilera - 2; Honda - 4; Hyosung - 6; Italjet - 3; Motobella - 1; Peugeot - 11; Piaggio - 2; SCP - 4; Suzuki - 2; TGB - 5; Vespa - 7; V-Moto - 3; Yamaha - 6.
And these are changing all the time and only include all the new machines on the market at the time of publication, there are no 'classics' listed there like the Lambretta…who make watches now…go figure!
So where do you start?
Why do you want one?
Why not a small car? There are some great small cars that are very fuel efficient, even a hybrid car that is good for the environment too! For me the choose of a scooter is not instead of a car. We have a family car but are feeling like the days of running two cars as a family are coming to an end. It cost me sometimes $10 a day in public transport! Having said that, even if my work offered to supply a car or a scooter, I think I would ask for a scooter. One my the choices is environmental. The footprint each of us leave on the planet is making a deeper impact than ever before and we need to begin to wake up to this issue. A small scooter can use less than 3 L/100km which is significantly less than the 20L/100km that a RV uses. As we enter the 21st century serious questions are being asked about the sustainability of our current way of life. Global demand for fossil fuels is outstripping supply. World oil peak and the inevitable decline of fossil fuels is upon us now (see The End of Suburbia). Sure scooters use fuel too, this one day may be an issue as well, but much work is going into experimenting with various fuel alternatives.
I think the other issue for me is fun. Plain old fun. The thought of riding around with the wind in your hair on a sunny day, heading down the coast with a few mates to the cafe strip to chat about life and sip on a well made espresso…hmmm I am ready to go! The thought of picking my daughter up after a netball game, popping on the spare helmet and zipping down the shops for a milkshake…love it! What about just my wife and I going out for a Sunday afternoon cruise, kids at the neighbours house, sun in the sky, ready for a ride, a picnic, a movie or just a cruise down the coast!
And of course there is convenience. The ease of parking, the moving in and out of traffic at peak hour and the “I’m just going down to the shop for some milk sweetheart!” ease of jumping on and out and back in a flash. Where does it park? In a garden shed, an big store room, the workshop, maybe yours has its own bedroom inside the house, but hey, it could share a room with another scooter…not a car in the world you could say that about!
Oh one more thing I forgot to say - image. There is a kind of nostalgia attached to some of the older bikes or new retro looking bikes - romance, ‘the coolness factor’. Of course you want to buy the old look goggles and half helmet, I know you want some chrome accessories and some extra mirrors, maybe even a big arial. Admit it, scooter image is a BIG factor.
But what do you need in a scooter?
Where will you go on your scooter? Is this just a runabout for your local suburb? Are you heading little further than a 50km radius? Are there any challenging hills in your part of town? How heavy are you? A 50cc scooter, even a top quality one will not suit your purposes if you are desiring long trips on a regular basis, (my opinion only). From my reading, most people who buy a small capacity scooter and do some serious moving, end up regretting the purchase and trading up or out. People who want to use freeways and highways without getting arrested or abused or worse, need to consider upwards of 125cc. If you are over 85kg I would suggest you ride some bikes around before deciding on a 50cc scooter too. Look for leg well space, suspension issues such as wobble and bottom out. (try some speed humps!)
If you are planning on some long rides or at least some short but fast rides, get looking at a 125cc and over scooter. There are other factors to the ride than the engine size; such as tyre size, seat hight and so on. My advice, ask for a test drive.
Obviously you need a bike licence in many places if you are riding a bike over 50cc, so make sure you check all that out.
Scooter Purchase Price will be a factor for most, but sometimes if you want something bad enough you will even start a blog about scooters just to try to earn some money to buy one! I love the smooth feel of the top of the line Vespa GTS i.e. 250 with it’s twist and go and all the digital read outs and extra fruit (about AU$9200 on road), but love the old lines of the PX200 (about AU$8200 on road)and the classic feel of changing gears. But also I love the thought of restoring an old Lambretta. You might just want to take what’s in your bank account and buy what you can get for less than AU$2000, a imported Chinese VMoto, Australia’s top selling scooter would do you just fine! All I am saying is that you can get many nice looking machines out there, some are plastic, some are classic pressed metal, some with last a lifetime and go forever, some are fun machines that you may use till they die or have some fun and move on to your next obsession.
Speaking of obsession, let's talk desire - colour, style, accessories…the works.
Some of you are simple people, you just want a scooter. Go to the local scooter dealer and ask the man to show you one. Still others like sporty and fast looking machines, there are some reading this that like a big solid cruiser, maybe even with it’s own stereo system and mobile phone holder. There are some that want a ‘pink one’. Some just want ‘my first scooter’. You might be like me and love the old style classic, retro feel to a scooter and love looking at old restorations of classic Lambrettas and 1960 Vespas…hmmmm. Even the sound ‘Vespa’ makes as you say it…oh sorry, I was somewhere else for a second! 
Some might be in between. I like the old style but I can’t afford to be fixing it all the time so I will go for an old name, but a new model like the GT200 Grandtouismo Vespa, or better still the more classic looking PX Vespa which retains the rounded front, the manual gears and so on, but has the advantage of a new model machine with warrantee from a dealer if bought new.
The advantage of buying new is that accessorising the bike does not require endless searching for long lost parts from Italy or the collector of all things fine…and expensive, down the road. But then for many all that is half the fun! The new bikes come with matching top boxes, side bars and gear racks - the works, ready for you to buy up and put on board.
I restored a car once, a soft top four wheel drive, so I do know what it feels like to drive along with the wind in your hair, I also know what it feels like covered in grease, to wander into your wife every evening at 11pm and say, “I think I need a new XYZ, that thing is stuffed”. An endless money pit is what restoration often is. Then when the shiny new red car reappeared in my drive way after I had put it all back together again, I never wanted to drive it much, certainly not out in the bush! It was my baby!
Not sure I want to go through all that again with a scooter, as satisfying as it was when it was finished, I think I will leave restorations to people with more patience than I have.
So there it is. Want a scooter? Have I confused you more? Helped you more? Let me know if you have any questions and I will do some of the hard yards for you in the research department and post back here again.
Happy shopping - and watch out for those cages!! (that’s a car)
Scott Vawser lives in Perth Western Australia. He is married to Christine and they have 3 daughters. They are attempting to live out some kind of intentional faith-based sustainable community. They are wanting to live and work close to home, connect to their neighbours, live a little more simply, drink nice wine, eat good food and enjoy something of a simple life of fun, love, spirituality and relationships. Scott does some work for a leadership training college and some life coaching for non-profit youth work organisations.
* Scooter Blog - http://www.scootersnoop.com
* Other Blog - http://www.noguarantees.blogspot.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Vawser
http://EzineArticles.com/?So-You-Want-to-Buy-a-Scooter?&id=195170
22 December, 2009 at 6:47 am
Go-Ped Trail Ripper QuadGo-Ped Trail Ripper Quad 46 Go-Kart The Go-Ped Trail Ripper Quad TRQ46 grabs the patented CIDLI suspension system found on the GTR46R and applies that ground breaking feature to a go-kart. The result is a never before seen product that guarantees maximum off-road thrills, on-road fun and bang for the buck. CIDLI suspension gives the Trail Ripper Quad an amazing 10" of suspension travel at all 4 of its 11 Badlands knobby tires. The advanced Mad Dog disk braking system makes stopping this quad a breeze. The Trail Ripper Quad shares many of the advanced features that make the Super Go-Quad 46 so popular. Features like the 4.5 HP, 45.7cc GP460RS race engine, high-performance Walbro carburetor, live rear axle, two-wheel drive, two-wheel braking, updated racing drive train and automatic centrifugal clutch. These engineering enhancements allow absolute control, fantastic acceleration off the line and out of corners, superior stability, top grade handling and performance.Go-Ped launched the motorized scooter craze over 20 years ago and have been designing the most high-end, innovative and refined scooting machines ever since. Go-Ped's are made in the USA and the company is world renown for its dedication to Go-Ped perfection.For a limited time: FREE Go-Ped T-Shirt & Bumper Sticker with every Go-Ped ESR 750EX Purchase!**Goped Trailripper Quad Specifications: • Speed: 28-30 mph• Range: Go-Ped does not provide range specifications for its high performance competition scooters and quads.• Motor: 45.7cc GP460RS single cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke gas powered race engine (45.7cc - 42mm bore, 33mm stroke), 4.5 HP, high-performance case pulsed Walbro carburetor (19mm bore, 15mm venturi, independent high and low jets), handlebar mounted kill switch.• Frame: Heavy duty, ultra light, aircraft quality carbon/chromoly steel frame, four wheel independent Cantilevered Independent Dynamic Linkless Indispension (CIDLI) suspension system with 10" independent travel on each wheel.• Start Method: Pull start.• Drive Train: Heavy duty live rear axle, two wheel drive, Ackerman Steering (for highly responsive turning), 78mm automatic centrifugal clutch, chain driven, 6/64 stock sprocket ratio, freewheel capable.• Oil Type: Two-stroke.• Fuel Type: Unleaded Gasoline (high octane recommended).• Gasoline Mix: Unleaded gas and two-cycle oil @ 25:1.• Fuel Tank Capacity: 1 liter.• Brakes: Full rear axle caliper brake.• Dimensions:Length 44" Width 29" Height 17"• Weight: 80 lbs.• Carrying Capacity: 400 lbs.• Tires: 11" "Badlands" knobby tires on super durable magnesium rims.• Warranty: 90 day manufacturer's warranty with a 2 year warranty on the frame.Go Ped Super Trail Ripper Quad Standard Features: • Folding cushioned seat for more comfortable riding and easier engine and fuel tank access.• Larger seating area easier to mount/dismount.• Fits adults and teens of various heights without any adjustments needed.Additional Info: • Not legal for use in California. This scooter does not comply with Californias strict emissions standards.• Some simple assembly required. Items such as the t-bars, wheels, or other small parts may require assembly. Seat does fold down for easy access to the engine and gas tank.• Take a look at the User's Manual!• Is this model overkill? Save a few bucks and check out the Super Go-Quad 46!• Speed and range specs are maximum ratings under ideal conditions, i.e. light weight rider (relative to carrying capacity), good terrain (solid, flat, smooth & dry), etc. Less than ideal conditions will reduce speed, range and climbing ability.Trail Ripper Quad Videos:
Check Prices at UrbanScooters.com, Inc.
15 December, 2009 at 4:56 am
off road scooter dirt ramp jump
Duration : 0:0:9
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Technorati Tags: dirt, extreme, off, ramp, road, scooter, sizzam
23 November, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Looking to ditch that gas hog of a car and pick up an economical motor scooter? You're going to return home with a model that will do nothing more than collect dust in your carport unless you follow a few simple guidelines.
Power
Motor scooters can come in a wide selection of shapes and sizes, from small, toy-like scooters to large motorcycle-like scooters. Consider your needs and how you'll be using the scooter. If it's just for corner jaunts, there are any number of small, cheap scooters that would fit the bill. Perhaps a 125 or 150 would be the largest to consider.
Fit
Many scooter shoppers choose a style, rather than purchasing a fit. This is the surest way to ensure a wasted investment. Fit becomes increasingly important as mileage increases and is one of the primary determinants of safety, so don't ignore it!
Ensure that your hands are in a good, comfortable position when riding, and that the controls, brakes, and clutch are well within reach. Finally, check the seat. While soft seats seem to be more comfortable at first, they usually result in soreness faster than firmer seats.
Style
Check out various models online before you head into a showroom where sales pressure will often result in you leaving with something you would not have purchased without pressure. There are plenty of new, sleek models, but you'll also find a wide variety of vintage models for sale.
Price
Similar to cars, motor scooters depreciate in value immediately upon leaving the lot. Exacerbating this situation is that scooters usually don't receive the same amount of yearly mileage as cars or even motorcycles, so the immediate depreciation is a harder hit. In a year, you could see a 25 percent or more decrease in resale value for a scooter that has barely been touched.
For this reason, be sure to look at more than just local dealers. There are several good resellers online who will provide you with a good selection at good prices. And you can find these motors scooters without putting up with pushy salesmen!
So remember, before you got to your local showroom and buy that flashy new model, be sure that you're clear on how you intend to use your new scooter, and then consider the power, style, fit, and cost.
Technorati Tags: cheap scooters, gas scooter, motor scooter, motors scooter, petrol scooter, suzuki scooters
16 November, 2009 at 8:52 pm
So you heard that petrol scooters get great mileage and now you'd like to get better mileage? Well read on for some easy ideas for improving your scooter's gas mileage. No more blowing money at the pump!
1) Go easy on your acceleration, Earnhardt!
Just like a car, how you operate your motor scooter will have a tremendous effect on how many miles you are able to obtain from your scooter per gallon. Out of all of the fuel-saving ideas, the use of your acceleration will have the greatest effect on your overall fuel consumption. The key is to increase your speed slowly, instead of trying to chirp the tires from a standstill.
2) Inflate your tires to the correct PSI
If you are riding on under or overinflated tires, you are not only wasting fuel, but you're putting yourself at risk. Check your tires' PSI (pounds per square inch), and adjust them accordingly. Keep in mind that your tire pressure will climb in the hotter months and go down in cooler months.
3) Keep your motor scooter tuned up
Many people think of a motors scooter as a set it and forget it thing. They buy it, ride it, and rarely think of maintaining it. But just like a car, your scooter needs some TLC to run properly and continue getting great mileage. Keep your scooter in good mechanical order, and you'll be rewarded with scooter longevity and exceptional gas mileage.
4) Change your oil frequently
You change your oil in your car every 3,000 to 6,000 miles, I assume. But it can take some serious riding for your scooter to see that kind of use, especially if you use yours primarily for neighborhood riding. Regardless of mileage, you should try to change your oil at the beginning of every riding season.
To illustrate, if your riding season is in the summer months, from May through September, but you usually only put 700 miles on your petrol scooter over those months, you should still change your oil every May.
So what kind of mileage can you expect to get out of your scooter with these tips? The answer varies quite a bit depending on the type and size of your petrol scooter, but you are looking at significant savings.
Keep in mind that some smaller scooters only have a useful life of 20,000 or so miles, and these ideas can also make a difference in the lifespan of your scooter.
Technorati Tags: gas mileage, gas mopeds, gas scooter, motor scooter, motorcycle scooter, petrol scooter
9 November, 2009 at 6:32 pm
The Benefits of Riding a Scooter in the United Kingdom
By Steven Beckerman
Its no small wonder why scooters are so attractive to riders in the U.K. With the credit crunch problems in full force as well as petrol and diesel prices continuing to climb, sales of scooters rose almost 5% in June alone. In fact, the price of petrol is currently up to 117.6 pence, and diesel is up to 130.5 pence. Many people are making the transition from cars to scooters. Having lower insurance and tax rates than cars is another great benefit of riding scooters. We shall now take a more in depth look into more benefits of riding scooters in the United Kingdom.
Using scooters to navigate through towns and cities is a great way to get around in the U.K. If there ever is a problem or traffic jam, you have the ability to weave in and out of traffic to avoid it. Also, scooters are very good economical investments. For example, they are fairly inexpensive to buy, you can more easily find parking, parking is free and in relation to cars, fuel costs are nominal. In fact, a research group performed tests on scooters and their petrol consumption. They drove the largest, most fuel-guzzling scooter with a 125cc size engine for 150 miles per week. They concluded that it would cost you around 420 pounds per year to fuel the scooter. Not to mention the fact that, unlike a car, the scooters environmental impact is minimal. Additionally, bicycles, motorbikes and scooters have been exempted from the congestion charge in London.
Another benefit of riding scooters in the United Kingdom is that it is better than public transportation. Trains, for example, are limited by the fact that not every town or city has a station there. Not to mention what you might have to pay just so you can get to a particular train station. Tickets may be fairly costly, depending on what time of the day it is. Then you must wait and hope it doesn't get cancelled. You must then repeat this same process on your way home. Buses, on the other hand, may be a bit better. The downside of riding buses is that they seem to go slow and stop frequently. And again, just like the trains, you are hoping that every bus shows up on time. Having taken all of this information into account, it seems that riding a scooter would allow you to travel more efficiently while using your own timetable.
Scooters are great for people who want to minimize their environmental footprint. Seeing as how cars have been such a popular form of transportation in the U.K. for so many years, many individuals believe that it is time for them to be more environmentally responsible. As cars have polluted our atmosphere and guzzled our fuel, scooters and mopeds would have the opposite effect. In fact, since scooters are smaller and lighter than cars, they use a very small and insignificant amount of fuel. This means they will also emit far less amounts of carbon dioxide as well. Not to mention your petrol costs will significantly decrease, too.
Author helps people find the best deals on Lambretta Scooters and Lambretta accessories in the United Kingdom.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steven_Beckerman
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Benefits-of-Riding-a-Scooter-in-the-United-Kingdom&id=1448543
2 November, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Razor Electric Scooter
A Razor electric scooter really is a great type of transportation although you might not realize that when you first see one. A Razor electric scooter is specially made for short distances and that may seem silly but in fact it is very smart to design a scooter for distances that are too far to walk and not long enough to warrant the use of your car. There are different types of Razor electric scooters, there are types that are specially designed for children and teens and there are Razor electric scooters you can sit on and that can be used by everybody.
A good choice for the environment
There are many reasons why a Razor electric scooter is such a smart choice and one of them is the environment. In this age of environmental crisis we know everybody is doing its best for the environment and because this scooter is a very Eco friendly way of getting around it is the perfect buy.
The Razor electric scooter uses electricity unlike other vehicles that use gasoline to power their engines. This means that you are helping to preserve the environment in your own small way because you do not contribute to carbon monoxide emissions. You only need to plug your Razor electric scooter into a power outlet, charge it and your ready to go.
A Razor electric scooter can safe you a lot of money
Not only are you helping the environment you will also be significantly cutting down on your fuel bills. You will save a great amount of gas money because you will use your Razor electric scooter for all the short distances where you would normally use your car for. You also will save a lot of money on parking tickets, a Razor electric scooter can be parked everywhere and you don't need to buy a parking ticket and that is a great advantage especially in urban areas.
Is a Razor electric scooter just for teenagers?
Because they are easy to use, easy to maneuver and they often have bright colors people think a Razor electric scooter is just for children or teens. The truth is that it has a platform that is wide enough for an adult to stand on. Still the Razor electric scooter is often used as a great gift for a teenager because it is easy enough to maneuver for a teen to use it with no problems. In fact teens would most probably find it easiest to use it as they have a greater sense of balance and agility.There are Razor Electric Scooters with a seat these are less known and are more suited for adults.
Great advantages but also great fun
The Razor electric scooter does not only have a lot of benefits but are also just plain fun to use because you can do:
- Great Razor Scooter Tricks
- You can take it with you on vacation
- You can enjoy your surroundings in a non polluting way
- They are perfect for racing games
Frank Strider loves to talk about scooters and all the things related to it. Visit his website MotorBikePlace.com if you want to find out more about a Trikke Scooter or about Razor Scooter Tricks.
Technorati Tags: Electric, razor, Razor Electric Scooter, scooter
Categories: Uncategorized
26 October, 2009 at 1:39 pm
My friend is turning 18 and she is going to invest in a bike , she really like those mini scramblers but she and I have no clue when it comes to bikes. So if she was going to get an off road bike would it be road certified ... if that makes sence or can you customize it to be road certified. Anyway any help would be great and if you do get them road certified can you point me in the direction to some?
Btw if I sound like i'm clueless , i really am. And I know some will say "tell her to get a scooter , or to not get one at all "
You can buy a pure dirt bike that comes usually a 2 stroke engine ,with a plastic gas tank ( resists dents if you drop it )and no signal lights or mirrors , they are light weight and have a longer travel suspension and knobby tires.
Or you can buy an enduro style dirt bike that is designed to be dual purpose off road and on road. The difference is they are usually 4 stroke engine (no oil mixed with gas ) they are heavier therefore stick to the road better , they have steel gas tanks , turn signals , mirrors and are certified for road use. If you buy one try to get a radiator cooled one instead of air cooed so it does not over heat when you are trail riding.
You can not convert over a pure dirt bike for road use typically , it depends on where you live , in Canada it is not allowed as it is deemed unsafe.
A good size engine to learn on would be 250 or 350 cc.
19 October, 2009 at 11:09 am
I'm wondering if I can buy a 50cc or below motor scooter and use it in the bikers lane or sidewalk (i.e. off the street) without being 16. Also, I live in Texas.
you won't find out here...pick up the telephone and call your local area DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) because that scooter IS a motor vehicle and therefore is under the jurisdiction of the cops, etc.
So give them a call!
I know in our state (NH) minors (under 16) cannot legally drive ANY vehicle with a motor-scooters, atv's, snowmobiles, etc. off their OWN private property-doesn't matter if it's in the backwoods or not-they are not supposed to go off their own land without permission of the other landowners, AND a legal adult with them. Of course, everyone ignores it-but when there's an accident or complaint-the parents get a ticket and the snowmobile or atv can be confiscated!
So find out before you buy it!
To drive ANY vehicle of any type...is a PRIVILEGE, and NOT a 'right'. So there is nothing that 'guarantees' you the right to do so!
12 October, 2009 at 6:19 am
Steve Naegle shows how to do some sick scooter moves
Duration : 0:2:2
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Technorati Tags: donut, halen, honda, jump, naegle, off, road, ruckus, scooter, steve, van
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