Thinking of getting a Scooter..any reccomendations
 

Public transport takes me about 40minutes or more to get to work, by car it is about 20 minutes, but parking is impossible. So the car is really only used on weekend trips. A scooter would be fun, and I think if I found one for cheap I could justify the cost versus $4 per day subway cost plus time saved...

I have never ridden a scooter before.

I want something simple and reliable.

Thinking of a Japanese 4 stroke. I like the Honda Elite. less than $1000 bucks.

Or should I forget it and stick to public transport and bicycling (35 minutes).

You'd ride a scooter on the streets of NYC? :eek:

I'd say you're nuts. Either get an honest-to-goodness motorcycle or pedal powered (bike).

With a motorcycle, you'll get all the benefits of good mpg, maneuverability, ability to park basically anywhere, dirt-cheap insurance, etc. AND you can run at least as quickly as traffic. I imagine on a scooter you have the penalty of being just as invisible (or more so) and a sitting duck (i.e. unable to accelerate out of a problem).

A scooter will get "squeezed" to the right-hand shoulder by drivers refusing to acknowledge you as a "real vehicle". This is probably the worst place to be when there are parked cars alongside the curb (as is usually the case on urban streets). All it takes is one idiot to fling their door open and you're going to get launched (a friend of mine had this happen on his road bicycle a while back and ended up losing his six front teeth in the resulting "rapid deceleration", along with a concussion and a busted bike). Either that or one inattentive fool pulling out of their spot without looking and you can quickly find yourself in a "tunnel" made of very solid metal vehicles that's now closed ahead of you. Not a good situation.

The ways around this are to get a motorcycle (since you can travel at or faster than traffic, you won't get "squeezed" onto the shoulder against the parked cars with vehicles in the R/H lane passing you (also a risk of clipping you with a side-view mirror, which I've had happen to me on a bicycle), or to get a bicycle and either ride on the sidewalk if possible (technically illegal, but in some places you can do it without incident if the walks are wide and not many pedestrians) or "hog the lane" and deal with the pissed off drivers.

Personally I find a bicycle preferable because you're more manuverable, but it also might or might not be an option for you at work (showers? distance involved? carrying capacity?)

Best of luck. The elites are cool scooters but for an urban setting (your sig says Brooklyn) I'd think they're suicide.

I think you have to be in a "scooter area" for them to be viable. For instance I have friends who live in Pasadena and they ride them around town. I kinda wince when I see them though...all the vulnerability of a motorcycle without the necessary handling and power. Plus people rarely wear any gear other than a helmet on them because they're "just a scooter."

NYC surface street traffic is really congested. Not often above 30-40 mph, and is often much slower. A modern 125cc scooter does 0-30 mph in about 4 sec. Should be peppy enough to keep up, slim enough to squeeze between, cheap enough to park and not worry about it getting knocked down and beat up.

That said, riding any sort of two-wheeler around NYC seems fairly nervy to me. Would definitely be wearing all the protective gear in reflective and day-glo colors, with a safety course. And plan on spending the first month(s) riding in quieter areas before plunging into full traffic.

Thanks for your comments.

I ride a Bicycle in NYC, so I understand the dangers. But I have never had any accidents. Traffic does generally move fairly slowly, except going over the bridges where speeds get above 40mph. This part of the commute seems the most dangerous.
There are plenty of people I see riding scooters around the city, just as many as motorcycles.

So any reccomendations on scooters?

A newer-ish but used scooter of sufficient size (150-250cc) is gonna run you $1200-2500. More for a vespa. Given the rough road conditions I think you will find the small diameter tires a problem. A little older bike, perhaps a dual purpose 200-250cc like any KawaSuzHonYama, would be much more logical given the conditions you're talking about riding in. Gas mileage difference would be negl;igible and the price would be lower than a scooter. Once you start getting above 40 mph or so on a scooter with small diameter tires, it can get down right skittish and braking can be an "exciting" experience.

http://www.apriliausa.com/modelli/scooter/modello.asp?id=113

badass

http://www.apriliausa.com/upload/mod...00532_0113.jpg

I was considering the same thing for a while. I settled on a motorcycle because they are much more versatile.

Buell Blast is the like the scooter of Motorcycles.

70 MPG, cheap, good starter bike.

That Aprilla actually does look badass. Damn. Great idea - but only in the right area (as has been said).

The Burgmann is pretty good. The Aprilia is better.

This drives me nuts. I constantly see women drive around town on scooters wearing heels and cropped pants, with a bag slung over their shoulder. I would venture to guess they have no idea the chance they are taking.

italianvespa.com


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1210100580.jpg

Well, Sunday I was out for a ride with the g/f on the back (she was geared up). We stopped at the little league fields on the bluff in Malibu right off PCH to stretch our legs. Up rides a guy on a crotch rocket and on the back is his g/f wearing shorts and a bikini top (and helmet...gotta be protected).

With the scooters around town, I think I've only seen one person even wearing a proper jacket. Most are in street clothes or suits, and might have a windbreaker. While they're zipping through traffic at 40+ mph. Then I see some of the bigger scooters on the freeway. Egad...

but, to be fair, this is the image that the companies project:

http://www.apriliausa.com/upload/mod...00680_0122.jpg

http://www.apriliausa.com/upload/mod.../big_00122.jpg

this certainly is a cool scoot though

http://www.apriliausa.com/upload/mod...00535_0113.jpg

[QUOTE=nostatic;3927250]but, to be fair, this is the image that the companies project:

http://www.apriliausa.com/upload/mod...00680_0122.jpg

QUOTE]

Definitely needs heels.................

You guys wear leathers/full road gear on your pedal bikes too?

nope. Just a helmet and gloves. But I can bunny hop my bicycle ;)

Those are some sticky looking tires!

In CO, you hardly ever see helmets, either.

No helmets on Harleys either, though.

(No helmet law here.)

Friend's secretery was killed last year on her Vespa riding to work in a residential area. Heels, skirt, shirt, purse only.

Yeah, I wonder what the accident rate on scooters is? Does it get lumped together with motorcycles?

With gas prices being high, there are a lot more of them around, I don't belive the flip flop no helmet wearing folks on them. Unlike a bike, you don't have the power to get out of someones way. If you bite it on a scooter, its going to hurt the same as if you bite it on a motorcycle, pavement is pavement.

Bill

Actually I would think a "step-through" scooter would be safer than a bicycle. Much easier to get-off need be in an impending collision. Add to that you're much more visible.

I think you're more visible on a bicycle, assuming you're wearing bright clothes. You're up higher. As for getting off, it depends. The thing with a bike is that it is incredibly light and you can pull off maneuvers that you can't on a scooter or a motorcycle. Plus your speeds are generally going to be lower. I'm not going to be much over 20mph around town on a bicycle, especially if I'm commuting. On a scooter, people are going to be doing 40mph easy.

Ask these guys

http://www.scooterbbs.com/

Sorry I have no specific recs. My scooter is a 30-yr old Vespa.

A scooter?!? Scooter?!? I got your scooter right here...comes with a cup-holder for your latte.

http://www.gekgo.com/images/diamo-15...retro-pink.jpg

Get a motorcycle...If you're going to get splattered by a NY taxi, you should at least make a dent in their hood:

http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/Bike%20...ckman-74-1.jpg

See this thread for inspiration:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/322909-cafe-racer-thread.html?highlight=cafe+racer

negative! the smaller diameter tires really suck in the bumpy corners! my friend had one smuggled in from japan. it was a 2 stroke so it couldnt be registered here. i loved it. the throttle was either "off" or "on". i would fly! till i almost killed myself in a corner. she bought it for $500 american, and i sold it for her to some guy as a pit bike.

also, riding with your feet in front of you, like sitting in a chair, is not as stable as straddling something. you can clamp down on the gas tank and hold on. step thru design is sketch for me.

It's one thing to go out doing 180 on your turbo'd up 'Busa, but to meet your maker in a tragic scooter accident . . . ouch.

Hey, I can bunny hop my Harley. At least it feels like I can after a few beers...

I would second (third? fourth?) the skip the scooter, get a small motorcycle advice. Scooters are about looking like some gay Italian; no more. The practicality and usefulness of a small displacement motorcycle has them beat in every respect. The power, acceleration, braking, handling, and safety derived from all of those traits is superior on the motorcycle.

Before I got married, my room mate bought one of the top of the line Honda scooters of the day (early '80's). He was adamant that he did not want a motorcycle. I rode that scooter quite a lot myself; I have never, before or since, been on such an evil little death trap. I finally convinced him to ride around on my little Kawasaki 250 dual sport that I was using as a trail bike at the time. He was simply astounded at the difference. He tried to sell his now only six month old scooter and found he could not, at least not for anywhere near what he paid for it. So he traded it back to the same Honda dealer for less than half of what he purchased it for, and rode off on a little 250 dual sport.

The salesman, after all was said and done, told him he sees it all the time. A few months on a scooter is all most folks need to convince themselves they need a motorcycle, even if it is a very small one. Just skip an unnecessary step and go straight to the motorcycle.

:D I have to admit I chuckled myself when bicycles in the city are thought to be safer than a scooter. I have ridden a full sized motorcycle in NYC and at the time wished I was on a moped/scooter. IMO, a scooter would be the PERFECT mode of transportation in NYC. I have no fear of 20mph road rash, and body armor does not exist that will keep you from getting crunched if you get t-boned by a car ;) Any vehicle that moves can be dangerous, yet somehow I and many of you here have survived without the need to buy only new cars with 20 airbags all over the place in them. Is riding a scooter more risky than driving a car? Yes, but I would feel much safer on a lightweight scooter than a heavy cruiser in slow city traffic.

I guess I must be the only one here who rides with a DOT helmet, jeans and a plain leather jacket or the only one here who would consider riding a bicycle on a sidewalk with a helmet, or would fly in a 1955 airplane, or would shoot a woodchuck out of my bedroom window with a .22 without wearing earmuffs and safety glasses, or would still snow ski without a helmet or would paddle a row boat around a pond without a life jacket. My god, how have I lived this long? :)

PS, I do wear full gear for racing MX and a helmet/life jacket when whitewater kayaking, but some of you guys take this safety stuff a bit to the extreme. :)

No argument here on the tossability of a small on/off road bike, but having ridden in "NYC", I still say a small scooter would be a very efficient way to get around and park anywhere with.

Riding a scooter is like having an ugly girlfriend.
Fun to ride, but you don't want your friends to see you on it.
Gary

As long as you ride defensively and wear proper protective gear a scooter in the city is perfectly fine. If you’re worried about how your masculinity might be affected, you already have major emotional problems. See Dr. Phil.
Scooters are as maneuverable or more so than any motorcycle, a lower center of gravity makes them easier to ride slower and they get better gas mileage than most motorcycles. Better weather protection means they are more real world usable than bicycles or motorcycles. Insurance is cheaper too.
I have a Vespa 250 that does just fine in traffic, outruns most cars stoplight to stoplight and is a classic too. A 250cc single, fuel injected, liquid cooled, dual disc brakes and 60 to 70 mpg. What is not to like?
I also have over a half million miles on "real" motorcycles and still own both a sportbike and a dual-purpose cycle, so I have seen and experienced both sides.
In NYC a scooter of sufficient size is optimum transportation for those in the know.

This reminds me of one I read in R&T some years back. A NYC car dealership, trying to gain customers, advertised a $19.95 oil and filter change. Bright & early one morn, a customer arrived, ordered the work. Said he'd pick the car up after he got out of his office. Dealership said fine. This went on for several days, same car, same guy, an oil change every day.

Finally the service manager told him that a car didn't need such frequent oil changes.

The guy said he knew that, but $20 per day was cheap parking in the city...

(edit) To stay on topic, I lusted for a Vespa or Lambretta back when I was young. Never got one...

That's just silly. Dirt is soft, and so is water. You're just a big wuss :p

Yep all that gear and I still broke collar bones three times along with my arm and ankle and you can bet I wouldn't wear a sissy life jacket and helmet in a kayak if it wasn't for those pesky currents and under water rocks! :D

The plastic stuff just makes rocks/roost thrown from other riders hurt less. Doesn't do much when it comes to bikes landing on you or high speed get-offs in the whoops resulting in arm flailing cart wheels... kind of like how road armor just cuts down on the road rash, but does not help too much when a truck runs you over or a car runs a redlight and center punches you. ;):)

Fixed it for you...

I recommend:

1. At least a Snell 90 helmet. And you are a GOD-DAMN FOOL if you ever leave the driveway without it.

2. A good life insurance policy, if you have a wife and/or kids.

-I sold my MINT condition UNRESTORED 1976 Honda CB-750-four, the one that I used to keep in my living room in Orlando...last year on eBay. Why? Simple:

In my opinion, the worst thing to ever happen to the hobby of riding motorcycles was the invention of the cellphone.

I have had SO MANY CLOSE CALLS in Fort Lauderdale in my 928 due to people trying to drive their car while on the phone that I finally felt uncomfortable while on my bike. I was always way safer of a driver on the bike than I was in the rumbling Stuttgart V8 coupe....but finally January last year this dingbat woman cut me off and that was pretty much it. I barely stopped in time, but the fact that she was on the phone when I pulled up into the turn lane at the next light [not because I wanted to turn- I wanted to give her hell!] pretty much made it come home to me.

TWO-wheeled vehicles are NOT a good idea. Motorcycle, scooter, bicycle....you are simply playing with your own life. Listen: Americans put about as much energy into driving as they do when they put something in their microwave oven. Americans regard their car as an appliance; basically, the typical US resident believes that they should insert the key into the ignition and then wait until the car stops at the grocery store.

"God-dammit! That guy on the scooter fell in front of my car! I can't believe this could happen. Sh*! This sort of thing alway happens when I'm in the middle of an important call with my neighbor, talking about that B*TCH up the block from us! Dammit, now I have to hang up on her and call 911. *****! I hope he didn't get any blood or brains on the car, my husband will kill me if I get the car dirty...!" said the dingbat.

You get the idea. Americans regard the road as the province of the car, and anything that isn't a car is subject to being run over. I know this not only from my days as the FORMER owner of a motorcycle, but from my daily 6 mile run on the back streets of Fort Lauderdale. I have to dodge cars all the time, and on occasion I get people who will ACTIVELY TRY TO RUN ME OVER.

Yes, I've had vehicles come toward me while I was running on the road, against traffic, and had people purposely aim their car at me. Last year, I called the Wilton Manors police on a company called Gulf Plating, when one of their drivers, on a two-lane road with NO sidewalk...refused to give me any room at all. I jumped off the road into a yard when the Isuzu box truck, travelling 35 mph...was about 40 feet away and obviously not going to turn into the other lane. The driver was a black man about 50 years old and he was looking right at me! When the police arrived at Gulf Plating, they initially tried to deny anything, but since I had a license plate number, they were against a wall. They eventually fired the ******* who tried to run me over.

========

I hope you are getting the idea. Buying a scooter, or any two-wheeled vehicle right now? You are literally taking your life in your hands. This is NOT a safe country for scooters, bikes or pedestrians. I applaud your notion to save fuel, but a scooter isn't the answer. Try riding the bus.

B safe!

N!

yes, climb on a 2-wheeled vehicle and you will instantly burst into FLAMES AND DIE!!!

Hand me another hamburger and fries, I'm hungry...