Would you drive a scooter to work?

[jalaram]

Highways (4 lane divided) - no
Winter or Rainy days - no
Local roads on dry warm days- yes.

I am looking into getting a scooter now, but I need to calculate if the cost savings makes it worth it.

Are there any good sites that does comparisons of various scooters?

 

[AMCRambler]

I wouldn't drive a scooter knowing the roads I have to drive. The majority of my commute is on a four lane divided road where the speed limit is between 45-55 mph with people regularly exceeding that. A scooter would certainly be too underpowered.
I have been considering a motorcycle though just for the gas savings. With a little more power and slightly bigger so more visible I'd feel way safer on a bike. I've got to wear business casual clothing to work so I'd probably be getting my khaki's dirtied up on the way in though. Guess I could always wear something over them though.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: ThePresence
Just brainstorming here. With gas prices just climbing, do you think a market will open for scooters? Someone is trying to talk me into investing in it.

It already has. A local dealership just opened up near here that carries a few different models of scooters along with Aprilia and Moto Guzzi. I stopped in there on Monday to poke around and look at the Shiver 750...a very sweet bike I might add.

There is a place just down the road that caters to scooter riders if you can believe that and the place is pretty jammin every time I ride by there.

My Suzuki gets 50mpg though so I'm not looking at a scooter.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: JS80
my wife won't let me

Wuss

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
If I lived close to work sure. But most people commute and drive on the highway; I would never ride a scooter on a highway.

When you say highway how fast and how many lanes are you talking here?

4 lanes, 60 mph posted speed limit. 70-85 mph is what most people do.

 

[OUCaptain]

Originally posted by: Jumpem
No. I value my self respect.

fixed

I prefer to keep my man card

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: OUCaptain

Originally posted by: Jumpem
No. I value my self respect.

fixed

I prefer to keep my man card

I'd feel more like man if I used the money I'd be saving in gas to hang out more often at my local Cigar Bar. I still won't do it because of safety, commute distance, and weather reasons though.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Descartes
In Atlanta? Absolutely not.

I was actually looking at this. I live on the north side of Atlanta and my commute is from Norcross to Alpharetta so I don't have to hit the major highways. Unfortunately, Peachtree Parkway is part of my commute and it is a 4 lane road where speeds can hit 65mph. Scooters get up to about 60mph and that's probably pushing it. I'm not sure I'd want to be on the road with cars at that speed.

If my commute was only on roads that was 45mph or less, I would definitely consider one at the current gas prices.

 

[jalaram]

On one scooter site, I saw this info (may be helpful)

We recommend a 250cc scooter for daily commutes that are over 10 miles each way or include interstate or highway.

A 50cc scooter gets about 100 MPG. A 150cc scooter gets 70 to 80 miles per gallon. A 250cc scooter will get about 50 to 65MPG.

 

[The Sauce]

I live rurally and commute 4-5 miles to work every day on my bicycle, weather permitting. I haven't started my car in over a week and last filled it about 6 weeks ago. I enjoy the ride and hopefully am getting some good exercise as well. Unfortunately about once a week some redneck will run-up on me, blow the horn and yell "bicycle i love you!" But other than this its all-in-all a good experience and saves a lot of money.

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: OUCaptain

Originally posted by: Jumpem
No. I value my self respect.

fixed

I prefer to keep my man card

I'd feel more like man if I used the money I'd be saving in gas to hang out more often at my local Cigar Bar. I still won't do it because of safety, commute distance, and weather reasons though.

I find it funny that people are THAT insecure about themselves that they feel riding a scooter would somehow be belittling themselves.

 

[spacejamz]

Originally posted by: sirjonk
scooters are like fat chicks. they're fun to ride until your friends see you.

actually, it is funnier if you completed the phrase...

They are fun to ride until your friends see you on one.

 

[mjh]

Hell yeah!

I am thinking about buying one just to cruise around town (the highest speed limit in my town is 35 mph).

People who knock scooters likely have never ridden one, and don't realize that they are a blast to ride!

 

[Gooberlx2]

What kind of mileage does the average scooter in the <$2000 range get? Say a Vespa or a Honda? If it's not significantly better than some used motorcycle (like say a 1979 Yamaha XS650, which I noticed when perusing craigslist) then no.

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: Gooberlx2
What kind of mileage does the average scooter in the <$2000 range get? Say a Vespa or a Honda? If it's not significantly better than some used motorcycle (like say a 1979 Yamaha XS650, which I noticed when perusing craigslist) then no.

It's already been listed in this thread. Read up.

 

[imported_Dingster1]

Silverwing for the wtin! I walk to work and ride my bike(bicycle) every where else except church

 

[imported_Dingster1]

Silverwing for the wtin! I walk to work and ride my bike(bicycle) every where else except church

 

[RKS]

Just to warn you would- be scooter riders; my wife drives a full size SUV with a bullbar. She is often busy talking on the phone while sipping some type of coffee-based stimulant.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: Homerboy

Originally posted by: Gooberlx2
What kind of mileage does the average scooter in the <$2000 range get? Say a Vespa or a Honda? If it's not significantly better than some used motorcycle (like say a 1979 Yamaha XS650, which I noticed when perusing craigslist) then no.

It's already been listed in this thread. Read up.

So would a motorcycle get the same MPG...assuming the same size engine? And the main difference is just riding style? I don't know shit about motorcycles or scooters.

 

[OUCaptain]

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: OUCaptain

Originally posted by: Jumpem
No. I value my self respect.

fixed

I prefer to keep my man card

I'd feel more like man if I used the money I'd be saving in gas to hang out more often at my local Cigar Bar. I still won't do it because of safety, commute distance, and weather reasons though.

Pulling up to the Cigar Bar on a scooter will get you no street cred.

250 cc is the minimum displacement required to maintain full testicle ownership rights.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: Homerboy

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: OUCaptain

Originally posted by: Jumpem
No. I value my self respect.

fixed

I prefer to keep my man card

I'd feel more like man if I used the money I'd be saving in gas to hang out more often at my local Cigar Bar. I still won't do it because of safety, commute distance, and weather reasons though.

I find it funny that people are THAT insecure about themselves that they feel riding a scooter would somehow be belittling themselves.

:thumbsup:

 

[legoman666]

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Originally posted by: loki8481
I'd have to think, when your commute is so short that you'd think about riding a scooter, gas prices are probably negligible anyways.

I commute about a mile to work... that 1 tank of gas a month isn't really stressing my budget, especially since with a scooter, I'd still have to use my car a lot anyways for shopping trips / going up north to visit my friends/parents.

People do that all the time on a bicycle.

I do. And I can only carry what fits in my backpack. If I need to buy a decent amount of food, I take my car even though its about a 2 minute bike ride to the grocery store.

 

[Scarpozzi]

A new scooter can cost anywhere from $1500-3000. My annual gasoline consumption per year for my car is $1500. If I bought a scooter, I would have to drive it daily for 3 years to save any money. (not counting my car's average depreciation and the loss of me not depreciating that asset as fast as I had normally planned)

 

[ric1287]

only on my fall foliage tour through maine

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: legoman666

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Originally posted by: loki8481
I'd have to think, when your commute is so short that you'd think about riding a scooter, gas prices are probably negligible anyways.

I commute about a mile to work... that 1 tank of gas a month isn't really stressing my budget, especially since with a scooter, I'd still have to use my car a lot anyways for shopping trips / going up north to visit my friends/parents.

People do that all the time on a bicycle.

I do. And I can only carry what fits in my backpack. If I need to buy a decent amount of food, I take my car even though its about a 2 minute bike ride to the grocery store.

Haven't you heard of bike trailers ?