So like a hundred years ago (okay, maybe it was 10) my friend Joni got an Atomic Fireball Genuine Stella scooter for Easter. She claimed the Easter Bunny brought it. Which is a fabulous image in itself: giant fluffy bunny ripping around the alleys of Seattle on a collectible two-stroke scooter with a flame job.

From the Genuine website:

Ferrara Pan Candies and Genuine Scooters present: Atomic Fireball Stella!

They’re here and going fast (and will go fast for you as well!) so contact your Genuine Dealer and put a deposit down soon! The Atomic Fireball Stella features a racing-style seat, yellow powdercoated rims, red powdercoated hubs, custom flame graphics, “raised” gearing for higher top speeds, Fireball mudflap, new grips, a coin tray, and more… It’s the hottest scooter on the block!

I mean, the coin tray even comes filled with Fireball candies for the love of God.

We dubbed the new scooter “Arson” and she rode him quite a bit that following summer. I lusted after that scooter with a ferocity I only experienced with the Frankenstella when we were  young.

There were 150 of these Atomic Fireball Stellas made in 2005, so there are a few floating around that hit the market every few months, sometimes even within driving-distance. So I started a Fireball fund in case my stars aligned and I had both access and means.

When my funding threshold was reached, I told Joni. In a cruel twist of fate, she revealed that she’d sold Arson that morning to a fellow in Idaho.

Timing has never been my forte.

I moped a bit over the loss of Arson. But the following spring I received an email from the fellow who purchased Arson. He discovered Scooter Lust while looking for information on the Atomic Fireball Stella and he wrote to see if I was interested in buying the Fireball back. Was I?! The stack of bills nestled in my mattress says yes.

But fate twisted cruelly again and this particular fellow decided to keep the scooter and not sell it after all. Something about his kids pitching a fit when they found out he listed it.

I continued to monitor my various sources of Fireball scooter classifieds over the next year hoping for one in the Pacific Northwest. Nada. Until I pulled up an ad for Arson — MY Arson — on Boise Craigslist. WTF? Really? So I email this guy and tell him I want the damn scooter but I need two weeks to get the rest of the money. He tells me it’s urgent he unload this thing — the very same scooter he refused to sell me for the past two years — so he can’t wait.

A week later the ad is taken down so I assume Arson is gone.

Another scooting season passes and I’m back on the classifieds search for an Atomic Fireball Stella (slightly saddened because it won’t be Arson, but oh well). When what I’m sure is Arson shows up on scoot.net. I know it’s him because the photo posted in the ad is one I took in Joni’s back yard.

THIS GUY! I’m at the end of my rope with this guy. I tell him I’m coming to pick up the damn scooter and if he sells it to anyone else he’s going to regret that decision for the rest of his brief and painful life.

So I present you: Arson!

God, this machine just curls my little toes. I mean, look at it!!!

Don’t you just love a happy ending?

[ featured photo credit: Frank Kuzmanich. Who’s an amazing photographer, especially if he can make me look like a superhero! }

One of the main reasons I originally got a scooter was because I could park it at work for less than $1 a day, compared with $8 a day for cars. Combined with the fabulous gas mileage, riding a scooter to work can be cheaper than taking the bus! (And less nauseating, if you get violent motion sickness like me.)

After ten years and three major cities, I’ve learned a few tips and tricks for scooter parking that I’d like to share with you now. If you have secured garage parking with a designated scooter space, consider yourself lucky and go read a different post.

1. Learn the Local Laws

Before you park anywhere, investigate the laws in your town and make sure you understand them. Parking fines negate any money saved by riding a scooter, and in my city, those fines can break the bank. Most parking and traffic laws are outlined in depth on city and county web sites.

2. Park Correctly!

I have a really big pet peeve: incorrect scooter street parking. This offense is usually illustrated by parking head-in to the curb, or parallel to the curb – as though the scooter is a miniature car.

The reason this drives me mad is that it’s one of the first things discussed in any state cycle manual or safety course. So if your Vespa ET4 is parked facing the curb, you didn’t read the manual. Which also means you didn’t take a safety course, or get a cycle endorsement, so you’re riding illegally, endangering my life, and giving scooterists everywhere a bad name. Knock it off, go home, and read the manual.

Okay, I’m stepping down from my soap box now.

3. Don’t Ask the Cops

In my experience, few law enforcement individuals are able to correctly answer parking questions. Sometimes I ask them a question I already know the answer to. They give the wrong answer about half the time. This explains why I’ve been able to park illegally on the sidewalk without a single ticket, while racking up fines for legal use of street space. Nobody really knows what’s allowed. Whether or not I get a ticket on any given day has more to do with who’s patrolling that street and what kind of mood they’re in.

A friend of mine saw this firsthand in court, when she went to fight a scooter parking ticket. The judge and the cop couldn’t even agree. Her argument was, “If neither of you can explain the law, how am I supposed to follow it?” Good point. So seek out and learn the rules yourself. That way if you do get a ticket, you can point out Ordinance 28.9.1 and say, “Toldya so.”

4. Respect Other Vehicles

Being a slender and spritely two-wheeler, it’s easy to forget that other vehicles aren’t so nimble. When squeezing in behind that parallel-parked car, be sure to leave enough room for the driver to pull out easily. It doesn’t further the cause of scooters to block other drivers in. Plus, you could end up with a towed scooter, or worse – a damaged one.

5. Use Space Wisely

In retail parking lots, like at the grocery store, you can often find a place to tuck your scoot without taking up a whole car space. Often times there’s triangular spaces at the end of rows, or half-spots in front of cement light posts. If you use these pseudo spots, be sure to stay inside the painted lines, which designate manuevering room for cars. Otherwise you could get side-swiped by an unknowing driver coming around the corner.

If you have to use a regular car space, be sure to park in a manner that discourages other vehicles from trying to squeeze in alongside you, only to knock your scooter over. I park facing out, so if someone thinks the space is open and pulls in, the headlight can alert them of their error. My untested theory says that if they hit my scooter head-on, they are less likely to knock it over; hitting it from behind will push it off the kick stand and topple it. Luckily, I’ve never needed to verify this hypothesis.

6. Don’t Use a Car Space if You Don’t Have To

I’m not here to philosophize about the inherent rights of individual vehicles or personal karma. I am here to help you keep your scooter upright and in one piece. Be forewarned: in a crowded, high-traffic parking lot, cage drivers get ticked off if they see a scooter parked in one of “their” spaces – even when the scooter is parked legally and has every right to be there.

I’ve gotten my share of threatening Nasty-grams left on my scooter by cage drivers. On more than one occasion, I have had my scooter removed from its legal spot and disposed of in order to free up the parking space for a car. Once it was tossed into a planted parking strip, and another time it was tossed off a bridge into a river.

These occurences made me very angry and I would hate for them to happen to you. I now invest a little extra effort seeking a low-profile space, like behind a dumpster or similiar, when parking at a concert, sporting event, or similiar gig with abundant alcohol.

7. Avoid Parking on Hills

Don’t park on a hill unless you have to, mainly because it’s difficult. On a very steep incline, it’s hard to back your scooter into the curb since it doesn’t have reverse. You may also find it challenging to get your scooter off the kick stand. This all depends on your scooter, of course. I try to avoid parking my 350 pound Vespa GTS on a hill.

I almost never park my Genuine Stella on a hill. Every time I do, the spark plug gets soaked with oil and the scooter is nearly impossible to start without swapping the plug, which is a drag when you’ve got chrome cowl protectors on. My mechanic told me this is a common problem with two-stroke scooters. If anyone has a remedy for this, I’m all ears.

8. Smile at the Lot Attendant

I’ve had many great experiences using parking lots downtown and I rarely have to pay for them. One lot I use regularly has a shallow space on each floor where the support beams are. It’s the width of a car and the depth of a scooter, so there’s often five or six of us parked there. The lot manager assured me that the free scooter parking was due not to the generosity of the owner but to the limitations of the technology; the attendants couldn’t print a violation for a space that lacks a stall number.

Often times I ask the lot attendant if they have anywhere I can “tuck my scooter” and they direct me to a nook or cranny free of charge. One older guy at a lot I frequent is a motorcycle rider and fiercely guards the cycles in his charge. That lot has a large space in front where scooters, bicycles and motorcycles can park for free.

9. Find Street Parking for Cycles

Seattle is undergoing changes to the parking structure, and the Department of Transportation held a hearing for scooters. Supposedly, they are trying to make the city more scooter friendly. It has its moments. Downtown features a handful of spots specifically for cycles, each with its own meter at a discounted rate. Your city may have a similiar area, especially if you live in San Francisco.

The benefit of designated spaces is, of course, the discounted rate. (The feeling of entitlement is a bonus.) In cities with park-and-pay kiosks, as opposed to actual meters, scooters get shafted. Four scooters parked together occupy the space of one car, but all four have to pay full price for the privelege.

When using a park-and-pay kiosk, attach the receipt to your headlight. Not only is that the legal place for it, but you’ll avoid removing any paint or leaving sticky residue on your scooter. I always keep a permanent marker in my glovebox and write my license plate number on the parking receipt, along with the word “cycle.” Theoretically, this should dissuade anyone from stealing my receipt to use in their own vehicle.

10. Park Near Other Scooters

Safety in numbers – it’s as simple as that. Plus – don’t they look so pretty all lined up together?

Sometimes tricky and sometimes a breeze, scooter parking in the city is always an adventure. Follow these guidelines and you’ll score a sweet spot while staying out of trouble.

Have any secrets of your own? Please share! I promise not to steal your spot.

When calculating this important answer, you need to look at much more than just purchase price. It’s easy to overlook the price of required necessities like registration, a helmet, and first service.

Here’s what to expect when budgeting for your new purchase, including a real-world example.

Dealer Costs and Charges

When you buy at a dealership, additional costs are tacked on to the manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP). Fees will vary by dealer, so be sure to ask yours for specifics. Here’s a rundown of possible expenses:

Set-up fees

These are the fees the dealer charges to get your scooter ready to take home. It can include unpacking the scooter, connecting all the lines and wiring, putting gas in it, charging the battery, and making sure it starts and runs. Start-up fees run an average of $300-$500.

Shipping

Freight or shipping is the cost of getting the scooter from the manufacturer to the showroom, or from the showroom to your home. The charge is also sometimes called “crating fee.”

If you are picking the scooter up at the dealership, you may or may not see this charge. Some dealers may fold this cost into the set-up fees. Others only charge shipping fees on special orders. If you can’t pick your scooter up at the dealership and need to have it delivered, the shipping will definitely cost extra.

Shipping fees run $150 to $500, depending on the distance and the dealer. Of course, overseas purchases cost even more to ship.

Registration

This is the cost of registering your scooter with your local deparment of motor vehicles and it’s what gets you your license plate, and/or your “tabs.” Another state-dependent fee, usually in the neighborhood of $50. States vary in their registration requirements. Some don’t require plates on 50cc scooters, some do. Check with your local DMV or DOL for state-specific details.

Title Fee

Your local department of motor vehicles charges to transfer the title from the dealer to you (or to your lienholder if you are financing your purchase). This charge varies by state but runs about $15 – $25 and is often added in with the Registration cost.

Sales Tax

If you have required sales tax in your area, this will be added to the purchase price. If you buy in a place that doesn’t have sales tax but you register the scooter in a place that does, you’ll still pay sales tax. For example, Washington has sales tax (a hefty 8.9%), but Oregon doesn’t. Even if I buy my scooter in Oregon, I will be charged Washington sales tax (or a “use tax”) when I register it here.

Scooter Insurance Policy

I consider insurance a required start-up cost, even though it’s not legally required everywhere. For example, my home state of Washington does not require insurance on scooters or motorcycles. However, as far as I’m concerned, insurance is a requirement.

Buying a cycle insurance policy, or adding your scooter to your existing auto policy, is dirt cheap and you would be a total moron to waive this protection. There are simply too many big risks out there to save $12 a month. So do yourself a favor and insure your vehicle. It only takes one phone call and fifteen minutes of your time.

If you are financing your scooter, comprehensive insurance coverage will be required by your bank or financing company. You will also need to provide them with proof of insurance once you get it. They give you a week or two to get coverage before they come take their scooter back.

Early Scooter Service

New scooters require their first service soon after purchase because the mechanic needs to be sure the engine is “run in” properly. Properly running-in your engine increases its life and the scooter’s reliability. Your owner’s manual should outline recommendations for running-in the scooter. For example, you want to avoid running it for long periods at full-throttle

Many models require the first service at around 600 miles. I put that milegage on my Vespa GTS the first week I had it. (I couldn’t help it – it was way too fun to ride!)

Routine scheduled service like this is not covered by your factory warranty. In fact, it’s usually required by your factory warranty in order to initiate coverage. Adhering to the manufacturer suggested service schedule is also required to keep your warranty valid going forward.

The cost of service varies depending on the model and your location, but the first service appointment will usually be around $150 and take an hour.

If you continue to rack up the mileage, the next service at 1200 miles can come up rather quickly. But skipping the early services will cost you more further down the line – and void your warranty – so be sure to have them done on schedule.

Essential Riding Gear

You’ll need a helmet and a pair of gloves at the very least, even if you decide to invest in the rest of the gear further down the road. A good helmet can be expensive – from $75 up to $300 or more depending on the kind. This is one area you should really splurge, because your brain can be pretty important to your quality of life.

Gloves do way more than just keep your hands warm. They improve grip and handling, protect your hands from debris, shield you from wind, rain and sun, and save your skin and bones should you go down.

Riding gloves can potentially increase your visibility if you wear gloves with reflective elements. (I’m a big fan of GloGlovs.) A good pair of gloves can run from $30 into the hundreds.

Scooter Cost Breakdown – Real World Example

Just to give you an idea of what you’re looking at when purchasing a new scooter, here are my personal details on my last factory-fresh purchase – a 2008 Vespa GTS 250cc scooter.

• MSRP: $5,999.00
• Dealer set-up: $500.00
• Title: $25.50
• Registration: $63.75
• Sales tax: $587.75
• TOTAL purchase price: $7,176

• Insurance premium: $128.00 (paid once annually)
• New helmet: $136.50
• New gloves: $27.50
• First service: $172.50 (1 week after purchase)
• TOTAL start-up costs: $464.60

So the total cost of buying my new Vespa and all the start-up requirements was $7,640.

Which, you can see, is a little bit different than the MSRP of $5,999.

Keep in mind that the GTS is at the top of the new scooter price range. So if you’re buying a 50cc Buddy Scooter, for example, the MSRP would be $1,999 and the related costs proportionately lower.

When picking your price range and deciding on a budget, don’t forget to add these essentials into your calculations. You’ll also want to think about the non-required scooter start-up costs like topcases and windscreens, many of which you won’t want to live without!

Scooter cargo space is essential, whether you’re commuting to work, grocery shopping, or even toting your significant other to the movies. Let’s take a look at the cargo carrying capabilities of various scooters to help you decide which models meet your needs.

Scooters vary in their ability to carry cargo or store items like helmets and covers. You’ll find some scooters pre-installed with enough options to suit your needs, and others will come as a blank canvas with a wide array of add-ons available to help you haul your goods.

Even if you don’t need all your storage solutions immediately, be sure your potential scooter has options for expanding to accomodate your lifestyle. Read on for the details.

What Do You Need to Carry?

When deciding how much cargo space you need, it’s helpful to think about how you’ll be using your scooter. If you’re an urban professional using your scooter for commuting, you likely have different needs than the avid camper using their scooter as a get-away vehicle.

As an active girl on the go, my scooter needs lots of storage options to support my myriad activities. On a typical day, I have my messenger bag with laptop, a canvas tote of groceries, an extra layer of clothing, two helmets and extra pair of gloves. (I’ve also been known to cart home Ikea purchases on my Vespa GTS using packing twine laced through the scooter’s chrome crash bars.)

When I got my Vespa GTS, “Aphrodite,” the only storage space she had was the under-seat compartment and a factory-installed mini rear rack. The rack provided about enough space for a box of cereal – not very useful when you’re doing all your grocery shopping on two-wheels.

I decided a topcase, or rear trunk, would be best for some of my items. Topcases come in many sizes and colors, lock shut to protect your cargo, and are water resistant (not waterproof, as I discovered at the car wash!). If the scooter you have in mind features a rear rack – or the ability to have one installed – a topcase may be a great option for you.

The Vespa brand topcase I bought came with hardware that bolted directly to Aphrodite’s existing rear rack. My topcase fits two 3/4 helmets plus a small tote. When the helmets are on our heads, the topcase fits my large messenger bag and a picnic blanket. It’s the perfect size for my needs.

I chose a Vespa brand topcase because it had a passenger backrest and matched the color of my scooter – metallic midnight blue. But there are other manufacturers with universal product lines that fit most scooters, and they will likely be much cheaper. You pay extra for that Vespa logo!

To further expand my cargo carrying capabilities, I installed a front chrome rack on the GTS which is great for carrying a bedroll or bag of groceries. I’ve even used it to carry flats of flowers home from the nursery.

Scooter Cargo Capabilities Vary

Some scooters don’t offer much in the way of storage aside from the rear rack and topcase option, but you may just need a spot to tuck a small bag of goodies on your way home from the store. Stella scooters and P-series Vespas have an amazing array of add-ons available, from front racks to glove box trays and luggage rolls that mount on the rear rack.

Genuine Buddys also have quite a selection of both front- and rear-mounting storage options, so any of these scooters could easily meet your cargo needs.

One of the most cargo-friendly scooters I’ve found is the Honda Big Ruckus, which has a fold-down passenger seat that makes way for an enormous storage area and easily accommodates double rear luggage carriers so you can fit everything you need for a weekend in the woods – tent included!

Storage Standard on Most Scooters

Most scooters include the following cargo carrying capabilities, but their size and functionality vary scooter to scooter so be sure you examine a few different models to get an idea of what’s available.

• Mini Rear Rack

  Most scooters come with a small rear rack already installed just behind the seat. You can strap your bag to that with bungee cords, attach a chrome bicycle-style basket, or go for the cheapie ubiquitous milk crate secured with zip-ties.

  I’ve seen some pretty creative rear rack solutions, including a Stella with a garbage can bolted to the rear rack – perfect for filling with ice and refreshments to be enjoyed at the destination after a long ride. If you opt for an add-on topcase (covered below), it will be mounted to this mini rear rack.

• Glove box

  The glove box of some scooters is just big enough for, well, your gloves – and little else. If there’s room, the glove box is a great spot for a mini tool kit. (In fact, some new scooters come with a tool kit stashed the glove box.)

  Some glove boxes offer more cargo space than others; I can fit my small messenger bag in the glove box of my Stella, along with a fleece hoodie, while the glove box of my Vespa ironically lacks room for even my gloves. I do have big hands, but still.

• Helmet & grocery hooks

  You may find a hook under the edge of your seat or even on the legshield of your scooter that’s capable of hanging your helmet on while you’re in the store and a small bag of groceries when you come out.

  These hooks can be handy while parked, but bags can interfere with your feet while riding – especially dangerous if your scooter has a foot brake. Before you hit the road, it’s wisest to secure your cargo to the appropriate rack where it’s out of your way.

Under-seat storage

Not all cargo space is created equal! The under seat compartment may be roomy and perfect for your sweatshirt, but not for your ice cream. Why? In many scooters, the engine is located just below it. The under seat storage provides a toasty spot to stick your gloves when you park so they’re warm when you put them back on.

But stow the wrong groceries under the seat and you’ll arrive home with par-boiled produce. In fact, there’s a recipe for Helmet Bucket Chili which you can make in your Vespa under-seat compartment. I’ve had better chili, but you can’t beat the novelty of cooking in your scooter.

The under-seat storage is a great spot to store your helmet, if it fits. I have four helmets and only one fits under the seat of my GTS. But Aphrodite’s under-seat storage compartment is spacious enough for my rain gear, an extra fleece layer and a selection of bungee cords.

The Stella and P-series Vespas have no under-seat storage because the gas tank is located there, but as I mentioned earlier, the glove box is very roomy on these scooters to compensate.

If the scooter you have in mind doesn’t quite meet your cargo-carrying needs, never fear! There are tons of accessories you can have your dealer or shop install – or you can do it yourself. Check the scooter manufacturer to find out if the accessories are available for the model you’ve got your eye on. Popular scooters like Vespas, Buddys and Stellas have limitless possibilities for cargo add-ons.

Secure Your Cargo and Be Safe!

One last note – no matter what you’re carrying or where you’re carrying it, always secure your load safely. Be careful of where your load is situated – down low and toward the back makes for the most stable ride. Make sure the weight of your cargo is balanced evenly on the scooter, and never exceed the weight recommendations of various racks.

Improperly stowed cargo can endanger your life. I’ll post soon on best practices for carrying cargo safely.

New scooters come with added peace of mind: a warranty and a known history. But you’ll pay a premium for it. If saving money is your number one goal, a used scooter may be a better bet. Still, buying new has definite charms and may provide benefits you haven’t considered. Let’s have a look.

Benefits of Buying a New Scooter

Here are some items for your “pros” list.

A new scooter is just… NEW!

It’s flawless and shiny and mine all mine!

New scooters provide instant gratification

You can decide what model you want, walk into the dealership, and ride it home an hour later. No need to search the classified ads or wait for your perfect match on craigslist.

New scooters come with a full factory warranty

Depending on the manufacturer, your scooter may come with a 1- or 2-year warranty. You may also have the opportunity to buy an extended warranty from the dealer if you want one. Some manufacturers, like Vespa, add on roadside assistance.

Coverage like this can supply great peace of mind, especially if you are relying on your scoot as your sole mode of transport or are concerned about breaking down in the sketchy part of town.

I cover my personal experience with warranties (and lack of thereof) here.

You can finance your new scooter

If you don’t have the cash handy to swing your new purchase, many dealers offer financing. The interest rate tends to be much higher than a car since scooters are usually considered “recreational vehicles.”

But you may also be able to participate in a manufacturer financing deal when they’re offered, like the like Vespa Spring Sales Event that got me on my new GTS a couple years ago.

Drawbacks of Buying New

There are two sides to any argument. Here are some items for the “cons” portion of our list.

New scooters are more expensive

New scooters cost more than used scooters, plain and simple.

New scooters lose value quickly

Like most vehicles, scooters lose a big chunk of their value the second you ride them off the lot. Even six months later, your scooter will be worth about 20% less just because it’s “used.” Keep this in mind if you intend to upgrade or re-sell your scooter.

You pay dealer set-up fees on a new scooter

Dealers charge “set up fees” on new scooters, and some charge freight or shipping as well (even if the scooter was shipped way before you came along).

Set-up fees can run $300 – $600 and are sometimes rolled into the “tax, title and administrative” fees. MSRP doesn’t tell the whole story.

You have limited negotiating power at the dealership

While you can go to a private sale with a wad of cash in your hand and talk the seller down, you have limited negotiating power at the dealership on brand new scooters. In a down economy, you will probably have more pull in the showroom, but the MSRP is not terribly flexible.

New scooters require early service

New scooters require a few regularly scheduled service appointments in the beginning as they “run in.” These are around the 500, 1000 and 3000 mile mark, and include service like oil and filter changes, which are required to keep your warranty valid.

Service is not normally included in the purchase price of the scooter and can add an additional $400 – $500 to your first year of ownership.

My Vespa GTS needed the 500- and 1000-mile service the first month of ownership, so keep that in mind if you plan to do a lot of riding. And trust me, you’ll want to do a lot of riding!

It hurts more when it gets scuffed up

If you drop your scooter or it gets bumped in a parking lot, it hurts more if it’s new. This may seem like a lame reason to buy a used scooter, but lots of newbies put their scooters down the first year of ownership.

It might be worth considering a used scooter you can scratch up a little while learning to ride without wanting to kick yourself. It’s very hard to see your flawless, glossy custom paint job mucked up. As always, I speak from highly personal experience.

Ultimately, your decision comes down to your comfort level and your price point. Be sure to review the pros and cons of buying a used scooter before you decide. Do you like to gamble or do you want the sure thing? Only you can answer that one.

Measuring Scooter Power

Scooter power is determined mainly by the engine displacement, which is measured in cc’s (cubic centimeters). The more cc’s you have, the more power you have. The more power you have, the faster you can go and the quicker you can get up to speed. More power also allows you to carry more weight, in human or cargo form.

As the engine power increases, so does the physical size and purchase price of the scooter. The majority of scooters on the road are between 50cc and 250cc, but a few models now come in 300cc, 500cc – or even more! These scooters on the high end of the cc range are often referred to as “maxi scooters.”

Maxi scooters aside, scooters are generally available in 50cc, 125cc, 150cc, 200cc and 250cc. There are a few oddballs out there, like the 80cc Honda Elite CH80 and the 300cc Vespa GTS. The 125cc scooter was less common until Genuine started making the popular 125cc Buddy.

How Much Power do YOU Need?

To decide how much power your scooter needs, ask yourself:

The Big 50cc Mistake

50cc scooters are the entry level into the world of scooting. If you’re lightweight and will be sticking to 25 m.p.h. city streets, a 50cc may do the trick. But getting a 50cc scooter because you don’t want to bother getting a cycle endorsement on your driver’s license is not a smart move.

You should get a 50cc scooter because you’ve assessed your needs and found that it meets them, not because the license endorsement is waived.

States vary in their licensing laws, but most require a cycle endorsement to operate a two-wheeled vehicle. Some states waive this requirement for scooters 50cc’s and under. This implies, incorrectly, that 50cc scooters are safer than 125cc scooters because they are slower, and therefore don’t require training to operate.

This is a dangerous fallacy. Most scooter collisions are not directly caused by speed – they are caused by oncoming vehicles turning in front of you at an intersection. This is true of 50cc scooters, 150cc scooters – and even 1200cc motorcycles.

Every rider should take the cycle safety course, regardless of the size of their scooter. Riding a scooter can be significantly more dangerous than driving a car because little mistakes can be deadly. There are no “fender benders” in the world of two-wheels.

The safety course will teach you how to avoid obstacles and stay as visible as possible to other vehicles. Assuming you pass the course, you’ll be awarded your cycle endorsement at the end of it anyway.

Take the safety course, whether or not it’s required.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s assess your needs.

Adequate Power Can Save Your Life

A scooter that provides you with adequate engine power is essential. How much power you need depends on you and your riding conditions. I may need 250cc, while 125cc may be more than enough for your circumstances. Your scooter should provide you with enough power to get you where you need to go, and to:

Keep up with the flow of traffic

Think about the speed limit of the roads you’re likely to travel on. You need to be able to keep up with the flow of traffic to ride safely. If you are riding significantly slower than the cars on the road, you increase your likelihood of being passed unsafely or being struck from behind.

Don’t forget that many of the cars around you will be traveling much faster than the speed limit. The fewer cars that pass you in your lane, the safer your trip is. Nothing is more terrifying than riding open-throttle, as fast as you can, with SUVs whizzing past you on either side.

Accelerate out of danger

A good rule of thumb: whatever roads you’re riding on should allow you to travel 10 m.p.h. under your scooter’s maximum speed. This leaves you enough accelerating power to dodge obstacles or zip out of the path of a vehicle.

I have been saved countless times by the pick-up power available to me on my 250cc scooter when a car changed lanes without seeing me and I was able to zip out of the way. Likewise for avoiding enormous potholes or litter in the road.

Adequate Power Can Increase Enjoyment

If you know you have enough oomph in your engine to keep up with the flow of traffic (including when you take a wrong turn and accidentally end up on a major artery), accelerate out of the way of danger, and deftly whisk you and your passenger up any hill your city throws at you, you will relax and enjoy the ride.

You will also have more fun if you choose to participate in group rides knowing you can keep up with everyone. Having a scooter with enough power to meet your needs is simply more enjoyable to ride.

Personally, I think 125cc is a good starting point for most people. Add more zip if you’re carrying passengers (150cc or more), and if you’ll be traveling on roads with speed limits of 45 – 50 m.p.h. If you want to get on the highway, you’ll need at least 200cc. On the highway with a passenger, 250cc.

But remember that larger engines are heavier and tend to come with physically bigger scooters, so keep those points in mind.

Also, I don’t recommend carrying passengers until you’ve had quite a bit of on-road experience.

How About an Example?

To give you an idea of how to assess your situation, here’s how I chose my scooter engine power.

My first scooter was an 80cc. I could carry a passenger, but there were spots along my normal routes when my friend had to dismount at the bottom of a hill and meet me at the top if I wanted to make it up. So when I decided to upgrade, I knew I needed at least 125cc’s (the next step up from an 80cc scooter).

First, I assessed my cargo load:

• I am six feet tall and I weigh 165 pounds
• I frequently carry passengers heavier than me
• I do grocery shopping and carry weighty items like bags of potting soil and cases of bottled water

This puts me at a minimum of 150cc.

Then I assessed the roads I travel on:

• I live in Seattle, where some of the hills are so steep there are stairs built into the sidewalks
• I travel on state routes with a speed limit of 50 m.p.h., so I need to keep up with traffic going at least that fast
• I participate in frequent group rides and want to be able to keep up with everyone without any trouble

Figuring these three points into my heavy cargo load, I could probably get by with 200cc. But I want enough power left over to accelerate out of danger and get on the Interstate if I have to. So my optimal engine size is a minimum of 250cc.

My Vespa GTS has a 250cc engine, and I use every cc of that with glee. I feel safe when riding that scooter and I don’t worry about keeping up with traffic. I can ride 2-up on the state routes and still have enough zip to keep me and my passenger out of the way of trouble.

Because I’m confident in the ability of my GTS to deliver when I need it most, I relax and enjoy the ride. That said, I’m looking forward to upgrading to the 300cc GTS soon!

I also have a 150cc Genuine Stella scooter that I only ride when I know I won’t be pressured to perform, and I keep off the freeways. Riding solo, the Stella’s maximum speed is 50 m.p.h. — with the throttle wide open, the wind at my back, riding in the direction of the Earth’s rotation.

My maximum speed riding 2-up on the Stella is about 45 m.p.h., and it takes us a looong time to get up to that speed. We’ll make it up that hill, you may just want to grab a cup of coffee while you wait for us. So I stick to roads with a speed limit of 40 m.p.h., which leaves me enough oomph to dodge a bullet should the need arise.

Give it some thought when deciding what size engine you need. If you choose wisely and get the scooter that meets your daily needs, you’ll be scooting safely and happily for a long time to come.

Of course, it’s possible to be a safe and happy scooterist even if you’re the only one in town, there’s no designated scooter parking, and the nearest repair shop is a day’s drive away. But the more scooter-friendly the area where you live is, the easier and more fun owning and riding your scooter will be.

Here are some of the characteristics of a scooter friendly city. See how your town stacks up.

Amenities

• Scooter Parking
  You need accessible parking to keep your scooter safely tucked away while you’re out and about. Public garages that allow scooter parking are a plus – bonus points if they reduce the fee for cycles or let you park free! And if your city has designated on-street scooter and motorcycle parking like San Francisco and Seattle, you win.
• Scooter service and repair
  When you need to bring your scooter in to be serviced or repaired, the closer the shop is the better. If there’s no repair facilities for 200 miles, you’ll need a way to get your non-running scooter there.
• Scooter retailers
  Granted, you can buy pretty much anything online, but your town gets a bonus if there’s a scooter retail presence – whether selling scooters, riding apparel, or even just topcases and tires.

Weather

If your geographic area boasts a year-round riding season, congratulations! Where I live in the Pacific Northwest, using the phrase “riding season” gets you openly mocked in some scootering circles. Our mild – though wet! – winters make for year-round scooting. Rain is easy enough to ride in, once you learn proper safety techniques and get good rain gear, a windscreen, and all-weather tires.

Most areas provide a manageable riding season, even if it’s only a few months. You can still ride a scooter in upstate New York – just don’t plan on it being your primary mode of transportation in January. (Trust me – you don’t want to be on two wheels in the snow!)

Some people ride in sub-freezing temperatures if there’s no precipitation. I’m not one of them. Invisible black ice will take you down effortlessly, and it’s not worth the risk.

If the trees in your area lose their leaves seasonally, keep that in mind as well. Damp leaves are slick as ice and can be disastrous on two wheels. As always, I speak from highly personal experience.

If your area of residence does not offer year-round riding, make sure you have someplace to store your scooter off-season. When I lived in Boston, I packed my scoot away late November until April. Learn good wintering techniques so your scooter is ready to go after the thaw.

Now that I’m thinking about it, maybe I’ll move to San Diego. I’d have to leave the Frankenstella behind though since California’s not a fan of two-stroke engines.

Safety

• Available scooter safety courses
  The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has a presence in most major cities. Kudos to your city if it’s one of them.
• Clear laws for two-wheelers
  If your local laws are clear on how scooters should be treated, everyone is safer. Cars need to know if and when you get your own lane. You need to know if you’re expected to have a cycle endorsement on your driver’s license, and where it’s legal to park.
• Manageable Crime Risk
  All cities have some degree of crime. But if theft and vandalism are so rampant in your area that you’re afraid to leave your scooter unattended, riding on a daily basis will become an anxious affair. I’ve had a scooter stolen twice in Boston, and malicious tagging ruined several neighbors’ scooters parked on my block in Seattle, but I still consider both cities “scooter friendly.”

Community

• Other scooters on the road
  It’s true that there is safety in numbers! If you notice a lot of scooters on the road where you live, it’s probably a decent place to ride. A large scooter presence also means two-wheelers are not a foreign concept to cars, making the roads a little safer for everyone.

A town with one or more scooter clubs is truly an evolved place to live! Your local scooter club provides a wealth of knowledge, support, resources, and opportunities for community.

When it comes to scooting, how does your city measure up? If you live in scooter central, plug into the community and take advantage of all it has to offer. If your town is lacking in scooter amenities and community, here’s your chance to start spreading the word about scooters and get your town on the path to scooter paradise.

Group riding can be a blast – here are some guidelines to keep the experience safe and fun.

Ride Within Your Ability

This is the single most important rule. Discuss the planned route ahead of time. Find out if the ride is conducive to your size of scooter and your experience level. For example, if you’ve been riding for a few weeks, you may not feel ready to hit the freeway. Or perhaps you feel ready, but your 50cc scooter is not up to the task. Finding out ahead of time can prevent mishaps.

Never hesitate to leave a group ride if you feel it’s beyond your ability – everyone will understand and your safety is your number one priority. Just tell someone you’re leaving so they can vouch for you if there’s a head count.

I made the mistake of following a group ride into uncharted territory once and paid the price. Our group of twenty approached an unpaved gravel road with enormous potholes and puddles. My gut told me this was beyond my expertise, but I went along with the group.

Not too far in, the scooter in front of me stopped short and I attempted to brake while coming out of a giant, water-filled pothole. The Frankenstella and I went down — into the muddy watering hole. Two other scooters went down as well. I scratched my cowls and banged up my knee and spent the rest of the 35 degree ride soaking wet. It was unpleasant and the last time I attempted to stay with the group when I thought better of it.

I learned my lesson! I’ve since left several rides partway in, including the first ride I went on with my brand new Vespa GTS, which I was not 100% comfortable on yet.

Always ride within your ability — for your safety and everyone else’s.

Stay Toward the Front

The safest spot is up front, so stay as close to the ride leader as possible. If you keep to the front of the pack, you’ll also avoid getting separated from the group at traffic lights. While getting separated is not the end of the world, it’s one less thing to worry about when you’re getting used to group riding.

Let the Ride Leader Lead

Never ride next to the ride leader, and allow her room at stops in case she needs to change course.

Use Staggered Formation

Maintain a staggered formation, with the ride leader in the left position. Leave two seconds of space between riders. This allows each rider time to react and room to swerve to avoid hazards. It also keeps the group tight enough to discourage cars from cutting in, while still allowing everyone in the group breathing room.

Use Single Formation When Necessary

Some riding conditions will require temporary single formation riding, which the ride leader will signal by holding an index finger high in the air. A good staggered formation group will easily close up to single file. Narrow roads, limited visibility, entering and exiting the highway may call for single file riding. The group leader will signal when it’s safe to return to staggered formation by holding up two fingers.

Use Hand Signals

When changing lanes within the group, signal your intent with your hands. Riders have a lot to focus on in a group and may not see your scooter’s turn signal. If you want to change from the outside of the lane to the inside, point to the open spot that you intend to occupy and be sure the riders around you are aware of your intentions.

Send Messages Back

Group riding is a bit like a game of “Telephone” — the ride leader will signal the intended action, and each scooterist passes the message back all the way through the group using hand signals. That way the riders at the back of the group know a turn is coming up even though they can’t see the turn signals at the front of the group. Riders may also signal an unexpected stop, or point out road hazards with their feet.

Listen to the Ride Marshalls

Larger rides may have ride marshals — group members who are responsible for stopping traffic at intersections to keep everyone together safely. If your ride has marshals, follow their directions and then thank them profusely after the ride because they make the experience much more enjoyable.

Watch the Turns

Turns can prove tricky in a big group. Riders in the left part of the lane have a tendency to cut the corner when turning, and riders on the right may swing wide. Stay in your lane, leave extra room around you, and keep an eye on others nearby.

Maintain a Safe Distance and Respect Others’ Distance

Leave yourself enough room to stop and don’t ride alongside anyone else. If a group member is carrying a passenger, don’t jump in front of them to close the gap — they may need the extra space to stop with the additional weight.

Follow Group Protocol

Some scooter clubs or riding groups have their own protocol with additional guidelines they follow — find out in advance. As an example, check out the guide for one of my scooter clubs: Westenders Riding Protocol.

If you follow these recommendations and any others that your ride leader provides, you’ll be on your way to a fun day seeing the sights with fellow scooterists. Enjoy!

These days, you’re up against very distracted drivers. Text messaging, GPS displays, and mobile phone conversations all mean less attention placed on you. So it’s largely up to us as scooterists to save our own hide. It’s unfair, but we need to take total responsibility for our own safety.

A good rule of thumb: pretend you are invisible. At intersections, assume every car is going to turn in front of you. Riding in this way saves me, literally, on a daily basis.

Intersection Dangers

Here are a few of the most common issues you can encounter at intersections when riding.

Left-turning cars

Most intersection collisions involving cycles are caused by a car in an oncoming lane turning left in front of you. If you assume that the cars don’t see you and will turn in front of you, you will be ready to react when they do.

There’s a strange phenomenon that happens with car drivers: even if the driver sees you and makes eye contact, they may still turn in front of you. Cars turn in front of scooters for a few different reasons:

• You are smaller so you appear to be going slower and they think they have time to turn.
• Drivers are looking for threats to their own safety, i.e. other cars, so you don’t “register,” even though they see you.
• They’re updating Twitter and simply don’t see you.

Even if you’ve got the green light, slow down as you enter an intersection so you can stop quickly if needed. There is a fine line between slowing down so much that you encourage people to turn in front of you and keeping your speed in check so you can stop in an emergency. Be cautious, but don’t be hesitant.

• Ride in the part of the lane that makes you the most visible
• Wear reflective gear and a bright helmet
• Sound your horn if you think someone doesn’t see you
• Wait a few seconds after your signal turns green in case someone runs the light

Tag-along turners

The really dangerous left-turners are not the car you see, but the driver that turns right behind them, hoping to squeeze in behind the first car. They totally cannot see you and most of the time are just crossing their fingers as they speed through the intersection hoping to make it in time. You’ll see these troublemakers cutting you off at both green and red signals.

Four-way stops

The city where I live has many four-way stops, and the right-of-way defaults to whomever got to the intersection first. I would estimate that nearly half the time, when it’s my turn to go, the cars at the intersection skip me. I can’t explain it, but it happens reliably. Because I’m expecting it, I can avoid this danger. I often use my horn in these circumstances. And sometimes a select finger.

Keep Your Speed in Check

The faster you are traveling, the less time you have to react. Other people on the road also have less time to react to you. Speed also affects your cornering. The faster you are going, the longer it takes to stop. Braking at high speed also increases your chances of a wipeout.

Keep to the speed limit, and less when necessary. Remember that speed limits are designed for cars and you may need to be traveling a little slower, especially in construction areas or twisty turns.

Make Yourself More Visible

There are many ways to increase your visibility to other vehicles and decrease your likelihood of a collision. Correct lane position and brightly colored riding gear both make you more visible to traffic. For night time riding add reflective decals to your scooter and topcase, and upgrade to LED tail lights and halogen headlights if you don’t already have them.

The good news is that you can have an enormous impact on your safety by following these guidelines. Many dangerous situations you meet on the road can be prevented or avoided. So be vigilant at intersections and keep the rubber side down!

Oh, it’s simulated wood grain. Right.

This helmet immediately made me think of Benjimen’s stunning Country Squire Woody Vespa. It matches exactly and if I were him, I’d totally get one of these pronto.

Here’s a couple of pics of his awesome custom scooter alongside the Frankenstella:

The scooter and the helmet make a great match, right?

I can’t speak for their comfort as I’ve never worn a VCAN helmet. But you can go try them one in store. For $75, they’re a steal. I’d pick one up, but I’ve already got three helmets, including a newish Ladybug style retro HCI helmet. Still, I think this one’s going on my wish list!