Scooters aren't as hip since gas prices dipped

I would buy a scooter but my drive to work is 20 miles on 270. Plus the way I see people drive around motorcycles it is very scary.

I dont know? Mine isnt any less fun since!

Paying $7000 for a Vespa isn't cheap transportation. Way over priced.

I have a motorcycle and I've been riding for 21 years. 270 & i71 in the morning is nowhere for a motorcycle. You are seriously taking your life in your own hands. Keep the bikes to backroads and take a motorcycle safety course. It is well worth it! It could save your life!!

You spend $7000 to get one of these weak little things, my Honda sport bike gets around 70mpg if I'm not hard on the throttle. The sport bike looks alot better and is much more powerful

Scooters are not cost-effective. I shopped for scooters last year and it seemed like there was a shortage of good scooters in the 125/250 cc range which is what you need to get around town.

It seems like your choice was either 50 cc or 600 cc and Honda's 600 cc scooter only gets 40 mpg.

scooters are polluters. no emissions.

Why is that surprising. It makes sense. In addition to high gas prices, some people bought scooters just as a toy. The fun aspect wears out real soon. Serious scooter owners have a distinct need for one, rather than just a toy to ride around on the weekends. Gas prices are going to have a big influence on scooter sales, that's a no brainer. Shouldn't be big news to anyone. Also, how many of those scooters sitting in garages are Chinese junk that people can't get parts for, or have someone repair them? I said a couple years ago that if gas prices didn't stay in the $3.50+/gal range, there would be a lot of used scooters for sale in the future. The U.S. will never be a scooter Nation like Asia or parts of Europe. The U.S. is just too big, too many open spaces, too many high speed highways. Most scooters are just are not fast or safe enough to keep up with 70-75 mph traffic for hundreds of miles. And the price you pay for a scooter that can, one could add a few more $$$ and go with a motorcycle. There are many scooters in my home town. I have seen very few on the streets this year. I haven't seen any for sale yet, but give it time.

1. the parking was suppose to be free, then mayor A-homeman stabbed us in the back again and you have to pay to park a cycle now.
2. I have ridden both scooters and motorcycles for years. It is just too dangerous now with all the morons on cell phones

Expensive wrote:

Paying $7000 for a Vespa isn't cheap transportation. Way over priced.

Buy a 650cc Suzuki Burgman.

mangco wrote:

scooters are polluters. no emissions.

Try a Suzuki Burgman 650cc

Dingo wrote:

1. the parking was suppose to be free, then mayor A-homeman stabbed us in the back again and you have to pay to park a cycle now.
2. I have ridden both scooters and motorcycles for years. It is just too dangerous now with all the morons on cell phones

At $50 a year it's a pretty good deal considering some might spend $30-60 a month in parking fees. Even those using the meters might shell out $20 a month depending on where they park. Parking isn't free and we should be expected to pay for those costs.

most people think scooters are toys, so they are cheap, thats not the case. New ones are cheaper then older models. If you want an old vespa or lambretta, you'd better learn how to wrench. I've built a couple, one goes 70+ mph and gets 80+ mpg. I don't think that is too bad. Over all cost was around $1300, but I did most of the work.

Reason NOT to ride scooters in Columbus: There's a serious lack of driving skills in this town. Cincinnati and Cleveland are like "Safety Town USA" compared to the drivers in Columbus.

Dingo wrote:

1. the parking was suppose to be free, then mayor A-homeman stabbed us in the back again and you have to pay to park a cycle now.
2. I have ridden both scooters and motorcycles for years. It is just too dangerous now with all the morons on cell phones

It was bad before cell phones and text messaging. But now it's just plain scarry driving around this town. It's as if Columbus hands out licenses if you can breathe.

Robert wrote:

...some people bought scooters just as a toy. The fun aspect wears out real soon.

I'm guilty. I bought one last year just for fun. If you're the same Robert as on another thread then you know the one I started with wasn't any fun at all. So I bought another one. Now I'm having nothing but fun. I don't anticipate the fun wearing out any time soon. As a matter of fact, people are asking me if my car is broken because they never see me in it.

Not-A-Happy-Owner wrote:

<quoted text>
I'm guilty. I bought one last year just for fun. If you're the same Robert as on another thread then you know the one I started with wasn't any fun at all. So I bought another one. Now I'm having nothing but fun. I don't anticipate the fun wearing out any time soon. As a matter of fact, people are asking me if my car is broken because they never see me in it.

Yeah, I know you from other threads. Depends of what kind of fun you are having. Riding with groups, or joining a club, or doing some scenic riding with others, or living in an area that has a lot of scooters, that kind of fun will stay fun for awhile longer. But just to get one because it looks like fun, in a climate where you use it 5 months out of the year like Illinois, the "fun" wears out real quick. I like riding my scooter, but I use it to run errands during the short scooter season here, but riding all by myself is getting boring after a couple years. There are no scooter clubs, or group rides, or anything similar anywhere near my home town. Once in a great while I will get someone to go for a ride with. Scooters are just not big around here. Motorcycles you bet, not scoots. I have lately been thinking about selling it.

I live in Florida. At the Beach. Scooter sales are not affected by gas prices as we all ride 2 wheels here..motorcycles, scooters, bicycles. Its just how we are. Makes for a fun time. Heck a day I don't ride something with 2 wheels it bums me out!!

And to put it into perspective I have put on 5600 miles on my car in the last 24 months. And most of those are from letting friends use it. Got to love the Sunshine State!!

I keep my scoot on the beach (p;lastic & alum) & ride it to my garage to p/u my Bonne when I want a real ride!! Love the scoot tho!