Scooters aren't as hip since gas prices dipped

ohioallstar wrote:

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Try a Suzuki Burgman 650cc

Gas mileage too low to be worth the bother.

You need about 250cc to drive on higways and get out of your own way. You should be able to build a 250cc that gets 75-100 mpg. Yet none of the quality manufacturers are making them. Only a couple of Korean companies with questionable reliability are.

Just out of curiosity I recently checked some Yamaha and Honda dealers in my area for scooters. Last year at this time you couldn't find a new scooter at any dealership. This year there is a fairly good selection of 09's and a few used older scooters available. The dealers don't seem to be eager to come down in prices or make deals. Maybe they are still living the 2007 and 2008 mentality.

This is true at scootertronics.com but since we are full service and have online store we are able to withstand sales drop with that said its been a rough year and most who bought in in 2008 are closing up after they jumped for quick buck which scootertronics has been around since 2003 and no plans to close up shop maybe a downsize here or there

Michael
scootertronics.com

There are a lot of those quick money websites that were selling scooters that need to close up shop. Good riddance.

That's what I think of your scooters! No more bugs in my teeth! No more helmet head! No more making deals with God every time a truck passes me on the freeway, okay? It's over! That's it!

uSDE MINE AS A TOOL- gROCERY SHOPPING ETC... Thats what I got it for . It wasnt meant to be "HIP"! Got my Triumph Bonneville for that!! Its still fun as hell to ride.

carla wrote:

That's what I think of your scooters! No more bugs in my teeth! No more helmet head! No more making deals with God every time a truck passes me on the freeway, okay? It's over! That's it!

If you are riding anything less than a 400cc motor scooter on the freeway it should be over. You aren't smart enough to have one anyway.

Scooter sales have been way down here in IN this year as well. More than a few small time dealers selling Chinese scooters have went out of business. Our riding season and climate is about the same as where Robert lives in IL. Scooter sales here are driven primarily by gas prices. When gas prices were over $3.50/gal, people were riding scooters. This year gas has run between $1.90 to $2.85/gal and people "are not riding" scooters. It's just that simple. Our climate is just too cold and riding season just too short for scooters. This fall and last spring, I would ride for days before seeing another scooter on the streets, even when the temps were 50-60 degs. If you live in the South where the weather is warm most or all of the year and scoots are a way of life - consider yourselves very lucky.

I agree with Joe's assement. I checked the map. Kokomo IN is almost due east of where I live. This Oct has been cold and wet, but that's not uncommon. Like Joe, I haven't seen more than a couple scooters on the streets the entire month. Some golf carts but very very few scooters. Our gas here was $2.89/gal last week which was the highest it has been all year. It is now back down to $2.69/gal. I had a moped and scooter back in the early 90's way before high gas prices. But there was a long long gap in time before I bought the Roketa in 07. Which I did because gas prices were going up even then, but also because I wanted to start riding scooters again. I just used very poor judgement in buying a Roketa off the internet. Which I quickly corrected and bought my Yammy. Those that bought scooters last year just because of high gas prices, are not riding them this year, spring summer or fall. If you don't love the "ride", don't buy a scooter, not here, not in this climate..

Over here in BC, Canada and WA State they are as popular as ever. I noticed more this summer than last year. We have a longer riding season and if a little rain isn't a bother then it's pretty much year around riding. I won't be winterizing my Honda.

I noticed a new scooter this year in my neighborhood. Did you know Spain makes a 50cc scooter? I sure didn't. It's quite nice but unfortunately I can't remember what it was. I'll ask the owner again next time I see her. The woman rides it about 40 miles a day, including a huge hill which she says doesn't slow it down.

ohioallstar wrote:

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Buy a 650cc Suzuki Burgman.

Wanted to thank you for the tip, while the 650's 45-50 mpg was too low for me, while I was looking I discovered they've upgraded the 400cc Burgman, which gets around 58 mpg and has a cleaner, quieter engine. That might be worth looking at.

I still think there's a market for a hi-tech scooter with crazy mileage and good power specs. Maybe something with a direct-injection, OHC engine or a hybrid lithium battery powertrain. I'd pay a premium for something like that, maybe 8k-10k.

At least now the people purchasing scooters seem to be in it for the long haul. Not like last year when 90% of the people purchasing scoots were in it to save money on gas and had no clue or no business being on a scooter.

scootershopaz wrote:

At least now the people purchasing scooters seem to be in it for the long haul. Not like last year when 90% of the people purchasing scoots were in it to save money on gas and had no clue or no business being on a scooter.

Aint that the truth. This riding year is just about done here in my part of IL. Like I said in another post, I haven't seen more than a couple scooters on the steets the entire month of Oct.
Not anywhere near as many scooters on the streets this entire year as in 2008. A helluva lot more motorcycles though. The reason for that, I haven't figured out.

Robert wrote:

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Not anywhere near as many scooters on the streets this entire year as in 2008. A helluva lot more motorcycles though. The reason for that, I haven't figured out.

Probably because gas is back under $3? It's really to dangerous in a lot of places to ride a scooter, what with people texting and driving. I think a lot of inexperienced people discovered that. Scooters are for a very specific kind of neighborhood commuting, not suburb to city and vice verse. They don't adapt well to sprawl.

I bought a new 250cc Vespa GTV in March 2008 for about $5500 (Tester Ford, Norwalk OH) and drove it regularly until late fall. This year I started commuting to work on it 15 March and have driven it all but 2 days.

A fillup now costs me about $5 for nearly a week's riding and I see 72-74 mpg. Annual insurance is $60 and my car insurance dropped more that that because the car is no longer used to commute.

I tend to stay mainly on the surface streets but occasionally use rte 315. The Vespa cruises easily at 70mph: I have no idea where the top end is and have no plans to find out!

Robert wrote:

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Aint that the truth. This riding year is just about done here in my part of IL. Like I said in another post, I haven't seen more than a couple scooters on the steets the entire month of Oct.
Not anywhere near as many scooters on the streets this entire year as in 2008. A helluva lot more motorcycles though. The reason for that, I haven't figured out.

Motorcycles get good gas mileage (although most scooters get better), their wheels are bigger than scooters so they handle pot holes etc better, they don't have the lower foot-boards, so they turn better and are more rugged and freeway friendly. Some roads I can't see a scooter navigating well. I got a bike for improved gas mileage and discovered to my surprise it is quite fun. I didn't think it would be fun at all, just saving money on gas. NOW, I have a big v-twin cruiser-tourer and love it. I am way past saving money-but I DO like not giving to big gas companies and the ride itself is well worth it.

I wouldn't know what to do with a motorcycle. My scooter is fun to ride but it is also utilitarian. I an retired and have a part time job delivering prescription drugs to nursing homes and live-ins around town. I get 90 mpg and I ride in town where speed limits are less than 45 mph. To me a scooter makes sense, a motorcycle does not.

ScootinGeriatrics wrote:

I wouldn't know what to do with a motorcycle. My scooter is fun to ride but it is also utilitarian. I an retired and have a part time job delivering prescription drugs to nursing homes and live-ins around town. I get 90 mpg and I ride in town where speed limits are less than 45 mph. To me a scooter makes sense, a motorcycle does not.

you have the right tool for the job! It sounds like a perfect use for a scooter.

It works out real good. But I like to ride it just for fun as well. On the weekends or days I am not delivering, I get out and just ride it for the enjoyment. It gives a sense of freedom and open-ness when on two wheels. You aren't caged-in like in a vehicle. You feel, smell, and taste your surroundings. You become part of the scooter or motorcycle.

PhatBDesigns wrote:

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!!

So happy for you, buttwipe. Now come back to Ohio and ride it 24/7/365. Get some context, moron.