5 Things To Know Before Buying A Scooter
Thursday, November 10th, 2011The scooter craze has officially reemerged on the American market. Gas prices and urban crowding have forced more and more people to look for less expensive transportation. This includes everyone from college students to office workers to retirees. Unfortunately, owning a scooter may seem quite a bit easier than it is. Their relative lack of power and price of entry makes them deceptive. Although they may not take quite as much knowledge, money, and training as a regular motorcycle, there are many things that you need to know before you run out and buy a new scooter. Here are five of them of the most important things to keep in mind.
- You will need a special license for your scooter, but the type of license depends on how big your scooter’s engine is and the state that you live in. In most states, if your engine is larger than 150cc, you will need a motorcycle license. This will typically require both a written and practical test. Be sure to check with your local DMV. In some states, the road test cannot be taken on a scooter! You have to have (or rent or borrow) a motorcycle.
- Helmets are not required in some states, depending on engine size and the scooter’s top speed. That does not mean the a helmet is not a good idea. Helmets reduce your risk of life-altering head trauma by leaps and bounds. This is not anecdotal; it has been proven statistically.
- Some states do not regulate whether or not a scooter can be operated in a bike lane, but scooters travel at 40-70 mph. That makes them dangerous to others in bike lanes.
- Some scooters can legally travel on highways. Your scooter must be capable of the posted speed limits in order to be considered safe for the roadway.