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Summer Must-Have: Scooters

| Sunday June 27, 2010

Does the warm weather have you itching for the free wheeling fun of an open vehicle? Scooters are trendy, fun, and economical, but because of seating and speed limitations they are best suited for city dwellers with light loads.

Steal: TNG Venice $1499 (2-stroke engine, 49cc)
* An affordable scooter with all the basics, perfect for beginner riders.

Brand Lover: Honda CHF50 $2949 (4-stroke engine, 49cc)

Mid-Range: Yamaha Vino 50 $3499 (4-stroke engine, 50cc)

Splurge: Vespa S150 $5499 (4-stroke engine, 150cc)
* Drive a classic 1970s inspired Vespa with a maximum speed up to 95 km/h (59 mph).

Splurge: Vespa GTV $8999 (4-stroke engine, 244cc)
* This larger engine has a top speed of 122 km/h (75 mph)

With any larger purchase, weighing the benefits against the disadvantages can be helpful:

Pros
* Inexpensive to purchase, operate, maintain, and insure
* Free parking in many major cities, including Toronto
* Compact size allows for easy storage
* Better fuel efficiency: the 2009 Vespa S150 (shown above) 150cc scooter averages 70 mpg (3.3 L/100km) compared to the 2009 Ford Focus which consumes 24 mpg in the city (9.8 L/100km)
* 4-stroke engines are cleaner-burning than the smaller 2-stroke versions; electric and hybrid models may also be available

Cons
* Can seat 2 riders only
* Limited stowage space
* Riders are exposed to the elements and dangers of the road

Important Considerations
* A helmet is almost universally required by law for driver and passenger
* Gloves and a riding jacket increase driver safety in case of a spill
* A motorcycle or scooter license may be required
* Young drivers may qualify for a scooter license earlier than the regular driver’s license – check your local jurisdiction’s rules

Will you make the switch from a car to a scooter?

by Pamela Li

4 Comments

	on June 30, 2010 satojoko 2,556 said: Oh my god....hahaha......brain fart! I forgot something else now! Ours can be driven by anybody 16 years old or more. It also goes approximately 45km on one charge. We live in apartment building, so it would be a pain to charge...........except that the battery can be easily lifted out and brought upstairs to plug in and recharge it. And NO GAS and NO INSURANCE!! I still can't believe it! LOL
	on June 30, 2010 satojoko 2,556 said: Oh, I forgot to say, Vespas are SUPER common in Asia. Many older models are even collectors items. I can't say I like the look of them, though :-(
	on June 30, 2010 satojoko 2,556 said: Funny, we just bought what is referred to as an 'electric bike'. It looks like an Asian motorcycle, what people in Canada would call a scooter (nicer model that the ones above - sorry haha). You don't require a license or insurance to drive it (models which are 500 watts and below are classified as such) and it is super convenient. I almost died when I saw it, and KNEW my husband would love it, as it looks EXACTLY like a bike from his own country. Ours cost $650 plus tax, and we bought it before the HST kicked in, so we saved ourselves a decent amount of money. The price included a helmet, a rain poncho, an alarm and a lock on the back tire. The Shopping Channel sells one which is about $900, but it's an older model and not as stable as the one we got. Overall, we paid nearly $350 LESS than what we would have spent if we bought it elsewhere. And if anything needs fixing, all we have to do is take it to the place that sold it to us and they will repair it, free of charge, for up to a year. And because it's considered a 'bicycle' because it has optional pedals, it can be parked at any bike rack, free of charge! So that's: no license, no insurance, no gas, no parking fees...........why WOULDN'T somebody buy one?? We're really happy with it! It's shocking to me that the Canadian government is NOT promoting the hell out of these and making plugs available everywhere for people to recharge them. So much for promoting 'eco friendly' alternatives to cars!
	on June 29, 2010 Ali de Bold STAFF said: I had no idea scooters could be so affordable. But it would be tough to trade my car for this. The car is all season. The scooter is warm dry weather only. I'd trade it for my bicycle!