With the soaring gas prices and costs of owning a car, people are starting to look for alternative forms of transportation. If you haven’t thought about it yet, scooters can be a fun way to reduce your expenses.
You are probably like most people and know what it is like to feel like you are emptying out your bank account at the pump. This is something many people can sympathize with you on.
When it comes to scooters, they really are one of the most convenient vehicles on the market. They are not as expensive as a motorcycle or a car. If you choose a gas powered scooter, then you don’t have to pay nearly as much on fuel.
Not to mention, electric scooters may cut out fuel costs entirely. These vehicles can make it easy to get to and from work or help you on your errands. Not only are they practical, but they are also a lot of fun to drive.
In this guide, we introduce you to what scooters are and whether a gas or electric scooter would be the best fit for your lifestyle.
A scooter is a two-wheeled vehicle, generally with wheels less than 16 inches in diameter and a step-through frame. The engine sits below the rider. The main question that customers ask, in terms of scooters, is what separates it from mopeds and motorcycles. Mopeds tend to have less engine power, and while they have larger wheels, they tend to be on the smaller side. Motorcycles are easier to distinguish visually. The engine is in the middle of the frame, with a gas tank above, and the rider generally sits behind it. The wheels are larger and the vehicle itself has more power and speed.
When it comes to engine size, scooters have a smaller engine. The sizes range between 50cc to 250cc. However, some come between 400cc and 800c. It is not the engine size that remains its defining characteristic. It is true that scooters have limited speed, but versions that are more expensive are not limited and are perfect for freeway driving. For the most part, you can define a scooter by appearance and options.
One thing that is true is that they are convenient, cheaper options.
Top Benefits of a Scooter
It is the end of a long day, you’re tired from work, you’ve spent entirely too much on gas, traffic was horrible and you aren’t sure what to do about your daily commute. Your day at the office is impacted by how bad of a start you get. With the high cost of gasoline and traffic in cities, sometimes it is hard to have a good morning. Consider how much better life would be if you didn’t have to spend so much on gas and if you had a smaller vehicle that could get you through traffic easier and bring you to and from work safely. This is where scooters come in.
There are reasons people are starting to look at scooters as more effective ways to ferry themselves back and forth to work or to run errands on. Here are some of the benefits that usually push people in the direction of that choice.
Cost-Effective
Everyone is looking for ways to cut prices nowadays. It’s safe to say that our wallets tend to be the foundation of most of our important decisions. Choosing to invest in a scooter is one of them. Not only is the vehicle itself cheaper, but if you choose a gas model, it is still going to be cheaper to run than it would be a full-sized vehicle. Not to mention, if you choose an electric scooter, you won’t have to worry about fueling it up.
Practical
In addition to the money that you save, scooters can be practical means of transportation. They can get you from point A to point B as effectively as any other vehicle. They are also easier to park when parking spaced are limited. Additionally, you can maneuver through traffic with more ease than you can with a car. If you bought a scooter to save money, you may catch people asking why not just take the bus. Well, public transportation is not as reliable as your own scooter.
Environmentally Friendly
A lot of us think about the environmental impact that we have. This means that we take a closer look at the cars we drive. Scooters have less of a carbon footprint than cars do. While the electric ones have even less of an impact, given that you don’t need fossil fuels to run them, even the gas-powered scooters are less of a strain on the environment.
Comfort
Scooters are still comfortable. You don’t have to worry about sacrificing your comfort or your luxuries because you’re driving a scooter. They can come with windshields, radios, heated grips, clocks and other features to help make your ride more comfortable. They may not be the best for long distance touring, but if you need to get around town, you have a comfortable ride.
Gas vs Electric: Pros and Cons
If you’ve decided that buying a scooter is the right decision for you, then the next decision you have to make is whether you want it to be powered by electricity or by gas. Now, this may not be as easy of a decision as you might think. Most of us are used to gas powered vehicles. If you’re like most, you might not want to make the switch to electric. However, a lot of people are going that route, even with cars. When it comes down to it, gas versus electric is all about personal preference. We’re going to list out some of the pros and cons of each.
Gas Scooter
There is a reason why gas scooters are becoming popular. Here are a few of the great benefits that they offer and some downside as well.
- Great gas mileage
- Easily portable and easy to tow
- Stronger and more capable than an electric scooter
- Can reach higher speeds on the road
- Better for long distance travel
- More rugged and durable
- Harder on the environment than electric scooters
- Noisy, sounding more like a motorcycle
- More expensive than electric scooters
Electric scooters also have many positives going for them. One of the biggest motivating factors in choosing an electric scooter is the environmentally friendly aspect and the cost. They do tend to run cheaper than gas-powered scooters and they are easier on the environment as a whole.
- Environmentally friendly
- Easier handling
- Lighter in weight
- No license is required
- Less expensive than gas-powered scooters
- Able to carry only one passenger
- Battery life is limited and has to be replaced more often than a gas powered vehicle’s battery
- Can only run for so long on a single charge and must be charged regularly
- Are not as high-powered as gas scooters
- The lower the battery power, the less your scooter can handle inclines
- Need mechanics who specialize in them
At the end of the day, buying a scooter is a big decision. Say you need a smaller, more practical vehicle to get you back and forth to work, and public transportation just isn’t cutting it. You have freedom on a scooter. You have the freedom to drive wherever you want to without having to worry about paying your way each time. If scooters already look appealing to you, then odds are you’re checking out the differences between gas and electric.
At the end of the day, both options are great. It all depends on what you plan to use the vehicle for. If you’re a long distance traveler or take more trips, then you may want the gas option. These are also more durable. However, if you are not riding on rough terrain and you aren’t worried about having to recharge often, then an electric scooter is just as good if not better for some people than the gas-powered option.
When it comes down to it, a scooter is a great way to get back and forth, to where you need to be.