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Welcome to Scoot! Magazine’s annual Buyers Guide. The guide provides comparative data on over 120 scooter models, references to reviews of bikes in past issues, as well as a list of dealers. This is a culmination of many weeks of hard work, soliciting data directly from manufacturers, and collecting it in a format that is simple to use. We hope you find it useful when shopping for your next new scooter.

Find the right scooter to fill your needs

There are many considerations when buying a scooter; the two most important are usage and budget. While each person determines his budget differently, most people will agree on the usability of scooters based upon engine size. Below is a list of common displacements, and typical top speeds with some notes to help you determine which class is right for you.

When determining what scooter class is right for you, remember that you should be able to keep up with the flow of traffic on your typical route. You shouldn’t feel as if you are holding up traffic or that you can’t get to your destination in a timely fashion. For example, if your typical commute is 10 miles each way with periods on an expressway or freeway, then a bike 125cc or under may not be the right scooter for you. Conversely, you may only need a 50cc if you are taking small trips on city streets where the speed is generally 25-35MPH.

When you decide what engine size will best fit your needs, it is time to narrow your choices by comparing the bikes to criteria such as fit for your body type, carrying capacity, and cost of ownership.

To determine the bikes fit, sit on it, test ride it and practice using the center stand or side stand, pushing it, and parking it. When sitting on a bike, do your feet comfortably touch the ground? Are the controls easy to use? Can you control the bike and its weight when parking and pushing it? The goal is to be sure that you can adequately control the bike.

One of the great features of scooter riding is the versatility of this type of motorcycle. You’ll find that most scooters have on-board storage, whether it is a rear- or front-rack, an under-seat compartment, hooks for hanging bags, or a storage box, often called a “topbox” (usually sold separately). Will you be carrying groceries or other packages often, or will the scooter just be a fun-time ride with no need for storage?

The Fuel Question

One of the top reasons that Americans have recently turned to scooters is the vehicle’s high fuel-efficiency. Some scooters get better gas mileage than others. If gas mileage is of utmost importance, a smaller displacement scooter will sip gas, yet all scooters get far better gas mileage than even most hybrid cars. Check the specs on the scooters for fuel capacity. Scooters that use more gas or are made to travel longer distances will have larger gas tanks. Smaller scooters will have smaller tanks. If you are deciding between two bikes with the same engine size and similar features, you may choose the bike with a larger tank of you expect to be riding frequently and want to avoid the gas station as much as possible.

Cost of Ownership

Several factors contribute to the total cost of ownership. Fuel, motor oil, scheduled maintenance, regularly replaced parts, insurance and parking costs should also be considered. One item that buyers often overlook is the tire. Check the manufacturer’s suggested mileage interval. Some recommend that the tired be replaced every 2,000 miles. A tire machine is needed for many tubeless tires, so keep in mind that a shop will have to replace that tire for you, unless you spring for your own (expensive) tire machine.

The Scoot! staff realizes that it is tempting to purchase a less expensive scooter than what is found in the following pages. Two phrases sum that up” “caveat emptor” and “you get what you pay for.” We want to take this time to explain why a less expensive scooter may be a bad idea.

Buying a scooter from anywhere other than a shop that does sales and service is not recommended. Internet purchases from an unknown business are prime examples. If you buy a scooter from a sales-only shop you may find it difficult to get parts or service. If you are considering a scooter that is not listed in this guide call one of the shops in the back of the guide and ask if they will work on that model/make or if they know of anyone that will. If you can’t find a shop that will work on your scooter, then you may find yourself in a bind when the scooter needs work. What vehicle never needs a tune-up or a repair? Never buy a new scooter at the flea market or from the Internet. Our editor April often advises people to buy a scooter as you would buy a car. Would you order an unknown brand car over the Internet and have it shipped to your house? Would you expect a local Chevrolet or Honda dealer to stock parts and work on a car that isn’t their brand? Used scooters from private parties or shops that use the Internet as an additional revenue stream are a different matter that we won’t cover in this Buyer’s Guide.

Every scooter in this guide should be legal to sell in the USA. There are several things you can do to check. Every scooter sold should have stickers or plates indicating that they are EPA-approved. These plates also include the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). It should also tell you where and when the scooter was made. In the past, we found that many scooters imported from China were missing these indicators. This isn’t to say that all scooters from China or other Asian countries are categorically illegal. Several distributors have made the effort to meet or exceed US standards for EPA and DOT.

One common misconception is that there is an actual Department of Transportation (DOT) certification. In reality, the DOT simply works with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which establishes and enforces the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). In short, the DOT sets the standards and it’s up to the manufacturer to meet those standards. There are many reasons why it is in the best interest of the manufacture and the distributor to sell you a safe scooter. If it is discovered that a manufacturer does not meet the requirements of the DOT there may be recalls and fines, yet the consumer may never really know if the vehicle they own is 100% compliant. All the manufacturers in this guide have stated that their scooters are complaint with both EPA and DOT standards.

Wait There’s More

We want to remind everyone that there is more to buying a scooter than the initial purchase. Once you find the scooter that fits your needs and your budget don’t forget about insurance. Protect yourself, your livelihood and your investment. In addition, we highly recommend the following: a helmet (whether or not required by law), gloves, riding jacket, riding shoes or boots, a cover (if you are not keeping your scooter in a garage or covered parking), and a bike lock. See Scoot! issue #49 for insurance buying tips and issue #30 for ideas on how to keep your bike from being stolen.

Get a motorcycle license. Regardless if your state requires a license for the size bike you purchase, it’s a wise thing to do. The process of obtaining a license will make you a better, safer rider especially if you take a riding safety class. To locate a class near you, please call the Motorcycle Safety Foundation RiderCourse hotline at 1-800-446-9227.

Go out and ride.

We hope that you found the above helpful. Remember scooters are practical and fun. Regardless of your reason for buying a scooter we at Scoot! want to remind you to be safe. We hope to see you on the road this summer.

Keep the rubber side down

Scoot! Staff.

Go to the Buyer’s Guide Now

Go directly to our dealer locator