A Beginner's Guide to Scooters

"Scooter" is a word that brings to mind happy childhood days zooming around our neighborhoods without a care in the world. Those days are gone, replaced by worried adults eyeing the skyrocketing prices of gas and wondering how they are going to afford a second vehicle or keep the one they already have.

Enter the scooter. The term scooter is broad and there are many vehicles that fall under its definition, from little 40 cc engines that top out at twenty miles per hour to 250cc's that top out at over one hundred miles per hour. Some are street and highway legal, and some are not. There are scooters safe enough for teens and burly enough for adults commuting hours away. Some are electric and some run on gas. They get between 30 and 100 miles to the gallon depending on body and engine size. No matter what type of scooter you're looking for, there is probably one out there that meets your needs.

They are on par with the price of a used car, and are cheaper than a new one. The benefits when comparing a scooter to a car are obvious. You save gas more effectively and insurance on scooters is about $60-$140 a year. If that isn't enough to convince you, think about the fact that they are easier to repair and maintain; in many cases you can do it yourself if you put in a little bit of effort. Or you can take it into a mechanic for a fraction of the cost of a car. They also depreciate slowly, and with gas prices as high as they are, you could buy it and sell it in a year without losing a significant amount of money.

Prices vary a great deal between scooters, just as they do with any other vehicle. You can get them both new and used. A scooter runs from $199 to $5000 depending on brand, engine size, power, and whether it is new or used. There are a number of places online for people looking to buy scooters. Type in scooters and a wealth of info comes up. For used scooters, Craigslist and eBay are great places to look, as well as local classified ads. While you may wince at some of the prices, keep in mind how much they'll save you in the long run. There are many dedicated scooter owners and can see why.

The one negative in all these positive aspects is that scooters are more dangerous than cars. Thus, you should always know what you are doing, and wear the appropriate protective gear. Do the research and understand what you're buying. You can take them on the freeways easily and keep up with traffic, but always make sure you wear the appropriate gear. Never buy used gear unless you know it hasn't been in an accident. Used helmets can get brittle and may shatter, so they are absolutely the one thing you should buy new for safety reasons. Body gear is okay to buy used, and once again, there are some great deals on Craigslist and eBay.

Logically, investing in a scooter makes sense. Gas prices aren't going to lower significantly for a long time, and that's being positive. Scooters are a great alternative and save you loads of money in the long run. It is well worth your while to think about making your next vehicle a scooter.