Scooters - 11 Reasons Not to Buy One

As gas prices soar, more articles tout the advantages of riding to work on two wheels. Scooters are fun, easy to ride and inexpensive to operate. Scootering is the height of style for many age and status groups. My son is almost 16 years old. He would like to know if he may obtain a motorcycle lerner's permit and ride my scooter ( a registrered, 250 cc highway capable bike). While more people join the scootering crowd, it becomes very important to remember why some should not buy a motorbike.

1.) Scooters, like all motorbikes, are clearly dangerous. When buying a scooter, many friends will show their support of your choice to ride by relating apocryphal tales of friends and relatives who were hurt or died riding. According to the NHTSA, about 3500 riders died in 2003.

2.) While scooters save money, they are not free or even cheap transportation. A new, good quality scooter built to ride at highway speeds will cost four thousand dollars or more. Scooters built to ride with traffic on secondary roads at speeds to 60 mph will cost $2500 and up. New scooters with small 50cc engines will cost about one to three thousand dollars.

Most scooters will require insurance. The cost for insurance varies, check with your broker.

Regular service and parts that wear out may cost the rider hundreds of dollars every year, especially if the rider elects not to provide their own service. For example, an oil change for a car may only cost $30.00; a scooter oil change may cost double that or more.

When buying the bike, do not forget the cost of protective gear. Helmets, armored jackets, heavy leather gloves, boots, and goggles or sunglasses all add to the cost of the bike.

3.) If your significant other is not a rider, they will probably not like the idea. They will view the purchase as a luxury or even as an aggressive or passive aggressive act. It takes an understanding and patient spouse to allow an inanimate object that attracts so much affection into the household.

4.) Professionally, some may question the judgment of a scooterist.

5.) Scooters may be a gateway machine to larger, more dangerous and more expensive motorbikes. While many scooterists are very happy with the low powered stylish bikes, some find that they crave more power and speed in a short time. Many who purchase a small 50cc bike will trade it in for a larger bike in a year or less. This increases the cost, and lowers the safety of the bike. The higher powered bike is not innately less safe. Higher powered bikes are heavier and faster. However, the lower safety comes from having to learn a new ride so soon after becoming used to the first bike.

6.) Scooters take up a lot of time. The bike will require washing, decorating, and maintenance. Scooterists read about scooters and other motorbikes. There are shows to watch on television about motorbikes and motorbiking. Many scooterist enjoy congregating and riding for fun (another way to increase the cost of scootering).

Scootering will take time away from family and work without batting an eye.

7.) A scooter may draw unwanted attention. People are fascinated by scooters. Strangers feel that it is alright to walk up to any scooterist to ask about their bike, how much it cost, how fast it will go, and then they will talk about their friend or family member who died or was injured on a motorbike.

8.) Owning a scooter makes one much more sensitive to news reports of biker accidents. A story of several riders being injured in a freak accident may ruin the entire day of a motorbike enthusiast. That could lead to donating to a fund to support the family of a dead or injured rider which will, once again, increase the cost of the hobby.

9.) Scooterists are a brotherhood and sisterhood of like minded people. The commonality is that they enjoy riding around on small motorbikes. This attracts all types of people. It is likely that someone purchasing a new scooter will soon find themselves associating with types of people that they would have previously avoided. Some young people with unusual piercings and tattoos have found that they enjoy riding side by side with doctors and investment brokers.

Ok, I see this as an advantage. Others may not.

10.) Scooterists consistently bore people with stories of scooters and scootering. You could become known as the person who talks about scootering all the time.

11.) Parents strongly influence their children's life choices. Is scootering the right example for your teenagers? Do you feel comfortable handing your child the keys to your motorbike?

I am proud to be a scooterist and enjoy scootering and the scootering lifestyle. I commute on my scooter. I go to scooter club rallies and rides. I do not think motorbikes are right for everyone - got that son?