Not That You Need An Incentive to Own A Scooter, Other Than The Uber-Cool Factor...

Here are some reasons why scooter ownership is cheaper and infinitely better than other vehicles: (Stats courtesy GS Motorworks)

1. Scooters are more fuel-efficient. Many scooters get 80+ miles per gallon, compared to 20-30 miles per gallon for the average "fuel efficient" car. They are also cheap to fill, my 250 Grande Vista costs a whopping $6.00 to fill up and I am set for almost 2 weeks. When you are on a scoot you get to laugh at all those SUV drivers who speed around town eating up gas. Go ahead, let em' rev their engines peeling out at the light, they just sucked a couple of bucks worth of gas and you just sipped a couple of pennies worth. Ha Ha Ha!!! Go ahead, laugh all the way to the bank.

2. Scooters require less insurance. The cost to insure will vary depending on the owner’s age and driving record, but some folks insure their motor scooter for as little as $5 to $10 per month by adding them on to their car policy. My 2005 Stella alone, costs me about $250 for full coverage for the WHOLE YEAR!

3. Scooters have low maintenance costs. Scooters are very easy to work on. Normal maintenance items, which for a car would require a professional mechanic, can be done easily by scooter owners. Examples would be adjusting a carburetor or changing out a spark plug. And customizing your ride is easy too, parts are readily available making it simple to pimp your ride to your style.

4. Scooter registration. Auto registration ranges from $20.50 to $120.50. Scooters register like motorcycles and end up on the low end of that range.

Motorscooters Save Time

1. Easy to maneuver in traffic. Because scooters are so much smaller than cars, they can easily slide in and out of traffic, especially when it is gridlocked. Think about bicycle messengers in NYC, the same concept applies to the seasoned, well trained scooter owner and contrary to popular belief, it is not illegal to pass between cars (but only when it is safe) to get to the front of the line of stopped cars. And nothing annoys drivers more than a scoot zipping past them while they are stuck, how fun is that?!?

2. Parking. Scooters, many times, can be parked on a sidewalk, right outside of a business as long as they are not blocking access. Also, many cities allow motor scooters to be parked in bicycle racks, which can also offer savings by not having to have an expensive automobile parking pass. Santa Fe is working on offering free downtown parking for two wheelers, which is a win-win for all, 4 scoots can fit in the space of 1 car, cutting down on parking stress.

3. Maintenance. Maintaining a scooter is not only cheaper than a car, but it is also less time consuming. If you need to replace the head on your car engine, expect a very costly and time consuming procedure. Even with a performance scooter, someone with limited mechanic experience can do this in a matter of hours. The fact that you can do the maintenance, rather than having to take it to a garage and getting on the bottom of their list, insures that your downtime is limited. Doug at Centaur Cycles here in Santa Fe is a whiz and the turnaround time is pretty reasonable for a one man shop he has going there.

Scooters Are Easy to Use

Everyone learned to ride a bicycle when they were five. Many of the same principles are used in scooter riding. In fact, it is easier to achieve balance on a scooter, because reliance is on the power of the engine, not the legs. This helps a scooter rider maintain a balanced position.

Here are some ways that motorscooter riding is easy:

1. Twist and go. Most modern motor scooter models are twist and go, meaning that a simple twist on the right handgrip will make it go. Gears do not have to be shifted, like a motorcycle, which can be intimidating for someone concentrating on driving.

2. The days of kick starting are over. While some scooters do come with kick starters, unlike older scooters it is a backup and not the only way to start them. Most current models feature one-touch electric starters, some even come with remote starters, which are on the keychain, handy for you Super Heroes who need to make fast getaways.

3. No More Mixing gas and oil. For you old school types you probably remember the pain in the ass of having to premix the gas and oil, just like a lawnmower, which used to be common in most fast scooters. But no more, today's scooter engines are similar to a car engine, which only requires the engine oil to work properly.

Scooter Riding Is Just Darn Fun

The economics of scooter riding and the ease of use are two important factors to look at when considering a scooter. However, the bottom line is that scooter riding is flat out fun. When driving from Point A to Point B in a car most people are removed from the outside world, like being in a television set looking out. They are in an enclosed cocoon and do not really see the world around them, smell the scents, feel the breeze, or hear the sounds of nature. They also don’t taste anything, but, then again, that shouldn’t change when riding motor scooters either, unless you are riding down Old Las Vegas Hwy at dusk and run into a cloud of mosquitos!

There is a tremendous feeling of freedom when hitting the open road on a scooter. Many of the same sensations of a motorcycle are experienced, without the dangers of big engines and super-fast speeds. Scooter riders notice small things they never did before, like the way the temperature can drop 10 degrees when driving down the bottom of a hill. Also, scooterists can work on their tan while driving! My Farmer tan is coming along very nicely, thank you very much.

A lot of scooter owners ride to reduce their stress. The world is calmer when on the back of a scoot. In today’s wired up world, where people are always a phone call, fax or email away from anyone, it’s therapeutic to shut off a cell and hit the road. When you get on your scooter, it's just you, your scooter, and the wide open world.

So, whether you are looking at scooters as simply a practical way to get around, or as a way to thumb your nose at the gasoline mafia, or you are just reliving your wild and carefree youth, there is no denying scooters are the coolest thing on 2-wheels. So strap on that helmet, rev it up, and SCOOT ON!