Scooter for Chicago climate?

Question

I'm looking to buy a scooter until I can get a good job to pay for a car and insurance (a couple years), and I'd like to know if there's a scooter that is best-designed for a climate like Chicago, especially in the winter. I don't plan on using the scooter other than for school or work, which are both a 5 minute drive from my home, so driving in cold weather isn't too much of a problem for me (I can dress warm). My problem would be driving the scooter while it's raining or snowing, or while there's slush or water on the asphalt, and therefore my question is: is there a scooter you would consider more "off-road" than others in that it is more capable of slippery environments? Or perhaps possible upgrades for scooters to make them more stable (ex. do they make tires with better traction or weather tires for scooters)? And what companies make three-wheeled scooters (which I would guess to have better traction)? Any help would greatly be appreciated.

Answer 1

Unfortunately, two wheeled vehicles generally don't handle too well in Chicago winter weather. Offroad bikes can have good traction in dirt because the knobby tires can bite into the dirt. Snow doesn't offer the same resistance and knobby tires actually have LESS traction on the street compared to street tires. Since the knobs on the tires can't bite into the street, there is less rubber surface in contact with the road with makes it more slippery.

People who race on ice put metal studs through the tires to bite into the ice...still not very practical for street use.

Answer 2

You can't ride when its snowing, sand on the road is as bad if not worse than ice and the will chill factor will freeze you in seconds! One model won't give you better traction than another one. You can find kits to convert a Honda Helix to a 3 wheeler, but it will cost you more than a decent used car. Same with the Piaggion MP3, which has 3 wheels, but isn't exactly a tricycle.

That being said, people in the northern cities do ride 12 months out of the year. Check this blog from a guy in Minnesota who rode a Baron scooter all winter.

Answer 3

chilly!!!!!!!! Chicago is favourite because of the fact the 'Windy city,' and for a solid reason. In iciness, Chicago is fairly chilly because of the freezing wind that cuts quickly by way of on your bones. It additionally snows lots in Chicago, so confirm you have very heat boots and a thick, heat iciness coat. that's often around 0° Celcius, yet with the wind chill element it often feels -10° or -15° C. wish that enables... and revel in Chicago. in spite of the climate, that's a very stunning city!

Answer 4

I think your better off taking a Taxi.
Your crazy if you want to ride a Scooter in the snow/slush.
If you don't get stuck, or slide, your going to get soaked either way, from the cars and trucks that go by...
Stick to riding a Scooter like Now..

Answer 5

The climate won't kill as fast as the crappy drivers in Chicago. Does Illinois even make people take a drivers test? Jeez.