About scooters .?

Question

1. How fast do scooters go?
2. Are they automatic?
3. Does one need a motorcycle license to drive one?
4. Can you drive take a scoter on the highway?
5. How many miles to a gallon does a scooter get?

Answer 1

1. Depends on displacement of the bike's engine, gearing, weight of rider, and the state of tune the bike is in.

2. Many scooters are in fact automatic single speed and automatic multiple speed button shift. However, some of the earlier European scooters were in fact manual shift bikes.

3. In most states bikes with 50cc and less can be legally operated under your regular drivers license. However, if the bike is over 50cc, you will need a motorcycle endorsement on your license.

4. Here in Michigan, your bike must be 125cc or greater to ride on the interstate. However, a 125-150cc scooter has a top speed(stock) of about 55-60mph with nothing left in reserve. Therefore, surface streets would be a safer riding environment, or you can go to 250cc which can handle speeds up to 70-80mph.

5. "Your mileage may very." I dislike that line, but it is true. My Honda Elite SA50 S, gets about 90mpg, and my Honda Reflex gets 65-70mpg, depending on how fast I ride.

Hope this helps you out.
Ride Safe

Answer 2

Any bike with 50cc or more is (legally anyway) a motorcycle, but regardless of engine displacement, you can be killed on any two wheeled vehicle be it a Vespa, Honda, Harley, or Schwinn. Perhaps you feel that you are not ready for the Honda CB350s and just have not made that connection in your head yet. My opinion is don't let fear limit your options. Take a motorcycle safety class and then you can make a better decision of what to ride. If it's just a displacement thing and you have already stated that you like Vespas check out the Vespa GTS 250. Honda and Yamaha also have 250cc scooters. If 250cc are not enough, there are larger displacement scooters on the market as well. Yamaha Majesty 400 Honda Silverwing 600 Suzuki Burgman 650 I use a Honda Reflex scooter to commute to work. Is the Reflex better or cooler then the above bikes? I Do Not Know, but the Reflex is my choice of scooter, and I am happy with that choice. It is my hope that you will be as happy with the bike you choose to ride as I am with the one I choose to ride. Ride Safe

Answer 3

Most of the information you have received thus far is correct, however there is an omission that needs to be clarified. There are scooters that have engines greater than the 150cc that has been mentioned and are interstate legal.

Honda makes the Silverwing with an engine that is close to 600cc. Here is a site dedicated to this bike: http://silverwing.org/cgi-bin/forum_show.pl. Honda also makes some bikes in the 200+cc range.

Suzuki makes two scooters in the Burgman line with engines of 400cc and 650cc. Check out this website for info on the Burgman line http://www.burgmanusa.com or go to the Suzuki website.

As far as any regulations concerning scooters and licensing or interstate travel always contact the state in which you live.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

I just looked up some of this information yesterday. You can find a lot with a Google search.

A 50cc scooter usually has a speed regulator and is limited to about 30 mph. No license is needed. A 150cc or higher will go 65 mph or better. Both seem to get somewhere between 65 and 100 miles per gallon.

Here's a link to one scooter site:

Answer 5

depends on where you live. Some areas require a motorcycle license for any size scooter. Some exempt those under certain engine sizes. Scooters top speed is regulated by engine size. small ones do 25-30 mph. Some of the bigger ones do 55+. most are automatic, but a few use manual clutches. "scooters" are restricted form the highways. MPG varies from 45 to 65 MPG again, depending on engine size and how you ride it.

Answer 6

Ok let's tackle each question at a time with a two word answer...it depends.
1.They're different engine displacements for scooters ranging from 50cc to 600cc. The 50cc class usually range from 30-40 mph. The 150cc class have a top speed of 60 mph. 250cc and up go around 80mph. But it depends on the weight of the rider and the terrain.
2. Some of the older scooters were manual but since the mid 90's they have CVT or continuously variable transmissions (automatic).
3. Check your state's DMV laws to see if you need a motorcycle license. In KY, we don't need one for under 50 cc but in Ohio you need a motorcycle license. Mostly anything over 50cc is the rule but you can take a motorcycle education course sponsored through the MSF(Motorcycle Safety Foundation). It usually costs $150 but it's WORTH it.
4. Most interstates prohibit scooters on Interstates but I think it's due to the weight of the bike. I would imagine anything over 250cc can go on the highways but once again, check your state laws.
5. Your MPG will, once again, decide on your weight, the terrain and how you drive it. My little 50cc gets around 80 mpg.

If you're starting out, ask yourself a couple of questions. Is it for a highway commute? Is it for local jaunts? Do I plan on taking passengers? If you answer yes to these questions I suggest a 150cc to start. It's quick enough to get you around and a good beginner bike.

Also bear in mind they're a lot of cheap scooters out there. Make sure you pick one with a reliable dealer and service department. Do a lot of research on scooters before you just buy one.

Hope to see ya on the road!

Answer 7

they have shifting ones and centrifugal clutch ones, you need to stay on the side of the road but do not need a license, there are instances where some one removed the governor on theirs and went 50 MPH and got pulled over by the cops cuz that is too fast,
I think they regulate them same as bike riders,,