Here's something you might be interested in.
Ok! It's definitely a new thing this summer. I'm seeing a 10 fold increase in the number of scooters rolling around PB. Let's be careful on our roads! Cagers (people in cars, as we call them) are not always on the lookout for these vehicles. Even though they more noticeable than a bicycle they are still not always ready to see them in the middle of traffic.
Thankfully, in PB, traffic is rather slow moving most of the time and gives the scooter rider ample time to avoid 'situations'. There's three obvious camps about scooters... love them, hate them, and the "Oh My God I Think I Might Kill Them" camp. For the later group, no worries... scooter riders (and all two-wheeled riders) are taught to pretend nobody else can see them when they are on the road and it is their own job to avoid YOU. So long as YOU follow the rules of the road (signal lane changes, stop at red lights ... etc.)
For the haters... get used to it - they are here to stay. Have you seen the size of that scooter store on Garnet and Gresham? Don't get mad when they zip by you between traffic when you are in gridlock. Don't get mad when there are 4 of them in front of you going the speed limit. -Get mad- when they fill up for the week costing a grand total of $5.
For the lovers, wear your helmets and gear, ride with friends and be noticed! Wave to all other riders (even some motorcyclists will not be too proud to wave).
For those of you who want to ride: Research the scooter the same way you would a new car. Find online user groups and research the history of the mobiles for safety and manufacturing defects. A scooter that costs $999 is obviously that low for a reason when other comparable models from different manufacturers cost $3000. Think Daewoo vs. Toyota or something like that.
My recommended brands are (in no particular order): Genuine (Buddy’s and rattlers), Yamaha, Suzuki, Bajaj, Kymco, Sym, Piaggio, Vespa, Apirilla, Honda.
Be very careful about ‘fly-by-night’ brands and dealers. These are Chinese “knock-offs” that strip apart a brand name bike and copy all of the parts and build their own and name it their own as if it will be as good as the original. Buy them like you would a car. If the dealer has neon lights and huge signs that say “Buy me now! Super deal!”, be skeptical! Scooters that are reputable sell themselves, and the dealer knows this. They will be very glad to educate you rather than “sell” you on a bike.
For most people’s needs I recommend a Genuine Buddy 125cc. It can go 50mph and has tons of accessories for everything you need to haul and look good (surfboards to shopping bags).
Don’t forget you’ll need your Motorcycle Endorsement on your license, or permit, to ride a scooter on the street!
Ok! It's definitely a new thing this summer. I'm seeing a 10 fold increase in the number of scooters rolling around PB. Let's be careful on our roads! Cagers (people in cars, as we call them) are not always on the lookout for these vehicles. Even though they more noticeable than a bicycle they are still not always ready to see them in the middle of traffic.
Thankfully, in PB, traffic is rather slow moving most of the time and gives the scooter rider ample time to avoid 'situations'. There's three obvious camps about scooters... love them, hate them, and the "Oh My God I Think I Might Kill Them" camp. For the later group, no worries... scooter riders (and all two-wheeled riders) are taught to pretend nobody else can see them when they are on the road and it is their own job to avoid YOU. So long as YOU follow the rules of the road (signal lane changes, stop at red lights ... etc.)
For the haters... get used to it - they are here to stay. Have you seen the size of that scooter store on Garnet and Gresham? Don't get mad when they zip by you between traffic when you are in gridlock. Don't get mad when there are 4 of them in front of you going the speed limit. -Get mad- when they fill up for the week costing a grand total of $5.
For the lovers, wear your helmets and gear, ride with friends and be noticed! Wave to all other riders (even some motorcyclists will not be too proud to wave).
For those of you who want to ride: Research the scooter the same way you would a new car. Find online user groups and research the history of the mobiles for safety and manufacturing defects. A scooter that costs $999 is obviously that low for a reason when other comparable models from different manufacturers cost $3000. Think Daewoo vs. Toyota or something like that.
My recommended brands are (in no particular order): Genuine (Buddy’s and rattlers), Yamaha, Suzuki, Bajaj, Kymco, Sym, Piaggio, Vespa, Apirilla, Honda.
Be very careful about ‘fly-by-night’ brands and dealers. These are Chinese “knock-offs” that strip apart a brand name bike and copy all of the parts and build their own and name it their own as if it will be as good as the original. Buy them like you would a car. If the dealer has neon lights and huge signs that say “Buy me now! Super deal!”, be skeptical! Scooters that are reputable sell themselves, and the dealer knows this. They will be very glad to educate you rather than “sell” you on a bike.
For most people’s needs I recommend a Genuine Buddy 125cc. It can go 50mph and has tons of accessories for everything you need to haul and look good (surfboards to shopping bags).
Don’t forget you’ll need your Motorcycle Endorsement on your license, or permit, to ride a scooter on the street!