If you are looking for a new way to easily move around the city or need an upgrade for your garage but you haven’t decided yet, you can find more info here. When deciding between a scooter or a motorcycle, there are a lot of things to consider. Criteria such as price, fuel economy, your level of experience, or ease of use will determine the best choice for you. Although your decision might look good on paper, it doesn’t hurt to ask a more bike-experienced friend.
Both are great ideas
If you want your next vehicle to be inexpensive and economical or simply desire something more adventurous, a motorcycle or a scooter is a great choice. Both have better fuel economy, are uncomplicated to use, and you can generally benefit from cheaper insurance.
Nevertheless, choosing between these two might be a bit difficult so we made a list of things for you to consider before going to the bank.
Motorcycles
Motorcycles have been around for more than 100 years so there is a lot of history around them about how they were first built in small garages or sheds. A motorcycle is a vehicle with two wheels, doesn’t have pedals and is powered by an engine. It has been developed to reach high speeds so it is equipped with proper acceleration and high-speed maneuvering features.
Having a motorcycle allows you to have a relaxing commute to your office and ride on highways at great speeds. Because of the higher speed, motorcycles usually have more wind protection than a scooter.
Motorcycles are the better choice for longer rides or if you want to use them on open roads. For this, a motorcycle that has at least a 150cc engine is recommended. Also, the higher level of comfort and the better resistance at extended riding makes them a good choice for long trips.
Scooters
Scooters are incredibly popular in Asian countries due to their ability to move through traffic and they have also become more popular in American and European countries. People are attracted by their ease of use and good-looking design.
Scooters are two-wheel vehicles propelled by a smaller engine and have a step-through chassis with a footrest platform. They are mostly used for daily commutes. However, newer and more powerful scooters are capable of way more than a simple ride to the office.
Overall price
There is no doubt that scooters are cheaper than motorcycles. Not only do they cost less but all related scooter bills are lower so having a scooter is one of the cheapest ways to move around on your own. Motorcycles are more expensive because of the more complex mechanism, higher insurance cost and protective equipment needed.
How experienced you are
Small engine scooters are a good option if you are totally new to the road. Their simple driving mechanism and lower speed make them a great choice for young and inexperienced drivers since they can focus on grasping the road’s rules. After a while, they could have accumulated enough experience to think about getting an upgrade.
Motorcycles with bigger engines should be driven by more experienced riders as they are more powerful and reach higher speeds. Legally, you can’t ride a motorcycle with a 125cc engine if you are not at least 17 years old, so it might be a good idea to get something with a smaller engine in your first year of riding in traffic.
Once you become confident enough and have enough driving experience, a bigger engine motorcycle is a good option since you can use it for long distances after you obtained your full driver’s license.
So keep in mind the level of confidence and your needs for transportation. There is no point in getting a powerful motorcycle for you to drive on short distances in a city. On the other hand, driving a 50cc scooter on the open roads might be dangerous for you and for the other drivers.
Level of skills required
Scooters with small engines (50 to 75cc) are the simplest to ride since you just get on them and drive away. Despite not being able to achieve high speeds, these scooters are preferred for their level of convenience as they are easy to take care of. Scooters fans say that without having to think about changing the gears, the rider can concentrate more on the trip instead of the mechanics involved in shifting the gears.
More powerful scooters (125 to 150cc) may have manual or automatic transmission so they represent a good intermediate option between a simple-to-ride scooter and a more powerful motorcycle.
Usually, motorcycles are equipped with a manual transmission, having an up and down pedal, usually conducted with the right leg. Even if this makes them a bit more complicated to ride, it doesn’t take long to get skilled with gear shifting. Furthermore, the manual transmission has the advantage of having more control over your speed.
Using the rear brakes
Braking is done differently on a motorcycle equipped with a manual transmission than on a scooter. Actuating the rear brakes on a scooter is similar to breaking on a regular bike since you simply use your left hand to apply the rear brake. If you want to brake while driving a motorcycle equipped with a manual clutch, the system is a bit different as you must use your right foot to apply the rear brakes.
Engine power
In general, scooters are powered by an engine having the cylindrical capacity between 50cc and 250cc. In case you want more power, you might find scooters with an engine up to 850cc in the Western market. This engine’s size could be specific to a motorcycle but the main distinction is that scooters are designed to have a ‘step-through’ body.
Motorcycles have at least a 250cc engine making them capable of higher speeds so you should have some riding experience before buying a powerful motorcycle. There are motorcycles with 250cc or smaller engines designed for off-road riding available on today’s market.
However, since you can’t step through the chassis and the necessity of mounting the bike before riding makes it a motorcycle instead of a scooter.
Size
Scooters usually have 10-inch wheels and use an electrical charging system to power the lights, the ignition system and to replenish the battery so they weigh less. Most of the riders think that scooters are easier to drive since they are more maneuverable because of the lower speeds and their reduced weight. In general, scooters weigh anywhere from 210 to 320 pounds.
If you are looking for a scooter that you can ride on the bumpier roads, it may weigh from 420 to 520 pounds.
Because of the bigger engine, design and the additional parts, motorcycles are heavier than the average scooter. Motorcycles weigh between 400 and 600 lbs depending on their purpose and engine capacity. Unlike a scooter’s engine, the motorcycle’s engine is mounted in the middle of the chassis.
Also, the gas tank is placed above the engine so the driver has the engine underneath him and the gas tank is in front of him. Because of the engine’s placement, the rider can’t step through the chassis but has to cross a leg over the bike. Furthermore, motorcycles use larger wheels, usually over 16’’ diameter so they are easier to control at great speeds.
Fuel efficiency
Scooters have a better fuel efficiency as they are lighter due to the small engines, lightweight chassis and because they have automatic transmission. Owning a scooter means fewer stops at the gas station as you can get between 75 and 105 mpg on your ride.
Because of their bigger engines and increased weight, a trip with your motorcycle will require more fuel. However, they have bigger gas tanks than scooters so you shouldn’t have any problems during your trips. In general, motorcycles can get 30-40 mpg which is still better than most cars get.
Legal requirements
Despite their aesthetic distinctions, there are not a lot of differences in their legal classification as both scooters and motorcycles riders must respect the same laws. Scooter riders are taking the same tests at the Department of Motor Vehicles before getting the driver’s license unless the state has a specific test designed for scooter riding and ownership.
Also, if you want to ride a scooter, you must have a motorcycle endorsement to drive on the street, proper insurance, and adequate protective gear. Some states demand riders to wear an approved by regulation helmet, eye goggles, and closed footwear.
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