| With the rising price of gas and concerns for the | | | | Well things have changed. Now days there are gas |
| environment many people are looking for a cheap, less | | | | scooter models that range in engine size from 50cc |
| polluting alternative for getting around town. Enter the | | | | right up to 500cc. Although the smaller and less |
| humble scooter. Not only do scooters cost less to run | | | | powerful scooters should only be used for local |
| and pollute the atmosphere less than your typical | | | | commuting the larger models, usually with 250cc |
| motor car, they are cheap to buy also. | | | | engines or bigger, are well suited to highway riding with |
| Their rise in popularity over the years has seen a | | | | some models going over the 60mph mark as a top |
| number of different companies get involved in the | | | | speed. |
| manufacture of scooters and as a result the price of a | | | | Another area where a scooter shines compared to |
| new scooter straight from the showroom floor is now | | | | the typical motor car is in our busy cities where parking |
| lower that it ever has been. Of course you still have | | | | space is at a premium and traffic congestion can be |
| your classics like the post world war two Vespa's and | | | | an absolute nightmare to contend with. Many people |
| Lambretta's that continue to command sky high prices | | | | are finding that the beauty of owning a scooter is that |
| but many scooters are being manufactured and | | | | they can park as close to the office as possible and |
| imported from countries such as China and are taking | | | | can negotiate the peak hour traffic a lot easier than if |
| the market over. | | | | they were driving the family car. |
| An interesting fact is that any scooters manufactured | | | | Throughout the world there are many different rulings |
| after 2006 produce on average 72 percent less CO2 | | | | on licensing and registration requirements for scooters |
| that the average car and 78 percent less than the | | | | and you should always check with your local |
| average SUV! Seventy percent is a huge reduction in | | | | authorities before deciding on a scooter for yourself. |
| CO2 and when you consider that a lot of trips done in | | | | Another important consideration is not to just buy the |
| these 'typical' cars could be done on a scooter you | | | | cheapest one that you come across. Although it may |
| soon realize that today's pollution levels could be | | | | be keenly priced you may pay the price down the |
| reduced dramatically if we all looked for alternatives to | | | | track when something goes wrong and parts and |
| using our cars for every single trip. | | | | service costs are through the roof. Also be sure to |
| Over the years the humble scooter hasn't exactly had | | | | check the warranty length and conditions, you don't |
| a sterling reputation with a lot of people seeing them | | | | want to be left high and dry in six months time with a |
| as a slow, maybe even ugly form of transportation. | | | | broken scooter and no way of repairing it! |