| Mopeds and Scooters are becoming increasingly | | | | 50mph and up to 70mph depending on the engine |
| popular due to their lower running costs and purchase | | | | capacity. The older mopeds do not have any gears, |
| prices, indeed even the insurance can be very | | | | as transition is rendered unnecessary due to their |
| reasonable. So what are the differences between the | | | | limited speed. However I am sure we have all covered |
| two types of vehicle? | | | | our ears when a moped races past at top speed |
| Design | | | | screaming like a tortured bee! |
| A gas moped is a street legal 50cc motorcycle | | | | Costs and Purchasing |
| powered by gas. The original, older mopeds will | | | | You can still buy the original gas powered mopeds, |
| generally have pedals to start the engine and were | | | | complete with the pedals, although because of their |
| one of the first hybrid vehicles, using human pedal | | | | age, they can often require some serious maintenance. |
| power to start the engine and a gas motor to power it | | | | The bigger engine sizes and superior performance |
| after start up. In fact the name is derived from MOtor | | | | make scooters more expensive to both purchase and |
| and PEDal. Scooters however are a more recent | | | | run than mopeds. Gas mopeds however are cheap to |
| invention and will usually have either a key start or kick | | | | buy, and very cheap to insure. You can buy a used |
| start mechanism. | | | | gas moped for around $100 and more. You will be |
| Both scooters and mopeds will usually have what is | | | | paying upwards of $500 for newer used scooters and |
| known as a step through frame. The bigger scooter | | | | mopeds. |
| engines are placed to the rear and under the driver's | | | | Mopeds and Scooters and the Law |
| seat, which will normally be made big enough to carry | | | | In some countries there is no age limit to ride a moped; |
| a passenger. The smaller moped motor are usually | | | | however the more usual permitted age is 15, for |
| placed on the rear drive wheel. One of the other | | | | scooters though it is more usual for a motorcycle |
| obvious main differences is that scooters have a | | | | license to be required and therefore the age limit is the |
| platform for the feet to rest on; whereas mopeds | | | | same as that for motorcycles. This is the reason that |
| have either pedals or a bar for a foot rest. | | | | gas mopeds are often the first powered vehicle |
| Performance | | | | anyone owns due to the lesser restrictions on driving |
| A traditional 50cc pedal moped is usually limited to not | | | | ages in most countries around the world. They are |
| easily exceed 35mph, whereas a scooter will generally | | | | slow and reasonably safe, if they are driven correctly |
| have a bigger engine capacity, usually about 125cc, and | | | | and the driver has the proper training. Again the |
| better acceleration and top speed performance | | | | required training that prospective drivers must have |
| figures. Scooters have a top speed of well over | | | | differs greatly depending on country of residence. |