Wildside Scooters
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Scooters: The Perfect Second Car?
These babies are scoring because of their mileage and maneuverability
by Adam Aston and Rob Doyle, BusinessWeek

High gas prices and traffic: They're the banes of a driver's existence. With neither about to improve anytime soon, there may be a small solution to these big problems. Scooters are an increasingly popular way to zip to errands, make parking a snap, and cut down on fuel costs.

Smaller and easier to use than their motorcycle cousins, scooters have long been popular in cities in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. But lately, the economics of scootering has helped them gain fans here in the U.S. With a final bill that won't exceed most credit-card limits, a scooter makes a great substitute for a station car or an ideal spare vehicle for errands. That's why sales are soaring in urban hot spots such as Miami and New York as well as in the suburbs.

All scooters share a basic ease of operation that makes it easy even for non-motorcyclists to get on and go. Start with the motor, where automatic "twist-and-go" transmissions are the rule. With no clutch to fuss about, you simply twist the throttle to take off. The brakes work just like a bicycle's, with a lever for each hand. Thanks to the positioning of the engine -- directly in front of the rear wheel -- scooters share a "step-through" design so you can sit upright, with your feet in front of you.

To get rolling, 50cc models start at under $3,000. In the middle of the pack, some models have enough oomph to take two passengers to highway speeds and sell for over $5,000. The most powerful class of touring-style rides comfortably cruise at highway passing speeds and can cost $6,000 and above. Also expect to ante up for insurance -- around $400 per year for basic liability, fire, and theft -- plus helmets, and the cost of a motorcycle licensing course, if necessary. Check out motorcycles.org for state-by-state information on licensing and one-day scooter schools.

Running costs are even more appealing. Larger scooters get up to 60 miles per gallon; some can go twice as far on a gallon of gas. This spartan efficiency comes from a high-revving, clean-running two-stroke 49cc power plant. A plus for this small engine is that in many states no special license is required on vehicles with engines under 50cc. The trade-off is a top speed south of 50 mph, so it's not the right choice for the highway.

For trips beyond city limits, a new class of supersized scooters offers the feel of a motorcycle but with less hassle. Next time you need to pick up a takeout order, why drive when you can scoot?