First Moped/Scooter Questions?

Question

Im looking to buy something more fuel efficient because my only car is a Jeep Grand Cherokee which is terrible on gas. rather than trading in my jeep(which i love) for a smaller car i thought maybe it would be better to invest in a scooter or moped. iv never ridden one before so i dont quite know the ins and outs of how to ride one or how to even pick one out. as far as my research has taken me i know that i want at least 150ccs because i plan on taking it on the highway so my questions are:

1. what does 150ccs even mean?

2. how do you ride one? is it just a simple gas and go or is there the whole clutch and switching gears like a motorcycle

3. do you need a special license or need to take any extra training as in getting a drivers license?

4. How reliable are they? do they break down easily or cost tons to repair?

5. Would i be better off trading in my car?

Answer 1

its better if your vehicle is capable to go 20 over posted limit,chicago area i wouldnt hit the highway on anthing that couldnt pull 90 mph on the top,scooters have small wheeland dont like pot holes or gravel,they are easy to ride .i would not recommend for highway use but great in town.the scooters ive seen that would suitable for highway are going for 6500.00 bucks,2 kinds of bikers,the kind that have crashed and the kind that are gonna,scooter riders are included,go for a 250 if your going,if you drive stick and are ok with manual shift riding buy a ninja 250 bigger wheels are safer,stay alive save gas have fun

Answer 2

A scooter is a good choice.  They have a low center of gravity so they're easy to handle, and they have automatic transmissions.  They are very easy to learn to ride and relatively safe (probably because of they way they're ridden).

150cc is a good size.  Plenty big enough for around town, and enough power to go short trips on the freeway.  People have crossed the country on bikes that size, but you'd want to take it easy, it wouldn't be comfortable (or reliable) to ride 70 mph all day long.  50 maybe.

Any of the Japanese brands are very good quality and reliable.  I would beware of Chinese/Taiwanese brands you never heard of before.   A good used Japanese scooter would cost about the same and make you happier in the long run.

CCs are the -displacement- of the engine.  You know about the piston inside the cylinder.  The intake valve opens and the piston goes down, drawing a certain amount of fuel-air mixture into the cylinder. That amount is the displacement.  The more displacement, generally the more power, but also a more powerful bike is heavier.  A 50cc scooter will go maybe 30-35 mph.  A 150cc scooter might go 70 tops but is more comfortable around 55.

You do need a motorcycle license. You get a learner's permit.  With a scooter, you could probably learn to ride it in about 10 minutes, and you would practice a bit in a quiet, residential neighborhood before heading out in to traffic.  But really -anyone- can ride one.  It's like a bicycle that you don't have to pedal.

I use my bike (motorcycle) as my primary form of transportation.  I have a car but I only use it when it rains or when I have to carry something big.  The bike fills all my 'personal' transportation needs very nicely.  Of course I live in California where it seldom rains and never snows.

My first bike was a scooter.   I ended up taking it on 200 mi. day rides.  I had so much fun on that bike!  I hope you enjoy yours too!

Answer 3

1. 150cc is the size of the engine, your jeep is probably a 4.0 or 5.2 which is 4000cc or 5200cc.

2. Most of the new scooters are gas and go and there shouldn't be a clutch, most scooters have a centrifugal clutch that only engages when you give it gas, you don't engage it yourself.

3.You don't have to have a special license if you are a licensed driver.

4.They are pretty reliable given that you take care of them like your Grand Cherokee, change the oil, keep air in the tires and don't run the c**p out of it.

5.That is up to you, do you want to ride a scooter?

Answer 4

I only need to add one thing to the other answer 3 . you DO in fact need a motorcycle license to operate a scooter larger than 50cc. ,anything above that is concidered a mc.

Answer 5

Every one has  pretty much told you everything except there is nothing wrong with scooters from Taiwan. Kymco's is made there and they are one of the best rated scooters in the world and they are the largest manufacture of scooter. They have many models and styles from 50cc to 500cc and get mileage from 50 mpg to 110 mpg. I have been a mechanic on them for several years and they almost never break down. Most of the time general maintenance is all that they require. They are much cheaper than your j*p scooters. People trade in some of the j*p scooters on kymcos because they are so smooth. and yes they are twist and go. Repair parts when accidents happen are more reasonably priced. I have seen insurance agents surprised on what they cost.