Scooter
A motor scooter is road motor scooter is a motorcycle with a step-through frame in which the rider sits without straddling any part of the engine. Most modern motor scooters have continuously variable transmissions and have wheels smaller in diameter, between 8 and 14 inches (20-35 cm) than other motorcycles. The engine is usually found under the seat near the rear wheel or axle. It is typically smaller than engines on other motorcycles although some makers produce quite powerful scooters up to 650 cc such as the Suzuki Burgman 650, it has a top speed of over 170 km/h. Most modern motor scooters come with air cooled two-stroke cycle engines with automatic 2-stroke oil injection although some of the higher spec small ones and large ones are water cooled such as the Honda FC50 or the 2002 Yamaha YQ50s. Recent scooters have four stroke engines for better emissions. High powered electric road scooters are on the horizon now that small electric motorcycles like the Viento and the eGO have been released.
Road motor scooters are tremendously popular in Europe (especially Italy), India, China, Japan, Taiwan and in many places in the world, however for some reason not in the United States. In many parts of the world, motor scooters are a popular form of urban transportation due to their size, fuel-efficiency, weight, and typically larger storage room than a motorcycle. In many localities, certain road motor scooters are considered by law to be in the same class as mopeds or small motorcycles and therefore they have fewer restrictions than that of larger motorcycles. In North America the legal distinctions vary by state but usually refer to motorcycles with an engine displacement of 50 cc (cubic centimeters) or less as being in the moped class. Some states--Maryland, for example--state that motor scooters must have a step-through design to distinguish them from mopeds and motorcycles. In the UK from the 1960s, Mods and Skinheads rode customized Vespas and Lambrettas, adorned with many extra mirrors and chrome parts. The scene is still alive in the UK, and has spread to other countries as far away as Australia and the United States. All around the world people continue to gather their vintage scooters at rallys nearby, far & inbetween. Joe Pancho, an american entusiast, thew Hawaii's 1st ever scooter rally in October of 2005.
The Vespa originally manufactured by Piaggio in post World War II Italy with aircraft materials and styling became the first of the road motor scooters and defined the vehicle type for three and a half decades. In the 1980s new versions of scooters began to be released and become popular, especially in Japan and Far-East Asia. This styling of scooters began to reflect that of larger, sporty, higher-performance motorcycles of the time and the trend has continued to the current day. With the release of the Honda Ruckus, there may be a new trend towards dirt-bike scooters just beginning. The classic styling of the Vespa has never lost its popularity, however and remains the most popular and most imitated scooter design. Almost all manufacturers now carry both a classic/retro model and a sporty/modern model.
Manufacturers
- Aprilia
- Bajaj
- Benelli
- BSA 'Sunbeam' scooter
- Fuji
- Go-peds
- Heinkel 'Tourist' scooter
- Honda
- Italjet
- Kymco
- Lambretta
- Maico 'Maicoletta' scooter
- Malaguti
- MBK
- Mitsubishi
- Motobécane
- Peugeot
- Piaggio (made/makes Vespa)
- Puch
- Suzuki
- TN'G
- Triumph 'Tigress' and 'Tina' Scooters
- United Motors Matrix scooter
- WFM
- Yamaha
- Zundapp 'Bella' Scooter
Collecting
In recent years, collecting vintage motor scooters has become a popular hobby. A good example of a collectable scooter is a Cushman. These are large scooters that were built in Lincoln, Nebraska from 1936 until 1965. Some models are seven feet (2.1 m) long and weigh over 300 pounds (136 kg). Most are powered by the Cushman Husky engine, which is a cast iron flathead design. Cushmans usually have 8 horsepower (6 kW) or less, but some Cushman Eagles have an aluminum OMC engine with overhead valves and 9 horsepower (7 kW). [1]
Different kinds
The German word "Kabinenroller" for microcar means enclosed motor scooter.
The primary differences between road motor scooters and electric road scooters are the use of electric motors and their tendency to not be built for heavy road use. Small electric scooters are becoming popular in North American campgrounds and suburban areas, as well as with youth.