Scooters - 11 Reasons Not to Buy One

As gas prices soar, more articles tout the advantages of riding to work on two wheels. Scooters are fun, easy to ride and inexpensive to operate. Scootering is the height of style for many age and status groups. My son is almost 16 years old. He would like to know if he may obtain a motorcycle lerner's permit and ride my scooter ( a registrered, 250 cc highway capable bike). While more people join the scootering crowd, it becomes very important to remember why some should not buy a motorbike.

1.) Scooters, like all motorbikes, are clearly dangerous. When buying a scooter, many friends will show their support of your choice to ride by relating apocryphal tales of friends and relatives who were hurt or died riding. According to the NHTSA, about 3500 riders died in 2003.

2.) While scooters save money, they are not free or even cheap transportation. A new, good quality scooter built to ride at highway speeds will cost four thousand dollars or more. Scooters built to ride with traffic on secondary roads at speeds to 60 mph will cost $2500 and up. New scooters with small 50cc engines will cost about one to three thousand dollars.

Most scooters will require insurance. The cost for insurance varies, check with your broker.

Regular service and parts that wear out may cost the rider hundreds of dollars every year, especially if the rider elects not to provide their own service. For example, an oil change for a car may only cost $30.00; a scooter oil change may cost double that or more.

When buying the bike, do not forget the cost of protective gear. Helmets, armored jackets, heavy leather gloves, boots, and goggles or sunglasses all add to the cost of the bike.

3.) If your significant other is not a rider, they will probably not like the idea. They will view the purchase as a luxury or even as an aggressive or passive aggressive act. It takes an understanding and patient spouse to allow an inanimate object that attracts so much affection into the household.

4.) Professionally, some may question the judgment of a scooterist.