Choosing a scooter: what to look for when buying?

Summer is a time for travel and relaxation. In order not to suffer in crowded minibuses or trains, city residents purchase means of transportation such as a car, bicycle, motorcycle or scooter. The latter will be discussed in our material.

Let's try to explain to you what to look for, what advantages and disadvantages this vehicle has. Pay attention and remember!

Main types of scooters by purpose:

Urban

Such solutions are suitable for leisurely driving, within 50-55 km/h, on city streets, including those where the car cannot fit due to its dimensions. For most models, the engine capacity is no more than 50 cm3: this is not enough for fast acceleration. The diameter of the front wheel is 100-120 mm, the rear wheel is 120-130 mm. These scooters have a narrow profile that is not suitable for rough terrain. At the same time, they are equipped with both front and rear brakes, which allows you to avoid the wheel lifting off the ground during a sudden stop.

The main features of such solutions are compactness, light weight and small wheel diameter. Almost all models are distinguished by a comfortable fit (for which they are popularly called “stool”), which does not involve throwing your leg over the frame. At the same time, a city scooter does not have space for storing a large number of things and is inconvenient when riding long distances. If necessary, special cases can be hung on it.

Off-road

The main feature of such a unit is the reinforced suspension and wide wheel profile, which allows it to overcome significant obstacles, including mud and muddy roads. This is an excellent solution for a dacha or village: much better than a bicycle, more economical and cheaper than an ATV, and simpler than a car. The device must have a high-speed engine, which will allow it to move forward without unnecessary problems.

Honda and Yamaha have such models; Benelli stands out among European manufacturers. Traveling through city streets will be quite difficult, given the high engine power and special tires. But if desired, the wheels can be replaced, and this will turn the model into a good alternative to a car.

Sports

This type of scooter is very similar to a motorcycle, although it is less complicated to control. Most models are characterized by manual gear shifting, quick acceleration, and engine location at the front of the vehicle. This scooter obeys the driver well and turns smoothly, but requires certain control skills.

Sports models have an excellent appearance, and most users will not distinguish them from a motorcycle. However, fuel consumption is also high, because the engines demonstrate excellent speed characteristics. This is an ideal option for young people who want to impress others, but do not have enough money and experience for a motorcycle.

Tourist

The key feature of the models is increased seating comfort, additional space for storing and transporting things. The wheels have a large diameter, which helps the mini-bike cover significant distances. This is an excellent solution for traveling in the countries of the European Union, where the road surface allows you to reach significant speeds. At the same time, traveling on tourist scooters in Russia remains dangerous due to the unsuitability of our highways for this type of transport.

Scooter. For what and for whom?

At first glance, this vehicle can be compared to a bicycle equipped with an engine. By the way, the engine can be either fuel or electric. More on this later.

For what? Most scooters are designed to travel short distances, which is ideal for car owners who are not ready to get behind the wheel of a bulky “iron horse” for every little detail. Scooters also solve the main problem of drivers - parking space. Fortunately, such a vehicle can be left almost anywhere, which is a big plus. You won’t have to sit in traffic jams with it, because the scooter maneuvers much better on the roads.

For whom? For those who already have a car, or for those who want to have a vehicle, but are not at all interested in a car. The scooter is suitable even for “conservationists” who care about the environment, because there are options that run on battery power.

Scooter comparison table

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Types of scooters by engine size:

1. Up to 50 cm3. These scooters are very easy to operate, but the maximum speed, as a rule, does not exceed 50 km/h. This problem can be solved by boosting the engine, but this is not an easy task, and even dangerous for the engine. Moreover, it is easier to “pump up” popular models: there are step-by-step recommendations, as well as repair kits that can improve the characteristics of the unit. However, the acceleration speed leaves much to be desired even after boosting the engine.
2. 51-125 cm3. Classic city scooters of this type are good for their maneuverability and affordable price. Such solutions are available from all manufacturers and are highly popular in Russia.
3. 126-250 cm3. Sports scooters will appeal to young fans of speed. They have good driving performance, are easy to maintain and durable.
4. Over 251 m3. Maxi-scooters can compete with motorcycles and are of interest to fans of racing vehicles. They demonstrate rapid acceleration to the required speed, good handling and stability.

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The best scooter manufacturers - which company to choose

There are several best companies in the world that produce proven motorcycle equipment. If you are too lazy to delve into the details, then you should choose a good model from the following manufacturers:

• Stels;
• SYM;
• Suzuki;
• Irbis;
• Honda.

But their model range is so wide that it is better to read the rating of the best scooters. The material here will help you understand the confusing characteristics of scooters and determine the range of parameters for a specific user and operating conditions.

Recommendations: 12 Best Electric Scooters

15 best scooters

19 best motorcycles

Two-stroke or four-stroke engine?

Like any other vehicle, the performance of a scooter is more than half determined by its engine. If the engine can withstand significant loads and is easy to maintain, then the scooter can be forgiven for its unsightly appearance and other shortcomings. The most convenient and economical is the two-stroke air-cooled engine. It can be improved, improved, while being fed with the lowest quality fuel.

However, in Europe and Japan, these engines were replaced by four-stroke liquid-cooled engines - more environmentally friendly and sophisticated. They form the main part of the market, which is due to requirements in the field of environmental legislation. At the same time, the two-stroke engine is very good and requires minimal maintenance, so if there is a used or new scooter for sale with such an engine, its purchase will also be justified.

Best 50cc scooters from Japan:

1. Honda Zoomer. The moped has acquired cult status in culture. Easily recognizable by its unusual design. The main disadvantage is the drum brakes.
2. Suzuki ZZ. Compact, fast and maneuverable model. Demanding on oil.

User reviews report that with proper care, such scooters can last up to 10 years.

50 cc scooters from China and Japan
The main difference between scooters from China and Japan is the quality and engine parameters. The engines of all Chinese models, even 50 cc ones, are 4-stroke, which makes them slower and more clumsy. Also, Chinese scooters are less durable and break more often. However, they are much cheaper. Among Chinese scooters, the “Stels” brand is famous.

This model has a stylish appearance and a high-quality engine.

Other well-known manufacturers: Racer, Viper, Yiben, Irbis.

'Advertising'

Best Chinese 50cc Scooters:

1. SYM Symphony SR 50 is a reliable Chinese motorcycle scooter with high-quality assembly and tenacious brakes. Easily overcomes curbs, bumps, uneven roads and speed bumps. The main disadvantage is the high price.
2. SYM Jet SportX 50SR – A fast model for those who like to drive. One of the most reliable scooters from Taiwan. Advantages: good optics; torsionally rigid frame; good acceleration dynamics. Disadvantages: uncomfortable saddle.
3. KEEWAY Street 50. Inexpensive, reliable scooter. Looks good, easy to repair and maintain. Loves good butter.

Which fuel system is better?

Most often in the column “fuel system” and “carburetor”. The second option is undoubtedly more suitable for Russian conditions. Engines equipped with such a fuel system respond well to poor fuel, are easy to repair, but are less reliable. The direct injection system is more economical and reduces harmful emissions into the environment.

However, their design is complex, which affects the overall price of the product. In addition, not all gas stations offer gasoline of normal quality: you will have to monitor the condition of the engine and be sensitive to any nuances in its operation. To be fair, it should be said that the vast majority of modern scooters on sale operate on a direct injection system.

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Other useful tips for choosing and operating a scooter:

1. Please note that to drive a scooter with an engine capacity of up to 50 cm3 in Russia, since November 2013, you need a driver's license of category M, over 50 cm3 - category A1. At the same time, the minimum age at which a driver is allowed to drive is 16 years. Accordingly, the person driving the scooter is subject to all traffic rules, including the need to drive sober.
2. When choosing a scooter, make sure that it is the right size for you. Some compact models may be inconvenient for riding, because it will be very difficult to adjust the chair to your anatomical parameters.
3. The volume of the gas tank is very important: scooter drivers often forget to refuel their vehicles, so the tank must be spacious.
4. Among European manufacturers, the products of such brands as Aprilia (racing models), Piaggio, Gilera, Benelli (good off-road scooters), Peugeot deserve special praise.

Scooter selection options

Engine capacity

The internal size of the power unit chamber is called its volume. It comes from 49 to 550 cm3. The larger this parameter, the more impressive the force from the combustion of the air-fuel mixture inside, and the more powerful the device will be.

This is important to consider when choosing transport for teenagers or people who do not have a driver's license. By law, you are allowed to drive a vehicle with a power unit volume of no more than 49.9 cm3. There is no point in purchasing other models here, and this option is optimal for children aged 14-15 years, who cannot have a license in any case.

1. For frequent use with a passenger or cargo, a volume of 100-150 cm3 is required. The same parameters apply to unpaved roads.

2. If you plan to travel only by yourself and lightly, then you can choose the minimum value.

3. To travel between cities at sufficient speed alone or with a heavy bag, purchase scooters with an engine capacity of 250 to 500 cm3. They cope with such loads without any problems.

Engine stroke

Scooter power units can have a 2-stroke or 4-stroke device.

1. In the case of 2-stroke engines, the internal combustion chamber receives air from a special channel, mixes it with fuel, burns it and releases it on the other side. This gives simple maintenance, high power and cheap components. Such models are suitable for traveling on dirt roads, fishing or in the countryside.

2. 4-stroke engines are equipped with a valve system and the combustion process is divided into four parts. This results in smoother operation, quieter sound and more consistent traction. 4-stroke models are better suited for use in the city and on the highway.

Power

Another factor in endurance under load is the power of the scooter, measured in horsepower. The parameter ranges from 3 to 50 hp. The higher it is, the easier it will be for a vehicle to drive uphill with two passengers, the faster it will overtake other vehicles, or the faster it will pick up the required speed.

1. For children to ride or to go shopping for an elderly person, a 3 hp scooter is enough.

2. For everyday trips to work in the city, a vehicle with 4-14 hp is useful.

3. Traveling between cities over long distances will be easy with a power of 40-50 hp.

Maximum speed

From the combination of engine volume and horsepower, the maximum speed of the device is formed, which is selected taking into account the user. It ranges from 50 to 180 km/h.

1. For teenagers, it is not recommended to purchase devices exceeding 50 km/h for safety reasons.

2. It’s easier to go to work around the city on a scooter at 80-90 km/h. This option is also suitable for out-of-town trips.

3. If you often have to travel from a suburb or town to a large city and back, then you need a universal model with an indicator of 120 km/h.

4. Travelers over long distances use motor vehicles with the ability to accelerate to 160-180 km/h.

Number of seats

When choosing a modern moped, you should pay attention to the size of the seat. The possibility of boarding a passenger depends on this.

1. Single-seat models are suitable for children or single pensioners.

2. Transport for commuting can be purchased for 1.5 seats. This will allow you to sit comfortably on your own every day, and on the weekends you can take the same transport to the market with your wife.

3. For intercity trips, you always need a supply of things for which there may not be enough space on a small trunk, so it requires two full seats used for a bag or a passenger.

Device weight

Motor vehicles weigh from 80 to 300 kg. While driving, this may not affect the user, but when rolling the vehicle into the garage, over the threshold, it will be more difficult to place a heavy model. Therefore, where you store your moped plays an important role. It is also necessary to take into account installation on the running board so that the driver can do this independently.

1. For teenagers and girls, it is better to choose a scooter weighing 80-100 kg.

2. It will be easy for adults to handle 120-150 kg technicians.

3. Heavy models should be chosen by strong male representatives.

Fuel consumption

The fuel consumption of a scooter depends on the power of the power unit and the type of injection.

1. The ideal option for children to ride is a scooter with a fuel consumption of 0.8 liters per 100 km. Such entertainment will have almost no impact on the family budget.

2. To prevent everyday trips to work from being too expensive, it is better to purchase a scooter with a consumption of 1.3-2 liters per 100 km.

3. Fishing trips and trips outside the city require more powerful models, so the consumption here will be 3-4 liters.

4. Touring maxi scooters consume up to 6 liters to cover long distances quickly.

Suspension

To smooth out road unevenness, there are several suspension options, differing in internal structure and operating principle:

1. Telescopic - operates on hydraulic cylinders and has two tubes that fit into one another. This is a very soft suspension, well suited for city roads.

2. Pendulum - has a larger range of motion and allows you to better tolerate falling into holes or overcoming other obstacles. It is worth choosing in case of frequent trips to the village or fishing.

3. Lever - stabilizes road disturbances well and is a middle option between those described above, which is better for the elderly or children.

Cooling system

The power unit becomes very hot during fuel combustion. To ensure its long-term operation, a cooling system is used. It comes in two types: air and liquid.

1. Air - suitable for short rides, trips to work and back, forays into nature or fishing.

2. Liquid - necessary to overcome long distances between cities, without consequences for the engine.

Fuel supply

Gasoline is delivered to the combustion chamber of the engine by a carburetor or injector.

1. Scooters with a carburetor system operate by sucking fuel from a small block. Its operation depends on the quality of the fuel and atmospheric pressure, and is therefore unstable. But they also cost less. Carburetor models are suitable for children and older people. Short trips around the city are quite acceptable on them.

2. The injector injects finely dispersed fuel mass, which provides stability in the amount of fuel, even speed and good traction. With such a scooter you can more confidently overtake other vehicles in a short time or cover significant distances. This is the optimal type of transport for intercity travel or using a scooter throughout the day within the city.

Volume of the tank

The weak point of this technology is the small size of the gas tank. It can be from 5 to 10 liters, and in rare cases up to 15 liters. If you forget to fill up on time, you may end up in the middle of the road.

1. In urban areas, where there are many gas stations, pushing your vehicle to the nearest one is not difficult and you can choose models with a 5-6 liter tank.

2. Outside the city, pushing a vehicle to a gas station is not so easy, so it is recommended to buy scooters with a fuel tank capacity of 6-8 liters.

3. Traveling requires a sufficient reserve so as not to constantly look at the gas gauge and models with 12-15 liters are used here.

Transmission

Scooters are easy to control. CVTs or a semi-automatic gearbox are installed on them.

1. CVT - has a cone-shaped clutch, rearrangement of the belt on which regulates the speed of rotation of the rear wheel. When the belt rotates on the wide part, the speed is slower. When reaching the narrow section, the rotation increases significantly. This mechanism will be easy for girls and the elderly to handle.

2. Semi-automatic transmission - changing to a smaller sprocket and increasing wheel speed is achieved by pushing a special pedal with your foot. The speed capabilities of such models are much higher, but they require certain driving skills and are suitable for those who know how not to get lost and, in parallel with controlling the steering wheel, perform actions with their feet.

Wheel diameter

Scooters are equipped with different diameter wheels. Their size can range from 8 to 16 inches. When driving on smooth asphalt, there is no difference in the size of the tires, but on a road with defects this will play a key role. Small wheels easily fly into holes and are more difficult to get out of them.

1. An 8-inch diameter is plenty for kids to enjoy and ride around the block.

2. Traveling to work and to the store on asphalt is easier to do on models with 12-14-inch wheels. The same indicators are chosen when traveling to the village.

3. The track requires 15-16 inches.

Brake type

Brakes are responsible for driving safety. The higher the vehicle speed, the more reliably they should work.

There are several types of brakes:

1. Mechanical discs - they are clamped by hand and transmit force along a steel cable to the pads, which block the rotation of the disc on the wheel. The action is performed as long as the trigger on the steering wheel is held by hand. This is enough for driving around the yard or to the nearest supermarket.

2. Drum - have an internal device with curved pads inside a special drum. Their divorce slows down the rotation. The system is reliable due to its protection from precipitation, but requires careful monitoring in order to change the pads on time, the erasure of which is invisible to the user. This option is suitable for men who are tech-savvy. Such brakes are practical on steep slopes when going fishing.

3. Hydraulic - they work on the disk principle, but the clamping force is carried out by a special cylinder, and not just by a human hand. This is the most reliable type of brakes, suitable for girls, children and adults. Optimal on the highway.

Saddle height

The comfort of sitting on a scooter is determined by the shape of the seat and its height.

1. For children, in order not to reach with their toes to the ground, mopeds with an indicator of 650-700 mm from the ground are suitable.

2. People of average height can comfortably ride with a saddle height of 780 mm.

3. For tall drivers, it is better to find a model with a value of 850 mm.

TheDifference.ru knows how to choose a scooter:

1. For what purpose is a scooter needed? For most city residents, the traditional version with an engine up to 50 cm3 is suitable: compact, lightweight (up to 60 kg), convenient. If it breaks down on the road, you can call not a tow truck, but a friend in a minibus or even a passenger car in the back of a station wagon. To ride over rough terrain, you need a scooter with reinforced studded tires and a powerful engine. And for travel there are real touring mini-bikes: with a comfortable seat and additional compartments for things. Fans of fast travel will like sports scooters, which in their speed characteristics are not much inferior to motorcycles.
2. How many people will travel on a scooter? Please note that there are few two-seater models and most scooters are designed for driver only. If you have a passenger traveling with you, a separate seat should be provided for him. Do not forget about the engine power: it should not be subjected to excessive loads.
3. Do you have skills in servicing motorcycles? Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha are considered the most reliable solutions. European alternatives from popular car brands are distinguished by complex technical “filling”, heavy weight and high price. Chinese scooters are best purchased by those who are familiar with the design of mini-bikes and are able to fix certain breakdowns.
4. What is the condition of the road surface in the city? Units from European and Japanese manufacturers do not withstand driving over potholes and potholes. In addition, their repair will be very expensive and will make riding a scooter impractical. Chinese and Russian scooters withstand bad roads better, and their maintenance is much cheaper.
5. What are your riding habits? On a scooter you need to move so as not to interfere with the main flow, so rapid acceleration to 60 km/h can be very useful for lovers of high speeds. If you prefer a more relaxed pace, then engine size does not matter much.
6. What is your purchasing budget? Of course, it is better to buy new things. But if you don’t have enough money for such a scooter, then you can buy a used scooter. You should not compare the mileage of a mini-bike with a car: a rare two-wheeled friend is capable of traveling 15 thousand kilometers or more without major engine repairs.
7. Do you need additional body kit? In addition to the windshield, the scooter can be equipped with a case, additional protection, and storage capacity. However, pay attention to these details last: there are no problems in installing additional equipment, lights, mirrors, etc. on one's own. It is very good if the scooter has a heated seat: this will make its use more comfortable in the off-season.

Scooters with a capacity above 250cc

Maxiscooters are very close to motorcycles in design and advanced technical equipment. They are equipped with many auxiliary mechanisms and can accelerate to 200 km/h.”

Scooters with a capacity above 250cc can accelerate to 200 km/h.

Their advantages:

• power;
• good low and high beam;
• mobility;
• possibility of transporting a passenger;
• strong and durable construction.

Disadvantages:

• you need to be good at operating motorcycles, which is not suitable for beginners;
• repair and replacement of parts in case of breakdown will be expensive;
• consume a lot of fuel;
• expensive.