Last weekend I went south for a little rest and relaxation. In addition to swimming, eating myself silly and multiple naps, we had a chance to ride scooters around the neighborhood.
I was hooked instantly. The only thoughts running through my mind were I need one now.
Now that I am back into reality the feeling of want and desire still has not waned. Something about owning a scooter has become deeply ingrained in my mind. But before I take the plunge and buy myself a fun little toy, here is what I am going to consider:
□ Can I find health insurance that will cover riding a motorcycle? Yes, a scooter is a form of a motorcycle. And insurance, car and health, can be different than if you were not riding one. While riding one is a lot of fun, it is technically considered dangerous and insurance companies will want to compensate for that danger index. I have to consider that my insurance costs may go higher, especially if I have already been in an accident.
□ When can I drive the scooter? Motorcycles and scooters are not made for wet roads, so I can forget about driving when it rains. This means I would not be able to completely switch over my driving to a scooter. And I would only be able to drive the scooter for about 5 months out of the year. Would it be worth it to have two vehicles, one for the summer and one for the winter? What about the days it rained?
□ Are scooters really dangerous? I hear a lot that motorcyclists are dangerous drivers, and I will be honest, some are. They use the fact that their vehicle is smaller to get through tiny places that normal cars would not. The really scary thing is that motorcyclists are the ones that are in danger. They are hard to see because they are smaller, and that blind spot means vulnerability for the motorcyclists. The remedy? Drive as save as humanely possible. You cannot control how others drive, only how you do.
□ What are the other costs? While insurance might be higher for a motorcycle, there are some other serious money savers in owning a scooter. Firs, and, in many cases, most importantly gas prices. Scooters get significantly better gas mileage than traditional cars, which means a lot in the summer when gas prices are soaring; especially now in our current oil crisis when a gallon of gas can cost upwards of $5 a gallon. With some scooters reaching up to 50 miles per gallon, this is a great option if you are trying to save some extra cash this summer.
□ Where can I drive my scooter? Scooters, unlike motorcycles, have smaller engines. A smaller engine means smaller get up and go. With a 50 cc engine you will not be able to reach higher than 30 miles per hour. If you want to actually compete with the other drivers on the road, you will want at least a 150 cc engine.