Comments on: Beginner Bike or Scooter? http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/09/02/beginner-bike-or-scooter/ Motorcycle News for Positive People Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:51:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: todd http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/09/02/beginner-bike-or-scooter/#comment-278297 todd Sun, 11 Jul 2010 01:12:54 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=2091#comment-278297 Rod, not many choices in this case. You can ride in bicycle lanes on streets posted over 25mph but you have to walk it across cross walks - as if bicyclists do that either. You could put a seat on it but then you'd have to figure out how to get it registered as a motorcycle which would also require an M2 license, insurance and a DOT helmet. Strip the scooter down and fit all the parts to your bicycle then you're good to go... -todd Rod, not many choices in this case. You can ride in bicycle lanes on streets posted over 25mph but you have to walk it across cross walks – as if bicyclists do that either. You could put a seat on it but then you’d have to figure out how to get it registered as a motorcycle which would also require an M2 license, insurance and a DOT helmet. Strip the scooter down and fit all the parts to your bicycle then you’re good to go…

-todd

]]> By: Rod Yendor http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/09/02/beginner-bike-or-scooter/#comment-278296 Rod Yendor Sun, 11 Jul 2010 00:52:52 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=2091#comment-278296 Greetings, Now some may think it's silly or otherwise, not grown up yet, but I would beg to differ. Last year I retired. Thought.... now would be a good time to go green. Parked my Ram PU and bought a grownups scooter. The scooter has 20" rims and a 48 volt power system which can go 30 MPH. It's good for around 15 to 20 miles per charge. It is stood on with no seat. Fantastic. I can go green, make a smaller carbon foot print for my kids to deal with and is fun to run my errands with. My problems started less than a year later. Coming home from the hardware store I was pulled over, cited and was sent on my way. Not quite understanding why I was cited I called the Police Department. Dispatch had the officer return my call and explain to me the issue. Apparently it is considered a motorized scooter. Motorized scooters arn't supposed to be on streets posted other than 25 MPH. Stressed out with the $174 fine, as well as my wife, I have parked the thing. Yes he really rained on my parade. However, where I bought the "bike", in California, the law in that town considers them to be a bike... because of the 20" rims. I will fight the citation later this month. How can we get green at this rate? I haven't had a citation in over 35 years. To get one for going green is beyond comprehension for me.To look over your shoulder and get pulled over again isn't worth it. $174 will buy some gas. But I'd rather be green about my running my errands. The law is very unclear as to why a bicycle can be on a road posted for 35 or 40 and an electric assisted mobility device can't. Do you have a suggestion? Thanks for your time, Rod Greetings,
Now some may think it’s silly or otherwise, not grown up yet, but I would beg to differ.
Last year I retired. Thought…. now would be a good time to go green. Parked my Ram PU and bought a grownups scooter. The scooter has 20″ rims and a 48 volt power system which can go 30 MPH. It’s good for around 15 to 20 miles per charge. It is stood on with no seat. Fantastic. I can go green, make a smaller carbon foot print for my kids to deal with and is fun to run my errands with.
My problems started less than a year later. Coming home from the hardware store I was pulled over, cited and was sent on my way. Not quite understanding why I was cited I called the Police Department. Dispatch had the officer return my call and explain to me the issue.
Apparently it is considered a motorized scooter. Motorized scooters arn’t supposed to be on streets posted other than 25 MPH.
Stressed out with the $174 fine, as well as my wife, I have parked the thing. Yes he really rained on my parade. However, where I bought the “bike”, in California, the law in that town considers them to be a bike… because of the 20″ rims.
I will fight the citation later this month. How can we get green at this rate? I haven’t had a citation in over 35 years. To get one for going green is beyond comprehension for me.To look over your shoulder and get pulled over again isn’t worth it. $174 will buy some gas. But I’d rather be green about my running my errands.
The law is very unclear as to why a bicycle can be on a road posted for 35 or 40 and an electric assisted mobility device can’t. Do you have a suggestion?
Thanks for your time,
Rod

]]> By: Toney http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/09/02/beginner-bike-or-scooter/#comment-253115 Toney Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:14:14 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=2091#comment-253115 I learned how to ride a AR80 motorycle back in the 80's without a motorcycle license. I then got my motorcycle license in Washington Dc but ended up selling my motorcycle about 1 yr. later. Now I have a Kymco motor scooter 49cc and still have my motorcycle license, I was really thinking about moving up to a 125 or 150, but do to my disability, my doctors don't want me to upgrade, due to the speed. I really think the laws should be that anyone whom rides a motor scooter needs to have a scooter or motorcycle license and safety class. Its really dangerous riding on the road with other vehicles not knowing the safety of operating motor scooters, which is simular to operating a motorcycle with the difference of the motorcycle has gears and the scooter does not. I don't travel too far on my 49cc, just local destinations and I obey all laws and safety policies. It's very hard to find a motor scooter club or group that will accept 49cc riders. With my disability, I wish I could find local motor scooter 49cc riders like myself. I learned how to ride a AR80 motorycle back in the 80′s without a motorcycle license. I then got my motorcycle license in Washington Dc but ended up selling my motorcycle about 1 yr. later. Now I have a Kymco motor scooter 49cc and still have my motorcycle license, I was really thinking about moving up to a 125 or 150, but do to my disability, my doctors don’t want me to upgrade, due to the speed. I really think the laws should be that anyone whom rides a motor scooter needs to have a scooter or motorcycle license and safety class. Its really dangerous riding on the road with other vehicles not knowing the safety of operating motor scooters, which is simular to operating a motorcycle with the difference of the motorcycle has gears and the scooter does not. I don’t travel too far on my 49cc, just local destinations and I obey all laws and safety policies. It’s very hard to find a motor scooter club or group that will accept 49cc riders. With my disability, I wish I could find local motor scooter 49cc riders like myself.

]]> By: Tim E. http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/09/02/beginner-bike-or-scooter/#comment-207438 Tim E. Sun, 08 Feb 2009 22:58:57 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=2091#comment-207438 I ride a 275cc scooter to and from work, and on errands, 12 mile commute on country roads. Mostly 35-55mph. Went with the scoot instead of a MC because I like the extra storage on board, the large fairing up front (which would've cost me 3x as much on a MC), and I like not having to give attention to shifting and clutching. I can drive a stick-shift, but 2-wheeling is dangerous enough. Why not reserve that extra attention for staying safe, instead of shifting and clutching? Just my 2 cents. My scoot will top out around 80-85mph on the flat, and most of the roads I ride are 55 speed limit, so I have enough to stay out of trouble most of the time. And yes, most MC riders around here wave at me! I ride a 275cc scooter to and from work, and on errands, 12 mile commute on country roads. Mostly 35-55mph. Went with the scoot instead of a MC because I like the extra storage on board, the large fairing up front (which would’ve cost me 3x as much on a MC), and I like not having to give attention to shifting and clutching. I can drive a stick-shift, but 2-wheeling is dangerous enough. Why not reserve that extra attention for staying safe, instead of shifting and clutching? Just my 2 cents. My scoot will top out around 80-85mph on the flat, and most of the roads I ride are 55 speed limit, so I have enough to stay out of trouble most of the time. And yes, most MC riders around here wave at me!

]]> By: B*A*M*F http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/09/02/beginner-bike-or-scooter/#comment-151097 B*A*M*F Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:37:52 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=2091#comment-151097 Having ridden many scooters as small as 50cc and motorcycles over 1000cc, I can honestly say I don't think that the size of wheels or potential gyroscopic effect thereof really has much impact. Even with scooters, there are some with 10" wheels and others with 16". I've not noticed a significant difference in stability that I can attribute to the size of the wheels. Wheelbase, suspension tuning, etc. makes a huge difference. Weight and the proportion of unsprung weight to overall weight also make an impact on stability. A 300lb scooter with 12" wheels tends to be more stable than a 250lb scoot sporting the same footwear. Personally, I love both, but for different reasons. In an ideal world, I'd have a building with over 100 bikes in it. Each ready to ride at a moment's notice. But when it comes to city riding, I like scooters best for their size. Having ridden many scooters as small as 50cc and motorcycles over 1000cc, I can honestly say I don’t think that the size of wheels or potential gyroscopic effect thereof really has much impact.

Even with scooters, there are some with 10″ wheels and others with 16″. I’ve not noticed a significant difference in stability that I can attribute to the size of the wheels. Wheelbase, suspension tuning, etc. makes a huge difference. Weight and the proportion of unsprung weight to overall weight also make an impact on stability. A 300lb scooter with 12″ wheels tends to be more stable than a 250lb scoot sporting the same footwear.

Personally, I love both, but for different reasons. In an ideal world, I’d have a building with over 100 bikes in it. Each ready to ride at a moment’s notice. But when it comes to city riding, I like scooters best for their size.

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