Pros Cons
PROS CONS
To scoot or not to scoot, that is the question
BETTER THAN A BIKE
Comfort. Most scooters have supple, well-contoured, no-numbbutt saddles that leave your posterior feeling fine after a day-long ride. They put many a motorcycle seat to shame.
Aerodynamics. One of the
benefits of small wheels is a lower front profile, which reduces drag and helps performance, especially at top speeds. Smooth body contours help air flow, too.
Smooth-running reliability. For single-cylinder engines, scooter motors vibrate very little. And they are capable of racking up amazingly high mileages between rebuilds if properly maintained. I’ve seen a 55,000-mile Riva that probably needed rings, a Vespa GS150 with 96,000 miles on the clock, and dozens of high-mileage Helixes.
Balanced performance. Compared to big bikes, the acceleration and top speed of scooters is modest, to say the least, but very much in line with their size, weight and dynamic stability. Today’s best scooters can cruise at or near their top speed, are quick enough off the line to sprint ahead of traffic, and handle quite well once you get the hang of it.
WORSE THAN A BIKE
Stability. Combine the lowered gyroscopic effect of small wheels with a short wheelbase (except for the Helix) and high unsprung weight (because the engine is integral with the swingarm), and what you get is a quick-steering machine that feels twitchy compared to the average motorcycle. You get used to it, but you have to concentrate a bit more on a scooter to maintain a line. Another downside of small wheels: limited contact-patch area.
Sensitivity to bumps. Bumps and potholes that would scarcely touch a big touring bike can bottom a scooter’s limited-travel suspension and throw the machine into a pogo over road irregularities.
Engine accessibility. To do any mechanical work on a scooter, you have to remove some body parts, and once you do, you’ll find many vital components crammed into small spaces. Some simple jobs like removing an exhaust pipe or carb can be frustrating or require special tools. Normal owner-maintenance tasks may take a bit more time than with the average bike.
Jason Schneider
