Don’t Ignore These Factors When Shopping for a Motor Scooter
Want to supplement that gas-guzzling SUV and purchase an economical scooter? You’re going to return home with a scooter that will do little more than collect dust in your carport unless you follow a few quick guidelines.
Power
Motor scooters might come in a wide range of body shapes and sizes, from small-engined “knock abouts” to large motorcycle replacements. Consider your needs and where you’ll be using the scooter. If it’s just for neighborhood riding, there are any number of small, cheap scooters that would fit the bill. Perhaps a 125 or 150 would be the largest to consider.
Fit
Many scooter shoppers choose a style, rather than purchasing a fit. This is the surest way to ensure that your scooter receives little to no use. Fit becomes increasingly important as usage increases and is one of the main determinants of safety, so don’t ignore it!
Ensure that your hands are in a good, comfortable position when riding, and that the controls, clutch, and brakes are well within reach. And don’t forget to check the seat. While soft seats initially seem to be more comfortable, they usually result in soreness faster than firmer seats.
Style
Check out various models online before you head into a dealership where sales pressure will often result in you leaving with something you would not have purchased without pressure. There are plenty of new, sleek models, but you’ll also find a wide variety of classic models for sale.
Price
Similar to cars, motor scooters lose their value immediately upon leaving the lot. Exacerbating this situation is that scooters generally don’t receive the same level of yearly mileage as cars or even motorcycles, so the immediate depreciation has a more significant impact. In a year, you could see a 30 percent or more decrease in resale value for a scooter that has barely been touched.
For this reason, be sure to look at more than just local dealerships. There are several good resellers online who will provide you with a good selection at good prices. And you can find these motors scooters without putting up with pushy salesmen!
So remember, before you got to your local dealer and buy that flashy new model, be sure that you’re clear on how you intend to use your new scooter, and then consider the power, style, fit, and price.