Who Knows Squat about Scooters? (Vespa/Honda/???)

My thoughts. What do they really mean by "scooter"? 

What GRM'ers think when we hear scooter

What the average citizen thinks of when they hear scooter

I would verify what they actually mean before investing any money. My 71 Vespa 150 Sprint Veloce is obviously a scooter but in the eyes of the law it is a "motorcycle". A Honda spree is clearly a scooter but in the eyes of the law it is a "Moped"

Now my thoughts on the sub 50cc moped class "scooters".  I love them and have had half a dozen over the years, but I think they are obsolete. At least here in Oregon the amount of roads you can legally ride them on is small. Anything with a speed limit over 30mph is off limits and you are specifically prohibited from riding them in bike lanes. If you mod them to go over 30mph you will get busted by the police. Modded vintage mopeds used to be constantly hassled by "the man" when I was playing with them.

Here in Oregon you are also required to have insurance and a state issued "Moped License" or a regular drivers license.

I feel like E-bikes do everything a 50cc scooter can do and more. You can ride them on bike paths, in the bike lane on streets with higher speed limits, park at any bike rack, eschew license, titling and insurance fees. 

Defeating the speed limiter on most E-bikes is a well known mod so the possible 4mph speed difference is nil.

what I think of when someone says scooter, wouldn't want to ride it around the city though

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/1984-honda-elite/163572/page1/

I sold that thing this spring because it didn't get ridden anymore and I couldn't justify the $450/yr insurance and space it (and the two parts scoots) took up. I miss it and semi regret selling it. I just didn't fit it super well (6'2") and my dual sport is a better fit for bombing around the city with only slightly more running cost.

Enyar said:

Here in FL anything over 50cc needs a motorcycle license too

We were just in Key West.  There has to be 500 scooters on the island.  Many were clearly more than 50cc but were rentals.  Is there some loophole? 

What are the old Honda scooters that had 2 wheels in the back ?  (not an ATC)

they were an interesting design :)

https://onewheel.com/

californiamilleghia said:

What are the old Honda scooters that had 2 wheels in the back ?  (not an ATC)

they were an interesting design :)

Honda Gyro.  They're not cheap unless you find someone who doesn't know what it is. Even then, I see them snapped up pretty quick on the facebook Honda scooter pages.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1986-honda-gyro-s/

Genuine Stella, the older one, 150cc 2-stroke with a manual transmission. I was a dealer for them and I rode their "hot Rod" model, the Atomic Fireball. 4-speed transmission, taller gearing and would run 60mph. Wasn't the toughest looking scooter, but was lots of fun. Especially riding into the local bike night!