You’re looking for wheels and you know you want to feel the wind and the freedom that comes on two wheels. But you have options–maybe you know you’re meant to ride a Harley, but maybe your budget is limited or there are other reasons you don’t want or need a motorcycle. Here’s some valuable information to help you decide whether a motorcycle, a scooter or moped is best for you.
What’s the Difference between the Three?
As a general rule, a motorcycle has an engine with at least 150 cc, though purists will insist that if it doesn’t have at least 250cc, it’s not a motorcycle. With that type of power, a motorcycle can often reach speeds of 110 mph or higher.
A scooter, on the other hand, typically has an engine with a 50cc to 150cc range, but may have an 250cc engine. A 50cc engine typically has a top end speed of about 40 miles per hour, while a 250cc scooter can hit 75 mph.
Technically, the difference between a scooter and a moped has to do with propulsion. With a scooter, the engine propels the vehicle all the time. With a moped, the engine generally assists a rider who’s pedaling, providing only a portion of the propulsion. A moped can have the same engine size as a scooter, so can attain the same speeds.
With respect to fuel efficiency, scooters and mopeds far exceed motorcycles, though motorcycles are a cheaper way to travel than automobiles. The average motorcycle gets approximately 45 miles to the gallon, but can get upwards of 85 mpg. With a scooter, you can reasonably expect to travel more than 125 miles on a single gallon of gasoline. Scooters and mopeds have significantly smaller fuel tanks, though, so are ideally suited for commuters and not for lengthy trips.
Not surprisingly, the cost of a new motorcycle is customarily heftier than a scooter or moped. A new bike will likely cost at least $2500, whereas you can get a new scooter for under a thousand dollars. There are, however, luxury scooters that run more than $10,000.
Contact Weber & Nierenberg
At Weber & Nierenberg, we bring over 30 years of experience to people in and around the San Francisco Bay area who have been injured in a motorcycle or scooter accident. We built our practice on a strong commitment to personal service and attention. We’ll take the time to learn the unique aspects of your case, so that we can tailor our representation to get the outcome you want. When you hire us to help you pursue full and fair compensation for all your losses, Joe Nierenberg will work directly with you throughout the process.
To set up a free initial consultation with an experienced California motorcycle and scooter accident attorney, contact Weber & Nierenberg by email or call our office at 1-866-288-6010.
Leave a Reply