Mobility Scooters

June 19th, 2010

roger on the motorized scooter by purplejoyjoy

This Razor E300 Electric Scooter is one of the best designed products available in the market and I would suggest you not to use it, if you are an adult. This is basically a kids' toy and if you have not been given the chance to use it when you are kid, then please blame the technology and not this equipment by using it and overloading it.

This Razor E300 Electric Scooter would perform remarkably well, when it is used in flat surfaces, it is not intended to be used in hilly places. So, if you are living in places where there you need to go uphill, I would not suggest you to buy this product as initial usage uphill would not show you any physical strain but in course of time the motor would definitely wear out.

This Razor E300 Electric Scooter is a toy and it got to be used by kids. Do not overestimate this machine and do not demand from this machine. My neighbor bought this machine for his 8-y ear old son and after a week out of curiosity he started using it. He is a heavily built guy and in less than two weeks because of excessive weight, the unit finally gave up. The neighbor convinced his son that this was a very bad product. I don't think so, my 9 year-old has been using it continuously and it has performed excellently till this day.

Assembling this Razor E300 Electric Scooter is a very easy task and if you charge it once, you will get a driving time of at least 45 minute. It comes with a charger and tools. The pneumatic tires gives you that much needed grip and the motor is absolutely silent making it one of the easiest vehicles to drive. Razor E300 Electric Scooter reaches even 15 mph; it is indeed quite an amazing achievement for anything of this size. I really did not experience and chain tension as observed by other people. Once assembled, Razor E300 Electric Scooter performed excellently.

I love this Razor E300 Electric Scooter and I would advise each and every one of those out there to buy one for their kids. This is a toy and if it is used on flat surfaces, it would perform excellently well and for a price of around 180$, I would strongly advice you to buy it.

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Motorized Scooters - IMG_5135 by vindeluca

MOTORISED SCOOTER by eaandian

Steven Gerrard as a pensioner in a motorised scooter by showmethemoney...

car audio


Scooters Parts

June 19th, 2010

DSCN2102 by FortugaPhil

WESTBROOK – Imagine a senior citizen falling on a series of three stairs located just beyond the door connecting the Westbrook Senior Center to the Town Hall.

Such a scenario concerns Dottie La Grua, Director of the Westbrook Senior Center who sits at the nearby registration desk.

While the design is less than ideal, further complicating the situation is the refusal of First Selectman John Raffa to pay $18,000 in architectural fees which are eleven months overdue.

Such refusal has prompted the architect, C. Jim Lawler, from C.J. Lawler Associates in West Hartford to write a letter to Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.

While a ramp runs parallel to the steps, LaGrua said it requires one to make a sharp turn to the right, especially difficult to make for wheelchairs and motor scooters.

“More seniors are using the ramp than the stairs,” LaGrua said, who added that many find the ramp easier to use.

The Senior Center Building Committee approved the design of the door, stairs, and ramp location during the design phase, Lawler said, adding that “it was felt the majority of people would use the stairs.”

Lawler confirmed that there are 61 inches between the door and the first step just barely meeting the American with Disabilities Act requirement of 60 inches.

After approval, several expressed concerns about the design, Lawler said.

In a letter to Blumenthal, Lawler wrote, “I informed the First Selectman at that time, Tony Palermo, that the steps could be moved forward 18″ to 24″, creating a larger landing, or the new door and frame could be provided. We also informed Tony that we would pay for the new door and frame, even though our work responded to the plans approved by the building committee and exceeded ADA regulations. Our offer was rejected; therefore, I took it off the table.”

While Palermo agreed that the committee decided not to take Lawler's offer because the door was “custom made and it would take a while to get a new one,” there is no mention of a vote either way in the Senior Center Building Committee minutes.

Lawler said the entrance could have had double doors rather than the current design of a door on the left side with a nine glass windows on the right side.
Such an expensive change would have cost $1,000 at the time for hardware for the new door, Lawler said.

It was not possible to have a ramp on the left side parallel to the door, Lawler said, because it would have prevent access to the registration desk and required guests to go down the ramp and come back up to the desk.

Lawler wrote that after Raffa was elected as the new First Selectman, “I was summoned to his office, and in a hail of profanity, was informed that he was '…the new sheriff in town' and that my contract, agreements and discussions with the past First Selectman and the building committee were no longer relevant. I was to do whatever he directed.”

While Lawler told Raffa that requirements of ADA, fire code, building code and the contract were being met, Lawler wrote “he was expressly not happy.”
Lawler said out of $65,000, the town paid for $47,000 and owed $18,000.

Despite multiple billings, Lawler said he never received the $18,000.

After discussions with Town Attorney John Weber, Lawler said he was promised on May 23, 2006 that if the bill was reduced, Raffa would release funds.

“I feel that this is a public official, using his position's power inappropriately and in a manner that appears to be to be extortion,” Lawler wrote.

Lawler reduced the bill to $15,500, but after eight months, the bill still was not paid.

“I am no longer willing to reduce my fee and would like payment of the full $18,000 plus interest, as required by our contract of one percent per month for a total interest of $19,530 through January 31, 2007,” Lawler wrote.

Palermo confirmed that Raffa was solely responsible for holding up the bills.

Lawler said he sent a letter to Blumenthal regarding the issue because the project was financed by a $7,000 state grant and because of Raffa's history of illegal and inappropriate behavior.

Blumenthal was not available for comment on the issue at press time.

LaGrua said about half of those visiting the center use the exterior entrance which is adjacent to five handicap parking spaces.

Visitors can either transverse seven concrete steps or a long handicap ramp, both of which are more pronounced than their indoor counterparts.

Both lead to the center's patio which has access to the building through two doors on each side.

LaGrua said more use the outside entrance in the summer and more use the hallway entrance in the winter.

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Russ's motorised scooter by anachrocomputer

 by Jarette Howell

Disney Epcot Center - Reflections of China by Keith Anthony Ng

atv tires


Razor Electric Scooter

June 19th, 2010

Moving 2 by infinite- drumzofthesouth.com

It all began in 2002, when my husband wanted to buy a motorcycle. I had no clue that he even knew how to ride one. We had been married for almost twelve (12) years at that point, and he never mentioned it before. You know how the story goes, when a man gets something on his mind that he thinks he really wants, he will not be quiet until he gets it.

So, my husband finds this used sport bike (aka crotch rocket) that he just had to have. We buy the motorcycle and he rides it home, no helmet, no eye protection, no nothing. When we get back home, he looks like he has been on a three day drunk, and he doesn't even drink. Lesson learned, always where eye protection and besides, it's the law. Most states also have a helmet law. Be sure that you know the law in whatever state you will be riding in. Ignorance of the law is not a defense.

My husband is having all kinds of fun riding his sport bike. He rides our daughter and she is loving it. He rides me and I'm not so sure about it, it is dangerous after all. But, everything else is dangerous in life. I could slip and fall in the bathtub and die. There are pros and cons to everything we do, you just have to determine what is right for you.

My husband kept asking me to ride the motorcycle. I use to ride twenty (20) years ago, and I just really did not want to ride it by myself. For one thing, I could not reach the ground completely, I was on my tiptoes. So, one day we were outside and I don't know what came over me, but I decided to ride his motorcycle. Well, I started down the driveway, I stopped and decided I needed to turn around because I did not want to get on the road. I started turning slowly, and then, all of a sudden, that thing took off like a rocket. Hence the name crotch rocket. It all happened within just a few seconds. There I was, on the ground, still hanging on and giving it gas. I was hooked under the barbed wire fence and wasn't going anywhere.

My husband came down the driveway and turned the motorcycle off and I jumped up. Tore my best pair of jeans, and my leg. My husband turned and walked back to the house and got the 4-wheeler, he was going to pull the motorcycle out from under the fence. Me and all my brilliance said, “if you pull it with the 4-wheeler you are going to tear it up.” So we wiggled it out and he took it back to the house. After $500 worth of work on the motorcycle, it was up and running again.

Can you believe this, my husband says, “you want to ride it again?” I said no and told him that if he wanted me to ride, I wanted to take the safety course for motorcyclists. We got the information on the course, and we signed up. That's what I said, we signed up. My husband took the course with me. I also told him that if he wanted me to ride that I wanted a Harley-Davidson motorcycle – - – I thought that would stop the whole motorcycle riding thing right there, but it didn't. He went and bought me one, so I was really obligated to ride then, and we have been riding ever since and we love it. I have had a few spills in the driveway, low speed, first gear (1st time there was a mud puddle & 2nd time there was loose gravel at the end of the driveway), but all in all it has all been good.

I would recommend that anyone wanting to ride motorcycles sign up for the safety course in your area. The course is well worth the money and the time. I received my certificate from the safety course and went immediately and got my endorsement on my driver's license. Have fun and ride safe.

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Crew member on a motorized scooter by Eric Uhlir

Woman on a motorized scooter enjoys St. Patrick's Day in Lansing by Michigan Municipal League (MML)

Cruzin' Cooler.  I Kid You Not. by ninjapoodles

Razor MX350 Dirt Rocket


Buy Electric Scooters

June 19th, 2010

Moving 2 by infinite- drumzofthesouth.com

Touring by motorcycle is enjoying booming popularity, as more and more people discover the pleasures of taking the back roads and focusing on the journey, not the destination. To really enjoy the journey, however, you need some gear that isn't necessary when you're just riding around town. Here are some items that should be on everyone's list.

Highway Pegs

Riding for 20 minutes, or even an hour, with your feet and legs in one position is no big deal. When the ride extends to four, or six, or even eight hours, it's an entirely different matter. You've got to be able to shift around or you're going to be one stiff, sore puppy.

That's where highway pegs come in. Highway pegs are those foot pegs you attach in whatever way your bike allows to some position forward of your standard pegs. They're best if you can fully stretch and straighten your legs, often by resting your ankles on them rather than your feet.

And one more hint: Depending on your bike, a terrific third position can be to shift your feet back to your buddy pegs. With three positions to alternate among, you can ride for hours in comfort.

Throttle Lock

Just as your legs can get stiff being kept in one position, your right hand objects to the stress of gripping the throttle for hour after hour. For many bikes you can pay some high prices and install an actual cruise control unit, but in addition to the cash it's a lot of work. A much easier approach is a throttle lock.

A throttle lock is essentially just a clamp that you can snap down to hold your throttle in a particular position. You twist the throttle to the desired speed, snap down the lock, and let go–aaaah, so good to let go!

Of course, you'll slow down going up hills and speed up going down, but you can usually adjust them with small tweaks without disengaging the lock. And even if you find yourself needing to release the lock and take over direct control, the respite you just enjoyed is something your hand and wrist will thank you for.

Tank Bag

The problem with packing a motorcycle for touring is that everything is packed. If you need something during the day, getting to it can be a major pain. A tank bag is the perfect solution.

Designed to ride on top of your gas tank, tank bags attach with magnets or straps that keep them secure. This is where any objects you may need during the day's ride ought to be stashed. That could include your camera, your rain suit, munchies — whatever it is you want ready access to.

A particularly good design is the kind with a spot on top to slip your road map into. The map is secure in the compartment and a clear plastic panel keeps it clean and dry while leaving it available for immediate consultation (carefully) even while riding.

There's a lot of other gear you may find useful, and much that you may find indispensable once you start using it. A touring rider cannot go wrong, however, starting with these three basic items. From there on it's just whatever suits your style.

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IMG_8874 by washuugenius

motorized scooter parking ONLY by ehengel

cruisin' by laurakaz

Razor E300S


Vespa Scooter

June 19th, 2010

Motorised Scooter by peterharding

1. Food, especially Xiao Chi: Taiwan is literally the paradise for gourmets. Xiao Chi particularly, in my opinion, stands out among other cuisines that are available in Taiwan, because Xiao Chi best represents Taiwan and its culture that's unseen elsewhere. Xiao Chi (Chinese for “snacks”) includes a variety of food, or snacks, each known to originate in a different city in Taiwan but is now generally available everywhere. It's cheap and small portion, so you can enjoy many different kinds for one single meal. See pictures on the left for “samples.” Mouth starts watering? Hey, I don't make my number one of the list for no reason!

2. Not particularly English-friendly environment: The official language spoken in Taiwan is Mandarin. There are a few other dialects such as Taiwanese and Hakka used by local people, too. English, though learned by all educated people, is not used in everyday life. Therefore, their English capability is limited to academic English, and is more writing and reading oriented. The general conversational English ability among educated Taiwanese people is between basic and intermediate, and much less for uneducated ones and older generations who didn't have the same learning resources that this younger generation has. Besides, in general, city is more English friendly than country.

One of the difficulties foreigners may face in Taiwan is that, though the directions or manuals are all printed bilingual now, they are not consistent. The translations of city name, street name, etc. are not consistent. For the same city, you will probably find both Jhubei and Zhubei, and perhaps other versions too. This can be very confusing for foreigners.

3. Nice, friendly people willing to help: If your interest in visiting Taiwan is discouraged by 2., then stay tuned and check out this one. If you don't have the ego issue of asking directions, you can rest assured that you can always ask. Local people are very nice and friendly and, in a densely populated place like Taiwan, are everywhere ready to help. Be sure to speak your English more slowly, and make sure they understand it. A problem with some Americans traveling abroad is to assume that everybody speaks English and, when they don't, despise them. This is terrible.

4. Crowds: Taiwan as a small island has a population of over 23 million. This means that wherever you go, there are people. You will experience this most when a department store runs a clearance sale and you are there, or on a special holiday such as Mid-Autumn Festival when millions of people all hit the road at the same time for family reunion.

Some like it and others don't. But crowds give you a sense of staying connected and moving together with everybody else. Some new immigrants to the America felt so disconnected because everyone lives so far away from each other and everyone goes so independently. Likewise, for Americans, living in Taiwan will take some getting used to as well.

5. Convenience: Taiwan is small. In cities, many stores and restaurants are all within walking distance and you still have many choices. How good is that? To say that walking can take you around all the city may be too exaggerated, but all you need is just a scooter to go everywhere in the city, including big ones such as Taipei. So, hungry now? Let's walk to the delicious Bian Shi restaurant just around the corner. Oops, forgot we are in the States!

6. Hard working people: Asian people are known for hard working, and Taiwanese are certainly no exception. Stores open late, often into 10pm, offering people a place to go at night. People work late; 9 to 5 is never heard of (well, I might exaggerate a bit). Hard working is sort of in their nature, and in the culture. But sometimes hard working is just for survival. In fast-paced and globally-competitive industries such as high-tech, this is particularly true.

7. Nature's beauty: Taiwan is a mountainous island. For professional mountain climbers, Taiwan is a paradise. There are many 3,000m and higher mountains around the island, mostly within an hour of driving or two. For casual hikers, smaller mountains are never in shortage either. Taiwan is also home to a variety of wildlife such as birds. In general, the nature is better preserved in the east than in the west part of Taiwan, where it's much more industrialized.

For tourism information, please go to http://taiwan.net.tw/.

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Mornington - one giant retirement village by Amstravels

motorized scooter gang of nerds! by meganallison

 by Jarette Howell

Razor Pocket Electric Scooter


Electric Scooter Mph

March 21st, 2010

IO 1500GT electric scooter by jasperwiet

Electric powered scooters are the hottest craze. They are the rising form of transportation for this century.

Those who have them are really satisfied of their buy, and they appreciate any chance to ride somewhere.

They are growing in popularity as more people use them for transportation purposes as well as for daily leisure.

Electric powered scooters are a lifestyle choice you won't be dissatisfied with. In addition, it is good to know that you will not play a role in the pollution problem our planet is facing today.

Electric scooters are not just for kids. Adults use them too.

Riding an electric bike scooter is the simplest and fastest thing you can do right now to reduce gasoline usage.

12 advantages of electric powered scooters:

- They are amazing for outdoor activities – they ride smoothly and effortlessly over different surfaces.

- These machines are best for urban areas, where getting somewhere quickly is very important and convenient.

- The electric scooters are usually equipped with advanced brake systems which make their stopping very easy.

- They are simple, so it is not necessary to adjust your carburetor like you need to do with a gas scooter.

- They are quiet so your fellow citizens won't complain.

- Electric scooters are allowed inside public buildings while gas-powered scooters are not.

- They are a great alternative for individuals who worry a lot about gas expenses, and don't care about speed.

- These days, electric bikes scooters are as powerful as their gasoline-powered counterparts. In addition, they are clean, green machines that you can plug into a standard electrical socket to recharge. It will cost you around five cents per charge.

- They are very well designed, built to last for many years, and cheaper to take care of then some intermediate motorcycles.

- You can find cheap electric scooters, so if you don't have much money, you don't have to worry.

- In big cities like New York, London and Hong Kong, electric bikes scooters are the best way to move around.

- Yes, they are not as fast or powerful as their gas consuming cousins but they are not heavy and can scurry up most hills without a problem.

All in all, they are a terrific alternative for short or medium range transportation. All electric powered scooters are not created equal, however.

Source: Electric Scooters Reviews

businessmen riding electric scooters, Champs de Mars, Paris by David Bukach

Razor E100 Electric Scooter black friday by topsale2010

IO 1500GT electric scooter by jasperwiet

Car Speakers Subwoofers


Child Electric Scooter

March 21st, 2010

X-360 Electric Scooter -Lights & Instrumentation by Electric Vehicle Mall

If you decide to take a leap into the world of cost-effective motor scooters, you will notice that there are a lot of choices to be made. One of the earliest (and yet most difficult) choices to be made is whether to choose an electric or gas-powered motor scooter.

While electric scooters are great for the casual rider, gas powered motor scooters have just as much to offer. If you see yourself becoming a regular scooter user, then it would be a wise decision to take a look at what gas powered scooters have to offer – which is exactly what we will be doing here.
Gas powered scooters offer several definite advantages over electric scooters. Whether they are enough to sway you to purchase a gas powered motor scooter, will be up to you.

1. Gas powered scooters work great in any season, whereas the battery of an electric scooter will be decreased by extreme cold or heat.

2. Not to mention the fact that with a gas powered scooter, refueling is as easy as filling up a 2-3 gallon tank. With an electric scooter, the three to eight hour charge will have you wishing there was a power socket nearby.

3. Gas scooters pack more punch, they go further, faster and stronger then an electric scooter would. In fact, you could call them the workhorses of the scooter world.

4. They are stronger, last longer, and are designed to handle higher speeds than an electric scooter is capable of.

5. Gas powered motor scooters can travel a longer distance without needing refuelling. In an electric scooter, the batteries will need recharging every couple of hours, while on a gas powered scooter, even a cheap 2 gallon tank will take you at least 150 miles.

6. With a gas powered motor scooter, you pay less, while going faster. For the same price as an electric scooter, a gas powered scooter will typically go 20 mph faster. So if you want to take your baby onto the highway, you'll want a gas powered motor scooter.

Hopefully by now, you should have decided which type of scooter you will choose, an electric scooter or a gas powered motor scooter. But if you haven't, you needn't worry. Any type of scooter, electric or gas, allows you to save a huge amount on fuel compared to a car. Not to mention that both types are much better for the environment than your average car is.

So if you're looking to go faster, ride on the highway, and even go off-road, start by choosing a gas power motor scooter. Not only will you be paying a lot less in the long run, you'll have a tough, versatile scooter that will last you a lifetime of riding.

IO 1500GT electric scooter by jasperwiet

IO 1500GT electric scooter by jasperwiet

IO 1500GT electric scooter by jasperwiet

Pet Barriers Carriers


Electronic Scooters

March 21st, 2010

Carly's new electric scooter by carlys_dad

“Scooter” is a word that brings to mind happy childhood days zooming around our neighborhoods without a care in the world. Those days are gone, replaced by worried adults eyeing the skyrocketing prices of gas and wondering how they are going to afford a second vehicle or keep the one they already have.

Enter the scooter. The term scooter is broad and there are many vehicles that fall under its definition, from little 40 cc engines that top out at twenty miles per hour to 250cc's that top out at over one hundred miles per hour. Some are street and highway legal, and some are not. There are scooters safe enough for teens and burly enough for adults commuting hours away. Some are electric and some run on gas. They get between 30 and 100 miles to the gallon depending on body and engine size. No matter what type of scooter you're looking for, there is probably one out there that meets your needs.

They are on par with the price of a used car, and are cheaper than a new one. The benefits when comparing a scooter to a car are obvious. You save gas more effectively and insurance on scooters is about $60-$140 a year. If that isn't enough to convince you, think about the fact that they are easier to repair and maintain; in many cases you can do it yourself if you put in a little bit of effort. Or you can take it into a mechanic for a fraction of the cost of a car. They also depreciate slowly, and with gas prices as high as they are, you could buy it and sell it in a year without losing a significant amount of money.

Prices vary a great deal between scooters, just as they do with any other vehicle. You can get them both new and used. A scooter runs from $199 to $5000 depending on brand, engine size, power, and whether it is new or used. There are a number of places online for people looking to buy scooters. Type in scooters and a wealth of info comes up. For used scooters, Craigslist and eBay are great places to look, as well as local classified ads. While you may wince at some of the prices, keep in mind how much they'll save you in the long run. There are many dedicated scooter owners and can see why.

The one negative in all these positive aspects is that scooters are more dangerous than cars. Thus, you should always know what you are doing, and wear the appropriate protective gear. Do the research and understand what you're buying. You can take them on the freeways easily and keep up with traffic, but always make sure you wear the appropriate gear. Never buy used gear unless you know it hasn't been in an accident. Used helmets can get brittle and may shatter, so they are absolutely the one thing you should buy new for safety reasons. Body gear is okay to buy used, and once again, there are some great deals on Craigslist and eBay.

Logically, investing in a scooter makes sense. Gas prices aren't going to lower significantly for a long time, and that's being positive. Scooters are a great alternative and save you loads of money in the long run. It is well worth your while to think about making your next vehicle a scooter.

IO 1500GT electric scooter by jasperwiet

Evader Electric Scooter by Serendigity

IO 1500GT electric scooter by jasperwiet

Electric Scooters


Extreme Electric Scooters

March 21st, 2010

Electric Scooter at Park East, Akron OH by pinkujane

My first scooter was a new 2004 Yamaha Zuma scooter. The cost of ownership and reliability make the Zuma a very popular machine. It is a small bike. Able to carry two adults albeit at a significantly slower speed than one. With the rising cost of gasoline (over $4.00/US gal for regular here in Massachusetts) motorcycle and scooter shops are finding it difficult to maintain their stock. While Yamaha has occasionally stopped production of the Zuma, the 2009 model is available in Blue or Raven . Is the Zuma a long lasting alternative to a car or bicycle, or is this small fry only a gateway to something more powerful?

The Zuma has an aggressive look. The signature twin bug eye head lights are set up at the factory to work light many twin head light bikes. One side is the standard head light that is always on, the other side is the high beam. The secret that the salesman may not know is that given 15 minutes and two ten inch pieces of wire, the owner can easily rewire the lights to work exactly like automobile headlamps. Both of the lights will be on whenever the bike is running, and when the high beams are activated, the second filaments will lighten the road farther away. Simple instructions are available on the http://www.ZumaForums.net news group or this www.youtube.com video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=AbC9UqTN4rM . This modification is an advantage for this small scooter over many other motorbikes. There is no reason to purchase a kit to do this modification.

The scooter saddle is well padded. Unfortunately, this small scooter has limited suspension travel compared to larger bikes. That means that riding this scooter for over 200 miles in a day can be punishing for the over 40 year old frame of this rider. However, the Raison D'etre of the Zuma is quick local jaunts or short commutes. The young rider or those who wish to putter around the campground will be happy with this choice.

There is a good amount of under seat storage and a tail rack standard on the Zuma. Access the under seat compartment by turning inserting the key in the ignition and turning it counter clockwise. The seat pops right up unveiling a space large enough to hold one helmet and a few small items. Strap larger items to the tail rack which, while only rated for 7 pounds is much more sturdy than that. There are small compartments on either side of the front apron big enough to hold sunglasses or a cell phone.

Start the engine by turning the key clockwise, be sure that the cut off switch is in the run position, hold the left brake handle, and press the red ignition button on the right. A nice feature of the Zuma and many other small scooters is that they have a kick start lever on the left side, Should there be a problem with the battery, the bike will kick start on the first or second try.

Scooters usually have a step through design that allows for easy mounting and dismounting. Riders who are not able to swing their leg over a standard bike appreciate this feature. Many states and communities allow operators to park 50cc bikes wherever they allow bicycles (check your local code). These two features mean that scooters like the Zuma are friendly to many disabled riders who are able to park closer than the nearest handicapped parking space. Additionally, the Zuma has a fairly low 30″ seat height which is great for shorter riders. Taller riders, over six feet, might find the Zuma to be a bit tight.

Another advantage of scooters is that the front apron and floor boards protect the rider from road grime and weather. This feature dates back to the design of the original Vespa scooter as conceived by Corradino D'Ascanio, an Italian aeronautical engineer.

Mount the Zuma twist the throttle and go. The transmission is automatic – without clutch or gear changing. Many 50cc bikes are built with restrictions on the engine or exhaust that weaken acceleration and slow the top speed. The Zuma has no such restrictions. Without modification, this little scooter will haul a small to moderate size adult to over 40 mph on flat pavement in a reasonable time and distance. Modifications exists to increase engine performance and top speed well beyond reasonable limits.

The standard Zuma running at top speed will burn a gallon of regular gas in about 75 miles. Yamaha's claim of over 120 MPG is hard to substantiate. Still, 75 MPG beats the 28 MPG I get with my Toyota MR2 which seats the same number of adults and has only a bit more storage space. At 75 MPG, the Zuma has a range of over 100 miles. That is adequate for this little bike.

Please remember to check the oil reservoir with every other fill up. 2 cycle engines burn oil with the gasoline. A dry oil tank is a quick ticket to a seized engine. That the Zuma has an oil tank and oil injection is an advantage over bikes that require the rider to measure 2 stroke oil into each tank of gas.

How fun is this bike to ride? It is very sporty and responsive. While it looks like an off road or hybrid bike, it is much better on city streets. Those commuting to work on this bike will arrive charged and smiling. Heavy riders will find that this scooter, which is built to carry two adults weighing up to 350 pounds, to have enough power. Then again, while the suspension probably will not bottom out in normal riding, they might discover that the ride is too harsh.

How reliable is the Zuma – very. In two months, this rider put 2000 miles on the scooter. That is a lot for any 50cc bike. In that time, the Zuma did not require mechanical attention of any kind. Nothing loosened, nothing broke.

Many states do not require the operator of a 50cc bike to have a motorcycle license. Although the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles classifies bikes capable of over 30 MPH as a motorcycle regardless of engine displacement, most Bay State Zumas carry a moped registration.

The only downside of the Zuma is the cost, $2199.00 plus delivery and prep for a new 2009. Many 50cc scooters and mopeds cost less. Of course, the reliability and quality Yamaha products are well known. Used Zumas with 1000 miles or less are readily available on Ebay and Craigs List. Expect to pay between $1500.00 and $1900.00 for a used 50cc Zuma.

Yamaha builds two scooters with 125cc engines, the Vino and Zuma, that cost $700 and $800 more than the 50cc Zuma respectively. It would be easy to spend almost that much on engine modifications to the 50cc Zuma to make it go 50 MPH. The 125 models will top 55 MPH out of the box. In addition to the stronger engine, the 125 models have large frames, stronger suspension, more effective brakes. The 125 cc scooters may be much less expensive over all. Many owners of 50cc bikes trade up soon after their purchase looking for faster speed and more comfort.

signing the electric scooter by steven van eck

IO 1500GT electric scooter by jasperwiet

BSA Motors Electric Scooters by Tykecoon

Motorcycle ATV Bike Rack