Is it cool if I drive a scooter?

[Anonymous]

I have a scooter and I think it's pretty nifty. Saves me gas, fun to drive, and it looks nice. However a lot of people assume I'm a drunk driver that has his license revoked. They term them "dui bikes". I hate this because that's not me. I'm 26 and also have a car so it's not like I depend on it for my sole means of transportation.

What is your general impression of scooters?

Updates

+1 y

I forgot to add, people usually yell at me from the street or their yards when I'm driving it. I assume they're mocking me/making fun of me. I don't really understand what the point of yelling at me, shouting strange things that I can't even hear over the sound of the scooter has to driving a scooter? It's bewildering...

[jacquesvol]

I owned an original Italian Vespa 125 cc for 2 years: great machine, fun to drive in town, very willing 2-stroke engine (mixing oil in its gas-15% or 20% ), great unsynchronized gearbox, (clac-vroom-clac-vroom-clac!) Top speed 60mph-too slow for the highway- much cleaner than a motor bike. A real classic, it would be worth money now: link

BUT SUICIDE if it rained or snowed or on iced roads or if there were leaves on the road in autumn, unbalanced: motor hanging on the right side, wheels to small to brake without blocking the rear wheel and risking to fall. Impossible to use if there was a storm, it catched to much wind: a good gust could send me off track, against whatever there happened to be.

I didn't even want to sell it and be responsible for another one's death that way. I just dumped it in the back of the garage. With immense regrets, it was really great fun.

A year later I tried it again, one hour. Still just as dangerous of course.

Then I dumped it on a scrap yard. Poor little Vespa (wasp) :-( <3

Only for warm & dry countries.

If you buy one, buy one with ABS, by all means! (they exist but they're more expensive)

[palek]

Yeah, scooters are truly nifty. Though if you want to look tres cool while riding one, I suggest you wear a helmet, suspenders, and a bow tie.

[Asker]

I do wear a helmet. Maybe I look really geeky. Although all three would be a big no no.

[palek]

How bout a helmet, a thong, suspenders, and a bow tie? I know you could work it!

[Deft_maiden]

Hey now!

[palek]

Boy howdy!

[Angelina]

If I saw you drive down the street with one id either think "hey that guy's pretty cool, and down to earth for thinking green, and riding that pimp ship with confidence " or " wow, that guys a tool"

BUT if its like a mo-ped that's a different story ;) those things are flat out awsome...<3

[Asker]

Yeah it's a moped. It's retro styled which is why I refer to it as a "scooter".

[Angelina]

That sounds so sickkkkkk, as long as your not one of those uptight people with sticks up their holes :)

[Deft_maiden]

I think it is adorable and cute as hell! Only shallow and ignorant people would think of them as DUI bikes. I never even heard of that before. I wish more people would ride scooters and Mopeds.

[Shawzie]

I'm a motorcyclist myself. And I guess my outlook on scooter riders is this: Why didn't you get something with some horsepower?

[Asker]

Yeah I get that a lot. People say why didn't you just get a motorcycle?

[Shawzie]

And why did you pick the scooter? And what kind of milage do actually get from it?

[Asker]

It was more in my price range, didn't feel comfortable buying a full blown motorcycle my first time around, and they seemed less of a gamble if I didn't like it. I get like 80 mpg (I think). I have to check next time I fill up. It only holds a gallon of gas.

[Shaun]

Yah, I've been a motorcyclist for 25 years. Still dig scooters.

[Shawzie]

Damn. Your scooter gets 25 more mile per gallon than my bike.

[ScooterGaL]

Mine gets 89mpg

[timetowaste]

People make fun of it.. I heckled my boyfriend for riding a moped once in his lifetime, but you can laugh all the way to the bank while people like me are paying $80 for a tank of gas. More power to you.

[Anonymous]

because many think it looks lame and looks like it is for senior citizens..

[theeng]

Search for "Lambretta" and "mod" in Google There's a cool history and subculture with scooters.

[Shaun]

Dig 'em.

[Shaun]

Update: You RIDE a scooter, a bike, a motorcycle.

You DRIVE a car, truck or van.

[Asker]

ok, riding and driving are implied as the same thing but ok!

[Shaun]

trust me, you'll get corrected by riders a lot on that point. :)

[Asker]

Really? Note taken. I thought with a motor "driving" makes some sense, but now I see.