The Scooter Defined

What makes a scooter a scooter?

Historically, a scooter was noted for a small engine, small wheels, a step-through design, a forward fairing with floorboards, and possibly under-seat storage. It is important to note that the definition of scooter continues to evolve however — even from a period in the early 1960's, when large-wheeled scooters were first introduced.

Modern scooters cover a broad spectrum of cycle design: step-through design or step-over design, small or large wheels, front fairings or floor boards, under-seat storage or not, manual or automatic transmissions — though most scooters today do feature automatic transmissions.

At one end of the current market, the Vespa LX series reflects the scooters' historical antecedents: small-wheeled, floor boards, front fairing, and inner fairing storage. At the other end of the spectrum, the TNG Baja features no bodywork, a diamond plate floorboard and though still with the step through design". The Piaggio MP3, with two front wheels (three wheels total) reflects the fluid nature of the scooter classification.

Furthermore, legal definitions of a scooter vary from country to country, locality to locality. For example, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) defines 'scooters' separately from motorcycles in order to regulate their compliance with various standards

Locations of brakes, which often differ from motorcycle. Furthermore, in some areas of the US, a scooter must have an engine size above 49cc otherwise it is classed as a moped - thereby falling into different legal status. In Georgia any bike under 50cc requires a drivers license any bike 50cc or larger requires a motorcyce permit or license. In Europe, scooters less than 125cc's have special tax and licensing benefits.

Description

The classic scooter design features a step-through frame and a flat floorboard for the rider's feet. This design is possible because the scooter engine and drive system, transferring power to the rear wheel, is either attached to the rear axle or under the seat. In contrast to a frame mounted motorcycle engine, this front-hinged arrangement allows the engine to swing vertically in conjunction with the motion of the rear wheel. Older Vespas, most vintage scooters, and some newer retro models have axle mounted engines with a manual transmission with the gear shift and clutch controls built into the left handlebar. Most new scooters use a Continuously Variable Transmission or CVT.

In contrast to most motorcycles, scooters generally feature bodywork, including a front leg shield and body that conceals all or most of the mechanicals. There is often some integral storage space, either under the seat, built into the front leg shield, or both. Most modern motor scooters have smaller wheels than motorcycles, between eight and 12 inches (20-28 cm) in diameter (though maxi- and big-wheel scooters may have larger wheels). Most scooters have smaller engines than motorcycles (between 49cc and 250 cc with a single cylinder, though larger models have twin cylinder 400cc to 650 cc motors). Most jurisdictions have no legal definition for "scooter". In general, 49cc and under scooters are classified in most states and countries as a moped and are subject to reduced safety restrictions and licensing fees. Scooters above 50 cc are generally legally considered motorcycles.

Until recently, most modern motor scooters came with air cooled two-stroke cycle engines with automatic two-stroke oil injection although some of the higher spec small ones and large ones are water cooled such as the QLINK Pegasus. Scooters increasingly have four-stroke engines to meet stricter emissions controls. Trends world-wide have seen new variations on the classic scooter. A common variation, the 'big-wheel' or commuter-style scooter features wheels as large as a motorcycle. Popular models of the commuter-style bike include the QLINK Pegasus, and the TNG Grand Sport models. Four-stroke scooters which favor a classic vintage look over a modern look are the Lance Charming and TNG Lowboy models.

USA: QLINK’s Siena and TNG’s Volare’ are examples of a modern scooter with classic look.

Moderate priced scooters now include comprehensive technological features including cast aluminum frames, engines with integral counter-balancing, and cross-linked brake systems. Some modern high-end scooters also come with comfort features such as alarms, start button, radio, windshields, heated hand grips and full instrumentation (including clock or outside temperature gauge.)

History

Scooters trace their ancestry back to France with the Auto-Fauteuil mark in 1902, 1903 in the USA, where Cushman and Salsbury created some of the first motorized two wheelers with the traits that have come to embody scooters. Salsbury produced the first automatic scooter with a Continuously Variable Transmission or CVT. Cushman's light, compact, and rugged scooters were used by the United States military as ground vehicles for paratroopers during World War II. The Vespa was originally manufactured by Piaggio in post-WWII Italy quickly popularized motor scooters in places where inexpensive transportation was in dire need. Constructed using aircraft design and materials and eliminating belt drive by mounting the engine on the axle it redefined the vehicle type for 35 years. Despite Vespa's dominance of the scooter market, they were not without competition. Lambretta offered models that rivaled those in the Vespa product line. In the 1980s new versions of scooters began to be released and become popular, especially in Japan and Far-East Asia. This styling of scooters began to reflect that of larger, sporty, higher-performance motorcycles of the time and the trend has continued to the current day. With the release of the Honda Ruckus, new trends towards dirt-bike scooters are just beginning. The classic styling of the Vespa has never lost its popularity, however and remains the most popular and most imitated scooter design. Almost all manufacturers now carry both a classic/retro model and a sporty/modern model.

Popularity

In many parts of the world, such as Asia and Europe, motor scooters are a popular form of urban transportation due to their low cost and easy driving position. In fact, in many nations in Asia, scooter sales growth outpaces automobile sales growth. For many people, a motor scooter is the family vehicle until sufficient funds to purchase an automobile are amassed, although in crowded cities, scooters can be preferred over automobiles regardless of cost, due to parking, storage, and traffic issues. In Taiwan, road infrastructure has been built specifically with two wheelers in mind, with separate lanes and intersection turn boxes. In Thailand, scooters are used for street to door taxi services, as well as for navigating through heavy traffic. Motor scooters are also popular because of their size, fuel-efficiency, weight, and typically greater storage than on a motorcycle. In the last few years, new technology has emerged. Fuel-injected scooters are very efficient and durable. Due to new environmental laws, scooters had to change because the Euro3 standard allows only four-stroke engines. Some scooter drivers don't agree this is a good solution because they are used to two-stroke motors. Also, while four-stroke engines generally grant sufficient performance in sizes from 100cc upward, 50cc four-strokes tend to have barely enough power to drive at city speeds. While their incredible fuel efficiency makes up for it, not everybody is willing to accept the compromise.

More recently China has become the largest manufacturer of scooters producing over 50% of the worlds supply according to the MIC (Motorcycle Industry Council). With lower prices and better quality control, China is now making scooters which meet strict United States DOT & EPA standards. Some manufacturers from China like QLINK and TNG Scooters from The United States meet the very strict California air resources requirements.

Some brands imported from China and known for their affordability are, QLINK, TNG, Tank, and United Motors. Not withstanding brands from S. Korea like Daelim and Products from Taiwan from QLINK and SYM.

Maxi-Scooters

Another trend in the USA and elsewhere sees larger scooters, called maxi-scooters, with engines ranging in size from 250 cc up to (a planned) 850 cc or larger frames than the normal size scooters but not necessary big displacement. This trend began in 1985 when Honda introduced the CH250 Elite/Spacy, and continued with the 1999 introduction of the Suzuki Burgman 400. A few years later Suzuki launched the Burgman 650. Honda, Piaggio, Yamaha, Aprilia, Kymco and others have also introduced scooters with engine displacements ranging from 400 to 650 cc. Honda's PS250 or Big Ruckus defies common scooter classification in that its step-through is high and the bike features no bodywork but rather a motorcycle-like exoskeleton.

This trend toward larger, more powerful scooters with fully automatic transmissions is matched by an emerging trend in motorcycle design that foreshadows automatic transmission motorcycles with on-board storage. This is represented with Daelim’s S-2 250cc and TNG’s TS.