Roketa Scooters - To Buy or Not to Buy?

Many Chinese scooters are currently available in the market. In fact, 50% of the scooters in the world are manufactured by China. As these scooters are being sold at lower prices, it is very tempting to purchase such scooters instead of getting more expensive models from American, European and Japanese manufacturers.

Unfortunately, even though many Chinese companies have done their part in improving their quality control, changing the way people view the quality of their scooters can take a longer time. Although a lot of people have claimed that they are satisfied by the performance of their Roketa scooters, they are but a small fraction of the people who post their opinions online. Perhaps people who are satisfied with the product feel that they do not have the need to post a comment about this product.

Usual Complaints

Some of the complaints online include defective or fragile parts and unreliable customer service. One of the people who bought a Roketa scooter complained that the scooter had to be started 3 to 5 times just to warm it up and keep it running. He also mentioned that the Roketa scooter he bought had very weak speed cable that was broken after one month.

Another customer complained about the way his Roketa scooter leaked oil the first time he used it. He later found out that the gasket cover was wrongly placed in the machine. He was then advised that a new part will be sent but the company will not take care of the price of the labor. This person spent an extra $200 for the repairs of his brand new scooter.

Another person complained about a muffler guard that suddenly fell off while he was riding his Roketa scooter. He was merely advised to check the nuts and bolts of his bike carefully before he takes it for a ride. Such an answer can be very frustrating. For this reason, most of these people have created sites that are aimed at discouraging people from buying Roketa scooters.

Is it safe to buy Roketa scooters?

Although a lot of customers are frightened away by the information given by these critics, one should consider that since there are a lot of Chinese scooters in the market, the chances of acquiring more complaints are greater. Also, most of the forums online show that the company that distributes do play a role in the propagation of this bad rep. People usually contact the supplier or distributor when they have a problem with their bikes. They are then advised based on the policies of these distributors. If the policy dictates that they should pay for the cost of labor as well as the shipping of the part then they will indeed end up paying more than they bargained for to get a working scooter.

Perhaps it's safe to say that one should buy his or her scooter from a reputable dealer. If the price is to good to be true, better move on to another shop or another distributor.

Cheap Motorcycle Helmets - What to Be Aware of When Purchasing Online

If you're looking to buy a new motorcycle helmet, but don't want to spend a ton of money on name brand helmets, then you'll be looking for a place that sells helmets at a cheaper price. This may not necessarily mean that they will be cheap quality helmets, it will simply mean that they sell the brands that are not as know as your typical name brands, which will save you money.

The idea of buying cheaper motorcycle helmets is the same concept of buying the generic groceries at your local grocery store. There essentially the same product, with a little variation, for a much more reasonable price that has been kept that way because the brand name has not become as popular to the public. That is why the name brand helmets have become so much more expensive. When you buy cheap motorcycle helmets online, you do not have to worry about price inflation as much.

When you're looking at making a purchase online, be sure that the helmets are made of quality materials and that they are not made of cheap plastic. Most places are selling high quality helmets so you rarely have any issues with this, but it doesn't hurt to stay proactive in your search for the perfect motorcycle helmet, after all, it's your money that your spending.

Be sure that the helmet meets or exceeds safety standards if you're concerned about the safety factor of the helmet. Most of the non name brand helmets being sold online do meet the safety standards so this should not be as big of a concern, but you still want to pay attention to this little detail at all times. If a helmet is not structurally safe, then you do not want to buy it. The only time you would want to buy this type of helmet is if you are purchasing a novelty helmet, which is a type of helmet that is not designed to be safe, but more so it is built for looks.

Finally, if you're looking to buy cheap motorcycle helmets online, you'll want to make sure that they site is reputable so that you don't get fooled by anyone that may be running a scam. Don't be afraid to send an email to them to ask a simple question or two, which if the site is legit, could easily be answered in a short period of time.

If you're looking at buying a motorcycle helmet, but don't want to pay a ton of money for the helmet you are looking for, you may want to consider finding a online source for cheap motorcycle helmets. It could end up saving you a lot of money, and you still get high quality biker gear in the long run.

Automobile Mileage Vs Scooter Mileage

With gas prices now at record high levels many consumers have begun to search for alternative methods of transportation. At one time gas mileage was only one factor in buying a car or truck, but it was only one factor among many. Now that gas prices have reached a record high, gas mileage has turned into the number one most important aspect of buying a vehicle. Unfortunately even cars that get decent gas mileage are still expensive to operate with a small car costing upwards of $50 to fill.

With current high fuel prices, it's no wonder why gas motor scooter sales are booming. Scooter mileage is unbelievable! A gas powered scooter can get gas mileage of up to 100 miles per gallon. Even a small car, if driven responsibly only gets around 40-45 miles per gallon. Many Trucks and SUV's get gas mileage in the 20 mile per gallon range, with a fill-up costing over $100! SUV mileage makes scooter mileage look like a joke!

What's even better is that many scooters have small gas tanks that only hold one gallon of fuel and with scooter mileage at around 100 mpg, that means that you can drive 100 miles on that one gallon of fuel, or less than $5.00. Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it!

It's not hard to see why motor scooter sales are predicted to skyrocket. Many commuters could save literally thousands of dollars each year just by buying a gas powered scooter to get to work everyday. Not only will these drivers save money, but motor scooters are also fun to drive. Imagine that you drove 200 miles each week in an SUV. This could cost approximately $40 in fuel costs, whereas the same trip on a motor scooter would cost just $8. The savings over one year would be $1652! Now imagine all the other costs associated with a car or SUV such as insurance, repairs and the high payments and it's easy to see why motor scooters are so popular.

Even beyond the economic factors of owning a motor scooter, the environmental savings are also impressive. Because scooter mileage is so good and they burn much less fuel than a car or SUV the Co2 emissions are also greatly reduced. Not only will you save money, but you will feel good about doing your part to save the environment.

Motorcycle Repair - Restoring Your Bike

Soaring fuel prices have made gas-guzzling cars very unpopular. Welcome to the resurgence of the motorcycle. Why? Because properly maintained motorcycles and motorcycle engines can get between 40 and 60 miles a gallon. Smaller scooters get upwards of 90 miles a gallon, pretty good for an economy with $4-per-gallon gasoline.

Because of this, bike sales have soared. Motorcycle repair, too, can come in handy. Do you have a bike in storage that you haven't dusted off for awhile? There's a good chance you can be among those restoring motorcycles so that you can ride your old road hog again.

Restoring your older motorcycle to working condition starts with some basic steps:

Check Fuel
If you didn't use a fuel stabilizer before you put the bike into storage, drain your old fuel (including tank, fuel lines and carburetor as applicable) before you run the engine, and put new in. Lubricate spark plug ports with a little oil, too, before you start things up.

Check Oil
Change the oil and filter if you didn't do so before you started. If you did, top levels off.

How Is Your Battery?
Make sure leads are not corroded and that the battery will fully charge and then hold a charge. If it doesn't, replace the battery.

Inspect The Chain
Because your chain transfers power from the engine to the rear wheel, it is very important that it be in excellent shape. Look the chain over for the following:

-- Is the chain the proper tension? You should be able to grasp it in the center and move it about one inch in either direction, up or down.

-- Are front and wheel sprocket teeth in good condition? If the teeth have grooves or "waves" in them or they show other signs of wear, you probably need new sprockets (chain will probably show similar wear and need replacement).

-- Check every single section of the chain for signs of wear and for proper tension. It should move about an inch when you pull on it. Tighten the chain if it's loose, and loosen it if it's tight. If the links themselves are too tight, you might need to replace the whole chain.

-- Clean dirt off the chain with a clean towel or rag before you apply lubricant. Make sure you thoroughly lubricate all sprocket teeth and links.

-- Lubricate the chain well. Remember that some solvents should not be used with rubber if your chain has rubber parts to it. Use a proper solvent and wipe off any excess lubricant with a clean rag.

-- Set chain tension properly by moving your rear wheel and axle forward or backward. Both sides of the axle should be aligned properly before you tighten things up or the chain and sprockets might wear out quickly. Tighten the axle nuts and replace the cotter pin with a new one if needed.

Fluid Levels
Brake, clutch and coolant levels should be checked as necessary. Make sure you replace missing brake fluid with a new container of the same brand you used last time. Let your bike idle for a few minutes before you take off so that all fluids circulate properly.

Tires and Suspension
Inspect everything thoroughly before you take your first ride. If you kept your bike stored upright on a kickstand, make sure your tires aren't cracked, marked, or flat. In addition, check to make sure tire wear and air levels are good.

The PDF version of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Inspection checklist is available here: http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/T-CLOCSInspectionChecklist.pdf. It's a good idea to go through it before putting your old bike on the road again.

The above tips on repairing motorcycles should have you up and running in no time. So go on, and get ready to feel the pull of the open road again.

Safety and Legal Considerations When Using an Electric Bike

How times have changed from the days when man's only reliable means of conveyance was to walk everywhere! Indeed, even in living memory for most of us there have been developments in existing modes of transport and innovations of other, newer types which have made for a wide choice of vehicles for enjoyment and transport. Of these forms of transport, an interesting one is the electric bicycle. In actual fact the electric cycle has been in existence in one form or another since 1895 - but development on the medium has been inconsistent, and there is little widespread agreement even on how to categorize them.

Mindful of how this could lead to problems, the US Federal Government has recently taken steps to standardize the laws surrounding electric bikes. It is now a federal law that, as long as an electric bike cannot travel at any more than 20 miles per hour on its own stored power, it is to be treated under the laws of the road like any other pedal bicycle. Should the cyclist wish to power it to move faster than that, it remains a bicycle under the laws of the land, as only the existing road speed limits apply to a proficient road cyclist.

This means that, in general, there is no requirement for the cyclist on an electric bike to have a license for it. That said, different states have different laws on the bikes and in some cases they are banned from the road altogether. In these states, the process of adopting the federal law is still under advisement, and the law itself is seen as a guideline in so doing. At the present time, for example, New York is still debating the text of its law on e-bikes and they are, for the moment, not permitted on the roads. This is expected to change when the law is finalized in the State Senate.

These laws are slightly less restrictive than some of the laws currently in existence in the rest of the world. In many parts of Europe the law is similar to that in the US, with a slightly less forgiving speed limit of 25 kilometers an hour (16 mph). The law in Canada is broadly similar to that in the US, with minor textual nuances all that differ from the American model.

The overall impression given by and relevant to the law on electric bikes is that as long as the cyclist sticks to the rules of the road as governed by their state and relating to an ordinary pedal bike, the need to legislate any more firmly on electric bikes is limited at most. A speed of about 20 mph is considered to be a typical cruising speed for a bicycle powered by a human anyway - slower than that and they will need to be pushing on the pedals merely to remain upright. Nonetheless, anyone taking to the roads on an electric bike will need to be fully capable of handling it at speeds of 20 mph, or they will certainly face legal questions.

Customize Your Ride With Motorcycle Accessories

With so many motorcycle accessories to choose from it's not hard to customize your ride. Nope, the hard part comes when you try to decide what exactly you want and need.

Some accessories are safety related while others are strictly for fun and appearance. It's probably a good idea to balance the two.

Number one in safety accessories should always be to purchase a quality helmet that meets or exceeds government standards and that fits properly. This is not the place to settle. Buy the best you can afford. Helmets are available in many colors and lots of designs so you shouldn't have trouble finding one that matches your bike.

There are a number of other motorcycle accessories available that you can invest in that are safety related. There is everything from goggles, sunglasses, leather gloves, chaps and jackets, right through to full riding suits. It's probably not a bad idea to buy some rain gear as well. This will make rides in inclement weather more comfortable.

If you take a lot of trips there are accessories to make carrying gear a lot easier. You can choose from a variety of pouches and bags that attach to your bike and can be removed when you reach your destination. For short trips you may want to leave the saddle bags at home and get a motorcycle back pack.

If you want to really enjoy your motorcycle, you'll want to be comfortable. You have the option of changing the handlebars or even the seat to add to your comfort. Adding an extra set of foot pegs so you can stretch out your legs is an option many riders opt for. If you often carry a passenger on the back, you may want to think about installing a back rest for her.

Now if you want to customize the appearance of your bike there are a ton of accessories you can choose from. Almost anything chrome is a popular choice. But how you customize your motorcycle is really a matter of personal preference. Each manufacturer has certain unique accessories that reflect their brand. There of course are all kinds of after market accessories available as well.

If you are not sure what exactly you want to do, spend some time going through showrooms to see what the newest accessories are. Motorcycle magazines will give you lots of ideas and advertisers feature their latest products.

Best of all might be to attend a motorcycle show or swap meet. Sometimes just seeing a bike that is all decked out can solidify your own plans in your mind. Once you know what you want it's easy to customize your ride with the right motorcycle accessories.

Advantages of Using Gas Powered Scooters

If you have friends who are scooter freaks then gas powered scooters are great gift ideas for them. The biggest advantage of these scooters are that they are all fuel efficient and if the increasing price of gas is worrying you then any of these should be the ideal one as your regular transport.

Advantages of using gas powered scooters: According to a recent survey in US almost one out of three Americans prefers to ride the gas powered scooters. They use it keeping in mind the following advantages.

More speed for you: When you are thinking about speed then the gas powered scooters can really run fast. You can choose a scooter that runs at 16 miles per hour to one which can get a speed up to 65 miles per hour. Though the noisy engine might disturb you but then here is a solution for that too. Get a C.A.R.B Tier 2 exhaust emission motor.

A scooter which is more compact: The gas scooters unlike the other means of transport are quite light in weight with a small stature. It is easier to find a parking space for your gas scooter than a car or any other transport. Moreover it is easier to maneuver through narrow lanes in case you are stuck in traffic.

No headache of registration: The biggest advantage of riding a gas scooter is that in most cases you require neither a registration nor a driving license. This means that you do not have to shell out money for license or registration and you might not even need to have vehicle insurance in some cases.

More reliable: It is better to go for a gas scooter from a reputed brand and before buying it always ask for a warranty. Once you have a gas scooter you can find for yourself how good the service is but then remember it needs maintenance also and if you maintain it properly it is the best vehicle that you can have.

Think about expense: If you want to buy a car it will cost you a fortune and therefore if you need to have something at a lower price then go for a gas scooter; you can have them at a price as low as $300. Moreover they also come in various sizes and before buying it you can survey the models and decide which one suits you.

Environment friendly: The gas scooters operate on two stroke engine oil as well as gasoline. Since they come fitted with C.A.R.B Tier 2 exhaust therefore the fuel emission are in negligible amount if compared with that of a car and therefore is less harmful for you as well as the environment.

With so many advantages gas powered scooters are indeed best bargains for you as well as your friends who love scooters or want to own a vehicle.

Gas Scooters - Things to Consider Before Buying

Gas scooters seem to be all the rage these days, and gas prices are part of the reason.  Not only are gas prices going up, but people are becoming more aware of carbon dioxide emissions and its effect on the environment.  A scooter is an easy and fun way to shrink your carbon footprint while still being mobile.  The miles per gallon of gas (mpg) of the average scooter is often 3-4 times that as an average car.

Look for a 4 Cylinder Engine in Your Gas Scooter

If you are considering a scooter strictly to cut down on your carbon emissions you should consider a 4 cylinder model vs. a 2 cylinder model.  A 2 cylinder engine (especially an older engine) needs oil added to the gasoline for lubrication.  That oil is burned during combustion and as a result the engine produces more emissions than a 4 cylinder engine of comparable size.  California considers carbureted and direct injection engines to be "high emission" engines.  They consider direct injection engines, typically those manufactured after 1999 to be "clean emission" engines.  Also be aware that 2 cylinder engines must have oil added to their gasoline in a specific ration.  If you want to avoid the extra hassle, then skip the 2 cylinder scooter altogether.

Make Sure Your Gas Scooter is Rated California Compliant

If you're looking to buy a scooter in California, or just want to make sure that your scooter is a "clean emission" engine, make sure it is California compliant.  There should be a sticker on the engine telling you if it is rated.  If you live in California make sure you find the sticker.  There have been reports of Chinese imports coming into the country that were labeled as being inspected for California, but were not actually inspected.  A California man was asked to surrender his plates and title by the State of California after the scooter he bought was found to not be inspected.  

If you are not worried about emissions, or adding oil to your gasoline mixture, and gas mileage is your only concern, then almost any gas scooter will fit the bill for you.  Most scooters have at least a 50 mpg rating.  Any scooter you buy will get better gas mileage than any car.  The only thing you need to look for are the safety features that make it legal for your area.  Different states and counties in the U.S. have different laws as to what a street legal vehicle is.  Some have extra licensing laws and age limits, as well as helmet laws.  Make sure that the scooter you buy has the proper equipment for your area.  This list covers common equipment that most states regulate:

Headlights
Brake lights
Brakes
Helmet laws
Horsepower

This is not an exhaustive list, and covering all aspects for every municipality is beyond the scope of this article, but your state Department of Transportation (DOT) should have a list on their website. Have fun shopping for your new scooter, there are dealers in almost every city across the US and Europe.  Gas scooters can be a fun way to travel, and they can also save you money while saving the environment.

50cc Scooter

A 50cc scooter could be just the thing that you are looking for to save money and reduce travel times around a city. They are compact, light and very efficient to run and come in many different styles and designs. If you are thinking about purchasing 50cc scooter then there are a few things that you should decide upon before making your purchase. Think about what you will use your scooter for, and have a good look at all the different types that are on the market. This way you will be able to make the best decision possible regarding your situation.

Scooters are great because they reduce the amount of traffic on the roads around cities. They are quite cheap to run and you do not need much experience to ride one. A lot of places around the world do not require you to have a license to ride a 50cc scooter.

There are many different types of scooters on the market today and most are classified depending on their motor size and use. Some of the more eccentric types of scooters include and air scooter and a diving scooter. Air scooters are small types of helicopters and diving scooters are used as an underwater vehicle by scuba divers to gain a deeper and wider range while diving. Some of the other types of scooters that are on the market include ice scooters, maxi scooters, knee scooters, water scooters, and mobility scooters. With such a wide range, there will surely be something for you and your needs.

If you are in the market for a 50cc scooter, have a think about purchasing online. There are many great sites that deal only in this type of scooter and by shopping online you will have access to a much wider range of scooters than shopping offline. The best way to go about shopping online is to do as much research as you can before making a purchase. This will ensure that you can find the perfect scooter at the best price for you. Try to look at a minimum of five different sites before buying from any one of them. This way you will get a feel for what is out there, and what prices are being offered.