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.