Even before 1950 there were as many as 110,000 scooters on the road in Italy alone. It has been just a little over 50 years since the Vespa-Douglas Corporation in the UK sold their first gas scooters. The Douglas corporation was on the verge of bankruptcy when they first began selling their gas scooters. It was a big hit at the 1950 Motorcycle Show and saved the company from possible financial ruin.
From 1950 to 1958 Vespa sold over 125,000 of their gas powered scooters in the UK. Why the great success? During this period the European countries didn't have a great deal of money and there was not much gas available to the public. Due to the scarcity of gasoline and the high gas mileage of the gas motor scooter it's popularity quickly escalated.
It didn't take long for the Italian models (the Piaggio from Vespa and the Lambretta from Innocenti) to branch out to other countries. In France they became so popular the French tried to get in on the boom by manufacturing their own. By the early to mid 1950s the sale of gas scooters climbed to about 1 million a year in France alone.
Other countries wanted to profit from the newest craze and tried to climb on the band wagon. While some were successful others were not. Germany began to manufacture larger touring models, but this did not satisfy the public in the way the smaller, cheaper and more fuel-efficient models from Italy and France did. These smaller models were extremely popular in the European market.
Tourist Scooters Manufacturers in Germany built some very strong and powerful versions and were the first to install electric starters. These larger versions were great for traveling, touring and even racing, but were not as popular as the smaller, cheaper, more efficient models used for traveling shorter distances around town.
Vespa began marketing a couple of very popular gas powered scooters from Piaggio, the GS 125cc and the GS 150cc. These were improved versions of the earlier models for several reasons. The biggest reason is probably because the heavy gear mechanism rods were replaced by smaller and lighter cables.
France's Roussey Scooters tried to one-up the Italian competition by coming out with a 175cc model. These were very nice vehicles and included the first water-cooled engines along with other new features, but because it had a pull-start it could not compete with the newer models from Italy that were already offering versions with electric starts.
As these wonderful vehicles have evolved over the years they have become increasingly more popular all over the world. Today they are everywhere. They are cheap to purchase, economical to operate, and are very handy and functional. These are not toys and are genuinely a lot of fun to ride. There are electric, gas powered, foldable, mobility and utility scooters.
The electric types are often used by kids and teens, but are also popular with the elderly and handicapped. Models for the handicapped are usually called mobility scooters. Folding varieties can be folded up and conveniently stored under desks, in closets or in other tiny areas and utility types are used for many different purposes. They are more popular than go karts, mini bikes or go carts. Scooters, sometimes called mopeds or go peds, are very functional, convenient and are here to stay.
Gas scooters have become very popular in recent years with a variety of people, for a lot of reasons. They are compact and easily maneuverable in congested city settings. Because they are basically maintenance free, gas scooters have become a staple in college life. Students use them for getting from class to class or even for short trips.
The very first thing you should check when thinking of purchasing a gas scooter is the law in your state and also double check with local law enforcement. The state may not have a problem with gas scooters, but local government may have ordinances in place stating when and where you can use the scooters. You may run into sticky stops because they are not quite a vehicle, but are not quite a bicycle, either.
The laws will also vary from state to state, so make sure you completely check all the states you will be scooting in. Some places will say that scooters have to obey the same traffic laws as cars, but are classified as a variant of bicycles. Massachusetts's law says that a rider must have at least a learner's permit, as well as wear a helmet and observe traffic laws. However, it doesn't need to be registered because the DMV classifies it the same as a skateboard.
If you are going to use the gas scooter, make sure it can keep up with traffic. You should be able to go at least the minimum speed so as to not cause a hazard. You should get between fifty and seventy miles per gallon. Besides the great gas mileage, these scooters are recommended more than electric scooters for long distance errands or 'running around' town. The batteries in electric scooters may run out, leaving you stranded. Also, gas scooters are better equipped to be used in traffic.
Keep in mind that, when riding a scooter, they are for use by one rider at a time. Putting an extra body on may prove unsafe. Also, be sure to wear a helmet and follow the local traffic laws. Treating the scooter as a motorcycle is a good rule of thumb.
In fact, these scooters are so similar to motorcycles, that The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has started offering courses in safety for gas scooter riders. The main thing that riders of both vehicles have to watch out for is people driving traditional cars, trucks and SUVs. They are not used to watching for scooters or motorcycles. This is why you must be extra careful if you chose to use this as your mode of transportation on regular roadways.
Don't forget, for all the upsides of gas scooters, make sure it is legal for you to drive one in your city, town or state. Make sure you have a helmet if one is required by law and for safety's sake.
Summary:
Recently, gas scooters have become more popular due to excellent gas mileage, few repairs and affordability. Just make sure that your state and local governments allow scooters and be sure to follow all safety precautions, including watching out for drivers in cars that may not be looking out for you.
Both Larry Johnson & Brooke Hayles are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Larry Johnson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Internet Marketing, Health and Investments. J Larry Alan is a freelance author providing information about a variety of scooter topics including gas scooters, gas powered scooters and motor scooters. For more information go to. Larry Johnson's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.
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