scooters = two-wheeled volvo??

[1.21GW]

So I got my motorcycle license this year because I saw Akira when I was a kid and never gave up the desire to be Kaneda.  Naturally, this is a common topic of my recent conversations, during which everyone tells me about a brother/cousin/friend that was killed/paralyzed/maimed while riding a motorcycle.  Literally everyone has said this.  Not the best way to steer the conversation, but frankly I appreciate the constant reminder of the dangers of riding.  Keeps me safe and defensive.

The thing is, whenever I hear someone talk about their moped/scooter (or their plans to buy one), I never hear any safety warnings nor anyone jump in to tell a story about a tragic scooter accident.  Never.  And yet, every day I see people in my city driving 30 mph through traffic-filled streets in flip flops, shorts, etc.  Basically this, but often without the helmet (poor dog):




So what gives?  I would think they have more serious accidents than motorcyclers.  Does Vespa have a team of men-in-black that quickly descend on accidents and remove evidence?  Or is scootering just safer somehow?  Just seems strange to me.

[ducatiz]

I think it's partly because scooters are not ridden the same way (fast) and you can easily step off of a scooter (step thru design) if something happens. 

Also, 90% of the people I've seen on a vespa were chicks and are less likely to be subjected to road rage.

[live2ride]

i hate to stereotype but let's look at the type of people that ride each.

most people that ride scooters are for local urban transport.  they are not going far nor fast.  they might ride aggressively but their mileage in a given year will be limited.

those who ride motorcycles are probably more adrenaline junkies.  some more than others of course.  many will ride fast AND aggressively.  some won't.  again, some crash and die, some rack up over a million miles without crashing. 

aggressive riders think they are indestructible.  this may cause more crashes.  both probably get into the same number of actual accidents. 

let's consider cars for a second.  who has the highest insurance rates.  young males.  what demographic rides motorcycles primarily.  young males. 

[PhilB]

That's a sweet smallframe in your pic.  Nicely done.

I started on scooters, and rode them for several years.  I still dig scooters and have a collection of vintage scoots.
Scooters are indeed just as dangerous as motorcycles.
But they look all cute and non-threatening to the average person, not like some scary death machine.

The great majority (if not all) of the people issuing these sorts of warning know exactly zero about motorcycles, riding, or dangers.
All they know is the propaganda, stuff they've heard from equally uninformed people, and their emotional reactions.

Take the MSF, get good gear and wear it, buy a sensible bike to start with, ride carefully and sober.
Keep your risks to as low a level as you reasonably can, and then live your own life without concern for what the weenies think.

PhilB

[Novelo]

I imagen like others have said its the perception of scooters as being non-threatening and go ahead and brace yours self for everyone and their brothers, cousins, uncles that have/had a Ducati and the millions of questions starting with "is it supposed to be all open like that."

[1.21GW]

aggressive riders think they are indestructible.  this may cause more crashes.  both probably get into the same number of actual accidents. 

let's consider cars for a second.  who has the highest insurance rates.  young males.  what demographic rides motorcycles primarily.  young males. 

Agreed.  But at the same time, I figured the scooter environment is rich with obstacles.  Obviously, loosing traction on gravel around a sharp turn at 40mph is a motorcycle thing, not likely to be something a scooter rider is doing.  However, if you look at all the delivery trucks, aggressive cab drivers, pedestrians crossing randomly, etc. in NYC or my 'hood in Philly, which is where there ARE a lot of scooters, it just seems a formula for bad things to happen.  Plus, don't most accidents happen like 2 mi or something from home?

[kopfjäger]

I say, happy dog.

[ducatiz]

I say, happy dog.

 

[Slide Panda]

I imagen like others have said its the perception of scooters as being non-threatening

Yep that perception seems to be a lot of it. And there's also the 50 cc barrier. In my general area you don't need an M licence, insurance, or registration (yep no tags) to operate a 50cc scooter. Because anyone can just hop on one they never go to the MSF course or similar and learn or have someone talk about gear - or even basic applicable laws.

My former neighbor got a modern 150 Vespa and had no clue that it wasn't legal for her to be operating it (No M endorsement), that she couldn't park on the side walk (50s can) and that she's legally supposed to be wearing impact rated eye wear/face shield. This similar ignorance/lack of though extended to her 'gear' which was just street clothes.

Like her, most folks see scooters as 'slow' and don't process that even slow vehicles can mess you up.

My fave tactic is to ask folks to/what they think would happen if they ran down the street as fast as their feet can carry, and then throw themselves at the pavement. Of course they respond that it would hurt they would get pretty messed up and it's a horrible notion. I point out that they can probably run at about 12 mph.

[SDRider]

Beats walking I guess.  I'd rock one if my commute was only a couple miles in the city.

Yes, you are capable of killing yourself on one of these things and I agree, I almost never see scooter riders wearing any gear other than a helmet (and it is usually one of those half helmets like the hot chick in the original post is wearing, and it usually matches the paint on the bike... not that there's anything wrong with that of course). 

I have seen scooter riders wearing full gear but it is extremely rare.  What really cracks me up is the modified scooter scene.  A scooter with a Yoshi pipe?  Not sure what the point of that is... to make noise I guess?   

[Slide Panda]

I have seen scooter riders wearing full gear but it is extremely rare.  What really cracks me up is the modified scooter scene.  A scooter with a Yoshi pipe?  Not sure what the point of that is... to make noise I guess?   

There's folks who race scooters. Some of the 'serious' classic Vespa or Lambretta modded race scoots would do well over the ton.

[PhilB]

There's folks who race scooters. Some of the 'serious' classic Vespa or Lambretta modded race scoots would do well over the ton.

This.  Most people think "scooter", they think 50cc and 30 mph.  But there have long been scooters that are much larger and more capable.  In the classic period, 150 to 200 cc was common, and most of those will to 60-70mph on level ground.  One of mine is a 1962 Maico that has a 275cc 2-stroke, and will do over 80mph.

In the '80's, there were quite a few very capable scooters in the 250cc range available.  One guy actually did the full Iron Butt rally on a Honda Helix 250.  And he finished, which was the goal -- over 9000 miles in 11 days is the minimum to finish that.  (Actually winning it takes more like 14,000 miles in that 11 days, but the Helix guy wasn't attempting that.)

Modern scoots are even more than that -- most of the major manufacturers have mega-scooters in the 400cc to 650cc range that will do everything a mid-size motorcycle will do, in more comfort and carrying more stuff.

PhilB

[Slide Panda]

Yeah, I had a GS 160 that would get up over 60 indicated on a flat even with that big shield. The 200+ were even faster. And now the Burgmans are as big as bikes, displacement size and general proportions

[Moto Motivo]

"The thing is, whenever I hear someone talk about their moped/scooter (or their plans to buy one), I never hear any safety warnings nor anyone jump in to tell a story about a tragic scooter accident.  Never."

When they have an accident, it is mostly called a "motorcycle" accident and not a "moped/scooter" accident.

[PhilB]

Yeah, I had a GS 160 that would get up over 60 indicated on a flat even with that big shield. The 200+ were even faster. And now the Burgmans are as big as bikes, displacement size and general proportions

Sweet!  The GS160 was THE classic Vespa, the Ace Face bike.  If you've still got it, they are worth quite a bit these days.

PhilB