Do Cheap Motor Scooters Pay Off?
It’s a natural question, and a pretty important one, since cutting edge motorized scooters today go for over $6000 dollars. However, the answer depends on a handful of factors and assumptions. Let’s take a look.
First, it depends on what you mean by “cheap.” In the world of motorized scooters, there’s cheap–as in a smart, thrifty buy–and then there’s DIRT CHEAP-as in a rock bottom, too-good-to-be-true purchase. At this point, you need to ask yourself what kind of dividends you want to enjoy from your scooter.
If you’re looking for a trick stand-up scooter to play with in your neighborhood, we’ll be totally honest: a knock-off brand from a small manufacturer may work out OK. You won’t have high expectations for gas mileage or durability, you won’t use it in demanding conditions, and you won’t be surprised if it breaks. However, if you expect your motor scooter to be a long term investment that saves you money and helps you commute or travel, the dirt cheap route is definitely not for you.
However, the good news is that popular motorized scooters from reputable manufacturers like Honda, Yamaha and Piaggio come in a wide price range. At the top of the spectrum are brand new hybrid models that can get 100 mpg or better, are capable of highway speeds, long range travel and off-road use. If you want a scooter that capable, you may be looking at a $6000 price tag. Does that make you gulp?
If so, there’s good news. While it’s true that motor scooters pay for themselves in the long run (traveling for as little as $.04 per mile has that effect), you can still get plenty of bang for your buck for $2000 or less. For example, if you want an efficient scooter for short-range local use, and 12-15 mph satisfies your need for speed, then you’ll be able to find a new model that will match your needs in the $1000-$2000 range.
The upshot of all this is that there’s smart cheap and then there’s dirt cheap–and dirt cheap is not for most people. We’d encourage you to shop around, evaluate your needs, and buy an economical motor scooter from a reputable dealer. Down the road, you’ll be happy you did. See also: How to Buy Your Motor Scooter.
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Filed Under Motor Scooters, Motorized Scooters |
Tagged With Motor Scooters, shopping
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