Even though I came from a two wheel background, when I first got started in the scooter market in 2006, I must say I was a little overwhelmed. There were so many makes and models , engine sizes, physical sizes, colours, accessories, wheel sizes and the list goes on.
But now with 20 years experience, I can write this quick article to assist you in finding the scooter that might suit your style and budget. It’s not comprehensive, but may be give you a good starting point to carry on from. It is always best to talk to one of the Scooter Central sales team for a more thorough understanding of the makes and models and their features and benefits. They have lots of experience and are here to help you get on the right scooter and at the right price point.
Now let’s get started.
First of all grab a piece of paper and a pencil and write down the reasons you want a scooter and where you intend on riding it. Think about future you in a years time too. Now work out the maximum speed you will need to travel on the fastest of your next years journeys. Â
Pro Tip – I find that if you think about the latest traffic speed plus 10% its about right. Â
Now, I already know that the main reason to ride a scooter is to add more fun to your life, but the reason you may be selling the idea to your parter may be because you can ride the bus lane to work, park easier, reduce fuel costs, free up a car space in the garage at home, or do your bit for the environment. Â
Getting back to your fastest traffic speed, it makes sense that the first decision to be made is engine size. Yes it sounds like a strange place to start but there are reasons for this. The size of engine will determine how fast and how far you are riding, and assist you if you are anticipating pillioning a passenger in your future.
Scooter engines range from 50cc all the way to 850cc, so there is something for everyone. Here in Sydney there are very few 50cc scooters sold as its a hilly environment and a 50cc scooter is restricted to a maximum of only 50kmph, which doesn’t suit main roads.
We find that the most popular engine size is 125cc – 200cc. A typical 125cc scooter does around 85kmph and a 200 closer to 100+kmph. These scooters are ideal for short to medium km riding and commuting. They generally are purchased by people who are most often riding without passengers, but may add a passenger to go to a cafe or the beach every now and then.
Pricing is also very affordable in this range, starting from $3990 ride away for a simple 125cc machine. Â
It’s worth noting that riders who intend to pillion a passenger more regularly may opt for a 150cc-200cc scooter as they typically produce more torque (pulling power) which suits heavier loads. This also applies if you are a bigger rider.
If you plan on riding all around Sydney to the Mountains you may bump up your engine size to 300cc ( around 130kmph top speed ) which is the starting point for scooters capable of highway speeds.
If you really want to go exploring and ride throughout the country, you may go for a 400cc machine which offers a top speed approaching 150kmph and has plenty of room for luggage and a pillion passenger in comfort.
Pro Tip – it is very important that you look into your future when choosing engine size. Our sales team can help you with this, as one of the more common rookie errors is to not realise that as your riding confidence grows, so does the speed and distances you will likely use your scooter. The last thing we want is a rider coming back for a bigger engine a few months later.
Now that you’ve chosen an engine size (or two or three), it’s time to come into the shop and check the dimensions, saddle height, leg room, storage and a myriad of other features. The sales team will check in with you about what you know you’d like and also add a few other considerations to help you make a good decision. They will also have pre loved scooter options to consider along with riding gear and scooter accessories that will improve your riding pleasure.
The skill of the sales team is very evident as they will ask you questions that narrow your search down from the 35 scooters in the showroom to just two or three that are a really good consideration for you, your riding style, and your budget.
Once you have narrowed down the features that suit you and budget you’re comfortable with, you may be invited to test ride. We have two test ride loops, so don’t worry if you’re a newbie as the short loop is mainly a back road and not intimidating.
When you get out for a ride, aim to get a ‘feel’ for the scooter, its dimensions, power and general handling. These are all specific to you and what you like. If you finish the ride with a smile on your face, you may just have found a contender.
Once you’ve picked out a scooter you may also like to consider a full of open face helmet, a riding jacket ( with armour ), and gloves. Â If you’re a regular rider, wet day riding suit is a good thought, along with pannier bags for extra storage on shopping days. Â I know I always add a top box on the rear of all my scooters for extra storage and to lock my helmet away and a scooter cover to protect my pride and joy from the elements. Â Come and wander around the store. Â There are a lot of accessories to consider.
As you can tell from this short article there are quite a few components to choosing a great scooter. The good news is there are likely quite a few that will suit you and with good advice it’s easy and fun. Talking to our sales professionals is the short cut to success. Give them a call today 9938 5858
Murray
