A Modern Scooters' Features

Motorcycles come in all sizes and styles. While many people like to drive bigger motorcycles, some prefer smaller ones due to their ease of handling and maneuverability. For these people, buying a scooter is the best choice.

A scooter is basically a two wheeled vehicle, just like a motorcycle. Unlike a motorcycle, however, a scooter has a step-through frame and a flat floorboard. Its engine and drive system, which transmits power to the rear wheel, is fixed to the rear axle or located under the seat. This design also lets the engine to move up and down in relation to the rear wheel's movements.

A typical scooter has a 30 to 50 cc, single cylinder engine. This makes it slower and less powerful than a motorcycle. Since it is usually slower and smaller, a scooter is subject to less stringent rules in safety restrictions and licensing fees. However, there are now scooters in the market that are installed with more powerful two-stroke or even four- stroke engines. In general, those above 50 cc are considered as motorcycles.

A modern scooter uses a Continuously Variable Transmission or CVT. This is akin to the automatic transmission found in many automobiles. Through CVT, the driver can control the scooter's speed without having to change gears. However, in older models or in a retrofitted one, the gear shift and clutch controls built into the handlebars, which require the driver to change gears manually.

A scooter also has bodywork, unlike most motorcycles which mainly features framework. For example, it has a front leg shield and body shell that conceals the mechanicals. A small storage compartment for tools and other equipment is built under the seat or in the front leg shield or both.

The biggest scooter has wheels that are smaller than an average sized motorcycle. The wheels range from a diameter of 8 to 12 inches. But recent trends have seen variations, such as the commuter type, which wheels as big as a motorcycle.

Like all modern vehicles, the scooter continues to evolve technologically. For example, a high end scooter can have aluminum frames, engines with counter-balance features or cross linked brake systems. They may also have comfort features like windshields, heated handgrips and full instrumentation.

Scooters use gasoline for fuel. But with the issue of increasing environmental concern, some manufacturers have developed electric road scooters. In the same manner, some companies are also introducing scooters that run on LPG or Liquified Pertoleum Gas.