When beginning riders start browsing motor scooter sales online, most of them know only one thing—that they want a cheap motor scooter. But for beginning riders, there are much more important factors to consider when buying any kind of vehicle, whether it’s a gas scooter or even an electric scooter.
The first things a beginning rider should consider are comfort level on a motor scooter, where they will have their bike maintained, and finally, budget. There are enough cheap motor scooters to choose from that there will be plenty of options in satisfying the first two criteria before worrying about price.
The Big 50cc Motor Scooter Dilemma
Many new riders immediate go to motor scooter sales looking for a cheap 50 cc scooter. This can be wise, or a huge mistake. A 50cc scooter is somewhat limited as to what it can do, but on the other hand, sometimes too much power can make a scooter unwieldy or hard to handle for new riders. A 50cc scooter is best suited to strictly urban riding on good roads, where the maximum speed will likely never exceed 30mph.
50cc scooters are not really intended to carry passengers. If you want a cheap 50cc scooter simply because it costs less than a 125cc scooter, then evaluate your needs before deciding. If a rider has to trade up in a few months because it doesn’t do the job, they’ll end up spending more.
The size of the engine will make a difference in choosing a comfortable scooter, but sometimes stability is the problem. For riders who are uncomfortable on two wheels, there are several brands of three wheeled scooters, such as the Piaggio MP3 scooter.
Most scooters also have automatic transmissions, but some, like the Stella 150cc scooter do require shifting.
Keeping up Motor Scooter Maintenance
Beginning riders in the USA and Europe will have an easier time servicing a scooter made by a manufacturer that is well known. Often cheap motor scooters are made by unknown companies, and will be hard to find parts for.
By choosing a Yamaha scooter, a Vespa Scooter, or even something like a Piaggio MP3 Scooter, riders will likely spend far less in repair costs than they will for a cheap gas scooter made by a Chinese manufacturer. Honda and Yamaha scooters are generally the cheapest scooters in terms of maintenance.
Finding a Cheap Motor Scooter
Once you’ve browsed the motor scooter sales on Craigslist, or at the dealer, finding a cheap 50cc scooter will be easy. These small scooters are common, and are often traded in. It may be a bit more challenging to find a cheap motor scooter with an engine of 125cc or higher. For these more powerful gas scooters, look for a deal on motor scooter accessories included with the scooter. A used yamaha scooter for sale with a trunk, custom pipes, an upgraded seat, or other accessories can be a real bargain.
In the end, a quest for the ideal motor scooter should offer a mix of affordability, ease of maintenance, a power level suitable to the riders, and a great price. There are plenty of places to buy motor scooters cheaply online, at dealerships, and through sales sites like Ebay and Craigslist. Just don’t become so fixated on a cheap motor scooter that you ignore the importance of comfort and easy upkeep!
