Buying a Gas Scooter? Check Emissions Standards

Make Sure Your Gasoline Scooter Meets Emissions Standards!

Photo by Glass Window

 Randy Bearup a Sacramento California resident decided to park his SUV and use a gas scooter for 

transportation. He'd owned motorcycles, Harley's, Yamaha's and others. So Randy decided a scooter would be good for short trips to the store, you know stuff like that. So he goes to the Ricardo motors warehouse in Sacramento and gets a Ricardo scooter. It gets 75 miles to the gallon, great for the environment, right? He even asks the guy selling the scooter does it meet California emissions standards, some of the most stringent in the United States. The Ricardo Motors website & catalog say Randy's bike is EPA approved, and a tag on the bike also says so. It also says it's California approved... But it wasn't.

California Wants the Scooter Tag and Registration Back

So Randy gets a letter from the California DMV saying it wants the registration and license plate returned meaning he can't drive it on the road legally. Officials from the DMV say the scooter hasn't been tested and could put out as much pollution as 100 SUVs.

"Realistically, we can see an uncertified motorcycle or scooter, that can emit as much pollution as 100 SUV's or pickup trucks, and that's not an exaggeration."

State regulators say that they're being flooded with scooters using these cheap engines, all of them coming from China. The scooter Randy bought are identical to other brands, they're made at the same factory and branded differently. Some of the other models are approved, but Randy's engine I.D. numbers aren't identical and that means his scooter isn't approved.

So, if you're thinking of buying a gas scooter in California you can call 1-888-END-SMOG, and someone there can tell you if your gas scooter engine meets emissions standards.

Gas Scooters vs. Electric Scooters

Why is an scooter that is electric to choose the right scooter for you vs. a gas scooter? Well, let's look at the many advantages of these scooters have to offer.

First, they are less expensive than gas scooters making their choice, and the economy of today we all know costs are the most important factor in everything we purchase. These scooters are not known for producing lots of noise, they put off a buzzing noise scooter unlike the gas scooters which can be compared to a lawn mower. If you live in an area where the noise is frowned upon, electric is the way forward.

If you are one of the people who are concerned about our environment, there is no doubt about which one of these scooters is for you. There are emissions produced by an electric motor, so there was damage to the environment. Since the electricity-powered scooters are charged by a power there is no need to manage fuel or go through the hassle of mixing fuel and oil, just charge and go. Moreover, there is no fuel cost and the cost of fuel these days which is a big plus.

When shopping for a scooter, there are some things you should remember to get the most for your money. Always buy brands, not off-the-wall brands. If you're thinking, the price is unbelievable, because it is what you've paid. Usually these gasless scooter prices are 200 to 1000 dollar range. It is recommended that children under the age of 12 electric scooter does not work. Pay attention to the scooter you are looking to make sure that it is compatible with the atmospheric conditions usually experience in which you live. Concerning the battery temperature, hot or cold can limit range electric scooter that will go on a single charge. Water is not really a friend of the electric motor scooter, so if it rains a lot where you live that might pose a problem.

If you keep this in mind when shopping for your scooter, you're sure to find it's better than a gas scooter.

photo by WorldWideMotorcycles via Flickr

Is It Time to Consider a Gas Scooter?

Thanks to the ever increasing gas prices, everyone is looking for ways to alleviate the pain of the gas pumps to save a little money. This may be the right time for you to consider buying a gas scooter for transportation. Both gas scooters and electric motor scooters have their own unique set of characteristics. Thanks to various types of bikes that are available, you should not have trouble finding what is right for you.

A gas scooter can usually get further before having to refuel, while the best electric scooter battery needs recharging every few hours or about 16 miles. Gas scooters can be taken several miles (about 300) on a single gallon tank so that saves you money, because it uses less gas and results in less fuel stops.

A Gasoline Scooter is Cheaper Overall

If someone were to tell you that the faster you go the less you pay,  would you believe them? Normally that statement would be false, but with the gas scooter that is a possibility. They tend to be more efficient, because you can drive them faster and still have to pay proportionately less than you would with electric. Gasoline than the average anywhere from 10 to 20 mph faster than electric.

The gas engine scooter usually last longer because they are more durable, in part because they were designed to handle the higher speeds, as well as a good number of models that can go off-road as well . These work well in all seasons, unlike the electric scooter battery power decreases during both extreme cold and heat. Fuel is much easier when you use a gas scooter, you add the gas, but electric ones, it is rather difficult to charge a battery when you're on the road and it takes about 4 to 8 hours for the office complete.

If you need a little more convincing before buying a gas scooter, and then consider the fact that these devices have a basic design and straight forward, making it less susceptible to needing repairs, but if they are necessary repairs, scooter parts are usually readily available, saving time and money. Remember that you are already ahead of the game, because the cars and motorcycles are much more expensive than gas scooter to save money have been the time to make your purchase.

A gas scooter emits much less air emissions of a car, allowing you to be respectful too. It may also be able to reduce your car insurance premium as such devices are generally less expensive to provide.