Everyone wants and needs to save money today. Budgets are crunched and dollars are stretched to the limit. So it's natural to want to save as much money as possible on things that cost a bit more like bicycles, skateboards, sporting equipment and electric scooters. More and more people are choosing to buy used and/or reconditioned items to save money because it's not uncommon to save more than 50% of the cost of the items when they were new. But when it comes to a child's electric scooter, going cheap may be a bad idea.

One of the biggest risks you face when buying anything used is that you don't know just how used the item is. An item that's 5 years old can be in fabulous condition while the same item that's only a year old could be about to break down. Buying a 20-year-old car from an elderly person who's driven it gently and stored it in a garage can easily turn out to be a much better bargain than buying a much newer car from someone who has driven it 50 miles to work each day, or who hasn't had the oil changed in 2 years. You really have no way of knowing how well the owner took care of it, and whether it was gently used or abused.

The "luck of the draw" factor in buying anything used, including youth electric scooters, means that you
could be wasting your money. Even if it's only 50% of the new price, half-price for something that putters out after a week is no bargain. And it's unlikely that the seller is going to make you aware of any potential problems because the seller's goal is to get you to buy it, after all.

Even if you were to get lucky and get a cheap, used electric scooter that's been well taken care of and will last for years, buying used still might be the less desirable option. If you choose to purchase a new scooter, you can choose from all the varieties, sizes and colors available. The selection of used scooters is naturally going to be much more limited. And since you're buying used to help your budget, you're going to be highly motivated by price.

The tendency may be to find the best price without looking at other factors. Be sure to consider things like whether or not your child would like a stand-up scooter, a stand-up scooter with a tall seat or a sit-down, Vespa-style model. Which color will your child like best, and is it even available in a used model? What about speed, weight capacity and deck width? Those can all affect how well your child can balance the scooter.

Fortunately, even brand-new electric scooters are budget friendly, with stand-up models that can reach 15 mph starting out at about $150. Even sit-down scooters can be purchased for less than $300. You can find just the right model, features, color and style for your child no matter how small your budget might be. Don't sacrifice safety, style and your child's long-time enjoyment of an electric scooter by purchasing a used one that might not be right for your child and might not be worth the lower cost.

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When it comes to stylish rides, it's hard to beat the retro look and feel of the electric Razor Pocket Mod Scooters. Kids may be clamoring for these incredibly hot scooters but it's the adults who will secretly want to take a ride on these dream machines! Perfect for kids, tweens and teens, no matter who's riding it, they'll be the envy of the neighborhood. This is one scooter that definitely gets noticed.

Razor Pocket Mod Mint Bistro with its Vespa-inspired look and feel, is a great alternative to the real thing for both teens and adults. The 12" pneumatic tires and rear suspension offer a comfortable ride and the twist-grip throttle acceleration control will help get where you're going fast! The long life battery gives this beauty a practical edge for those who are looking to get more done on their Pocket Mod than just turning heads.

The Razor Pocket Mod Betty has all the purple flair a girl could ever want and makes a stylish statement in soft lavender. While it may be sweet on looks, it's still a powerful scooter, with all the bells and whistles of the Pocket Mod including a single speed motor with chain drive.

Customized with stylish, pink decals, handlebar streamers and a fabulous bell, the Razor Pocket Mod Sweet Pea is another scooter in the Sweet Pea line that's sure to be perfect for fashionable girls who love to express themselves.

The Razor Pocket Mod Vapor is the epitome of all-out coolness; this jet black scooter is the best of fashionable design. But it's not just great to look at - the Vapor has power and can reach up to 15 mph, going up to 10 miles on a single charge. A retractable center mount kickstand, under-seat storage compartment and large 12" pneumatic tires make the design of the Vapor also useful and comfortable for life. Available in multiple colors, young riders can customize the Vapor to reflect their own taste and individuality.

Finally, the ultimate in coolness is the mixture of great style with today's hottest technology found in the Razor iMod Electric Euro-Style Scooter. Complete with iPod dock (and FM radio tuner) you can to listen to your favorite tunes on two 4-watt speakers while you ride. With a powerful 250 watt electric motor, step-through steel frame, super-thick 16" pneumatic tires and long life rechargeable battery, this melding of good looks and good music is a teen dream.

The electric Razor Pocket Mod scooters handle similarly to a bicycle so they're easy for everyone to learn to ride. Batteries charge quickly, usually in 5-8 hours, so you're back on the road in no time. Their assembly is fast and easy - only 15 minutes from the box to the pavement. And most models are sturdy enough to handle weight up to or over 200 lbs, giving adults a chance to join in on the Pocket Mod fun. Best of all, the Pocket Mods are a great value and are well-loved by kids and parents alike.

Getting the right scooter for you is no different from scouting for the right car for your needs. But with a scooter, you can take out the social statement factor on the road. It's the cheapest form of transport so don't expect to turn heads when driving one, unless you ride naked on it.

21st Century Realities

With today's economic and environmental realities that bring fuel efficiency and eco-friendliness as the compelling factors in getting a vehicle, nothing really beats the scooter in short distance city driving. But there are even so-called maxi scooters than are highway-friendly enough for inter city driving.

With the popularity of scooters increasingly becoming a trend just like Direct, there are now many models in a single brand that fit just about any budget and specific needs. There are even status symbol scooters like the Piaggio Vespa and Lambretta costing the equivalent of a compact. But for most scooters out there, a very wallet-friendly 1,000 to 3,000 is the typical going prices. The question now is, which one will fit your needs?

Scooters for Daily Commuting

Scooters are generally meant for short distance city driving. But they have evolved beyond that and you can easily get one that can get you to the freeway at speeds in excess of 60mph or good enough to remain highway-safe.

Scooters can be a good alternative for your kids commuting to school. If they had been used to biking in their early grade school years, a scooter can be a step-up during their later schooling years, especially if commute distance are within a 15- mile distance. A 50cc to 100cc scooter is ideal for them.

Just be sure you get the usual safety accessories as mandated by law, like helmets, elbow and knee pads as well as gloves. Other accessories like storage bins you can attach to the rear of the scooter or on the foot pedestal can be considered if your kid has to carry hefty school stuff on the way.

Commuting to the office within the city or suburbs can best be done on the scooter too. Industry statistics have shown a spike in the sales of scooters that is not entirely surprising considering the economic realities. Scooters have been known to get you your destination without getting stuck in road traffic as you can just weave through it or get into bike lanes that don't suffer the same traffic mess. This way, many employees find the scooter not only economically practical, but a much faster way to get to the office and back home during peak hours.

The scooter has been a very popular form of personal transportation since its inception at the turn of the 20th century. It takes its appeal from that of the lowly bicycle but taking it a step further by motorizing it and making it accessible to a wider market than even the cheapest automobile can do. It's not surprising when countries like India, China and many developing countries find the scooter most practical in both urban and rural commuting. It is without doubt, the cheapest mode of transport anywhere on the planet.

Soaring Popularity

It goes beyond being just a poor man's vehicle. It's a couple of steps down from the modest 4-wheel models of the "people's car" you see coming out from Taiwan, China and Japan. There was a time when the Volkswagen Beetle had the reputation of being the cheapest car on earth. Not anymore. You have an assortment of cheap private cars from Korea and China these days. Scooters take that even further down. With today's worsening road congestion and pump prices at their highest ever, the 2-wheel scooter makes the best economic and practical sense when driving in the city.

It's also for the enthusiast. There are pricey models out there, especially those made form Italians companies like Piaggio Vespa that has assumed iconic status symbol for kids from wealthy families. Each model can cost the equivalent of small Korean car but without the thrill and excitement riding on a scooter.

Advantages of Going Scooter-Commuting

For those living close to offices and schools, the scooter is your best mode of transport. It won't protect you from road pollution, though you can wear a face mask for that, nor from a rainstorm, though you can wear a raincoat for that, but it gets the job done with the utmost efficiency and speed.

It doesn't have the trunk space to put in your luggage or other hefty stuff. While users have been known to have creative ways strapping even a small 17" TV on it for repairs, the scooter is really meant just to get you to the office, the grocery for light shopping or your kid to school. It's not meant to get you to the airport with your luggage on it.

The most compelling reason for getting a scooter is sheer economy and practicality. Governments, eco-friendly movements and companies have taken to task fuel efficiency and getting rid of carbon emissions on the road. With gas pump prices at their record highs, only the wealthiest families on the planet couldn't care less about fuel efficient vehicles. The most fuel efficient mode of transport belongs to the motorcycle category and scooters with small engines that can reach 70 mph remain the most sensible solution to getting from point A to B

Anyone who has ever owned or ridden on ordinary motor scooters knows better than to attempt the freeway or the Interstate on one, and anyone who has ever popped the clutch on a Harley or one of the other elderly hogs, knows what real power feels like between the legs and up the spine.

Now, here are the maxiscoots... not Vespas... not Harleys... and not even in between. They are really in a class by themselves. Powerful enough to have top speeds between 90 miles per hour and just over 100, but fuel sparing in those high performances even so. One maxiscoot user said that he loves it when the big boys he rides with stop for fuel, and all he needs is a cool soft drink plus a visit to the rest room. Now then, plain old motor scooters are very well known for their fuel economy, right? Just think about a maxiscoot that can roll alongside any decent Harley at 80 or 90 miles an hour for hour after hour and still have fuel in the tank after the Harley runs dry!

Are they comfortable? Their owners answer with a resounding "yes." Are they stylish? Just jump onto the Internet or head on into the nearest showroom so as to make up your own mind. Are they competitive? Well, there are ordinarily no racing competitions between the "little guys" and the maxiscoots. (You do not pit 50-mph babies against 100-mph athletes.) Maxiscoots ride alongside of Harleys and the other big roadies with no problems except for an occasional Harley-owner jibe early on in the trek, but they don't really mix it up on the racetrack, either. However, maxiscoots compete with one another on the tracks. Watching those races, one hopes that the riders all have steel plated boots. The cornering is fierce and the pace is furious on the straightaways.

Some maxiscoots are set up as two-seaters and some seat one rider only. All have reasonably powerful engines, with the Suzuki Burgman at almost 41 braking horsepower (bhp) being atop the list. The engine power of the rest of the maxiscoots range between 27 bhp and almost 35 bhp. You might ask, " If the engine power is such as to move the machine up to really high speed, how about the braking, suspension, steering, and all of the other built-in safety features?" The answer - Maxiscoot owners tend to rave about them all.

"Old is Gold", the saying goes apt with the Honda motor scooters. The name Honda depicts a certainty and a trust. Let it be the steel framed model of 1950 or a today's hip-hop model; Honda has always been a part of evolutionary motor technique.

In those days of 1950s, people used to fantasize roaming through those plash Rome's streets as the Hondas then were developed with the idea of Italian Vespa. The advantage of those steel models was that they were more sturdy and capable of bearing the harsh impacts. However they were not good for your pockets as they used to consume fuel very much. The Honda Company came into loss after mid-1960s, because of lowered customer demand. This unfortunately stopped its production.

Aero 50, that was launched in 1983 however proved extremely lucky for Honda and it swept the world. There was a big hiatus in between but the new model became the talk of the town and a rave especially among teenagers. The round steel frame was changed to give it a sleeker look. Sharper features made it look terrific. To make the Honda Motor scooter more customer friendly, it was redesigned with light materials sufficient to bear body weight. The company also reduced the production cost and also designed to consume less fuel. The ride on Aero 50 was a smoothest, no doubt!
However, the power and pick up problems continued to haunt Honda till 1990s. Even the speed was not satisfactory.

This led the sleek model to another height. In 1990s, the idea of "Muscle scooter" had come into Honda. It was a combination of scooter and crotch rocket. To develop it further, some features of motorcycle were added like double exhaust, double and recessed seat arrangement. The floorboard was a little bit raised to have more comfort. Now the Honda got that real appeal that every boy or girl would cherish.

As we are merging into the 21st century, Honda has further elaborated its research and added some unique features to the existing models. To combine the features of 1950s model and that of 1990s was definitely a trick! This gave the scooter further sophisticated and bold look. Floorboards are a bit lowered, shortened the seats and raised handlebars. There was a lot of adage to the color of Honda. Besides the normal hues, bold reds, regal purples, deep blues and effervescent greens gave it a glitterier look. It also added to the elegance. Also, earthy oranges, golden yellows and rich browns made their entry converting into a scooter of everybody's choice.

Thus, Honda created a mark for itself in the rush of other competitors. It is no less than a revolution in itself. Having gained an accolade of easy maintenance, the Hondas will continue to shine as a reliable and powerful scooter that is a necessity in today's fast paced world!

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Why are Vespa scooters the best to buy, one may inquire. The name Vespa is a brand that is well known the world over and the manufacturing company Piaggio has been into manufacturing innovative vehicles for transportation over the years. The company takes pride in blending style, originality and practicality into their vehicle manufacturing to bring out the best among the rest.

The unique design of the Vespa will be noticed when one takes a look at the engine that is completely hidden behind the hubs on the back wheel. In this way the rider has a free front seat to sit elegantly while riding. The leg space in front offers good rapport with the rider and the vehicle since it is capable of allowing any type of dress to sit comfortably on the seat to ride.

Vespa scooters are available in a wide range of styles and makes, the least being the 50cc which is best suited for kids or college students. They can be meant for adults too who would like to take a short distance ride across to the neighborhood store for some purchase or to the nearby playground with their little kid.

Kids above the age of 16 are allowed to ride the Vespa 50cc but a learner's license should be obtained for this purpose since the Vespa 50cc is street legal and insurance and license is mandatory to ride it in the city.

One can run at a maximum speed of 30mph and the fuel is very cheap like approximately 100 miles per gallon. Since they are easy to park they are very useful in crowded city parks unlike the four wheelers that need a lot of parking space and one needs to spend time searching for a right place to park.

The Vespa scooters are built under environment friendly conditions and riding a Vespa scooter is extremely eco friendly and budget friendly too. It is a two way saving for the rider as well as the environment at large.

To find best deals of Vespa scooters on sale one needs to just go online and browse the many sites that offer best deals for second hand vehicles of varying weight and type. Choose the seller and the vehicle and get in direct contact online to get the best bargain of the day with the Vespa sale scooter. Get the world's best Vespa scooter on sale today and enjoy your tomorrows.

The introduction of the motorized scooter by the Italian company Vespa in the 1960s gave birth to a scooter sub culture that reached across Europe, the UK and on to the States. Scooters could be seen taking over the streets and were especially prevalent in the hip, artsy communities within Paris and London, and as far reaching as San Francisco.

The scooter culture was best exemplified in Quadrophenia by the Who, released in 1979. The rock opera tells the story of the mod revolution in the UK, the gang wars that erupted in the 1960s between the Rockers and the Mods, and the emergence of the scooter culture with all the lifestyle and fashion statements that came with it.

The scooter jacket as a direct spin off of the scooter culture is best defined by its Euro Style collar, a strip of material encircling the neck and fastening shut with a snap. Jackets can be made from the traditional leather or from synthetic or natural fabrics as fashion dictates.

In 1985, Vespa abandoned the U.S. market in favor of Europe, and as gas prices continued their painful rise, the European communities and the UK adopted the scooter as a cheaper form of transportation, while Americans indulged their love of SUVs.

Re entering the U.S. market in 2000, Vespa expected to cater to a new generation of hungry college students and twenty somethings looking for a cheap mode of transportation. What they found was a much more well to do market in the nostalgic Baby Boomers, reliving their younger days of bright and shiny scooters and motor bikes in general.

With the latest gas price hike of 2008, and increasing concern over the environment, middle class Americans are selling their SUVs and looking for alternative modes of transportation, and once again the scooter is thriving. Scooters are being seen more and more in urban environments, as people from all walks of life find a cheaper, more fun way to commute. Following the scooter movement is the reemergence of the leather scooter jacket, as scooterists realize the need for body protection against the weather and the road.

Todays modern scooter jackets offer an alternative to the traditional biker look. Scooter jackets come in a variety of materials, but just as in any type of bike riding, care should be given to protection from the elements and the road. For that reason, the scooter jacket that is made from a quality leather material is considered to be an integral part of scooter safety gear, recommended to be worn with a full face protective helmet.

As the scooter culture merges with the mainstream, not everybody considering a scooter for transportation is your typical Mod, Rocker, or Biker type personality. One estimate has as many as 40% of new scooter purchases being made by women. Scooterists of today span generations and coexist with a multitude of lifestyles. Scooter clubs, rallies, websites and forums are popping up all over the place, even scooter racing has taken afoot.

As an alternative to the traditional biker look, the scooter jacket exudes a respectable, conservative style that has become the signature of scooter culture, and popular with people from all walks of life.

With motorized scooters selling like crazy, the number of reputable manufacturers in the market is growing all the time. We don't have time to talk about all the brands out there, so this article will mention a handful that continue to stand out for their innovation and commitment to excellent scooter design. Now, I admit that evaluating scooter beauty is a kind of subjective goal, so it could be a small stretch to call these are the "three top brands"--but just hear me out! Personal preferences aside, these are three scooter brands that qualify as can't miss favorites, year after year.

First up is the Vespa line by Piaggio.

The first motor scooter craze began in Italy after World War II. A stormy post-war economy pushed Piaggio, a military aircraft firm, toward a brand new market: motorized scooters. The rest is history. The early Vespas had ground-breaking features, hidden engines, and easy-to-change tires--and they started a wave of scooter popularity that swept across Europe. Jump to the 21st century, when Piaggio released an American scooter line. Today, Vespa motor scooters continue to get a lot of love for their excellent workmanship and "mod" vintage style.

Second, we'll look at motorized scooters by Honda.

Am I right in thinking that Honda doesn't really need an introduction? This Japanese manufacturer has cemented its reputation as a top tier vehicle manufacturer by creating compact, economical cars that are affordable and easy to maintain. Take that same commitment to quality, apply it to motorized scooters, and you get the idea. Honda scooters are designed with modern surfaces and lines and continue to push the limits of efficient, green fuel usage.

Third, we'll check out Yamaha motor scooters.

Yamaha's motorcycles are renowned for their punchy engines and edgy designs. When you see someone zoom past on a Yamaha cycle, you just assume he's a cool dude (even if he's not). So it is a no-brainer that Yamaha is king of the hill in the motorized scooter market as well. Yamaha is an international leader in scooter technology, continuing to pioneer new models that are stronger, faster, more fuel efficient, and yeah--more cool.

If you drive a scooter by one of these manufacturers, you probably feel the pride of ownership. If you're still exploring the motor scooter market, it's hard to go wrong buying a Vespa, Honda, or Yamaha--but there are other good companies as well.

Generally, trustworthy scooter makers can be recognized by their generous warranties and established reputations. If you're not sure whether the brand you're looking at is legit, look online for reviews and check around for additional distribution centers--service and parts should be readily available. You might also want to take advantage of additional consumer resources on how to choose the best scooter for your personal needs.

Customising scooters has been around almost as long as the popular 2 wheeled transports themselves, with it taking off vastly during the mod-era of the 70's. Scooterists added mirrors, badgers, chrome, and engine goodies to name a few, but modifying the scooters paintwork and look has always been out of reach for all but the most dedicated scooter enthusiast due to the extortionate costs of airbrushing and painting.

Traditionally the scooter would have to be completely stripped down to a bare frame and panels, then painstakingly sanded flat before painting a base coat and lacquer on again, and that's just changing the colour; if a scooterist wanted to add any artwork or decals these would then require further work as the painter needed to hand mask basic shapes and then meticulously add in further detail completely by hand bit by bit, having to wait in between colour changes for the paint to dry and so forth. Needless to say this is a very skilled task not for the faint-hearted and hence the price has always reflected that, with many airbrushing jobs costing thousands of pounds.

With modern large format printers however, there is another option; vinyl wrapping. This process involves digitally creating the design, or even using a digital or scanned photo, and then printing it out onto large sheets of adhesive vinyl, these are them laminated to increase durability by protecting about UV and abrasion and then "wrapped" around the scooters bodywork. Although this is still a skilled task within itself, as the installation usually requires 2 people to position the vinyl and control the contours it wraps around by using a heat gun, the task is nowhere near as complicated as traditional painting and airbrushing, and hence offers massive savings on price.

Not only this, but since everything is controlled digitally in the design phase, it can offer complete photo realism and super accurate detail compared to airbrushing, where it has always been limited by the skill of the artist and how fine their tools can go. Combine this is the ability to digital proof everything and vinyl wrapping allows you to see how your finished scooter will look before anything is even printed, taking any surprises out of the process.

Then at the end of the day, perhaps a few years down the line when your scooter has been like that for a while, you can always remove the vinyl wrap and put another one on!

A motor scooter can be divided into four types of models: Sport, Classic, Maxi, or Vintage. Whatever style and/or model you choose is dependent upon your needs and lifestyle choice.

Sport

The sport style of motor scooters began in the early 1980 when Yamaha and Honda designed a motor scooter with sharper lines and fiberglass moldings.
in early 1990 the scooter manufacturer's attempted to emulate the "Crotch Rocket." Now nearly every motor scooter manufacturer offers a "Sport" model of scooter.

Classic

As the name implies, the classic motor scooter is what is traditionally thought of as being a motor scooter. Think of the Vespa that Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck rode in the 1950 movie classic Roman Holiday. The classic scooter is characterized by having a scooped front leg, shield with a round light on top, rear fenders that are rounded and a single cylinder engine. The retro model of motor scooters can be found in nearly all modern scooters.

Maximum

The maximum or maxi scooter is a scooter in name only. These motor scooters are built for performance and can reach speeds of over 100 mph. An example, of a classic model would be the Suzuki Bergman or the Honda Silverwing.

Vintage

As the name implies, the vintage style of motor scooters are classic scooters. They are typically more than 15 years old. Examples of this classic style would be the Cushman of the 1950s and Vespa of 1960. In 1960, Harley Davidson even manufactured a motor scooter. A vintage scooter though is not for the novice as a vintage scooter may have it's share of maintenance problems. However, for absolute style points a vintage scooter can not be beat

When you go to check out the brand selection at any mainstream motor scooter retailer you will find only the most well known names, which is, for most consumers, beneficial because then you know the scooter you are buying is from a reliable company that can back up their product. Of these well know motor scooter manufacturers is Cobra, a company that produces and sells all varieties of motor scooters. The chances are high that you have seen a Cobra motor scooter at sometime while shopping around.

The Cobra company also manufacturers Vento motor scooters which are another popularly bought product for the average scooter driver. The Vento scooters from Cobra are mostly made for commuter usage around large cities. The designs typically feature a two passenger style, similar to what many people know as mopeds. At any motor scooter retailer there is likely to be a variety of colors on each model, though you may not find the color and model you want together, but buying online guarantees that you can get the color and design you prefer.

Cobra scooters also have several models under their name, such as the Cobra Gas Commuter, which is a fairly new released motor scooter. At most web sites this scooter sells for just under $600. The Commuter model is intended for driving through downtown areas, inner city areas and short distances around neighborhoods. Because this scooter model was designed to be used as an alternate vehicle, Cobra included several features that improve the quality of the ride. One beneficial feature is the front and rear shock absorbers that help compensate on slightly rough roads. Maximum speed on the Cobra Commuter is estimated at 30 mph.
A version down of the Cobra Commuter is the Cobra Gas 2 Stroke. Most of the features are the same, but the engine is slightly reduced and maximum speed decreases about 5 mph. Though it is a bit smaller version the weight capacity, set at 385 lbs, can still carry two people.

Cobra also has several models of electric motor scooters, such as their Strike Pro Electric Scooter. The twist grip variable speed on this model allows you to go up to 17 mph. Although this Cobra electric scooter is a traditional standing scooter there is a special casing that holds and protects the battery and electric motor. The electric motor on the Cobra is more efficient that many other brands in that it runs for approximately 2000 cycles while others are generally at 800 cycles.

One of the newest Cobra motor scooters is their Extreme Cobra Off-road model. The two stroke engine on this model lets you speed off-road, but not without the help of the extra wide wheels. The wheels on the Extreme Cobra measure 38 in. by 15 in. whereas other street use motor scooters have about 12 in. wheels. The larger wheels provide a greater surface area where the scooter is making contact with the ground, and this is helpful when driving on uneven, rough terrain. The wheels on the Extreme allow for better balance, traction and steering capabilities.