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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: blue on May 15, 2013, 01:49:30 PM

Title: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: blue on May 15, 2013, 01:49:30 PM
When a scooter gets bigger like over 100 cc why is it not a motorcycle. Is it the step threw look that keeps it a scooter.Because some of the tomos mopeds they stell call scooters and they have the tank in front of theam.and they are 50 cc . Just wondering what makes it a scooter and when does it start to be a motorcycle.Some even say a scooter is a bike that gos under 50 mph because it just scoots along.....
Title: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: Fogie on May 15, 2013, 02:25:42 PM
I've always considered a scooter to have it's engine mounted on the swing arm, as opposed to a motorcycle having it's engine carried by the frame. A scooter engine (along with the rear wheel) travels up and down with the rear suspension, whereas the motion of a motorcycle engine is independent of rear suspension activity.
Title: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: ScooterCommuter on May 15, 2013, 05:25:24 PM
To my mind, it's a combination of factors. A step through design is one, engine on the swing arm is another along with relatively smaller wheels, automatic transmission and the fact that your left hand operates a brake not a clutch.

Not every scooter has all these features, and I'm sure folks can point to one or two motorcycles that may exhibit one or two of them, but you won't easily find a scooter that doesn't exhibit most of them or a motorcycle that does.
Title: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: 08087 on May 15, 2013, 06:52:28 PM
To me a scooter is a step through design with auto trans eng under seat set up.

IMO super scoots 300cc and higher are more motorcycle then scoot in some ways while still kind of a half and half blending of the better qualities of both.

My people's 200 is certainly a scoot to me but a motorcycle to the gov.

I'll go with this (barrowed) quote: "Nudity can be art and porn, I can't tell you what makes a picture/painting art or porn but I know it when I see it."
Title: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: Vivo on May 16, 2013, 01:54:51 AM
All of them are classified as motorcycles...

Mopeds are those with Motors + Pedals (like a bicycle)

The term "scooter"  evolved from a child's scooter to a motorized scooter, etc.

This is the true and original scooter..... the similarity between this scooter and a motorized scooter is the floor board...



(http://p2.la-img.com/1218/23795/8652285_1_l.jpg)
Title: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: 08087 on May 16, 2013, 03:20:54 AM
All of them are classified as motorcycles...

Mopeds are those with Motors + Pedals (like a bicycle)

The term "scooter"  evolved from a child's scooter to a motorized scooter, etc.

This is the true and original scooter..... the similarity between this scooter and a motorized scooter is the floor board...



(http://p2.la-img.com/1218/23795/8652285_1_l.jpg)

I had one of them as a kid, kck stand and all! How cool it was.
Title: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: houndguy on May 16, 2013, 03:41:03 AM
To make it even more interesting is the line continues to blur.  Motorcycles used to be exclusively clutches and engines on the frame.  They had more power too!

Scooters were automatics (mostly) and step through frames.   Generally smaller cc's 

Today were getting scooters in the 800cc range and motorcycles with automatic transmissions.  I don't see it as a bad thing but I do think it confuses the issue to the general public. 
Title: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: Vivo on May 16, 2013, 03:47:54 AM
Just like cars... now you have SUV's, Compact SUV's, AUV's, Crossovers, B-Segment Crossovers, and a lot of other classifications....   :o
Title: Re: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: ScooterCommuter on May 16, 2013, 03:49:40 AM
All of them are classified as motorcycles...

Mopeds are those with Motors + Pedals (like a bicycle)

The term "scooter"  evolved from a child's scooter to a motorized scooter, etc.

This is the true and original scooter..... the similarity between this scooter and a motorized scooter is the floor board...



(http://p2.la-img.com/1218/23795/8652285_1_l.jpg)

No pedals required to be a moped here in mn. The legal definition is 50cc or less, no more than 5hp and not capable of more than 30mph. A machine fitting those spec would also qualify as a moped in every jurisdiction over ever visited. A restricted agility 50 is a moped. Derestricted it becomes legally a motorcycle. Not that any of us ever re-registered them after swapping out the variator boss,  main jet and slicing the cdi of course.
Title: Re: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: Vivo on May 16, 2013, 03:52:44 AM
No pedals required to be a moped here in mn. The legal definition is 50cc or less, no more than 5hp and not capable of more than 30mph. A machine fitting those spec would also qualify as a moped in every jurisdiction over ever visited. A restricted agility 50 is a moped. Derestricted it becomes legally a motorcycle. Not that any of us ever re-registered them after swapping out the variator boss,  main jet and slicing the cdi of course.

Hmmm... another confusing definition of MOPED...   So, what if it's an electric scoot? We have electric scoots in our country and they don't require registration...
Title: Re: Re: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: ScooterCommuter on May 16, 2013, 07:11:14 AM
Hmmm... another confusing definition of MOPED...   So, what if it's an electric scoot? We have electric scoots in our country and they don't require registration...

If it's restricted to 30 mph you can register it as a moped and drive it without a motorcycle tag on your license (still need to have a regular diving license for a car) and park it like a bicycle. If not, then it's legally an "electric motorcycle" and you need a motorcycle tag on your license to drive it and it is subject to all the same parking rules as a cage, just like the guy down the street with his Harley cruiser.
Title: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: Vivo on May 16, 2013, 07:56:40 AM
Hmmm... interesting...

Here's one of the first motorized scooter....  note again... the floor board...


(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/ABC_Scootamota_2.jpg)



Let's confuse things a little bit more....


(http://www.wynia.org/images/spookytooth_dresser.jpg)




Some call this a scooter, some call this a motorcycle, some call this a Cub.....  we call them "Underbones" ...

(http://p1.bikepics.com/2005/02/19/bikepics-294700-full.jpg)



and another.... If the Piaggio MP3 or Peugeot Metropolis  are called  SCOOTERS.... what is a Can-Am Spyder?

(http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRmUFvM-IRKq54DmchohLI2OxfDAKxn_B78g4H8uOFWNjGjvJOQ)

(http://www.bikescatalog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/peugeot-metropolis-400i-white--225x180.jpg)

(http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTptQCfp-7xDhk2q-ExIltW5YKZTevqZ--74Hqj2AQb5hovd066hA)

and the T-Rex?

(http://www.diseno-art.com/images/t-rex_3_wheeler.jpg)

or the Peugeot 20CUP?...

(http://photos.evo.co.uk/images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_47/car_photo_23729_7.jpg)


how about this?...

(http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTgFfmUTO9_mahOwvUBJiPCXy8GliWbPwlcfWVds_helQhBTDrsvQ)
Title: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: ts1 on May 16, 2013, 08:37:09 AM
This Reitwagen ("riding car"!?) had floorboards: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Daimler_Reitwagen_color_drawing_1885_DE_patent_36423.jpg (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Daimler_Reitwagen_color_drawing_1885_DE_patent_36423.jpg)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Daimler_Reitwagen.JPG (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Daimler_Reitwagen.JPG)

With this vehicle the appellation "motorcycle" was born: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ZweiRadMuseumNSU_Hildebrand_Wolfmueller.JPG (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ZweiRadMuseumNSU_Hildebrand_Wolfmueller.JPG)
Note: step through design
Title: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: naughty lee on May 16, 2013, 09:31:01 AM
Ts1 are you from Middlesbrough ?
Title: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: ts1 on May 16, 2013, 09:44:14 AM
Until just know I didn't even knew about Middlesbrough. ::)
I live in Germany.
Title: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: blue on May 16, 2013, 01:07:28 PM
Anything with a cover over it.Or a hood is not a moped scooter or mototrcyle.
Title: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: Vivo on May 17, 2013, 01:23:49 AM
Anything with a cover over it.Or a hood is not a moped scooter or mototrcyle.

then what is it?  a car?



(http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00beWTqRuFYlcY/Gas-Scooter-with-Roof.jpg)
Title: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: Calothrix on May 17, 2013, 02:38:50 AM
No, scooter with extended windshield! ;)
Title: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: bostonscoot on May 17, 2013, 02:43:41 AM
To me a scooter has a small displacement and a single speed automatic (or cvt) transmission.

I was thinking that scooters are a subset of motorcycles, whereas bicycles and motorcycles are mutually exclusive.
Title: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: naughty lee on May 17, 2013, 09:55:47 AM
Until just know I didn't even knew about Middlesbrough. ::)
I live in Germany.

Naja, est tut Mir leid! Dien name ist die gleiche wie die postfach nummer fur dieser stadt.
Ich war sechs jahre in Deutschland bei der army stationeirt.
Ich kann deutch, aber nicht zo gut wenn schrieben Oder buchstabieren!
Trotsdem, grussen aus nord ost England ;)
Title: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: bleys on May 17, 2013, 12:13:57 PM
Okay, my 2 cents.  The CVT does not make it a scooter.  The first scooters were also manual transmissions.  CVTs did not really become standard on scooters until the early 80's when Honda and Yamaha introduced them with their "new, modern" scooters.  Traditionally scooters had small wheels, step-through design and engines mounted on the swingarm suspension of the rear wheel.  Most of the early scooters also had a brake pedal for the right foot as the clutch and shifter were often on the left handlebar.  They were designed to be cheap transport following WWII.

Like noted early - I may not be able to define it, but I know a scooter when I see one - most of the time.  LOL.
Title: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: Vivo on May 18, 2013, 02:02:04 AM
scoot n.
Regional Note: Scoot comes from a Scandinavian verb related to the verb shoot and, borrowed into Scots dialect, originally meant "to squirt with water." Two derived senses, both intransitive verbs, have become even more common: "to slide suddenly across a surface" and "to move quickly": The mouse scooted across the floor. In the American Midlands, there is a phrasal verb scoot over, meaning, in its transitive sense, "to push (someone or something) to the side to make room."

If it can't "scoot", then it's a motorcycle....
Title: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: MrKymco on May 21, 2013, 08:36:48 AM
what it's not
Title: Re: What makes it a scooter.
Post by: Vivo on May 21, 2013, 09:02:05 AM
wave runner...