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Originally Posted by debtfreeme
Shelby: how safe is the scooter? I am thinking of getting one to commute to work on those days when i cannot ride with my car pooler and the weather is nice. Is it hard to learn to ride? How much was his and what kind did he get? How to research the best kind?
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Scooters are VERY unsafe. More people (on a percentage basis) are injured on mopeds and scooters than motorcycles. Part of the reason is that the scooter does not have the power to get you out of the way of a car; and the car will always win in a crash.
Look at it this way... how many of you have been in a wreck, even a very minor wreck in a car? Almost everyone. Now imagine that same wreck if you were on a scooter; you would be toast.
I've been a motorcycle owner/rider for 25 years and in that time I've been hit 3 times. I've had broken bones, a crushed foot, gravel embedded into my skin that had to be raked out with a wire brush at the hospital. Trust me, you will not save money.
Even though I've been hit 3 times I've avoided over 100 other crashes simply because I've had the power to get out of the way of drunk drivers and other idiots that would have ran me off the road if I had been on a scooter.
I would suggest anyone wanting a scooter to seriously consider a real motorcycle instead AND a good riding course. Over 90% of all fatal wrecks are by new riders. I'm sure that stat also holds true for new scooter riders.
A good course will teach you tricks that you would never think of on your own but can save your life. For instance, when going through an intersection always go through slightly braked and with the clutch slightly depressed. Why? Because you have stored power and when somone turns in front of you runs the stop sign, you will have immediate power to get out of his way. That trick has saved me countless times.
As for saving money, I've spent more on medical bills, helments, kevlar jackets, and gloves than I've saved in gas.