Illi Scooters

1. What is a scooter?

2. What are the advantages of a scooter?

3. Are there any disadvantages of a scooter?

4. Is a special license required for a scooter in Illinois?

5. What kind of mileage can I expect with my scooter?

6. What engine size should I choose for my scooter?

7. How long will my scooter engine last?

8. How long will my tires last?

9. Why are my scooter wheels small?

10. Where will I get parts and service for my scooter?

1.What is a scooter?

Generally, what distinguishes a scooter from other two-wheel vehicles such as a motorcycle are:

a. A step-through frame - no need to throw your leg over the body to get on. Just step over the scooter floor board and sit down like a chair.

b. Smaller wheels - typically scooter wheels are in the 10" to 16" diameter range, smaller than most motorcycles and therefore, much more agile and responsive for handling and parking.

c. No clutch, gears or shifting - The majority of all scooters on the market use a CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission) and incorporates a "twist- and -go" concept of drive, in other words, no clutch or shift levers or pedals to coordinate. Scooters are easy to learn and simple to use.

2. What are the advantages of a scooter?

You will find a scooter has many advantages, but ease of use is probably one of the largest. With the engine mounted very low and close to the rear wheel, the center of gravity is very low and easy to handle - no more feeling like everything is about to tip over when you pull up to a stop sign or traffic light! This feature makes scooters very popular with those who are short or light in weight.

No clutch or shifting to learn and worry about! This is a definite pus in both the initial learning phase and also for some of those longer rides later on. This feature also will make your scooter a dream to handle in either traffic or in tight parking situations.

Most people are attracted to the low initial investment as well as the reduced cost of maintenance and operation. Gas mileage can be over 100 MPG with the smaller models (50cc and under) to event 60-70 MPG range on the larger interstate speed scooters (500cc and over).

In the operating cost area, you will be pleasantly surprised to find the cost to insure a scooter is extremely low when compared to other modes of transportation. Most people are finding they can carry full coverage for somewhere in the $12-$16 a month range.

Now take all of the above mentioned into account and throw in the "fun factor". As we like to say, you are guaranteed at least a thousand smiles per gallon.

3. Are there any disadvantages?

Yes , there are a few disadvantages you should be aware of when you are looking for a scooter? First, you are more exposed to the weather conditions and need to prepare accordingly. Since scooters have ample storage, this is usually not a huge problem because you can leave the house with the proper gear stored and yet out of the way. Learn to carry the clothing and gear with you in case you encounter either wet or cold conditions that may be unexpected at take off.
Usually the scooter has less power than motorcycles (even though recent and more powerful models have overcome this problem ) and this can sometimes create a problem in keeping up with traffic. This situation can be alleviated at the time of purchase by being sure you buy the engine size to handle all situations you might end up driving in.
The smaller size wheel size can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. You will find the smaller diameter wheel makes for a much more agile, nimble and maneuverable vehicle, but you need to be aware of driving over potholes, event streets and gravel roads.

4. Is a special license required for scooters?

Well the answer to this question is both a yes and a no. It depends on the size of engine you select. This discussion pertains only to the State of Illinois and will differ in other parts of the country. Since the scooter is a "street legal" vehicle, a driver's license is required to operate it on all streets, roads, and highways in Illinois. However, if the engine is under 50cc and the speed is 30 MPH or less, only a standard driver's license is required. You will need an "l" endorsement on your license if you choose to operate a scooter in the 55cc to 15o cc range. An "M" endorsement is needed for any scooter over 150cc in size. Either the "L" or the "M" endorsement may be obtained from the state DMV office with a simple written test (usually about 10 questions) and a short and easy riding test.

The State of Illinois pamphlet regarding these rules and tests are available at either your local DMV or at Illini Scooters.

Also it should be noted that all street legal scooters operated in Illinois must be both titled and display the proper license plates. Illini Scooters will handle all of this paper work for you, just one more reason to do business with Illini Scooter!

5. What kind of mileage will I get with my scooter?

Typically, mileage will vary from around 60 MPG to well over 100 MPG. A number of variables will determine what your mileage will be.

First, the engine size you will operate is the main determining factor.

Obviously, the smaller (and slower) engines will get the highest mileage.

Also, the weight of the driver has a large effect and if you plan on riding double (two riders) very often. The more weight an engine of this size has to pull around, the more gas it will consume.

Lastly, your driving style will have a huge effect on the amount of fuel consumed. Twisting the throttle from idle to wide open at every stop light will reduce the overall gas mileage of your scooter. Smooth and easy is by far the best practice for better gas mileage on your scooter!

6. What engine size should I choose?

This can be a tricky scooter question! Typically, the first time buyer of a scooter will under buy the engine size and be back in a year or so to trade up for something with more performance. If you have never ridden or owned a scooter before, this may be a sensible way to proceed - even though it will be a more expensive way in the long run.

We often hear "all I want to do is run to the store once in awhile" and that may be true at the beginning. But once you find how much fun it is to use your scooter you will notice all the money you are saving, you may uncover a lot of ways to expand your riding experience.

Here is a simple break-down of the relationship between engine size and the type of riding associated with each size:
50cc and under - Neighborhood riding, short distances and use on lightly traveled streets (30 MPH and under)
50cc to 200 cc - Cross town travel, medium distance trips, are able to safely operate on heavier traveled streets and country roads (45 to 65 MPG top speeds)
250 CC and over - In town as well as highway and interstate travel, able to handle almost all traffic situations (70 - over 100 MPG top speeds)
Remember, all scooter engines will typically have a shorter span if they are constantly operated at full throttle conditions.

7. How long will the engine last?

If you properly maintain and care for your scooter, it is not unusual to get at least 25,000 or more miles before it will need a major rebuild. However as mentioned in the section of what size engine you need, keep in mind that the engine will experience a shorter life span if operated at full throttle for a high percent of its running life.

8. How long will my scooter tires last?

It is not unusual to get 3-4,000 miles out of the rear tires and double that for the front tires. Keep in mind that scooter size, operating weight, (such as riding double) and types of roads and streets you drive on may very these estimates. As with any vehicle, keeping the proper air pressure in your tires will go a long way in helping extend the overall tire life for your scooter.

9. Why are my scooter wheels so small?

The small wheels help give your scooter the very responsive and nimble characteristics for driving in traffic. The smaller wheel is also responsible for making the scooter very maneuverable for parking. Contrary to the common myth, the smaller wheels on a scooter do not make them noticeable less safe. In fact, a strong argument can be made that small wheels will make them even safer than their larger wheeled cousin, the motorcycle. Since the smaller wheels result in greater handling, responsiveness, this can more readily keep the scooter enthusiast out of trouble.

Scooters simply maneuver more easily than a motorcycle. While it is true the smaller wheel may be vulnerable to catching the larger potholes, you should also be aware that these same small wheels can result in more lower end torque and therefore be able to pull you out of that same pothole. This is why a scooter can often outperform a motorcycle with an equal engine size from a dead-stop.

Likewise, the smaller wheels can help when cornering. There is no need to slide the back wheel as you would on a motorcycle due to the fact that there is less gyroscopic effect. These characteristics give the scooter such an advantage and this is why they are banned from motorcycle racing years ago.

You will also find that the smaller wheel creates a lower center of gravity. This assists both the experienced and the new rider in balancing the scooter.

Lastly, you will find the smaller wheel and the resulting smaller tire are noticeably less expensive to replace and help in keeping your overall maintenance costs at a minimum.

So as you can see, all in all, there are many advantages to the smaller wheel associated with scooters.

10. Where will I get parts & service for my scooter?

Illini Scooters is an authorized service and parts center for all the scooters we represent and sell in our store. Many of the most commonly needed parts are carried in stock at the store and we usually can have all parts needed delivered to us from the distributors in a matter of days.

Even though your warranty will be from the individual manufacture you decide to purchase and may vary from company to company, Illini Scooters will be the performing dealer for the work being completed.

We also pride ourselves on being able to fix and repair almost any brand of scooter you wish to bring into your service department.