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Motorcycles, Mopeds and Scooters: Differences, Pros and Cons

Motorcycles (also known as motorbikes), mopeds and scooters are becoming more and more common as a way to avoid traffic and costly gas prices. In 2005, 130,000 Americans bought motor scooters or mopeds and more than one million purchased motorcycles. People use these modes of transportation for commuting to work, traveling to and from school, taking long journeys where traffic is anticipated and, in some cases, for everyday use.

Comparing Motorcycles, Mopeds and Scooters
Motorcycles are powered by engines and have a throttle on the right handlebar for controlling speed and a brake on the left handlebar for deceleration. A foot pedal is also used for braking. Motorcycles are larger than mopeds and scooters and, in most countries, people must obtain a special license to operate them. Most motorcycles have a maximum speed between fifty and sixty miles per hour.

Mopeds are a smaller class of vehicles that have far less power than motorcycles. They generally have two wheels and pedals, and, in most states, people are not allowed to drive them faster than thirty miles per hour. In a number of countries, the driving age is lower for a moped than for other vehicles, which makes them extremely popular among young people. One disadvantage of mopeds, however, is that parts can sometimes be hard to find, making repairs difficult.

Because of mopeds’ small size, they are often even harder than motorcycles for automobile drivers to see. For this reason, reflectors and accessories are recommended for mopeds, and drivers are encouraged to use caution and do everything in their power to make sure they are visible to other drivers.

Some small scooters can be classified as mopeds, but scooters are generally characterized by continuously variable transmission, which is a type of automatic transmission often used on automobiles. Many types of scooters are now also offering antilock brakes, a desirable safety feature.

The main difference between a scooter and the others is its step-through frame and smaller wheels. These scooters, which are considered adult scooters and not for children, should not be confused with motorized scooters or kick scooters. The maximum speed of a motor scooter ranges between 25 and fifty miles per hour, depending on how powerful the engine is and state regulations.

All of these vehicles have their own characteristics, but they have many similarities as well. In most places, licenses and helmets are required for use, but every country and state's laws and regulations vary a bit with each type of vehicle.

Accident Rates
Over the past few years, the number of accidents on motorcycles and similar vehicles has increased, including the number of fatal accidents. This is due in part to the increase in the number of people who are riding the vehicles, but as the percentage of accidents has increased as well, the number of riders cannot completely account for the increase.

Approximately sixty percent of the time, motorcycle accidents are not caused by the motorcycle driver, but by the driver of a car or truck who could not see the motorcycle. Thus it is extremely important to use reflectors and proceed around cars and trucks with caution, making eye contact when possible to ensure visibility.

Darting quickly through traffic is inadvisable, as it is far easier for a motorcycle to be in a car’s blind-spot than it is for another car to be, and motorcycles are not as common on the road, so other drivers often don’t consider that a motorcycle could be present.

If an accident does occur, the procedure is similar to that of a regular car accident. Stay at the scene, call police, file a police report, get the other driver’s information, get information from any witnesses and take pictures if possible.

Because of the unprotected nature of motorcycles, mopeds and scooters, any accident can be highly injurious or even fatal. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, motorcycle rider fatalities have increased by 89 percent since 1997. In 2004, over four thousand motorcycle riders died in the United States as a result of accidents.

Two-thirds of those fatalities occurred in states that do not require motorcycle riders to wear helmets. However, helmet use does not guarantee you will survive an accident, as half of fatalities involve riders who wore a helmet. This is because some fatal injuries do not involve trauma to the head. One hundred moped riders were fatally injured on the road in 2005.

The Benefits of These Vehicles
Despite the high risks involved with accidents, motorcycles, mopeds and scooters do have many benefits:

• Commute Time: Traveling by motorbike can reduce commute time by up to two thirds.
  
  
• Cost: These vehicles cost significantly less than new or even used cars. A new moped costs around $1,500, though a Vespa can cost from $2,000 to $6,000. Motorcycles can range in cost from $5,000 to $18,000. Scooters will set you back between $2,500 and $4,000.
  
  
• Fuel Efficiency: The average scooter gets 85 miles to the gallon. The typical motorcycle gets between fifty and 65 mpg, while mopeds average 100 miles per gallon.
  
  
• Size: The small size of these vehicles also allows them to be taken on trips, whether by using trailer tie-downs or by placing them in the bed of a truck. They are also easier to park, an important consideration in many urban areas.

The Downside of Smaller Vehicles
Although there are many advantages to riding a motorcycle, moped, or scooter, these vehicles have drawbacks beyond their higher accident rates. For example, riders often get tired more easily than when driving a car or other closed vehicle because of the aerodynamics of motorcycles, mopeds and scooters. Riders have to fight against the oncoming wind, which can be harder at higher speeds. The rate these vehicles are stolen is also much higher than with cars and trucks. The number of motorcycles stolen in the United States is unclear, because not every theft is reported, but it is believed to be at least 26,000 and as many as 100,000 per year.