| A scooter is a variety of light motorcycle, which has engine fitted at the back under the seat.
Different types of scooters exist:
• Urban (compact with small-sized wheels);
• Tourist (large, comfortable for long journeys on asphalt roads);
• Sports (racing);
• Country (with bigger wheels for country roads);
• Cross-country (with big tires & off-road tire treads).
Usually, a scooter is made in such a way that the driver need not climb over the frame to sit on the scooter but sports models exist without this convenience. The important advantage of the scooter while driving in a city when it is required to stop frequently is, unlike the real motorcycle, the majority of scooters after 1990s production do not require the switching of gears, hence such vehicles are called scooters. In addition, all the mechanisms in the motor scooter are closed by panels and the power unit is made according to a motor block – wheel schematic. The front panel also protects the driver from dust and wind.
The urban purpose scooter is designed for driving on good quality roads. It is very problematic and inconvenient to drive the scooters for long distances on roads with pits, bumps, poorly done & dirt roads due to the small-sized wheels and the scooters do not have enough shock absorption and distribution of the center of gravity for such roads. Scooters are ideal for good asphalted roads. Scooters are also available with large-sized wheels for riding on dirt roads and off-road scooters / scooters with broad tire casings and off-road tire treads are also available.
The engine can be either two-stroke or a four stroke engine. The fuel supply is either a carburetor type or injection type. Presently, the area of use of two-stroke engines and the carburetor-type fuel supply system is becoming extinct due to stringent environmental regulations in Europe.
Other scooters are also available such as maxi-scooters and “Hyper-scooters”, with an engine capacity that can reach up to 800 cm³.
In Europe, the manufacturers specially limit the maximum speed of the 50cm3 scooter class up to 45km/hr and in Japan up to 30 – 35 km/hr.
The scooter has become a very popular means of transport in big cities and metropolitan areas, which are overloaded with auto transport, owing to its cost efficiency and maneuverability.
Scooterettes:
A scooterette is distinguished by large-sized wheels (for example, 17”) and also by the fact that the engine is fitted between the driver's legs but not under the seating as in a conventional scooter. In the majority of cases, gear switching is done as in motorcycle but the clutch is automatic. Often, it is looked upon as something intermediate between a scooter and a regular motorcycle or moped. A scooterette is most popular in Asian countries. The Honda Club is the originator of the scooterette, and in their modern sense is still producing unmodified versions since the middle of last century.
Scooters of different countries:
Japanese scooters:
Scooters, manufactured by Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha are different and as a rule, have less-weight, boosted engines, a reinforced frame design and a plastic lining and made from high quality material. The high manufacturing quality and relatively high resource are characteristic for the original contemporary Japanese scooters. Old Japanese scooters are still very popular amongst teenagers.
European scooters:
The scooters are manufactured by Piaggio, Gilera, Peugeot, Renault, Derbi, Aprilia, Malaguti, Benelli, BMW, Beta, Italjet scooters, etc. Designed with an integrated metal body, later frame structures but with entirely metallic linings, which had an effect on the overall weight of the scooter were characteristics for the old European school. Vespa is the founder for the European design school of scooters. A year later, Lambretta entered the scooter market, which resulted in a protracted face-off between the two brands. Italian and German design schools also exist.
Lightness, relatively less engine capacity, components, specifically designed for these scooters, is inherent to the Italian design school. The German school is distinguished by thoroughness of design, greater weight and greater comfort to the rider, once again the engine capacity, higher specifications and extensive use of motorcycle components.
Modern European Scooters are less distinguishable from Japanese scooters, except for a more sophisticated design (water cooling, cantilever of front suspension etc.) and generally much larger. |
