How Safe Are Mopeds / Scooters?

 This article caught my eye:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/05/15/scooters.gas.ap/index.html

When you get a lot of people riding first-time who aren't forced to take any
training ... seems like there may be some fender-benders.

Do these things have simplified features (like linked brakes), or are they
just small motorcycles?

 David T. Ashley wrote:

They have automatic transmission also.

 

Yeah, but I would submit you can get yourself just
as dead on, say, a Burgman as you can on anything else
with two wheels...it IS scary that there are gonna
be a lot more people on these things with effectively
zero training/experience.

Bob M.

 Bob Myers wrote:

Speaking of which, here's my obligatory scooter photo from Taiwan:

<http://home.comcast.net/~nabbott12/Taiwan_Scooters.jpg>

So long as we keep relying on a growing population to prop up Social
Security and keep the GDP "growing" (as if it weren't the *per capita*
GDP that matters), this is where we are headed!

 
:This article caught my eye:
:
:http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/05/15/scooters.gas.ap/index.html
:
:When you get a lot of people riding first-time who aren't forced to take any
:training ... seems like there may be some fender-benders.
:
:Do these things have simplified features (like linked brakes), or are they
:just small motorcycles?

Most 49.5cc scooters (technically mopeds) have disk brakes and
automatic transmissions. They generally accelerate to 30-35 mph
quickly and easily. Top speed is usually between 33 and 40 mph.

Aside from the fact that the cheap Chinese models can't be expected
to function reliably, they are easier to operate than a motorcycle
and as safe as any other two wheeled vehicle.

I have a Yamaha Zuma. It goes and stops just fine and has all of the
lights and safety features of a small motorcycle. I sometimes ride
it the 15 miles to work. With the exception of a three mile section
of 50mph road with a generous bicycle/breakdown lane, the roads are
35mph. I've never had a problem.


---
Small town person clinging to guns out of bitterness