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#REDIRECT [[Motorscooter]]
{{otheruses4|type of motorcycle|other uses|Scooter}}
{{Refimprove|date=October 2007}}
[[File:Motorroller 01 KMJ.jpg|right|thumb|Vespa engine is part of rear suspension, drives small wheel directly.]]
[[File:Autoped 1919 Ever Ready 1.jpg|thumb|1919 Autoped Ever Ready, an early scooter design]]
[[Image:Supercubca100.JPG|thumb|250|Early [[Honda Super Cub]], the [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/archetype archetypal] underbone, with conventional drivetrain and wheels]]
A '''scooter''' is a [[motorcycle]] with [[Step-through frame|step-through architecture]] and either a platform for the operator's feet or footrests integral with the bodywork. Elements of scooter design have been noted in some of the earliest motorcycles, and motorcycles identifiable as scooters have been made from 1914 or earlier. Regional developments were made in [[Europe]] and the [[United States]] [[Interwar period|between the World Wars]]. The global popularity of scooters dates from the post-[[World War II]] introductions of the [[Vespa]] and the [[Lambretta]]. Economic and political factors, including competition from other vehicles, have shaped the evolution of scooters and have caused the development of different variations of scooter.

[[Underbone]]s are often sold in the [[Western World|the West]] as scooters. Underbones have step-through architecture but feature footpegs similar to those used on conventional motorcycles. The underbone design is based on the 1958 [[Honda Super Cub]], the best-selling [[motor vehicle]] in the world. The Super Cub had [[semi-automatic transmission]] before any form of automatic or semi-automatic transmission was used by Vespa or Lambrettas.

Scooters were originally intended for low-power personal transportation with engines between 50 and 250 cc. It is still very widely used for this application. However, maxi-scooters, with engines from 250 to 800 cc, have been developed for Western markets.

The popularity of scooters as a form of personal motor transport is partly based on their low cost of purchase and operation and their convenience in parking and storage. Licensing, registration, and insurance requirements for scooters have been made easier and less expensive than those for cars in many parts of the world.
== Regulatory classification ==
Scooters worldwide meet highly varied regulatory climates, since the classifications vary from country to country. For example, France, Italy and Spain allow drivers with an automobile driver's licence to operate motorcycles up to 125 cc. In order to ride larger motorcycles in those countries a rider would need an additional motorcycle licence. In most other E.U. countries one can only ride motorcycles up to 50 cc with a automobile drivers license.{{Fact|date=June 2009}}

Most jurisdictions have no legal definition for scooters, and instead classify scooters with engines smaller than 50 cc as [[moped]]s, and subject them to lower safety restrictions and licensing fees. Scooters above 50 cc are usually legally considered [[motorcycle]]s, although some jurisdictions have an in-between definition for motorized bike for scooters and motorcycles between 50 and 150 cc. In the E.U. all two-wheeled motor vehicles above 50 cc are classified as motorcycles.{{Fact|date=June 2009}}

In the United States the term "scooter" is rarely stipulated as a motor vehicle classification — which usually are based on characteristics such as number of wheels, sitting configuration, engine size, power, and maximum speed. In the U.S. and Europe, scooters fall into either "[[motorcycle]]" or "[[moped]]" category depending on their engine characteristics and sitting configuration, and each subject to laws for their respective category.{{Fact|date=June 2009}}

The [[United States Department of Transportation]] defines a scooter as having a platform for the operator's feet or has integrated footrests, and has a step-through architecture.<ref>[http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.asp?section=571.123 571.123<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

The term [[scooter]] and motor scooter lead to much confusion. For all legal purposes, the NHTSA recommends using the term motorcycle for all of these vehicles. The government itself is also a little confused as they are excluding the term motor scooter from the legal definition but proceed to give detail instructions on how to import a small motor scooter. See the NHTSA article <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/FAQ%20Site/pages/page3.html#Anchor-52644 |title=Importation and Certification FAQ's Directory-Motorcycles and Scooters |publisher=Nhtsa.dot.gov |date= |accessdate=2009-04-27}}</ref>

In Victoria and New South Wales in Australia, scooters are classified as motorcycles and a rider would need the appropriate motorcycle permit in order to ride one.{{Fact|date=June 2009}}

== Description ==
{{Unreferencedsection|date=May 2009}}
[[File:1956 Allstate Scooter 2.jpg|thumb|1956 Allstate Scooter]]
The classic scooter design features a step-through frame and a flat floorboard for the rider's feet. This design is possible because most scooter engines and drive systems are attached to the rear axle or under the seat. Unlike a conventional [[motorcycle]], in which the engine is mounted on the frame, these front-hinged arrangement allow the engine to swing vertically together with the rear wheel. Most vintage scooters and some newer [[retro]] models have axle-mounted engines with a manual transmission and the gear shift and clutch controls built into the left handlebar. Most newer scooters use a [[Continuously Variable Transmission]] (CVT).

Unlike most motorcycles, scooters usually feature bodywork, including a front leg shield and body that conceals all or most of the mechanicals. There is often some integral storage space, either under the seat, built into the front leg shield, or both. Most scooters have small engines, 50 [[cubic centimetre|cc]] to 400 cc with a single cylinder, although maxi-scooters might have twin cylinder 400 to 800 cc engines.

== History ==
=== Early scooters ===
[[File:ZweiRadMuseumNSU Hildebrand Wolfmueller.JPG|thumb|1894 Hildebrand & Wolfmüller]]
Scooter-like traits began to develop in motorcycle designs around the 1900s. In 1894, [[Hildebrand & Wolfmüller]] produced the first motorcycle that was available for purchase. Their motorcycle had a step-through frame, with its fuel tank mounted on the down tube, its parallel two-cylinder engine mounted low on the frame, and its cylinders mounted in line with the frame. It was water-cooled and had a [[radiator (engine cooling)|radiator]] built into the top of the rear fender. It became the first mass produced and publicly sold powered two-wheel vehicle, and among the first powered mainly by engine rather than foot pedals. Maximum speed was {{convert|40|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}. The rear wheel was driven directly by rods from the pistons in a manner similar to the drive wheels of [[steam locomotive]]s. Only a few hundred such bikes were built, and the high price and technical difficulties made the venture a financial failure for both Wolfmüller and his financial backer, Hildebrand.<ref name=WoM_HuW>{{cite web |first= |last= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= The World of Motorcycles: Vintage Motorcycles - Hildebrand & Wolfmüller|url= http://www.khulsey.com/motorcycles/vintage_motorcycle_hildebrand_wolfmueller.html|archiveurl= |work= http://www.theworldofmotorcycles.com/|publisher= Kevin Hulsey Illustration, Inc.|location= |page= |pages= |language= |format= |doi= |date= |month= |year= |archivedate= |accessdate= 2009-05-17|quote= }}</ref>

[[File:Scooters.Assisi007.jpg|thumb|left|1906 Auto-Fauteuil]]
In [[France]], the Auto-Fauteuil was produced since 1902. In United States, the Motoped is believed to be the first scooter to enter production, in 1910. {{Fact|date=May 2008}}

Since 1914, the Autoped Company of Long Island City, New York produced a compact scooter for short trips. The driver stood on a short platform with 15-inch tires. After riding, the steering column, which contained all operating controls, was folded over the platform to store the scooter in a compact space. The engine was an air-cooled, 4-stroke, 155 cc engine over the front wheel. The bike came with a headlamp and tail lamp, a Klaxon horn, and a toolbox. Developed during wartime and gasoline rationing, it was quite efficient, but did not achieve widespread distribution.<ref name=AmOnTheMove>{{cite web |first= |last= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= America On The Move - Pope, Cleveland, Autoped, and Simplex|url= http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthemove/themes/story_54_2.html|archiveurl= |work= [http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthemove/ America On The Move]|publisher= [http://americanhistory.si.edu/ Smithsonian National Museum of American History]|location= |page= |pages= |language= |format= |doi= |date= |month= |year= |archivedate= |accessdate= 2009-05-17|quote= }}</ref> The Autoped went out of production in the United States in 1921,<ref name=EncycloMoto22>{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=Hugo|title=The Encyclopedia of the Motorcycle|year=1995|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=London|language=UK English|isbn=0 7513 0206 6|page=22|chapter=The A-Z of Motorcycles}}</ref> but was manufactured by Krupp in Germany from 1919 to 1922. <ref name=EncycloMoto243>{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=Hugo|title=The Encyclopedia of the Motorcycle|year=1995|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=London|language=UK English|isbn=0 7513 0206 6|page=243|chapter=The Directory of Motorcycles}}</ref>

===Scooters between the World Wars===
In 1919, British engineer [[Granville Bradshaw]] created the Skootamota, which had a seat. Its single-cylinder 123 cc OHV engine, designed by Bradshaw, sat above the rear wheel and drove it by chain. The saddle and spacious footboard provided comfort. The Skootamota is a rare archetype of modern motor scooters.<ref name=EncycloMoto170>{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=Hugo|title=The Encyclopedia of the Motorcycle|year=1995|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=London|language=UK English|isbn=0 7513 0206 6|page=170|chapter=The A-Z of Motorcycles}}</ref>
[[File:Kenilworth scooter 1921.jpg|thumb|1921 Kenilworth scooter]]
The Kenilworth is another classic vintage scooter made in England from 1919 to 1924. Powered by a 142 cc overhead valve engine,<ref name=EncycloMoto222>{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=Hugo|title=The Encyclopedia of the Motorcycle|year=1995|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=London|language=UK English|isbn=0 7513 0206 6|page=222|chapter=The Directory of Motorcycles}}</ref> it reached {{convert|20|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}. Electric lights were a first on this machine, but its brakes worked exactly as on a bicycle.{{Fact|date=May 2009}}
[[File:Scooters.Assisi002.jpg|thumb|left|1948 Salsbury scooter, in the middle]]
The Salsbury Motor Glide was a tiny motorbike built in 1936 in the back of a plumbing and heating shop in Oakland, California, by E. Foster Salsbury and inventor Austin Elmore. It had an enclosed body and an automatic transmission. It was such a success that in 1938 Salsbury attempted to license the design to several European manufacturers including Piaggio. The Motor Glide was the first [[depression era]] scooter, and set the standards for all later models. It inspired production of motor scooters by Powell, Moto-scoot, Cushman, Rock-Ola, and others. Salsbury produced the first automatic scooter with a [[continuously variable transmission]] (CVT).<ref name=CulturalHistory>{{cite web |first= |last= |author= Mary Anne Long|authorlink= |coauthors= |title= From Scooter to Scooterist: A Cultural History of the Italian Motorscooter|url=http://www.nh-scooters.com/filemanager/download/11/php1C.pdf |archiveurl= |work= |publisher= |location= |page= |pages= |language= |format= PDF|doi= |date= 1998-12-17|month= |year= |archivedate= |accessdate= |quote= }}</ref>

[[File:Cushman scooter Ice Cream.jpg|thumb|Cushman three-wheel scooter based on step-through frame]]
The [[Cushman]] Company produced motor scooters from 1936 to 1965. Light, compact, and rugged, they were widely used by the US military in World War II and as an alternative to automobiles in the years before and after the war. Cushmans were easy to ride and had an automatic clutch which allowed the rider to twist the right grip to go and step on the pedal to stop. The step-through design and ease of operation made it popular with men and women alike. Cushman claimed an efficiency of 75 miles per gallon, and a penny-a-mile operating cost. The scooters usually weighted about 250 to 335 pounds (110-152 kg) and some had as much as {{convert|9|hp}}.{{Fact|date=May 2009}}
[[File:Cushman scooter blue.jpg|thumb|left|Cushman Eagle]]
The most successful Cushman model, the Eagle, was manufactured from 1949 to the end of Cushman's motorcycle production in 1965. With its exposed engine and top tanks, it resembled a motorcycle, and was technically no longer a scooter. Other Cushman models used a traditional step-through design of most motor scooters.<ref name=EncycloMoto44>{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=Hugo|title=The Encyclopedia of the Motorcycle|year=1995|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=London|language=UK English|isbn=0 7513 0206 6|page=44|chapter=The A-Z of Motorcycles}}</ref> One of the most famous was the “Model 53”, a military model from the World War II era. It was designed to be dropped by parachute with Army Airborne troops, so it became known as the “Cushman Airborne”. It was also used around military bases for messenger service.{{Fact|date=May 2009}}

=== Scooters after World War II ===
[[File:Mitsu silver pigeon.jpg|thumb|[[Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon]]]]
After World War II (just as happened after WWI eg BMW) many wartime [[aircraft]] manufacturers kept highly skilled engineering teams together by producing motorcycles and scooters. In [[Japan]], this created their first two-wheeler boom.{{Fact|date=May 2009}} The [[Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon]] was a scooter largely made of warplane wheels and discarded warplane parts. It eventually shared popularity with the [[Fuji Rabbit]], a motor scooter produced in Japan by Fuji Heavy Industries from 1946 to 1968. Production of the initial model, the S-1 began in 1946, some six months before the Vespa and was largely inspired by scooters used by American servicemen during and after World War II. Fuji Rabbit were the first Japanese-made scooters that could exceed {{convert|60|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}. Later models were among the most technologically sophisticated of their era, featuring electric starters, automatic transmissions and pneumatic suspension systems. Although the market for scooters shrank in Japan as the economy expanded and Fuji diversified into automobiles in 1958, that was the same year that Honda launched the most popular motorcycle of all time, the [[Super Cub]]. The Fuji Rabbit has become a symbol of [[nostalgia]] in Japanese [[pop culture]].

In post-World War II Italy the Piaggio [[Vespa]] became the standard for scooters and has remained so for over 60 years later. Patented in April 1946, it used aircraft design and materials. D’Ascanio's 98 cc scooter had various radical design concepts, including a sleek, stress-bearing structure. The [[gear shift]] lever was moved to the handlebars for easier riding. The engine was placed near the rear wheel, eliminating the [[belt drive]]. The typical fork support was replaced by an arm similar to an aircraft carriage for easier tire-changing. The elegantly styled body protected the driver from wind and road dirt, and bore little resemblance to uncomfortable and noisy motorcycles. The smaller wheels and shorter wheelbase provide improved maneuverability through narrow streets and congested traffic. Combining the best elements of automotive, aeronautical and motorcycle design, the Vespa quickly became an icon of design and economy. The name reportedly originated when Piaggio's president upon seeing the prototype, remarked ''"Sembra una vespa"'', "It looks like a wasp".

[[File:Lambretta 125 D 1952 a.jpg|thumb|1952 Lambretta 125 D]]
Months after the Vespa, in 1947, Innocenti introduced the [[Lambretta (motorscooter)|Lambretta]], beginning a rivalry with Vespa. The scooter was designed by Innocenti, his General Director Giuseppe Lauro and engineer Pierluigi Torre. It debuted in 1947 at the Paris Motor Show. The Lambretta 'A' went on sale on December 23rd 1947 and sold 9,000 units in one year. It was efficient, 160-180 mpg (miles per gallon) or 68-76 km/litre<!-- these figures don't match, either in US or Imperial and are very optimistic -->,{{Fact|date=May 2009}} at a time when petrol was severely rationed. It had a top speed of {{convert|45|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} from a fan-cooled engine of 123 cc. The Lambretta was named after Lambrate, the Milanese neighborhood where the factory stood.{{Fact|date=May 2009}} The first Lambretta designs had shaft drive and no rear suspension, later designs used various drive and suspension systems until Lambretta settled on a swingarm-mounted engine with chain drive.<ref name=ClassicMoto79>Johnstone, G. "Classic Motorcycles" p. 79 Tiger Books Internationa PLC, 1993 ISBN 1-85501-731-8</ref>

The Maicoletta motor scooter of the 1950s was one of the largest produced in that era. The engine was a single cylinder 247 cc piston port 2-stroke (277 cc for use with a sidecar), with four foot-operated gears and centrifugal fan cooling. The tubular frame was built on motorcycle principles, with long travel telescopic forks and 14-inch wheels. The Maicoletta had a top speed of {{convert|70|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} which was comparable with most 250 cc motorcycles of the time.

Germany's aviation industry was also dismantled after World War II. [[Heinkel]] stayed in business by making bicycles and motorbikes. The [[Heinkel Tourist]] was a large and relatively heavy touring scooter produced in the 1960s. It provided good weather protection with a full fairing and the front wheel turned under a fixed nose extension. It had effective streamlining, perhaps thanks to its aircraft ancestry. Although it had only a 175 cc 4 stroke motor, it could sustain speeds of {{convert|70|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}. Heinkel scooters were known for their reliability.

[[File:Zündapp Bella R 154 (2008-05-21) Seitenansicht ret.jpg|thumb|Zündapp Bella R 154 from 1958]]
The [[Zündapp]] Bella was the most popular German scooter in the 1960s. It was in production for about ten years, in three engine sizes, 150 cc, 175 cc and 200 cc. They could perform all day at a steady speed of {{convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. Extremely reliable and very well made, many of these scooters still exist today.

In Austria, [[Puch]] made a scooter with a 125cc (later 150cc) two-stroke engine from the late 1950s.

In Britain, [[Douglas (motorcycle)|Douglas]] made the [[Vespa]] under licence from 1950. [[Birmingham Small Arms Company|BSA]]/[[Triumph Engineering Co Ltd|Triumph]] made several models of scooter including the 1957 [[BSA Dandy 70]] and the 1962 [[Triumph Tina]]; and culminating in 1962 with the luxury [[Triumph Tigress]], a luxury scooter with good performance and handling like a motorcycle, drawing on Triumph's long experience of building fast motorcycles. The Tigress was sold with a 175 cc 2-stroke single engine or a 250 cc 4-stroke twin; both had a four-speed gearbox but it was foot-operated, unlike most continental models. The 250 twin sold well and could reach 70 mph (112 km/h) with efficient suspension and good roadholding despite having only 10-inch wheels. The BSA Sunbeam was a [[badge engineering|badge engineered]] version of the Tigress.

Small numbers of the 165 cc [[Harley-Davidson Topper]] scooter were produced from 1960 to 1965 using the engine from [[Harley-Davidson Hummer|their line of light motorcycles]] based on the [[DKW]] [[RT 125]]. It had a [[fiberglass]] body, a [[continuously variable transmission]], and a pull-cord starting mechanism.

[[File:HONDA BEAT 1983.jpg|thumb|1983 [[Honda FC50|Honda Beat]]]]
In the 1980s new versions of scooters began to be released and become popular, especially in Japan and far-[[east Asia]]. This style of scooters began to reflect that of larger, sporty, higher-performance motorcycles of the time and the trend has continued till now. With the release of the [[Honda Ruckus]], new trends towards dirt-bike scooters are just beginning. In 1988, Honda introduced a large, touring scooter design, the 250 cc [[Honda Helix|Helix]] (also called Spazio, Fusion or CN250). Although it was bulky to handle at low speeds and was derisively called a "[[Barcalounger]] on wheels", it was designed for riding long distances in comfort. Now nearly all major scooter manufacturers produce such models, called "maxi", "GT" or "touring" scooters. The largest scooter made is now the 840 cc Gilera GP 800, a 75 CV scooter capable of reaching 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.7 seconds.

[[File:Honda Jazz.jpg|thumb|A modern [[Honda CHF50|Honda Jazz]].]]
The classic styling of the Vespa never lost its popularity, and remains the most popular and most imitated scooter design. Almost all manufacturers now carry both a classic/retro model and a sporty/modern model.
<div style="clear: both"></div>

==Scooter developments==
[[File:Piaggio mp3.jpg|thumb|The [[Piaggio MP3]].]]
Trends around the world have seen new variations on the classic scooter, some with larger engines and tires. High-end scooter models now include comprehensive technological features, including cast aluminum frames, engines with integral counter-balancing, and cross-linked brake systems. Some of these scooters have comfort features such as an alarm, start button, radio, [[windshield]], heated hand grips and full instrumentation (including clock or outside temperature gauge).

In an effort to reduce emissions, there are now [[LPG powered scooters]] that run on [[liquefied petroleum gas]] (LPG) instead of [[gasoline]] or [[diesel]].

===Underbone===
{{main|Underbone}}
[[File:Nouvo 115 2007.jpg|thumb|2007 Yamaha Nouvo 115, a modern underbone]]
[[Image:Honda Bravo.jpg|thumb|[[Honda Bravo]] underbone]]
An underbone is a small motorcycle built on a frame consisting mostly of one large diameter tubular component. The design is based largely on the Honda Super Cub, which shares some features with scooters but not the basic design. The 1958 Super Cub was mostly a conventional motorcycle with its engine fixed to the frame, a pedal-operated transmission in unit with the engine, footpegs, chain drive from the transmission to the swingarm and wheels of conventional size. It differed from a conventional motorcycle by having step-through architecture, a fuel tank under the seat, an engine mounted horizontally forward instead of vertically, a sheet steel enclosure for the drive chain, and non-integral plastic splash guards.<ref name=EncycloMoto85>{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=Hugo|title=The Encyclopedia of the Motorcycle|year=1995|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=London|language=UK English|isbn=0 7513 0206 6|page=85|chapter=The A-Z of Motorcycles}}</ref><ref name=UltiMoto112>{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=Hugo|title=The Ultimate Motorcycle Book|year=1993|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=London|language=UK English|isbn=0 7513 0043 8|page=112|chapter=The World's Motorcycles - Japan}}</ref>

The Super Cub was introduced with a [[semi-automatic transmission]] featuring an automatically operated centrifugal clutch.<ref name=EncycloMoto85 />. This preceded any automatic or semi-automatic transmissions from Vespa or Lambretta, although the Salsbury Moto-Glide featured one in 1936.<ref name=CulturalHistory />. Competition between underbones and scooters led to the addition of [[continuously variable transmission]]s to modern scooters.

Underbones are popular in [[Western Europe]] and are marketed alongside conventional scooters. They are sometimes referred to as scooters,<ref name=ScooterReviewHondaSH125i>[http://www.thescooterreview.com/news/356-2009-honda-sh125i The Scooter Review - 2009 Honda SH125i]</ref> despite the design difference between underbones and conventional scooters.
{{seealso|Honda Super Cub}}

=== Maxi-scooter ===
[[File:Honda Helix.jpg|thumb|[[Honda CN250|Honda CN250 Helix]]]]
A '''maxi-scooter'''<ref name=PopMechX9>[http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/adventures/1278191.html PM.Zone Test: Piaggio X9 Evolution 500 Maxi Scooter]</ref> or ''touring scooter''<ref name=MDCTouringScooters>[http://www.motorcycle.com/specs/touring-scooter.html Motorcycle.com Bike Specs - 2009 Touring Scooter Motorcycles]</ref> is a large scooter, with engines ranging in size from 250 cc ([[Honda CN250]]) up to the latest 839 cc machine (the Gilera GP 800), and using larger frames than the normal sized scooters.

The trend toward maxi-scooters began in 1986 when Honda introduced the [[Honda CN250|CN250]] Helix / Fusion / Spazio. A few years later, Suzuki launched the [[Suzuki Burgman|Burgman]] 650. Honda (600 cc), Piaggio, Yamaha, Aprilia, Kymco (700 cc) and others have also introduced scooters with engine displacements ranging from 400 to 850 cc. Honda's PS250 (also known as Big Ruckus) defies common scooter classification because its step-through is high and it features a motorcycle-like exoskeleton instead of bodywork. {{Fact|date=May 2009}}

The more advanced and expensive maxi-scooters differ have their engines mounted on the frame, as opposed to the swing-arm. This arrangement can improve the handling, by allowing the centre of gravity to be moved forward and by reducing the load on the rear shock absorber(s). A final drive is necessary to connect the clutch assembly to the rear wheel. This trend toward larger, more powerful scooters with fully automatic transmissions is matched by an emerging trend in motorcycle design that foreshadows automatic transmission motorcycles with on-board storage. This is exemplified by the Aprilia NA 850 Mana automatic-transmission motorcycle that provides built-in storage for a full-face helmet.{{Fact|date=May 2009}}

=== Electric scooters ===
{{Unreferencedsection|date=May 2009}}
[[File:Blue sport.jpg|thumb|Eped Sport electric scooter]]
In 1996, [[Peugeot]] launched the Scoot'Elec, the first electric [[moped]]. It is powered by a {{convert|2.8|kW|hp|0|abbr=on}} [[DC motor]] fed by an 18V, 100Ah battery made of 3 Saft [[nickel]]-[[cadmium]] "monoblocs". A lot of body panels and suspension parts come from Peugeot's entry-level gas scooter, the Zenith. However, the frame is different, built around a "double cradle", and holding the batteries low between and behind the driver's feet. Under the seat are the electronic controller, onboard charger and a curly charging cable with a standard plug. The fast on-board charger (1,400 Watt) uses a 230V power supply. The batteries charge from empty to 95% full in two hours, with 3 more hours to equalize.

Other electric road scooters, including the [[Vectrix]], [[e-max]], and the [[eGO (vehicle)|eGO]], are currently offered for sale.<ref>[http://www.e-max-scooter.com/index.php?spr=en e-max ev's Germany Ltd. - High performance electric scooter<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.egovehicles.com Home: eGO Vehicles<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

=== Fuel injection and four-stroke engines ===
{{Unreferencedsection|date=May 2009}}
[[File:Aprilia SR50 Factory.jpg|thumb|Aprilia SR50]]
[[Aprilia]] released the [[Aprilia SR50|SR50]] Ditech with [[gasoline direct injection|direct injection]] in 2001. The SR50 uses one litre of fuel for 50 kilometres of driving (117mpg) and meets the [[Euro 3]] standard with a two-stroke engine. Later on, more brands, including [[Derbi]] and [[Peugeot]], started using direct injection systems for their scooters. Catalytic converters are now common in two-stroke and four-stroke engines sold in the E.U. and the U.S..

Due to new environmental laws, scooters had to change to [[Four-stroke cycle|four-stroke]] engines because most two-stroke engines do not meet the Euro3 standard. This has met with opposition from many scooter riders who favor the two-stroke engine's superior power-to-weight ratio, especially in smaller size ranges.

== Popularity ==
[[File:Zweiradparkplatz in Sorrent.jpg|thumb|Motor scooter parking lot]]
In many parts of the world, such as Asia and Europe, motor scooters are a popular form of [[urban area|urban]] transportation due to their low cost and easy driving position. In fact, in many nations in Asia, scooter sales growth outpaces automobile sales growth. For many people, a motor scooter is the family vehicle until sufficient funds to purchase an automobile are amassed. In crowded cities, scooters can be preferred over automobiles regardless of cost due to parking, storage, and traffic issues.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}

In [[Taiwan]], road infrastructure have been built specifically with two wheelers in mind, with separate lanes and intersection turn boxes. In [[Thailand]], scooters are used for street to door taxi services, as well as for navigating through heavy traffic. Motor scooters are popular because of their size, [[fuel efficiency|fuel-efficiency]], weight, and typically larger storage room than a motorcycle. In many localities, certain road motor scooters are considered by law to be in the same class as mopeds or small motorcycles and therefore they have fewer restrictions than do larger motorcycles.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}

According to the [[Motorcycle Industry Council]], sales of motor scooters in the [[United States]] have more than doubled since 2000. The motorcycle industry as a whole has seen 13 years of consecutive growth. According to council figures, 42,000 scooters were sold in 2000. By 2004, that number increased to 97,000.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9087878/ Is a motor scooter in your future? - Life - MSNBC.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

== Footnotes ==
{{reflist}}

== See also ==
* [[Auto rickshaw]]
* [[Cutdown]]
* [[Electric motorcycles and scooters]]
* [[List of scooter manufacturers]]
* [[List of scooters]]
* [[LPG powered scooters]]
* [[Mod (lifestyle)]]
* [[Monkey bike]]
* [[Moped]]
* [[Scooter rally]]
* [[Scooterboy]]

==External links==
{{commonscat|Scooters}}

* {{dmoz|/Business/Automotive/Motorcycles/Scooters/}}
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[[Category:Motor scooters| ]]
[[Category:Motorcycle classifications]]

[[cs:Skútr]]
[[da:Scooter]]
[[de:Motorroller]]
[[es:Escúter]]
[[fr:Scooter]]
[[hr:Skuter]]
[[it:Scooter (veicolo)]]
[[he:קטנוע]]
[[la:Birotula Automataria]]
[[mk:Скутер]]
[[ml:സ്കൂട്ടര്‍]]
[[ms:Skuter]]
[[nl:Scooter (vervoermiddel)]]
[[ja:スクーター]]
[[no:Scooter]]
[[pl:Skuter]]
[[pt:Motoneta]]
[[ru:Мотороллер]]
[[simple:Scooter]]
[[sk:Skúter]]
[[fi:Skootteri]]
[[sv:Skoter]]
[[th:สกู๊ตเตอร์]]
[[tr:Scooter]]
[[zh:速克達]]

Revision as of 05:57, 31 July 2009

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