Most middle aged Americans can remember the days when they had bicycles with banana seats and high rise handlebars. Streamers emanating from colorful hand grips floated gently in the wind as some ten year old pedaled with ferocity, toward destinations unknown.
Back then every kid may have wondered what it would have been like not to have to pedal, but still ride like the wind. Then there where the skateboarders who seemed to have some trouble on the uphill slopes.
On hot summer days they could be seen gazing upward, imagining a day when they could ride their wheeled boards upward with little effort. Well, their day has come. Today these inventions have been perfected in the form of the gas scooter.
Though power driven bicycles have been around since the turn of the 20th Century, they were never really popular, or affordable to the masses. These contraptions were also not very reliable. The Wright Brothers of flying fame had created some of the first powered bicycles that would later be renamed, mopeds.
Mopeds had enjoyed a massive resurgence in the early 1980s. A few years before teenagers met the qualifying age to drive a car, they could legally obtain a license to ride mopeds on many city streets. However, these motorized bicycles were very slow and sluggish.
Skateboard enthusiasts with a bit of ingenuity strapped tiny two cycle motors to the back of their boards. They could often be heard literally buzzing around the neighborhood at very slow speeds.
Since the turn of the millennium, mopeds have become more or less a thing of the past. Today, the gas scooter has taken a few different forms, but they have come a long way. The gasoline powered scooters of today can come in the more traditional scooter look.
There are stand-up scooters that employ a sophisticated board with inflatable tires and a powerful motor. There are also the sit-down versions that are pretty much the same as the stand-ups, but with a small seat for comfort.
Possibly the most incredible version of gas powered scooters are those that are more reminiscent of a modern, yet sleek street legal motorcycle. These machines are not only attractive to look at; they are fast, powerful, street legal and economical.
The smaller stand-up and sit-down scooters tend to have small 50cc, two stroke engines that use a fuel mixture of oil and gas. Though they are stylish and fun, these scooters are often very slow and noisy.
However, the newer, street legal versions of the modern gas scooter have brought technology and our economy together. These innovative machines have been recognized by many states as an asset to the environment. Therefore, they have made many versions of them legal to ride not only on the city streets, but also on some freeways a well.
The street legal gas powered scooters that have recently been developed, boast 4-stroke engines from 50-250cc sizes. These scooters can ride at speeds nearing 60MPH, making them freeway worthy.
Most have automatic transmissions and ride smoothly on rough road surfaces. They have sleek modern styles with comfortable seats and foot rests. Many offer amenities like a state of the art sound systems.
The newer gas powered scooters that are street legal, are also extremely fuel efficient. Some manufactures boast nearly 80 miles per gallon (MPG). These scooters are also very economical in price as well.
Some high end models may sell for well under $2,000. This is an incredible bargain for such a cutting edge machine that can get the rider where they want to go. The only real downfall of the gas scooter may be that it is a fair-weathered vehicle. Riding scooters is not very practical, fun or safe in bad weather.
In many states, there is also a requirement to earn a license through training and education. These scooters are not just toys anymore. The safety of the rider is always a huge concern.
Gas powered scooters have had a recent rise in popularity. This is mainly due to the rapid innovations in technology and economy. The inexpensive price-tags have also led to an increase in sales of virtually all forms of gasoline powered scooters worldwide.
