Best Gas Scooters For Adults (Review & Buying Guide)

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Kara Snow

Getting around a city can be a pain. Trains and buses can be late. Taxis can be stuck in traffic. And it&#;s expensive to own a car when you&#;re downtown. Add in the price of gas and there&#;s no shortage of downsides. But a gas scooter can make it a breeze to get anywhere and everywhere in town. 

A gas scooter is cheap, reliable, and can maneuver around a city in ways a car cannot. They&#;re also frugal on gas and still can hold your groceries. But with the plethora of available units on the market, where do you start? 

Right here, with The Drive&#;s editors leading you to the gas scooter promised land. 

Summary List

Our Methodology

My thought behind building out this list was to offer the best suggestions that range in price and quality. Obviously, I put quality over price, which is why there&#;s a Honda at the top. I also used my two decades of experience riding motorcycles in nearly every state in the Union to inform my picks, too. 

Best Gas Scooters for Adults Reviews & Recommendations

Best Overall

Honda Ruckus

Best Value

X-PRO 150cc Moped

Best Traditional Scooter

MotoTec Uberscoot

Best Premium

Suzuki Burgman 200

Honorable Mention

Tao Tao ATM-50

Our Verdict

There&#;s no beating Honda. Seriously, stop trying to. The OEM makes everything from scooters to supercars and everything in between. As such, between the warranty, the reviews, and the engineering, you&#;d be hard-pressed to find a better scooter on the market that can do it all. If you want to save some coin, however, pick up an X-Pro 150cc Moped and be happy. 

Things to Consider Before Buying a Gas Scooter

There are a few things you should be aware of before throwing your hard-earned money down for a gas scooter. Let&#;s get into it. 

Gas Scooter Engine Sizes

50cc

A 50cc street-legal scooter will reach a maximum speed of 35 miles per hour with a fuel capacity up to one gallon. You ride the vehicle in an upright position and it typically has an electric- or kick-start operation system. As a standard, the scooter will have a net weight of 185 pounds and typically hold up to 220 pounds.

150cc

From a 150cc scooter, expect speeds up to 60 miles per hour and a fuel capacity of around 1.75 gallons. It&#;ll typically have a storage seat underneath, since the scooter is designed for high-speed roads and can travel long distances on one tank of fuel. These scooters also have a spring-loaded seat and shock-absorbing forks on the front and rear.

250cc

A 250cc scooter can travel up to 70 miles per hour without straining. They have a fuel capacity of 2.2 gallons. The scooter will have front and rear disc brakes to ensure you can safely stop in an emergency. It&#;ll typically have a weight capacity up to 400 pounds, plus a front suspension system to absorb any impact from uneven roads, such as off-road zones.

Key Features

Safety

Safety should be your main concern, and your chosen gas scooter should come with reliable, high-quality safety features. Invest in a scooter with front and rear brakes that work reliably. The handlebars should be adjustable to provide a comfortable and safe grip, and the scooter should have a durable construction that prevents damage in the event of a collision. 

Height

Consider your height compared to your preferred scooter. If you&#;re short, a large scooter will be difficult to ride, and it&#;ll be a challenge to stand up and place your feet on the ground at the end of a journey. Instead, opt for a smaller scooter. You&#;ll want to choose a size and width that you can comfortably ride, based on your height.

Gas Scooter Pricing

Gas scooters meant for adults aren&#;t cheap. Look to spend anywhere between $200 for a standup scooter and $5,500 for a proper ride-on scooter built by one of the bigger manufacturers like Honda or Suzuki. 

FAQs

You&#;ve got questions. The Drive has answers.

Q: What factors affect my scooter&#;s fuel consumption?

A: Carry as little equipment as possible so that your gas scooter doesn&#;t have to work hard to carry the additional weight. If it&#;s windy outside, it will use more fuel than if the weather is calm. Also, avoid riding off-road, as rough terrain requires more fuel.

Q: Should I buy a used gas scooter?

A: If you&#;re searching for a gas scooter that you&#;ll ride for fun rather than daily use, a used one will suffice. This is also a great option if you have a small budget or want to be more environmentally friendly. But before you rush to the first used one you find, check reviews and research the warranty that comes with the purchase.

Q: What are the benefits of owning a scooter rather than a car?

A: A scooter is much cheaper to purchase and run. It&#;s also more environmentally friendly, since it releases fewer emissions. It&#;s much easier to find a parking space for a scooter, since it&#;s smaller.

When it comes to replacing or repairing motorcycle parts, bike owners have the choice of taking their vehicle to the dealer&#;s auto shop or an independent shop. Many motorcycle owners prefer working on their bike in their own garage. The choice of where you take your bike for repairs really boils down to the type of part you want.

If you take your motorcycle to the dealership for repairs, you will get OEM parts. And if you take your bike to an independent shop, you will most likely get aftermarket motorcycle parts. What is the difference? In this buying guide, we will discuss OEM vs aftermarket parts and talk about the pros and cons of each.

Are you interested in learning more about OEM moped cost? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

Additional reading:
4 Tips to Select the Perfect 8.5x

What Are OEM Parts?

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. They are motorcycle parts and accessories made by the original motorcycle manufacturer, such as Honda, Yamaha, Harley Davidson, Ducati, and so on. Therefore, OEM motorcycle parts are brand new and original.

The Pros of OEM Motorcycle Parts

Peace of mind &#; For some, only using original parts is the key to keeping their motorcycle running smoothly. They even believe buying used motorcycle parts is better, as long as they are OEM. 

If you&#;re happy with your motorcycle and trust the brand, taking your bike to the dealership for repairs for OEM parts can give you confidence. You don&#;t need to worry about performance or whether the part you are replacing will work. Because the dealership will simply replace the damaged or worn-out part with a brand new one made by the same manufacturer, you&#;re assured the same level of quality.

Backed with warranty &#; OEM parts typically come with a warranty, which explains why some buyers are willing to pay the extra cost. OEM manufacturers stand by their products, as well as their labor, and they guarantee that if the part doesn&#;t work within the warranty period, you can easily contact customer care and they will replace or repair it. But just like with a car warranty that dictates you are only covered as long as you use OEM car parts, using a non-OEM part as a replacement part for your motorcycle may void its warranty. 

No need to assess compatibility &#; One of the biggest issues when it comes to buying parts and accessories for your bike is compatibility. Because the dealership will use the same part on your bike, there&#;s no reason to question whether the part will fit.

The Cons of OEM Motorcycle Parts

Costs more &#; OEM parts are typically more expensive than aftermarket parts. Market research shows that OEM parts can cost as much as 60% more than aftermarket parts. However, the difference in price tag has more to do with the brand than quality. For example, OEM parts and aftermarket parts may be made by the same manufacturer; but once the OEM parts bear the brand of the dealership, it suddenly comes with a higher price. For some, knowing that a part carries the dealership&#;s brand gives the bike more value.

Limited availability &#; Even if you know how to fix your own bike, choosing OEM parts typically means you would still have to go to the dealership to buy the part. There&#;s also the option of buying the parts online; however, those sellers are likely getting them from the dealership as well. This means you&#;re probably paying more because they will charge you for their services and shipping. If you were to go to an independent shop and request OEM parts, the mechanic will likely order from the dealership, which may mean it will take longer for your bike to be repaired, since you need to wait for the part to be delivered.

Not always better quality &#; If you think that OEM parts are always superior because they were made by the bike&#;s manufacturer, you would be wrong. Even the best brands have had issues with quality. In some cases, aftermarket parts are just as good as the original, or they may even be better than OEM parts. This is because aftermarket manufacturers reverse-engineer the part. And when they make the part, they may improve on its weaknesses and build a product that is better in quality than the original.

What Are Aftermarket Parts?

Aftermarket motorcycle parts are made by third party manufacturers that are not connected with the motorcycle brand. While they are not associated or authorized by the original brand to make parts for their bikes, there is nothing illegal about aftermarket parts. Aftermarket manufacturers don&#;t market motorcycle parts and accessories using the original part&#;s branding. The only time there will be legal problems is if the aftermarket part marketed itself as a product from the original motorcycle manufacturer.

The Pros of Aftermarket Motorcycle Parts

Better Availability &#; One of the most obvious aftermarket parts pros is availability. Aftermarket brands are generally easier to come by. There are many sellers that carry them at their physical stores. You can probably walk into any independent motorcycle shop, and they will carry an aftermarket part you need. You can also easily purchase them online.

Potentially better quality &#; Because the goal of some aftermarket replacement parts manufacturers is to make improvements on the original&#;s design, the quality of aftermarket parts can often be superior compared to the OEM version. High quality aftermarket parts may be made with better material, making them more durable, higher-performing, and longer-lasting than OEM products. 

Less expensive &#; Not all aftermarket parts are created equal. Prices will vary by brand. However, aftermarket parts are generally cheaper than OEM because they don&#;t carry the brand name. Some would say aftermarket brands offer a balance between cost and quality. 

Wider Variety &#; Aftermarket parts manufacturers don&#;t just improve on the original design; they may even produce the part in different materials and colors. Because of the wider selection that the aftermarket market offers, bike owners who customize their vehicles tend to prefer aftermarket parts. For example, Harley Davidson may only offer a certain motorcycle accessory in black, while an aftermarket manufacturer may offer it in a wide range of colors. 

The Cons of Aftermarket Motorcycle Parts

Warranty Issues &#; Unlike OEM, many aftermarket motorcycle parts are sold without warranty. If you want a warranty, you may have to pay a higher price or an additional fee. Without a warranty, you may need to turn to a separate insurance company to ensure you are covered. 

Potential Quality Issues &#; We mentioned that some aftermarket manufacturers produce their own version of a part but improve on the flaws of the original. However, this is not always the case. Some aftermarket parts may make cheap replicas of the original. Therefore, it&#;s key to purchase from an aftermarket manufacturer that you trust.

Compatibility Problems &#; Fitment data is a crucial aspect in the buying and selling of motorcycle parts. Fitment or compatibility refers to vehicle type and make/model/year.

The motorcycle parts marketplace is not much different than the automotive industry. There are also aftermarket car parts and OEM car parts. When you need your car or motorcycle repaired, you need to ensure the part you&#;ve purchased to replace the damaged part is compatible. 

One of the biggest concerns of bike owners purchasing aftermarket motorcycle parts online is knowing for sure whether the part will fit their vehicle. This isn&#;t an issue when aftermarket parts manufacturers are specific about fitment data. Fitment data is rarely an issue when it comes to reliable aftermarket parts manufacturers.

Conclusion

Whether it&#;s an electrical component or a brake pad, when it comes to aftermarket vs OEM, it all boils down to preference. Each comes with its own compelling set of pros and cons. Because they vary in price and quality, it would be wise to compare and consider the advantages and disadvantages before purchasing. 

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