Scooter Mania

SCOOTER GLOSSARY

MSRP:
The MSRP, or manufacture�s suggested retail price, is the rate at which a manufacture recommends to a dealer to sell their products for.

FINAL PRICE:
The price of a bike after a dealer adds on fees. For example, many dealers tack on a shipping and assembly fee to the price of a bike. Sales tax is usually excluded from this estimate.

ORIGIN:
If we stereotyped bikes from different counties it would go a little like this. Taiwan is one of the largest scooter producers and they have a high standard for quality. China is known for their inexpensive, and often unreliable bikes. Italy produces high performance bikes, at an extremely high cost. We've found that mopeds made in India are a good bargain; you get a decent amount of performance for the amount you pay. Mexican bikes are good, but a bit overpriced.

ENGINE TYPE:
Most commonly found in scooters and mopeds are two-stroke engines. They provide good acceleration, are durable, and generally cost less than a four-stroke engine. A four-stroke engine tends to vibrate less than a two-stroke, gets better gas mileage, and lasts longer. However, you will compromise your speed by a couple miles per hour if you go with a four-stroke rather than a two-stroke.

WEIGHT:
A lighter bike is easier to control than a heavier one. Heavier bikes are usually larger bikes, which means that it will probably be more comfortable for two-seater.

AVERAGE TOP SPEED:
The term "average top speed" can be misleading. Even though two bikes have the same size engines it doesn't mean they will go the same speed. The type of transmission, bike weight, and the weight of passengers have a large influence on speed. When comparing the top speed of two bikes you should keep in mind potential top speed.

COOLING SYSTEM:
Most scooters and mopeds have an air-cooled engine. Even though a liquid-cooled engine is better, the air-cooled one works extremely well with smaller engines (49cc). Liquid cooled engines are often found on larger bikes (250cc).

DISPLACEMENT:
The displacement of a bike will tell you how large the engine cylinder is. For example, a 49cc engine has a piston inside its cylinder that displaces 49 cubic centimeters of fuel for every stroke it takes. The larger the displacement, the bigger the engine, the faster you go.

TRANSMISSION:
Smaller scooters and mopeds might have a single-speed transmission, which means it only has one gear. These bikes are only capable of going about 30 mph. A two speed automatic transmission will let you go a little faster. The CVT, or Continuously Variable Transmission, is always in gear and you never feel it shift. It gives you the best performance available. Keep in mind while shopping around that almost every scooter is automatic. Only a handful of scooters (which try to look like motorcycles) use a manual transmission.

TIRE SIZE:
Larger tires will give you increased stability, top speed, and ride comfort over smaller ones. Smaller tires will usually offer you better acceleration and control (because of width).

RIM:
Steel rims are a cheaper alternative to aluminum ones. However, they usually don�t last as long or look as good because they are prone to rust and the paint chipping.

BRAKES:
Most commonly found on mopeds and scooters are drum brakes. Their upgrades are disc brakes, which provide superior stopping power. A good combination between the two is a drum brake in the rear and a disc brake in the front. Make sure the disc brake is hydraulic (similar to power brakes on a car).

WARRANTY:
In this category you get what you pay for. In general, lower end bikes come with a three month warranty. A medium to high quality bike will usually give you a six month warranty. Bikes with a superior quality have a one year warranty. If we could give you one piece of advice when picking out a scooter it would be this: judge a bike by its warranty.

Source : http://www.gekgo.com

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