Tip of the Week 39

The price of gas is fueling scooter sales

A friend of mine, Jimmy, just this week was hired as a mechanic at a local scooter shop in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Please bear with me for a minute and I'll bring you up to speed on the facts an explain why Jimmy's new job directly affects all of us.

Jimmy and his family had only recently returned to their home and friends in Florida after leaving behind a dead-end job in Vegas.

He had literally sacrificed his longtime job in Seminole, Fl. as a factory trained motor scooter technician for the bright lights of the Vegas Strip and the promise of a better paying job fabricating and servicing electric signs.

His new boss had promised Jimmy "plenty of work and overtime hours" if he moved to the desert. Resembling the carpetbaggers of olden times Jimmy and family rolled onto the Vegas strip at about the same time as the economy was starting to go south.

Fabricating, installing and servicing signs in the desert turned out to be a nightmare. The overtime hours dried up and Jimmy's paycheck shriveled like a potted plant in the desert sun.

Overall, the whole experience was a hard lesson learned. but he and his family are back home and among friends now and thank goodness their lives are headed (be it ever so slowly) in the right direction once again.

What makes Jimmy's new job significant is the fact that he'll be working at a new motor scooter shop in St. Petersburg -- a small business that was nonexistent 6 months ago.

With the average price of gas hovering at $4 a gallon, many cash-strapped motorists are turning to fuel-stingy motor scooters and smaller motorcycles. Cycle dealers across the nation report brisk sales this spring, particularly for those machines that get from 75-120 miles per gallon. And as you would imagine, ninety-five percent of those new owners were motivated to buy because of high gas prices.

Sales of name-brand scooters such as Honda, Yamaha, Vespa and Suzuki rose 24 percent in the first quarter of the year, said Mike Mount, spokesman for the Motorcycle Industry Council trade group -- noting that it's not exactly a hot sales period because of cool weather in much of the nation.

Many lesser-known scooters from China, Taiwan and South Korea also are sold in the U.S., but Mount said those sales figures are not readily available.

"We believe, anecdotally, that fuel prices are definitely having an effect on scooter sales," he said. "It seems likely that that's playing into scooter sales this quarter, as well."

High gas prices are prompting consumers to find alternative means of transportation. Scooters can pay for themselves in fuel savings over one to three years,

The lowest-priced scooters such as the Chinese imports cost about $800, while name-brand bikes cost $2,000 to $3,000 and top-of-the-line models can go for $6,000 to $8,000.

What's really telling is that even people who don't fit the biker mode are buying now. Many of these customers are first time buyers, people who normally wouldn't normally hang at a motorcycle shop. And many of these new riders are people who have no intention of ever moving up to a bigger motorcycle like a Harley-Davidson.

But the boom in sales for smaller scooters isn't transferring through to bigger models. Mount, the trade group spokesman, said sales of small and medium-sized motorcycles rose 7.5 percent in the first quarter, but sales of larger, more-expensive motorcycles were down 11 percent.

Harley-Davidson Chief Executive Jim Ziemer said high gas prices aren't bringing in new customers to their dealerships -- but that fuel costs may help customers rationalize purchases they'd already decided to make.

The Milwaukee-based company is seeing sales erode as its customers pull back on spending amid the struggling overall economy. Sales fell 12.8 percent in the U.S. in the most recent quarter, and the company announced plans last month to cut 8 percent of its work force and trim shipments.

But the fact that many larger motorcycles can get up to 50-60 miles per gallon may be an important factor in those sales this year, Mount said. Sales of biker accessories, apparel and parts also are strong, he added -- another possible indication that more people are driving motorcycles to save on fuel costs.

Considering becoming a scooter to take advantage of great fuel savings, quicker short trips, and easier parking? Well if that sounds like you, allow me to dispel a number of myths about the frugal scooter.

· Riders do face the same dangers as motorcyclists.

· They do need to wear helmets.

· Their clothes won't stay entirely clean in bad weather.

· For the ladies - wearing dresses or skirts isn't practical.

So before running out and buying a bike, let's take a look at some of the pros and cons.

Money-saver?

According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, sales of motor scooters are sky rocking. But will you save money riding a scooter?

Lets say your car gets 20 miles per gallon, and you have a 30-mile roundtrip commute. If you're buying gas at the national average of $4.00, you're spending just over $30 on gas every week (5 days) -- just for commuting. That's an annual fuel cost (50 weeks) of $1,500.

On a $3,000 scooter that gets 60 miles per gallon, you could save more than $1,000 per year.

If you pay $100 per month for car insurance, you'll save an additional $1,000 or so by switching to a scooter.

Factoring in the cost of a helmet and other protective gear, it won't take long to recoup your expenses.

And its savings like this that's motivating many novice scooter riders -- especially those who drive giant trucks and SUV's. They're the ones getting hit the hardest by the current cost of gas. However, most of the people in this category haven't completely given up their trucks and SUV's -- they simply use their scooters for errands and local driving.

Why the focus on scooters rather than motorcycles? There are several reasons:

· Generally, scooters are smaller than motorcycles.

· The rider sits on the bike rather than straddling it.

· Many bikes have automatic transmissions called "twist and gos."

· With manual transmission models, drivers shift by hand instead of using a foot shift.

· Smaller wheels make the bikes more nimble at low speeds.

Lower fuel consumption and insurance rates aren't the only things a potential scooter rider must consider. Other factors can make a scooter commute even more attractive, but also more dangerous.

Just like their bigger brothers, the motorcycle, scooters also contribute to the rapid rise in traffic related injuries and deaths all across the US. Just because they are cheaper, lighter and slower, scooter riders face the same potential risk of serious bodily injury, perhaps more so because the machines are quieter and riders tend to disrespect their potential for injury.

(Back to the benefits of riding scooters.)

Parking perks

Scooters can use HOV lanes, cutting down on commuting time, and parking is easier and cheaper. Did you know that in some cities, like Denver, parking on the sidewalk or at a bike rack is legal for a 50cc scooter?

Dress appropriately and wear Safety gear

I can't stress enough the importance of dressing appropriately and wearing safety gear.

Most modern scooters trace their roots back to postwar Italy. The designers at Vespa and Lambretta wanted a vehicle that was cleaner and more accessible than the motorcycles of the day. So they adopted the step-through designs of the American and British military scooters and added legshields for added protection from water and mud.

In the 1950s, marketers said the step-through design was great for women because it allowed them to ride in skirts or dresses. But there are a number of reasons why this is impractical.

Because it's almost impossible to ride with your knees together on most bikes, a knee-length or shorter skirt will give everyone on the road a free show. Longer and/or looser skirts can catch the wind and possibly billow over the rider's head and that spells crash.

Also, high heels and exposed ankles are just plain dangerous.

For men, shorts and flip-flops are equally bad.

A safer option for everyone is to wear pants and sensible riding shoes, and change at work.

Wear a helmet!

In addition to reducing injuries in the event of a crash, helmets and face protectors can also protect you from stinging rain flying bugs and rocks. If you've ever been hit a bee at 50 mph (I have), you will appreciate the importance of wearing a full face helmet, or at least one with a full face shield.

I always wear a helmet. I have learned (from personal experience) that my head is not harder than the roadway.

Weather -- now you're in it!

70 degrees and sunny -- perfect weather for riding! But what about riding the rest of the time?

Bad weather is unpleasant, and it poses risks. Rain or fog can reduce visibility. Slick roads reduce stopping distance and increase the possibility of falling on turns and at stops. Cold temperatures can reduce a rider's reaction time.

Even in dry conditions, a big fluctuation in temperatures can mean a dip in riding enthusiasm.

Riding in hot weather can cause dehydration, sun and wind burn.

Ice and snow? Forget it!

Hurricanes, Impossible!

Best to keep a car, if you can, as backup.

Bringing home the groceries

Trips to the grocery store require some concessions. Certain things, like an economy-pack of toilet paper, are impossible to carry, but a six-pack of TP will fit just fine in the rear trunk of most scooters. If you have a family to feed, multiple bags of groceries just won't fit on a Vespa. And using your scooter for those weekend shopping trips to Sam's Club, Target or Costco is out of the question.

But for some people, a scooter fits their lifestyle just fine.

Unlike motorcycles, many scooters have built-in storage space under the seat. They also have rear racks, luggage compartments, bag hooks or various other options for more carrying capacity.

Storage capacity is just one important consideration when deciding on the proper bike, and there are many models and options on the market.

Caveat emptor - "Let the buyer beware!"

Until recently, there was a limited variety of scooters from which to choose.. But these days, established brands and those new to the American market have been introducing new models at a record rate. Scooters now have engines that range in size from 50cc to 650cc.

However, not all scooters are created equal. In the past few years, many inexpensive bikes of questionable origin have been showing up on Internet auctions and in auto parts stores around the country. Most of these scooters are not legal for street operation.

Scooters -- much more than practicality

First-time scooter owners most likely became such thinking first of their pocketbook. But like longtime riders, they may develop an attachment to their scooters for other reasons.

No radio, no cell phones, just you and the journey ahead. There's something refreshing about the wind in your face and total focus on the task at hand.

Scootering has been described as the transportation equivalent of the bow tie! It's not generally as well understood as motorcycling -- and people's first reaction will either be a huge thumbs up or utter disdain. But in the end, veteran scooter riders would ride - even if gasoline cost a dollar.

And like the bow tie, a scooter becomes an extension of the rider's personality. Strangers on the street constantly strike up conversations, and other riders feel an instant kinship. Talk to almost any scooter rider and you'll find someone who sees the bikes as more than simply a way to get from point A to point B. Like it's older brother, scootering quickly becomes a way of life.

So, if the price of gas is eating a hole right through your wallet (or purse as the case may be), I would suggest that you give my friend Jimmy a call at Retro Scooters -- 727- 821-1864 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Scooters are cheap, dependable, and fun to ride and there's a good chance that Jimmy can hook you up with the perfect scooter -- one that fits your lifestyle and he can keep it running like a top for you for many years to come.

Besides, the extra business will impress Jimmy's new boss.

Till next week!

P.S.

If you are new to scootering, check out www.scooterbbs.com/ - its an Internet message board that scooter enthusiasts use to exchange advice and share stories.