As gas prices rise, so might the sale of scooters
Published Monday, July 14, 2008
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FAIRBANKS -- Lew Wolf likes the convenience of his two-seat Honda scooter. That’s why the Minnesota resident hitched it to his motor home before traveling to Fairbanks this summer, as he does on other family trips.
An added bonus, he said, is spending less on gas than if he had chosen to haul a car or truck.
“It’s just a lot easier, more economical than dragging a car behind us,” Wolf said Sunday.
With gasoline prices continuing to rise, scooters could become an increasingly popular option for people looking to substitute time with their gas-guzzlers with something more energy efficient.
Doug Chambers said interest in scooters has already spiked in Fairbanks. Chambers, a sales manager at the Farthest North Outpost, which sells Honda scooters, Harley-Davidson bikes and Polaris recreational vehicles, said customers have been buying scooters too fast for the store to keep up.
While the Outpost traditionally has between 15 and 20 scooters in stock or on display at any given time, they’re currently sold out, he said.
And customers are asking him about scooters far more often this year than before gas prices started to jump, Chambers said.
“It’s probably 10 times what it has been in the past,” he said of demand for scooters, which has been strong enough to leave the store waiting for Honda’s factories in North America to produce more. “We basically ran out of them in the first part of May.”
Scooters, small-wheeled, motorcycle look-alikes, have been around for years, and, looking at performance, only somewhat resemble other gasoline-powered or electric vehicles.
The cost for a new scooter can get as low as around $2,000. Their engines are small — 50 cubic centimeters in some models — and some gas-powered scooters top the 100-mile-per-gallon efficiency benchmark.
Chambers said the scooter’s appeal includes the accessories: Drivers looking to run a quick errand can toss a gallon of milk and other odds and ends in the storage space or in optional baskets.
And smaller scooters, which can still get up to around 40 miles per hour, don’t require owners to get a motorcycle license, he said.
Of course, many of the benefits will likely only be seasonal. Like motorcycles but with different frames and engine mounts, they offer drivers little protection from the elements.
Wolf, who said he’s owned scooters on an off for more than 20 years — he currently owns two — wonders whether they’ll be as many on the streets this winter as right now.
“In Fairbanks, where you don’t have fair weather all of the year, it could be a problem,” he said.
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u can't use scooter in winter but u have to drive car or truck in winter time
Still, it might be a good investment for me. I'd have to do the math.
I got one a couple of months ago. About 50 cents round trip to work (10 miles), and a lot of fun. Mine's a 125, so I can go 55 mph if I need to (Johansen for a 1/4 mile).
I'd like to get one but I'm usually carting at least 2 kids around.
I had purchase a Electric scooter for my Daughter,who is working for the summer before school and really get her to work and home and all she needs to do is plug it in the evening.
Wish it was in the budget for summer use, may be a really good investment for next year though.
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