Do you drive your scooter to work?

supermach · Post by **supermach** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 12:43 am

I'm not asking this to talk something big i'm this asking this because my scooter I drive them like cars meaning everywere and every motorcycle or scooter I see has no miles on them it's like most people only drive them on nice days and that's it. So is there anyone else out there that drive there scooter alout and if so how meany miles did you put on one before it went?

michelle_7728 · Post by **michelle_7728** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 1:24 am

Quite a few people on the forum got rid of their cars and just have their scooter for transportation.

While I didn't get rid of my car, I do ride every day that's not raining, snowing and is over 37 degrees when I leave for work. I don't mind riding home in the rain, but don't want to have to store wet gear at work during the day. I've put over 10,000 miles on my various scooters in the last 3 years, but again, there are some on here that do that much in a year.

I know what you mean though...I bought a 2 year old 2008 Buddy 125 with just 80 miles on it and a 3-year old 2007 MP3 250 with just 800 miles on it. I sold that particular Buddy a year or so later with 2,500 miles on it, and the MP3 250 now has over 4,000 miles on it. My 2009 Buddy had 4,800 miles on it now. So many of us do ride other than just nice days in the summer.

bluebuddygirl · Post by **bluebuddygirl** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 1:29 am

I ride when the weather permits, or more important when I am not hauling more than I can carry on the scooter, which unfortunately I often haul more than I can carry on the scooter ( I teach ceramics and carry clay and supplies in my truck quite often).

But I ride until it is too cold, and I rode my scooter to work the second day I owned it.

supermach · Post by **supermach** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 1:33 am

michelle_7728 wrote:Quite a few people on the forum got rid of their cars and just have their scooter for transportation.

While I didn't get rid of my car, I do ride every day that's not raining, snowing and is over 37 degrees when I leave for work. I don't mind riding home in the rain, but don't want to have to store wet gear at work during the day. I've put over 10,000 miles on my various scooters in the last 3 years, but again, there are some on here that do that much in a year.

I know what you mean though...I bought a 2 year old 2008 Buddy 125 with just 80 miles on it and a 3-year old 2007 MP3 250 with just 800 miles on it. I sold that particular Buddy a year or so later with 2,500 miles on it, and the MP3 250 now has over 4,000 miles on it. My 2009 Buddy had 4,800 miles on it now. So many of us do ride other than just nice days in the summer.

I would get rid of my car but the thing is my mom is scaryed because my dad had 5 street bikes back in the day and he got in a crash once REALLY BAD and when he got better he sold everyone he had. So now that I drive a scooter she thinks the same thing would happend to me. If it wasn't for that I would drive it everyday. But the winter is when I put the most miles on my scooter because there are not meany people out but the lowest I go to is 25 degrees... What I don't mind but it takes me about 10 mins tell I can talk again

.

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 1:34 am

I've been fortunate to be able to ride to work almost every day this summer, after a particularly wet springtime. I have a couple of cars to use if it's raining in the AM, and got some drizzle only a couple of days heading home. It poured like crazy during work once or twice, but i keep a trash bag in the carrier to wrap around the seat if it's threating.

Stormswift · Post by **Stormswift** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 2:02 am

I do when weather is nice. Without garage at home it is a big production for me, to unlock the bike and get it out to the street.

Post by **ericalm** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 2:20 am

I ride most of the time. I was scooter-only for 2 years but my wife had a car.

We work about a mile from each other now so often carpool when we can.

GrFa · Post by **GrFa** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 2:21 am

Stormswift wrote:I do when weather is nice. Without garage at home it is a big production for me, to unlock the bike and get it out to the street.

This is the biggest reason mine doesn't see more daily duty as well, its parked in front of two cars, covered, chained to a fire escape. Its kind of a hassle to get in "unpacked" in the mornings. If it is going to be a nice day I make the extra effort. However when my car broke down I rode it almost daily for two weeks for an 18 mile one way commute. I'll be riding to work tomorrow too!

Uncle Groucho · Post by **Uncle Groucho** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 2:51 am

I work about six miles from home; that was the lynchpin in convincing my wife that a scooter was viable. If Atlanta had decent mass transit and my office moved, I'd still find a way to use my scooter.

My wife works close to home too, so we can carpool once the weather gets bad, but I'll hopefully get 11 months out of the year to commute.

Considering how little time I spend on the roads M-F, anything more expensive than a scooter would be a terrible waste...

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 3:04 am

ericalm wrote:We work about a mile from each other now so often carpool when we can.

Scootpool?

peabody99 · Post by **peabody99** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 3:11 am

my spouse and I went "car light" in 2006 when we sold one of 2 cars and got a scooter (a second a month later....and then a third

). Despite living in a climate that was scooter unfriendly for several months, we did just fine (with some car-pooling, long walks and public transportation to assist)

We both commuted and rode for recreation when we lived in the midwest, but were curtailed by snow and ice (but not bitter cold!). now we live in S.Cal and not much grounds us. We still have one car and 3 scoots. Our car is 9 years old and has low miles.

Neither of us minds riding in the rain. If you did not ride in the rain in Cleveland, you were not riding very much so we both got very experienced.

However here, people lose their *&^%*$# minds when it rains and can't seem to drive, hence we are at risk. Not long ago, it was raining and we were in the car discussing this and got rear ended by some ditz who actually said she "can't drive when it rains" It was like a sign we needed to think carefully about rain riding.

RobY · Post by **RobY** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 3:14 am

I just got my scooter a few weeks ago, but have been riding it any day it wasn't raining since. The lowest temp so far was 46 and it was fine so the jury is out on how long into winter I will ride.

My choice is to take the scoot or the family minivan - I'll choose the scoot every time unless it's a safety issue. Then again the novelty hasn't worn off yet.

-Rob

beastmaster · Post by **beastmaster** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 3:37 am

when i have to wake up at 530 to go to work i take the car, im just to sleepy, most other times i scoot

pdxrita · Post by **pdxrita** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 3:42 am

I've been almost exclusively scooter commuting for about 2.5 years now. I ride unless there is frozen stuff on the ground or falling from the sky. It rains a lot here in Portland, so if I didn't ride in the rain, I'd be one of those couple-hundred-miles-a-year riders. I do still have a car and I do use it anytime I have the kid along and any time I need to haul much stuff, like full grocery trips. If it was just me, I could probably do my shopping on the scooter just fine. I've got almost 8,000 miles on mine; 7,000 are my riding. It had 1,000 when I bought it.

Post by **Lostmycage** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 4:10 am

I'm pretty much a utilitarian rider. I ride to work just about everyday, but I don't do a lot of aimless riding so my mileage stays low. My truck only gets used when the weather is nasty or I have to carry something that would be unsafe to on the bikes.

pcbikedude · Post by **pcbikedude** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 4:30 am

I work 6 miles away. I scoot 95% of the time. Winters are mild in comparison to the rest of the country. I live 16 miles away from the beach so we get cold (frost) but rarely have a hard freeze.

Most SoCalifornians can't drive in the rain (they either drive too fast or too slow). It's safer to take the truck to work on the rainy days.

Witch · Post by **Witch** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 4:36 am

Never owned a car. Ever. Only scoots! So I've put quite a few miles on a few. Put 16k on a kitted 50 in 3 years before I crashed it pretty badly. I've only got 11k on my 3 year old Vespa, but I'm working on it.

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 5:11 am

I mostly quit driving when I got my first scoot in '06. Since then I've put about 22k miles on various scoots in that time, and my truck has gotten maybe half that. But I live in PHX, so finding riding weather is pretty easy.

MB member BoneGirl has probably 60k on her two Buddys (combined) by now, and she lives in the midwest, so riding in four seasons is definitely possible.

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 5:11 am

My car died the day Hurricane Irene hit my city (had nothing to do with the storm, though). Instead of dumping money into a dying car to repair it and wait for something else (it had 150k on it), I figured I'd better finance myself something else. At this point I'd been dating this weird guy who rides a scooter all the time

for about 3 months... so instead of financing 4 grand on a used car that would be just as much of a gamble and could put me in the same kind of situation a year later....

I took the plunge, got my M-class and my 170i.

I picked it up from the shop on the 16th of September- not even a month, and I've put about 700 miles on it. I have a 30 mile round trip commute to work 5 days a week, and that's the bare minimum of my travels.

KABarash · Post by **KABarash** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 6:08 am

Well this year, since about April, 4000miles on the scoot, 400 miles on the car.......
I'll see how much longer I can go, as long as there's no snow and/or ice on the roads.

TamSmith · Post by **TamSmith** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 7:03 am

I don't have my scoot yet but after I pay for school (a few more months) I'll be scrapping my car and getting my buddy. I'll be driving it every day to work and all around. At this point I know I will actually be safer on a scooter than in my car. I swear it's going to explode on me any day now haha

JHScoot · Post by **JHScoot** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 7:08 am

its probably been said but i like riding it instead

inspyre5 · Post by **inspyre5** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 7:19 am

I got my scoot in July and have been riding to work everyday (around 13 miles one way) except when it rains. LA drivers are normally crazy... add a little rain and they become psychotic

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 12:00 pm

My Buddy 50 is my primary vehicle. The only time I use the car is when I have something big to transport, occasional day trips across state, and when the weather is just too lousy (heavy rain or snow on the roads). I've put 12K on the scoot in 2.5 years, most of that from everyday use and about 4K of it from road trips.

smithrw · Post by **smithrw** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 12:23 pm

I'm retired and ride to work at the golf course 3 days a week. Other than that I don't ride or drive very much.

Howardr · Post by **Howardr** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 2:34 pm

I've got about a 35 mile/day commute and ride 99% of the time. I put approx 10k miles/year on my scoots.

Howard

trukntommy · Post by **trukntommy** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 3:12 pm

I sold the car when I got the Buddy, so it's all I've got. Commute 16 miles one-way to work everyday. Easy to do all year here in Phoenix.

Stilts · Post by **Stilts** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 3:38 pm

I've got about a daily 6 mile one-way commute and I ride my Buddy50 daily so long as it's not pouring out. Then I'll just take the bus, something I used to not mind doing so much but now that I've tasted freedom, the junkies on the 23/40 heading downtown just don't seem so entertaining anymore.

I've put over 1200 miles on the sucker since June and am looking forward to seeing how long I can last come winter.

ravenlore · Post by **ravenlore** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 3:39 pm

I've had my permit Since Sept 15 and my scooter since Sept 17. Last week I felt ready to start riding to work. it's maybe three miles. I plan on riding to work from now on until snow starts coming down.

UNLESS we have 40-50 MPH wind gusts like this past Friday. I'm not ready for that. I don't think.

SuperFlyBuddy · Post by **SuperFlyBuddy** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 5:42 pm

I ride to work. That's the main reason I got a scooter. With less than three miles one way any type of vehicle I own gets crappy gas mileage because it never gets warmed up. My current winter cage gets 15 MPG and my Buddy gets 85. I ride as long as it's not raining, not freezing in the morning and the high is supposed to be in the 50's. So compared to a lot of you on here I'm a fair weather rider.

But after reading some of the stories people post about things that have happened to them riding in big cities I would probably ride even less if I lived in a bigger city over fear for my safety! I can't believe the stories of people intentionally trying to run you guys off the road. Bad drivers are everywhere but it's the ones that literally go after you that are the truly scary ones.

dshanson · Post by **dshanson** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 7:07 pm

i sold my car a little more than a month ago now.....ive had my buddy since aug 23....and already 1830 miles on it....so if i keep riding it that much....ill have about 14211 miles by august next year

2wheelNsanity · Post by **2wheelNsanity** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 9:27 pm

I'm new to scooting. I bought my 170i 3 weeks ago and have 500 miles on it. The wife and I were having a horrible time finding a good car for my kid under $4,000 to commute to college in. So we bought me a scoot and gave the kid my car for the next 4 years. I plan on using my Buddy as my primary means of transportation, especially when I get my trunk and saddle bags. My only problem was driving to the golf course with my clubs strapped to my back, the wind above 35mph made it really difficult to control the scooter, so I'll use the car for that. No compliants so far I'm slowly getting used to going fast (above 45mph) but that should come with time behind the handlebars. Happy Scoot'n All ;~).

MYSCTR · Post by **MYSCTR** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 11:31 pm

Both my wife and I ride to work. She averages 4500 miles a year on a scooter with a few more miles on days she needs to haul things, or it is really raining or colder than 38 degrees. last year I rode double that yet this year only about half that distance (so far).

We use the scooters for primary transportation any time we can.

iMoses · Post by **iMoses** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 11:54 pm

I split my riding between both of my scoots. I try to ride everyday possible (no rain, no snow, no ice and not under 38 degrees). I have a 24 mile round trip. The longer I own my scoots the more I ride them daily. 8.700+ on the 07 Buddy and 11,600+ on my 09 HD-200.

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 1:26 am

For nearly 5 years I was motorbike only, and while not everything was perfect, it was a perfect way to commute

. The reason I ended up getting a P200 was that I wanted the most durable vintage scooter possible, but at the same time wanted the best I could get since I don't plan on selling this bike for a VERY long time. It was down to the Stella or the Vespa, and honestly the Stella may of been slightly better for commuting with the electric start and front disc, but for ease of repair nothing beats the P200.

And, once I can ditch the crappy 'day job' and get back to work in my field I can ride every day since the wife just got her Tracker. Right now I only ride to school and back (22 miles each way) 3 days a week since I need the car for the current paying job.

robby · Post by **robby** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 1:58 am

supermach wrote:I'm not asking this to talk something big i'm this asking this because my scooter I drive them like cars meaning everywere and every motorcycle or scooter I see has no miles on them it's like most people only drive them on nice days and that's it. So is there anyone else out there that drive there scooter alout and if so how meany miles did you put on one before it went?

I ride my RH 50 to work every day, rain (or snow or sleet) or shine. Just shy of 4k miles and still going strong.

synaps3 · Post by **synaps3** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 1:59 am

I commute every day on my PCX. I've put on over 3000 miles on it since April. I haven't driven my car in two months. I want to sell the car (especially since we now have 2 scooters), but the wife says no.

pugbuddy · Post by **pugbuddy** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 2:00 am

I ride to work every day, weather allowing. I'll usually ride until it hits the 20s or there is ice on the roadways. I rarely use my RAV4 unless it is the dead of winter and there is snow all over.

Ressikan · Post by **Ressikan** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:38 am

I ride to work whenever the weather allows, even, in fact, when some of the Harley riders don't.

jasondavis48108 · Post by **jasondavis48108** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:56 am

beastmaster wrote:when i have to wake up at 530 to go to work i take the car, im just to sleepy, most other times i scoot

I do the same thing but I have to say that it's frightening to think that when we are "too sleepy" to operate a 230lb scooter that we have no issues with operating a 2k lb car. Watch out world

Hwarang · Post by **Hwarang** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 2:19 pm

It's it's at all nice, I ride my Buddy or my Triumph.

Mulliganal · Post by **Mulliganal** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 3:10 pm

Hwarang wrote:It's it's at all nice, I ride my Buddy or my Triumph.

How do you like that T100? I've wanted one of those for some time; I like that classic old style.

As for the OP, I ride my Specialized Tarmac downtown since I can bring it into my office, but I don't feel comfortable bringing my Stella downtown since there are just way too many homeless around looking for stuff to mess with.

black sunshine · Post by **black sunshine** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 4:56 pm

Ressikan wrote:I ride to work whenever the weather allows, even, in fact, when some of the Harley riders don't.

me too . . . i think it's funny that once the weather warms up, i see all these motorcycles in the garage when i've been riding to work YEAR ROUND. i'll actually be doing it even MORE often once i get my rain suit and boot covers

Hwarang · Post by **Hwarang** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 6:20 pm

Mulliganal wrote:
Hwarang wrote:It's it's at all nice, I ride my Buddy or my Triumph.
How do you like that T100? I've wanted one of those for some time; I like that classic old style.

Love at first bike, man! It is a thing of beauty. If the Buddy weren't paid off, I'd probably sell it too. But, it's a nice city scoot, and great for commuting on the cheap.

Coffeejunkie · Post by **Coffeejunkie** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:41 pm

I scoot to work the better half of the year, and I only reserve taking my car if weather conditions are really bad, or I have to haul more than my scoot/ body can carry.

A lot of people at my work own bikes, and I would say most of them just ride when the weather is picture perfect. There are however a handful of us that endure throughout the year. Resisting the urge to take the car because the tires are melting to the pavement or turning into chunks of ice. Occasionally when I pull into work during the dead of winter I will bump into one of my fellow scooty brethren, and we will give each other a nod of acknowledgment. Of course by that point that is all we can do because the cold has frozen our faces solid.

I remember last winter, I tried to start up my scoot, but it was too cold to get her going. I surrendered and took my car, but felt guilty for the rest of the day.

AWinn6889 · Post by **AWinn6889** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 11:56 pm

I ride to work every chance I get, weather permitting. I try to stay away from any/every type of precipitation.
Also, I have to put a sign on my scooter if I don't have/can't fit the cover on it. Today's sign says:
"I'm glad you think my scooter is cool,
BUT PLEASE LOOK WITH YOUR EYES,
NOT WITH YOUR HANDS!
I have watched too many people
manhandle my bike in this parking lot.
(hint: I can see you!)
If you have a question please come in
to Ta-Da! and ask! I promise I won't bite you!
If you are too shy, or busy, or whatever,
and want to know more, there is more info
on the back of this sign...

...it's okay if you touch the sign

"

The back has the make, model, year, engine info, mpg, mph, and a little bit of info on where you can find one around here if you are interested in buying.
Surprisingly enough, a lot of people have stopped to take a look, and many have taken pictures of my scoot, and my sign with their cell phones (the information side). I have had a couple people stop in and ask about it, some just read the sign, turn around and wave to me.

siobhan · Post by **siobhan** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 12:09 am

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 12:13 am

AWinn6889 wrote:I ride to work every chance I get, weather permitting. I try to stay away from any/every type of precipitation.
Also, I have to put a sign on my scooter if I don't have/can't fit the cover on it. Today's sign says:
"I'm glad you think my scooter is cool,
BUT PLEASE LOOK WITH YOUR EYES,
NOT WITH YOUR HANDS!
I have watched too many people
manhandle my bike in this parking lot.
(hint: I can see you!)
If you have a question please come in
to Ta-Da! and ask! I promise I won't bite you!
If you are too shy, or busy, or whatever,
and want to know more, there is more info
on the back of this sign...

...it's okay if you touch the sign "

The back has the make, model, year, engine info, mpg, mph, and a little bit of info on where you can find one around here if you are interested in buying.
Surprisingly enough, a lot of people have stopped to take a look, and many have taken pictures of my scoot, and my sign with their cell phones (the information side). I have had a couple people stop in and ask about it, some just read the sign, turn around and wave to me.

Got pics of this?

goddessofmath · Post by **goddessofmath** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 12:56 am

The sign mentioned above is hilarious!

To the OP: I've quickly become fairly scooter-only. I drive my car only when it's pouring rain. We'll see how I do when it gets a lot colder. I figured the more I ride, the better I get, so I don't let myself have the excuse of "I don't feel like I can drive there well."

Post by **jmazza** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 1:13 am

We are a 4+2 wheel family. My wife and I split scooter time fairly evenly with me probably riding it more. I took a couple month break while healing up from a crash and today had a longer ride that included two flash sun showers. I was thinking how much I love riding even when that kind of stuff happens.

It's been great to ride year round and I've been buying cold-weather gear in the hopes I'll be strong enough to deal with riding most of the year in Colorado.

Modern Buddy

Do you drive your scooter to work?

Do you drive your scooter to work?

Re: Do you drive your scooter to work?