Stay Upright - Playing it safe on a scooter
Scooters stand out from the motorcycle crowd with their one piece chassis, step thru frame and, of course, floorboards. With an automatic clutch, they're easy to ride, while most have storage compartments, shopping bag hooks and snappy colours - what more could you want?
While you're having all this fun, it can be easy to overlook some basic safety issues relating to the safe use of a scooter. Before you even buy a scooter, think carefully about where you'll be doing most of your riding, as this should a key factor in your purchasing decision. Be sure to check the laws in your State regarding licensing, too, as only a few Australian states allow you to ride a 50cc scooter (and only a 50cc) without a motorcycle licence. Prospective scooter riders should give particular thought to the engine size of the machine they choose. Starting at 50cc, engine capacity extends right through to the 'maxi' scooters at 650cc. If you intend to ride in the city or suburbs without ever venturing onto the freeway, the smaller capacity machines are fine and have no difficulty keeping up with traffic. However, riding the freeway or highway can be difficult and sometimes risky, as keeping up with traffic can be a struggle on a small capacity scooter. Windy conditions and hills exacerbate this. Other road users can become frustrated if they are stuck behind a struggling scooter on a single lane road, which can then create the potential for risky overtaking manoeuvres. Add a pillion and the extra weight will have a small scooter working even harder, whereas the maxi scooters have plenty of power for both a pillion and highway riding.
Scooter controls are simple, with a hand-operated throttle grip and front brake on the right handlebar. The rear brake lever is located on the left handlebar, which sometimes can take a little getting used to, especially for those who've done a lot of riding on regual 'manual' motorcycles. The clutch is automatic on most scooters (the 'CVT' you see in a lot of scooter spec sheets refers to continuously variable transmission) and speed is determined by the throttle setting without the need for gear changing. Smaller wheel diameters are a characteristic of scooters which, on the plus side, results in very quick steering response. On the down side, smaller wheels are more subject to changes in the road surface, which can affect the handling - particularly rough bumpy roads, tram tracks (Melbourne scooter riders will know what I'm talking about!) and seams in the bitumen. Avoiding potholes is also a good plan!
No matter what style or size scooter you choose, regularly practice your braking skills so that the application is smooth and progressive. This is always important, but even moreso on wet or loose surfaces. Wearing a safety vest over your protective gear is a good idea, as it will make you more conspicuous, especially if you're on a smaller scooter that may not be as visible as a bigger bike. Irrespective of what scooter you choose and where you ride it, a training course on your scooter will always be a good investment.
Until next time have fun and Stay Upright on a scooter.
Brendon Thompson
State Manager Tasmania
Stay Upright Motorcycle Techniques
