Is it me or are 50cc scoots dangerous? By rurc (Read 3,566 times)

[amac1680]

Apr 11, 2014 19:22:24 GMT -6 rurc said:

Apr 10, 2014 20:23:12 GMT -6 JR said:

I see a lot of your points, agree with most but as I said there are circumstances where there are applications for this scooter.

To take a training course to ride any two wheeled vehicle IMO is a good thing. I also don't agree with people who can't follow the law getting a free ride on a 50cc scooter with a few exceptions and that exception is the person pays his debt to society, learns their lesson, and becomes a responsible law abiding rider/driver again. People do that sometimes and if they are as we say walking the chalk line, have a job to support themselves and paying that debt then they should get and IMO deserve a second chance.

Should they continue to disobey the law then I'm in favor of putting those kind of people on foot.

I do believe that in a lot of cases the 50cc scooter can be dangerous but like anything one can ride responsibly and help remove some of the danger.

To me you seem to have as we say a ax to grind when it comes to the 50cc scooter and seem to think it represents irresponsible people and IMO the 50cc scooter gets a bad label on that.

JR

I see your point and I agree. I know that in Europe, while I was there, people drove these little scoots very reasonably. They seemed to be watching out for them selves. Not relying on others to watch out for them. That is guess would be my 'ax to grind' as you say. It is not the 50 that I have a problem with it is the manor in which I see them driven on a daily basis. At least here in Florida, as compared to many European countries I have seen them driven in. I have not traveled the states much since I moved back here 7 years ago so I cannot say anything about other areas. But central Florida, from St Pete to Daytona and Sebring to Dade City I travel a lot. In all this area a cautious 50cc driver has been few and far between.

I am sure they exist more than I see.

I dont want these little scoots gone by any stretch. I just think that for their safety and mine and everyone else they should be more educated about what they are doing.

Have you ever ridden a Segway?

I ride a Segway every day but how does that tie into 50cc scoots ?

The problem in Florida with the 50s is enforcement. Almost everyday I see a situation where a cop sees a 50 on a 45 mph road and looks the other way. Happens all the time.

[scot]

looks like your takeing this a bit personal. one long paragraph,.got to deal with them the same as the bike riders to that weave into the road what do we do make them take safety cources they get going pretty fast too ,it seems its the same as it is hear most highways freeways have 40mph or above meening you need to do atleast 40mph,other roads ,an I know some of the ones your talking about ,they don't have to keep up with traffick,yielding,yes younger riders I agree,but it probley not going to change any time soon ,under 50cc is a scooter most places anything over is motorcycle an there for cource is needed,mine is considered  a motorcycle . most freeways you need to have 250cc or bigger ,people don't want to get involved ,its to bad I see your point though,i would give it up

[rurc]

Apr 12, 2014 12:12:10 GMT -6 scot said:

looks like your takeing this a bit personal. one long paragraph,.got to deal with them the same as the bike riders to that weave into the road what do we do make them take safety cources they get going pretty fast too ,it seems its the same as it is hear most highways freeways have 40mph or above meening you need to do atleast 40mph,other roads ,an I know some of the ones your talking about ,they don't have to keep up with traffick,yielding,yes younger riders I agree,but it probley not going to change any time soon ,under 50cc is a scooter most places anything over is motorcycle an there for cource is needed,mine is considered  a motorcycle . most freeways you need to have 250cc or bigger ,people don't want to get involved ,its to bad I see your point though,i would give it up

Scot,

I was just messing with you on the paragraphs part.

As far as giving up, if I did that I would never have gotten where I am.

[rurc]

Apr 12, 2014 4:39:31 GMT -6 amac1680 said:

Apr 11, 2014 19:22:24 GMT -6 rurc said:

I dont want these little scoots gone by any stretch. I just think that for their safety and mine and everyone else they should be more educated about what they are doing.

Have you ever ridden a Segway?

I ride a Segway every day but how does that tie into 50cc scoots ?

The problem in Florida with the 50s is enforcement. Almost everyday I see a situation where a cop sees a 50 on a 45 mph road and looks the other way. Happens all the time.

Did you just start riding your Segway? I can tell you that when I got my first one it was not second nature. Segway, the company is very careful to give you great instruction when you buy on new. When I bought the first one at the dealer in Orlando I had to take a class that was about 2.5 hours long to get instruction on safety and how to respond in different situations.

They dont even do that with a 50cc scooter. Now there is the tie in. If you buy a bigger scooter you have to take a class that teaches you safety and how to respond in different situations.

[rurc]

5 votes

Now we're cooking with gas.

Keep it up. I would like to see 10 by the end of the weekend.

Thank you everyone for all the great chatter on this.

[amac1680]

Apr 12, 2014 16:23:49 GMT -6 rurc said:

Apr 12, 2014 4:39:31 GMT -6 amac1680 said:

I ride a Segway every day but how does that tie into 50cc scoots ?

The problem in Florida with the 50s is enforcement. Almost everyday I see a situation where a cop sees a 50 on a 45 mph road and looks the other way. Happens all the time.

Did you just start riding your Segway? I can tell you that when I got my first one it was not second nature. Segway, the company is very careful to give you great instruction when you buy on new. When I bought the first one at the dealer in Orlando I had to take a class that was about 2.5 hours long to get instruction on safety and how to respond in different situations.

They dont even do that with a 50cc scooter. Now there is the tie in. If you buy a bigger scooter you have to take a class that teaches you safety and how to respond in different situations.

I started riding a Segway in 2003 after a spinal cord injury. I use it as a mobility device.
To be clear about the Segway "boot camp" back in 2003-2004, it was short lived. After the initial product release Segways were sold thru...Brookstone. So much for the training.

After the dealer network was put together training became less important than the money. I am intimate with the progression of deans invention.
BTW Segway was not about to sell me a unit based on my injury so I sent a friend to boot camp for me. Always a method of getting around the rules.

Back to scoots.
I see guys on croth rockets with MC endorsements that ride like fools. It's not the size of the machine or the education it's a mindset. Can't legislate stupidity.

Check out what happens when a invention is put to its highest use. We started this charity after we saw what the machine did for us.

[rurc]

amac1680
I agree with you on the crotch rocket guys. However at least they know what they should be doing. Besides the cops should be busting those guys also.

[amac1680]

thing is in this part of florida I also see a lot of FAST 50s........
I mean real fast !

[crazedfox]

Gotta say your correct on the whole mind set on riding a 50cc scoot.

Now I've done that crouch'n'tuck thing to get speed too.
But, I've made sure there isn't anyone, thing, or object that could cause me to move eradicly, or crash.
& it's to gain a little more speed to get up the other side anyway.
It's fun, but it has it's purpose.

I also have taken the written part of the motorcycle test to get my permit, & on my way to getting that endorsement later on.
Glad I decided to do this, because I learned alot about the riding too close to white line is bad.

I myself DO ride in those 35, 45, & 55-MPH roads.
But, I keep an eye torwards how many autos pile-up behind me.
& when get more than 3 after awhile, & I know I'm approaching a long stretch.
I'll find a safe spot & pull over & let traffic pass.
Just as if I was driving a tractor.
My scoot IS a slow vehicle, & respect the flow of traffic & treat it as it is so.

I read my statutes & laws on what I drive/ride.
So to be a more informed & better driver/rider.

& a scooter IS a motorcycle.
Just a smaller & different framed variant of it.
But still is a motorcycle never the less.

So we here in America we need to have training courses for these too.
Not just a select states/counties the WHOLE NATION.
Just like alot of other country's do.

We as a nation would be stronger & undoubtedly smarter from it.
It would be nice if there could be some kind of free courses at the high-school level.

Because for most states one can ride a low-class 50cc & under scoot, 2 years before one can get a automotive license.

Start'em out early, & there could be a chance to get some responsible thinking in those heads.
Education of, & well practiced use of that knowlage can do wonders.

Well that's my rant on this sub'.
-
Oh,yes - My vote:
Nay- 50cc scoots are not dangerous.

The true danger is lack of, or no education.
_

[scot]

it depends on the state an they are changing laws alot as people start rideing scooters more an more ,hear NH a 49cc an alot of states the DMV conciders them a scooter no endorcement is needed,over 49cc is concicdered a motorcycle ,scooters in most cases are easyer to ride then big 700lbs bikes ,an like said with the price of gas an a lot of people buying the 50cc scooter,it may change ,buts it realy a state thing, an with the cost of rideing courses costing as much as the scooter ,its a guess a lot cant afford ,some states no drivers licence is needed only a plate,an some states you need a drivers licence if it has motor of any kind ,I would guess as time goes on they will put a stop to those that drive them without a drivers licence,the endorcement well I don't know ,hear if your a good rider the dmv course has like 5 to 6 manuvers that you take on your scooter or motorcycle,if your a beginner it could be hard to do,if you fail then they give you paper work requiring you to take a cource ,if you pass you got your endorcment in like 10 minutes , :DI have not seen someone who cannot ride 49cc properly,,but I have seen ladys an men on these big bikes wobleing to take off an keep there feet down way to long scary ,taking to wide turns, fla seems to be one of the few states that you need a driver licence ,but like said I think alot of states are curantly changeing there laws an needing one I agree with that ,we don't need drunk drivers who lose there licence on the roads drinking an driving a moped ,I am sure it happens ,though   hopefully they get sober before they do so,i said in another post we still got it good hear some countrys driving on the road is like zoo an worse Accidents happen alot an often ,an when there is a small bender ,more times then none ,they pay to have there own cars fixed or mopeds scooters motorcycles ,when i took my course 10 years ago it was like 250.00 an I had to traval 2hours one way so I stayed there in that city 2 night in motel 100.00 food gas say 50.00 that's 400.00 ,an hear a lot of time people have to traval or wait to get a cource near them or wait months 3 or 4 or in some cases the next year,i think hear its like 12 people for each set agenda,                                                                                                                                                                         well an some take a new cource every few years refresher cources wellets se it now 300.00 hear in nh for the weekend cource ,if you pass the one at dmv ,like say you got friend who can take to an empty parking lot an teach figure eights an teach breaking cornering then they just pay like 50.00 done,some may think 300.00 is not alot but to me it was ,not sure wear you live there cazed fox ,but mine was not cheap 10 years ago

[crazedfox]

Scooters are Motorcycles, they are just a Open-Frame type.
Mopeds are the weirder cousins of motorcycles,
halfway between a bike & a real motorcycle.
3-wheel vehicles are conciderd a type of motorcycle in alot of states-statutes.

Even if alot of folks say that 49.9cc dosn't make it a "real" motorcycle.
It's still a motorcycle, & should be taught to respect it & ride it like one.

To me it's no different than a high-powered air/Co2 rifle has compared to a .17Cal rifle.
But some will say that if it don't uses bullets it's not a "real" rifle.
But the respect & education on there use & keeping isn't different to one's that know & use.
—

A scooter course is not that costly,
when you don't see the scoot course it's disguised as a motorcycle course.
So they just need to take the motorcycle training course.
In my state (Ky.) the beginners classes only cost $150.

& in any State if your riding/driving intoxicated then you will be cited for riding/driving under the influence.

One could on a bikecycle, golfcart, or even a riding lawn-tractor.
If one is on/riding/driving anything that is considered a vehicle/transportation of anything besides one's feet,
they will try to stick a DUI or a related type of citation on ya'.

Doesn't matter if one has a license for it or not.
All the no license required part means,
is that the Officer can't cite one for lack of a license.
& still get one on the DUI part.

So a real lack of thinking on the drunkered's part.
Heck, some state's are even allowed to impound there ride on top of the citation.
_

[scot]

not sure what you are saying there you talking about your state right,i am talking about my state an only a bit about fla up north everything cost more ,

[crazedfox]

I'm sure motorcycle courses aren't going to cost in the range of $500 or $600 for beginners course up there?
That would seem a little nuts to charge for a beginners class.
Of course I'd would understand something like $250 for a class.
_

[scot]

Apr 12, 2014 16:26:28 GMT -6 rurc said:

5 votes

Now we're cooking with gas.

Keep it up. I would like to see 10 by the end of the weekend.

Thank you everyone for all the great chatter on this.

I did find hear in Nh one needs a drivers licence an 1,5hp the engine can not exceed that 2 years ago they changed it do thing are changing ,an there a lot more states making it harder to just get on one an drive it ,I am thinking 1,5hp is not 49cc but I could be wrongs more like 25cc

[crazedfox]

Most of these 50cc & under scoot's run about average 3-Hp.
Of course some modified 50cc's can achieve 5-Hp, without big-bore kit.

I agree that there should be some kind of requirement of license or safety course to ride a engine-powered Scoot/Foot-Scoot.
( Electric rides are in a different group, so new/different ball-game there.)
—
I don't believe in helmet laws, or seatbelt laws.
They are just an income for the ones that enforce them.

A non-effective & cheap way of teaching one to wear a seatbelt or helmet.
What is needed is a better educational programs on the safety & proper use of these safety idems.

I wear my helmet & safety belt when riding a scoot or driving/riding in a vehicle.

Not from any law requirements.
But from learning about them, & what they can/able to do for one wearing them.
_