Scooter people, pls 'splain.

[GentlemanRacer]

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In town, I see riders in head to toe gear, and then I see scooter riders being squids. Same speed, same traffic. Are scooter riders misunderstanding the risk of road rash or do we overestimate it?

Are they less likely to come down in streetcar tracks? What makes a motorcycle downtown more likely to spill than a scooter?

 

[Tinsnips33]

Yeah, I don't get it either. Shorts, flip flops, tank tops...I saw one with a little dog between her feet. I think the majority are scared to get a real bike so they think this is safer and they can't get hurt.

 

[DoubleJ]

Some are just dumb! Lots have come down on the tracks, manhole covers and white lines and get messed up pretty good. Lots of scooterists do wear the gear all the time though, maybe not in TO. You may be seeing the 9 to 5 week day warriors who think it is above them.

Speaking of squids, just came into Caledonia and what do I see but a "squidette" with pink helmet and the shortest pair of shorts and a sleevless T and tennis shoes on a silver CBR600. Dumb and dumber reigns everywhere I am afraid.

 

[Wingboy]

The pavement they fall on is softer.

 

[Deimos]

I think the majority are scared to get a real bike so they think this is safer and they can't get hurt.

No, I think the vast majority of scooter owners think being stuck in traffic on a 50cc > 125cc+. Considering the ever growing costs of motorcycle ownership, it's the best alternative for the urban environment barring bicycles/e-bikes.

Gear is matter of choice, poor or not makes no difference to me.

While we're at it, why don't we start talking about how dangerous riding 2 wheels is as opposed to 4.

 

[Dresden]

Hipsters just wouldn't be Hipsters with gear on. Gotta show off those mandal's and wayfarer's on the way to starbucks.

On a side note. If I saw a Vespa rider with full gear, I would LAUGH MY ***** OFF and probably fall off my bike.

 

[hot12]

Haters gonna hate.

Squids gonna squid.

 

[GentlemanRacer]

On a side note. If I saw a Vespa rider with full gear, I would LAUGH MY ***** OFF and probably fall off my bike.

Right, so that's what gets me. I also thought I saw a cop wearing one of those CHIPS style short sleeve shirts on his cruiser today. Don't they ever crash?

 

[Dresden]

Right, so that's what gets me. I also thought I saw a cop wearing one of those CHIPS style short sleeve shirts on his cruiser today. Don't they ever crash?

Speaking of scooters only, the general assumption is that they are modes of transport to zip around town at under 40 - hence the "percieved" image of short's and a tee being suitable enough to "zip around in". They aren't really associates them with speed like sports bikes for example, and therefore no one really considers the dangers before they hop on. That's my best guess.

Honestly speaking: If I lived downtown and god forbid rode a vespa, I would be in a wifebeater and flip flops all day long - I just wouldnt know any better.

Also,

[video=youtube;GgKoXzbw13E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgKoXzbw13E[/video]

 

[shoe]

Squid is one thing. I love the scooter riders that wear long scarves in autumn.

 

[haisam10]

I love the aura of a Vespa, reminds me of France or Italy. Most of the world does not wear gear, especially Asia. ATGATT is a western thing. I am a proponent but I can see y u would not be so into it if all u had was a bike/scooter all year round. would be a pain.

 

[outkastland]

like another poster pointed out, the tend to be 50 and 125cc. The chance of road rash is far less. The ones you see without gear tend to be the average person who lives in a condo and looks at the bike as a fasion acessory. Marketing is to blame too along with merchants.

in terms of streetcar tracks they are more apt for sliding. Everywhere else the fairly safe, not having a clutch makes them extremely easy to drive.

 

[kiwi]

Because that's the Image they got when they rode in Jamaica or other destination in the Caribbean .

Like how cruiser guys wear beanie helmets, shades and blue jeans/white tshirts.

 

[Myztyk]

Because that's the Inge they got when they rode in Jamaica or other destination in the Caribbean .

Like how cruiser guys wear beanie helmets, shades and blue jeans/white tshirts.

Hey now, I do not own a beanie, nor a white Tshirt. That's like saying all sportbike guys buy jackets that are colour coded to their bikes..wait...nevermind.

But seriously, I don't understand it either. While I recognize they are called LSM for a reason, the majority of their driving is done in some of the shittiest conditions in the GTA. Riding downtown is not even fun, much less safe.

So many of them appear unsafe as well, wobbly corners, erratic speed, bad lane position...I'm surprised you don't hear about more accidents involving scooters. Although...I will admit I see them filtering a lot at lights...maybe that's how they avoid. Who knows?

 

[MacDoc]

So many of them appear unsafe as well, wobbly corners, erratic speed, bad lane position.

looks like a lot of mcyclists I see...

just another case of minding your own business and let others choose their risk level....

cagers are a threat to riders ....scooters are not ....get over it.

Most probably handle traffic better as they are not worrying about which gear they are in and don't have their nose buried in the handlebars,....they can actually see whats going on around them and react quicker with the small wheels and weight.
Some of the wobble on the small scooters comes from the small wheels.

Except for a few like mine ( which is a pig downtown tho vision is good ) ...scooters are nimble urban vehicles which often makes them somewhat unstable.
Scooters come in all flavours tho most urban oriented.
You wouldn't try what they try in traffic cuz your vehicle is not designed for it.

There ARE scooters like the big Aprilla that will eat most mcycles for lunch.

Now if you are talking unlicenced uninsured escoots then the build quality and no licence means some marginal vehicles and even more marginal drivers but they are speed limited and little threat to anyone but themselves.
They are neighborhood vehicles and work well for that instead of firing up the SUV to go a km for milk.

•••

called LSM for a reason

this is a special class of vehicle and MOST scooters do not belong to that class.

 

[Wingboy]

Well said MacDoc!

 

[MacDoc]

aw shucks...just defending the tribe so to speak

I'm not ATGATT - just wear what's appropriate to what I'm doing and where I'm going.

Shorts and shirt visiting my kid in hosp on the weekend 5 minutes away.....armor on twisties and new roads and any mix inbetween depending on conditions...big scoots can carry a LOT of layers

 

[TorontoBoy]

looks like a lot of mcyclists I see...

just another case of minding your own business and let others choose their risk level....

cagers are a threat to riders ....scooters are not ....get over it...

+1 I see many motorcycle riders go squid, so it is not just scooter people. The laws of physics are the same for all riders. They choose as they see fit. The 1981 Hurt report from the US:

11. Most motorcycle accidents involve a short trip associated with shopping, errands, friends, entertainment or recreation, and the accident is likely to happen in a very short time close to the trip origin.

15. The median pre-crash speed was 29.8 mph[/47.9kph], and the median crash speed was 21.5 mph[/31.6 kph], and the one-in-a-thousand crash speed is approximately 86 mph[/138 kph].

Both of these are well within the <50cc scooter speeds.

 

[Myztyk]

looks like a lot of mcyclists I see...

just another case of minding your own business and let others choose their risk level....

cagers are a threat to riders ....scooters are not ....get over it.

Most probably handle traffic better as they are not worrying about which gear they are in and don't have their nose buried in the handlebars,....they can actually see whats going on around them and react quicker with the small wheels and weight.
Some of the wobble on the small scooters comes from the small wheels.

Except for a few like mine ( which is a pig downtown tho vision is good ) ...scooters are nimble urban vehicles which often makes them somewhat unstable.
Scooters come in all flavours tho most urban oriented.
You wouldn't try what they try in traffic cuz your vehicle is not designed for it.

There ARE scooters like the big Aprilla that will eat most mcycles for lunch.

Now if you are talking unlicenced uninsured escoots then the build quality and no licence means some marginal vehicles and even more marginal drivers but they are speed limited and little threat to anyone but themselves.
They are neighborhood vehicles and work well for that instead of firing up the SUV to go a km for milk.

•••


this is a special class of vehicle and MOST scooters do not belong to that class.

lol...take it personal much?

I wouldn't even consider what you ride a scooter man. That burgman is a beast, not even a question in my mind. I think it's well documented on this site you're a solid rider. I would not put you in the same class as some of the latte sucking elitists who ride from starbucks to starbucks because it's "cool."

When I see a motorcyclist(read: non a scooter rider) trying to answer their cell phone while pulling away from a stoplight, then I'll put both types of riders in the same class in terms of safe riding.

Take it easy man...life's too short.

 

[bear22099]

I ride my scooter around town with no jacket and wear an open face helmet, weather permitting. Am I taking a risk? Sure I am. But I thought about it, and decided I want to wear what I want to wear. Don't really care if anyone else "approves" of my choice. It is best for most to MYOB sometimes. Religion, politics and what you wear are three things that are completely personal choices.

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