Moped Gas Scooter

Mopeds gain favor in Michigan as the ultimate gas savers

Mopeds: They zip, they sip and now they're hip.

With gasoline swinging back and forth around the $4-per-gallon line, more Michigan motorists are straddling mopeds — low-horsepower, high-mileage mini motorcycle-ish machines that can easily cruise 100 miles on a gallon of gas.

According to the Secretary of State Office, 17,064 mopeds were registered in Michigan in 2000. In 2010, that number had jumped to 40,978.

The price of gas is a major reason Dearborn resident Kim Jackson has been happily tooling around town on her moped for the past two years. Jackson, the mother of two, also drives a minivan.

"But the moped allows me to minimize my use of the mini," said Jackson, who paid about $2,400 for her Taiwanese-built Buddy Scooter. "The price of gasoline is what drove me to buy one. I ride it all over the place — for small errands, to visit friends, and just for fun."

Legally, mopeds are two- or three-wheel vehicles with a motor not more than 50cc that produces 2 horsepower or less. They have automatic transmissions and cannot have a top speed of more than 30 mph on a level surface.

While most newer mopeds resemble scooters, older models look like bicycles and have pedals. The majority of mopeds sold today come with floorboards and a step-through frame, and are built to carry just one passenger.

Wyandotte resident John Truitt owns two older mopeds, plus a 1980 scooter.

"I have a Vespa 125cc and two 50cc Garelli mopeds," Truitt said. "It's an all-Italian lineup. I bought my first moped to take with me on camping trips. The mileage is great, plus they're easy to ride, to park and to store."

But Truitt said there are drawbacks to the bikes.

"With a top speed of only 30 mph, you'd be crazy to take one out on a major street like Ford Road," said Truitt, who is a member of the Downriver Scooter Club. "And people in cars often don't pay attention. I always wear a helmet, and I like to ride with groups because it's fun and there's safety in numbers."

According to the 2009 Michigan Traffic Crash Stats report — the most recent numbers available — of the 476,801 traffic crashes in Michigan, 322 involved mopeds — five of which were fatal. And then there's the sound of the small, two-stroke engine.

"There's no rumbling like a Harley," Truitt said with a laugh. "Cut a snowblower in half and then rev it up; that's what they sound like.

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Motor Scooters : Gas Scooter 50cc Moped Scooter on Sale Description

The 50cc gas scooter is a stylish product well worth the inexpensive price tag. Not only will you be riding this comfortable moped at your leisure, but you’ll be saving money and causing jealousy in your neighborhood. The look and feel of this compact two wheeler will bring you back to the days when Vespa seemed like an inexpensive alternative to the megalomaniacal practices of corporate car manufacturers.

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