How many of you think your scooter should be faster?
I've seen a lot of questions regarding the speed of their scooter, wanting to change exhaust, air cleaners, gears, etc to make them faster.
Do you actually think there is loads of untapped horsepower available in that tiny engine, which can be unleashed with minor modifications?
Do you actually think that the engineers that designed it thought to themselves "we've got to limit the speed on these things or they'll be dangerous"?
Or do you think there is some governmental regulation that limits the power/output/speed of these vehicles?
And how many of you think it's safer to operate a scooter than a motorcycle on public roads?
Better yet, how many people think you don't need a DOT approved helmet for riding a scooter on public roads? Those of you who ride motorcycles with no helmets don't need to respond, just make sure and sign your organ donor card.
csburridge2008-06-21T15:37:23Z
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Let's take these one at a time.
>How many of you think your scooter should be faster? I've seen a lot of questions regarding the speed of their scooter, wanting to change exhaust, air cleaners, gears, etc to make them faster.<
It is human nature to want more from a bike(moped, scooter, or motorcycle) be it speed, mileage, or handling. This holds true all the way to the biggest dispacement bikes. When I was a teenager made my mopeds go much much faster. Funny how nothing has really changed.
>>Do you actually think there is loads of untapped horsepower available in that tiny engine, which can be unleashed with minor modifications?<<
Nope, not loads, never going to happen! However, minor inprovements in top speed can be had with "minor modifications", and in some instances that is all that is needed with the smaller bikes(49cc). It may be news to you, but a 50cc moped totally derestricted can get up to 45mph easily. With proper tuning, such a bike can get up to 50-60mph. Now if you want to start adding high performance parts, even faster.
>>>Do you actually think that the engineers that designed it thought to themselves "we've got to limit the speed on these things or they'll be dangerous"?<<<
No engineers don't limit the speed on bikes. Lawyers do. Which brings us to #4.
>>>>Or do you think there is some governmental regulation that limits the power/output/speed of these vehicles?<<<<
OH YEAH! Every state in the union has laws regarding mopeds(less then 50cc). Some are worse then others, but most require a moped to be restricted in top speed to 25-30mph by the manufacturer. How the restrictions work or where they are restricted does not matter to the states. Some states also have a maximum power output requirement at the rear tire. Michigan's is 2hp. A derestricted 49cc engine can easily put out anywhere from 5-10hp depending on how far you wish to take it.
>>>>>And how many of you think it's safer to operate a scooter than a motorcycle on public roads?<<<<<
Any two wheeled vehicle, from moped to motorcycle, is at risk on the roads. We share the road with people driving cars who talk on cell phones while reading the morning paper, and holding a cup of hot coffee between their knees. The last thing this person wants is to pay attention to the road before him/her. All any rider-of anything-can do is to try to identify the risks and take steps to aviod such risks.
>>>>>>Better yet, how many people think you don't need a DOT approved helmet for riding a scooter on public roads? Those of you who ride motorcycles with no helmets don't need to respond, just make sure and sign your organ donor card.<<<<<<
My Honda Reflex can easily travel at expressway speeds all day, and the ground is no softer falling from a scooter then from a motorcycle. Therefore, saftey gear is needed, and in Michigan, a DOT helmet is required. If you live in a state that has no helmet laws, it's a good idea to wear a helmet anyway. Helmets are for more then just the rider. Family and friends are seldom thought of when a person decides to ride without a helmet, and these are the people most affected be a rider's death or worse, being left a veggy.
I've ridden both they are all fun to ride they also have there place at the present time I have a Yamaha 180cc scooter it does 55 mph for what it is that's fast enough. I did have a Suzuki 750 that was very fast if you kicked it open and was comfortable to ride as well
My scooter doest go at all at the moment because its being rebuilt.
It serves a purpose though. For $5 a fortnight I can ride it to work and back, and still sometimes manage to drag off a fully loaded school bus. Sometimes, if I gate it properly....
BTW its a 1970 Yamaha U7E, If anyone can point me in the direction of a blue front fender i'd appreciate it!