Scooter inexpensive fun

Some people think motor scooters are a menace. A survey by AAMI Insurance came up with that result, but it's obviously the view of people who are not looking to the future.

There will soon be more scooters in Australian cities, and not only in Queensland, where car-licence holders can ride a 50cc two-wheeler.

Scooters are going to become more popular as urban infill reaches its peak, petrol prices continue to rise and more people realise an easy-going two-wheeler meets their real transport needs.

A short commute, ducking down to the shops or dashing to a coffee shop is easy on a scooter. I know because I've been riding a Vespa for a few weeks to see what the latest generation of baby bikes is like.

The answer, at least for the 250cc four-stroke Vespa, is comfy and convenient. And it looks good, too, with a great retro style.

A Vespa is not cheap. My GTS250ie costs more than $9500, but that is for a steel chassis, a classy engine, good brakes, a digital dash and even a handy hook for holding takeaway bags.

A scooter takes some adjusting to. It has bicycle-style brake levers and an automatic transmission. But the 250 jumps away at the lights and cruises at 100km/h on the highway.

And it is fun, the sort of fun that's being lost from a lot of 21st-century motoring.

More people should put a scooter in the garage, or even the foyer of a flat, to maximise their motoring enjoyment with minimum stress and expense. They are a great solution to a lot of today's motoring needs.

Yes, I am a fan. And it took less than a fortnight and a single bill for $11 of unleaded to win me across to the scooter team.

Fast fact

The Vespa motor scooter was created in 1946 and helped put Europe back on wheels after World War II.