Does Anyone Ride a Scooter Exclusively?

[Togger]

Is it practical or possible to ride a scooter year round and not own a car? I live in Michigan.

[Kansas kymco]

I would think a person could deal with the extreme cold but the snow and ice would be difficult.  I know I would have a old beater car or truck for winter if it were me.

[rjs987]

Depends on how often you need to go places and what weather you are willing to ride in.
Michigan might be hard for most people. Though I have read of some riders who live where there are definitely 4 seasons who only ride on 2 wheels and don't own a car.

I retired in May 2019. But while I was still working and for many years I rarely drove a car to work, if at all. Every day the roads were clear and dry during Winter months, and every day when temps prevented water from freezing, I rode my bike to work. And I don't stop riding when the temps go below Zero F as long as I have a clear dry path to ride. I was even instrumental in convincing the powers that be to put in dedicated motorcycle parking sections in most of the parking lots around the State Capitol Complex. I used to work for the State of Iowa. I even got them to put in concrete pads to park motorcycles on instead of black top. I told them it would be beneficial to them to avoid legal liability should a motorcycle side stand sink into the black top on a hot day and fall onto a car parked nearby.

When I was unable to ride the bike I was able to ride the bus. There was a bus stop one block from my home and the drop off was across the street from the building where I worked. Only time I drove the car was if I really needed to carry something that didn't fit on my bike or the bus. And that was very rare. I could have worked something else out for those times as well.

So it's possible, but consider carefully what your needs are.

ON a related note... I keep trying to convince my wife we don't need 2 cars for the very reason I stated above. She keeps saying "what if I have the car and you need to go somewhere but can't ride?" and I reply "then I guess I really don't have to go anywhere or can wait until you get back." She won't buy it. We did go down to one car once for a few months but she didn't feel comfortable doing that so went car shopping! I still think we don't need it but she wants it.

[pa-outdoorsman]

I'd say it really boils down to one's definition of "fun." If you find the thought of riding in a driving rain storm, or on roads with icy spots and bitter cold, to be a "fun adventure," then yes, it probably is POSSIBLE, though may not be advisable.

For probably 99 percent of scooter riders, it's not even a consideration. I was just telling my son last weekend that as far as I am concerned, anyone in Pennsylvania who has a two-wheeled vehicle has a luxury, because on rainy days, windy days, winter, etc., it's basically not practical.

Again, if you are in the elite 1 percent, more power to you. But none of that sounds the least bit enjoyable to me.

[Neil955i]

Bob, with you there. We sold our second car 18 months ago so I could just use the scooter (more) and so far it's working out great. You should see how many groceries I can load it down with!

Just for clarity, I no longer ride 365, although I did for 20+ years when working. These days, post-retirement, there’s little which can’t be put off for a day or two if the weather’s bad. Over here in the UK Midlands there’s maybe 4-6 weeks a year where sub-zero temperatures make it a no-no for me.  The rest of the time go for it.

I do take John’s point about road salt though, it’s a killer for scooter fasteners etc.

[rjs987]

Bob, with you there. We sold our second car 18 months ago so I could just use the scooter (more) and so far it's working out great. You should see how many groceries I can load it down with!

I do tend to surprise others when I'm all dressed up in my riding gear and fill a small shopping cart at the grocery store and push it out to the scooter. People are walking by looking at me as if they have no clue why I think I can carry much on a bike. THEY don't. I then pack it all in.

I will say I have been known to come out of Costco or Walmart with a super sized package of Charmin and ride home with that bungee corded on the pillion. The neighbors must be worried that next I'll be riding around with a half dozen chicken cages tied on.

I still get a little worried about that second car my wife insisted on keeping in the garage. Most of the time it just sits in the garage not being used... sometimes for a few months at a time. That can't be good on it. Once in a while we use it just to recharge the batteries and circulate the oil and grease and wear off the rust that starts to form on the brake disks.

[Stig / Major Tom]

It would not be safe to ride in traffic with snow and ice on the streets.
Flopping over out in the boonies will only get you skinned up and your mirrors broken and levers bent.
You'll be a speed bump in town when that happens.

Stig

[john grinsel]

Having ridden a motorcycle/scooter year round in all weathers since 1955----slippery climates sidecar necessary for safety-   Then think of the cost of necessary riding gear ($1300-1400 Aerostich one piece) Bike shop service questionable.  Not all bikes/scooters will even start in real cold.------Total cost of riding year round for transportation in cold place costs more than cheap car!!   Then there is of course SALT!  Ruins scooter!!

Honda Helix started for me at below zero F.   Suzuki GS500E required battery warning at 30 degrees f.

[Ex-KLR]

I'd say it really boils down to one's definition of "fun." If you find the thought of riding in a driving rain storm, or on roads with icy spots and bitter cold, to be a "fun adventure," then yes, it probably is POSSIBLE, though may not be advisable.

For probably 99 percent of scooter riders, it's not even a consideration. I was just telling my son last weekend that as far as I am concerned, anyone in Pennsylvania who has a two-wheeled vehicle has a luxury, because on rainy days, windy days, winter, etc., it's basically not practical.

Again, if you are in the elite 1 percent, more power to you. But none of that sounds the least bit enjoyable to me.

I moved to Southeast Pennsylvania (Chester County) in 1965 and live there for 17 years.  I had dirt bikes during that time. The area had some great places to ride. Unfortunately during the latter years I was there, most of the good riding areas were populated or posted.

[pa-outdoorsman]

I moved to Southeast Pennsylvania (Chester County) in 1965 and live there for 17 years.  I had dirt bikes during that time. The area had some great places to ride. Unfortunately during the latter years I was there, most of the good riding areas were populated or posted.

You wouldn't recognize Chester County anymore; wall to wall suburbs. Try riding a dirt bike around there you'll get the cops called on you in a heartbeat. I'm sure it was nice back then though. I live a couple hours north of there. Thankfully there are still plenty of places for the kids to ride around here, and dirt bikes, ATVs and side-by-sides are pretty much standard issue for I'd say half of our local teens.

I feel bad for all the suburbanites who buy such toys. They have the money to pay for them, but nowhere close to home to ride. So, they have to trailer their machines and drive up to these parts on the weekend to enjoy them.

[JJJoseph]

With 2 daughters and a missus, there's always competition for wheels.  So I have a 100cc scooter which is always used every day, all year round.  If it's freezing outside, I wait a day.  It's a huge asset to have a scooter, for shopping and errands.  Like a free car.  PS: I can send photos, but the forum appears to delete in-line photos, and doesn't like images that are the wrong size, etc.

[Neil955i]

I do tend to surprise others when I'm all dressed up in my riding gear and fill a small shopping cart at the grocery store and push it out to the scooter. People are walking by looking at me as if they have no clue why I think I can carry much on a bike. THEY don't. I then pack it all in.

I will say I have been known to come out of Costco or Walmart with a super sized package of Charmin and ride home with that bungee corded on the pillion. The neighbors must be worried that next I'll be riding around with a half dozen chicken cages tied on.

Again, with you there Bob.  Here's a repeat post of one of my better forays out for shopping 40+ Kilos of pet supplies lashed onto the pillion!

[rjs987]

This is back when I took tires I bought to the dealer to have them replaced in sets. These days I now simply remove the wheel that needs it one at a time so kinda hard to ride the bike to the dealer to carry the new tire to put on with the wheel removed. But it only costs me less than $40 front or rear if I take only the wheel in and not the entire bike. Under $90 if I have bearings replaced at the same time and that includes the cost of new bearings. The front tires on my bikes have always lasted a lot longer than the rear tires, except for on my Gold Wing which was the reverse of that. Same is happening on my current Burgman by almost 2 to 1 for miles.