Regular maintenance can prevent bigger bills down the road, and it'll help keep you safe.
Buying Guide
You’ve decided to go for the fun of scooting, and chances are you want it yesterday. To help you get started, here are a few tips from those who’ve been there and done that.
Physical size
We’re all different shapes and sizes. If you’ve ever shared a car with someone you’ll know all about adjusting your driving position. But with most scooters you only get one shot. So it pays to try a whole lot on and see how they feel. It’s all about balance really.
- Feet flat on the ground, but knees nowhere near your ears.
- Controls within easy reach, but not so close your arms feel like they’re in a straight jacket.
- A slight lean forward, but not locking your chin right out just to see what’s coming.
- Comfortably relaxed not stretched out on a rack or cramped like a clown on a mini-bike.
Engine size
There’s more to it than the cc rating. Because there are different types of engine, including two-stroke or four-stroke, it pays to look at power output and try riding them to get a feel for performance. If you’re a bit heavier or you’ll be riding hills, you may need more power for comfort and safety. You’ll also need a more powerful scooter if you plan to travel on open roads at higher speeds. However, a scooter with less than 50cc and a maximum speed of 50km/h is classed as a moped rather than a motorcycle. This can offer some real savings on things like licensing and warrant of fitness. Check the rules section for more.
Warranty
For new scooters, warranties can range from two years or 15,000 kilometres to just three months, so it pays to shop around. And remember to check the fine print for exactly what’s covered and what’s not.
Buying online vs dealer
It’s up to you. Like most things it’s about balancing risk with reward. What looked like a great buy can turn out to be just the opposite a few weeks later, especially if there are no parts or service available. If you’re buying second hand, try to take a mechanic with you rather than a friend who’s as excited as you are. It’s always a good idea to get a pre-purchase vehicle inspection from a dealer who sells that scooter, whichever way you’re buying. A registered Motor Vehicle Trader offers you more protection under the law if things go wrong. However, if you’re buying from anyone through any form of auction - including online auctions - where you bid against others, it's likely you're not even covered by the Consumer Guarantees Act.
Spare parts and service backup
Every scooter needs routine maintenance so you’ll need parts at some stage. Their availability can vary a lot between one brand and another. In some cases there may be no parts or service support when things go wrong. If you’ve got your eye on a particular scooter, ask a few repair places how long it takes to get parts for it. You may not like the answer, but it’s better than the hassle and extra cost of going without your ride, just when you need it most. If you’re buying from a dealer, the Consumer Guarantees Act means they have to provide reasonable access to parts and service facilities, unless they tell you otherwise before you buy. Still, it pays to ask and be sure.
Price
If you’re buying new, you pretty much pay for what you get. Generally speaking, a higher price for the same size scooter will mean better comfort, reliability, performance and/or handling. Of course there will be the odd genuine special, but these can be hard to spot unless you’ve been watching prices for a while. When buying second hand, so much depends on how the scooter has been treated and maintained. If you get it right, you’ll be having fun for a long time, so try to leave your emotions at home and take a cool head with you when shopping around on price.
