Eco Hip Scooters

Mileage increases appeal of scooters

By Jennifer Gutman
For the Poughkeepsie Journal

A black Yamaha Vino 50 is the last scooter standing at Dutchess Recreational Vehicles before the new 2009 models come in at the end of the month.

“It looks like an old-time Italian scooter,” Jeff Conston, co-owner of Dutchess Recreational Vehicles, said.

The dealership has sold out of all but one of the 20 that were in stock.

Nationally, The Motorcycle Industry Council in Irvine, Calif., estimated 131,000 new scooters were sold in the United States in 2007, nearly double the 70,000 sold in 2002 and triple the 42,000 new units sold in 2000. Meanwhile, U.S. sales of new scooter units were up 24 percent for the first quarter of 2008 compared with the same period a year ago, Mike Mount, Motorcycle Industry Council spokesman, said.

“With the economy the way it is, everyone is looking to save where they can, and the gas pump is a pretty tangible place to do that,” Mount said.

Depending on brand and size, motor scooters typically sell for between $1,000 and $8,000, providing owners between 70 miles and 90 miles on a gallon of gas. The average price of the most common-sized scooter with a 50 cubic centimeter engine is about $2,000, with off-brands selling for less.

Scooters have long been fixtures on the cobblestones of Europe and the go-to utility vehicle in Asia, but more people in the U.S. are now discovering these humble scooters do more than conserve gas and help ease pollution: They’re just plain fun.

Jean Scaccia, a 68-year-old LaGrange resident, recently purchased a Yamaha Vino 50 scooter from the Dutchess dealership.

“It’s a nice motor scooter,” Scaccia said. “I’ve been riding it a lot around the area.”

This is Scaccia’s first scooter purchase; she’s owned two motorcycles in the past. She said her motivation for buying the scooter was, without a doubt, gas prices.

“I get 110 miles per gallon,” Scaccia said.

Other local dealerships have experienced an increase in sales over the past year due to the high gas mileage of motorcycles and scooters.

Zack Agiovlasitis, owner of Zack’s V-Twin Cycles in Hyde Park, said gas mileage is definitely a concern for people in the market for a scooter or motorcycle.

The motorcycles at Zack’s get more than 40 miles per gallon, a great deal when compared to the average 20 miles per gallon of a light truck.

Economic benefits

The fuel costs alone of driving a truck would pay for the cost of a motorcycle, Agiovlasitis said. As far as sales go, Agiovlasitis said, “it’s an even flow.”

Although gas mileage is better for motorcycles and scooters, those who do not use one regularly may not be able to afford the vehicle in addition to their car or truck.

Ken Conston, co-owner of Dutchess Recreational Vehicles, has seen an increase in sales due to the high gas mileage of their bikes.

According to him, people who are interested in buying a motorcycle or scooter know the inherent fuel economy when coming into the dealership.

Their scooters get over 100 miles per gallon. “There’s a big increase in sales because of that,” he said.

Motorcycle sales have also increased, he said, adding certain models doubled sales from last year.

“It was never really a huge scooter market,” Conston said, “But now we’ve really seen sales start to take off.” Month by month increases in sales patterns can be seen.

“People are tired of filling their truck or vehicle, spending $100 every time to fill up,” he said.

Mahopac Motorcycles has sold out of this year’s scooter stock, about 20 in all. The store is waiting for 2009 models to come in.

“We’ve got people asking for them already,” said Junior Beachak, owner of Mahopac Motorcycles.

Beachak said the energy crisis and high gas prices are reasons for the increase in sales of these fuel-efficient transportation alternatives.

“People that were never thinking about getting on motorcycles are buying them today,” he said.

Whenever the weather allows, Scaccia rides her scooter on back roads, but steers clear of highways.

“I almost got thrown off the road with my Honda 250,” she said. “I stopped riding after that.”

Scaccia did not stay off a bike for long, though.

When venturing out on her scooter, she waits until 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. for traffic to leave Route 55.

“You’ve got to be careful,” she said.

For Scaccia, it is smooth sailing after that.