| Scooters trace their ancestry back to France | | | | In the last few years, new technology has |
| with the Auto-Fauteuil mark in 1902, 1903 in | | | | emerged. Fuel-injected scooters are very |
| the USA, where Cushman and Salsbury created | | | | efficient and durable. Aprilia released the |
| some of the first motorized two wheelers with | | | | SR Ditech in 2002. The fuel consumption of |
| the traits that have come to embody scooters. | | | | this direct injection scooter is, allegedly, |
| Salsbury produced the first automatic scooter | | | | one litre of fuel for 50 kilometres of |
| with a Continuously Variable Transmission | | | | driving (117mpg) (however, due to it being |
| (CVT). Cushman's light, compact, and rugged | | | | two-stroke, such generous claims are hard to |
| scooters were used by the United States | | | | believe). Later on, more brands, such as |
| military as ground vehicles for paratroopers | | | | Derbi and Peugeot, started using direct |
| during World War II. The Vespa, originally | | | | injection systems for their scooters. Due to |
| manufactured by Piaggio in post-WWII Italy, | | | | new environmental laws, scooters had to |
| quickly popularized motor scooters in places | | | | change because the Euro3 standard allows only |
| where inexpensive transportation was in dire | | | | four-stroke engines. Some scooter drivers |
| need. Constructed using aircraft design and | | | | don't agree this is a good solution because |
| materials and eliminating belt drive by | | | | they are used to two-stroke motors. Also, |
| mounting the engine on the axle it redefined | | | | while four-stroke engines generally grant |
| the vehicle type for 35 years. Despite | | | | sufficient performance in sizes from 100cc |
| Vespa's dominance of the scooter market, they | | | | upward, 50cc four-strokes tend to have barely |
| were not without competition. Lambretta | | | | enough power to drive at city speeds. While |
| offered models that rivaled those in the | | | | their incredible fuel efficiency makes up for |
| Vespa product line. In the 1980s new versions | | | | it, not everybody is willing to accept the |
| of scooters began to be released and become | | | | compromise. |
| popular, especially in Japan and Far-East | | | | |
| Asia. This styling of scooters began to | | | | More recently China has become the largest |
| reflect that of larger, sporty, | | | | manufacturer of scooters producing over 50% |
| higher-performance motorcycles of the time | | | | of the worlds supply according to the MIC |
| and the trend has continued to the current | | | | (Motorcycle Industry Council). With lower |
| day. With the release of the Honda Ruckus, | | | | prices and better quality control, China is |
| new trends towards dirt-bike scooters are | | | | now making scooters which meet strict United |
| just beginning. The classic styling of the | | | | States DOT & EPA standards. Some |
| Vespa has never lost its popularity, however | | | | manufacturers from China and Mexico like |
| and remains the most popular and most | | | | Ricardo Motors meet the very strict |
| imitated scooter design. Almost all | | | | California Air Resources Board's CARB |
| manufacturers now carry both a classic/retro | | | | requirements.[citation needed] |
| model and a sporty/modern model. | | | | |
| | | | In the 2000s they have gained popularity in |
| Popularity | | | | Latin America, specifically in Puerto Rico. |
| | | | |
| In many parts of the world, such as Asia and | | | | Maxi-Scooters |
| Europe, motor scooters are a popular form of | | | | |
| urban transportation due to their low cost | | | | Another trend in the USA sees larger |
| and easy driving position. In fact, in many | | | | scooters, called maxi-scooters, with engines |
| nations in Asia, scooter sales growth | | | | ranging in size from 250 cc up to 850 cc. |
| outpaces automobile sales growth. For many | | | | This trend began in 1986 when Honda |
| people, a motor scooter is the family vehicle | | | | introduced the Fusion/Helix/CN250, and |
| until sufficient funds to purchase an | | | | continued with the 1999 introduction of the |
| automobile are amassed, although in crowded | | | | Suzuki Burgman 400 and Burgman 650. Piaggio, |
| cities, scooters can be preferred over | | | | Yamaha, Aprilia, Kymco and others have since |
| automobiles regardless of cost, due to | | | | introduced scooters with engine displacements |
| parking, storage, and traffic issues. In | | | | ranging from 400 to 850 cc. Honda's PS250 or |
| Taiwan, road infrastructure have been built | | | | Big Ruckus defies commons scooter |
| specifically with two wheelers in mind, with | | | | classification in that its step-through is |
| separate lanes and intersection turn boxes. | | | | high and the bike features no bodywork but |
| In Thailand, scooters are used for street to | | | | rather a motorcycle-like exoskeleton. |
| door taxi services, as well as for navigating | | | | |
| through heavy traffic. Motor scooters are | | | | This trend toward larger, more powerful |
| also popular because of their size, | | | | scooters with fully automatic transmissions |
| fuel-efficiency, weight, and typically larger | | | | is matched by an emerging trend in motorcycle |
| storage room than a motorcycle. In many | | | | design that foreshadows automatic |
| localities, certain road motor scooters are | | | | transmission motorcycles with on-board |
| considered by law to be in the same class as | | | | storage. This is exemplified by the Aprilia |
| mopeds or small motorcycles and therefore | | | | NA 850 Mana automatic-transmission motorcycle |
| they have fewer restrictions than do larger | | | | that provides built-in storage for a |
| motorcycles. | | | | full-face helmet. |
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