Scooter: Riding Tips – Part I

Piaggio XEvo 250ie Motor Scooter

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Scooter: Riding Tips – Part I

Before You Start

The best advice anyone can give you if you are thinking about buying a scooter is to learn how to ride it properly. Unfortunately, many people think that riding a scooter is a pretty simple matter – which it is in many ways – but in order to ride a scooter properly and safely, there are some vital skills which you need to learn. Don’t take chances with your life or the lives of others – learn how to do things properly and safely, enrol on a course – there are plenty of them about and you might be surprised at how much you don’t know about scooter riding.

Of course, before you set off anywhere at all on your scooter you need to make sure that you are wearing a well fitted helmet, much of which is covered in the Scooter Safety section, along with details of the rest of the safety gear you should always wear. . .

Choosing a Scooter Helmet

Your Scooter Helmet is the most important piece of safety equipment you can buy, so make sure that you buy one which is up to the job. It should fit securely, (they’re available in loads of different sizes), should always be fastened and should display a DOT sticker to prove that it meets the Department of Transport safety standards. A well fitted helmet will not only help to keep you safe, it will also reduce the wind and noise, protect your eyes and face from anything “blowing in the wind” and keep your head warm.

You should also wear protective clothing for the rest of your body.  A well padded jacket and pants can make a massive difference if you are involved in an accident – how do you fancy sliding along the gravel at even 10 mph with bear arms and legs – ouch! And don’t forget your hands, you should wear some well padded gloves, even when it’s hot.

What about your feet? You might be tempted to wear some open toe sandals in the summer time, but stop and think – leather boots are the safest, which at least offer some protection to your ankles. You can always change when you arrive safely at your destination.

Make sure that all of your gear is as highly visible as possible – bright colors or reflectors are the best – remember, be safe be seen.

Riding Your Scooter – Keep It Legal

To ride or drive any motor vehicle on the public roads is a privilege, it is not a right. You will need to have the correct drivers license, along with insurance and and registration. This does vary from state to state so make sure that you know all of the requirements for where you live – before you turn the key. If you don’t abide by the laws you could have your licensed removed, not to mention having to pay a hefty fine.

The Scooter is Your Friend – Get To Know It Before You Start

In order to drive your scooter safely, you need to get to know it as well as you can. Scooters come in many different styles, models and sizes – check out your owner’s manual for anything which you might particularly need to know about yours.  Sit on your scooter whilst it is safely on the center stand, and familiarize yourself with the controls and how each one of them is used. Push the pedals, work the levers and make adjustments for anything which you can’t reach comfortably. Practice with the horn, the turning signals, the headlight dimmer – you might need all of these things in a hurry, so you need to know where they are before you set off, you don’t want to be searching for the horn whilst someone is reversing into you now do you? The fuel reserve valve is something else which you need to know about, if you feel your engine beginning to stall as you’re driving along the street it could be dangerous if you can’t switch to reserve quickly and safely. You don’t want to be fumbling about whilst spluttering along do you?

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