Why shouldn't I buy a cheap scooter on the internet?
Let me count the ways! OK, there are 2 main reasons NOT to buy a scooter on the internet. Reason one is that you probably will receive a piece of junk. Reason two is that you may receive NOTHING! Read on…..
Reason one: Why junk is available on the internet.
Unfortunately some very bad scooters are being imported from China. Unscrupulous companies are exploiting a temporary loophole in US importation laws. They get these cheap Chinese scooters past customs by claiming that a scooter is for off-road use only. That way they evade the rigorous and expensive testing required by DOT and EPA.This testing ensures that legitimate companies comply with all the applicable safety and environmental standards required by law. Untested, inferior scooters are “illegal” if they are used on public roads.It is unlawful to sell these scooters as street legal vehicles. They are not! (Of course they also are not any good for off-road use since they have street tires and very little ground clearance.)
More often than not, these cheap scooters are also unable to perform as advertised, that is if they start and run at all! We have seen a number of sad cases where some innocent person bought a cheap scooter on the internet only to find out the hard way that it is basically a non functional machine. Our technicians’ best efforts cannot make these dreadful scooters run decently. When the luckless owners try to contact the company they bought it from they find that their “warranty“ is virtually worthless and they have lost their hard earned money.
You can rest assured that every vehicle on display at New Urban Transport is the finest of its kind, made by highly reputable companies who stand behind their warranties. These companies stock parts which they send to us on a moment's notice. We only carry scooters that have passed DOT and EPA tests and which have the appropriate certification stickers to prove it! (there's another thing. Some of these poor-quality Chinese scooters have forged DOT and EPA stickers!!)
Reason Two: Why you may receive nothing!
There are fraudulent websites out there in cyberspace! Anyone can set up a website to promote their products. You are reading ours right now, so how can you tell the difference? We are inviting you to come into our stores to see these fine vehicles in person, get to know them and meet us before you make your purchasing decision. But when a website asks you to send them money DIRECTLY without visiting their (non-existent) store, grab hold of your wallet and run!!! Simply put, there are no reputable vehicle manufacturers who allow their products to be sold and shipped directly to the consumer from the internet. None! This is true for General Motors or Honda, as well as all reputable motor scooter manufacturers.
There’s lots of worthwhile info on the web about these vehicles and about the dealers who stock them, sell them, and service them, and that’s great. But when it comes time to make a purchase, the consumer must go directly to the dealership. This assures you that your vehicle will be properly uncrated, inspected, tuned and delivered to you in proper condition. It assures you that your valuable warranty will be activated for your peace of mind. Also you know that your dealer will be available to provide service and maintenance for your new machine.
Manufacturers know that they are ultimately responsible for providing a safe operating vehicle to the public. They insist on good quality control. That’s why the vehicle MUST be sold through a trained professional dealership. Any dealer found selling direct to the public through the internet will be terminated!
NO REPUTABLE DEALER WILL SEND YOU A MOTOR SCOOTER IN A CRATE.
After all, you would not expect to get a brand new Ford truck in the crate delivered to you by some shady internet company would you? Any internet vendor who offers to sell you one of the fine vehicles we sell in our stores is at best doing so on the gray market (reselling vehicles) without the knowledge and consent of the manufacturer and without warranty protection! As quickly as these resellers are prosecuted and eliminated more seem to spring up to take their place. Even worse, some of these websites are simply criminal enterprises. Don’t be seduced by promises of low price or free shipping. They take your money and send you NOTHING!
We welcome your help in our efforts to raise the standards of professionalism in the wild and wooly world of the scooter business! If you find any websites offering to sell you any of our brands direct to your door, please let us know! Help us stamp out fraudulent scooter dealers!
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What kind of gas mileage do these puppies get?
They all get great gas mileage. However just like with a car or truck, the mileage depends on how you drive it. All the vehicles we offer, get between 60 and 100 miles per gallon depending on the brand and number of cc's and other variables such as 2 cycle vs 4 cycle engines (See the FAQ about "Do I still need to mix oil in the gas?" for info on 2 cycle vs 4 cycle engines). Their mileage will improve somewhat as they are broken in. And they all beat the heck out of any SUV on the market.
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Do I need a drivers license to drive a scooter?
In New Mexico, scooters over 49 cc's are considered "motorcycles" by law. They require insurance, a motorcycle license plate and a motorcycle endorsement on your driver's license. If they fall below the 50cc category, have an automatic transmission and go no faster than 30 mph, they are considered motorized bicycles, just like mopeds, and you do not need a motorcycle license plate or the endorsement. By New Mexico State law, you need a driver's license to ride any vehicle on the streets of New Mexico.
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When do I need a motorcycle endorsement on my drivers license, and how do I get one?
You need at least a restricted endorsement for any scooter that is smaller than 100cc and goes faster than 30 mph. If the scooter has an engine size over 100cc you need the full motorcycle endorsement on your driver's license.
It's really not difficult to get a motorcycle endorsement. There are two ways, that we know of, to get a motorcycle endorsement in this state. First, you can go to the MVD and ask to take the written exam. They have a little book for you to study. Or, better still, follow this link to MVD's driver's manual and study it in the comfort and privacy of your own home. Then go to MVD to take the test. When you pass, you'll be given a six month permit to ride around on your scooter legally. Before the six months is up, you go take the driving portion of the test. They'll ask you to perform a number of tasks including making emergency stops and swerves. If you fail the driving test, they'll give you another six months to practice before you take the test again.
The other way to get your motorcycle endorsement (and we highly recommend this) is to take a course given by the New Mexico Motorcycle Safety Foundation. This is a 20 hour course that consists of both classroom instruction and hands-on (motorcycle) instruction. They provide the motorcycle and teach you from the very beginning, how to ride and respond to emergency situations. Defensive driving is a must when you're on two wheels. If you are under the age of 18, the class is significantly discounted. Also, mentioning that you've completed the course can decrease insurance costs. Visit Motorcycle Safety Foundation for more information.
Here's a website which has lots of info on New Mexico MVD motorcycle laws. DMV.
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Do I need insurance? New Mexico State law says that for any motorized vehicle that goes faster than 30mph or is over 49cc You DO need liability insurance and registration. You cannot register a vehicle without liability insurance. While most larger insurance companies offer motorcycle insurance, you should shop around for the best rate since it can vay widely.
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Can I register my scooter if it technically does not require it?
All of the new motor scooters we sell are fully street legal and can be registered even if restricted to speeds no faster than 30 mph. They all come with a MSO (Manufacturer's Statement of Origin) which is what you give the MVD to receive your Title and register your scooter.
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How do I learn to ride a scooter or motorcycle?
See the previous FAQ regarding the New Mexico Motorcycle Safety Foundation course: "When do I need a motorcycle endorsement on my drivers license, and how do I get one?"
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Do the scooters you sell come with warranties?
Sure do! Our scooters all come with warranties ranging from one to two years (depending on the make and year manufactured) at no extra charge. To keep the warranty intact it's important to have your scooter serviced at the recommended intervals.
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Do you have any used scooters in stock?
Sometimes we do. We're happy to sell good quality used scooters when we can get them. We take scooters to sell on consignment for the owners and we take trade-ins on new scooters. Used scooters usually sell quickly so your best bet is to come in and see what we have right now.
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Do you sell Vespas?
Vespa is a brand name like Yamaha or Ford. People often use the word to mean any motor scooter (similar to the way people use the word “kleenex” for tissues or “xerox” for copying). Vespas have been made in Italy for many years. Lots of us rode and loved them back in the 60's. But then the US governement stopped allowing Vespa to import their scooters to the US so they were not sold here for years. BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS: Vespas are back! And our sister shop in Santa Fe, Centaur Cycles & Scooters, is now handling Vespa/Piaggio scooters. Go visit them and pick out your new scooter. Here's their web site: Centaur Cycles & Scooters.
Back to top What is the difference between vintage and modern scooters?
Vintage scooters are usually scooters over 15 yreas old, and in most cases have an all metal body. Modern scooters are the new lines of scooters that have made it into the American market. Most modern scooters have CVT automatic transmissions. Scooters have improved a lot in the last 10 years in terms of fuel efficiency, reliability, performance and emissions. Back to top
Do you have any vintage scooters in stock?
In most cases, any vintage bike we get we sell within a matter of days. There is a supply problem in New Mexico - almost everything that was in New Mexico has either been snatched up by someone who is going to keep it, or is wrecked so badly it would be impossable to repair. Be aware that vintage scooters tend to sell for quite a high price. And then after you buy one it almost certainly will need a good bit of costly work.
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Do I still need to mix the oil in the gas?
2 stroke (or 2 cycle) engines burn oil (special 2 stroke oil) and must have oil mixed with the gas. With modern 2 stroke scooters you do not need to premix the 2 cycle oil and the gasoline. The scooter does it for you automatically. All you need to do is pour the 2T oil in the oil reservoir and then the engine injects the proper amount of oil at the right time. Not only is this convenient but it also uses much less oil and makes the engine run cleaner. On some older model scooters, this is not the case. The older the scooter the more likely you will have to pre-mix the oil and gas. There are special cups available that indicate how much oil to mix with a gallon or half gallon of gasoline.
4 stroke scooters are just like cars and don't require special oil. Here are some interesting web sites which describe the difference between 2 cycle engines and 4 cycle engines. Then Check out this cool animation!
