Motorcycle Gear & Information

I live off campus and use my scooter to get to and from my college classes. For a student like me who is paying their own way through school, a scooter was a far more affordable option than a car. Unfortunately, criminals also like scooters.

One of my roommates had her brand new scooter stolen just weeks after she bought it. Not wanting to suffer the same fate, I bough several scooter accessories to keep my scooter safe. First, I bought scooter locks and alarms to make it harder for a crook to drive off with my vehicle. I also purchased a scooter cover to make the scooter less visible at night; though, it has the added bonus of keeping my scooter protected from the elements.

There is still time to order the scooter accessories your loved one wants this Christmas!  Upgrade the ride, protect the rider, accessorize to the hilt! Buy a scooter cover, replace those old tires with some new ones, or upgrade with a new scooter windshield.

While we feel that the pros outweigh the cons of using a scooter windshield, they do warrant consideration as the size of your windshield can affect your stability and comfort on a scooter.  A larger and higher windshield is beneficial in chilly weather because it helps to protect you from the wind and wind chill.  Your face, chest, arms and hands will feel less chilly with a larger windshield.  On the flip side, however, a larger windshield can prove to be a problem in a heavy wind.  And smaller or lower windshields allow more wind in and around your helmet.  On a warmer day, this is a benefit.  When it’s cold out, not so much.

If you change your scooter windshield from season to season, be aware that a different windshield may cause your scooter to handle differently.  But with scooter windshield kits, if you are a do-it-yourself-er, you can switch out the shorter windshield for a taller one in the winter months, and revert back to the shorter windshield for summer.

Do you have a student at one of the fine colleges or universities across the land whose only transportation is a scooter?  It’s a wise choice because scooters are very green – they get excellent miles per gallon, and so they save your student a lot of money over driving a car.  Scooters also allow easy access and parking on campus, where vehicle parking is limited.  And if the weather is cold, your student is out in it for a shorter amount of time than if walking; if it’s hot, your student doesn’t get hotter by pedaling a bike to class.

So the scooter is a good idea on campus, but so are scooter accessories.  Protect your student’s investment with a good chain and lock.  Be sure to install a headlight for nighttime use and a windshield to protect the student from the elements.  Also make sure that the scooter is outfitted with the appropriate scooter tires for the winter season – at some schools, a winter tire will be necessary.

And don’t forget the helmet, the leather jacket, leather boots and gloves.  Nowhere on earth are parking lots as dangerous as where students are driving.  And it’s not that they’re all irresponsible, but it only takes one distracted driver to ruin your child’s career or take her life.

BMW, who makes the Mini Cooper, is planning to unveil a new electric Scooter, called the Mini Scooter E Concept, in Paris.  This “green” vehicle promises to compete with Vespa, Honda and other scooter manufacturers in marketing a convenient method of inexpensive transportation.  And the value of BMW and Mini assure riders and owners of a quality product.

The Mini Scooter E uses such advanced technology that an owner’s smartphone acts as the Scooter’s key, as well as its navigation unit.  It is powered by an electric motor which runs on a lithium icon battery.  And this Scooter boasts a recharging system designed to use a standard electrical outlet.  The Mini Scooter E resembles the Mini Cooper in its overall design, citing particularly its rear-view mirrors, its headlight, the decorative chrome and the scooter windshield.  Choose from the sporty model for one or the two-seater.

Too many people are taking to the streets without the proper scooter accessories.  Some are concerned only with how they look, when instead they should be considering safety, style and protecting their investment.  To protect one’s self, the first necessity is a helmet.  Sunglasses help protect your eyes from the dangerous effects of the UV rays, but they also will help prevent accidents caused by sun glare.  If you ride your scooter in traffic, gloves and boots are not only wise investments, but a necessity.

But in addition to protecting your person, you need to protect the investment you’ve made in your scooter as well.  A scooter cover will protect the paint and your seat from sun, rain and hail.  An inexpensive but effective accessory is a scooter lock or alarm.  You can’t be too careful in keeping your ride from being stolen.

And while not necessities, but to feed a stylish whim, consider a scooter exhaust upgrade,  some new grips, a new light, a different windshield and new scooter tires.

A scooter windshield is nearly a necessity for every scooter rider.  They provide protection from the wind and bugs, which plague all riders, and at the same time are sleek and attractive, adding to the appearance of your scooter.  As the weather turns chilly in the fall, a scooter windshield will help keep the rider warm.

And for do-it-yourself-ers, you can install a windshield using a windshield kit.   Choose a windshield that offers optical clarity and the safety of being shatter-proof.  The benefits far outweigh the cost for this scooter accessory.