h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Who makes the best scooters,
or are they all pretty much the same ?

while there there is no such thing as a good scooter (with them all being absolutely dreadfull) the larger japanese manufacturers all have a large selection of machines across a large price range. Although on closer inspection they are all absolutely the same because they are rubbish, see? so in answer no there is no "best" scooter.

That's a bit harsh.
The 1956 Lambretta 150ld wasn't a bad machine apart from a tendency of the front brake cable to seize up.
Mine was stuck at the back of the garage for 10 years till an old friend wanted to buy it. It started at the fifth kick but you've never seen such smoke. I think all the petrol had evaporated and it was running on pure oil.
Wish I'd kept it.

Sam in the Editorial team and I want to get scooters! A 1956 Lambretta sounds smart - except fo the front brake bit! eek!

'AHEM'.......
I think youll find the question is who MAKES the best scooters....
and seeing as lambretta dont make scoots anymore i think youll find MY answer is the best.
Im perfectley willing to accept that someone at some point in the past did make A Good scoot, no one at the present does....
apart from gillera.
oh and piaggio.
and derbi.
oh and suzuki.

Sorry.
You are of course quite right about the present tense.
But if you do happen upon "my" 1956 Lambretta it might (if you're not too fussy about stopping) be better than current models of which I know little save that they have engines smaller than electric shavers.
I'm back on a push bike.

I think that we should all get motorcycles instead. I have tried to kick off a conversation about any other bikers, feel free to slate me for interrupting...

Some of the new stuff looks pretty funky, all big knobbly tyres and insectoid headlights. Yamaha's "fun" range being a prime example.

I welcome your digression
into motorbikes - however
I don't want to have to do
the gear changing thing.

The gear changing thing isn't that much of a hassle. You just waggle your foot up and down. The bonus to scooters is apart from being cheaper than a good bike is that being smaller and just that bit slower (35mph compared to 180...) you don't need all the expensive armoured leather!!!!

I think you're being a bit harsh on the current available scooters. What about Aprillia? Or the funky little put-puts they use to get around the GP paddock? Admittedly some look strange, I saw what could have been a Goldwing scooter, it was enclosed enough. or you could get a BMW C1, but only if you're MAD!!!!!!