click here for full page...10% Student Discount Extended To General Public On All Scooter Models! Amazing Labor Day Specials All Weekend Fri-Sat-Sun & Mon Open 9am to 9pm

10% Student Discount Extended To General Public On All Scooter Models! Amazing Labor Day Specials All Weekend Fri-Sat-Sun & Mon Open 9am to 9pm
Students Get 10% OFF Any Moped Scooter

PLUS

15% OFF  Safety Eyewear

(Offer Good Through August 31 2012)

10% and 15% Discounts Apply To Regular Advertised Prices Only
Can NOT be combined with any advertised sale prices.

Grand Rapids Scooter Open 9am - 9pm Seven Days A Week! New Models Made by Znen Just In Time For This Weekend's Big Sale! Come Check Out The New Scorch 50cc Moped ScooterIt sits the tallest out of all our models...Even Taller than our Supremo and with the same Znen Quality!

 Or The New Edge By Znen!

 How About The Breeze...A Znen Quality Built Moped For Under $1000!!!

 Our Feature Models:
The Amore 50 By Znen $1300 (ONLY $1170 with Student ID!)

The Supremo 50 By Znen $1200 (Only $1080 With Student ID!) This Supremo 50 by Znen scooter is built to last and go fast.
The Supremo has a 4 stroke engine, CVT belt drive automatic
transmission, 12" alloy wheels, electric/kick start, front ABS
disk brakes, rear disk brakes, chrome gearcase cover, halogen
headlights, stainless steel hardware, Deni carburetor and dual
rear shocks. It's put together with all stainless steal hardware
and comes with a 1 yr/3000 mile fender to fender warranty! It
also boasts a fabulous 2-stage paint job with Black Pearl contrast
that changes color from black-to-purple-to-blue-to-green in
sunlight. The high profile tires, wider body and extra large storage
trunk makes this moped scooter one of the biggest in its class too!
It's perfect for taller riders and feels more like a motorcycle than a
moped. It also features a digital clock in the dash panel. At $1300 the Supremo 50 by Znen is simply one of the best values in
the market today! Come test drive one today and you'll see why!
 SSR Lazer Moped By Bashan $ 900 (Only $810 with Student ID!)

Urban Express VIP By Bashan $ 850 (Only $765 with Student ID!)

Speedster-T3 By Taotao $899 (Only $810 with Student ID!)
The Retro-B By Taotao $ 850 (Only $765 with Student ID!)

Grand Rapids Scooter also carries scooter helmets, moped scooter covers, protective riding eyewear, factory scooter moped parts, after market parts, tires, belts, bulbs and more! Come see what all the buzz is about...
Chris & Roger
‎The guys at GR Scooter were extremely helpful and a great resource while my wife and I were shopping for a couple mopeds to tool around on. After we weighed all the info and shopped at every place in town we could find, we decided on two Znen Amore Scooters from GR Scooter. We always knew we wanted a couple quality scoots that we could could enjoy for years to come but thought we'd have to spring for a Vespa or Honda to get it. I would recommend you try these Znen Manufactured Scoots before you go spend $2500 on a Vespa. We love ours! We got two of them for about the price of one Vespa and I think the Amore is built and deigned even better.


Andrew
As I was looking to get into the scooter market I kept running into high priced name brand scooters. I was really interested in a vintage/retro style of scooter, but didn't want to surpass the $2000 price point. At last I found the ZNEN Amore50 at Grand Rapids Scooter. These guys clearly know how to pick top quality scooters. The impressive room and styling of the Amore 50 can't be matched. This is not your typical scooter, it has tons of chrome, retro styling, and the best part are the handle bars that provide an unmatched feel of comfort as you cruise down the road. Grand Rapids Scooter also provides fantastic customer service and technical support.


Eden
My experience at GRScooter was absolutely amazing! I love my ZNEN Aurora. I get stopped all the time by people on the street telling me how awesome it is and I have to agree! Not only does it look cool, but it's saving me tons on gas! Jason and Paul are always willing to answer questions and help me out as a first time scooter owner. They even spoke to my insurance lady for me! Great guys! Great place! Great products! Everyone should check it out!


Jack Lipton
The ZNEN Aurora 50 is getting its share of miles. Julian and Sydney thank you for helping them get into a scoot. Only 200 more miles before oil and gear lube change!


LaDonna Cannon
THE UP GRADE TO MY SCOOTER WAS A SCCESS! THnak you guys !it is was even more of a blast today !

Raymond
Great little fast scooter with lots of storage...
I had bought the blue one at a local shop for 995.00 back in april. Someone stole it last week so I decided to check online and this was the best price. Other sites are selling the same models for nearly $1,000!! Its a great bike with lots of storage space =)

Nathan
Awesome Scooter and Service...
Wow! The quality and performance of this scooter is unbelievable for the price! It even looks great! This scooter is a hidden gem among the lower-priced Chinese scooters.

Gail (Chicago)
Excellent Service and Scooter...
Needed some help putting it together but, that is because I am not in good health. Videos were very helpful. The scooter has a lot of power 40mph plus, right out of the box and I am not a light weight. On level ground it will go 45mph +. The service is great, I had some questions and a real person always answered the phone.

Jonas
Perfect 1st Scooter...
My mother bought one and once the guys at Grand Rapids Scooter explained everything and showed us how everything works (neither of us ever had one before) it's been perfect! My mother rides her scooter to work every day and she's getting better at being on the road with it and is looking forward to taking it on some longer trips (more than two miles) so she can do a little shopping and visiting friends. I like it so much I'm going to get my own and eventually one for each of my twin sons! I can't wait to have my own!


LaDonna Cannon
These guys are better than the rest! They have taken good care of me since the day i walked in the door. I would not go anywhere else! GR Scooter ROCKS!!!

















 Grand Rapids Scooter
"Importing High Performing, Reliable and Affordable Moped Scooters To West Michigan"
3140 S Division Ave Grand Rapids, MI 49548
(616) 666-3803

A Guide and Insight Into The Chinese Scooter Market

Scooter Intro

The Chinese scooter offers an intriguing mixture of affordability, wide variety of style, and mechanical simplicity that can satisfy the tinkerer. Much has been said about the dubious quality of these scoots but that has greatly improved in the last five years or so. True, the Japanese and Taiwanese makes have better reputations but can cost as much as a motorcycle and be prohibitively expensive for a student or someone seeking recreational riding.
There are several types of scooters the most common of which are the smallish Classic or Retro, slightly bigger Sporty, Racer with the larger fairing front, large Touring model, and the off road types such as the Ruckus. Yes, there are more than these, and even sub-divisions of these, so calm down, this is just a general representation.

The history of the Chinese scooter is somewhat murky as the Chinese government is not exactly open about internal affairs. However, it appears that when the patent ran out about ten years ago on the GY6 engine (more on the engine later), the Chinese began wildly exporting scooters they had been making for in country use. At first the quality was decidedly sub-par but has gotten much better through the years. The search engines bring up a confusing array of Chinese firms and names. Some of the more famous are: CF-Moto, Linhai, Keeway, Znen, Bashan, and Zongshen. Presently, there are approximately 2800 Chinese scooter factories , most of these produced parts such as body panels, engine components, etc. A few like Znen (Taizhou Zhongnen), and Jonway, produce most of their own engine and frame assemblies as well the finished scooter for export. They tend to have different quality tiers for the importer to choose from. For example, Flyscooters chooses many Taiwan components to be used in their Znen produced bikes, a higher quality tier. Not much attention is paid to copyrights, so most of these scoots all look the same. Then there are some distributors of scooters that assemble parts from the factories. A few examples of these are: Qlink, Keeway, TNG, and Motorino. These lists are NOT complete by any means and you can further your knowledge of this confusing topic by further confusing yourself with the search engines.
The GY6 engine powers most Chinese scooters but that is slowly starting to change with the evolution of new power plants. This web site will deal mainly with the GY6 powered units as most are still fitted with this motor. The GY6 was developed by Honda in 50cc, 125cc, and 150cc versions. Honda no longer uses this engine but clones of it are still widely manufactured in Asia. It's a very simple four stroke design with the piston running essential horizontal. The carburetor is a CV (constant velocity) that sits on top of the engine and is fed gas by gravity, a vacuum fuel pump, or an electric fuel pump. The GY6 can develop about 7 to 15HP but is capable of more with performance parts. A CVT or constantly variable transmission turns the rear wheel via a belt. When ordering parts for your scooter it is important to have the engine number that you can find at the bottom of the transmission case. There are variations but this pictured code would translate as follows: first number is always a "1" meaning one cylinder. The next two, in this instance "57" is the bore of the motor in millimeters. The "Q" means a GY6 motor. The last two letters denote the size of the engine, MJ being a 150cc.

Buying Guide

The type of scooter you buy, Classic, Sporty, Racer, or Touring will be determined by your intended riding style. Obviously the smaller engines and wheels will be for putting around town, and the bigger motors and wheels are capable of getting out on the road. The websites and dealers are usually fairly accurate on the top speeds and capabilities.
There are three main ways to purchase a scooter, a brick and mortar shop (B&M), online, and used. All three will be touched on here.

B&M

A B&M is not a hospital procedure, although it may feel like one with some of them. Generally though, they are nice people trying to run a business and make a living. Brick and mortar is a scootdom term meaning an actual dealership in a building (hence brick and mortar). Like a car dealership, there will be salesmen,scooters on display, a parts department, and a service department. The good thing about this experience is that you can "kick the tires", get some info from a person face to face, and possibly a test ride; at the very least sit on it. Also, once you buy the scooter, you have a place to get it worked on and warranty repairs. You also are provided with a title and paperwork, a big plus.
Finding a good B&M can be difficult. In the scooter business, shops tend to come and go with regularity. So it's best to ask around and see if your friends have bought from one and what kind of an experience they had. Look them up in the local BBB and see how long they've been in business. See how it feels when you go in the shop, you can generally tell if a business is stable by what the shop looks like and how the people treat you. If the place looks shabby with just a few scooters and some cardboard cut outs set up, be suspicious.
B&M's are going to cost more, they have overhead, it's that simple. So how do you know what to pay? Well, a good place to start is look up the scooter you're interested in on resources such as Kelley Blue Book. It will give you a ballpark figure in dealing with the salesman. Yes, some dealerships are just like some car dealerships, they set the price high and you're supposed to argue them down. Some people enjoy this, to others it is like a colonoscopy; but at least for most of those you're unconscious. Others are very straight forward and set a firm, fair price. Again, you should ask around.

ONLINE

Like any online buying experience, it can be a jungle. Online dealers come and go much more frequently than B&M's. It doesn't take a great deal of capital to set up what's called a drop ship business. They need a warehouse, a supplier, telephones, and an internet connection. Obviously they can sell much more inexpensively since their overhead is much less. Be wary though, like any online seller,they can make exaggerated statements. One common practice is to say the scooter normally sells for a huge amount, but it's on sale for much less. Obviously the sale price is the regular price. Be cautious of add ons with some sellers; they will charge for warranty (see below), shipping, insurance, etc. Some B&M dealers also will ship to you, they generally charge a little more but the prepping is better.
Drop dealers can get crates of scooters right from the Chinese supplier, and ship them to you without opening them.These dealers often crow on their web sites about how the scooter is assembled, started, and ridden before being shipped to you. Yes they are, over in China, and then disassembled, put in a crate, possibly stored for a while, then shipped overseas to the drop ship seller, and finally sent to you. You then have to do a great deal of assembly including putting on the front wheel (not fun), mirrors, fairing, prepping and installing the battery, changing all the fluids, and getting it to start. Some dealers WILL assemble and prep before shipping to you; some of them charge extra for this, with some it's included in the price. So do some research, make some notes (you can use word pad, you don't have to actually touch a pen), call them, ask questions, take your time, impulse buying is where the big mistakes are made.
One more thing that needs to be touched on about online dealers is the warranty. Read the warranty on the web site VERY carefully so that you know what you're getting into. Most of the time the warranty is PARTS ONLY! This means that if something breaks,you have to determine what is wrong, take it off the scooter, and send it back to the online dealer so they can determine if in fact they feel it needs to be replaced. Often, you pay all the shipping. If you're not mechanically inclined and know how to turn a wrench, you better make sure there's a scooter mechanic in your area that will work on your scooter. Scooter mechanics are rare so make sure you know what your local stuation is like. More often than not, the dealers who sell Japanese and Taiwanese scooters will turn up their noses at a Chinese scooter and refuse to work on them. So again, make sure you know what you're getting into.

USED BUYING

This can be a good way to get an inexpensive scooter. You can find them in your area through Craigslist, newspaper, Trader's Helper, and neighbors that are sick of the scooter in their garage that they bought for Elmo who soon lost interest in it because he actually had to go outside. Once again, see what it is and look it up in Kelley's so you know where to begin. See if it is in working order, check if it needs repairs, and VERY important: make sure it has a title and tag! People often find they buy an inexpensive scooter with no papers and they can't get a license plate at the DMV. One way to check the manufacturing quality of the scooter, and at a B&M shop, is to use the following checklist:

• are the plastic panels thick or thin?
  
• are the panel connectors tight or wobbly?
  
• is the paint quality or does it look cheap?
  
• are the electrical connections solid or fragile?
  
• are the electrical connectors covered or exposed?
  
• is the steering head straight?
  
• obviously, any fluid leaks?
  
• do the fuel and vacuum lines look like cheap plastic or quality materials?
  
• are the welds solid looking and are they rusty?
  
  Generally, the cheaper manufacturers will try to cut corners with the above issues.
  Grand Rapids Scooter suggests paying a little more to ensure you get a quality product and choose Znen, Jonway and other Taiwanese influenced moped scooter manufacturers.

Grand Rapids Scooter
"Importing High Performing, Reliable and Affordable Moped Scooters To West Michigan"
3140 S Division Ave Grand Rapids, MI 49548
(616) 666-3803

Students Get 10% OFF Any Moped Scooter @GRScooter In September! (Click here for full page view.)

Students Get 10% OFF ALL Moped Scooter Models

PLUS

10% OFF All Scooter Parts & Accessories!

(Offer Good Through September 30 2012)

10% Discounts Apply To Regular Advertised Prices Only
Can NOT be combined with any advertised sale prices.

Just In!

The SCORCH by ZNEN
(Only $1080 with Student Discount!)

 

Grand Rapids Scooter Open 9am - 9pm Seven Days A Week! Our Feature Models:
The Amore 50 By Znen $1300 (ONLY $1170 with Student ID!)

The Supremo 50 By Znen $1200 (Only $1080 With Student ID!) This Supremo 50 by Znen scooter is built to last and go fast.
The Supremo has a 4 stroke engine, CVT belt drive automatic
transmission, 12" alloy wheels, electric/kick start, front ABS
disk brakes, rear disk brakes, chrome gearcase cover, halogen
headlights, stainless steel hardware, Deni carburetor and dual
rear shocks. It's put together with all stainless steal hardware
and comes with a 1 yr/3000 mile fender to fender warranty! It
also boasts a fabulous 2-stage paint job with Black Pearl contrast
that changes color from black-to-purple-to-blue-to-green in
sunlight. The high profile tires, wider body and extra large storage
trunk makes this moped scooter one of the biggest in its class too!
It's perfect for taller riders and feels more like a motorcycle than a
moped. It also features a digital clock in the dash panel. At $1300 the Supremo 50 by Znen is simply one of the best values in
the market today! Come test drive one today and you'll see why!
  SSR Lazer Moped By Bashan $ 900 (Only $810 with Student ID!)

Urban Express VIP By Bashan $ 850 (Only $765 with Student ID!)

Speedster-T3 By Taotao $899 (Only $810 with Student ID!)
The Retro-B By Taotao $ 850 (Only $765 with Student ID!)

Grand Rapids Scooter also carries scooter helmets, moped scooter covers, protective riding eyewear, factory scooter moped parts, after market parts, tires, belts, bulbs and more! Come see what all the buzz is about...
Chris & Roger
‎The guys at GR Scooter were extremely helpful and a great resource while my wife and I were shopping for a couple mopeds to tool around on. After we weighed all the info and shopped at every place in town we could find, we decided on two Znen Amore Scooters from GR Scooter. We always knew we wanted a couple quality scoots that we could could enjoy for years to come but thought we'd have to spring for a Vespa or Honda to get it. I would recommend you try these Znen Manufactured Scoots before you go spend $2500 on a Vespa. We love ours! We got two of them for about the price of one Vespa and I think the Amore is built and deigned even better.


Andrew
As I was looking to get into the scooter market I kept running into high priced name brand scooters. I was really interested in a vintage/retro style of scooter, but didn't want to surpass the $2000 price point. At last I found the ZNEN Amore50 at Grand Rapids Scooter. These guys clearly know how to pick top quality scooters. The impressive room and styling of the Amore 50 can't be matched. This is not your typical scooter, it has tons of chrome, retro styling, and the best part are the handle bars that provide an unmatched feel of comfort as you cruise down the road. Grand Rapids Scooter also provides fantastic customer service and technical support.


Eden
My experience at GRScooter was absolutely amazing! I love my ZNEN Aurora. I get stopped all the time by people on the street telling me how awesome it is and I have to agree! Not only does it look cool, but it's saving me tons on gas! Jason and Paul are always willing to answer questions and help me out as a first time scooter owner. They even spoke to my insurance lady for me! Great guys! Great place! Great products! Everyone should check it out!


Jack Lipton
The ZNEN Aurora 50 is getting its share of miles. Julian and Sydney thank you for helping them get into a scoot. Only 200 more miles before oil and gear lube change!


LaDonna Cannon
THE UP GRADE TO MY SCOOTER WAS A SCCESS! THnak you guys !it is was even more of a blast today !

Raymond
Great little fast scooter with lots of storage...
I had bought the blue one at a local shop for 995.00 back in april. Someone stole it last week so I decided to check online and this was the best price. Other sites are selling the same models for nearly $1,000!! Its a great bike with lots of storage space =)

Nathan
Awesome Scooter and Service...
Wow! The quality and performance of this scooter is unbelievable for the price! It even looks great! This scooter is a hidden gem among the lower-priced Chinese scooters.

Gail (Chicago)
Excellent Service and Scooter...
Needed some help putting it together but, that is because I am not in good health. Videos were very helpful. The scooter has a lot of power 40mph plus, right out of the box and I am not a light weight. On level ground it will go 45mph +. The service is great, I had some questions and a real person always answered the phone.

Jonas
Perfect 1st Scooter...
My mother bought one and once the guys at Grand Rapids Scooter explained everything and showed us how everything works (neither of us ever had one before) it's been perfect! My mother rides her scooter to work every day and she's getting better at being on the road with it and is looking forward to taking it on some longer trips (more than two miles) so she can do a little shopping and visiting friends. I like it so much I'm going to get my own and eventually one for each of my twin sons! I can't wait to have my own!


LaDonna Cannon
These guys are better than the rest! They have taken good care of me since the day i walked in the door. I would not go anywhere else! GR Scooter ROCKS!!!















  Grand Rapids Scooter
"Importing High Performing, Reliable and Affordable Moped Scooters To West Michigan"
3140 S Division Ave Grand Rapids, MI 49548
(616) 666-3803

You're Invited To Meet, Greet, Ride & Eat Thursday August 9 @ Grand Rapids Scooter!

A tip from a couple of nuts... I mean scooter nuts.

How to tie your scooter moped down for transport...

Does this method come with instructions?Thanks guys, but I think I'll stick with my 2 strap system! Grand Rapids Scooter Open 9am - 9pm Seven Days A Week!Our Feature Models:
The Amore 50 By Znen $1300 (Update: 7-27-2012 All Clorors In Stock Now... But Hurry Selling Fast!)

The Supremo 50 By Znen $1200 (Limited Availability! Only 3 Left red/black pearl, silver/black pearl and orange/black pearl!)
This Supremo 50 by Znen scooter is built to last and go fast.
The Supremo has a 4 stroke engine, CVT belt drive automatic
transmission, 12" alloy wheels, electric/kick start, front ABS
disk brakes, rear disk brakes, chrome gearcase cover, halogen
headlights, stainless steel hardware, Deni carburetor and dual
rear shocks. It's put together with all stainless steal hardware
and comes with a 1 yr/3000 mile fender to fender warranty! It
also boasts a fabulous 2-stage paint job with Black Pearl contrast
that changes color from black-to-purple-to-blue-to-green in
sunlight. The high profile tires, wider body and extra large storage
trunk makes this moped scooter one of the biggest in its class too!
It's perfect for taller riders and feels more like a motorcycle than a
moped. It also features a digital clock in the dash panel. At $1300 the Supremo 50 by Znen is simply one of the best values in
the market today! Come test drive one today and you'll see why!
 SSR Lazer Moped By Bashan $ 900 (Old School Is Back!, Red, Silver & Black Available, Lowest Price In The Country On This Model @ GRS! Update: Discontinued Model 3 Left Available!)

Urban Express VIP By Bashan $ 850 (7-27-2012 In Stock Now)

Speedster-T3 By Taotao $899 (Finally In Stock After Being Sold Out Nation Wide for Last 2 Months, All Colors Available! All incorrectly manufactured rear rims on our T3's have been replaced.
The Retro-B By Taotao $ 850 (7-27-2012 Back by Popular Demand! One of the lowest price retro style scooters anywhere! Black/White 2 Tone & Burgandy/White 2 Tone available)

Grand Rapids Scooter also carries scooter helmets, moped scooter covers, protective riding eyewear, factory scooter moped parts, after market parts, tires, belts, bulbs and more! Come see what all the buzz is about...
Chris & Roger
‎The guys at GR Scooter were extremely helpful and a great resource while my wife and I were shopping for a couple mopeds to tool around on. After we weighed all the info and shopped at every place in town we could find, we decided on two Znen Amore Scooters from GR Scooter. We always knew we wanted a couple quality scoots that we could could enjoy for years to come but thought we'd have to spring for a Vespa or Honda to get it. I would recommend you try these Znen Manufactured Scoots before you go spend $2500 on a Vespa. We love ours! We got two of them for about the price of one Vespa and I think the Amore is built and deigned even better.


Andrew
As I was looking to get into the scooter market I kept running into high priced name brand scooters. I was really interested in a vintage/retro style of scooter, but didn't want to surpass the $2000 price point. At last I found the ZNEN Amore50 at Grand Rapids Scooter. These guys clearly know how to pick top quality scooters. The impressive room and styling of the Amore 50 can't be matched. This is not your typical scooter, it has tons of chrome, retro styling, and the best part are the handle bars that provide an unmatched feel of comfort as you cruise down the road. Grand Rapids Scooter also provides fantastic customer service and technical support.


Eden
My experience at GRScooter was absolutely amazing! I love my ZNEN Aurora. I get stopped all the time by people on the street telling me how awesome it is and I have to agree! Not only does it look cool, but it's saving me tons on gas! Jason and Paul are always willing to answer questions and help me out as a first time scooter owner. They even spoke to my insurance lady for me! Great guys! Great place! Great products! Everyone should check it out!


Jack Lipton
The ZNEN Aurora 50 is getting its share of miles. Julian and Sydney thank you for helping them get into a scoot. Only 200 more miles before oil and gear lube change!


LaDonna Cannon
THE UP GRADE TO MY SCOOTER WAS A SCCESS! THnak you guys !it is was even more of a blast today !

Raymond
Great little fast scooter with lots of storage...
I had bought the blue one at a local shop for 995.00 back in april. Someone stole it last week so I decided to check online and this was the best price. Other sites are selling the same models for nearly $1,000!! Its a great bike with lots of storage space =)

Nathan
Awesome Scooter and Service...
Wow! The quality and performance of this scooter is unbelievable for the price! It even looks great! This scooter is a hidden gem among the lower-priced Chinese scooters.

Gail (Chicago)
Excellent Service and Scooter...
Needed some help putting it together but, that is because I am not in good health. Videos were very helpful. The scooter has a lot of power 40mph plus, right out of the box and I am not a light weight. On level ground it will go 45mph +. The service is great, I had some questions and a real person always answered the phone.

Jonas
Perfect 1st Scooter...
My mother bought one and once the guys at Grand Rapids Scooter explained everything and showed us how everything works (neither of us ever had one before) it's been perfect! My mother rides her scooter to work every day and she's getting better at being on the road with it and is looking forward to taking it on some longer trips (more than two miles) so she can do a little shopping and visiting friends. I like it so much I'm going to get my own and eventually one for each of my twin sons! I can't wait to have my own!


LaDonna Cannon
These guys are better than the rest! They have taken good care of me since the day i walked in the door. I would not go anywhere else! GR Scooter ROCKS!!!

 Grand Rapids Scooter
"Importing High Performing, Reliable and Affordable Moped Scooters To West Michigan"
3140 S Division Ave Grand Rapids, MI 49548
(616) 666-3803

Scooter Mopeds "Cool And Economical" by News 6 Omaha on Grand Rapids Scooter Blog

Omaha drivers are learning to share the road as more cycles, scooters and mopeds are hitting to the streets.
Rising gas prices are contributing to the increase in alternative forms of transportation and miles per gallon is only one part of the equation. Miles per gallon play a big part in the popularity of mopeds and scooters. Some of the newer models can get 100 mpg and still average 30 mph.
But there is something more happening on metro streets. Mopeds and scooters have become a more acceptable form of transportation. Mopeds and scooters have become hip.
No one knows how cool mopeds have gotten better than Edward Manhart, who bought his first moped about a year ago and since then has opened Ed's Moped Shop and sells customized mopeds. "I strip them down completely and rebuild them 100 percent however I want it or however someone else might want it."
The fact is there are more scooters and mopeds on Omaha streets. Owner of Breeze Cycle, Gloria Gard, has been riding motorcycles most of her life, but says scooters are the fastest growing segment of her business.
"Three years ago we probably sold 20 per year. This year they're coming and going so fast I'm having trouble keeping track of them and I had a period of time where my manufacturer couldn't keep up."
The production problems have been solved at Breeze Cycle and the showroom floor is filled with all kinds of mopeds, scooters and motorcycles. But Edward still has some work ahead of him and because of the growing popularity it might be difficult for him to keep up.
Manhart believes the gas savings is only part of the reason for the backlog. He knows mopeds are fun to ride. "I think with the moped it is kind of a coolness factor because you don't have to have it registered or license plates or anything like that as long as it is an actual moped with working pedals."
There is quite a culture growing up around the mopeds and scooters. A group of moped owners usually ride in the Old Market on Sundays. There is also something called Mod Mondays where scooter owners meet at 6:30 p.m. at Stinson Park, 67th and Center.

Grand Rapids Scooter
"Importing High Performing, Reliable and Affordable Moped Scooters To West Michigan"
3140 S Division Ave Grand Rapids, MI 49548
(616) 666-3803