Hehe, I've seen the discussion on scooter vs motorcycle a lot when it comes to commuting. It's hard to pin down and it depends a lot on the specifics. For a lot of city driving, you really, really appreciate not having to clutch manually all the time, you want low weight, high maneuverability and good economy. If you drive a lot on open roads, you want a bit of power, some wind protection, and high speed stability (=long wheelbase, large diameter wheels, etc.). Then of course the weather, the width of the streets, the legality and ability to lane split/filter and so on comes into play.
But even when all is said and done, it's not clear. There are Burgman 400ccm scooters that cost more than a small car, and there are motorcycles that are cheaper and nimbler than plenty of scooters. It really comes down to specific vehicles, not broad categories. My personal go-to two-wheelers for commuting are:
- Honda wave - a perfect 100cc scooter which is cheap, super economic, fast, reliable, very nimble, still comes with 17" wheels and is super light (100kg). I think nothing beats it in terms of economy. Probably why millions and millions of people use it everyday).
- Honda NC 700/750 models. Dual-Clutch, more power, more comfort, more storage room, yet still insanely economical (for what it offers). Probably the better alternative for out of city riding and longer range.
I am sure once the prices for e-bikes and e-scooters come down, it will become even more interesting. Also electric kick-scooters, self-balancing e-boards and whatever crazy hybrid for hip urbanites is hyped next summer (like the sbyke or the half-bike or ...). I am getting all excited... but I'll stick with my plain old kick scooter for now. ^^
