best buy electric bike reviews image
StraightBa
I have decided to buy a moped (or electric scooter) to use casually around my neighborhood (not for extremely long hauls).
Since I don't know much about mopeds, the only place I went to was vespa.com. Most of their options are extremely expensive. I'm looking to spend no more than $1,000.
I'm looking for recommendations about obtaining one. Are their other good companies besides vespa? Are their moped/dealer shops that I could visit locally to actually see the different options.
Should I go and test drive one, like I do with cars? Or is this something I should simply buy online (and go that route).
Any other things I should be looking for?
Answer
Mopeds have pedals, scooters have floorboards.
Vespas are scooters, expensive scooters. You can get around just as well on other brands like Kymco, Genuine, Piaggio, Yamaha, Sym, and Honda but you aren't going to get any of those new for $1000.
You might be able to get a Chinese scooter new for that but even that is doubtful since scooter prices have gone up quite a bit. Also from what I hear many of shops are out of scooters these days so you might want to call around to see who has what.
I read a good review on a Velocity electric scooter but I don't know the cost.
As far as mopeds you might call some bicycle stores and see if they carry electric bikes. I have never seen one in a scooter or motorcycle dealer.
You might be able to find something used on Craigslist.
Other things....
Check into what your local laws are for licensing. In CA we have to have a M2 license even for mopeds. Some states don't require anything for up to 50cc scooters.
Figure out how fast you will need to go before you buy something. Don't get a scooter that top ends at 30 when you have to get on roads where traffic goes 45.
If you want to get more info on drop ship (online) scooters check out the scootdawg forum. A lot of the people there own Chinese scooters and might be able to point you towards better brands and dealers.
How can I live a more environmentally conscious life?
Q. I am learning more about global warming and the impact a family of four has on this earth versus 250 people in an undeveloped nation. Things like this really make me want to get more involved and lessen my footprint on the earth, but how? Where do I start? I want to vote for the right laws to help this but I don't understand them all. I can't afford an electric car or to start using a solar panel for energy, so how can I help?
Answer
The four corner stones of the current environmental movement are Reduce, Recycle, Re-use, and Re-purpose with a theme of Sustainability. The good news is that most of us have plenty of eco-friendly opportunities available to us with equally commiserate financial rewards. In some cases, it does take an investment of time or money before the savings can be realised.
I often suggest that people start scouring the "frugal living" sites and boards for as whole host of money saving ideas. Money is but one resource we use. What we spend our money on involves a whole host of additional resources. Saving resources is what the Reduce, Re-use, and Re-purposing cornerstones are all about. For a personal inventory of opportunity, start by peering into your garbage, recycle, and waste cans and bins. Do you see paper napkins, paper towels, disposable wipes, or individual serving containers in your waste stream? What types of chemical based items do you see in terms of cleaning, garden, and other non-food items? Start with those things that are easy to remedy even if they are a small, over all portion of your waste stream.
Another area to take a personal inventory from is your budgeting system, check book, credit card receipts, cash receipts, bills, etc... These also tell you what you spend your money on, buy, and consume. You may want to address utility bills and/or the resources used that generate those bills. This could be things like using less electricity or water, using less vehicle fuel through combined trips, and so on. Or you could discover that maybe off-road racing could be replaced by pedle bike racing for both an economic and an environmental savings. Some people take up visiting their local library more often for both an economic and environmental savings.
Reviewing one's spending habits also brings up the idea of doing more active purchasing decision making which can also reduce certain types of consumption and hence resource use. Doing things like taking an closet inventory before hitting the mall can help one realise that what they really need is a coordinating piece to something they already own versus a whole new outfit. Developing honest needs criteria and purchasing decisions on tools, equipment, and supplies for either the home or garage; you can add additional environmentally conscious criteria such as durability as you choose too.
For many, minimalist living is not particularly functional for most of us trying to also be environmentally conscious. You may see the need for better window treatments, different landscaping, or some just plain caulk even if you are "only a renter". Cloth linens like napkins, towels, and scrub rags may be an investment opportunity for both financial and enviornmental returns. Individual glass serving containers, a stainless water bottle, and so on may work for you. To be able to honestly Re-use and Re-purpose, most of us need some tools of the trade, to learn some skills, and be able to think outside of the box within the Do-It-Yourself (DYI) frame of mind too.
Start small and with the easy stuff; what may be easy for you is not necessarily going to be easy for me. It's a whole life style change with a number of economic and health benefits that simply happen in the process. And, the opportunities simply keep on coming in easier and easier modes as the rest of the community comes on board.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
