This article is sponsored by Wolf Scooters.
Food, gas, rent, books, social life—what else could we possibly spend money on? You’ll find out when your cheap motor scooter breaks down on the side of the road and you’re waiting for your friend to take you to the repair shop. When shopping for clothes, the sales rack or the secondhand store might tempt you. But don’t give into this temptation when you buy a scooter. Your scooter needs to be reliable for getting to class on time and adventures off campus. Quality matters.
Read on to find out how cheap scooters will cost you more in the end.
What should I consider before buying a cheap scooter?
You stroll into the moped store looking for a sweet new ride. Don’t gawk at the price tags— think beyond the initial price of the scooter. “The worst thing you can do is buy a scooter solely based on price point and have nothing but issues,” said Justin Marmolejo, General Manager for Wolf Scooters. Think ignition issues, a bad throttle cable and unexplained rattling.
A valve adjustment could cost $50-70, on top of tire replacements ranging from $30-50. That all equals the cha-ching sound ringing up your expensive repair. Buy a scooter with quality tires up front and you’ll have that extra $50 for coffee money throughout the semester.
Whether you need your scooter for all four years of undergrad or until your parents let you take the car, a new, affordable scooter backed by a warranty will zoom you back and for to class without a problem.
If scooter trouble does arise, you’ll want to know that the store or brand has your back with a solid warranty to protect you. “Pick a scooter with a good warranty. All the dealerships that we comb through, we make sure that they’re going to stand behind the product,” said Marmolejo.
MopedU in Iowa City offers a three-year warranty for around $299 which includes parts and labor when you buy a Wolf Scooter. Because many students only use their scooters during college, this warranty would cover you for almost your entire undergrad experience.
If the experts don’t believe in their cheap scooter, why should you?
You can tell if a company/scooter brand doesn’t believe in its scooter’s quality based on their warranty.
“When you’re purchasing a scooter, you want to make sure that the company also stands behind the product so if you do have any issues, you can take it to the dealership, the dealership will file the warranty claim form and everything really happens quickly,” said Marmolejo.
With tests to study for, chapters to read and equations to solve, you don’t want to spend your valuable time waiting on scooter repairs. Or even worse, you don’t want to find out that there isn’t a warranty after your cheap scooter breaks down.
What wear and tear should I expect with my scooter?
You can park your scooter far away from everyone else, only drive 20 miles per hour and check its oil levels every night. But you can’t completely avoid wear and tear.
“Bikes get dinged up and stuff with how close parking is,” MopedU, Iowa City owner Tyler Persinger said. “Tires and brakes are the main thing that will wear out for students.”
Accidents happen, too. Pay attention to how you treat your scooter. You might accidentally drop it when you see that hottie from your chemistry class walk past— you never know.
Keeping up with maintenance will save your life (and wallet) when it comes to your motor scooter. “If you keep your tires inflated and you brake normally, most people can get a couple thousand miles out of the brakes and tires,” Persinger said. “If you don’t keep up with maintenance, when you bring it in, you’re going to need work on everything.” This especially applies if you’re already dealing with a cheap scooter.
Get your breaks checked and apply a fuel stabilizer once a month to keep your scooter in tip-top shape. Spend a little money today to avoid spending a lot of money tomorrow.
What extras should I buy with my motor scooter?
We all get by with a little help, and your scooter is no different. Buy a cover for your moped to keep it safe during the winter months. Even better, store your scooter somewhere safe away from the elements.
Campus Scooter at Michigan State will store your scooter during the winter or summer and even give you a discount on repairs you ask for while they store it. Sweet deal!
The winter months, or any other time you aren’t scooting as much, will also affect its gas life. “We always recommend purchasing a fuel treatment or fuel stabilizer,” said Persinger.
Scooters don’t travel super far, so they don’t use a lot of gas. When the gas sits in the tank for a while, it can get old and less efficient. You don’t want to deal with a moped that won’t start when you need to make it to your midterm in 15 minutes. This inexpensive treatment will prove a much better option than having to call the scooter store to come jump-start your bike.
Why should I buy a quality new scooter vs a cheap used scooter?
Brakes on used scooters will wear a little sooner. But a brand new scooter can get close to 10,000 miles. “People tend to have an overall better experience on nicer bikes,” said Persinger. A scooter with 5,000 miles already on it will leave your life like your sanity during finals week.
Since scooters don’t use much gas, put those extra few bucks towards a scooter that’ll cause you less worries later. “College students, for the most part, are strapped for cash, so for $1,099 you can get a very reliable vehicle that’s going to start up every day. So you’re basically not worrying about transportation,” said Marmolejo.
Feel confident and ride smoothly with your smart new scooter purchase.
What affordable and quality scooter should I buy?
Quality brands such as Wolf Scooters, Genuine and Lance offer affordable and quality options for any student. “At Wolf Scooters we provide the best quality product for the cheapest price,” said Marmolejo. Any company that considers your wallet should be high priority to check out for college students.
Not only should a company believe in your ability to pay for their product, but they should also believe in the product they give you. “We stand behind the product 100 percent, we stand behind the dealers, and in turn the dealers stand behind us 100 percent,” said Marmolejo.
If you worry about spending money on gas, try the Wolf RX-50. “It’s very economical on gas,” said Marmolejo. And this model fits nicely in a college student’s transportation budget at only $1,099.
If you want to impress everyone on the way to the homecoming game, consider the Wolf Blaze. “I like the sporty style and when you’re riding it you kind of get a feel like you’re riding a motorcycle. It’s overall very comfortable,” said Marmolejo.
No matter your preference, Wolf can offer you a scooter to fit your budget and ease your mom’s worries about you getting to class safely. Spend a little more money up front on a quality scooter versus simply a cheap scooter and you’ll spend less money later. Everyone’s happy.
This article is sponsored by Wolf Scooters.
