Helmet? On. Bag? Under the seat. Ready? Go. A campus scooter makes getting ready easy. We’re talking motor scooters—you left the Razor scooters of your childhood behind. You don’t want to scare mom and dad with a motorcycle just yet. And your #brokecollegestudent life prevents you from owning a car. These 10 best scooters for campus cruizin’ fit your wallet, your lifestyle and your campus.
Check out the top 10 campus scooters you can cruise on in 2018.
10. Wolf Blaze
MSRP: $1,399
Do you imagine racing movies when rushing to class? The Wolf Blaze 50cc Scooter brings you one step closer to merging your fantasy with reality with sporty graphics and a kick in its engine to get you across campus in a flash. The LED lights make sure you can race well into the night every night without worry. The USB charger means your phone will have full battery when your mom calls and ruins the fantasy. Need a fast track to a good grade? The Wolf Blaze blazes through travel times to boost study time. “Most of the time on my scooter, I can leave later than it would take to walk and that means I can work on homework later,” University of Iowa junior Payton Long said. For an MSRP of $1,399, you can feel like you’ve just won the X Games every time you drive to class.
9. Honda Metropolitan
MSRP: $2,449 (plus fees)
City slickers need something sleek. The Honda Metropolitan definitely looks the part. Smooth rounded curves and a wide seat make this model look like you’re riding a cloud. The slim body and no-shift automatic transition still let you maneuver easily. Your errands couldn’t get any easier with under-seat storage, a bag-holding handle and a water-bottle holder. Haul your supplies and hydrate on the go. “I think [getting a scooter with storage] is worth the investment. I love the seat compartment and trunk… It makes it easy to pack for the day,” University of Iowa sophomore Danielle Ernest said.
8. Yamaha Zuma
MSRP: $2,599 (plus fees)
This motor scooter looks at other scooters and says, “What do you think you’re looking at?” Check out the wide-set handlebars, double headlights, wide tires and thick pipe frame of this metallic tough guy. He looks like an off-roader, but he still cleans up well to calm the ‘rents. Its fuel injector system makes sure even the harsh weather doesn’t stand a chance. Pure distance can’t stop you: The Zuma gets 132 mpg. Ride circles around those kick scooters without any fear.
7. Vespa Sprint
MSRP: $3,899
Even the most passionate environmental advocates need to get around off their feet sometimes. For those who bleed green but need a quicker option to get around campus, look to the Vespa Sprint. Its low emission and consumption levels give your feet and Mother Nature a much-needed rest without compromising speed. Basically, owning the Vespa is the most efficient and environmentally friendly way of getting around. Unless, of course, you figure out how to actually harness the power of the wind to blow you to class.
6. Genuine Roughhouse
MSRP: $1,999 (plus fees)
Scooter Goldilocks wanted sporty without chunky design, durability without low gas mileage and tire grip without losing the ability to coast on pavement. The Roadhouse? Just right. “[Any] Genuine scooter will easily take college students around town and around campus for their entire college career (some longer than others). And, when it’s time to sell it or trade it in for a new Genuine scooter, the Buddy holds its value better and longer than most any scooter on the market,” a Genuine VP of Sales Trey Duren said. You can ride on multiple terrains for as long as this scooter has gas (with 100 mpg, read: a long time) and holds up (with this design, read: even longer). Plus, it still costs under $2,000. Time to start selling some old textbooks.
5. Lance PCH
MSRP: $1,599.99
You’ll feel straight out of a sci-fi movie on this futuristic-looking motor scooter. A two-year warranty protects you in the near future, though the Lance PCH looks like it belongs 20 years into the future. And this spaceship-on-the-road still feels safe. The powerful brakes, wide handlebars and tires make for safe handling that put worriers at ease. Think the scooter of tomorrow costs your future firstborn as well? Nope. “One of the main reasons a college student should invest in the PCH is the affordability/reliability. At $1,599.99 with a two year bumper to bumper warranty and a ceramic-coated cylinder engine, it leaves all the worry to obtaining your degree and not worrying about getting to class. It also has a great resale value once the student graduates,” Lance Powersports National Sales Manager Mike Hickman said.
4. Genuine Buddy
MSRP: $1,999 (plus fees)
A good buddy has your back just like this Genuine Buddy 50cc scooter does. The petite engine doesn’t leave you hanging but also doesn’t weight you down. The two-year, no mileage warranty means your scooter will stick around through thick and thin. The candy-like colors make you want to stock up on at least three of these so you can make your Buddy into a squad of buddies. “The Buddy Scooter is perfectly sized to get around college campuses. The engine is designed to be quick and nimble to handle any riding situation. It has a 2-year unlimited mileage warranty and two years of FREE roadside assistance which is perfect for college students with limited budgets,” Duren said. “Parents of college students riding Buddy scooters can feel comfortable knowing their student will be taken care of in time of need.”
3. Wolf Islander
MSRP: $1,099
Think palm trees. Think a beach breeze. Think easy cruising without a care in the world. Now open your eyes to the Wolf Islander. With retro colors that pop, vintage vibes and low-cost maintenance, you’ll feel summer creeping into your thoughts. Unfortunately, campus doesn’t run on island time. But the Islander can get you where you need to go quick. Plus, it barely costs as much as it would take to run away to Hawaii at an incredible deal of only $1,099.
2. Honda Ruckus
MSRP: $2,699 (plus fees)
Don’t let the name of this scooter fool you. Nothing about the Ruckus reflects the chaos of its name. Minimalists will rejoice in its simple frame. Perfectionists will love to customize its color and the accessories you can add. Control-freaks will love the handling. The only ruckus from the Ruckus comes from everyone swarming you to ask where they can get one too. Other than that, you’ll enjoy smooth rides on its lightweight frame. You’ll feel any weight in your shoulders lighten too as you ride from class to work to errands to home with no stress.
1. Wolf RX-50
MSRP: $1,099
Even if you feel pinned to the wall by all of the villains of college life—Busted Bank Account, Wretched Responsibility and the dreaded Time Vortex—this super scooter flies in to save the day. The Wolf RX-50, 50cc motor scooter knows all the moves to take down every college villain. Plus, with no gimmicks and a straight-up economical mix of classic and innovative features, the RX-50 gets the job done with no damage. The RX-50 has great features like a built in USB port, Duro tires, an upgraded premium electrical system, and other high-end features at a super low price, making a quality scooter accessible to almost anyone. Dealerships across the nation have raved that the Wolf RX-50 is the best economy scooter on the market today. All of the powers of the universe combine in the Wolf RX-50 to get you to class on time, with a charged phone, full wallet and rested legs. The RX-50’s only Kryptonite? You draining your money into car expenses. And all at a super low MSRP of just $1,099, landing the RX-50 in first place.
See below for the top 10 campus scooters 2017.
Written by Allison Kridle
Have you heard of the new car that costs two dollars or less to fill up? It lets you drive on a beautiful, sunny day without boxing you in. It’s easy to park on campus and allows you to bob and weave in between other cars in traffic. Plot twist: it’s not a car. It’s a scooter. While cars prove to be rather large investments, a campus scooter serves you just fine (if not better) than a car for the mean time.
10. 49cc Bintelli Sprint
If a scooter starter pack existed, the 49cc Bintelli Sprint would be first model to test drive. It includes a basic speedometer, start button, brake handling and gas gauge. Make the model your own by choosing between trendy colors like electric blue, shiny garnet, neon yellow or charcoal gray. “If you want a cheap scooter that will last you a while then the Sprint is an okay choice. [It rides] decently smooth,” Florida State University alumnus Marissa Weisse said. The seat gives you room for two, so put your friend on the back and explore your college town for the day. With wind in your hair and the sun out giving your arms a fresh tan, you’ll feel invincible. Just don’t forget your helmet!
Price: Varies ($1000-1300)
9. Honda 2016 Metropolitan
The Honda 2016 Metropolitan’s stylish and retro look makes any driver ready to slay the streets. While the cute interior grabs the attention of all of its riders, an even better feature is its new engine, a 49cc liquid-cooled four-stroke engine with fuel injection. This means the vehicle drives powerful and smoothly but keeps the environment happy. This go-go mobile comes in white, blue and burgundy. Not that you won’t be turning heads with its innovative design anyway.
Price: Starting at $2,399
8. Yamaha Zuma 50F
In need of an adventure? Hop on a Yamaha Zuma and spend your day driving across town or off-roading—the scooter can handle it. You won’t have to stop and get gas every 100 miles either because this tough scooter holds 1.2 gallons of gas and gets 132 miles per gallon. Heck, just get on the highway. Or maybe not, considering you can only get up to 45 or 50 mph. The sturdy scooter only comes in jet black or vanilla white, but who cares if it’s just going to get covered in dirt from all your wild journeys anyway?
Price: Starting at $2,590
7. Wolf Islander Scooter
Larger than most scooter’s 49cc engines, the fashionable Wold Islander scooter has a 50cc engine. It gives retro vibes with one large round headlight and two round wide set side mirrors. You won’t miss a thing on the road. “I was initially drawn to the cute and quirky beauty of the scooter. Then I learned about how good the quality of the scooter was for its price and I was sold. It rides great, and it’s just so darn cute,” FSU junior Briana Ali said. Riders will feel extra tropical sporting a bright blue, creamsicle orange or Barbie pink scoot-scoot, but if you’re more about the subtle life, they made a black especially for you.
Price: Varies ($1299)
6. 2016 Lance Cabo 49cc
This scooter lacks only one thing—a Power Rangers costume that totally fits the Lance Cabo’s extreme vibe. Powered and protected by a ceramic-coated cylinder that is water and heat resistant (you know, just in case you fight crime near a volcano or near the Pacific Ocean), this badass-mobile can get up to a whopping 65 mph. The bad guys will never catch you. You and your crime stopping crew can each pick a different color from either white, black, red or green.
Price: Starting at $2,299
5. Honda Ruckus
The Honda Ruckus isn’t your average driving-‘round-Italy kind of Vespa; investing in a Ruckus means causing a ruckus wherever you ride. You probably know this scooter for its industrial-looking bare-bones frame and round double head lamps. “If [you] wanna get all the babes, hell yeah, what other choice is there? Goober-scooter? Nah, you want your scooter to look like something a Valkyrie babe would ride,” FSU freshman and proud Ruckus owner Vincent Iuliano said. The Ruckus mostly comes in black and white, but add a red seat and the babes will come crawling.
Price: Starting at $2,649
4. 49cc Bintelli Breeze
Embrace your inner Audrey Hepburn with the Bintelli Breeze. It’ll make you feel like the fashion icon herself in Roman Holiday. “I love driving the Bintelli Breeze, [and] I try to whenever I can because it makes getting places so much easier and faster,” Univeristy of Florida freshman Gen Horton said. The sleek and short-length scooter makes it the best for weaving between cars when traffic makes you late to class. And everyone will know it’s you when you roll up in your turquoise, light blue, white, burgundy or black Breeze.
Price: Varies ($1299)
3. 2016 Lance Havana Classic
The chic, long and lean look on the Lance Havana makes any driver super stylish. With a spacious seat ideal for two, a curvy stature and easy-to-use controls, the sophisticated scooter takes its driver more places than just campus. Next stop: your happy place. The Havana comes in white, black or a warm brown, but who needs bright colors to make a statement when you already drive a scooter with a classically chic design?
Price: $2,299
2. 2015 Tao Tao Speed-50
Alright, speed demon, hold your horses–or, I guess, scooter. The Tao Tao Speed-50 accelerates by a twist throttle (*starts playing Flicka Da Wrists*) and a fully automatic transmission, so no worrying about switching gears manually. “I had it for about five months and put around 4,000 miles on it, and it never had a problem,” FSU senior Brad Fleming said. “It was a little difficult to start up when it was cold outside, but other than that it was a good scooter.” The scooter’s default color is a badass matte black but can be sold with a separate body kit with colors such as burgundy, blue and green. This Tao Tao has simple controls and sturdy steering as well, making every ride enjoyable and easy breezy.
Price: Varies ($709)
1. Buddy 50
Drive a Buddy 50 scooter and you and your two-tire vehicle will be best buds in no time. While it looks like something out of Casablanca, the modern scooter actually exists way before its time. Unlike most scoots, the Buddy includes a charger for your iPhone and a convenient grocery bag hook. Who said you couldn’t jam out to Coldplay on your way to Trader Joe’s on your scooter? This scooter also comes in a wide range of colors like baby blue, dark gray, orange, moss green, lavender, white and seafoam. With your new Buddy, you can do what you gotta do and look good doin’ it.
Price: Varies ($1999)
*Updated February 8, 2018 by Marin McCall to include “Top 10 Campus Scooters 2018.”
