The was the first globally popular scooter. A scooter (also referred to as a motor scooter to avoid confusion with, but not to be confused with a ) is a type of with a and a platform for the rider's feet. Elements of scooter design were present in some of the earliest motorcycles, and scooters have been made since 1914 or earlier. Scooter development continued in Europe and the United States.

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The global popularity of motor scooters dates from the post-World War II introductions of the and models in Italy. These scooters were intended to provide economical personal transportation ( from 50 to 250 cc or 3.1 to 15.3 cu in). The original layout is still widely used in this application. Maxi-scooters, with larger engines from 250 to 850 cc (15 to 52 cu in) have been developed for Western markets. Scooters are popular for personal transportation partly due to being more affordable, easy to operate, and more convenient to park and store than a car. Licensing requirements for scooters are easier and cheaper than for cars in most parts of the world, and insurance is usually cheaper. 1908 French Auto-Fauteuil motorcycle First generation (1915–1930) The Motoped entered production in 1915, and is believed to be the first motor scooter.

They were followed that year by the, whose engine was engaged by pushing the handlebar column forward and whose brake was engaged by pulling the column back. Autopeds were made in, from 1915 to 1921, and were also made under licence by in Germany from 1919 to 1922, following.

The number of scooter manufacturers and designs increased after World War I. The British -, the, and the debuted in 1919, with following with its in 1920. The Skootamota was noted for being practical, popular, and economical, the Kenilworth for its electric lights, and the Reynolds Runabout for its advanced specifications, including front suspension, a two-speed gearbox, leg shields, and a seat sprung with leaf springs and coil springs. The Unibus also had a two-speed gearbox, but it is more notable for its full bodywork, similar to that which would appear of second- and third-generation scooters. The reputation of first-generation scooters was damaged by a glut of unstable machines with flexible frames, and more substantial examples like the Reynolds Runabout and the Unibus were too expensive to be competitive. The first generation had ended by the mid-1920s.

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First generation scooters, 1915–1930. DKW Lomos, a cross between a scooter and an auto-fauteuil Second generation (1936–1968) E.

Foster Salsbury and Austin Elmore developed the Salsbury Motor Glide, which was a division of, a scooter with a seat above an enclosed drivetrain, and began production in 1936 in California. In 1938, Salsbury introduced a more powerful scooter with a (CVT). This was the first use of a CVT on a scooter. It was such a success that Salsbury attempted to license the design to several European manufacturers including Piaggio. The Motor Glide set the standards for all later models. It inspired production of motor scooters by, Moto-scoot, Cushman, Rock-Ola, and others.

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The produced motor scooters from 1936 to 1965. Cushman was an engine manufacturer that started making scooters after Salsbury found their offer to supply engines to be unacceptable. Cushman and Salsbury competed against each other, with both companies advertising the economy of their scooters. Cushman claimed an efficiency of 120 mpg ‑US (2.0 L/100 km; 140 mpg ‑imp) at 30 mph (48 km/h). Cushman introduced a centrifugal clutch to their scooters in 1940. The Cushman Auto Glide Model 53 was designed to be dropped by parachute with Army Airborne troops, and was eventually called the 'Cushman Airborne'.

Cushman scooters were also used around military bases for messenger service. Salsbury continued manufacturing scooters until 1948, while Cushman continued until 1965. Small numbers of the 165 cc (10.1 cu in) scooter were produced from 1960 to 1965 using the engine from based on the. It had a body, a, and a starting mechanism. Second generation scooters, United States, 1936–1965.

1948 Salsbury Model 85 scooter, in the middle Early postwar Japan After World War II, wartime manufacturers were forbidden from making aircraft, and had to find other products to make in order to stay in business. Fuji Sangyo, a part of the former, began production of the S-1 scooter in June 1946. Inspired by scooters used by American servicemen, the S1 was designed to use surplus military parts, including the tailwheel of a Nakajima bomber, re-purposed as the front wheel of the S1. Later that year, introduced the C10, the first of its line of scooters. This was inspired by a Salsbury Motor Glide that had been brought to Japan by a Japanese man who had lived in the United States.

Production of the Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon and the Fuji Rabbit continued through several series until the 1960s. Some series of the Fuji Rabbit were developed to a high level of technological content; the S-601 Rabbit Superflow had an automatic transmission with a torque converter, an electric starter, and pneumatic suspension. Mitsubishi ended scooter production with the C140 Silver Pigeon, while Fuji continued production of the Rabbit until the last of the S-211 series was built in June 1968. Second generation scooters, Japan, 1946–1968. In India, manufactured its line of scooters from 1972 to 2009, which included the,.

The Chetak and Legend were based on the Italian. It was discontinued in 2009. Another Vespa partner in India was. Beginning as a joint-venture with Piaggio in 1983, LML, in addition to being a large parts supplier for Piaggio, produced the for the Indian market. In 1999, after protracted dispute with Piaggio, LML bought back Piaggio's stake in the company and the partnership ceased. LML continues to produce (and also exports) the P-Series variant known as the in the U.S. Market and by other names in different markets.

Developments Trends around the world have seen new developments of the classic scooter, some with larger engines and tires. High-end scooter models now include comprehensive technological features, including cast aluminium frames, engines with integral counterbalancing, and cross-linked brake systems.

Some of these scooters have comfort features such as an alarm, start button, radio, heated hand grips and full instrumentation (including clock or outside temperature gauge). Three-wheeled scooter. Piaggio MP3 During World War II, made the Model 39, a three-wheeled utility scooter with a large storage bin between the front wheels. They sold 606 to the US military during the war. The is a modern three-wheeled scooter. Unlike most motorcycle trikes, it is a reverse trike, with two front wheels which steer, and a single driven rear wheel.

The front suspension allows both front wheels to tilt independently, so that all three wheels remain in contact with the ground as it leans when cornering. Maxi-scooter. A maxi-scooter or touring scooter is a large scooter, with engines ranging in size from 250 to 850 cc (15 to 52 cu in), and using larger frames than normal scooters. The trend toward maxi-scooters began in 1986 when Honda introduced the Helix / Fusion / Spazio. Many years later, Suzuki launched the 400 and 650 models.

Honda (600 cc or 37 cu in), Aprilia/Gilera (839 cc or 51.2 cu in), Yamaha (530 cc or 32 cu in), Kymco (700 cc or 43 cu in) and others have also introduced scooters with engine displacements ranging from 400 to 850 cc (24 to 52 cu in). Honda's (also known as Big Ruckus) features a motorcycle-like exoskeleton instead of bodywork.

A new direction in maxi-scooters has the engine fixed to the frame. This arrangement improves handling by allowing bigger wheels and less unsprung weight, also tending to move the centre of gravity forwards. The trend toward larger, more powerful scooters with fully automatic transmissions converges with an emerging trend in motorcycle design that foreshadows automatic transmission motorcycles with on-board storage. Examples include the automatic-transmission motorcycle and the, which is a scooter built on a motorcycle platform. Enclosed scooter. Main article: Generally, the source of power for the electric motor has been, but development in technology has created several prototypes. Some examples are: the from Intelligent Energy, 's scooter using the Honda FC Stack, and the Yamaha FC-AQEL.

Also, petroleum hybrid-electric motorcycles are available. Some examples are the Ecycle, and 's Gen-RYU. Electric motorcycles and scooters are rising in popularity because of higher gasoline prices. Battery technology is gradually improving making this form of transportation more practical. Underbone. Kymco Activ underbone. This has a slanted downtube, which defines an underbone, and no foot platform, the presence of which defines a scooter.

An is a motorcycle built on a chassis consisting mostly of a single large diameter tube. An underbone differs from a conventional motorcycle mainly by not having a structural member connecting the to the structure under the front of the seat and by not having a fuel tank or similarly styled appendage in the space between the riders knees. Underbones are commonly referred to as 'step-throughs' and appeal to both genders in much the same way as scooters. Underbones are often mistaken for scooters and are sometimes marketed as such.

However, an underbone does not have a footboard, and is therefore not a scooter. The engine of an underbone is usually fixed to the chassis under the downtube, while a scooter usually has its engine mounted on its. As a result, underbone engines are usually further forwards than those of scooters. A typical underbone therefore has a more central than a typical scooter. Furthermore, having an engine mounted on the swingarm gives a typical scooter more than a typical underbone. These factors give a typical underbone better handling than a typical scooter.

The engine of an underbone typically drives the rear wheel by a chain of the kind used on a conventional motorcycle. This final drive is often concealed by a chain enclosure to keep the chain clean and reduce wear. The final drive of a scooter with a swingarm-mounted engine runs in a sealed oil bath and is shorter. An underbone is usually fitted with near full-size motorcycle wheels, which are often spoked.

Scooter wheels are usually small, and made from pressed steel. In both cases, more recent examples often have cast alloy wheels. The bigger wheels of an underbone allow more ventilation and better cooling for the brakes than the smaller wheels of a scooter. While the engine and suspension layouts described here for scooters and underbones are typical, they are not rigid definitions. There have been scooters with fixed engines and chain drive, and there have been underbones with swingarm-mounted engines. A twenty-first century example of variance from the typical scooter layout is the, which had both its engine and its rear axle rigidly bolted to its frame.

Some atypical scooters and underbones. Rider looking for a place at parking lot in, where use of a scooter in city transport is among highest in Italy. Motor scooters are popular in most parts of the first world, Europe (particularly Italy and the Mediterranean), Japan and Taiwan, but not the US. They are even more popular in most parts of the developing world, particularly in countries such as India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and China where there is local manufacture. Parking, storage, and traffic issues in crowded cities, along with the easy driving position make them a popular form of urban transportation. In many nations, scooter (and other small motorcycle) sales exceed those of automobiles, and a motor scooter is often the family transport.

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Motor scooter parking lot In Taiwan, road infrastructure has been built specifically with two wheelers in mind, with separate lanes and intersection turn boxes. In Thailand, scooters are used for street to door taxi services, as well as for navigating through heavy traffic. The extensive range of cycle tracks in the Netherlands extends into parts of Belgium and Germany and is open to all small powered two-wheelers. Motor scooters are popular because of their size, weight, and typically larger storage room than a motorcycle. In many localities, certain road motor scooters are considered by law to be in the same class as mopeds or small motorcycles and therefore they have fewer restrictions than do larger motorcycles. According to the, sales of motor scooters in the United States have more than doubled since 2000.

The motorcycle industry as a whole has seen 13 years of consecutive growth. According to council figures, 42,000 scooters were sold in 2000.

By 2004, that number increased to 97,000. Scooter sales in 2008 in the United States were up 41% on 2007, and represented 9% of all powered two-wheeler sales. However, falling oil prices after a boom in 2008, led to a decrease in US scooter sales in 2009 of 59% against 2008, compared with a 41% fall for all powered two-wheelers, while the scooter's contribution to total US powered two-wheeler sales in 2009 fell to 6%. After a two-year slump, scooter sales in the US rebounded in the first quarter of 2011, once again as a result of higher fuel prices. In popular culture A common reference for the glamorous image of scooters is, a 1953 romantic comedy in which carries around Rome on a Vespa. Scooter rally at Smallbrook Stadium, Isle of Wight In the 1960s, some members of this British youth cult used motorscooters for transportation, usually Vespas or Lambrettas. Scooters had provided inexpensive transportation for decades before the development of the mod subculture, but the mods stood out in the way that they treated the vehicle as a fashion accessory, expressed through clubs such as the.

Italian scooters were preferred for their cleanlined, curving shapes and gleaming. For young mods, Italian scooters were the 'embodiment of continental style and a way to escape the working-class row houses of their upbringing'. They customised their scooters by painting them in 'two-tone and candyflake and overaccessorized them with luggage racks, crash bars, and scores of mirrors and fog lights', and they often put their names on the small windscreen. Engine side panels and front bumpers were taken to local electroplating workshops and plated with highly reflective chrome. Scooters were also a practical and accessible form of transportation for 1960s teens. In the early 1960s, stopped relatively early in the night, and so having scooters allowed mods to stay out all night at dance clubs.

To keep their expensive suits clean and keep warm while riding, mods often wore long army parkas. For teens with low-end jobs, scooters were cheaper than cars, and they could be bought on a payment plan through newly available plans. After a law was passed requiring at least one mirror be attached to every motorcycle, mods were known to add four, ten, or as many as 30 mirrors to their scooters.

The cover of 's album, which includes themes related to mods and, depicts a young man on a Vespa GS with four mirrors attached. The album spawned a.

Magazines include the British monthly magazine and the American quarterly magazine Scoot! Clubs Scooter clubs include the and in England, and the in the United States.

See also.