Hundreds of Coloradans who rely on low-power scooters to commute inexpensively will be required to insure the vehicles under a bill set for state legislative hearings today. And owners of Segways — the head-turning two-wheeled vehicles riders use while standing up — would be limited in where they can operate.

Until now, the scooters — neither motorcycle nor bicycle but with enough power to travel up to 40 miles per hour — had only to be registered with the state, a mild $5 fee every three years.

However, some owners were unpleasantly surprised to learn that homeowner liability policies that typically cover bicycles and other recreational vehicles don’t automatically cover the scooters or Segways.

“People were really shocked about the lack of liability coverage,” said Rep. Don Marostica, a Loveland Republican and sponsor of HB-1026, which is headed for a hearing today before the House Appropriations Committee.

Scooters and motorized bikes became increasingly popular last summer, when gas prices spiked above $4 a gallon. There were 5,964 registrations of motorized bicycles in Colorado in the past 12 months, according to the state Department of Revenue.

The legislation only covers scooters that are gas- or electric-powered, less than 50cc or 4,476 watts and manufactured for street use. The scooters would be limited to roadways and could not be operated on sidewalks or bike trails and paths.

“What was happening was as they became more popular, the likelihood of them colliding with cars or bikes became greater,” said Jerry Abboud, a lobbyist for the power-sports industry that sells them. “The need for insurance became more obvious. The last thing you want is a crash with a Porsche and no insurance.”

If the bill becomes law, consumers would have to pay about $100 a year to insure the vehicles. The requirement wouldn’t take effect until mid-2010.

The bill would also limit Segways to roads with speed limits under 30 mph. Colorado is one of six states where Segways, which reach a top speed of 12 1/2 mph, are not regulated because they are not considered motor vehicles under federal definitions.

The insurance requirement for scooters would not apply to Segways.

The law would allow local governments to decide whether Segways could be operated on sidewalks but not on multiuse trails in parks.

The regulation miffs Linda Reynolds, who runs Colorado Adventure Segway Tours, where tourists ride the vehicles from one historic location in Denver to another.

“Limiting use to roads of less than 30 miles per hour puts us out of business,” said Reynolds, who is also a Brighton councilwoman. “Every route we use is 35 miles per hour.”

David Migoya: 303-954-1506 or dmigoya@denverpost.com

House Bill 1026

Application of vehicle laws to low-power vehicles and defining the same:

Amendment: Adds regulations pertaining to Segways

Main sponsors: Rep. Don Marostica, R-Loveland; Sen. Suzanne Williams, D-Aurora

What it does: Makes liability insurance mandatory for owners of gas or electric scooters of at least 50cc or 4,476 watts and restricts their use from multiuse paths; also prohibits Segways from streets with posted speed limits over 30 mph and allows for sidewalk use only with local approval

What’s ahead: Hearing before the House Appropriations Committee, 8 a.m. today

SOURCE: DENVERPOST

Two new Vectrix electric scooters will be unveiled at the Irish Motorbike and Scooter show in the RDS centre in Dublin from February 27-March 1.

The VX-2, said to be the equivalent of a 50cc conventional machine, weighs 195kg and has a 50-mile range.

The VX-1E, a 125cc equivalent with a 35-mile range, is a less powerful version of the existing VX-1 model.

The VX-2 will cost around £3500 when it goes on sale in June, and the VX-1E will be around £5500.

Excellent Design

Suzuki scooters are known for their stylish designs that come in bold colors like blue, gray and black. It is evident in their sleek bodies and fantastic engines that can provide both a comfortable ride and an exhilarating performance. These scooters have a stepped seat and an adjustable backrest that will keep the rider comfortable through long distances. Suzuki scooters are also good for two. They have concave floorboards that would give both the rider and the passenger ample leg room. Suzuki scooters also have an impressive suspension as well as an aerodynamic fairing that will provide the rider with a lot of protection from the wind.

Suzuki scooters also come with a lighted underseat storage compartment as well as three other front compartments that are within the rider’s reach. Not only does it provide comfort during trips, stores the rider’s things in strategic locations. The front compartments can hold keys or change that the rider can easily access when he needs it. The underseat compartment can hold bigger items as well as things that he would like to secure.

User-friendly and Efficient

Suzuki scooters have liquid-cooled engines that do not make a lot of noise and can offer strong acceleration. They also use an advanced fuel injection system that can make it easy to steer. Even better, they come with an automatic clutch and v-belt that would produce a smooth and effortless acceleration. It also has a great set of breaks will never let the rider down. Using this scooter will also lessen gas expenses. It has a mileage of 75 miles per gallon. With the increasing price of gasoline, this should be a very big consideration.

Durable and Reliable

Most of the people who have used Suzuki scooters are very satisfied. According to these Suzuki users, their scooter has never let them down. Most of their scooters are more than two years old. And, they have traveled a lot of worry-free miles using these vehicles. Aside from a change of tire after around months of use, no other repairs have been done on their scooters yet. A lot of users also commended this product for having a very tightly capped oil gasket that does not leak at all. In fact, one user even mentioned that he could take his Suzuki scooter in the living room after use.

The best thing about Suzuki scooters is the price. With such a fantastic list of qualities, one will find the price too good to be true. It will literally give the customer a bang for his buck. Its 400 cc scooters, for example, cost as low as $6,000 which is cheap when compared with the prices of other high-end scooters. With their low prices, impressive performance and beautiful designs, what more can one ask for?

SOURCE: MSOKOREA.COM