Mopeds and Scooters are becoming increasingly popular due to their lower running costs and purchase prices, indeed even the insurance can be very reasonable. So what are the differences between the two types of vehicle?
Design
A gas moped is a street legal 50cc motorcycle powered by gas. The original, older mopeds will generally have pedals to start the engine and were one of the first hybrid vehicles, using human pedal power to start the engine and a gas motor to power it after start up. In fact the name is derived from MOtor and PEDal. Scooters however are a more recent invention and will usually have either a key start or kick start mechanism.
Both scooters and mopeds will usually have what is known as a step through frame. The bigger scooter engines are placed to the rear and under the driver's seat, which will normally be made big enough to carry a passenger. The smaller moped motor are usually placed on the rear drive wheel. One of the other obvious main differences is that scooters have a platform for the feet to rest on; whereas mopeds have either pedals or a bar for a foot rest.
Performance
A traditional 50cc pedal moped is usually limited to not easily exceed 35mph, whereas a scooter will generally have a bigger engine capacity, usually about 125cc, and better acceleration and top speed performance figures. Scooters have a top speed of well over 50mph and up to 70mph depending on the engine capacity. The older mopeds do not have any gears, as transition is rendered unnecessary due to their limited speed. However I am sure we have all covered our ears when a moped races past at top speed screaming like a tortured bee!
Costs and Purchasing
You can still buy the original gas powered mopeds, complete with the pedals, although because of their age, they can often require some serious maintenance. The bigger engine sizes and superior performance make scooters more expensive to both purchase and run than mopeds. Gas mopeds however are cheap to buy, and very cheap to insure. You can buy a used gas moped for around $100 and more. You will be paying upwards of $500 for newer used scooters and mopeds.
Mopeds and Scooters and the Law
In some countries there is no age limit to ride a moped; however the more usual permitted age is 15, for scooters though it is more usual for a motorcycle license to be required and therefore the age limit is the same as that for motorcycles. This is the reason that gas mopeds are often the first powered vehicle anyone owns due to the lesser restrictions on driving ages in most countries around the world. They are slow and reasonably safe, if they are driven correctly and the driver has the proper training. Again the required training that prospective drivers must have differs greatly depending on country of residence.