Top 8 Scooters For Commuting

Commuting by scooter makes a lot of sense, particularly in large congested cities like London. You’ll be surprised by the progress you can make past the streams of stationary four wheeled vehicles and it’s much easier to find parking too. So, once you’ve completed the obligatory one day CBT, the hunt for your commuter weapon of choice is on. To help you, here are our Top 8 scooters for commuting. 50cc is a perfect starting point and you can get yourself aboard from the age of 16 (CBT required) It’s good news for older riders too, if you passed your driving test before Feb 2001 you can ride one on your licence without the need for a CBT or L plates

Yamaha Neo’s 4

An economical four stroke machine with contemporary styling, the Neo 4 makes for a great commuter. It’s EU4 compliant motor offers 2.3kw of power and is fuel efficient offering 2.2l/100km economy as well as a low 50g/km CO2 emissions. At 95kg it’s also light and manoeuvrable, but still offers plenty of legroom and storage for a full-face helmet as well as a luggage hook. A great practical 50cc choice. £2599

Gilera Runner 50

‘The’ iconic 50cc scooter has been lusted after since its launch in the late 90’s, predominantly by teenagers who wanted to zip around pretending to be Valentino Rossi! They were popular with tuners looking to squeeze more performance from them and older models have a somewhat cult following. The good news for commuters is that the Runner is still available today, and still with a peppy two stroke engine. Sticking with that engine does mean it's only Euro2 compliant, but the extra ‘poke’ is noticeable compared to its smoother 4 stroke competition. £2499

Peugeot Kisbee 4T

If you are looking for a plain and simple good value 50cc scooter to commute on, then you can’t do much better than the Kisbee. There’s nothing spectacular about the styling or its features. What you do get is a dependable, well put together machine with a responsive 2.7kw four stroke engine. It’s practical, economical, fun to ride and above all, great value. £1649

From the age of 17 the 125cc market is opened up. A CBT is required, this time for all riders so no dispensation for you older car drivers! A 125cc offers not only the obvious increase in speed (50cc machines are limited to 30mph) but they can also be a little bigger offering more space and storage options. These increases also make them better for longer commutes rather than short city centre hops. Our pick of the 125cc scoots are;

Yamaha X-Max 125

The X-Max 125 has consistently been a top seller in its class since its initial launch in 2014 and with very good reason. It truly is a premium ‘maxi’ scooter in so many ways. Features include LED headlights, keyless ignition, traction control, LCD digital display and a handy 12v outlet in the front storage pocket. The EU4 compliant fuel injected four stroke liquid cooled engine offers 10.7kw peak power. Being a maxi scooter there is plenty of room for a pillion and there is illuminated storage for two full face helmets under the seat. Being a premium product it has a suitably premium price. But it’s hard to fault as a classy commuter.£4749

Honda Forza

Hot on the X-Max’s heels is this stylish offering from Honda. It’s an equally premium machine, but offers just a little more in the performance stakes. The fuel injected, liquid cooled, four stroke engine puts out 10.5kw but its delivery gives class leading acceleration. The impressive specs include 48 litres of under seat storage space, an electrically adjustable screen and a beautiful instrument cluster incorporating both analogue sweep dials and a colour LCD panel. Stop-Go Technology helps to give a claimed 298 mile range from a tank of fuel and the larger than average wheels provide pin sharp handling.£4689

Peugeot Speed Fight 4

If you are looking for something with more sporty/aggressive look then the Speed Fight might be for you. It’s been high on the sales list since its launch in 1999, and remains a popular choice, particularly for the younger end of the market. Although not the quickest 125 scoot on the market, it’s not far off the best and the sharp looks more than make up for that. Not being ‘maxi’ style there is only storage for one helmet, but the Speed Fight has a very clear digital screen and offers connection support for mobile phones. A neat solution for satnav users. £2599

Lexmoto Chieftain

If you need a maxi scooter, but have a tight budget then the Lexmoto is a wise choice. It may not be as technically advanced at its Japanese rivals, but it has all the practicality at a lower price. It claims to offer a 280 mile tank range from the frugal EU4 compliant engine. There is the obligatory under seat storage, a mix of digital and analogue dials and the Chieftain is quite nicely finished. The one thing that’s definitely not ‘maxi’ about it is the price! £1999

Vespa GTS 125 Super

We couldn’t have a scooter list without a Vespa, could we?! With its iconic styling and fun attitude, it’s a brand that’s been on the list of top selling commuter scoots for decades. The current models are thoroughly modern machines though and the only nod to ‘retro’ is their looks. They retain the large steel body that houses a fuel injected, liquid cooled 9kw 4 stroke engine. Stop-start technology helps extend the range and keep emissions down and the instantly recognisable moulded headlight is now LED. There’s room for two open face helmets under the seat and if you want to commute whilst living ‘La Dolce Vita’ then there is simply no other choice. £4499

Whichever scooter you decide on for commuting, ensure you get the best CBT training possible by searching www.rideto.com for your nearest school.