Should You Ride a Motor Scooter on the Freeway?

Berts Mega Mall | Powersports Hub

The law in California states that any motorcycle with 150cc displacement or more is legal to ride with a motorcycle license endorsement on the freeways. Different states have different rules about what you can use on the highways/freeway so make sure to check the state you’re in. Although it may be legal to use a 150cc motorcycle on the freeway does not mean it is the wisest version of a 2 wheeled vehicle to use? So real question is; should you ride a scooter on the freeway? Our recommendation is to avoid riding anything under 300cc’s on a California freeway or highway. We’ve gathered a few key points for you to think about and decide whether it is a good idea to ride your scooter on the freeways here or anywhere else in the U.S.

Motorcycle Engine Size:

As we’ve previously mentioned, we strongly recommend avoiding riding any motorcycles under 300cc on a heavy traffic freeway or highway. We say this because some scooters under 300cc, such as a 150cc scooter and are too small for serious freeway riding. Most 150cc scooters must be driven constantly at full-throttle, these scooters are designed lighter than a true highway capable version, they are air cooled and not water cooled which increases the motor wear at high rpm’s. Scooters that are 300cc or more are ready to take on the freeway because they’re designed for it with a wider range of gearing, bigger tires and more protection from the wind/traffic turbulence.

Level of Riding Experience:

Even if you have the correct size scooter for the freeway, you need to have good experience riding in general. We don’t recommend beginner riders to get on the freeways with any type of bike. You’ll need to be aware of lane placement to keep yourself visible and learn to anticipate anything and everything as things move much faster at 65-75 mph. The speeds will be a lot faster than what you may be used to on the street and traffic can also stop suddenly so it is important to know how to react quickly. You could always try to hit the freeways when there are not many people out driving so you can get a feel for it. One of the “biggest” obstacles to get used to on the freeways are the Semi-trailer trucks. These can create a vacuum around and behind them and with a scooter being so light you are at the mercy of their powerful turbulence.

Riding Distance:

Scooters are great on gas mileage and could get you very far depending on how far you’re actually going. There are other choices if you plan on doing more long distance riding. Scooters may not be the most comfortable thing to sit on for a few hours. There are definitely ways to upgrade your seat cushions but if the majority of your time on a scooter is for long distance commutes on freeways you may want to go with a different or bigger option. It may take you a long time to arrive at your destination if your bike is a little less powerful.

Destination:

Think about where you will be riding your scooter in. Is the highway/freeway road suitable for your scooter to ride on? Scooters under 300cc are a little more fragile when it comes to how they’re put together. If you may be on a dirt road or not all concrete road you’ll want to possibly choose another motorcycle.

Road Conditions:

If you’re uncomfortable driving in narrow lanes or maybe in heavy traffic you should avoid riding your scooter or maybe choose an alternative route. If the weather is not motorcycle friendly and you have a lower powered scooter then your best bet will be wearing the proper rain gear or try to find another way of transportation.

Should You?

The main point to take away from all of this is: have the right engine size. When having anything smaller than 300cc you are limited to how fast you can go and the lightweight could be a handful at freeway speed and you should be able to keep up with traffic. If you do not feel confident about riding your scooter then maybe gaining a little more experience and confidence is a good idea. Remember if you cannot keep up with the traffic you may be putting yourself and other drivers at risk. As you should always, drive and ride defensively.

Related:
-Motor Scooter VS. Car
-Finding the Motorcycle that Fits You Best!
-Hand Signals Every Rider should know