It's not a moped, it's a scooter!

Young folks around here often refer to our scoots as "mopeds."  Here's what the state of Texas says is a moped:

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In Texas, a moped is defined as a motor-driven cycle that:

• CANNOT drive faster than 30 MPH in 1 mile.
• Has an engine that CANNOT generate more than 2 brake horsepower.
  • ADDITIONALLY, if has an internal combustion engine, the piston displacement must NOT exceed 50 cc, and the power drive system must NOT require the rider to shift gears.

If your vehicle exceeds any of the above criteria, then it’s automatically classified as a motorcycle.

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That means our scooters are all motorcycles.  Surprisingly, the state does have a classification for "scooters":

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In the state of Texas, motor-assisted scooters are self-propelled devices that have:

• At least 2 wheels on the ground while riding.
• Working brakes.
• An electric or gas motor that doesn't exceed 40 cc.
• A deck where the driver can sit or stand while riding.
• The option for human-power operation.

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It happened again today, while in Walgreens - a nice young man at the register asked about our "mopeds" (his word).  I explained that they are scooters.  Well, not the "state of Texas definition for scooters."

"These will go more than 30 miles per hour - the Honda will do 65mph, the Vespa will do 80.  No problem taking these on the highway or across the causeway."

"That's what I want," he said.  Of course, he wanted to know "How much... if you don't mind my asking?"  You could see the surprise and disappointment when he heard how much a PCX sells for.

People seem to expect these to be $600 or $700.  It's what places like Pep Boys used to advertise for those cheap Chinese total junk bikes.  Even Pep Boys doesn't sell those anymore.  Most of them couldn't pass EPA standards for safety or emissions.  Most of them last 100 miles and no parts or service available to keep them running; notoriously bad electrical parts.  Some advertised "ABS brakes" which was a blatant lie - they had a valve on the brakes that would essentially reduce braking power when pressed hard!

Anyway... they aren't mopeds!

Heading back home after lunch at Porky's BBQ, we got stopped when the bridge to our island was out...

Yeah, they're scooters.  Well, motorcycles, as far as Texas is concerned.  ;-)