Scooter parts and service could boost bottom line for distributors, repairers

If you live or work near larger metropolitan areas, you’ve likely noticed an increase in the population of scooters on the roads.

The two-wheel vehicle’s reputation, once that of a glorified moped, has assumed a new seriousness among the country’s transportation options, with makes and models proliferating, scooter dealers offering beefed-up models of near-motorcycle proportions and operators seeking the 100-mile-per-gallon promised land.

So, as consumers seek alternative modes of transportation, broadening your parts and service base to include scooters could yield a better bottom line for your business.

Although scooters are growing more sophisticated, if a tech “can work on a computerized car, they can work on a scooter,” says Bev Brinson, editor of Scooter World magazine. She says that the traditional two-stroke engines are obviously easier to work on, but scooters also have grown more sophisticated, with fuel injection replacing carbureted systems.

The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) says that scooter sales in the United States in the first half of the year skyrocketed 66 percent higher than in the first six months of the previous year, to more than 49,000 scooters, adding June sales rose nearly 90 percent over last year.

And even these numbers may be underestimating the trend. Brinson says the MIC acknowledges only established brands such as Honda, Vespa and Suzuki. A number of other makes also are making appearances on U.S. streets, like Kymco, Taiwan’s largest scooter manufacturer.

It’s best to also align yourself with a reputable scooter parts wholesaler, like Chicago’s Scooterworks, Brinson adds.

Should you decide to delve into the scooter world, it might be beneficial to specialize in particular makes and models, recommends Brinson, who’s also co-author of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Motor Scooters.”

There are a preponderance of scooter makes being driven, some of them off-brand Asian nameplates that do not have supporting parts and service or warranties, she warns. 

For those who can repair vehicles and their computerized complexity, scooter repair shouldn’t be too difficult, she adds.

And it may not be a stretch to sell scooters outright. Brinson reports that a number of scooter dealers are sold out and have waiting lists and cash deposits from eager drivers; some of these lists number more than 100.

And it’s also prudent to study up on scooter laws in your state. Some are street-legal, others aren’t.

Scooters are known polluters despite their fuel-efficiency, but manufacturers such as Vespa are considering gas-electric hybrid models. Others are touting the benefits of electric scooters.

From the 50 CC engine to those with 750 CCs, there are a plethora of options for those looking to dive in to the scooter marketplace, which is only expected to pick up more steam.