Scooter (motorcycle)

Motor scooters are motorized two-wheelers, the opposite motorcycles have the following additional properties:

  • You will not run with your legs together, that is, there is a climb-through between seat and front bodywork: Only this criterion is used in the DIN standards. Maxi scooters with speeds in the range of 130-190 km / h but built with motorcycle frame, it remains a reduced trapdoor.
  • You have a body in general and thus offer a fairly good weather protection.
  • They tend to have storage space in the form of a helmet compartment or glove box.
  • You have - at least in the younger years of construction - Variomatikgetriebe.
  • Most manual transmission models are connected with the left hand, rarely a foot switch is to be found (for example Zündapp Bella and Samson ).

The most common were two-strokes, but are now increasingly replaced by four-stroke. Examples of different classes are divided according to maximum moped scooter at 25 km / hr and occasionally even admitted to 30 km / h and moped scooter with 45 km / h or occasionally even admitted to 50 km / h ( or DDR - models such as Schwalbe or Samson S- series to 60 km / if they were first placed on the market before 28 February 1992 see unification Treaty ) h even with M-class license. Plus, there's the 80 or 125 ( light motorcycle with a maximum output of 11 kW/15 hp) to large scooters with an engine capacity of 250 cc to 840 cc and a maximum power (2007) of 55 kW (75 hp).

Besides scooters with internal combustion engine, there are also electric scooters. Particularly in China, Electric scooters are popular because scooters have been banned with a combustion engine there in many inner cities ..

History

Then called " motor rotor " - - Probably the first scooter German production was released in 1919 by Krupp in Essen; this single-seater small scooter only 130 cm total length had front wheel drive. 1920-1923 brought the company Viktor classes in Niedersedlitz motor rotor out with 252 - cc four-stroke engine and two-speed gearbox. Also to 1923 built the engine factory Franz Tautz in Leipzig- Gohlis motor rotor with DKW two-stroke engine. In the same period, three models emerged in the car Flight OHG in Berlin- Johannisthal. " Golem " called his DKW from 1921 manufactured " armchair motorcycle " with horizontal 122- cc two-stroke engine, the production of which was then delivered to the Berlin-based company Eichler, which she set in 1923.

Also a belt drive, but already one sheet- clad motor had the 1922 resulting DKW chair motorcycle " Lomo " with 142- cc two -stroke engine; also this production was released to Eichler, it ended in 1924. DKW Both models had a front suspension with short swingarm.

Successfully have made ​​the scooter especially the Italian company Piaggio since 1946 with the Vespa and Lambretta Innocenti with the (since 1947). The typical form comes from scooters Allied airborne troops. This design was adopted today by many manufacturers. One of the first German scooter after the war (1949 ) was Walba (later FAKA ). The first scooter boom was in the years of the economic miracle. Other German brands were the Maicomobil, the Heinkel Tourist, the Zündapp Bella, who Duerkopp Diana. From 1954 to 1957 DKW produced the scooter DKW Hobby with continuously variable belt transmission ( system Uher ) in an edition of 45 303 units. In the GDR, the models swallow, SR 50, Pitty, weasels, Berlin and Troll were widespread, as are imported from Czechoslovakia models Cezeta, Tatran and Manet. At the beginning of 1950 there were in the press excited discussions about the problem that women were as socializing often In women's fit, so the side sitting on the scooter, taken - resulting in dangerous accidents resulted.

Today, the scooter has the up in the 1980s usual motorbike style design of the 1950s almost completely displaced. The reasons for this are mainly:

  • The main target group, old 16-18 years Teenagers are more susceptible to more fashionable design, have the scooter over the moped. In addition, the few remaining moped classic design compared to most scooters are relatively expensive.
  • The industry managed in the early 1990s to give the scooter a new image. Galt before he even shunned as a pure " woman car " and was supported by the numerically larger male clientele, he is now being sold today mainly as "Scooter" and " city car "; the technique is in contrast to the moped no longer placed in the foreground, but rather hidden behind plastic panels. The emergence displacement of strong scooters such as the Honda CN 250 Helix and later the Suzuki Burgman AN 400 contributed to wider use of the scooter bei.Diese development began practically only at the end of the three German motorcycle manufacturers Zündapp, Hercules and Kreidler that of their main business since the mid- 1960s had the moped sector, but scooters offered only as a marginal models or not at all ( Kreidler ).
  • In the GDR, the classic S51- Mokicks other hand are still produced until 1989 in large numbers, even the scooter Schwalbe and the modern scooters SR 50 were exceptionally widespread. The reason is on one hand to see the difficulties in getting a car in the GDR, on the other hand, it was at the Simson mopeds to mature and powerful vehicles that were particularly attractive due to the 60-km/h-Sonderregelung and minimal maintenance costs.
  • In Austria Puch dominated with the same 125cc and 150ern the market. In addition there was also " Easy Roller" with 50 and 60 cc. ( Puch DS 50, Puch R 50 )

Manufacturer and market situation

Most scooters today come from the Far East - mainly from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and China. They are either in-house developments or are manufactured with licenses as of Honda, Yamaha or Sachs. Market leader in Europe, is Piaggio, a distribution company, which leads not only to Piaggio Vespa also, Aprilia, Gilera, and Malaguti; In addition, finished in Europe still Italjet, Honda and Benelli, France ( MBK or Yamaha and of course Peugeot Motorcycles) and in Spain Tauris.

German makes, formerly known under the name of Heinkel, Zündapp, NSU, Maico, Samson and others, have disappeared from the market, as well as American models Wyse. Today, the market of the 50 cc two-stroke is dominated by Aprilia, CPI, Gilera, Italjet, Kymco, MBK, Peugeot Motocycles, Piaggio, SYM and Yamaha ( in alphabetical order, not by market share ).

Moped and scooter from DDR - - In East Germany, the Samson are common times to be far. A major reason is likely to be 60 km / h special that has remain valid for vehicles produced up to that point even after the end of the GDR. Due to the large demand for these Mokicks industrial spare parts production has been resumed.

With the larger scooters ( maxi-scooter category, about 125 cm3 ) for which, in any case, a motorcycle license is required to play Piaggio and his Gilera 800 as the largest scooter world, then Kymco, Yamaha ( TMAX and Majesty), Honda ( Silver Wing ) and Suzuki ( Burgman 400 and 650) a major role.

Construction

Power transmission and motor

Traditionally provided in many scooters engine and transmission a unit. Classic scooters usually have manual transmission or a foot switch rocker.

Since the 1990s, the combination of fully automatic ( variator ) and Unit Swing is very popular and has made through its low-cost manufacturing the scooter as a short-range vehicle in Germany popular again. Dynamic driving the system Unit Swing is problematic because Drive and power transmission by totally belong to the unsprung masses; this has a negative impact on roads in poor driving behavior. In addition, it is usually necessary, the engine forced cooling (eg fan / fan cooling ) to grow, causing a higher consumption, which on principle also applies to the variator. Therefore, manufacturers have the opportunity to train set complete with a supplier to purchase and assemble only in a separate chassis.

Most scooters are powered by single-cylinder engines. Because of the stringent exhaust emission regulations ( EU Directives 97/24/EC and 2002/51/EC ), the days of two-strokes appear to be numbered, although these still much higher pollutant emissions than allowed for passenger cars. However, there are now injection systems as well as unregulated and regulated catalysts with which the new limits can be maintained even with two-stroke engines. In addition, measures to reduce scavenging losses may reduce the high emissions somewhat.

The advantages of a two-stroke engine, the more power at lower speeds, as a result, better acceleration, generally a wider rpm range, the lower weight, lower vibration and the simple and inexpensive maintenance. The four-stroke, however, is less harmful to the environment, since the lubricating oil is not incinerated.

In two-stroke engines were inherently the comfort problem that the fuel engine oil must be added ( two-stroke mixture ). If the four- stroke engine, however, you have to make sure that there is enough oil in the oil pan is small. The problem of two-stroke, however, decreased by oil tanks and automatic mixing in engines from the 1980s. Thanks to the oil tank to about 1.3 liters, this represents the case of modern scooter actually no comfort problem; in practice this means that an oil - filling every few months or weeks. Regular oil level check is omitted due warning lights in the cockpit.

For scooters and mopeds without oil tank, many gas stations prepared two-stroke mixtures with 1:25 1:50 or 1:75 (one part oil to 75 parts petrol) ready. Mixing by hand, eliminating.

Catalysts are fitted since 1999, no longer only in four-strokes, but also in two-stroke engines (for example, Yamaha Aerox 50 Cat ).

For large scooters from 125cc ( maxi - scooter category) dominate the four-strokes clear which are now used in more and more 50 - cc scooters. Particularly powerful models also have two cylinders ( for example, Yamaha TMAX, Suzuki Burgman AN650, Honda Silver Wing, and all three are in the top speed is about 175 km / h and accelerate in 6.5 to 8 seconds to 100 km / h). The largest currently available Roller is the Gilera GP 800 with 839 cc and 55 kW (75 hp) engine power, a top speed of over 190 km / h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h in 4.5 seconds.

A new (as of 2007 ) in Motorrollerbau is the SECVT developed by Suzuki ( Suzuki Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission ) transmission, which gives the driver by pressing a button or driving with automatic transmission, the choice between using the manual control of the five " gears ". This transmission is no gear in the classic sense, but a pulley transmission, as you knew it earlier in automobiles DAF ( Dafodil ).

Landing gear

Basically there are two methods of construction differ in the chassis:

  • Frame with plastic covering ( the vast majority of currently available on the market scooter ) or from sheet metal (for example, swallow, Heinkel Tourist, Zündapp R 50 )
  • Self-supporting metal sheet body (for example, Vespa classic and current ET/LX- and GT series)

For the rear suspension today is mostly a Unit Swing is used, the front wheel is either a rocker ( solid short swing arm, for example, Vespa ) or - out in a fork (for example, Suzuki Burgman ) - much more common. The wheels are mostly small ( 9 "to 12" ), some large ( 14 "to 16 "). Small wheels require less space, the helmet compartment can thus be greater, the vehicle is agile and can be maneuvered in tight spaces. The scooter with 16 "wheels are also called Großradroller. Larger wheels with uneven floors are better rolled over and the gyroscopic stability increases due to larger masses. The storage compartment has but most receive no sufficient size to a full-face helmet with these scooters.

Tuning

Under Tuning refers to technical or optical changes on the vehicle. For changing gear-shifted scooters see Custom scooter. For modified Automatikmokicks see Scootertuning.

Scooter culture

Some motor scooter riders also scooterists or scooter boys call themselves (of English. Scooter = scooter ). Scooter fans usually prefer Blechroller with manual transmission, because it is a trend with strong traditions are (see also Mod ( subculture ) ). Many scooterists have in Scooter Club ( SC) or scooter clubs come together (RK ) and organize meetings, Allnighter or racing events such as the Euro Scooter Challenge.

Brand clubs

There are brand-related clubs, such as: the Heinkel - Club Germany eV (HCD ), the VCVD (Vespa Club of Germany eV ) or the Lambretta Club Germany eV (LCD ), etc. In addition, there are numerous unofficial independent of brand and Scooter clubs.

Current scooter brands

  • Adiva
  • Adly
  • Aprilia
  • Baotian
  • Benelli
  • BMW
  • CPI
  • Honda
  • Italjet
  • Keeway
  • Kreidler
  • Kymco
  • Malaguti

A number of Chinese manufacturers will produce identical scooters under various brand names, which are sold in Europe do not have dealers, but on alternative distribution channels without its own service network, such as home improvement stores, teleshopping, eBay or as an addition to mobile phone contracts. These include brands such as Baotian, Buffalo, Dafier, Jack Fox, Jimstar, Jinlun, Jinan Qingqi, Rex, Yiying ( Benzhou ) and Zhongyu. → Main article: China Roller

Historical scooter brands

  • Achilles
  • Agrati
  • Binz
  • BMW
  • Cezeta: a scooter series, which was based on Jawa engines
  • Cushman
  • DKW
  • Duerkopp
  • FAKA
  • Garelli ( Capri Scooter )
  • Glass ( Goggoroller )
  • Harley -Davidson
  • Heinkel
  • Hoffmann
  • Hercules
  • Innocenti
  • IWL with the types Pitty Wiesel, Berlin and Troll
  • Jawa
  • Kreidler
  • Lohner
  • LUTZ
  • Maico
  • NSU
  • Progress
  • Puch
  • Roletta ( Rohr )
  • Rex
  • Sachs
  • Samson with the "Bird Series " ( Swallow, hawk, sparrow hawk )
  • Vyatka / Вятка
  • Wyse
  • Zündapp
Simson (company) Johannisthal (Berlin) Wirtschaftswunder Honda CN250 Yamaha Motor Company Sachs Motorcycles Benelli (motorcycles) MBK (Scooter manufacturer) Peugeot Motorcycles SYM Motors Running gear Vespa LX 150 Cutdown Northern Soul Baotian Motorcycle Company BMW-Motorrad Garelli Motorcycles Čezeta Harley-Davidson Hoffmann (motorcycle) Industriewerke Ludwigsfelde Vyatka (motor scooter)
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