Motor Scooter Accessories: Essential Scooterist Kit

The collection of scooterist support equipment featured on this page is the result of extensive research and testing. Products are chosen specifically for their appropriateness for the scooterist, as well as function and price: Helmets, Insurance, fuel equipment, rain gear, Navigation, puncture prevention, roadside assistance, clothing, repair manual, and scooter enthusiast's reference, to mention a few. You may not need all of them, but it's far better to have them just in case than to need them unexpectedly. Items are being added as they prove themselves to be outstanding additions to the Essential Scooterist Kit. Know a scooterist? a well thought-out kit makes a great present.

If you have comments or suggestions on the items here, please visit our Scootering Peripheral Devices Forum and share them.

Fueling

Wilmar Deluxe Siphon Pump:
Price: $6.99

Fuelling a scooter at a gas/petrol station is awkward. Normal gasoline/petrol pumps pump too fast to fill a scooter tank easily without spillage. In some cases, one must pump in brief spurts to avoid overflowing. It is also uneconomical to buy five liters of petrol with a bank card as even a minimal surcharge will effectively raise the price by a substantial percentage. If one also drives a car, it is much easier just to fill the scooter's tank from the car's tank, though in some cases it can be hard to position the syphon in tanks with anti-syphon features.

The Wilmar Deluxe Siphon Pump is just the right size to fit comfortably into a scooter storage compartment and will easily handle the volume of fuel needed for a scooter. Also, if you are out of gas, most motorists will happily share a liter with you if you have the equipment to get it.

1 Gallon Self Venting Fuel Container/ Gas Can
Gas Can

Price: $8.54

This fuel can is a real find for scooterists at a reasonable price. Amazingly, it gives you space to carry one gallon of gasoline, "plus" 4 ounces for oil mix for the classic two-cycle scooterist.

Navigation

The Rand McNally GPS Navigator is simple enough for everyone to use, and this exclusive price is lower than you'll find anywhere else!

Finally, a GPS for your scooter. Not specifically designed for them but small enough and inexpensive enough to qualify. At a size of 4.5" W x 3.2" H x 1.4" D

and weighing only 7 oz. (less than 0.5 lb.), this unit can be mounted on the console in a number of ways.

Insurance

Get Instant Insurance Quotes at 2Insure4less or See more insurance sources.

Roadside Assistance

Breakdowns on scooters can be a problem, particularly in view of the fact that roadside assistance for two-wheeled vehicles is not necessarily included in most club memberships and requires an extra fee. Some roadside assistance programs do, however, cater to scooter and motorcycle drivers. See Scooter Roadside Assistance

Helmets

It is an unfortunate fact that the freedom of helmetless wind-blown hair as one tours the countryside has vanished in compliance with current helmet regulations in most countries -- Italy having been one notable exception until safety regulations of the European Union became universally applied. One needn't however wear something that presents the image of a hog-rider or dirt-biker. Subdued elegance is more suitable on a motorscooter, or perhaps something very personal and idiosyncratic. Here are a few simple suggestions:

Jafrum DOT Motorcycle Scooter Bike Helmet
Price: from $28.95

Biker Motorcycle Open Face Silver Helmet
Price: $38.95

View hundreds of helmets at Helmet Outlet USA

Sizing Chart

Use a cloth tape to measure the circumference of your head one inch above the eyebrows, or at whatever point gives the maximum dimension. Some directions state: "If you find that your measurement falls between two sizes, choose the smaller size," while others say "Choose the larger size." It's not clear which is best. In ambiguous cases perhaps it is best to soak your head and measure again.

XS - 20 1/4 - 20 7/8" ( or 52-53 cms)
S - 21 - 21 5/8" ( or 54-55 cms)
M - 21 3/4 - 22 3/8" ( or 56-57 cms)
L - 22 1/2 - 23 1/8" ( or 58-59 cms)
XL - 23 1/4 - 24" ( or 60-61 cms)
XXL - 24 1/8 - 24 7/8" ( 62-63 cms)

For a wider range of quality helmets and all kinds of Motorcycle accessories, we suggest perusing those available at Helmet Outlet USA or the Motorcycle Superstore:

Rain Gear

Rain is generally unpleasant on motorcycle or scooter though the scooter is the superior choice for wet-weather driving (see all-weather scootering). It is wise to anticipate inclement weather and take measures to prevent vision impairment from rain on the outside and condensation on the inside of face-shield or goggles.

RainX Glass Treatment
Price: $3.25

Though Rain-X is not officially for plastic surfaces, personal experience and the endorsement of many cyclists indicate that it works fine on face shields. It needs to be reapplied periodically, however. At least you will be able to see well while you are getting soaked.

Rain-X should not be applied to prescription coated lenses as it will reputedly remove the coating. It's no use antifogging one's face shield if one's prescription lenses fog up inside the helmet. This can be a real hindrance to visibility as both the inside and outside surfaces become fogged.

Clarity® Lens Cleaner and Clarity® Fog Eliminator Combo Pack
Price: $9.99

This is intended specifically for prescription lenses.

Heavy Duty Water Repellent Spray
Price: $8.46

If one doesn't have a raincoat, one tends to get soaked quickly. However, it takes a bit longer when one treats one's outer garments, certainly one's jacket, with Scotchgard. Scotchgard Heavy Duty Water Repellent Spray treated fabric repels water quite well and does not change the appearance or breathability of the material.

Puncture Prevention

Only vary few top-of-the-line brands of scooter carry a spare tire and many tire stores will not touch scooter tires (see Scooter Disadvantages).

One quick and obvious solution to flats is the "Slime" flat deterrent. “Slime” has a long-standing reputation for being able to seal punctures up to 1/4 inch in diameter automatically and prophylactically. Note: Slime will not prevent nor repair side-wall tire damage.

Slime with Electric Pump
Price: $15.60

This is a super deal we couldn't pass up. Try to find an electric tire inflator alone for this price. This kit includes both the slime and a 12 volt electric air pump and is small enough to fit under the scooter seat (though, once used, you shouldn't need it again). Unfortunately, the plug-in supplied is for a cigarrette lighter and thus not directly pluggable into most scooters without an adaptor. Also, with the small scooter batteries (and, in particular with the inferior Chinese ones) it is advisable to leave the motor running while running the air pump. It's better to plug it into a car.

CO2 Tire Inflator
Price: $16.79

This is smaller than any hand/foot operated or electric pump (5 1/4 inches long) and a great find for the scooterist or anyone with limited storage space. It also does not drain a battery.

Foot Pump
Price: $5.23

For emergency use, it is always best to have something that does not require cartridges nor electricity. This is the smallest foot-operated pump we could find (11 1/2 inches) and it's a great price.

Batteries and Electrical

The inferior batteries that come with the Chinese scooters are worth replacing, especially if the scooter is not ridden regularly.

Voltaic Pouch

Price: $194.95

Pricy but brilliant! Fully padded for laptop use, this is a solar powered (or anything powered) backpack and power center with its own battery and a vast array of adaptors for computers, ipods, cellphones, etc. Ideal for scooters without outlets, or indeed for any scooter with limited battery capacity, it charges effectively from the three flexible solar pannels on the back, wall current. or 12 volt DC car charger. Can be worn as a backpack or sling bag.

Navigation

For the long distance scooterist (and there are many), maps and gps systems can be a very useful investment. I have had a Rand McNally compass in my car for over 10 years. It is always accurate (unlike every other car compass I have used) and still looks like new without the trace of a bubble. I have not found a way to theft-proof one on my scooter yet but there are other scooterists far more ingenious than I. Visit The Rand McNally Store for maps, gps systems and all other navigational accessories

Get the 2009 Rand McNally Road Atlas for only $9.95!

Books on Scooters

Note: Book prices change from day to day with availability of used copies.

twist & go Scooter manual Scooters,Automatic Transmission 50 to 250cc (Hayne's Automotive Repair Manual) by John Haynes (Haynes Series)

from $16.47

This is a general manual for Twist&Go Scooters presenting step-by-step procedures and illustrations for each operation from from basic maintenance and troubleshooting to complete teardown and rebuild. Both two-stroke and four-stroke engines are covered, though only Honda, Piaggio, Vespa, and Yamaha are mentioned specifically by name.

Scooter Bible

from $50.00

Scooter Bible: From Cushman to Vespa,the Ultimate History and Buyer's Guide (Paperback)

Scooters by Michael Dregni, Robert H. Ammon
from: $8.27

The anachronistic bare-headed scooter image on the cover notwithstanding, this work represents extensive research fuelled by inspired enthusiasm.

Table of Contents

Vroom with a View: In Search of Italy's Dolce Vita on a '61 Vespa by Peter Moore
$10.17

Peter Moore, an independent travel writer from downunder, chronicles his jaunt through northern Italy with his Brit girlfriend on the pillion of Sophie, a 61 Vespa. Small towns, the Italian Alps, breakdowns, and fascinating resultant friendships.