differences between a moped and a scooter?

**BMBaxter** · #1 17 May 2005

Is this based on engine size,or licensing requirements(ie.permit only,or full driver's license required,or even no license )?I have seen scooters with 650cc engines and mopeds on bike paths.Both types are obviously street legal.The only difference that I can see is that mopeds often have a set of bicycle style cranks and pedals,and they often have smaller 2 stroke engines.I would assume that moped might mean"motor-pedal"?

**Grant Johnson** · #2 17 May 2005

Yep, technically a moped has pedals and generally a 50cc engine - it needs the pedals at times! They are usually started by pedalling, the engine catches, and away you go.

A scooter is basically defined by feet in front of you and together, engine behind you and under you.

Skirts work on scooters too if you're that way inclined.

Not so good on mopeds.

Mopeds are more "motorcycly" than scooters!

Licencing varies hugely depending on where you are, no hard and fast rules, but a moped often has less regulations than a scooter.

And that's about it. hth

------------------
Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

**jkrijt** · #3 17 May 2005

In the Netherlands, a scooter can be a 49cc "moped scooter" or a >50 cc "motorcycle scooter".
There is no seperate law for scooters.
Insurance is something else. Because 49cc scooters are very populair with youngsters, who are often involved in accidents and because they are stolen a lot, the price for insurance is twice that of a 49cc moped.

**internetscooter** · #4 23 Sep 2005

I think the official definition (in Australia anyway)....

Scooter is related to the style.
Moped is related to the speed/engine size.

So you can have a moped scooter (slow scooter). Or just a moped (very slow motorbike).

Scooter riders get offended if you call their scooter a moped

**ChrisK** · #5 3 Nov 2005

In the UK a moped is defined as a powered two wheeler with and engine capacity of less than 50cc and capable of no more than 50kph and if built before 1977 it must be able to be moved by the use of pedals.
Chris

**Wheelie** · #6 3 Nov 2005

A scooter is defined by its looks, not engine size. A scooter has a rear mounted engine, a front leg shield and a foot board.

In Norway a moped is officially defined as a two wheeler with an engine smaller than 50 cc and with a 50 km/h top speed. It can have any shape or form, with or without pedals. In fact, any two wheeler that has 50 cc and a top speed of 50 km/h can be defined as a moped, it is a broad term. As a youngster I rode both trial bikes and cross bikes with 50 ccs and a top speed of 50 km/h, all were officially registered and concidered mopeds. Scooters with a 50 cc can also be concidered a moped. Here, the term moped refers to the performance of the two wheeler, we even have moped cars... scooter, cross bike, chopper, or what ever else, can all be mopeds if their performance are small enough.

I have my garage full of vintage scooters, none are concidered mopeds. Tuned vintage scooters like the one in the picture can have more than 50 hp! Some tune them with nitrous kits, others with super chargers. Some of these guys take their scootering reeeeeaaaaalllly seriously... getting it wrong in their face could be hazardous...