Scooters on ice

[bajakirch]

I may have mentioned previously that I live close to and work in a college town. As a result, there are about a million scooters on the road, especially in the campus area, over the warmer months.

But here in the depths of winter I've noticed not a few brave souls riding their scooters around town. And while most of them are the under-50cc variety, and therefore not out on the highways, it's still got to be pretty chilly traveling hither and yon on one this time of year.

I saw a couple today and I wondered if a smaller scooter has any inherent advantages in cold-weather riding over a MC. Maybe a lower center of gravity, or smaller tires? Or maybe it's just that they're typically not going that fast, so a wipeout may not be as devastating (although it's rare to see any of the riders wearing a helmet, much less any other safety gear).

Any thoughts from the scooter aficionados out there?

[Laminar]

I would bet that a lower center of gravity is a huge help. Also, with the light weight and ability to put your legs through the scooter, if you do go down it'd be easy to hop off and let the scooter fall. It probably wouldn't hurt itself, then you'd be back up and riding.

[Burgi]

If you are talking 50cc scooters they are much smaller and lighter. Remember when you were a kid and you could pick your tricycle up between your legs and turn around? OK, they aren't that small but they feel like it compared to a lot of motorcycles. 
Low center of gravity and small wheels make them very manuverable.
There is something called a scooter skirt for people in colder climates. I've heard good things about how warm they keep you.

[LOKi]

It's the light weight that makes it more forgiving. When a 400+lbs motorcycle starts to go down because of slick conditions there is nothing you can do. When a 120lbs 50cc scooter starts to go down because it's slick you can stick out your legs and put it up right again. Or as Laminar said your can just steep through and run off the bike. I high sided a scooter in gravel once. It was no big deal. As the bike came up and over I just simply ran off the bike. Was only going 10 or 15 tops though. 

You aren't afraid of a bicycle in the snow right? It's just a slight heavier bicycle that you don't have to peddle.

[ariwhiteboy]

There is something called a scooter skirt for people in colder climates. I've heard good things about how warm they keep you.

Looks as effective as it is ugly! 

Could the shorter center of gravity also be a help on the ice? 

[Option13]

The slower speed keeps the wind chill down, and the step through design is probably much better at shielding you legs from the wind than an unfaired bike.

[Burgi]

Looks as effective as it is ugly! 

Scooters riders get to embrace their inner dork, no pressure to look cool. 

The slower speed keeps the wind chill down, and the step through design is probably much better at shielding you legs from the wind than an unfaired bike.

Correct, my scooter is definitely warmer when it is cold out (at equal to motorcycle speed). It is also a cooler ride when it is hot. Since the engine is low and further back the heat dissipates out behind. I even get less wet in the rain!