These are the differences between scooters and motorcycles

Of course scooters and motorcycles are different and you can distinguish them from each other. Some differences are not always visible, such as scooter insurance or motorcycle insurance and whether a motor vehicle used for gear shifts is a manual moped or a motorcycle. With other differences you can recognize whether it is a scooter or motorcycle. These are the differences between scooters and motorcycles and how to recognize them.

Scooters that look like motorcycles

The Gilera DNA, Yamaha TZR 5o, Derbi motocross mopeds, Aprilia RS and the Honda NSR and MB are types of scooters that look a lot like a motorcycle. But there are also bikes that look a lot like scooters, such as the Vespa GTS, dirt bikes, the Yamasaki Motor and the BTC Raw Hanway 50. So these models are not always what they seem. For example, a motor-like vehicle can just be a scooter and vice versa.

Also read: Scooters still popular, new figures show (2021)

The license plate

Scooters and motorcycles have a different number plate. They are both yellow, but a motorcycle license plate can be recognized by the text ‘NL’ in a blue box in the top left corner. Scooters don’t have this. So do you see a number plate without a blue NL box going faster than 45 km/h? Then this is probably a souped-up scooter.

The number of CC

All motorized two-wheelers have a displacement (cc). For scooters, the maximum cylinder capacity is limited to 50cc. Scooters are allowed to drive a maximum of 45 km/h per hour. If the vehicle has more than 50cc, it is a motor scooter or a motorcycle. Motorbikes have the same maximum speed as cars, so 100 km/h during the day and 130 km/h after seven o’clock in the evening.

The liter capacity of the tank

The tank of a scooter contains an average of 6.5 liters. With an engine this is on average 20 liters. Motorcycles therefore have a much larger tank and therefore a greater range than scooters.

Protective clothing

Sometimes you can tell the difference between a scooter and a motorcycle by the driver’s clothing. Scooter riders often just wear a jacket, T-shirt, jeans and shoes. Motorcyclists often wear special protective clothing, such as a motorcycle jacket, protective trousers and boots.

Also read: Taking care of your motorcycle helmet: this is how you do it!

The driver’s licence

To be allowed to ride a scooter, you must obtain a moped driver’s license. You need a different driving license to drive a motorcycle. Which driver’s license you need depends on the power of the engine. With driving license A1, you can drive on a light motorcycle (125 cc and maximum power of 11 kW), with driving license A2 on a medium motorcycle (maximum power of 35 kW) and with driving license A on a heavy motorcycle with unlimited power. With a motorcycle license you can ride a scooter, but not the other way around.

You need mandatory third-party liability insurance for both bicycles. You need moped insurance for a scooter, moped and moped . You obviously need motor insurance for a motorcycle.

The price

A scooter has a different price tag than a motorcycle. For a new scooter you pay on average between € 1,750 and € 4,000. A good second-hand scooter costs on average about € 1,000. For a new engine you have to pay an average of between € 7,000 and € 10,000 and the price can go up to € 30,000 for an exclusive copy! For a good second-hand motorcycle you pay between € 3,000 and € 5,000.