ScooTer

ScooTer reads like a name for a compact scooter rather than a full motorcycle, so it immediately suggests short trips, easy parking and light urban use. By our assessment, that kind of machine is best when the job is getting across town without fuss, and its appeal is the small footprint, low running cost and simple routine. The obvious limit is stability and weather protection: a scooter is not built for long-haul comfort, heavy cargo or bad roads. In practice it is all about quick starts, a small storage pocket and accepting that you are exposed to the street more than in a car. Compared with a bicycle it is faster and less tiring; compared with a larger motorbike it is gentler but also less capable. ScooTer fits city life and short hops, and it stops making sense once the trip gets long or the load gets serious.