ABOUT
SCOOTER STEVE
When
the gas price was on the rise in the Spring of 2005, I felt the
pinch every time I filled up my truck. I started to look for a
motor scooter or moped
as most Americans called it. (Moped to me is a motorized bicycle
with paddles. But in America, scooters are more well known as
mopeds.)
To
my surprise, there weren't many shops in Atlanta that sell affordable
scooters or mopeds.
I even asked some Emory University students I came across if they
knew of any used motor
scooters or mopeds for sale on campus. Not only there was
nothing for sale on campus, they were also looking for scooters
or mopeds themselves.
I
had been searching the Internet to see what were on the market.
Vespa, of course, is the classic of scooters as I was growing
up. They are very popular in Europe. As a matter of fact, only
scooters are allowed
in certain areas in Europe. However, they are too pricey for what
I wanted. After all, my goal was to save money. So the idea to
spend 4k to 8k upfront for a scooter
did not appeal to me. I also found that "modern scooters"
were becoming quite popular. The Japanese, Taiwanese, and Chinese
made scooters are a
lot more affordable.
I
read a lot about how bad the Chinese scooters
were, but also read a lot from the happy customers' experience.
Most of the complaints stem from people who order their scooters
online and set it up themselves.
When
the brand new scooter
arrives, it requires additional work to put it together before
it is operational. The common setup procedure includes installing
tire(s), mirrors, battery, changing all the oil, and filling up
the gas tank.
The vendors often advertise how easy it is to do it yourself.
Well, that is only true to mechanically capable folks. Most of
the people attempt to set up the scooters themselves. Incorrect
setup can sure cause damage to the scooters and unnecessary frustrations.
Some
customers called us to set
up their scooters for them after their online purchase. If
you don't feel comfortable setting up your own scooter,
it is better to call the pro to have it done properly.
After
months of research, in December 2005, I finally opened my own
scooter shop in Suburban
Plaza in Decatur, GA, and carried Chinese scooters
that were the best value for my customers. Currently, Scooter
Steve is an authorized Tank, Motormojo,
and Avanti
dealer. We also carry riding
accessories, scooter parts
and provide repair service
for your scooter needs.
Once
again, gas price has been rising in 2007 and more people are looking
for motor scooters or mopeds. We are seeing more return customers
who need services or want to upgrade their scooters. The scooter
community in Atlanta is definitely growing. We appreciate the
referrals you send our way.
Happy Scooting!
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