Moped VS Scooter – What’s the difference?
[The 6 easily confused interchanged names defined here]
Is it a Scooter or a Moped? Or a motorcycle…or a kick scooter…or maybe it’s a motor scooter or mobility scooter? HELP!
There is a LOT of confusion, mixed feelings and opinions, correct and incorrect information concerning this topic out there. We have done our best here to simply define, explain, and give examples and show pictures of each word mentioned above. This is a very simple and easy to understand article that will help you differentiate these words, and how they are most commonly used.
SCOOTER
What is a scooter? We really like these two definitions here:
Definition 1. a light two-wheeled open motor vehicle on which the driver sits over an enclosed engine with legs together and feet resting on a floorboard. (pictured below)
Definition 2. a vehicle typically ridden as a recreation, consisting of a footboard mounted on two wheels and a long steering handle, propelled by resting one foot on the footboard and pushing the other against the ground. (AKA kick scooter. See kick scooter below for more info and pictures)
Scooters Pictured Above, Left to Right:
Wolf RX-50 in White- MSRP $1,099 and Vespa Sprint 50cc in Bianco -MSRP 4,049*
MOPED
What is a Moped? We like this Moped definition and meaning.
A lightweight, low-power motorized bicycle. It has a very small motor AND pedals. “Mo-” for motor, and “-ped” for pedals. Yes, some people do call Scooters (pictured above) Mopeds, but technically they do not fit the definition and are missing the “PED”dle part of Moped.
Pictured Above, Left to Right:
1973 MotoGuzzi Dingo Vintage Moped and a 1978 Honda PA50II Vintage Moped
MOTORCYCLE
The word motorcycle can be used quite broadly.
The definition is: a two-wheeled vehicle that is powered by a motor and has no pedals.
So yes, you could technically call a scooter a motorcycle, and they do sometimes get grouped together with motorcycles, in magazines or at events, but only because the scooter market is so small in America. However, it is typically used in the English language to mean a two-wheeled vehicle, that has the gas tank in front of the seat area (unlike a scooter or moped), is usually 125ccs or over, and looks something like this:
Pictured above, Left to Right: Yamaha R6, Honda Rebel 300cc, Honda Grom 125cc
MOTOR SCOOTER
This term is sometimes used broadly and in different ways. See this excellent definition and we’ll give some examples below.
Definition 1. a small vehicle with two or three wheels that is powered by a motor and that has a low seat and a flat area for resting your feet
So, with that being said, we can and do correctly call Scooters- Motor Scooters. “Scooter” is actually the shortened version of Motor Scooter.
Sometimes we also call mobility scooters “Motor Scooters” but that isn’t very common.
KICK SCOOTER (aka a “Scooter”)
A small platform with two or more wheels that is propelled by a rider pushing off (kicking) the ground, also called scooter for short…obviously to make it much more complicated on those of us trying to figure out what is what here lol.
Pictured above:
An array of the ever-popular Razor kick scooters!
Mobility Scooter
The definition of mobility scooter is: an electrically powered scooter designed for people with restricted mobility, typically those who are elderly or disabled.
Pictured above, Left to Right:
A Vita Sport in black and a Pride Pursuit Mobility Scooter in red.
Thank you for reading this article. If you found it helpful, please make sure to share it via your website, Facebook, etc. And don’t forget to leave a comment!
The Wolf Team
So as someone who has only been on a old Chinese scooter I had for a week before repairs was needed, I learned the hard way what the difference is. You can easily join a forum based on mopeds and receive a lot of negativity for talking about your scooter. That being said this page talking about the main difference between a moped and a scooter is amazing. I love even how they go the distance and talk about all other things that have the term “scooter” in it. It could be for the laughs or it could be for the facts, but I enjoyed that.
Hi Joshua,
Thank you SO much for the feedback and comment, LOVE it. So glad you enjoyed the read. Stay tuned for more on the Wolf Scooter Blog. Have fun riding, and stay safe always!
Unfortunately electric power complicates the issue. There are many electrically powered ‘scooters’ that look like kick scooters. Some even have a pole with a seat. Also there are electrically powered ‘scooters’ that look like motorized scooters but have pedals like mopeds. The GigaByke Groove and Emmo Urban are two. Yet they are classed as Type II electric assist bicycles. Things are getting more confusing.
True!!! Thanks for the feedback 🙂
The Wolf Team
What is the % estimate of how much does the a everage person peddle a moped?
Interesting question! I don’t actually know. If you figure it out, let us know. 🙂
The Wolf Pack
I am 15 can I ride a 50 cc Yamaha razz in the state of VT
Without a liscense ?
Hi Brad,
Please visit our State by State scooter and moped law article, and check with your local DMV.
Thank you 🙂
The Wolf Team
The word “Moped” like Kleenix or Jello will not go away. It is a word that is continually reinforced in the media. There’s an accident report on the news…”Girl hurt in moped collision”…there’s a pic of a mangled motor scooter. Go go to rent a motor scooter in a shop that has 3 fit high letters out side, “MOPEDS for rent”. Half the time you look up ‘moped’ online and there’s a picture of a motor scooter. The DMV thinks they are all mopeds if the engine is under 50cc. I gently correct my friends who misuse the word moped when referring to my Stella Motor Scooter. They always look sort of offended. I’m giving up on saying ‘motor scooter’. I will say “Vespa” and everyone will know what I mean. Unless it’s an Italian entomologist!
Haha love this! Very true Stephen! That’s why we have an article fully dedicated to clearing up the never ending confusion…
Preach brother!
The Wolf Team
Great article! It’s amazing how often people mix up mopeds and scooters. I’ve even met scooter owners who still refer to their scooter as a “moped.”
There’s also “nopeds” – which are like mopeds, except that they have no pedals.