By Will Powell
The first time you glide through the gridlock that bookends the typical working day, you'll wonder why you didn't buy a scooter to commute on years ago. They make nothing but sense - cheap to tax, cheap to insure, congestion charge exempt, a cinch to park and capable of triple figure economy.
There are nearly 200 different models to choose from, ranging from Far East manufacturers with mysterious names like 'Generic' or 'Znen' to 840cc giants that cost more than a motorcycle. But which are best?
5. Yamaha Vity, £1799
Look past the meaningless name and appreciate what makes this bike important: it's the cheapest twist and go 125cc scooter you can buy from a big name manufacturer, and we'd far rather deal with a brand that has a well-established dealer network for parts and servicing than take a punt on an unknown sold via the internet. Not only is there the halo effect of riding around on something made by the same people that built last year's MotoGP, WSB and BSB Championship winning machines, but sweetening the deal yet further is the current offer of free insurance (and at some dealers a year's membership of the RAC), confirming the Vity as the best of the budget choices.
The 4-stroke 125cc engine is air cooled and fuel injected, producing a modest-sounding 9bhp, but that's nothing to worry about. This is one of the lightest 125s, weighing 110kg, so it is perfectly nippy and nimble enough to always be first away from the traffic lights. It also has one of the lowest saddles on sale - 730mm off the ground - making the Vity feel even more manageable. If you ask nicely Yamaha will even deliver it to your door.
4. Honda SH125i, £2920
If you want your utilitarian transport to be just a little plusher, the SH125 is the recommended choice. The SH series is the best selling scooter across the whole of Europe and it's easy to see why - it offers the straightforward combination of sophisticated styling, grown up handling and an efficient engine. The single cylinder unit produces a noticeably smooth 13bhp, free of the slurs and stutters other scooters can suffer from during low speed manoeuvres. It will happily sit at 60mph and promises to average 85mpg. As we approach the days of the £5 gallon, that sounds incredibly attractive.
There are disc brakes front and rear which use Honda's user-friendly linked system - so pulling just the front lever activates both brakes. Most important though are the big 16-inch wheels, which greatly improve high speed stability and make it less likely you'll get tripped up by a pothole. With options like heated grips and an alarm, it's the benchmark for modern scooters. If you're feeling flush then the 300cc version, including standard ABS and top box, offers twice the power for £4178.
3. Suzuki Bergman 400, £4849
Not all scootering is about small and cheap machines. There are such things as 'executive scooters', particularly popular on the continent, with larger capacities and comfy sculpted saddles. They're popular with business folk who need lots of cubby holes for briefcases and executive parpahernalia, who might have longer commutes involving faster roads. Indeed, we've even seen one zig-zagging its way to Heathrow with a suitcase lashed to the back.
The name synonymous with this category is the Burgman, and although the 650cc version is £7549 and best suited to bankers with bonuses, the 400cc model is more reasonably priced at just under £5000. That makes it nearly a grand cheaper than its chief rival the Yamaha Majesty 400. You get a double overhead cam engine with fuel injection producing 32bhp, which can be used gently to nurse 70mpg or enthusiastically to encourage 90mph. While 215kg sounds hefty for something you have to prop up at junctions but the floorpan is shaped so it's easy to put your feet straight down rather than akimbo, and in any case the weight is carried low so it never feels unwieldy. On the move Suzuki reckon you can get the Burg banked over to 43 degrees.
Under the saddle is an illuminated storage area that will accept two full face helmets or an A3 sized document folder, then there's a further four storage compartments dotted around including one with a 12V socket so you can power a sat-nav or mobile phone charger. For another £700 you can pimp it up to ZA spec, with heated grips, ABS and wood inlay on the dashboard...
2. Vespa LX 125, £2872
Vespa is the Hoover and Biro of the scooter world. It is the definitive scoot, effortlessly cool, and inevitably conjures romantic images of sexy Italians darting from cafe to piazza wearing only dark shades, a sharp suit and slip-ons for protection.
The LX is the model that most closely follows the classic 60s shape and also happens to be the cheapest 125 Vespa currently make. The four stroke air cooled engine produces 10 horsepower, it weighs 114kg and the seat is 785mm high - but all you really need to know is that this is the blueprint from which all others are born.
Rather like with the 21st Century versions of the Mini and the Fiat 500, the Vespa is all about accessories and customisation. You can order all manner of chrome bits to screw on, choose an open-faced helmets that either match your scooter or are plastered in Mod logos, and even buy a baby seat to go on the back. Then there's the lifestyle - Vespa is the only scooter manufacturer on Facebook and Twitter.
Ultimately what counts is this: tell people you've bought a scooter and they may raise an eyebrow, but tell them you've bought a Vespa and they'll want to see it.
1. Peugeot Speedfight 3, £1949
When you're 16 the best way to get mobile is to ride a 50cc moped. And without question the best 50cc moped is the latest version of the cult Speedfight.
