DOT vs SNELL vs ECE

Your safety is important, that is why it's important to us that you are aware of the helmet standards to decide which ones fit your needs the best for protecting your head on the road and off the road.

Department of Transportation or DOT is the US Government approved standard and also most common in the States. DOT standards aim at 90% skull protection from impact. Ranging from low to moderate energy impacts. Favoring a shock absorbent helmet. DOT's preference towards more shock absorbent helmets indicates that absorbing the force is more likely to be safer and thus more important than resistance of the impact. In order for a helmet to be DOT certified it must pass the following tests :

• Helmet is dropped onto a spherical anvil from a height of 1.83m
• Helmet is dropped onto a flat anvil from a height of 1.83m
• Pointed striker is dropped onto helmet
• Weight is applied to retention system (up to 300 pounds of force for 120 seconds)

Not-For-Profit, independent organization named after William "Pete" SNELL, a famous race car driver who died after a helmet failed to protect him from serious head injuries. Every five years, SNELL performance standards and testing specifications are updated. Old SNELL M2005, the "old Standard" favored a shock resistant shell, The next SNELL M2010 "new standard" favors a shock absorbent shell. The newest SNELL, M2015 is very similar to the M2010 and is the new standard for SNELL. SNELL Helmets are allowed by the AMA for professional Motorcycle racing except for the M2005 which is no longer permitted after 2011. In order for a helmet to be SNELL certified it must pass these tests:

• Snell uses 5 different shaped anvils instead of two
• Helmets are dropped from multiple heights (greater than DOT's)
• Snell tests the chin bar and the dome of the helmet
• The visor is tested by shooting it with soft lead pellets and in at least three different locations of the visor.

Developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, internationally is the most common helmet standard. Required by over 50 countries worldwide. ECE meets and exceeds the standards for DOT and SNELL and in contrast to DOT and SNELL, ECE is approved for all competition events by AMA, WERA, FIM, CCS, Formula USA, and Moto GP. In order for a helmet to be ECE certified it must pass these tests:

• Impact absorption by dropping helmet onto a flat anvil
• Testing chin strap buckle for slippage
• Chin strap material is tested for tension failure at over 670 lbs. of force
• Testing for abrasion resistance
• Shell is tested for deformation under weight of nearly 150 lbs.
• Visor is tested as an integral part of the helmet

 During certification these helmets are tested with the intention of providing the most substantial protection for your head in order to give the best odds of survival in any type of accident. All in All, it is up to you to be responsible when riding your bike and make sure you always keep your head and body protected.

Trying to choose the best tires to fit your ride-style?

Deciding what tires to install on your bike boils down to many factors. Such as your personal riding style, where you're riding, and how often you're riding. Which is why we felt it would be necessary to give you a run-down about some tire brands we recommend for the street and performance riders or the everyday commuting and all-weather riders. Both of these brands offer the best of durability and longevity from two different price points.

Michelin tires are always keeping up to date on new advancements while using the most advanced compounds for a boost in performance.

Shinko tires are great for good quality, reliability, while keeping an economically efficient price point.

For the street and performance bikes we recommend:

Michelin Pilot Power 3 for top end performance and a more flexible all around tire. Giving enhanced road feel and makes for a better experience and more confidence in both wet and dry conditions.

Michelin Pilot Power 3

Shinko Advance 005's Large block type tread pattern accompanied with intermediate rubber compound allowing excellent braking, cornering and acceleration characteristics. The large block pattern is specially designed with tread grooves that help to dissipate water efficiently on wet surfaces.

Shinko Advance 005

For the commuter and long distance traveler:

Michelin Pilot Road 4 tires have been proven to stop faster and last longer, while gripping the road in virtually all conditions. tires will give you and your ride more confidence - rain or shine, hot or cold, city or highway. Available in three versions for most Standard, GT & Trail bikes.

Michelin Pilot Road 4

The Raven 009, this sport-touring radial was specifically designed for longer lasting life. The Raven provides superior riding comfort while allowing high grip on both wet and dry roads while being the most extensive tread life of Shinko sport-performance radials.

Shinko Raven 009

49cc vs 50cc Scooters: What's the difference

What's the difference between a 49cc and a 50cc scooter? 

Drumroll please....

The answer: NOTHING!

All 50cc scooters are "49.something cc", so they fall within their own category for the Department of Motor Vehicles. For most states, anything above a 50cc is considered a motorcycle, and must be registered/titled as such. The name 50cc is used for simplicity and marketing purposes, instead of saying 49.7cc, 49.3cc, 49.9cc, etc...

Follow us on Instagram @shorecycles

What kind of oil should you use in a scooter?

Unsure what type of oil to use in your scooter? Well we recommend scooter specific oils such as Maxima Racing Oil's Scooter 4T , Bel Ray Scooter Synthetic Blend , or Motorex Semi-Synthetic 4T. Shore Cycles suggests the same brands for your 2 stroke scooter, just make sure you're using a bottle that says 2T on it. Remember: most scooters are 4 stroke, which have a dipstick and need oil changes. 2 strokes automatically mix gas with oil and burn both. 

We urge you to use scooter specific oils as they are designed for use in small motors and to handle engines at continuous high revs. In a car you mainly drive around at 2-3,000 RPM, scooters on the other hand are running at 6-8,000 RPM all the time when you are riding, this means the oil must be designed to handle such hard use.

Check out our store to see what oils we recommend! Or give us a call (443) 291-3030

Scooter Warranty and Country of Origin Guide

Summary

If you're reading this, you've probably already decided to get a scooter. Awesome! Congrats! If you're still unsure of what scooter to get, below is a handy guide for determining the differences between all the brands out there. 

For scooters, there are two main things to look at when purchasing: Warranty and Country of Origin.

Warranty greatly dictates the level of backing the manufacturer has in their product. In essence, it shows how much they believe in their product. Warranties can be parts and labor, or for parts only. Warranties cover manufacturer defects, and never cover crash damage, neglect, scheduled maintenance, theft, etc.

Country of Origin dictates the overall quality of a scooter. Taiwan produces some of the best quality scooters in the world, on the same level as Japan and Italy. China is also catching up. The most important things to pay attention to with Chinese scooters is the factory where they're being made, the stability of the importer, and again the warranty!

As a note, "comprehensive" or "tire-to-tire" coverage means that all non-wearable components of a bike are covered under warranty. Non-wearable components are any item that does not wear naturally as the scooter is ridden, such as but not limited to: transmission belts, engine oil, gear oil, cables, light bulbs, brake pads, paint finishes, chains, racks, brake fluid, tires, and tubes. These items must be replaced periodically during scheduled maintenance.

Anyway, let's dive in! Each brand is labeled separately below with where the parts came from, where the scooters are made, and a quick summary about each brand.

If you have any more questions, as always feel free to CONTACT US

 

Genuine Scooter Company

Parts Origin: Taiwan and India

Made In: Taiwan and India

Warranty Snapshot: 2 years comprehensive, parts + labor, PLUS roadside assistance

Genuine has the best warranty and quality in the US industry for scooters, with 2 years comprehensive on pretty much everything non-wearable on their scooters. Genuine's warranty ALSO includes 2 years of complimentary roadside assistance towing, no questions asked!

SYM

Parts Origin: Taiwan

Made In: Taiwan

Warranty Snapshot: 2 years engine and transmission, 1 year tire-to-tire, Parts + Labor

SYM provides great coverage with 2 years on all components of the engine and transmission. All SYM models have their proprietary ceramic coated cylinder technology, so don't expect to be in for much warranty work on their bikes! They also extend coverage to all other non-wearables on their models for 1 year. 

Lance Powersports, Made by SYM

Parts Origin: Taiwain

Made In: China

Warranty Snapshot: 2 years engine and transmission, 1 year tire-to-tire, Parts + Labor

Lance Powersports is essentially SYM's cousin. All Lance Powersports models are manufactured by SYM Taiwan under their strict guidelines and quality control. Lance provides the true quality of a Taiwanese scooter, but at a better price since final assembly takes place in China. However, all parts are made in Taiwan, including engine and transmission assembly! With a 2 year engine/transmission warranty and additional 1 year comprehensive coverage to boot, Lance is definitely the best bang for the buck in our store.

Bintelli Scooters

Parts Origin: ZNEN China

Made In: China

Warranty Snapshot: 2 years frame and battery, 1 year comprehensive, Parts Only

Bintelli imports some of the highest quality Chinese scooters in the industry. All Bintelli scooters are made by ZNEN China, a reputable and long-standing manufacturer who has an in-house engineering team and design department. They are certainly NOT fly-by-night, bargin bikes. Bintelli provides parts coverage on the frame and battery for 2 years, and all other non-wearables for 1 year. Bintelli's warranty does not include labor coverage. All Bintelli scooters feature NGK spark plugs, Gates brand belts, stainless steel hardware, halogen bulbs, an AGM battery, Duro tires, and plenty of other brand-name upgrades. Bintelli offers a great budget-friendly product that is still capable of a wide range of applications, from leisure to commuting.

Wolf Brand Scooters

Parts Origin: ZNEN China

Made In: China

Warranty Snapshot: 1 year engine and transmission, 6 months comprehensive, Parts Only

Wolf Brand Scooters like Bintelli also imports for the world-renowned ZNEN Factory in China, who has their own engineering team and design department. All Wolf Brand Scooters are produced with strict US-based quality control and US tech support. They have numerous upgrades such as fade-resistant paint, Duro tires, NGK spark plugs, Gates brand belts, and so much more. Wolf Brand Scooters offers an excellent budget-focused customer with a reliable and fun machine that will last for years.