Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a moped and a motor scooter?
A moped, by definition, is smaller than a motor scooter and has a smaller engine. In fact, if a moped’s engine exceeds 50cc, it is more rightly labeled as a motor scooter. Since mopeds have smaller engines, they have slower top speeds, and most will not exceed thirty miles per hour. Some people consider mopeds and motor scooters to be interchangeable, and some manufacturers have even begun conflating the two, implying that a moped is really just a motor scooter in miniature, but that’s technically not the case. They have different histories, different starting points, for many people, different purposes.
Can’t my moped go faster than thirty miles per hour?
Well, the engine itself might be able to push the vehicle faster, but technically and legally, a moped is defined as a motorized vehicle that does not exceed certain speed limits, though the limit itself might change from state to state.
Is my moped street legal?
Maybe, but probably not. In order to be street legal in most states, a moped needs to have certain safety features and travel over certain speeds. The safety features include turning signals, headlights, and horns. Not all mopeds feature all of these things. Mopeds also cannot travel above thirty miles in general, which means they are not suitable for areas outside of residential areas. They sort of live in a limbo, because they aren’t allowed on sidewalks or bike paths either. If you are wondering about your own moped, you should check your local laws and always drive carefully and courteously.
Can I buy an old fashioned moped?
Yes, old fashioned mopeds are still available, though mainly as used mopeds. There are some bicycles that do have an engine attached, but they are not seen as often, and are often categorized as motorized bicycles. However, if you like the look and nostalgia of a so-called classic moped, they are not impossible to find.
Where does the name moped come from?
There are actually several different theories for how the word moped was coined, and all of them have a reason to be believed. The most common theory, however, and the most widely accepted was that a Swedish journalist coined the frame in 1952 from "trampcykel med motor och pedaler", which means "pedal cycle with engine and pedals." The earliest version of the moped did, in fact, include pedals.
