The ignition
Electronics have been around for a while and have come a long way. The systems went from using a starting magneto or a battery to using a capacitor. Today, we mainly see digital transistorized systems and, sometimes, programmable ones.

These systems also have a memory that can remember engine failures over a 5,000-kilometre period. A mechanic will be able to pinpoint the exact cause of the failure. The processor stores all the data the switches and sensors send to the computer in real time.

In the case of faulty operation or electronic circuit breakdown, the computer has an integrated circuit for failure situations. If the problem isn't too serious, it allows the driver, in some cases, to roll the scooter to the repair shop. RPM and speed will be limited in order to protect the engine. This system is already widely used in the motorcycle industry.

Derbi GP1

The suspension
The rear part of the frame is equipped with one or two shock absorbers. A few rare scooters feature a single rocker arm with one shock absorber. Honda, for instance, applies this technology to its motorcycles.

Although the shock spring can't be adjusted on most scooters, on some rare models the expansion of the spring can be tweaked. This type of suspension offers better driving dynamics with an increased weight rating. The suspension rarely needs any preventive maintenance, such as a shock spring preload adjustment.

The front suspension, however, can be adjusted in several ways. The expansion, which reacts to the spring return, works according to hydraulic principles. This system slows the fork return, maintaining the contact between the wheel and the ground and ensuring efficient grip as well as improved safety when braking. A few scooter suspensions may offer a third adjustment, that of the spring stress. As in the case of the expansion, this system is also hydraulic. It enables us to reduce the fork's compression speed and the spring's pre-stress. The spring is no longer visible on modern scooters, as it's now housed inside the fork tube.

The efficiency of the brake system is directly related to the quality of the suspension. Scooters with larger engines are much heavier and require higher performance brakes. Several manufacturers have integrated ingenious brake force distribution systems into their scooters, which apply the brakes to both wheels simultaneously as soon as the brake pedal or lever is touched. Honda has been offering this system on several of its motorcycles and scooters since the early 1990s. In Europe, where the scooter is extremely popular, this technology abounds.

The suspension is assisted by ABS brakes, which are similar to the ones used in cars, with a few exceptions. Since the brake force is only distributed to two wheels instead of four, some components and electronic control modules needed to be adapted.

In the early 1990s, some manufactures, such as Peugeot, developed electric scooters. They were discarded for several reasons: they had weight and driving range issues, they no longer met the expectations of scooter enthusiasts and the battery took up all the space intended for the helmet or fuel tank.

Other manufacturers developed scooters featuring new technologies that could meet the strict emissions standards looming in the distance. Theses systems worked well, but were expensive, and in 2006, the European standards came into effect. Will we ever see a fuel-efficient scooter offering a decent operating range and meeting emissions standards?

Check back for other articles on the workings of the mechanical components as well as maintenance tips.


Photo Credit : Henri Lebarbé, Honda, Derbi