Kymco People 150

For hundreds of dollars less than some 50 cc motor scooters like the top-rated Vespa LX 50 (MSRP: $3,300), which you can't ride on the freeway, experts point out that you can buy a Kymco People 150 -- a well-built, freeway-legal, 150 cc gas scooter that delivers a smooth ride and hefty gas mileage. Buyers are attracted to the little Vespa scooter, which costs $500 more, because they can park it on the sidewalk (in some cities) and a 50 cc bike doesn't usually require any special motorcycle license. However, the Vespa LX 50's top speed is only 39 mph.

Kymco doesn't publish the People 150 scooter's top speed, but one reputable test pegs it at 57 mph. Another reviewer gets it up to about 65 mph, checked against GPS. That's technically fast enough for the highway, but reviewers say the Kymco People 150 scooter isn't really big or powerful enough for heavy freeway use. "I found it more than a little unsettling, especially on grooved pavement where the tires danced around trying to find their line," says Susan Carpenter of the Los Angeles Times.

Experts say the Kymco People 150 is a quality scooter, although it's not as elegantly styled as the Vespa it tries to mimic. The Kymco scooter offers a two-year warranty, while more established brands like Honda and Vespa only offer one-year coverage. One area of weakness in the Kymco People 150 is storage space: testers find they can't fit a full-face or even three-quarter helmet under the seat.