Scooter

Perhaps the most identifiable distinction between motor scooters and motorcycles is where you place your feet. Motorcycles typically have foot pegs, whereas scooters have floorboards. The other visible difference pertains to the frame of the bike, with those on the scooter consisting of only one piece.

Unlike motorcycles, there's no need to shift gears with a scooter, because it usually has only one gear. Other variations exist between the engine and wheel sizes, the weight of the bikes, and the maximum speeds at which they can travel. In the aforementioned list of features, the scooter comes out on the lower end of the spectrum.

Scooters also tend to be more fuel efficient than motorcycles. For this reason, many people--especially in European and Asian countries--use scooters as their main source of transportation. This trend can largely be attributed to an Italian company named Piaggio. The introduction of their Vespa scooter line in 1946 revolutionized the industry and provided the prototype for all modern-day scooters, even the market-leading Honda scooter line.