How we tested

Photograph by Gabriel Shenhar

Testing scooters and motorcycles presented a new set of technical challenges to our auto-test staff. To evaluate ride, handling, and everyday livability, for instance, we designed a 5.2-mile route at our Auto Test Center, which has a variety of surfaces and grades. The course included starts and stops on hills to evaluate engine and braking power and a section with a series of tight turns to assess low-speed maneuverability.

To measure fuel economy in city-driving conditions, we used the same course we use for cars. But because scooters aren't designed for highways, we also designed a steady-cruising-speed test to mimic the village or suburban speeds appropriate for them. Because the gasoline in a scooter or motorcycle is fed into the engine by gravity rather than by a fuel pump, we couldn't use the fuel meter we usually use in cars to measure fuel usage. So our auto technicians installed a graduated cylinder filled with precisely measured amounts of gasoline.

For acceleration and braking, we conducted our normal 0-to-30-mph acceleration and 30-to-0-mph braking tests, as well as top-speed tests, using the same 160-pound rider. Top speed on the 250cc motorcycles was limited by the length of our 3,600-foot track. We also evaluated the two-wheelers' power and engine response in common urban riding situations, such as whether or not they have enough power to quickly and safely cross an intersection.

For more accurate speed readings than what's shown on the bikes' speedometers, we strapped a GPS navigator to the handlebars and connected it to a laptop mounted behind the rider. That allowed us to download data on exact distances, plus elapsed time. By contrast, most speedometers read about 10 percent higher than the actual speed.