Slate test-drives motorized scooters.

The first time I rode a scooter, I thought I was going to die. It was midnight in Cambodia, and, as a last resort, I had hired a mototaxi to take me to a hotel. I clambered up behind the driver, and we lurched disconcertingly out of the parking lot, but as soon as we hit the main drag, I knew I wanted a scooter of my own. Riding a scooter felt windy and serene, like coasting downhill on a 10-speed. I had found my vehicular match.

Deciding to buy a scooter was easy. Buying one was not. Americans are becoming very good at purchasing scooters—sales rose 580 percent between 1997 and 2002—but the American scooter dealer is still pretty bad at selling them. On an initial Google search, novice shoppers will find a range of models advertised primarily on shoddy mom-'n'-pop Web sites and may not find links to local dealerships at all. It's not easy to figure out which scooters are locally available, much less which ones are any good.

Then there's the biggest problem: A lot of dealers sell scooters the way one might sell a toothbrush or a set of racy lingerie. You're welcome to look at the bikes, even touch them, but you won't get to take one out for a trial run. At one point, when I was looking to buy a scooter, I became so desperate that, seeing a model I was interested in on the street, I scrawled a slightly crazed Post-It note begging the owner to e-mail me and tell me how the scooter handled. (He never contacted me—not that I blame him.)

If you hope to do more with your scooter than caress it—if, say, you might like to drive it around—keep reading. I've chosen seven scooters from major makers, persuaded local dealers to let me take them out for test drives (by arguing that the ensuing article would be good publicity), and assessed how they handle. I've also checked my teeth in their rearview mirrors; tried to fit helmets in their under-seat compartments; evaluated their style, comfort, and price; and finally, ranked the lot from worst to first.

Still, before you buy a scooter, you might have a few questions, such as:

Should I look into vintage scooters?

Not unless you hope to win points for coolness, in which case you should go buy a used Vespa or Lambretta and smoke while leaning against it. But know that such a purchase will likely require a serious commitment of time. Older models don't always arrive ready to ride, and their owners expend a lot of energy changing spark plugs and trolling Internet chat rooms on epic hunts for spare parts. If you need a hobby and enjoy such tinkering, check out the bulletin boards on twostrokesmoke.com. But if you're looking primarily for a reliable mode of transportation, you're better off with a new scooter. Old-school aficionados may sneer, but the new models discussed below are reliable and plenty stylish.

Are those things legal?

Yes, but the laws governing scooters vary from state to state. In most places, scooters with small engines—like the under-50 CC models I've tested below—are considered mopeds, so you need only to register your ride and get some insurance. ("CC" stands for cubic centimeters; the figure refers to the total volume displaced by pistons in an engine's cylinders.) In some states, however, the models below are considered motorcycles, so you'll need to get a motorcycle license. It's best to call your local DMV for guidance. But beware—since the swarm of scooters on city streets is a relatively recent phenomenon, some DMV workers may not be up to speed on scooter law. (This dated site records the motley results of scooter riders' efforts to gather such info state by state.) Local scooter dealerships are often the most informed.

How fast do they go?