It is quite obvious to Larry Radar why sales at Scooter Wholesalers are on the rise.

“People have a lot more interest in getting 80 to 100 miles per gallon than 10,” said Radar, the store owner. “Filling up once a week is a nice feeling.”

Mopeds and other gasoline-powered scooters are selling as quickly as Radar can get them on his lot. Nationally, scooter sales in the 51cc to 125cc range are up 57 percent from a year ago.

“Sales have been great,” Radar said. “We’ve had people who have just got their licenses and people who are retired come in and buy. People love them for traveling around town.”

Radar said that scooters aren’t for everyone and his business scrutinizes each sale to make sure buyers can handle the product.

“Safety means a lot to us,” he said. “We recommend people get a motorcycle endorsement.”

A rider needs only a regular driver’s license to operate a moped — 50cc or below — but many eventually trade up to bigger bikes. Radar said they are already set if they have the endorsement.

He also said that he and his staff won’t sell a moped if they don’t believe the customer can handle it.

“It takes a lot of skills and drivers have to always be alert and drive defensively. Most people don’t see you,” he said. “We try to be diplomatic, but we will turn people down.”

Additonal equipment is important for riders. Radar recommends helmets, goggles and gloves for safety.

Gas prices are a key factor in driving sales upward but Radar said time of year and affordability are important factors as well.

“Summer is always our best time of the year,” Radar noted. “With the gas situation, sales have increased.”

Prices for a 50cc moped start at around $1,000. The more powerful 150cc and 250cc bikes bring the cost up, but Radar says people can take a scooter off the lot for less than what a down payment on a car would be.

Feedback from customers has been positive, and many have done business with Radar before.

“A lot have bought ATVs for their kids and come in to buy mopeds for themselves,” he said.

He also said smaller 49cc gas scooters are becoming popular. They are similar to mopeds but top speed is just 20 miles per hour.

“They aren’t street legal,” said Radar. “They have to be ridden on the side of the road, but they don’t need to be registered or titled. People seem to love them.”

Motorcycle sales on the rise, too

While gas prices have steered some toward smaller scooters, especially for use around town, the motorcycle market is seeing its own uptick.

At Fred’s Honda in Corvallis, sales have improved, according to owner Ron Loux.

“We’re selling a lot of the smaller scooters and also the midsize street bikes,” said Loux. “The gas situation has led people to look for the smaller-sized bikes.”

At G&G Cycle in Albany, which deals mostly in more specialized, off-road dirt bikes, sales have been stable.

“On this level it is not really any different,” said Gary Forster of G&G. “Motorcycles are expensive. Sales are driven by a person’s disposable income.”

Nationally, motorcylce sales have dropped for bikes in the 126 to 250cc range, but the bigger motorcycles have seen a jump in sales. Sales were up 24 percent for motorcycles over 250cc.

Loux said he expected sales to increase as long the gas situation remains the same.

“It’s just beginning to pick up,” he said. “It might be awhile until it really gets going.”

Forster reported steady sales and he says he is seeing more and more motorcycles on the road.

“I live south of town and I know the motorcycle traffic has increased,” said Forster. “A lot of people who have to travel some distance to their job are using bikes.”