Motorized scooters have been in cities for more than a century and have only grown in popularity in recent years. Not everyone is pleased to see them, of course, mostly because of a few irresponsible owners. But they're here to stay, and that's a good thing.For fall 2026, shoppers can choose everything from lightweight runabouts to legitimate highway-capable machines with traction control, TFT screens, smartphone connectivity and engines approaching 400cc.Here are seven I particularly like.Aprilia SR GT 400Aprilia SR GT 400Rather than trying to disguise itself as a motorcycle, the SR GT 400 seems determined to prove how serious a scooter can become, and that's a good thing. The SR GT 400 brings Aprilia's sporting DNA to a 399cc scooter producing about 35 horsepower. It gets a five-inch TFT display, keyless ignition, LED lighting and two-level traction control, along with an adventure-flavored chassis and suspension setup. U.S. MSRP is $7,249.Vespa Primavera 150Vespa Primavera 150If your mental picture of a scooter is still Audrey Hepburn tooling through Rome, Vespa's not going to argue. The 2026 Primavera 150, starting at $5,799, retains Vespa's unmistakable steel-body silhouette while adding full LED lighting, updated wheels and an analog/LCD instrument panel. Vespa also offers an 80th Anniversary Primavera 150 for $6,149, marking eight decades since the first Vespa appeared in 1946.Vespa Sprint S 150Vespa Sprint S 150Vespa was never about winning horsepower wars, but the Sprint is Primavera's slightly tougher-looking sibling. The Sprint S 150 starts at $5,999, with its rectangular headlight and darker detailing giving it a sportier visual personality.KYMCO Downtown GT 350iKYMCO Downtown GT 350iKYMCO's Downtown GT 350i is one of the more compelling sleepers in this list. They introduced it to the U.S. this spring as a machine intended to bridge everyday commuting and longer-distance riding. Its 321cc liquid-cooled single makes 28.2 horsepower, while traction control, ABS, keyless ignition and a seven-inch TFT display make this a surprisingly sophisticated but solid-looking package. MSRP starts at $6,599.Yamaha XMAXYamaha XMAXThe 2026 XMAX remains one of the benchmarks for riders who want scooter convenience without being confined to short urban hops - you can do both. Its 292cc single is paired with an automatic CVT, ABS and traction control. Yamaha claims 73 mpg, and the machine weighs 403 pounds ready to ride. MSRP is $6,399.Suzuki Burgman 4002026 Suzuki Burgman 400Suzuki's Burgman 400 is the sofa-on-wheels member of this group, though considerably more capable than that description suggests. I've had four and none have let me down. The 400cc single, ABS, traction control, generous underseat storage and large windscreen make it suitable for commuting and touring alike. The 2026 model starts at $8,949.Honda ADV160Honda ADV160Finally, Honda's ADV160 brings faux-off-road attitude with some actual substance behind it - a 157cc liquid-cooled engine, 5.1 inches of front suspension travel, front-wheel ABS and Honda's automatic V-Matic transmission. At $4,499, it's also one of the least expensive machines here.Ride safe! JM
