Hurricane Prep for Your Scooter

Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. Here's the checklist we hand customers when a named storm enters the cone — and what our hurricane storage program does for the people who'd rather not be on Bay Road on landfall day.

When the storm is 72 hours out

  • Photograph the scooter from four angles, plus close-ups of any pre-existing damage. Time-stamped phone photos are the insurance baseline.
  • Fill the tank. A full tank reduces internal condensation and gives you fuel after landfall if pumps are down.
  • Charge the battery. If you're leaving it in storage, disconnect and bring it inside.
  • Check tire pressure. Under-inflated tires get flat-spotted faster in storage.

When the storm is 24–48 hours out

  • Move inland and uphill. Storm surge on Miami Beach can reach Alton Road. Move to inland Miami-Dade if possible.
  • Park indoors. A garage beats a covered carport. A covered carport beats nothing.
  • Strap it down. If you can't move it indoors, lower it onto a center stand, tie down to anchored points (not just a fence), and remove anything that can become a projectile.
  • Cover with breathable material. A plastic tarp traps moisture; a fitted breathable cover does not.
  • Disconnect the battery if it's staying outside. Bring the battery inside on a tender.
  • Document with photos. Insurance again.

After the storm

  • Don't start it until you've inspected. Water in the airbox, intake, or exhaust will hydrolock a 4-stroke engine on first crank. We've seen Vespas saved and Vespas destroyed by exactly this decision.
  • Drain and clean the carb / injector rail if water intrusion is suspected.
  • Inspect every electrical connector. Storm-water salt corrosion is faster and meaner than ambient salt corrosion.
  • If anything looks wrong, walk in. Don't try to fix water-damaged electronics by trial-and-error — you'll cook a CDI or ECU.

Hurricane storage program

If a named storm enters the cone, we will move your scooter to inland indoor storage. You don't have to call us — if you're on the program, we move it. After landfall, we inspect, dry, treat, and call you with a status report. The program is part of our snowbird care offering, and is also available as a standalone seasonal arrangement for full-time Miami Beach residents. Pricing is quoted to your situation — call (305) 538-7878.

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