ONCE the transport of mods and grannies, scooters are fast becoming fashionable with all shapes, sizes and sexes.

Even diehard bikers, who once derided the lightweights, are now turning to them as a fun alternative, particularly in the winter when pristine motorbikes hibernate to avoid the rigours of road salt.

The potential market for the new breed of scooter is vast because of their blend of practicality, economy and fun factor.

Sixteen year olds can wave goodbye forever to the bus or the lift from mum and get their first taste of independence from the saddle of the scooter.

Forget buying a second car to get mother or father to their respective workplaces, one of them can take the scooter.

Or just ride them for a laugh, because laugh is undoubtedly what you will do, they 're a hoot.

Two grand will kit you out with a nice trendy little number and depending on the model probably get you on the road with gear and insurance too.

You can still plug for the classic scooter look but most models come with tricked-up bodywork which puts them firmly in the 21st century.

The Malaguti Crosser, for instance, came with florid orange/red paintwork, twin headlamps and a butch off-road appearance.

Malaguti has been making scooters since 1930 and is the second largest producer in Italy. The Italian flair gives the machine instant street cred, which is vital for the rider to get that feel good factor.

Turn the key, press the starter button and twist the throttle, that's about the extent of it for the non-technically minded. You don't have to mess about with gears and the brakes are like a bicycles, on the left and right hand side of the handlebars.

You sit tall in the saddle so you don't feel vulnerable in traffic and there's enough poke, even from the 50cc two stroke engine, to out-drag cars from the traffic lights. Chunky tyres give a nice stable feel to the machine, yet leave the scooter with lightning steering reactions.

For a bit more grip and a lot more go there's the Peugeot Trekker which boasts sticky road tyres and grin inducing acceleration from the 100cc engine.

While the Crosser is great in town, the Trekker pulls out a lead on the open road where 60mph can easily be sustained. Find a nice country lane, twist, turn and enjoy the ride.

Having fun needn't be costly either with deals to be had on insurance and fuel consumption figures around the 70mpg mark.

The other great advantage of a scooter over a conventional motorbike is that you can get your kicks at safe speeds.

Twist the throttle to the stop on a sportsbike and chances are it will flip.

If it doesn't then highly illegal and very dangerous speeds will be attained in the blink of an eye.

Whack open the throttle of a scooter and the most you are likely to see is 60mph yet the exhilaration is still there.

Trendy looking, cheap to buy and run and a hoot to ride, the latest batch of scooters is hard to beat.

l Scooters lent by DT Mackenzie, of Haughton Road Garage, Darlington.