I'm looking into buying a Roketa Z-bike 50cc scooter for my girlfriend and since I have no idea about the regulations for scooters. I live in Nebraska and I think these things are state specific, but I was wondering if anyone had an idea of the cost of ownership i.e. how much is registering a scooter or how much is insurance etc.

ALSO the scooter isn't really running right now, I have some pictures and its apparent the thing was put down pretty hard, cracked fairings and scratches etc, but for only $150 it would make for great college transportation. Anyone have any knowledge of how difficult it is to repair a chinese scooter, I've looked around and I've seen that people complain about the availability of parts, but I've found some sites that will suit my needs for parts.

Thanks

Chinese? 2 smoker?

I can't help you with local rules and costs. I can say that about 36 years ago I was riding around on a 197cc 2-stroke italian scooter and it was a pretty good bike for its time. Talking to some of the 16 and 17 year old scooter boys and girls here in UK and the general concensus seems to be that the Chinese scooters are best left alone althoiugh I am old enough to remember people saying that about Japanese bikes I rather think that on this occasion "they" may well be right. I would only entertain one in perfect condition.

My advice for what its worth would be look around for an older 125 bike or something similar, there are some good moped type bikes around and the larger wheel is a lot easier and in my oppinion safer to ride. Whater you decide, good luck to any new rider.

Here in Missouri craigslist posts 10 Rocketa scooters for sale a day. I bet most of those sellers would trade their scooters for a few McDonald's coupons. What is your time worth when you end up constantly wrenching on a $150 scooter?

Hmm... well she's only looking into a scooter because it would provide cheap to-school transportation and buying a $1000 motorcycle wouldn't be saving any money
I'm not sure what to think about these scooters. (4 stroke btw yamahonkawazuki)

Well finding parts for them can be difficult, trust me on that lol. cheap yes, and teh GF may NOT need a MC license to ride it. ( under a certain displacement. im not sure about your states laws. check into that. FIRST. second. many of the china bikes. , parts from jap bikes/scooters can be cross fit should the need arise. ( and it will trust me lol)

1: Go to Nebraska DMV.
2: Search.
3: ?
4: Profit.

http://www.dmv.ne.gov/dvr/mvtitles/motorcycle.html
http://uniweb.legislature.ne.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=s6004127000

I had tried scouring over the DMV website but I didn't think to check the motorcycle requirements. I just assumed they would list scooter specifications. /facepalm

You might want this one. You really don't want a Chinese scooter (or a Chinese moped, for that matter) in my opinion. But an elderly Japanese or European moped might get the "lack of fuss about paperwork" you are looking for, without being a piece of crap that falls apart every 50 miles.

http://www.dmv.ne.gov/dvr/mvtitles/moped.html

Avoid the new fat "mopeds" with pedals you really couldn't use - that's just asking for trouble with Johnny Law...

Here are a couple real mopeds - yup, not $150. $150 is just your ticket to unending pain and more wasted money:
http://lincoln.craigslist.org/mcy/1121562905.html
http://lincoln.craigslist.org/mcy/1106298770.html

Then again, depending on distance involved, an electric-assist bike setup might work well for a short commute. If mostly flat, skip the electric and save more bucks.

Oh, and yes - I agree, avoid the Chinese scooters.  I think that the MSF is an excellent thing to take no matter what size of two-wheel moto you're on, so that and, say, a Zuma would be a dandy combo.

If it's just for going around campus, though, why not a bicycle?

I lived in Lincoln, Nebraska for about two years - got to love the phallic legislature...