Need advice on scooters please?

Hey there. I'm looking to buy a scooter but am a total newbie to the two-wheeled world. There appears to be two classes of scooter by price: honda/yamaha for about $5k or unknown (to me) brands like rocketa for about $1500. I want something that's highway-legal, and also something that's genuine transportation, not a toy. This will be my primary vehicle. I'm finding 150cc scooters that claim to be highway legal, and 250 cc scoots for under $2k. I dunno, this is just ringing alarm bells with me. Is, say, this vehicle:
http://www.atvswholesale.com/moped-150cc...
legitimate and worth buying? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

I'd really recommend a small motorcycle instead. They are faster, safer and not any more expensive. Scooters are dangerous...the wheels are too small, the steering head rake is not designed for quick maneuver, and if you have a flatboard design (footboards) they can easily break your ankle in a spill.

Think it over.

all I want to tell you is to be careful, always wear a helmet, and dont just assume the driver in the car sees you, I was run over by a car doing 70mph I was doing 30mph I loved my scooter, but its really small now and sits in my shed, I didnt have a helmet, and suffered massive head trauma. and no the driver didnt stop. enjoy it ,, its lots of fun, be safe

The term "genuine transportation" does not really define what your speed expectations are.

A 150cc scooter has a top speed of around 55-60 mph (on level ground).
http://www.strmotorsports.com/showroom/s...
http://www.bandit-motorsports.com/index....

If you need to keep up with freeway traffic, don't consider anything under 250cc's. Check your regional craigslist > for sale > motorcycles for used scooter values . . might find a Yamaha Majesty 400 or Suzuki Bergman 400.

Don't forget to budget for proper riding gear . . this is why.
http://real.ksl.com/video/slc/sid_video/...
http://dynamic.cnn.com/apps/tp/video/us/...
http://www.urbanscootin.com/forum/viewto...

Modular or full-face helmet, jeans (with knee armor), jacket, boots, and gloves.
http://www.newenough.com/
http://www.dragginjeans.com/Jeans.htm
http://www.dragginjeans.com/Armor.htm#
http://www.jafrum.com/Motorcycle-Boots/V...

Always "snug-up" jacket wrist straps or zippers.
http://www.urbanscootin.com/forum/viewto...

Helmet function video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOaSIeEl8...

Motorcycle Safety Course
http://www.msf-usa.org/

Give it a lot of thought because you'll need to pay a high price for something that's highway legal and not highway lethal.