Whether you choose a scooter or motorcycle, particularly if it's been a while since you have rode, invest in a Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Basic Riders Course. They run about $150 in my area and teach you a lot of physics of riding and a number of safety stratagies that make the course worth the money. I try to take their Experienced Riders Course at least every other year, wouldn't hurt to take it once a year. If you buy new, most major manufacturers will reimburse you for all or part of the course. Both Honda and Harley riders club offer partial reimbursement for their members for both courses. I started back riding after about a 20 year layoff, it was the smartest thing I have done in awhile. It also exempts you from the rode test when you get your license in my state.

Comparable sized motorcycles are generally much cheaper that scooters. A Honda Rebel lists for $3199 new, even the Kymco Peoples 250 list for $4499. My experience is that the small motorcycles get much better mileage also. The Honda 250 Big Ruckus that I used to commute on got about 70/75 mpg , while the 250 Virago motorcycle gets about 90. A good part of this is because the motorcycle is about 1/3 lighter. However, if you are commuting in city traffic, which I did on the scooter, it's much easier if one doesn't have to shift every 3 minutes.

What it cost to ride. After the initial cost of the bike, not every damn much. The maintainence of new metric bikes is pretty easy, oil changes and tune up once in awhile, and insurance is dirt cheap. I've been back riding for about 4 years now, the insurance on the 750 honda is less than $200 a year and the 250 Virago is even cheaper.

Just as a note on your speed comment. My experience is that similar sized scooters out perform their comparable sized motorcycles. The ones I've tried have great acceleration, I can tell you how to get more if you want to do a simple modification, and the top ends are about the same. As I stated before, either a 250 scoot or motorcycle will still do 70 mph.

Hope this helps, e-mail me if you have any specific questions.