Oh I can get the scooter running again in less than an hour. When any engine sits for that long, the fuel in the carb & tank get stale. If it sits long enough the fuel will begin to harden and the passages inside the carb will varnish. That isn't/hasn't happened with the ex's scooter.. it takes years for varnish form.

What scares me in riding the scooter (other than the visibility issues) are the tiny wheels. Smaller diameter wheels make a bike feel nervous. Honda (and I'm sure others) have a 250cc scooter with larger wheels -- it sits higher and has more bulk for cars to see.