Given that powered two-wheelers (PTWs) are overrepresented in crash statistics around the world, it is perhaps not surprising that much of the research and government policy attention on PTWs is focused on road safety issues. An understanding of the potential role that these vehicles can play as an urban travel option in the context of sustainable transport is limited. The need for better knowledge about the utilitarian use of this vehicle class is addressed by examining the usage patterns and demographics of riders in Victoria, Australia. The analysis draws on a special survey of PTW users that was conducted in conjunction with a major household travel survey. Because respondents indicated whether their PTWs were motor scooters or motorcycles, the analysis was segmented by PTW type as well as trip purpose and rider demographics (particularly age and gender). Cross-tabulations and hypothesis testing provided insight into important differences across subgroups, and logistic regression models examined the factors that correlated with whether a motor scooter or motorcycle was the most likely PTW to have been used for a particular journey. Rider gender, age, and distance to be ridden were significant explanatory variables. The results provide insight into the use of PTWs for utilitarian travel and the factors that help explain differences in the use patterns of motor scooters and motorcycles.