Check out the early releases! The Yamaha C3 (cubed), which is their previous concept called the Two-Wheeled-Violin-Case Vox. Good to see this released! Nine gallons of storage and a 49cc engine make this the ultimate scoot for the ride back and forth to Whole Foods.
Check out the updated Suzuki Burgman 400 too! Featuring updated body work making it look rather sexy. Click on the Burgman link to see what TMW says about it... and let us know when you see these in your local dealerships!
Honda is still holding it's cards on everything but the good 'ole Helix, yep she's still around... hrm... what to expect? What-to-ex-pect? *taps chin with index finger*
***UPDATE***
See our little "first looks" review from 02/07 here.
118 Decibel Wolo Bad Boy 419 Horn Makes Scooters Scary @ Alice Hill's Real Tech News - Independent Tech: "Face it, when you’re tooling around town on your scooter, the last thing you want is to NOT get noticed at a critical time. It also really stinks when your horn sounds like an angry cricket. It commands no respect at all. Like most mechanically inclined bikers, I went looking at aftermarket horns. Lots of lovely goodies, but nothing really grabbed me until I spotted one of these:
Meet the Wolo Bad Boy model 419.
It's tiny (5"x5"x3.5"), lightweight (16 oz) and whoa nelly, is it ever loud. About 118db to be precise. That's about twice as loud as the standard car horn. Installation is simple, uses the same two wires that operate your existing horn (which you will soon after trash)."
Check out the product here.
Salt Lake Tribune - Goodbye, gas guzzling: "More than 40 percent of U.S. consumers say their next car must get at least 30 miles per gallon, including 15 percent who won't settle for less than 40 miles per gallon, according to a recent survey by Autobytel.
In Utah, 56 percent of adults say recent increases in gas prices have prompted them to drive less and 8 percent have increased their use of mass transit, according to a Salt Lake Tribune poll conducted last week.
'In the past year, I have received more phone calls and more e-mails and more queries than I've ever had before,' says Beverly Miller, director of the Utah Clean Cities Coalition, a nonprofit that has promoted the use of clean-fuel cars for almost 10 years...
(cut down)
...Others are ditching cars entirely and turning to motorcycles or ultra-efficient scooters, such as Vespas and Ventos that get anywhere from 60 to 100 miles per gallon, depending on their size. Salt Lake dealers Vespa Utah and Eco Moto both reported doubling their sales in May, each selling about 50 scooters during the month.
"Mileage is the first question most people ask," says Layne Latham, sales manager at Vespa Utah. "It used to be, 'How fast does it go?' Buying a scooter has become a lot easier to justify when you can save that much money on gas."
***UPDATE***
See comments for all the details on the stolen scooter... Plate, VIN, Color and Year! If you're up near Portland or Tualatin, keep an eye out and report it to the cops!
***Originally posted back on March 16th, 2006***
I had to dig this one up only because people haven't forgotten Gary Merrill. You remember him, right? The poor 50 year old mentally handicapped guy who had his Gyro stolen over near Portland in early March of this year?
We had an anonymous comment informing us of a red Gyro in the Portland area for sale on Craigslist. Check it out here. This one is LOW miles, 1559 to be exact. I don't know the details on the stolen one other than that it was also red. If it's the stolen scoot, then maybe justice can be served. If it's NOT the stolen scoot... then it's a great deal at $750.
***Below is the original post***
(Stolen 3-wheeled Honda Gyro looked something like this)
Originally from Oreganlive.com
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
KATE TAYLOR
Gary Merrill was crushed and confused when his scooter and only mode of transportation vanished from outside his Tualatin home last week.
The loss of his red, three-wheel scooter last week was especially painful because it gave him some independence. Unable to get a driver's license, he rode the Honda Gyro three miles from his home to the full-time dishwashing job he has held for 32 years at Tualatin's Sweetbrier Inn & Suites.
He usually wakes at 5:10 in the morning to prepare for work and was stunned Friday when he went outside to find his scooter gone. Distraught, he told his mother, who called police and spent the day posting fliers about her son's three-wheeler and offering a reward.
How sick is that? A fifty year old mentally challenged dude... STOKED every morning when he goes out to hop on his little scooter to go wash dishes... Wakes up to find it stolen. Please, if you see a red Honda Gyro around the area there, let the cops know. These aren't common scooters in the USA, so it should stand out.
Thankfully, the peeps over at Portland Motorcycle hooked him up with a new Schwinn Campus (yes, Schwinn has scooters) and he's all nice and stokey again.
CNN.com - Motorcyclist killed in rush-hour lightning strike - Jun 22, 2006: "Witnesses reported seeing a flash of light shortly before the motorcyclist struck the center divider on U.S. 36 Wednesday, police spokesman Tim Read said.
Gary Missi, 46, of Longmont was pronounced dead at the scene. (Watch where lightening gouged the asphalt -- 1:09)
A coroner's investigation was under way to determine whether the lightning bolt, the collision or something else caused his death, Read said.
The lightning blasted a 4-inch-deep hole in the highway and sent chunks of asphalt hurtling across the highway."
Damn! So... the faraday cage effect. One point the car has over two wheelers. Yes, there's always air conditioning, bad weather protection, and such. Many items which are balanced out when weighted against the joy of 2-wheeled springtime riding on an open road. But... when there's a charge in the air, nothing beats a rolling faraday cage.
How often does this even happen? Poor guy.
Thanks to "Soundoftheday" Steve for bringing this one to my attention!
(BAM! Off the hinge! Even though the hinge broke, the head it was protecting didn't.)
(The culprit tire. I'd show more photos... but it's just so sad to see a beautiful new Vespa all tore up.)
Thanks to Fred at Idontgiveashift, Austin's monthly long distance ride, for forwarding this on to us. This is the follow up to our story on the importance of wearing your gear. You remember what happend to Ruckuschick, right? Body covered in bacon, but her head? Intact.
Let's take a look at what happens to a 200lb, 6ft sumthin' guy who takes a scooter spill at 65 MPH. Thank goodness for the gear! On to the story of our friend "Sound of the day" Steve um... Joe. (Thanks for the GREAT narrative Christine! Very informative!)
Tires 1, Scooter 0 by Christine Fish
One of my scooter buddies (for the sake of our new friendship and to protect his identity, I'll refer to him as Joe, rather than his real name), recently had an unscheduled dismount from his less-than-a-year- old Vespa Granturismo 200L. No other vehicles were involved and, thankfully, Joe is alive and mostly well (recovering from a mild concussion and bruises) to ponder lessons learned from the experience, share his story, and ride again. His account of the incident is a chilling reminder worth sharing of the importance of wearing full protective gear, performing routine maintenance checks, knowing your bike's limits, and recognizing early warning signs of potential mechanical failure. With those points in mind, following is Joe's story.
While driving home from work on a local freeway at 65 mph just before rush hour on a very hot Texas day, Joe felt his Vespa suddenly decelerate. It was the beginning of a nightmare that lasted only a few seconds, but one that he'll likely remember for a long time. "Oh, great," thought Joe, "am I out of gas?" His analog gas gauge and fuel warning light had taken some getting used to: he had learned the hard way how to judge the distance he could ride and at what speed when those indicators worked together. With a quick glance at the instrument panel, Joe saw that he had more than an adequate fuel supply. His bike's quick, nonverbal reply was "No, but my watch my back!" as its rear end began to fishtail wildly.
A quick thinker with a cool head, Joe's first instinct was to keep the bike upright long enough to get from the center lane of traffic to the nearest grassy spot on the side of the road. He had a hunch that something mechanical had just gone very wrong with the bike and that the odds of making a controlled stop were slim at best. Joe rolled off the throttle and countered the bike's movements with aplomb while nudging it toward the grass. He managed to avoid cars and move out of the center lane, pointing the bike toward what he hoped would be a softer dismount point, if needed. Then he felt a sudden jolt, as if he had hit a bump or a hazard in the road.
The next thing Joe remembered was waking up on a stretcher in an ambulance with an emergency medical services (EMS) technician sticking an IV needle into his arm. Witnesses who stopped and called for help said that Joe's back tire had blown out. From the pain in his left hip and head and the grass stains streaked across the lower left front panel, left sleeve, and across the back crash armor in his jacket, Joe knew that he had been launched from the bike and hit his intended target.
The emergency room physician concluded his assessment of the various x-rays and tests performed on Joe with, "Your helmet did its job. However, you have a concussion." Indeed, the helmet saved Joe from a more severe injury and possibly even saved his life. Upon closer inspection of the flip-up model after the accident, both hinges were broken, with the jaw of the helmet hanging below the cheek guards. The face shield was missing, having been torn off during the crash, and the left back quadrant was streaked with a wide patch of scratches.
Joe's wife smiled with relief as she pulled a large clump of grass and dirt out from under the edge of the Harley Davidson logo stud at the ankle on Joe's left boot. She recalled her motorcycle safety training instructor explaining how important good, over-the-ankle protective foot wear is when riding a motorcycle and was glad that Joe had taken his safety gear purchases seriously. While assisting him in getting dressed to leave the hospital, she also noticed that the EMS technicians had kindly stuffed Joe's gloves into his jacket pocket. Thank goodness Joe had been wearing them too.
On the way home from the hospital, Joe and his wife discussed several theories about how the back tire had been compromised and why Joe hadn't noticed what in hindsight might have been warning signs of its impending demise. The tires were factory originals with slightly more than 5500 miles of wear. A little research on the Internet indicated that at least the rear tire was probably beyond end of life. Joe had noticed at the start of his last long ride about a week and a half before the accident that the back tire pressure was a little low. How long it had been that way, he wasn't sure.
Upon closer inspection of the vehicle at the towing service the day after the accident, tread wear was evident on the back tire, but it was not obvious with a casual inspection. The wear was near the center of the tire, and it had cut a path sharply to the edge of the tread lines. Without picking up the bike, it was difficult to tell at the towing yard just how the tire failed or what might have delivered the final blow. But a few more facts are worth mentioning. On the day of the accident, the temperature outside was approximately 95 degrees when Joe left his office. Joe's bike had sat outside all day in an open parking lot on hot asphalt. The tires had all day to bake in the sun for a nice hot ride home in the evening just before 5 p.m.-- the hottest time of the day. Add to that the very pronounced tread wear near the center of the tire, an unknown time driven under-inflated, a tire beyond the usual end of life mileage for 12-inch tires, and a few lessons became obvious to Joe.
1. Know your tires.
While researching what went wrong and how he could have avoided the blow out, what surprised Joe was how little time he had actually spent researching information about his tires before he bought his scooter. Some FAQ sites that Joe found on the Internet cited average life expectancy for scooter tires at mileages much below what he had on his rear tire. His owner's manual contained the usual warnings about checking the tires for proper inflation; maximum recommended pounds per square inch, watching for tread wear, and performing routine checks, but there was no direct mention about average mileage. Joe concluded from his research that it is important to know your tires before you buy, especially what is reasonable to expect from a specific tire (not all tires are alike) and when you should consider replacing them. Many factors affect mileage on tires, so general information about tire life expectancy can be misleading.
Talk to your dealer, your scooter mechanic, and other scooter owners about their tire experiences. Research information from the manufacturer about the specific tires on your bike or that you are planning to buy. Joe found a wealth of information on the Internet about tire maintenance and many tips he would have never even considered without doing the research.
2. Inspect your tires.
Joe has a renewed appreciation for the motorcycle safety training that he attended, especially the lesson about checking his tires. He also found that published information abounds on the Internet about the importance of routine and thorough tire inspection, particularly inspecting tires for damage or possible problems areas (such as cracks, uneven tread wear, gashes, blisters, bumps, dry rot, or other signs of damage or uneven wear) as well as for adequate tire pressure. It's easy to overlook tire inspection, especially as we're rushing out the door to be somewhere at an appointed time or caught up in the excitement of an unplanned escape into the countryside. But consider this: all that's between you and the road on your motorcycle are two little patches of rubber. Published recommendations vary about how often you should check the tires, but every time you ride isn't unreasonable, considering how much you trust those two wheels! If you don't feel comfortable with your ability to spot problems, consider taking your bike to a motorcycle dealer or vehicle inspection station and ask for an inspection. It's not a substitute for your own regular inspection and certainly no guarantee that a problem will be spotted or prevented, but a trained eye that is used to seeing tires at their worst might see an early warning sign that you missed.
3. Wear protective gear.
Joe was well-padded for his landing, something that I often don't see in central Texas, especially in the heat of the late spring and summer months. Although both hinges on the flip top model were compromised from the impact, there's little doubt that Joe's helmet protected him from a much more serious head injury and possibly saved his life! And it's not just crash protection that a helmet provides. Rocks, dust, and large insects flying in your face can be a safety hazard at any speed. Sure it can feel great to have the wind at your face. It's by far better not to bet that you will still have a face, a healthy brain, or a life if you crash without a helmet. The odds simply aren't in your favor.
Joe was also wearing an armored, partial mesh motorcycle jacket. Without it, picture this: the pattern of grass stains on the left side, left arm, and across the back of his jacket replaced with road rash (or worse). Another friend of mine likes to counter objections to wearing protective clothing with this simple reply: "Skin graphs don't always take." Enough said. The same goes for wearing gloves, over-the-ankle, sturdy footwear, and riding pants or chaps. With so many choices available at local bike shops and on the Internet, and many that are adapted for warmer climates, there's simply no good excuse for not wearing protective gear.
Joe was lucky that he survived the crash, and even more lucky that he survived with just a mild concussion and a painful lesson about tire maintenance. No doubt the experience has made him a safer rider. It certainly has been a not-so-subtle reminder to me, especially as we head into the heat of the Texas summer months, about the importance of routine maintenance and wearing protective gear.
(The helmet that saved Ruckuschick's pretty little head)
Lately there's been a lot of comments on The Scooter Scoop dealing with helmets. You probably know my stance on them by now, but if not... WEAR A HELMET!
Anyway, what's the big deal with helmets? Maybe you are a safe rider with lots of experience... Perhaps you have a scooter that doesn't go faster than 45MPH... Helmets make it hard to pick up chicks/guys and you don't wanna mess up your game. These are all GREAT excuses! Fortunately, these were not good enough excuses for a couple of scooter riders we know...
Ruckuschick in Gilbert, AZ and "Soundoftheday" Steve in Austin, TX both survived wrecks this Summer because they wore their helmets.
The first wreck reported in to us at The Scooter Scoop was from Ruckuschick. It was her first. She wrote in herself. How did she have the mental capacity to compose her own email on the event? SHE WORE HER HELMET! Ruckuschick, an experienced, MSF Certified motorcycle rider of 5 years, got into scooters about a year ago. She owned a Honda Ruckus(where the name comes from) and she owned a Honda Reflex. The Honda Reflex went down and was totaled in May... with Ruckuschick ON it.
Let's have her describe it:
Hey Steve, Ruckuschick here. I crashed my Flex a couple of weeks ago and got a nice ride to the hospital via helicopter. Thank god I was wearing my full face helmet or I'd be a lower form of broccoli or worse. Think you could mention a reminder to folks to wear their helmets and other protective gear when riding on your blog?Ouch! Right? I didn't post the other photos here because I wasn't sure that she wanted the world to see them, but they consisted of images of a scratched up helmet, a scratched up Reflex and lots and LOTS of bacon (road rash)! Poor thing neglected to wear her other riding gear and had to endure some long, painful days in recovery. Here's how the interview went:
If I'd not been a dumbass and worn my armored jacket that day I'd be in even better shape too. The worst injuries were to my knees and ankles and I broke my big toe (wearing tennis shoes ain't very protective either). And I didn't even impact another car! A couple trucks stopped short in front of me and even though I had room I locked up the brakes and the rear end went squirly and part of the lower fairing scraped asphalt and I was off to the races, my body tumbling about 4 times (impacted my head about 3 times) and landed in a concrete ditch. The insurance company totalled my Flex, too expensive to fix the plastics. And I sold my lil Ruckus. So now I am scooterless.
TSS: Do you remember how fast you were going?
RC: About 30 mph
(that's not fast at all, eh?)
TSS: How many 2-wheeled miles do you have under your belt?
RC: About 5 years - most of that on a biggger motorcycle - just got scooters last year about this time. Really was enjoying the nimbleness and auto transmissions of the things.
(So, she's got some experience here...)
TSS: Have you taken a safety riding course?
RC: Yep took MSF course right off the bat
(and she's got some training... I highly recommend a motorcycle safety course.)
TSS: Why didn't you have on your jacket, probably hot?
RC: I felt too confident on the bike so I figured I could get away with one day without it. Rode every other day with it, just happened I didn't that day. Ironic huh? Yeah it was hot, but not too hot for the mesh jacket. I've heard a saying since the crash, "never ride anything you aren't a little afraid of". I think I was too unafraid of this scoot.
TSS: Was it also one of those things where it was just a short jaunt so you figured you were safe w/o a jacket?
RC: Yeah it was just a short ride home, a route I'd travelled many times. Funny my worst injuries were to my feet and knees so, I will be adding that protection to my gear from now on too.
Is this your first crash? Yep.
I remember every single detail on this crash including how each road rash scrape was achieved and how each bounce on my head was prtoected by a good fiitng helmet. Losing it happened in about 2 seconds. Not very much time to decide to lock up or try and swerve into possible traffic on the left or hit gravel on the right and who knows.
It was one of those scenarios where the EMT tells her, "You're lucky that you were wearing your helmet or it would have been game over". Experienced rider, slow speed... but still GAME OVER! All the experience in the world is not going to pad your cranium. Well, you get the idea. Pam, we're glad you are all right and hope to see you back on the road soon (let us know what scooter you end up getting to replace the Flex).
We'll be following up with our interview of "Sound of the day" Steve after a battery recharge.
(Even David Hasselhoff knows three hours is a loooooong layover)
It's 6:30 am right now at the Portland Airport and I'm eating a Breakfast Dog thinking "HEY! I can finally update the Scoop!" I do have a three hour layover after all.
I had just spent the last three nights in Medford (pretty town and a GREAT place to eat some real Hawaiian food believe it or not). I saw a few scooters... looks like a great place to ride! I had hoped to drop by Ptown Scooters during my layover but I'm here just too darn early. Speaking of Ptown Scooters, if you're in the area July 7-9 go to the All Portland Scooter Rally 2006 and try to win that Sachs MadAss!
Well... On to the show. Today's topic? Helmets: Friend or Foe? Stay tuned.
No more boring Office Depot desk lamps for you! NO. For only $1,200 US (plus shipping) you can bask in the warm glow of your Vespa headlight lamp. What? You ride a Lambretta? No prob! Lamponi makes a LAMPbretta (hehe, get it? Lampbr... sorry).
No word if there are plans for a Yamaha Zuma lamp.
Click on the title link to start dreaming up ways to move $1200 to your slush fund for a home office purchase.
Just gotta scoot busted out the head to head on the new Genuine Buddy. Never heard of it? Well it's Stella's new baby cousin and it's probably at your local Genuine dealership now. The short story? 125cc, 61.5 MPH at the top end, even you don't like the looks of the Buddy you can't deny it's value. Why don't you check out the the story... click on the title link.
Looks like the Telegraph got their hands on the MP3 and gave it the "who's yer daddy". It's a very short piece, but this paragraph really stood out...
This should mean a LOT to anyone who has gotten a little scare from sliding on gravel. There was another line which I didn't really like that said the scooter weighs 60 lbs more than a similarly powered scooter so the take off on the 250 was...s l o w.
Telegraph | Motoring | Three wheels are hard to crash: "The real test was tough, though: I found a corner with a deep line of gravel around the outside and pointed the MP3 at it while leaning over. The front slid and my leg flailed, but instead of being upended, as I certainly would have been on a two-wheeler, the MP3 understeered through, then carried on unflustered."
Say No To Scooters (from News Shopper): "THE FRIENDS and family of a 19-year-old who lost his leg in a road accident are boycotting their scooters in an act of solidarity.
Wayne Hall, of Challin Street, Penge, was riding his Gilera moped on the night of May 28 when he was involved in an accident with a red Ford Fiesta.
Wayne's right leg was nearly severed in the collision which occurred at the junction of Maple Road and Graveney Road, Penge.
The former Kelsey Park Sports College student was rushed to the Mayday Hospital, Croydon, and later transferred to St George's Hospital, Tooting, where surgeons battled to save his leg.
continued...
Sadly, during an eight-hour operation, they were forced to amputate Wayne's right leg just below the knee.
Wayne had been warned he could lose his leg and said: 'I saw the state my leg was in. It was twisted 90 degrees and when they twisted it back I couldn't feel anything.
'My dad said he was waiting for me to scream but I didn't flinch.'
The tragedy comes just two months after Wayne's school friend, Stuart May, 19, was killed after he collided with a lamppost while riding his motorbike in Chislehurst.
Wayne said: 'I count myself lucky to be here with just the injuries I got.
'I do have days when I think why did it have to happen to me?
'But I've got to think of people who are in a worse state than I am and they can get through it.'
Now Wayne's 18-year-old brother Colin and three other friends are selling their own scooters and are planning to raise funds for Wayne's rehabilitation.
Colin, who has an identical bike to his brother, said: 'I don't even want to ride it any more.
'I can't put my mum through what has happened to Wayne and I don't want to rub his nose in it.
'Me and my friends are making a point. Bikes are dangerous.'"
***COMMENTARY***
Sigh... Going outside of your house is dangerous! If you're a teenage boy with a Gilera... chances are you were hauling ass! Of course... the scooter is at fault here.
Now, in the twisted world of psychology, this is a big score for the parents of the rest of these boys. They got them to feel guilty over the event, "oh it wouldn't be fair to Wayne to watch you boys having fun on your scooters while he's in his wheel chair." to which they reply "Yea mum, yer right! We'll sell our scoots to raise money for him!" Now the parents don't have to worry about the other teens catchin' wreck on their tweaked out Runners.
A year from now they'll be sitting around, trainspotting, talkin' about,
"Gor blime me, I'm bored."
"Yea, sellin' our scoots was a load of old pants!"
"If Wayne wouldn't 'ave wrecked his scoota we'd prolly 'ave copped off with a coupla nice birds on the back by now. Plonker."
Found out about some cool canvas riding gear from Italy. As you can see it's a short armored jacket and reinforced pants that can be unzipped to make shorts. Nice for the casual rider look if you're the type that doesn't like to look like a Power Ranger... or a Village Person...
Of course the translations aren't so great, but I've posted a bit anyway. I think you get the picture.
It travels fresh with City Tucano: "Coupled new, jacket and pantanoli from City Tucano to the standard of the emergency and the freschezza: Jacket Rocky and Panta Canvas.
The Rocky is one short jacket from the sport cut, equipped of estraibili rigid protections CE on the elbows and estraibili protecting paddings on the back and the shoulders, inner hinge with flap inner antiwind, pockets portadocumenti and regulations on the flanks."
This is originally a piece from the Wall Street Journal. I've only put a snippet here, but I recommend clicking on the title link for a little insight on Piaggio's financial history and where they are today.
Vespa scoots back to profitability: "But in 2003, the company, based outside of Pisa, found itself in such dire straits that it teetered on the brink of default. Years of revolving-door management and millions of euros squandered on ill-conceived expansion plans had saddled Piaggio with crushing debts and left it vulnerable to competition from cheaper Asian rivals."
Because we don't get any Fifth Gear lovin' here in the USA, I had no clue that Season 8 (2005) ran a race between a Puegeot JetForce Compressor and a Suzuki Swift (car). Of course there is no way a 125cc scooter can keep up with a car capable of pushing 109 MPH and a 0-60 in 11 seconds, right? Well... It didn't. In the shoot-out table the swift comes in at 59.50 seconds and the JetForce slides in at a 60.90 seconds. Still the little bugger ran quite hot and in the head to head it almost looks like a tie just edges out the Swift. Check out the video and drool all over the JetForce's supercharged goodness. Note: The audio is a bit out of sync.
Thanks to Peter B. for the scoop!
I think this was in an issue of MAKE magazine, but I don't know that I recommend building a bike so... Flammable, plus if you wreck you'll be pull splinters out of your arse for days. I will admit, it makes for one hell of a conversation piece.
The Bellingham Herald | news | | Vespa scooters really get Bellingham group's motor running: "MICHELLE THERIAULT
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
On his pistachio-hued Vespa, Thomas Merrimon zips through lashing rain. Safe inside, he explains himself.
'I couldn't very well drive a car here to talk about scooters,' says the dripping wet rider.
Vespas, the sleek Italian scooters made famous by movies like 'La Dolce Vita' and 'Roman Holiday,' and their knockoffs have inspired a new breed of road warriors. Merrimon belongs to Scooters of Bellingham, a group of enthusiasts that has been taking county roadways by storm since 2004.
They're no Banditos: Bellingham Mayor Mark Asmundson is a reportedly a member.
'It's like a motorcycle gang, with a little less machismo,' says Merrimon, a 34-year-old self-described 'scooterist' who moonlights as a waiter at Callaloo Carribbean Kitchen.
CLUB ORIGINS
Vespas, which first became popular in Italy during post-World War II fuel shortages, have enjoyed a resurgence of popularity among urbanites worldwide. Vespas are manufactured by Italy-based Piaggio and cost $3,199 to $5,799 for new models, according to the company's American Web site."
Click on the title link to read the whole article.
Back in April we were on the hunt for all those star studded Honda scooter commercials... you know the ones; Devo, Grace Jones & Adam Ant. Larry "Bud" Mellman, but there was one we couldn't get our paws on... Lou Reed.
Well, our very own Indiana Jones, "punkelf" as located this holy grail of Honda commercials and has added it as a comment in the original post. Thanks punkelf!
So here it is for your viewing pleasure. The quality is nothing to write home about, but it will give you an idea of its 80's visual grandeur.
Does it bring back memories for anyone?
You know GIVI for their assortment of side cases, top boxes and such... If you trust them to protect your spare helmet and peanutbutter sandwich why not trust them to protect your noggin? Yes! You can now stick your head in a GIVI... helmet. Smart and stylish, the GIVI HPS 20.1D is making its rounds with nostri amici Italiani (out Italian friends) at www.CyberScooter.it . Looks like a pretty sweet jet styled bucket from the shots I've seen.
If you click the title link you can see more photos or try to read the poorly fish-translated text, but really it can be summed up like this:
CyberScooter: "Beautiful, aggressive, comfortable, pleasant to use and with an average purchase price and only some minor defects. "
I dig it... but will we see it in the USA? According to my conversation with GIVIUSA... no.
I was told that it's, "hard to compete with Shoei and Arai when it costs so much to get them DOT approved. Someone from overseas would sell you one, but your not gonna find them retailing in the USA." And like the top-40, it's a song I've heard time and time again... and I'm startin' to get sick of it. Time to change the station.
I don't make a habit of posting a lot of stolen scooter/moped announcements, but Lester is a good friend of mine making it that much more sucky (because now I gotta watch him mope for who knows HOW many weeks.) If you see these around town, or out side of town, please let him know. THANKS!
Memorial Day Theft
We had 2 mopeds stolen from the front of our store 2 blocks east of I-35 on 5th street in Austin, Texas. Any leads resulting in the return of the bikes and the prosecution of the thieves will result in a cash reward.
One 1979 Sage Green Puch Sport High Torque - Texas License Plate number 060X4M
One 1980 Emerald Green Piaggio/Vespa Si with furry gray seat - California License Plate number B061348
They look identical to the bikes in the pictures minus the saddle bags on the puch.
There are 2 identical bikes in the area to be aware of: another Sage Green Puch Sport and another Emerald Green Piaggio/Vespa si. The Puch will be driven by a girl with short blondish hair and the Piaggio/Vespa Si has the license plate B061349 please leave them alone. But if they look suspicious please let me know of their whereabouts.
Please email me lester@austinmopeds.com
Thank you for your assistance,
Lester Chiu
Austin Mopeds
500 San Marcos St. ..104
Austin, TX 78702
Note... Almost EVERYONE Lester hangs out with looks suspicious, making it that much harder. Just keep an eye out if you could.
Sea bass corporation? Public information: "Updated Suzuki Skywave released April 18th"
Yes, April has come and gone but this may still be news for you and I. Suzuki (which babelfish translates as The "Sea Bass" Corporation) has gone an updated a scooter ONLY available in Japan. The Suzuki Skywave 250 Type S. It has all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a high end Japanese Big Scooter. Keyless start, DOHC 4 valve engine kickin' out 25 HP, split headlights, sporty windscreen and tail spoiler, 14 in. front and 13 in. real wheels, sliding backrest to snug up against the driver, lighted under seat storage for a full face helmet, DC socket for charging your toys. They are hoping to see 8,000 units a year at between $5500-$8400 US.
Suzuki Corp. Please forward one Skywave 250 Type S to Austin, Texas for review. Thank you.
We really do need some new blood from Sea Bass... er... Suzuki here in the US. I mean, I like the Burg and all... but we want choices! Pretty please? (yes... I know the Skywave is a fancy Burgman, but bring it anyway)
***UPDATE***
Even more recently announced was a 400cc Type S. So, now you can envy with an even deeper shade of green.
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