Best Messerschmitt Video EVER!

Well, I'm not sure that it's actually the "best Messerschmitt video EVER", as Comic Book Guy might say... but it's pretty damn cool.

ajc.com - Scooters score free parking in primo Decatur spots

Georgia getting free parking now. Good for you DeKalb County, you are ahead of the curve! Many cities will follow your lead.

By David Markiewicz
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

From his perch behind the latte dispenser, Starbucks employee Frank Kecseti can look outside across Ponce de Leon Avenue and ogle with envy the cream-colored Vespa parked in front of Mick's restaurant.

It's not the flashy scooter that's caught the fancy of the 20-year-old Decatur resident. It's the land it occupies.

The two-wheeler holds sway over that most prime piece of real estate in charm city's downtown: the free parking spot.

The curbside warning sign that guards the six diagonally striped slots says it all. Scooter parking only, it informs, and just for those with 250 cc engines. Heaving hulks, back off. That means you, Mr. SUV, and you, too, Mrs. Minivan.

Kecseti as well, who's a might green over the restrictions. Though he walks to work, he's eyeing a 500 cc motorcycle. So, there's no room at the in spot for him, either.

Still, of the scooter slots he says, "I'm glad they did it. It's going to be an asset to our community."

Lyn Menne's sure of it. She's the assistant city manager and an advocate of the spaces which were added a little over a month ago. Lines recently were repainted after they were obliterated during a water repair project.

"People started using them immediately after we put them in," Menne said. "It was amazing. Everything we've heard has been positive."

It worked so well, she said, that the city plans two more scooter parking areas downtown, "where we know there will be heavy use."

Click the title link to read the whole story. Can you get this done in YOUR hometown?

Bizarre! WTF Scooter of the month

Bizarre!
Originally uploaded by ragtag04

ragtag04 shares THIS photo of a Honda with a fairground plane mounted on it. Not sure how if you can put your feet down... but it looks damn cool!

floridatoday.com - Scooter sales race

Gas is expensive, scooter sales are booming, blah blah blah and OH! Wait! This time they are giving a little primer to potential scooter buyers to stay away from the "too good to be true" online scooter deals. That's nice! Here's the snippet:

Iconic in Europe, where gas has always been at a premium, scooters have yet to fully catch up in the United States, but the upsurge in gasoline prices may change that.

A factor that hurt consumer interest in the past was the unreliability of cheap models -- many imported from China -- introduced into the United States in the past decade.

"They were very inexpensive, but these Chinese mass-produced scooters came without a warranty, and you couldn't get parts or service for them," said Ernie Martin's son, David. "They were almost disposable."

The machines had many mechanical issues that became headaches for their owners.

"Six months later, the repairs would cost as much as the bikes," David Martin said.

Often bought through the Internet, these scooters sold for as little as $400.

But the savings were false, because, in many instances, unsuspecting buyers couldn't get the vehicles registered because the brands didn't meet the Environmental Protection Agency requirements that would have put them in the approved list for registration in Florida.

A couple of years ago, staff at the tag bureau routinely had to break the news to many scooter owners that their vehicles could only be legally ridden on private property.

Importers had sneaked the scooters through the ports, often placing three or four Florida-approved scooters in front of the container, while the rest of the cargo consisted of bikes that could never get a license.

As port inspections tightened and the dust settled, the problem has eased.

"A lot of these cheap bikes are now stuck in the port," David Martin said.

Honda planning some electric innovations of their own.

Dudel, or as we know him around these parts "Scoop Doggy Dog", has a hot scoop for ya like a big 'ole ball of sticky rice (with a side of Hawaiian macaroni salad and some teriaki chicken... Man, I need to each some lunch and I wish we had a Noho's here).

As I was saying, Honda has some electric innovations of their own that hit the patent office today. Here's what Dudel has distilled from the 28 page report containing 16 patent claims and 20 drawings.

Everybody is working on electric scooter technology. Honda patented the technology for "a drum brake unit on a rear wheel rotated by drive force of an electric motor... fins act as a heat sink to dissipate heat generated by the drum brake unit, and to resist heat transfer from the drum brake unit to the electric motor, helping to more efficiently cool the electric motor."

Ahhh, I see. A rear drum brake / electric motor that efficently keeps its cool.


Under the seat you can see the power plug and a removable bed pan. Wait, no... that's a removable storage which can be replaced with a net if you prefer to air your goods in the wind.

All I can say is I'm REALLY digging all the effort the big guys are making... With Honda, Piaggio, Vectrix and others working to produce quality electrics all we need is a serious quantum leap in electricity storage and BLAM! Electric scooters will be zooming all over your town... unless GM makes an electric Hummer first... then the dinosaurs will live on.

Worlds fastest Vespa

This is what you get when you cram a blown, big block 540 Chevy, TH-400 Auto Tranny, Chrome 4 Link 9" Rear with a 390 Posi on a tube chassis INTO a Vespa 400 body.

If you like to go a little bit fast and have $79,000 (OBO) to spare, you can buy it from Ron Mule up in Hamilton, NJ. This one-of-a-kind 1960 Vespa Pro Street, black with flames and red leather only has 600 miles on her and she's guaranteed to make a BIG splash at your next rally... though, they may not let you enter her in the gymkhana.

Originally found over at Hemmings Auto Blogs.

Oh and speaking of "cars"... check out this artwork also in Video format. It beats the old standby of "Wash Me" or "Lavarme" as we sometimes see here in Texas... AND speaking of "Texas", that's where he's from... ANNNND speaking of "from", from now on don't let me make that many segways in one paragraph.

Piaggio planning to take electric bikes to the next level with their 2-wheel drive electric moped

Just a few days ago Piaggio filed for a US Patent on an ElectriPed and Dudel was there to scoop it up. From what I've read it's the perfect urban green machine! You can select between rear wheel or 2-wheel drive... with both engaged your battery drains a bit quicker BUT you'll be able to hit about 25mph! You can expect about 15mph running single motor, pedal-assist.

Besides higher speeds in a small moped like vehicle, another benefit of having two hub mounted engines is a better weight balance between front and rear wheels.

No word right now on battery life or even when to expect this baby to land.

Click on the title link to read the PDF from the patent office... oh and if you ever run into Dudel and you dig his scoops, buy 'em a drink... hell, give him a hug if he'll let 'cha!

Help a fellow Austin Scooterist. Vote so that Kevin can play Austin City Limits!

(How can you NOT vote for a guy named after a great Italian Birra?)

Austin's very own Kevin Peroni, seen below with his lovely wife, has a dream... and that dream is is play the biggest regularly occurring outdoor music event in all of Texas, maybe the WORLD; Austin City Limits (ACL). You can help Kevin by clicking on this link and placing a vote for Wiretree. There is no cost, just enter your email address and a few letters that pop up to make sure you are not a computer and that's it. Oh and click the confirmation email that gets sent to ya.

He'd really appreciate it and who knows... you might even dig his sound yourself!

(All set for our ride down to San Antonio for the 2006 3rd Coast Rally)

***UPDATE***
As of 9am on 7/31/07 (Tuesday), Wiretree has broken the top 10 and now sits at number 8! But he still needs your help to try to make the number 1 spot. Let's get a scooterist on the ACL roster!

***UPDATE***
It's 4pm on 8/1/07 and Wiretree is sitting nicely at number 7! Let's get him a few more votes and bump him up in the top 5.

Another great Stumptown Classic!

(Patrick from P-Town Scooters droppin' knowledge during the Stumptown Classic)

This past weekend kicked off Portland's longstanding mid-summer rally, formerly known as Rally From Hell. Happening primarily in the city of Portland, Oregon (aka: Stumptown), this year's rally is hosted by seven clubs. This is "how it went down":

Our theme: THREE TIMES THE HARM!

Friday Night:

* 6-9 PM: Meet & greet and registration at Squeez.
* Hosted by Loose Slots Scooter Club.
* Squeez is a cool little bar specializing in drinks made with their own hand-sqeezed fruit juices. Limited munchies provided. Off-street parking provided by Squeez.

* 9 PM: House party at Scooter Alley with a keg and snackies.
* Hosted by Puddle Cutters Moped Army.
* Ride to the party led by the Brown Note Staff.
* Midnight: Midnight mystery ride led by the Puddle Cutters.

Saturday:

* 9 AM-Noon: Breakfast at Corazzo Design.
* Hosted by Lucky Bastards Scooter Club, sponsored by Corazzo Design.
* Breakfast burritos (meat and veggie), coffee and Voodoo Doughnuts are provided as you peruse the newest offerings from Corazzo Design.

* 10 AM-3:30-ish PM: Division/Clinton Street Neighborhood Association Street Fair and Parade. This is an alternate event to the scenic ride and will not join-up with the ride.
* At 10:00 we"ll leave Corazzo to queue up to do something cool

From what I've seen, looks like a hell of a time! Seventy scooters showed up as well as peeps from the Moped Army... people partied... They showed up on the News this year (instead of another episode of COPS). Oh and... I didn't know Portland did "Breakfast Burritos"!? I guess we'll have to do pancakes and coffee for the Austin Rally.

You can check out Carcosa23's (Ian's) photos HERE
Scoot.net photos HERE
You can check out the KATU News video HERE

Sittin' on Chrome

Chrome Vespa
Originally uploaded by tony.wong

This photo, what what I suspect, is from the Vespa Shop in Amsterdam. If Queen Amidala rode a scooter, this is what it would look like... A modern Vespa in all its chromie glory.

Thanks to Tony.Wong for sharing!

The Vespa S... Shamelessly hot

(sweaty palms, heavy breathing, tingling sensation in the trousers, all symptoms of the new Vespa S (LXS). We are still crossing our fingers for the 30 rumored to arrive in the USA by year's end).

Vespa S

The appeal of the sporty ‘Vespino’ lives on in the shape of the all-new Vespa S.

Piaggio Press

Inspired by Vespa’s long traditions in young and dynamic scooter design. The minimalist styling of the Vespa S traces its origins back to legendary models like the 50 Special and the Vespa Primavera.

The 1970s began with man landing on the moon and went on to become a decade of extraordinary creativity, a period that revolutionized our way of life.
Fashion, design, cinema, and music, all played a part in transforming once rigid social conventions. Young people discovered a whole new awareness and became the driving force behind social change. The student protest movements that began in the late 1960s went on to shake Europe to the core.
In the cinema, films like Taxi Driver, the Godfather cycle, and the Deer Hunter set new standards. Rock music conquered the world, and grew into a host of genres. Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, CSN&Y, and Genesis pioneered new sounds and laid down the sound track to a decade that began with the break-up of the Beatles.

As always, rather than merely following fashion, Vespa led the way in creating new tendencies, and explicitly appealed to the younger generation, the real protagonists of those turbulent yet fertile years.

The Vespa Special and Vespa Primavera became the icons of a generation whose aspirations and conquests were to shape the world for decades to come. Compact, nippy, dynamic, and designed for sports riding, these were the models that inspired so many young people as they burst on to an exciting social scene.

The new Vespa S reflects the same inspirational values, not only in terms of technology, confirming the unbroken link between Vespa and the younger generation.


The style of the Vespa S

Sport, dynamism and originality are the trademarks of the all-new Vespa S. With its clean, essential lines, the Vespa S is a minimalist version of the legendary seventies models, and proof that the young spirit of Vespa is still very much alive.

The handlebar fairing houses a new rectangular headlight. This, of course, is not the first time for a Vespa to feature a rectangular headlight: fans are sure to recall the amazing 50 Special, a favorite with teenagers throughout the fabulous seventies. The front shield is more impressive too, with a new, aggressive looking air intake.
Reduced in size to reveal the layout of the suspension, the new shape mudguard also features a stylish chrome trim for an even sleeker look. The small size of the mudguard leaves the wheel and light alloy rim in full view in a tribute to the performance and high-tech design of the Vespa S.

The element that has seen most change and that characterizes the new design is the front shield. Its clean styling recovers the pure lines that have always been the Vespa’s trademark. The shield’s uncluttered surface is fundamental and its simplicity and minimal thickness powerful design features.

The seat is typically ‘70s in styling and is available in two versions: the ‘Sport’, fitted as standard to the Vespa S 50 to enhance its dynamic character, and the ‘Touring’, fitted to the 125 to maximize comfort and usability. Both are available as options and can be fitted to either model. The seat is upholstered in new materials and enhanced with a classy trim that emphasizes its stylish shape.
The rear of the Vespa S has an all-new look with a sleek, simple look and a new tail light designed especially to enhance the dynamism of this sporty model.

With its minimalist but decisive styling, simple yet elegant design, the Vespa S features the same dynamism and freshness that made the Vespa the favorite scooter of young people in the roaring seventies.

Frame and chassis: the uniqueness of Vespa

As always, the sheet steel body acts as a structural frame, a design solution that is unique in the world of scooter production. The body is formed in an advanced industrial process. In addition to superior strength, this design also ensures exceptional rigidity, leading to excellent road holding and precision control.
The front suspension, based on a double acting hydraulic shock absorber, stands out for its aeronautical single arm design. Another distinctive feature of all Vespas, since the very first model, this technical solution has been constantly updated. The link arm on the Vespa S pivots on roller cage bearings for minimum friction.
At the rear, the suspension of the new Vespa features a double acting hydraulic shock absorber that, in the 125 version, is even adjustable in preload, offering four possible settings for perfect rider and passenger comfort under all conditions.

The 11” front wheel gives the Vespa S great stability, inspiring the rider with a feeling of confidence and control. The tyres are tubeless, size 110/70 on the front and 120/70 on the 10” rear. The braking system comprises the classic combination of disc and drum. The system features a 200 mm stainless steel front disc with a two piston caliper and a 110 mm rear drum.
The 8.6 litre fuel tank is located inside the body where it does not reduce the size of the under-seat storage compartment, and where it also allows easy access to the engine.


Engines: classical capacities

The Vespa S offers a choice of two classical engines sizes: 50 and 125 cc (rumored to be the Vespa LXS 150 if / when it comes to the USA). These legendary engine sizes have written the history of Vespa. The light and sporty 50 cc two stroke engine is perfect for younger riders and ideal for daily use around town.
The 125 is equipped with a modern, ecological four stroke power plant, characterized by excellent performance, low running costs and full compliance with the strict Euro 3 emission control standards.
The Vespa S offers sporty performance and agility not just around town but on longer journeys too, when it offers the perfect combination of enjoyment and safety. The optimized design and quality production of all parts of the engine have reduced the amount of maintenance needed and extended the service intervals.

Like those that power the other models in the Vespa family, the engines fitted to the new Vespa S demonstrate the determination of the Piaggio Group to offer its increasingly sophisticated customers top quality products that deliver performance, reliability and safety, and that respect the environment too.
Of all the factories in the Piaggio Group, the Pontedera plant boasts one of the world’s largest and most advanced engine R&D and manufacturing facilities.

Accessories, colors.

As always Vespa stands out for the wide range of options on offer. The dedicated accessories for the Vespa S include:

- windshield
- 32 liter top box kit in matching finish
- chrome plated, tilting rear luggage rack, a Vespa classic
- 6 different graphic kits on three themes: Flowers, Europe, Sport
- new Vespa ‘Europe’ half jet helmet.

The original new Vespa S comes in a choice of three attractive color schemes, all chosen to emphasis its sporty, lightweight design: Dragon red, Shiny black and Montebianco white.

Vespa means a whole world of values based on liberty, travel, and the joy of open air living. Vespa has developed a range of initiatives to welcome fans and enthusiasts into this world. The latest is the Vespashopping e-commerce site.

VESPASHOPPING.COM

Now the legend of Vespa is available online to customers all over the world.

Vespashopping.com is the new website created to provide Internet users with a catalog of all Vespa products, including clothing, collectibles, models, gadgets and historical publications, including Vespa helmets and other limited edition products associated with the image of this legendary scooter and icon of Italian style.

The www.vespashopping.com website is packed with products of interest to people all over the world. Purchases can be made using a credit card or via Paypal. (Customers in Italy can also pay COD.)

Vespa’s e-commerce website can be reached easily from the links on the Vespa website, www.vespa.com and from the other websites of the Piaggio Group.

published 26/07/2007
View the image gallery

(Couldn't find an actual image of the "Shiny Black" one, so... made one up)

Updates

Yamaha Majesty, modified
Originally uploaded by benediktine

I know, I know. WHERE ARE THE POSTS!?
It's been a busy week and we've got lots of changes going on here at the site (to be revealed soon). In addition we've got edits and shoots and all kinds of TSS.TV stuff going on (also to be revealed soon).

Just wanted to let you know we are still alive and kickin'. Speaking of "kickin'", check out this completed modded Yamaha Majesty snapped in Japan by benediktine.

The Japanese know NO limits when it comes to customizing.

Thanks for hanging in there. More news coming soon.

Barbara goes back to Austria. Texas will miss you!

Barbara, seen here repairing my clutch cable on our way back to Austin from the 3rd Coast Rally in San Antonio (in 12 minutes flat, mind you), has bid a farewell to her friends in America and is back home in Austria now. Austin was saddened when she and Ben headed off to Houston to join the Scooter Battalion. I'm sure Houston will miss her as well. She's a straight shooter, skilled rider, knowledgeable scooter technician and just an overall good character. Take care my friend!

Ahhh, I can almost hear her response to this melancholy post. I'm sure it would go something like... "Steef! Yoo ahh sucha vuss! Bak hom vee neva krry abowt anyting! Espezially on zum STUUUPid skoota blog!"

We'll all wish you the very best.

If you knew Barbara, you should leave her a little comment here.

Alert! Aprilia Scarabeo 125 / 200 get's a fresh redesign!

No details just yet other than the 125 / 200 getting an update. I'm looking for first impressions from Motoblog.it tomorrow. Click on the title link for the Scarabeo site.

WKMG Orlando - Woman, 65, Punched, Stomped In Scooter-Jacking

Man! That's just FU%*KED UP! I'd like to line those kids up and give each one a good poppin'!

Now, I dislike posting scooter crime, for fear that it will spawn "me too" crimes... but dude! This poor lady is 65 years old! She could be somebody's MOM! And some punkasses ran up on her to rough her up and steal her Metropolitan?! *shakes head* That's just sad, kids. Kansas City!? Wassup with THAT?

Let's hope no more "tough" teens pull a stunt like this.

Title link leads to WKMG story which has video if you have trouble believing what you read... (again I can't get the video to work on my PC today).

SMART Brabus - Too hot for US

Here's a snippet from Edmunds' 2007 Geneva coverage offering both good and bad news on the hotly tuned SMART 4/2 Brabus edition. I'll give a hint of the bad news to my American readers... it's what Wayne and Garth chant when they visit Madonna.

abc27 - Midstate Man First in Country to Own Vectrix Scooter

Don Auker, the first American Vectrix owner, got himself a bit-a press last night. You can see him in person by clicking on the title link and going to the "Watch the eVideo" link on the WHTM website.

I personally could not get the video to play, but I'm sure we'll see other videos soon.

Honda "puttin' the coals" to their production facilities. Expect LOTS of Hondas in 2008 / 2009

(More hints that THIS could appear in more than just your dreams? Perhaps.)

This just in from Dudel. In a 2007 Mid-Year Honda CEO speech, we are being made aware of a HUGE production capacity increase for 2008, driving from 860,000 units to 1.5 million! Here's what Dudel sent:

2007 Mid-Year CEO Speech

Motorcycle Business - Vietnam: In May 2007, annual production capacity of the Honda plant in Vietnam was expanded from the previous 860,000 units to 1 million units. In order to respond to the rapidly growing demand, Honda decided to invest US$65 million to build a second motorcycle plant which is scheduled to become operational in the latter half of 2008, with annual production capacity of 500,000 units. High-value added models such as automatic transmission models will be produced at this new plant.

NOTE: I assume "high-value added models" doesn't mean sub-250cc scooters.

So, what are you insinuating Dudel? Perhaps the introduction of new and exciting models?
PS> Where are YOUR Amerivespa photos?

Amerivespa - The 2007 event wrap-up from TSS

[More photo journalism from Lawrence Hsu. Enjoy! Oh, you can click on the slide show to access the photo album and larger images.]

WOW! Can you believe it's over? Amerivespa 2007 has come to a close? I'm sure our on-the-scene reporter, Lawrence, isn't alone when he says "I wished it would never end." Well don't worry Lawrence and fans of Amerivespa, because it'll all happen again in 2008... except THIS time... It'll be in Chattanooga, TN! MmmmmMMM! BBQ, the Aquarium, the choo-choos, the Caverns (did you know I was a caver?); it'll be a sweeeet scooter shindig! I'll be sure to make that one since I'll have an excuse (my relatives are just a few hours away in Huntsville, AL) AND it's only 970 miles away from Austin, where as Seattle is 2,383 miles away.

Enough with the spoilers, let's go to Lawrence for the lowdown on the last two days at Amerivespa. Take it away Lawrence!

(Saturday, 7/14)

SQREAM SC & Modern Vespa put together yet another delicious breakfast for the appreciative crowd. Test rides, given by Vespa, Kymco and Genuine, went on all day long. Local scooter clubs again led scooterists on city rides all throughout the day. Of course, the highlights of the day, the gymkhana, slow race and the Concours d'Elegance attracted the most crowds as the scooterists show off both their hot rides and awesome skills.

Gymkhana came down to the final "limbo" as John Golden of North Plains, Oregon squeezed under it to become the limbo-king. Mr. Golden demonstrated superior riding techniques as he wowed the audience again and again in all the rounds which he competed. (This reporter is currently working on an exclusive video, so please stayed tuned!) The Slow Race was won by the often entertaining "Monterrey Pete" of Santa Cruz, a member of the Vespa Club Los Gatos. The afternoon spectators were entertained by MC Joe Drake of Stamford, England (currently of Vancouver.) And who could forget the comedy act of the first-ever tandem Canadian scooterists (in hooded lycra speed-skating outfits) in Gymkhana [what? No pictures? -steve]

Concours d'Elegance was hotly contested as well and the winners were announced at the evening's VCOS Gala Awards Banquet which took place in the Armory Bldg Drill Hall in S. Lake Union Park.

In the Wide Body Vespa category, Henrik Harms of Hamburg, Germany won the prize with his Hoffman Koenigin. (He and his riding partner Chris of America-by-Vespa.com also won the Farthest Ridden.) The club with the largest contingent was Vespa Club of Canada. As the award was announced, the hall suddenly erupted into a huge chorus singing "O Canada!" in unison. Lee Afferton's '63 GS Series 1 won the Best Sport Vespa over 2 extremely nice 180's. Nicky
Swanson of Vespa Club Los Gatos captured the Best 60's & 70's Original with her orange Vespa Sprint (which also has unofficially the Loudest Pipe of the Rally). In the Small Frame Original category, Ian Carcosa's Blue Badge '66 125 Primavera won the prize. David Lawson's '79 P200 was the winner in the Modern Manual Vespa Restoration/Original category. From San Antonio, Texas, the artfully painted "La Lone Sirena Vaquera", a '79 P125, of Dawn "Diva" Brocks, was
hands-down the winner in the Modern Manual Custom category. A special bike indeed, considering it was bought for $600 and had only another $200 thrown in afterward. Go Texas!

Even though this was a Vespa event, the Lambrettas and other makes were honored as well. Rudy's TV175 Series 2 from Portland, OR (Lucky Bastards SC) won in Lambretta--Origial or Restoration category; while the white/orange-glittered '57 Li 150 Series 1 of Marty Chavez (Los Gatos Gordos/VCOS' current president) captured the Lambretta Custom's award. Vintage Other European category was won by a one-of-a-kind '57 Peugeot S57B of Beall Korry (VCOS).

And then quickly,

Best Oddity--PGO Vespa of Allison (VCOC).
Best Automatic--'07 Piaggio X9 of Lee Kinnaman.
Best More Than Two Wheels--Karen Nelson's pink "Hello Kitty" Stella with a matching sidecar.
Best "Krylon King"--'74 Rally 200 of Justin Bengtson (Top Dead Center SC from Eugene, OR). He said he only uses PPG, not Krylon!
Best "Rat" Bike--Monkey Jessie of the Flying Monkeys SC and his duct-taped "Lexus", perpeptually 40mph, missing-many-parts P200.
Best Radical Custom--(Wussy SC) Thom Sullivan's black '63 TV175 (w/a TSI 225 motor).

Finally the Best of Show was won by Vince Rowley's '79 "Naval Air Corps "(a.k.a. Blue Angels P200)--a definite crowd-pleaser. The People's Choice award went to Ronso of Daggers SMC and his beautiful small-frame '76 Vespa Primavera Custom.

Then, the attention focused on one bike alone--the beautifully-restored '64 GL to be raffled off by VCOS. And the winner is...(looks like the bike is staying home)...VCOS member and event volunteer Mr. Chuck Pefley of Seattle. Lucky man! [I can just imagine all the "rigged" shouts afterward. Congratulations Chuck! RIGGED! ;) -steve]

One piece of information to pass around:
Chattanooga, TN was named the site for Amerivespa 2008!

The evening did not end without a little fireworks either. After the winner of Modern Vespa category was announced and the award went to Quang Nguyen's '06 GTS250--a sleek Wi-Fi-ready machine, one of the six runners-up and a small crowd gathered around Mr. Dave
McCabe (formerly an officer of VCOA), who instantly became the recipient of relentless complaints--mainly on the issues of fairness in judging, possible miscategorization of certain bike in question, and workmanship. Heated exchanges quickly spilled over to the outside of the main hall and lasted for quite a while into the night. It was unclear to the reporter as the crowd finally scattered if all parties involved were satisfied at the end of their lengthy discussion; yet one thing was certain that wherever passion comes into play, controversy follows. [Someone was yelling at McCabe? Don't they know he drives an anti-tank scooter? -steve]

(Sunday, 7/15) Amerivespa 2007 Wrap-Up

9am. 400+ riders set off for a ferry ride to the scenic Vashon Island after coffee and Krispy Kreme donuts. It was one of the largest rides of this rally or anywhere-else for that matter. After landing on Vashon, the large group of riders took a nice and long ride over the winding roads around the island, soaking up some spectacular views and ending up finally at the Vashon Eagles Club where they were served a mouth-watering BBQ lunch. At the raffle, "Sugar Bear"--the MC, kept the rally attendees entertained while tons of scooter goodies found their winners. But we all had one thing in mind--the remaining 3 raffle bikes. Unfortunately for the rest of us, these guys had the winning tickets in their hands:

Marla and Paul Oleniacz of Spokane, WA won the Stella Fireball.
Jon Freedman won the Kymco People 250.
Some lucky guy walked off with a QLINK 50cc. [and with a name like THAT, how could he loose? hehe -steve]

How quickly the crowd disappeared and went on their separate ways at the conclusion of the rally. Back to their families, their regular lives, and their regular jobs. Our existence forever enriched by this weekend's experience, this Amerivespa, what an extraordinary gathering of minds, passion and machines.

I like to take this final opportunity to thank the following:

Richard Zemke--for gathering all the vendors and raffle goodies for the rally and for giving me the ride to and back from Vashon Island. VCOS and VCOA for organizing this great rally.
Kymco USA for being the biggest unsung hero of the rally (Good luck on breaking the landspeed record later this year. Hope to attend the Kymco Rally in the future.) Piaggio Group Americas and Genuine for letting me ride the MP3 and The Rattler 110 prototype. Kelly, Meredith, Orin, Denise, Scott, "The Captain" and "Sugar Bear". Victor, Sean and Rolf for giving the Vespa tech sessions. All of the cool, groovy, and passionae scooterists I've met at Amerivespa 2007. KAGOME for the delicious juices. Steve Guzman for allowing an amateur to report for TheScooterScoop.com [puhlease! you did a fantastic job Lawrence. We really appreciate you taking the time to both enjoy the rally AND report on it -steve] My club--SCGT for their support. My dad for putting me on his Vespa 180 long ago. My brother's family for putting up with me this week. Love your home-cooking, Mom.

See y'all at the next scooter rally! See y'all at Amerivespa 2008!

Scoot Happy!!---Lawrence

Gotta Scoot - Ode to the smell...

I was poking around the ether and ran into this little piece from Michael at the Gotta Scoot blog. Sure it's been a couple of months since Mike published an update, but this little gem makes up for it.

Ode to the smell... Is, knowingly or not, Michael's foray into photography and poetical prose. In it he details one of the most drastic changes a scooter commuter experiences when they leave the life of the cage... the reintroduction to the olfactory; a soiree with smell if you will.

Why don't you click on the title link to get a visual and mental picture of what a scooterist experiences on their daily ride.

The first US bound Vectrix to be delivered TOMORROW!

Don Auker will have his Vectrix delivered to his home, becoming the first U.S. resident to receive delivery (lucky bastard). Auker plans to use his Vectrix for commuting to his office in Lebanon (that's war-torn Lebanon, PA).

(and now the elevator speech) Vectrix—the world’s first high-powered, electric two-wheel vehicle with high performance, sleek design and zero emissions—reaches a top speed of 62 mph and offers acceleration from 0-50 mph in 6.8 seconds. It has an average range of 40-60 miles with a maximum range of 68 miles on a single charge. Vectrix offers low operating costs, minimal maintenance, simple operation and virtually no noise. It provides clean, efficient, reliable and affordable transportation for commuting and recreational needs (but has yet to be test ridden by Steve of TheScooterScoop... I'm just rubbin' yer rhubarb Vectrix.)

Sophisticated design technologies include a high-efficiency gearbox and drive train, aluminum construction for weight reduction and patented regenerative braking and aerodynamic styling to reduce drag. A low center of gravity, stiff frame and even weight distribution provide superior handling.

(w00t! Maybe we'll get some pictures tomorrow.)

I hope you have good weather tomorrow 'cause it's NATIONAL RIDE TO WORK DAY!

That's right folks! If you've been letting the scoot collect dust during the work week, tomorrow's the day to change that.

Motorcycle and scooter riders' 16th annual commuting day is Wednesday, July 18th. Participation in the yearly demonstration is estimated to triple the number of riders on the road. Motorcycle and scooter groups and organizations actively encourage riders to commute by cycle on this day. On Ride to Work Day, motorcycle and scooter commuters seek improved employer recognition and support for this form of transportation and increased public and government awareness of the positive value of riding.

Adding more motorcycles and scooters to everyone's daily commute makes urban parking easier and traffic flow better, according to Ride to Work, a non-profit advocacy organization. Studies have also shown that across the same distances, motorcyclists reach their destinations faster than those using automobiles. Many motorcycles and scooters also consume less resources per mile than automobiles. "Riding to work on this day is fun and shows the positive value of motorcycling. For many people, riding is a socially responsible form of mobility that saves energy, helps the environment and provides a broad range of other public benefits," stated Andy Goldfine, this year's event organizer.

Don't worry, helmet hair goes great with a shirt and tie or knee-high dress suit. I may work from a home office but I'm still gonna get my scooter on the road for lunch. I hope you'll do the same! Heck, send in a photo of you in your work duds with your 2-wheeler and we'll let the world see ya!

What happened to polite parking?

WOW! I had no idea it was THAT bad! Check out this story from SeattlePi's Kery Murakami. THIS IS WAR!!! or, at least cause to shake your fist and yell "Piece a CRAAAAP!".

How bad's parking gotten in some parts of the city? Ask a scooter owner.

Three times since moving to "polite" Seattle eight months ago, Michael O'Neill has stepped out of his Capitol Hill condo to discover that someone's moved his Vespa so he or she could steal his parking spot.

The first time it happened, O'Neill had parked the scooter legally, next to an alley. "They dragged it right into the red zone," he said.

Another desperate motorist coveted his spot so much he dragged the 250-pound Vespa even farther -- leaving it blocking the alley. "I'm sure if it was Dumpster day, I would have gotten a ticket," the Microsoft engineer said.

Stories like that are unfolding regularly in parking-starved neighborhoods, scooter owners say -- and the outlook isn't good.

It's happened several times to Victor Voris, owner of the Seattle Vespa dealership. "I've had mine turned, pushed out of the way, put on the sidewalk," he said.

One time, his scooter was knocked down so hard, it caused $1,000 in damage.

"They think they own the world," Voris said of spot-stealing motorists.

To scooter owners, it's a sign of how difficult it is to park in an ever-more-crowded city. Competition for street parking is intensifying, with city officials trying to limit free parking to discourage people from driving cars. Over the last three years, the city has begun charging fees on 1,521 parking spaces, a 16 percent increase.

You should click on the title link and read the rest of the story. In it, one lady says as a counter point that there was a scooter parked in such a way that it took up THREE parking spaces. I can't really see HOW, unless she meant bicycle parking spaces... or maybe the scooter was a raked out Lammy chopper or something.

Amerivespa - The 2007 event wrap-up

(Vespa headquarters for Amerivespa 2007... Vespa Seattle)

Alright scooter trash! You don't have to go home, but you can't stay in Seattle!
For a buttload of photographs you can check out the Flickr list or visit the Scoot.net gallery. You can also catch a few shots over at Seattlepi.com or read the story here. The Seattle Times took a swing at it too AND gave it some after math coverage here.

The blogger reports are coming in now too, I've seen things from:
The Honky Tonk Dragon - Link
Scootin' Old Skool - Link
The Scooter Scoop - Link
2 Stroke Buzz - Link

Also be sure to check out the short video and more as they come in.

Big shout to Dawn Brooks of San Antonio, a former Ne’er Do Well, AND co-sponsor of the 2006 3rd Coast Rally (thanks Gourmet Fresco Cafe!), who won Best Custom at Amerivespa with her La Lone Sirena bike that we shot PLENTY of photos of back in the day.

The Times of India (business) - Two-wheeler majors bet on scooters

Just had to post this story. Just when we thought that India had finally gotten too big to ride on cheap little scooters and stopped making the Chetak a standard dowry gift, it turns out that the demand is actually growing.

So, how does one of India's top-dog manufacturers keep up with demand? They team up with one of one of Asia's top-dogs, SYM. In this story, we are led to believe that Kinetic/SYM might even have something in store for the Americas in the future.

Here's a nibblet from the Times of India:

"Under the three year technical tie-up with SYM, Kinetic Motors will launch two scooters that will sell in domestic as well as global markets under the Kinetic SYM badge and will cater to the growing demand from young college-going girls," says Sulajja Firodia Motwani, MD, Kinetic Motors.

If this you're interested in beginnings of this "As The World Turns" relationship, you should click on the title link read more about their first kiss.

And you thought Chinese SCOOTERS were bad?

Chinese sedan earns a 1-Star crash rating

(This is a reprint from Jalopnik.com who got from the Autoblog)
While the folks at the German ADAC institute may not have gotten quite as much of a laugh (if you don't believe us -- wait until about 15 seconds into the video) out of their recent test of the new Brilliance BS6 -- the recent Chinese entry into the Euro luxe import sedan market -- as EuroNCAP got out of the test of Jiangling Motors' Landwind SUV back in 2005, General Tso's new hotness still didn't fare so well. OK, that's being nice -- actually, the BS6 crumpled up like a coke can and received only one star for the 40 mph offset frontal crash test. First China came for our cats, then our teeth, and now the make-a-buck yet socially-socialist country's coming after our knees and our skulls. – Ray Wert

(note the strike thru... I didn't really get that far down in Ray Wert's paragraph to realize what he was saying. I kinda stopped at "crumpled up like a coke can". The rest is Ray's sad attempt at being funny.)

A person crashing this car at 40MPH would likely not survive.

A Renata tandem? Is it from an alternate universe?

renata tandem.
Originally uploaded by parutron

This is the first time I've ever seen this before. Not sure if they were actually produced for retail or if it was a custom / prototype.

Amerivespa - Day two (with photos)

Friday 13, 2007 (Amervespa, Seattle, WA)

The day begins with a delicious breakfast served by the Los Gatos Gordos. Various rides, including a long 100-mile scenic ride, are led by local scooter clubs and they go out all through the morning. Piaggio, Kymco and Genuine gave everyone a feel of their latest products (including the MP3) by holding test ride sessions on city streets. Piaggio Group Americas joined by Vespa Seattle and Big People Scooters educated scooter owners in detailed technical Q&A sessions with topics ranging from oil change to transmission overhaul to brake pad replacement. The step by step instructions are extremely well-received.

Neville Staple (formerly of the Specials) and his band, did not receive visas to come from the UK, so in their place, Girl Trouble, a popular local band from Seattle. steps up, and along with Steve E. Nix and the Cute Lepers and The Georgetown Orbits keep the house rocking all night long.

This is Lawrence reporting live from Seattle for TheScooterScoop
Scoot Happy!!---

"Scoot Happy !!".......Scooter Club of Golden Triangle

Amerivespa - The Kickoff Report (with photos)

(Some of the crew from the USS VESPA... that's not the boat's real name, but it was last night)

This just in from our on-the-scene reporter Lawrence Hsu:

[Seattle, WA] The 2007 Amerivespa got off to a great start! Kymco USA chartered a fantastic harbor cruise complete with a bar, a buffet and a DJ (wow! I've been hit by a +2 hammer of jealousy). Surrounded by the fiery sun setting behind the silhouettes of distant islands and a panoramic view of the glistening city skyline punctuated by the Space Needle, the rally-goers first got to meet-and-greet and then, soon after the cruise, scattered into the dark night for more dance parties and schmoozing sessions (yes... indeed. Schmoozing sessions... go on.)

This reporter was told by the event organizers to expect 500+ participants to descend upon the Emerald City for the weekend-long extravaganza so please stay tuned. I'm enclosing some photos of the cruise as well as those from an earlier visit to Vespa Seattle; and a video is being edited at the moment. (We're looking forward to it. Please be kind and edit out SOME of the fun for gosh sakes.)

This is Lawrence reporting live from Seattle for TheScooterScoop
Scoot Happy!!---

Vespa Seattle. Say "hi" to Vic for me!


(strike a pose)


(inside the shop where... it... rains less. Nice place!)


(everything old is new again. I want one.)


(Speaking of Vic. Here's the plaque under his jaw-dropping classic)


(Sushi anyone?)


(sushi owner Matt "Flashmaster" Tamaru of Seattle. Did you know this '74 Super was featured in a MasterCard commercial during the '01 World Series? Anyone remember? Youtube?)


(I've always dug the trap light)


(and the owner of this swank '63 GL, Evan Christie of Seattle is seen here in his standard issue "fresh mod gear". His girl is normally on the scene dressed equally natty.)


(*sings* "Love... exciting and new." Sorry I didn't know what the actual Amerivespa cruise theme song was, so I improvised... tho Kymco rhymes with Loveboat kinda).

FREE PARKING for scooterists in the NYC!

(Truffelboy shot this photo of FREE SCOOTER PARKING in action)

Check it! THIS Summer Piaggio is hooking you up with FREE scooter parking downtown. If your scoot's got a Vespa Badge If you got a two wheeled scooter you can join in on the freeness (sorry MP3's miss it by ONE wheel). There is room for 12 scooter per participating garage; that's 48 spaces total! The press release below gives you all the details.

Piaggio Group Americas Partners with Edison ParkFast to Provide Free Scooter Parking During the Summer in New York

Parking initiative continues the call to arms for development and support of legal parking for two-wheel vehicles

NEW YORK, NY – July 11, 2007 – Piaggio Group Americas, the U.S. importer of the world-famous Vespa® scooter, today announced that the company is sponsoring a limited free parking program for scooters at Edison ParkFast garages in New York City during the summer to raise awareness of the need for scooter parking across the country. Piaggio Group is funding scooter parking for locals, commuters and NY Scooter Club meetings throughout the summer.

Relative to cars, trucks and SUV’s, motor scooters are an environmentally-friendly means of transportation that help alleviate city congestion and should be included on the list of vehicles exempt from the proposed congestion tariff.

To demonstrate the need for legal scooter parking on city streets to local government officials and to prompt private garage operators to expand and/or add scooter parking to their list of accepted vehicles, Piaggio Group has instituted free parking for two-wheel vehicles in Edison ParkFast garages. Specially-marked parking spots in the participating garages will accommodate 12 two-wheel scooters and will be branded with the Vespa logo. During the months of July and August, riders can park their scooters free of charge (when space is available and in accordance to program rules) at any of the following locations:

* Chinatown -- 174 Centre Street, between Hester and Canal Streets
* Midtown -- 412-422 W. 33rd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues
* Theater District -- 1120 Avenue of the Americas, near 44th Street (enter on 43rd Street)
* Tribeca -- 15-21 Worth Street, between Worth Street and West Broadway

“The popularity of the two-wheel vehicle is on the rise. Piaggio Group recognizes the need to do our part in helping scooter owners find adequate, safe and legal parking in New York and in cities around the country,” said Paolo Timoni, President and CEO of Piaggio Group Americas. “Funding free parking during the summer brings our city one step closer to allotting appropriate parking, but we plan to continue reaching out to local government officials to demonstrate both the need for and benefit of scooter parking.”

To promote the program, titled “Free Parking in NYC?” Piaggio Group Americas will send teams of Vespa branded ambassadors to high traffic locations in New York City to distribute pocket brochures highlighting the free Edison ParkFast locations and other facts on how scootering can help to curb global warming now. They will also conduct their own internal website and email campaign, plus seeding of blogs and scooter group message boards.

This free scooter parking initiative, a continuation of Piaggio Group’s “Vespanomics” campaign, continues to position two-wheel vehicles as a solution that could greatly reduce energy consumption, while helping to preserve the environment and alleviate traffic congestion. Studies have shown that if Americans were to utilize one of the latest eco-friendly motor scooters for just 10 percent of their everyday travel, they could potentially reduce national fuel consumption by 14 million gallons of gasoline per day and decrease carbon dioxide emissions by 324 million pounds per day. (Source: ICR on behalf of Piaggio Group, May 2006)

The Vespanomics campaign is designed to further educate consumers on how the use of motorized scooters, like Vespa, can quickly reduce their oil consumption, carbon dioxide emissions and traffic congestion. In 2006, Piaggio Group launched the online petition, “Vespatition” on the Vespa USA Web site, to create a venue for consumers to express their support for two-wheel parking. Piaggio Group is also working with local government officials, community board districts and urban planners to increase support for legal two-wheel parking wherever parking for motor vehicles is provided.

Great job Piaggio! I hope this grows! (are you listening Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Phoenix, San Diego, San Jose, Indianapolis, Austin?)
I'd like to send a big "I'm sorry" to the other scooterists of NYC. Maybe it's time to invest in one of these. (I gotta learn how to read. Thanks Anon!)

Just look for the spots with the Vespa logo! It's really a good deal considering SOME parking spots go for $225,000! Don't believe me? Look here.

***UPDATE***
Above you see what the article in the NYTimes looks like. Thanks Allison from the NY Scooter Club.

First ever!

photo.jpg
Originally uploaded by NJ908crew

Photo of a Lambretta taken with an iPhone. Sorry... Just had to jump on the iPhone bandwagon. HEY! At least I didn't jump on the Paris bandwagon!

Amerivespa kicks off in less than 12 hours!

What is SURE to be one of the greatest Amerivespas in the world will begin at 6pm today. There will be wine and song and thick clouds of blue smoke. DAMMIT! I'm more jealous than Hillary Clinton in a cigar shop fulla interns! I'm sorry that I letcha down P-Town. We were supposed to ride from Portland... but my cursed conscious wouldn't let me take another week of vacation without the family... and I couldn't convince the wife to let me buy a sidecar to haul the kids in. To all my fellow friends and Bloggers who WILL be in attendance... SCREW YOU! (hehe, thems just jokes baby)

TheScooterScoop WILL be on site in the form of our talented road warrior, Lawrence Hsu of the Golden Triangle SC. Be on the lookout for daily photos and feedback from Lawrence... as a matter of fact THIS just came in. No SERIOUSLY! Check it:

Hey, Steve and the Fans of TheScooterScoop.com!

My name is Lawrence Hsu, and I ride with the Scooter
Club of Golden Triangle, based in Beaumont, Texas. I
am a third-generation scooter rider from Taiwan, and
my ride is an Aprilia SR50. For the next few days, I
will be reporting for TheScooterScoop.com from
Amerivespa 2007 in Seattle, Washington.

I have just arrived in Seattle this afternoon and man,
I have never seen so many scooters out on the streets,
except in Italy, of course. They come in all makes
and sizes, too--from a little Yamaha Vino 50 to a
200cc Vespa to a Honda Silverwing 600. With the
shimmering water of Puget Sound as backdrop and
endless twisting streets beckoning, this town of
Seattle is simply perfect for scooter lovers because
it has truly embraced scooters as a way of life!

So don't feel bad if for some reasons you are unable
to make it to only the Biggest Vespa Rally of the
Year; just sit back, relax and let me bring it all to
you, day by day, with pictures and, hopefully, videos,
too.

Scoot Happy!!---Lawrence

Grrrr! RUB IT IN LAWRENCE! (grumbles "only the biggest vespa rally of the year")
Thanks for that update my friend. We look forward to getting the scoop.

Emporiagazette.com - Crazy for Cushmans

This story is for the Cushman fans. It's about the annual Cushman ride to the Kuhn Bicycle Museum. If Cush is yer sweet cuppa tea you can read a small piece below or click on the title link to check the whole story.

Crazy for Cushmans - Old motor scooters carry enthusiasts to bike museum.
By Scott Rochat.

(photo by Chris Walker... who's gonna be the first to make their Yammy C3 look like a classic Cush?)

By ones and twos, the Cushman motor scooters rolled up to John and Carolyn Kuhn’s bicycle museum east of Emporia. Thirteen ... no, fourteen ... no, fifteen scooters had made it there, the halfway point of a nearly 100-mile Saturday trek for the Kansas Cushman Club.

“We thought this was going to be 47 miles,” said John Brockway of McPherson, standing by his 1962 Cushman. “It turns out the newsletter meant 47 miles one-way. But that’s all right. It’s more fun.”

Cushman hasn’t built scooters since about 1965. But that hasn’t stopped fans from finding them and riding them. As of last year, more than 5,000 people belonged to the Cushman Club of America and this year the Kansas chapter by itself counts about 175 members.

The bikes are small — usually 250 to 335 pounds — but comfortable and efficient. Mark Unruh of McPherson, the Kansas club president, said he once managed 75 miles on a single gallon of gas. His is the oldest bike of the group, a 1948 model that’s usually given a five-mile head start before the rest of the group takes off and catches up.

“We do about five meets a year where we go out, find a country road and ride for about 75 or 100 miles,” Unruh said, “We’re not as visible because rides like this one are always back-road rides.”

Don’t underestimate the Cushman, though. Brockway’s put more than 30,000 miles on his, including one memorable ride where he and two friends drove their scooters from McPherson to Casper, Wyo. After successfully completing that 775-mile jaunt, the group continued up to Yellowstone National Park and then turned back. The group had driven for 1,250 miles before Brockway’s scooter finally broke down northwest of Rock Springs, Wyo.

1985, Vespa introduces the T5. Consumers say "WTF?!"

This cracked me up. I was checking out the zombieSC's photostream over at flickr (see title link) and saw this scan from an old "The Ralliest" rag and the title of the photo was "W.T.F. is that?".

The caption says "3 blokes looking in puzzelment at the 'NEW' T5 (they are probably still there). Turned out the bike wasn't so bad after all."

I love that mod with the glasses and gaping maw. I was imagining, 22 years later, the three guys still standing there gawking and mumbling curses and doubts at this ugly newcomer. I've got a T5, as you well know, and I still think it's one of the ugliest scoots from Vespa... but still, I love her so. I'd love to pluck that cherry (mint condition) T5 right off of that page!

DesMoinesRegister.com - Customers complain about getting what they paid for

Here's a little story we hear time and time again... this time in the DesMoines Register. Thanks to Clay Ehlers for the scoop and a chance to bring up this topic.

Newton, Ia. - The Iowa attorney general's office says it can do little to help dozens of consumers who have complained about a Newton-based company that sells electric scooters.

Consumers say they have received faulty products, poor customer service and unsatisfactory warranty relief from X-Treme Scooters, which lists itself as a "sub company" of Alpha Products International.

The attorney general's office has received three to four consumer complaints a month during the last 36 months, spokesman Bob Brammer said. The state's Better Business Bureau has received 128 complaints in the same time period.

Because the company sells its products using the Internet, nearly all of the complaints have been from customers in other states, Brammer said. They center largely on product performance and customer service issues - not consumer fraud, he said, which prevents the attorney general's office from doing much more than referring people to the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Products Safety Commission.

...Martin Montague, 51, a flight instructor in El Monte, Calif., said he has filed multiple complaints against X-Treme Scooters after purchasing an $800 scooter for his stepson in late January. The scooter arrived as advertised within a few days, already assembled, but it broke down a few weeks later. He said his stepson had been using it for a 3-mile commute to and from work.

"Now I have an $800 boat anchor sitting in the garage," Montague said. "They sent me replacement parts for a completely different bike, the wrong bike, and now they refuse to take it back and refund the money. I thought Iowans were supposed to be good people. What's happening here?"

I'm sorry Martin. Iowans ARE good people. It's their Chinese, two-bit, disposable scooters that are bad. If you want an electric bike or scooter that's WORTH a crap you're gonna have to spend about TWICE as much and get something like an eGO (http://egovehicles.com/products/north-america/)

Campus Police say "Don't buy scooters!"

(photo for illustrative purposes only. I'm sure these scooter cops are a fine pair of peace keepers)

Whoa there pilgrim! Do I believe my eyes? The campus cops at UF are telling students to not buy scooters for campus!? Christina "Bust-a-move" Briggs is blowing the whistle on these foos in her letter to the editor over at the highly esteemed, nationally recognized publication, "The Alligator". The story follows:

Letter to the Editor
Save the Scooters

By CHRISTINA BRIGGS
UF Alumna

I am a recent graduate from UF and currently work at a local motor scooter store. Recently, we had customers come in and state that the University Police Department specially told them during Preview not to buy scooters for campus. I even called another local scooter store and they mentioned their customers said the same thing.

Their reasons given were scooters are not safe, there is not scooter parking close to classes, and in a few years, scooters will not be allowed on campus.

Transportation and Parking Services has added more scooter parking over the years to adapt to the demands of the increased scooter usage. Additionally, the scooter and motorcycle parking decal price is the only one not raised for the 2007-08 school year. I called and confirmed scooters are here to stay.

Scooter parking is abundant and the closest parking option to many main buildings. Close to six scooters can fit in one regular car parking spot. As far as scooter safety, other motor vehicle drivers cause more accidents than the drivers of scooters. Most repairs we see are from scooters being stolen or knocked over, not from collisions.

UPD should not be making negative statements against the scooter industry. They should enforce the new "Under 21" helmet law, requiring all drivers under 21 to wear a helmet and ride with a tag that states they are underage. I see students riding around campus daily with that tag and no helmet. I hope UPD understands the strain they put on local scooter shops. Scooters are a smart mode of transportation for students from a practical, environmental and economical standpoint.

You go girl! Don't let the man get away with trying to ban the scooter! Fight the power!

Arg! There she be... Davie Joneses chopper

Well, looks like Davie rides a moped when he's out shivering peoples timbers and such. Thanks to Leangreen76 for sharing!

The Rockers vs. Sauds rally of 1984

Al Khawkhah, Nordjemen 1984
Originally uploaded by jochen.westermann

Sure, it was a stretch, but I think it works.

Thanks jochen.westermann for the share action!

If Prince only knew

Rockers & Rebels Cruise & Meet
Originally uploaded by nico_chelseagrl

You knew that The Purple One was a scooterist, right? Well, I've seen him on one. Anyway... if he knew a Purple Velvet Vespa PX existed he's probably snap his fingers and have his legion of sex kittens build one for him.

Thanks for sharing Nico_chelseagrl!

Globeandmail.com - Are you cool enough (attempts to break out the demographics)

(went with scooter donut cause they were all outta scooter pie charts)

I'm not gonna post the story here, but if you click on the title like you see a story Jeremy Cato where he does a decent job of breaking out who's who of scooter riders. I thought it was an interesting read at least. Thanks to Bob Erkamp for the scoopage!

Piaggio launches new Vespa S - Telegraph.co.uk Motoring News

If any two-wheeler inspires as much affection as Fiat's Cinquecento it's the Vespa, and with serendipitous timing Piaggio is about to launch a second retro version of the 61-year-old scooter.

Called the Vespa S, it's based on the existing 50cc and 125cc LX models with styling revamped for a 1970s look. The leaner handlebar area is distinguished by a square instead of round headlamp while the mudguards are cut back to reveal more of the suspension.

But the most effective change visually is the removal of the bulky plastic on the inside of the legshield, revealing the shape of the steel chassis spine typical of older Vespas.

In the true spirit of Italian vehicle manufacturers, Piaggio can't tell us prices or availability dates, but expect it to cost about £2,000 for the 50 and £2,500 for the 125, with showroom appearances in autumn or winter.

We'll be reporting on the Vespa S in about a month (the press launch date has suffered from maybe-next-week-itus, too) but if you fancy a Cinquecento-matching Vespa in the meantime there's always the 250GTV, out since last summer and styled in sympathy with the original 1946 Vespa, including a period mudguard-mounted headlight, exposed handlebars and sprung saddle. That's available now for £4,011.

*We'll keep you posted on any hints we get regarding her possible US arrival.

Japan's final shipment of Vespa PX's to arrive September

Our man about Japan, Aki, sends this sad bit of news for those in the land of the rising sun. After 30 years of production the Vespa PX series will NO LONGER be produced and available for Japanese consumers. As of October 1st, the gig is up. They end the story with something to the effect of "You better place your preorders NOW!"

Sorry Japan... we feel your pain.

The Enertia electric motorbike - news from Engadget

The electric motorbike scene is so in right now, with the fourth that we've written about in the last two months being the Brammo Enertia. The Enertia is a plug-in bike that does 0-60 MPH in under 4 seconds and can go for up to 50 miles on one charge. Brammo is an Ashland, Oregon-based manufacturer that designed and built the bike, making sure that the bike has six 12 Volt lithium-phosphate batteries -- which don't blow up when punctured, unlike Lithium Ion models. It only weighs 275 pounds too, and most of the weight is near the road because the fuel tank isn't needed. The only problem now is the price: $14,995 for the "Carbon" model, and $11,995 for a later model once production is ramped up.

Check out the long MSN article.
Oh and shout-out to DEV for keeping us in the loop on the electric motorcycle news.

The Enertia got a Treehug and it's stirred up a wasps nest of comments from the Greenoratti. You can read 'em here.

The Suzuki Burgman gets a new cousin (may only speak Italian)

Suzuki recently "busted out" their new line for 2008, and there on the floor... hiding in the shadows of the B-King and new 'Busa was this baby, the Suzuki Sixteen. Why Sixteen? Well, because that was the average age of their models (booth babes) on the floor. Hehe, not really. It's because this is the first Big Wheel from Suzuki. Sixteen inch tires, perfect for navigating European cobblestone... just like the other top selling Japanese scooter the SH150 and SH300i.

So, by now you've probably put together the story. Suzuki has built a scooter to compete in that big-wheeled, Japanese owned market... Now they just have to compete with these guys:








Motoblog.it was there to get the scoop on the Sixteen and we thank them for that. You won't see the Sixteen here in the USA, if you were wondering. But, if you STILL wanna see the specs they are below. Just click the make them a bit bigger.

TheScooterScoop reporting from the HEART of the scooter world. What do the Romans ride?

(How many classics did we catch on the road? This was as close to classic as it got.)

TheScooterScoop's "Man about Portugal", Pedro Pinheiro, took a brief Roman Holiday with this lovely wife recently to gather scooter images to share with you. Well, ok... They went for their 5th Honeymoon, but while he was there Pedro captured these photos and a brief analysis of the scooter situation in the scooter heartlands. Here's some of his notes:

Hi Steve!

Just arrived Sunday from my short trip to Rome, it was wonderful. So, here's The Scooter Scoop on Rome:

1. Bad news - almost NO classics - I didn't see ONE really classic Vespa - sad
2. Excellent news - the scooter to car ratio seems to be 1:1 - awesome
3. Good news - the ratio between scooters and motorcycles is about 10:1 - scooters rulezzz
4. Weird news - Piaggio's are not the most common brand, Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki are the kings - strange
5. Strange but in hindsight predictable news - on the smaller displacement scooters, the most common are the tall wheel ones - lots of cobblestone streets, tall wheels are much more comfortable on uneven roads.

I didn't have to hunt for these sights - they really are everywhere!
Hope you enjoy them!
Pedro

Ok... well there you have it. Lots of Japanese big-wheeled scooters on the roads there and not once did Pedro see an old Lambretta Li or Vespa GS rolling on the cobblestone. I suppose that's progress... and what they lacked is probably MORE than made up by the Brits. Let's look at a few of the photos.


(something I'd like to see MORE of here in the USA)


(the 2-wheelers have taken over!)


(it's like a scooter shoreline. Like you said, I see lot's of big wheels)


(anyone seen a store front like this in the USA? I want that big Vespa on the left)


(your average commute to work. Nice to see so many helmets on the road)

Oh, here's the top registrations in Italy (courtesy of Motoblog.it)
Classifica TOP 20 - Gennaio-Giugno 2007
01. HONDA SH 150 - SCOOTER - 13213
02. HONDA SH 300 - SCOOTER - 11873
03. HONDA SH 125 - SCOOTER - 9294
04. YAMAHA T MAX 500 - SCOOTER - 7848
05. YAMAHA X MAX 250 - SCOOTER - 7426
06. HONDA HORNET 600 - NAKED - 6595
07. SUZUKI AN 400 BURGMAN - SCOOTER - 6448
08. YAMAHA FZ6 - NAKED - 4688
09. KAWASAKI Z 750 - NAKED - 4394
10. YAMAHA VP 250 XCITY - SCOOTER - 4103
11. PIAGGIO BEVERLY 250 - SCOOTER - 4007
12. SUZUKI GSR 600 - NAKED - 3909
13. PIAGGIO LIBERTY 125 - SCOOTER - 3747
14. KYMCO PEOPLE S 200 - SCOOTER - 3610
15. PIAGGIO VESPA GTS 250 - SCOOTER - 3573
16. PIAGGIO VESPA LX 125 - SCOOTER - 3558
17. YAMAHA MAJESTY 400 - SCOOTER - 3558
18. HONDA SILVER WING 400 - SCOOTER - 3191
19. BMW R 1200 GS - ENDURO - 2727
20. SUZUKI UH 200 BURGMAN - SCOOTER - 2693
Did you notice? Only 5 of 20 were motorcycles, 4 of 20 were Italian, 1 of 20 was BMW and Kymco was the only non-Japanese Asian brand in the top 20. The rest was all owned by Japan with Honda (5), Yamaha (5), Suzuki (2) and Kawasaki (1).

***UPDATE***
Just two weeks ago (shortly after this report was submitted) Pedro was involved in a collision where a tractor trailer tried to take him out. Other than having his leg run OVER by the trailer Pedro is in good health and recovering in the hospital now. I hope you'll pay him a visit over at his blog MATSU to wish him well. We look forward to having him back on his feet again soon.

Take care my friend!

Video: Helix-3, for the person with more ingenuity than cash

Topping out at 56MPH comes this baby... The do it yourself tilting 3-wheeler.

The mad scientist behind the Helix-3 believes that the 3-wheeler's time has come. Here's a quote:

...in the last twenty years interest in three-wheelers has been revived. Many individuals and a number of factories such as Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Piaggio or Van-der-Brink offer their versions. There have been a few attempts to solve the stability problem: by lowering the height of the vehicle, increasing its width or shifting the center of gravity. This last approach is particularly interesting. Today it is possible to control and shift the center of gravity of a vehicle with precision with the aid of computers and hydraulics, so that stability turns from a disadvantage into an advantage. I think that the time has come for three-wheelers to come out of the shadow. But time will tell!

Another in the DIY category of tilters comes THIS baby, which I really do fancy because of it's small size. We should have some more details on this sweet tilter from Joe Wilcox in the not too distant future.

Video: T-Rex travels at ass-blistering speeds on Fifth Gear

Ok. Follow the car-cycle formula found in the Carver One and remove the "enclosed" part so that it's just "covered". Reverse the wheel configuration so that you have two in the front and one in the back. Bump the top speed up nearly 50MPH, to 157MPH "if you've got the nerve" and throw that tilting thing out the window... Now, you've got a T-Rex.

The T-Rex seems a LOT less refined than the Carver One. If you are looking for a safe, comfy, fun little runabout then the Carver is your cup-a-tea. If you are looking for something to replace your caffeine addiction (and maybe the cocaine and meth omelet you had for breakfast), then the T-Rex has your name on it.

You can go here, to the official site, to find more videos of this monster in action. I know they can sell to the tune of $62,000+. If you're lucky enough to buy one used, I saw one with 3,200 miles for $46,750 (sold). Lots of pretty pictures on that link.

Oh, and not to be forgotten in THIS category of "non-tilting" with the 2-front / 1-rear is the Grinnall Scorpion III and the VW GX3 concept.

Video: Carver in action on Top Gear

Cleat reminded me the other day of a... um... vehicle called the Carver One. It's the in the family of car-cycles. You know, enclosed, less than 4 wheels, may or may not tilt, usually hauls no more than 2 people.

Since these vehicles are so hard to classify, I like to discuss them here. Even though they are not scooters, they fall into the "microcar" category, which is a micro-commuter, which we DO cover because they tend to be more scooter friendly AND, they are fun in their own right.

So, here it is; eleven years in the making. My favorite quote from the video is, "Honestly, I had one of these last weekend and I have to say, absolute hand on heart, I've never had so much fun in a car." Another notable quote is,"The best thing about this is that you just KNOW it has to have come from a country where drugs are legal." It's Dutch.

The reason for the video (and there will be others) is that simple pictures almost never do a vehicle justice. You have to at least see the physics and if possible hear the engine to get a really solid idea of how a vehicle works.

Thanks Cleat! See more (and better quality) videos of the Carver here.
Want one? Be prepared to shell out $48,000 US for a basic model.
Available sometime before 2008 (so they say).

Tiny Post: Pimp My Fusion (Helix)

Pimp my bike
Originally uploaded by dloko

As dloko says:

These guys had totally pimped out this bike. It's got two widescreen displays, neon and a very loud soundsystem. Awesome. Nevermind the Saudi Arabian guy on the right, he just jumped in the picture for some reason.

Thanks for sharing dloko!

(this is off the topic, but I had some room here. Don't you think more people would take public transportation if musicians just showed up on them randomly? Like this?)

Return of the Ape Calessino! (don't get TOO excited)

(neither this classically styled Ape nor her accompanying prancing nymph will be available for you to order in the USA. *sniff*)

The new, limited edition "Ape Calessino" is currently on tour in Portofino, Forte dei Marmi, Capri, Taormina and Porto Rotondo (which sounds much more romantic than their English translations of Fine Port, Fort of Marbles, Goats, Taormina [does that mean "tourist destination?] and Round Port.)

Piaggio is celebrating the return of the Ape Calessino form the 50's and 60's fame. Here's how Piaggio describes it in a Googlese translation:

Bee Calessino is accredited in order to accommodate four persons: three passengers and the guide who is received from one comfortable selleria in color cream with rifiniture in blue. The four doors are realized in stainless steel chassis polished and covered in impermeable and washable burlap. The same material of which the capote is made up to modulate that it renders Bee flexible Calessino to every employment, in order riscoprire the taste of being with to the open air.

If you wanted one of the available 999, be prepared to spend about $12,000 for the APE and whatever crating and freighting costs... maybe $15k total? THEN the hassle of getting her road legal. Maybe it just time to move to Italy?

Click on the title link to see the whole story and some more photos from motoblog.it

The 500cc Sidecar (more detail)

P1000909
Originally uploaded by scooter-center.com

Here's some more visual detail on that 500cc Sidecar we had video of last week


Looks like it's a product of Scooter-Center.com

Love the flat black... very scary.
Click on this link to see more like the crazy front suspension and braking setup.