A real classic - 1953 Lambretta

Like she just rolled off the showroom floor, Dolopo shares this image of a real gem of a classic. This tiny 125cc 2-stroke may top out at around 43 MPH, but her style and simplicity just keeps on going. Click the photo to see a larger image.

Killer Cutdown

DEG082
Originally uploaded by scooter-center.com

Can anyone even recognize what this once was? Thanks to scooter-center.com for sharing!

Click to see it a bit bigger.

Scooter wallet

Found this Scooter Wallet over at Etsy this evening (click title link). Looks pretty cool and costs only $16 bucks shipped. If you are comfortable enough to sport a wallet with a logo that says "Tinymeat", then this may be the wallet for you.

Honda Oddities - In 2003 Honda introduces Solo

Almost more motorcycle than we'd allow here at the scoop, but also very similar to the Sachs MadAss. When this baby hit my eye, I fell in love. Isn't she charming? The image I found HERE and the whole background can be found at the Honda site HERE. I present to you just a snippet from that press release:

Tokyo, March 5, 2003 --- Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has announced the release of the new Solo, a cheery, stylish, around-town leisure bike with an air-cooled, 4-stroke 50cc engine. The Solo goes on sale Friday, March 14.

The Solo is the fourth model in the "N Project"* series, designed to deliver to its owners the pleasure of owning and riding a bike that serves as a fashion accessory in addition to providing convenient daily transportation.

The exterior features a simple design that emphasizes the rider's individuality. The air-cooled 4-stroke 50cc engine, adapted from the Super Cub series, offers superb fuel economy and environmental performance. It is fitted with an auto centrifugal clutch that even novice riders can operate with ease.

In addition to the three standard colors, Matt Flat Silver Metallic, Monza Red, and Parrot Yellow, the Solo is also available in a total of 285 color combinations through the Color Order Plan, by mixing and matching tanks, frames, and seats.

* "N Project" stands for "New Project", which is dedicated to developing products that will appeal to young people's lifestyles. The first model, the Ape, debuted in February 2001; the second model, the Zoomer, in June 2001; and the third model, the Bite, in January 2002.

I think that secretly "N Project" stands for "Not-for-USA Project".

Honda Oddities - Cubra AKA "Little Cub"

While flipping through the Tokyo Scooter Stuff flickr stream I saw THIS oddity. It's a Honda Cubra with a bagger kit. The Cubra is Honda's "little cub" that normally looks like this:

Very nice lines if I say so myself. Very sporty looking little 49cc air cooled ride that got run over by a think tank back in 1999 when Honda spit out these two prototypes for the Tokyo motor show that I found on the Honda Worldwide site.


One was the Honda Dirt Cubra that looks FREAKIN' AWESOME and is described like this:
Simplifying the Little Cub and adding a specially configured rear suspension, an extra-sturdy subframe, and intrepidly wild styling transformed it into this cute-but-fierce little dirt racer with a clearly different agenda.


The other was the Honda AmeriCubra which looks right at home for the next ROT rally and she's described like this:
ontinuing the never-ending evolution of that legendary Japanese scooter, the Super Cub, this American-styled version of the Little Cub blends nostalgia with a refreshing outrageousness accented by just a touch of urbane refinement.

Ahhh, Honda... art there no limits to thine oddities and the joy in which they bathed mine heart?
I'll always remember the Looper... The Cabina Convertible... The classy FB-S... and all those crazy fold-up toys from 2001. I wonder if the Elysium will ever see the light of day.

Crystal's "Last Mile" raises over $12,000!

Just a quick post to congratulate Girlbike.com's Crystal Waters for her valiant effort to raise funds for the "Last Mile" in memory of Charles "Shod" McCullough. I believe she'll have her full report and photos coming soon.

Congrats also to Dr. Lou DiNicola, a pediatrician at Gifford, who won the Vespa. Thanks to everyone who responded to offer their support for this great cause.

Mirror finish and more

IMG_4483
Originally uploaded by VESBA

VESBA shares this image taken of an orange Chetak (?) taken from the mirror finish refection of this black Vespa's cowel. That reminds me. I gotta get out there and wash my T5.

I recently received a bottle of Lloyds Wolfshead polish & waterless wash that is supposed to do wonders. I'll let you know.

If you wanna see more photos like this or like this rare Triumph Tina (below), click on the title link. There's some great shots in there from CanScoot 2007.

Genuine Rattler AKA "Buck Ten" gets reviewed

(Think the Rattler was a bit small? Well, Dan's no small fry and he loves it!)

Dan Hoyt as self proclaimed "vehicle geek" from Middleton, CT was the first person to contact us with the scoop on this new gem from the Genuine Scooter Company. He ended up doing more than just taking her for a test drive and writing a review, he actually bought one.

For a little backgrounder and before we get into Dan's review let's answer some questions. Who is Genuine? What's the deal with the 2-stroke? What's different about the Rattler "Buck Ten"?

First The Genuine Scooter Company. Based in Chicago, Genuine started as a vision of Philip McCaleb in 1989, as ScooterWorks (also a supportive sponsor of TheScooterScoop) and has evolved into one of the USA's top non-traditional OEMs (a traditional OEM is an "original equipment manufacturer" like Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Vespa). They are known for producing a top-notch product including the legendary 2-stroke Stella. Speaking of which, what IS the deal with 2-strokes? If you've been keeping tabs on 'em you'd know that they are a vanishing breed. Strict emissions regulations have caused many scooter manufacturers to drop them from their product lines rather than go jump through the hoops to make them compliant. However, the 2-stroke engine is not uncommon, we see them in lots of yard equipment, and a handful of new scooters, but who knows for how much longer. 2-Stroke engines produce more power and torque than their 4-stroke brothers. Right now the new 2-stroke scooters with the largest displacement available in the USA are the Genuine Stella (with 150cc), the Genuine Rattler (110cc) and the Daelim Delfino (100cc). Now you're starting to see where the Rattler fits in and where it's different. In my opinion, the Rattler "Buck Ten" is our sprint scooter. You start with 110ccs drop some aftermarket parts on it and you've got a real wheelie machine.

So, there's the primer now let's dive into the review. Now let's turn to our resident expert and keeper of the Rattler Yahoo Group (click title link), Dan Hoyt. Take it away Dan (feel free to read or ignore the parenthetical "steve" below):

This is my review on the new Genuine Rattler Buck Ten. For anyone reading this that has interest in this machine I hope it helps you out. Either in making the decision to get one, or not to get one. As we all know getting the right scooter makes all the difference. I will attempt to stay on course and hit the major areas of questions I seem to get a lot of.

The most frequent question people seem to ask me about my Buck Ten is "Why?". Some mean it in the "why get a scooter" way and others in the "why that scooter" way. If you're reading this review you already know why a scooter is great. For this review I'll mention the "why this scooter" angle. In trying to find the right scooter for me it took me close to a year to settle down on the Rattler. I wanted something fun, unique, sporty and with a great reputation and support. I kept looking at the 50cc class of two strokes out there but nothing jumped out at me. At nearly 200lbs and 6ft tall most seemed too small. Then I had to factor in if I didn't want to get run over while scootin' to work I'd need something that can do over 40mph. If I bought a 50 it'd take hundreds of dollars in performance parts to do that. That's when I came across the Buck Ten. At only $200 more than the 50cc version it didn't cost anymore than adding a performance pipe to a 50. The price was reasonable too, $2599 is a great price for everything you get on this scooter. So I made the decision to wait for a Buck Ten... (hey, are you using my ellipsis's? That's my trademark, or at least the blatant overuse of them. You're safe for now). I'm not a good waiter. Two months before it was released I already had e-mails in to Genuine and my local dealers, a month before it was released I had a deposit on one at Scooter Centrale to get their first one in. I couldn't wait to see it for REAL.

My first impression of the bike was a good one. Fit and finish on the bike is good, not perfect, but more than acceptable. The details on the bike catch your attention right away. The wide, polished motocross style handlebars (I dig it). The digital speedometer (dig it). The wave rotor up front (dig). The large dual headlamp setup (it's... unique). I mean this bike stood out (indeed). Sitting on it you feel that it's a sturdy machine, no creaks and groans. All the switches function properly and are clearly marked (except for the one speedometer button... which apparently does nothing according to the user manual). I was feeling great about my decision to wait for this scooter all this time.

Since I picked up my new scooter on a workday I'd have to wait a bit to really get out on a ride and see what it was like. I loaded it up on my truck and took it home. I did ride it in to work but since it wasn't broken in yet I babied it all the way there and back. This is my first scooter and it made some immediate impressions on me. I haven't had that much fun in a long time, commuting to work no less! (that's what I'm talkin' about!) The front brakes on this thing work very well, the rear drum, well it's a rear drum. The suspension felt fine down the backroads and over the bumps, ruts and manhole covers I hit on the way to work. Surprisingly no rattles (from the RATTLER? For shame). Being a former motorcycle guy I at least expected a few rattles from the kickstands (yes 2 of them), but nothing. Just the tell tale sounds and smells of a two stroke doing its thing. Now I had to get this bike broken in. Scooter Centrale said about 400 miles, the owner's manual says 200 miles and change the gear oil then avoid beating the life out of it until after 1000 miles. I changed the gear oil at 200, it takes less than 1/2 a qt so it's cheap and easy (that's how I like 'em).

I've had the scooter just over 3 weeks now and have 300+ miles on it. Being past the initial run-in by Genuine's standards I felt it was safe to open it up a bit more and really see what it does. Time for the twisties! The handling on this bike is great. It doesn't have a super long wheelbase, and the frame doesn't bend and twist a lot. The combination of those two things really makes this thing nimble in the back roads. It does not however make it the roomiest scooter on the market. I get around the room issue while cruising down main street by doing two things. I ride solo, so I just sit back on the seat. If I want more legroom the Rattler has the solution, the front of the scooter is notched out a bit at the bottom near your feet. This lets you rest your heels on the bike while sticking your toes out front a bit, an instant gain in legroom.

Getting around town requires at least two things around my area. Acceleration and speed. I was honestly quite impressed at how well the Buck Ten hits the 30mph range, almost like it doesn't like to go any slower. To test top speed I broke out my trusty Garmin GPS. Scooters are notorious for optimistic speedometer readings, for safety reasons I needed to know how fast is the bike really going. I got up to an indicated 58mph on the speedometer, the Garmin felt it was closer to 53mph. I also tried to check out how off it was at slower speeds too. Too keep it simple for myself I figured out that it's off just over 1 mph for ever 15 mph indicated (i.e. 15mph is 14, 30 is 28, 45 is 42). I can live with that.

My early research on scooters had me worried about the day that I had to ride home at night, scooters are not known for great headlights. The Buck Ten has a great headlight! When you actually get close enough to see it you'll notice it's really just one light designed to look like two. That one light is a motorcycle headlight, same wattage as the one my BMW R1150R had. I had plenty of light for my ride home. Now that I've been scootin' around town so much I needed to put some gas in it. The fuel cap is a bit awkward to get off the bike, the grab handle gets in the way a bit. Thankfully on a scooter you're not doing that too often. My fuel mileage has been anywhere from 69 to 84 mpg so far with mid 70s the most common. The gas tank on the Buck Ten is just over a gallon (it warns you with a blinking gas gauge when you get low). I have yet to put a full gallon in it yet, I can live with that too.

This review is long enough already so I'll sum it up (finally (this is Dan's "finally" not mine. He could keep goin' in my opinion.)). The Genuine Rattler Buck Ten lived up to my expectations in most areas, exceeded it in a few and did not fall short of expectations anywhere. It's been reliable to date, not even a burnt out light or anything. If you're like me and always find yourself looking at machines like the Zuma or the Typhoon with that rugged and sporty kind of look, but couldn't justify how much it would cost you in parts, time, and voided warranty to get the performance you were looking for the Buck Ten may be the right choice for you. I've only added a pinstripe and removed super mudflap and my Rattler's perfect for me. No warranties were harmed and my wallet hasn't opened to make it faster. Maybe in two years when Genuine stops covering the Buck Ten I'll change some more. If anyone reading this wants to see pictures of the scooter or has any specific questions feel free to ask in my yahoo group "genuinerattler". Last, but not least, thank Steve for taking the time to listen to me ramble on about my Rattler and share my views with all of you on his Blog.

Nice! Lots of good stuff in there Dan. Thanks a million for sharing your opinion on this new scoot. I'm glad she worked out for you. I hope to one day take a Buck Ten out on the road here for myself. This seems to be a good scooter for aftermarket body and engine parts. Who knows we may have our very own version of the French MBK Rocket Spirit or Peugeot TKR as seen all over Scooter-System.fr. Bravo to Genuine for another hot product! I can't wait to see what's revealed in the coming months for 2008 *cough cough, Stella, cough*.

Click on images in the slide show to see 'em bigger.

More windscreens than you can shake a proverbial stick at

Mopeds in Sorrento, Italia
Originally uploaded by photoschmucket

Here's a shot from Sorrento. Not Sorrento, Florida but Sorrento, Italy.
Isn't that a nice, uniform ocean of windscreens?

They take their riding seriously in Italia.

Thanks for sharing photoschmucket!

Riding Colorado's Lariat Loop

Stephen Knapp has a riding tale in the Canyon Courier that is on par with the works of Mark Twain... hrm, ok maybe John Swartzwelder is a closer match. Steve's (hrm... do "ph" Steve's go by "Stephe"?) writing will warm your cockles (assuming you have cockles in the first place) and tickle your funny bone. Here's an excerpt from his adventure on this historic pass:

More than lazy, I am also prone to shameless self-dramatization and quickly concluded that my romantic Real-Western journey required an equally romantic conveyance. Alas, I learned the hard way that I am the master of no horse in either intelligence or strength of character, so saddling up was out. On the other hand, even a monkey can operate a twist-and-go 50cc scooter, and I can say with some confidence that I am the equal of any monkey that’s ever lived.

Really, if you have the time it's a great read and should take all of five minutes to get though for the normal reader. An ADD reader, like myself, should allow a half hour to make it from beginning to end. The story is both funny and educational, like those old Schoolhouse Rock programs... wait, were those funny? Ok, funny and educational like those American's Funniest Videos programs. Click the title link to check out the story in the Canyon Courier.

I wonder if they jump over scooterists too

Oz is getting more monkeys!

(You can look, but you can't touch if you live the USA. No 2008 monkey for YOU!)

Australia is getting "hooked-up" next month with the reintroduction of the Honda Z50M, where "M" is for "Monkey".

If you're bored and wanna see how much Honda thinks we're the red headed stepchild, I recommend reading the press release:

When Honda wanted to develop a bike in the early 1960’s specifically to introduce Japanese kids to motorcycling, they called on the same engine used to power the highly successful Cub. The motor was considered to be bullet proof and, importantly, could be fitted into a tiny chassis.

Over the past four decades, the Monkey bike has come in a number of distinguished guises. Its popularity has proved unwavering with a cult following of devotees always ready for the next incarnation.

The Monkey 40th Anniversary Special has been produced in a similar fashion to the original Monkey Z50M launched and features the check-patterned “tartan” seat made popular by the original model. This time stylish studs have been added to give it an even more unique look.

The 4.5 litre (1.2 Gal) fuel tank offers a refined feel through the use of graphite black detailing whilst the frame and front and rear wheels are painted in a specially prepared Monza Red finish.

A commemorative 40th Anniversary Logo also features on the top section of the fuel tank, the side cover and the main key areas. Further, a special coating has been applied to the head light case, the exhaust pipe cover, the chain case and the 3D fuel emblem to ensure that this is truly a luxurious, special edition model.

The Monkey Bike is powered by a 49cc air cooled, 4 stroke OHC single cylinder, and also features telescopic forks, a convenient carry rack, an ‘old school’ swingarm and much more.

This new Z50 will no doubt attract a whole fresh legion of followers, similar to those who came on board when it first appeared as a ride at the "Tama Tech" theme park in Hirano city, Tokyo all those years ago.

The Australian release of the Z50M will be available from Honda Dealers nationally early September at a retail price of $3490.00 (that $2842 US Clams)

Information and specifications will be available shortly.

That's it. Sounds fun, eh? You know... Honda used to love us back in the days. Where did it all go wrong? Remember the Trail 70, the Trail 90? We used to get the Monkey too. Where have all the quirky bikes gone?

Cheers to our friends down under at scootersales.com.au for the scoop!

This is what Coldplay meant

When they said it was all yellow.

Interesting coincidence. Very sweet ped.
Thanks for sharing "Telstar Logistics". Can I just call you "Mr. Logistics"? Sounds cooler.

Scooter, hiking in the woods, all alone

Nice photo from Elusive_Fish. Looks so lush.

Hrm... What kinda scooter is that? (It's not a Vespa)

Reminds me of Pan's Labyrinth... creepy.

Wo Wow Cub... Final Poll

If you could get the SYM cub here in the USA... AND it was called the... Let's say "Dash" and it was powered by a 125cc SYM engine AND it was available in black, pink, blue or brown. What is the MOST you would pay for it... keeping in mind that a 2008 Yamaha Vino 125 has an MSRP of $2,649 and 2008 Genuine Buddy 125 has an MSRP of $2699.

The most POWERFUL SCOOTER IN THE WORLD makes it's debut

(By the POWER of GILERA! I HAVE THE POWERRRRR! The GP800 sure beats Battle Cat.)

The first looks are coming in from Motociclismo.it of this twin-v, 839cc monster with a full report scheduled for September. They haven't had a chance to really twist it, being in the "break-in" period and all, but they have managed to touch 124 MPH and bring her back down to earth with those double 300mm front and rear discs *ERRRRRT!*.

I don't have much else to report right now other than the Italians seem pretty excited about it and Dudel has seen images of the GP800 in the wild... oh and this giant rumor he dug up:

Piaggio is building a version of the 3-wheel MP3/Fuoco with the 839.3cc engine and CVT plus final-chain-drive from the 850Mana/GP800 which will be sold as a Moto Guzzi.

Whoa! Here's the rumor source in case you're keeping tabs.
Thanks to Motoblog.it for pointing us to the Motociclismo.it story.

Vespa S Preview for those who just can't wait.

Rakuchina (better known as our good friend and TSS Reporter Lawrence) is SO excited about the Vespa S that he put together this little slide show of all the images he could get his hands on, so he could sit and watch them OVER and OVER again. I don't have the heart to tell him they are never coming to the USA... JUST KIDDING!

We'll know for sure by year end. I feel it in my bones.

Japanese Customs

DSC04515
Originally uploaded by tokyo scooter stuff

No, not bowing or taking off your shoes at the door... I'm talking about Japan's tricked out toys. If you click on this title link you'll see a flickr photostream of Tokyo's scooter scene. Lot's of neon is the style right now.

What has 125ccs and can suck up 10 liters of dog poop?

(note, I didn't add the fuzzy box around the scoot, it came that way... makes it look prettier)

The Carre Galopin "Le Citadin" or "The Townsman", that's what. Jaqian, our eagle-eyed reader, picked up it's scent (so to speak) from an image posted back in February. We wondered who would add a vacuum to a scooter, and who would ride a scooter filled with dog poop? The answer is "The French". They should feature one of the riders in a future episode of Dirty Jobs.

If you are interested in finding out MORE about this wheeled torture device, click on the title link. (Have you noticed that we mentioned "French" twice today already? Strange.)

On a final note, this wheeled pooper scooper also comes in a 3-wheeled electric model. Now, if they could just figure out a way to use the poop to power the scooter? They'd be on to something.

***UPDATE***
Hope that if they ever bring one to Austin that they send it with a much bigger top box. There's lots of dog owners here with BIG dogs... a 10 liter box would definitely mean "Chocolate Rain", if you know what I'm sayin'.

My Health: Andrea Nagel - How Rolanda Marais stays healthy

When interviewed to ask how Rolanda Marais (actress) stays in balance she addressed things like staying physically and mentally healthy. One particular question stood out. This one:

How do you deal with stress?

I try to go to yoga as often as possible. I take a ride on the Vespa for fresh air, to feel the wind in my face and smell my surroundings. I often do something special like go for a really nice lunch with my boyfriend.

Sounds like a great way to deal with stress! I mean the "scooter ride" part, not going to a really nice lunch with Rolanda's boyfriend.

Oh, this was an interesting question too:

Have you ever had unsafe sex?

No, just too much of a gamble.

As if she woulda said "SURE! All the time." Reporters are getting kinda personal lately, eh?

Blogger Spotlight - Rush Hour Rambling

Whilst bopping around the net I ran into a blog that I don't remember seeing before, Rush Hour Rambling. It comes to us from Gary Charpentier (French for "pencil sharpener"... no, um... "Carpenter". My French is a bit, how you say, "Rus TEE?").

Gary rides and writes in Minnesota where it's cold and stuff. Being an ex-Marine, Gary finds delight in scooting around on black ice and other dangerous stuff, as I discovered in post titled "Squirrelly Scarlet". In this story Gary took his Baron out for a little ice skating in 43 degree weather. Hard to believe winter's right around the corner. Speaking of corners, check out this little snipped from the story:

We entered the corner in the approved foot-down fashion. Scarlet began to slide, so I let off the throttle. This is where her squirrelly side emerged, because she kept right on spinning and sliding until I was at full opposite lock on the handlebars.

That was when I saw the car coming in the other lane.

We were heading straight for it, of course, and I had a decision to make: squeeze the rear brake and try to save us both (a very low-percentage play), -or let Scarlet go and save myself. We were going about 20 mph, not very fast on a scooter, but faster than I can run. Still, I knew that I could just stand there and slide to a stop under much more control than I would have on the ground with Scarlet.

So I...

You have to click on the title link to read the rest of the post. Suspenseful, eh? Anyway, we enjoy your writings Gary. Keep up the great work.

Alright Central Texas, Let's RIDE!

Got this reminder from the Six-Fing Thing in San Antonio today. Check it:

October 5th 6th and 7th

The first weekend in October is the biggest rally in
Texas. The last two rallies were huge successes, and
if you ever wanted to attend a rally where you got
your money's worth, this is it! (Just be sure to
watch your speed around Alamo Heights... trust me.)

The small registration fee includes your shirt, patch
and other goodies. Your badge is your raffle ticket.
We do not sell tickets - everyone gets one number when
they register. We just want you to have a good time!
Last year, pretty much everyone went home with
something cool. Register early so we can confirm your
shirt size.

I'll definitely be there. I don't get out to all the events, but this is one that's definitely on my list. Well organized by a great group of guys and gals. Click on the title link to hit the registration page.

***UPDATE***
Speaking of Texas rides, don't forget the annual Texas Pie Run out to Kyle this Saturday. If you ride a big scooter and wanna make a run to the Texas Pie Company, this is the way to do it. Go HERE for the infoz.

Digital50: ZAP Receives $1 Million Initial Electric Car & Scooter Order

(the girl looks hip, but I think the dude put the plug in the wrong socket here)

This is great news for ZAP! In an effort to "build awareness", Canada is planning to import a bunch of electrics in time for the Olympics. Pluggy would be pleased.

Here's a bit from the press release (you can click on the title link to read the whole thing):

SANTA ROSA, Calif. & VANCOUVER, British Columbia-(Business Wire)

-August 21, 2007 -
Electric Vehicle pioneer ZAP (OTCBB:ZAAP) and New Fuel Systems Inc. today announced they have signed a distribution agreement for Canada, sparked in part by Canada's commitment to reduce greenhouse gases under the Kyoto Protocol.

Under the agreement, New Fuel Systems Inc. has agreed to the initial purchase of $1 million ($1,000,000) worth of ZAP electric vehicles, including ZAP electric cars, trucks, mopeds, scooters and other electric vehicles. New Fuel Systems plans to open retail locations throughout Canada and showcase electric transportation during the 2010 Winter Olympics being planned for Whistler, British Columbia.

What if I told you a Cub could be coming to the USA?

No, not the Honda Cub, but a preeeety close facsimile or maybe I should say facSYMile could be making its way to the USA. That's right! During a recent visit to the SYM plant in Taiwan, Scooter World Publisher Bev Brinson was pleasantly surprised to see what upon first glance appeared to be a Honda Cub. Further investigation led her to realize it she was laying her eyes upon a SYM creation called the "Wo Wow" (which after watching the video below I'm concluding that is the sound a dog makes in Taiwan).

Bev began digging into this matter. She wanted to know when they would start shipping them to the US, after all they DO have an established distribution network in the USA and they are known for some high quality builds. The SYM crew was pretty certain that American's would have no interest in them. That makes perfect sense, right? I mean, Honda makes the Honda Cub, the biggest selling vehicle on the planet and THEY aren't shipping to the USA... why should SYM? Well, I don't think SYM see's the potential for sell here... yet, but they ARE considering it after a persuasive discussions with Bev and some internal debate.

Now, it's up to you. If you are a Cub fan and have been wanting to get them stateside, let your nearest SYM dealer know. This is one of those rare cases where YOU may be able to directly influence the addition of a new model to be shipped to the US... not only that, YOU might be able to influence what they name it AND the engine size! SYM is listening, here's the details:

SYM likely will not keep the fun "Wo Wow" name for the US market. Instead they are considering one of the following names, either the "Pup" or the "Dash". Next, they are considering two different displacements, either a 110cc or a 125cc version. So, armed with that, why don't you voice your opinion in this multiple choice poll.


Here you can see the video commercial that shows off all three colors, White, Blue or Pink.

Babe covered Burgman gallery

The Burgman doesn't get a whole lotta press, so when this showed up at the Motoblog.it, I had to share. Click on the title link to see hotties lounging on a Burg, eating ice cream on a Burg, posing on a Burg and all the stuff you would expect to happen if you own a Burg... but never seems to happen. OR... maybe it DOES happen, but it's when you are up in the office. Next time try looking down out of the office window at your Burgman to see if chicks are swarming all over it. I bet that's when it happens. You can also look for melted ice cream on or around your Burg.

Sorry for delayed responses this week.

(haven't you always wondered what was under those things?)

Hey everybody! Just wanted to apologize for my slow responses this week. I see comments and emails pouring in and I'm cursing my 24 hour days for not being long enough to allow me to catch up.

I haven't forgotten you and I'm not trying to be standoffish... I just got a $#!+load of things on my plate this week. At a minimum I'm going to try to get some more posts in. Promise I'll be back in action by no later than Friday.

Cheers!
steve

You have a really good shot at winning a new Vespa LX50!

(ONLY 10 DAYS LEFT! Support Crystal for just $25... See below for details.)

How do you buy a ticket for the "Last Mile Support Raffle"? Send along a check to Crystal at Girlbike.com or Ashley made out to Gifford Medical Center, or call Ashley during east coast business hours to give her your credit card number. Do it soon, because there are only 250 tickets and they are going fast (call to action).

Crystal Waters - P.O. Box 1873 - Westminster, MD 21158
Ashley Lincoln - Gifford Medical Center - P.O. Box 2000, Randolph, VT 05060 - (802) 728-2380; alincoln@giffordmed.org.

I bought my ticket TODAY!
-Steve

Yamaha C3's new colors for 2008

For 2007 we had the C3 available in Yamaha Team Blue and also in Silver. In 2008 (starting November 2007) we can expect to see a new Red and a White version of the C3. Everything else is pretty much the same. Still expect the jaw dropping 116 MPG performance from her.

Yamaha Maxam: Touching Your Heart (not as gross as it sounds)

Yamaha MAXAM 250 - The funniest videos clips are here
A Japanese advert for the Yamaha Maxam (Morphous to you and I). As for the title of this post, "Touching Your Heart" is just Yamaha's tagline for the Japanese market. Doesn't it conjure up thoughts of an open heart surgery and a rep from Yamaha is standing there with his index finger out... *poke*... *poke*... *poke*

OH! Speaking of the Yammy Morph, did you know they will be introducing a new color for the US market in September? Dark Violet. Look for an MSRP of $5299. Looks like this:

Oh! And speaking of Yamaha Morphous. If you've got one and you wanna do a little personalizing to it, your best bet is to check out our faithful sponsor Dragon Custom! I was just there today looking at the goods and saw some sweet stuff like a chrome nose spoiler and other chromey bits. Check out the Morph selection HERE.

Nice show of modsmanship!

Golden Torch SC
Originally uploaded by cronuskane

cronuskane shares this lovely photo of a Lammy belonging to a member of the Golden Torch SC.

Scared of making the leap from car to scooter? Here's an accessory for you.

Thinking about moving to the wild and exciting world of scootering but afraid of moving from behind the safety of your car door? The Car-Doorinator 3000 can help! Simply slide the Car-Doorinator 3000 over your neck and let it rest on your floorboard. Compatible with most flat floorboard scooters. Available in Barrier Blue, Safety Orange or Protective Pink.
Thanks to "defwheezer" and "LaRock" for the scoopage!

***OFF TOPIC BONUS POST***
You know... I'm gonna take some time to do a PSA because I really wanna save people some heartache. If you are like I was back in my single days, you have trouble talkin' to the ladies. Yes, I know it's hard to imagine a big player like myself (cough cough) having a "bad rap", but it's true.

Having poor skills at "bustin' a move" is possibly the most ego debilitating experience a young man can go though; which doesn't help matters. It's a slippery slope. If you wanna help yourself or someone you know from a lifetime of "flyin' solo", have them watch a new show on VH-1 called The Pickup Artist. It features a guy called Mystery and his special method of mackin'. I tell you, from what I've seen so far... If I would have known then what I know now, I might not have ever graduated college.

Engadget - Modded Vespa rocks touchscreen, XP, and WiFi

You remember Quang Nguyen's high tech Vespa from its debut at Amerivespa Seattle, right? Well it got a heap-o-press today from Engadget. Sounds like this:

Are you ever cruising on your Vespa, listening to The Kinks, pondering the plot of Absolute Beginners, and fantasizing about Twiggy when you think, "Hey, I need to check my email"? Well, you're in luck, because Quang Nguyen, a forward thinking Vespa-modder (no pun intended) has managed to cram a touchscreen rockin', WiFi sportin', XP-equipped PC into his red GTS250. Sure, he's also got a Louis Vuitton seat, but that isn't nearly as exciting as the prospect of being able to watch Quadrophenia and update your MySpace profile from any spot you happen to motor towards. Just make sure to watch out for the Rockers.

Thanks to Crazy Chase in the ATX for sending in The Scoop!

Reader takes break during honeymoon to shoot old Lambretta

CIMG1297.JPG
Originally uploaded by cyberobin

Robin Adams took some time out of his hectic honeymoon schedule to bring us some nice scooter photos from his trip. You know it's meant-to-be if your loved one actually lets you do something like that. He says:

I've got a few pix of a beautiful Lambretta i saw in Buenos Aires on my Honeymoon (Didn't post the link because I didn't know if you wanted to share that with the WORLD). There are a few there... I like the Italian Agip gas canister next to it!

Yes! Nothing makes your scooter go like a little juice from the six legged dog!

Thanks for sharing Robin!

Remembering MOTRA

Nearly two decades after Japan gave us Mothra and close to two decades before Japan gave us the Ruckus, Honda produced the Motra. Seen here in this 1982 promo photo showing a Japanese outdoorsman... doing.. some morning stretches(?), this baby is a clear precursor to their popular Ruckus scooter of today. If you live in the US, you may never see a Motra in person, but you can at least go here to read about it on the Japanese Gadgets site.

Yamaha introduces new Maxam colors in Japan

Yamaha recently announced some new color schemes for their Maxam (what we call the Morphous) for next month. They include Brown & Tan (seen above), Silver 3, Silky White and Black Metallic X.

No word if these options will make US landfall.

Some Japanese Hondas you won't see around these parts.

Presenting the Honda Bite...


And the SuperCub (yes they still make them). You can't have them.

Not even the LittleCub...

Yamaha TMax getting a fresh makeover... Still not coming over for tea.

Dudel just picked up the scent on a new Yamaha TMAX for 2008. Looks like Cyberscooter.it has a little spy shot showing a hit of the new layout in tomorrow's posts (yes, Dudel has gone into the future to pull this one out. Seriously! This story is from 8/8/07 and right now it's still 8/7/07!)

As Dudel notes "It appears to be a cosmetic makover. They estimate that that rear wheel is still 15-inches and can't speculate on the front. They also suspect it will be unveiled at the Paris show (rather than the Milan or Japan show)."

Not a lot to go off of at this moment, but this news is FRESH out the oven. I didn't post the images here because, from what I could tell, they want to keep it to themselves for now. So, if you want a glimpse you should click on the title link.

I personally am a fan of the old TMAX style, even though the number imported into the USA is approximately ZERO. Did you know someone made a enclosed kit for the TMAX called the BubbleMax?

3-Wheeled microcar vs. the Roller Ninjas

WOW! Let's see... we've got a wild city Microcar chase... Um kay, add a generous portion of Japanese Roller Ninjas, uh huh... Cook at 350 until halfbaked. Voila! Se magnifique! I kinda feel like Alienhuman when he said:

"Damn... I could swear I just saw a video of Japanese ninjas on rollerskates attacking a three wheeled car. I gotta quit doin' whatever causes stuff like that to happen."

A little diggin' around in the Wikipedia reveals this about our hero:

Zoe Motors' best-known product was its Zoe Zipper vehicle, a very small three-wheeled single-seat car (or "microcar") based on a 50cc Honda motorcycle engine. It was manufactured by Mitsuoka Motors of Japan, introduced there in 1982 and made its American debut the following year in 1983, where Zoe had distribution and branding rights to the vehicle. In the US, the Zipper could be considered a motorcycle for registration and insurance purposes, making it somewhat simpler to own than a full-sized car. The Zipper was sold in both a convertible and a hardtop model.

The Zipper had angular styling inspired by Giorgetto Giugiaro's "folded paper" automotive designs seen on other early-1980s cars such as the De Lorean DMC-12 and the Lotus Esprit. In terms of performance, the Zipper had 5HP of power and reached speeds of 45mph, with considerable fuel economy of 112 miles per gallon. It ran on regular gasoline.

Perhaps the single best remembered part of the Zipper outside auto-enthusiast circles was its appearance as a prize on the TV game show The Price Is Right. Neither host Bob Barker nor announcer Johnny Olson could keep from giggling when the incredulous contestant asked "What is that?" and later "It's a car?!" She did win it, and after enthusiastically hugging and kissing Barker, Barker quipped "If you want some affection, just give a lady a three-wheeled vehicle!" According to the show, the Zipper (the hardtop model) cost $3785.

The Zipper was not successful in the United States. Numerous factors contributed to its lack of success. The name and design were perceived as too "cutesy" by the general public.

I hope the US has gotten over their "cutesy-fobia" by now. Thanks to Underscore1415 for sharing and thanks to the Ow! My Sweet Eyes! blog for the scoop!

Insert your caption here

Man... this is wide open. Captions anyone?
Thanks to Motoblog.it for making this this photo of the day.

Hollywood Holt not just "Throwin' A Kit" any more. Now recommending movies.

(Hollywood Holt looking for an answer.)

Got an announcement in my MySpace box today from Hollywood Holt of "Throw A Kit" fame. In it he says "It's imperative that you watch this movie." And so, I did. It's called Zeitgeist. I should warn you that if you click on the link that the video that plays does contain some disturbing elements of war at the beginning, so if you are sensitive you should forward to 5 minutes in. The movie is long and unless you can spend 2 hours to watch the whole thing you may miss some of the connections they make.

Here's what I've learned over the course of the last 2 hours... It's not a before bed movie (It's 3:30am right now and my mind is racing too much for me to sleep). Don't watch this is you are a dyed in the wool conservative because it'll just give you an aneurysm. Don't watch this video if you are a big Bush fan, cause you'll turn redder than a hot turnip. Don't watch this video if you'd rather not have someone ask you to question your religious beliefs (that's the first :35 minutes of the movie and it seems a bit out of place with the rest of the content).

I try to keep religion and politics out of The Scoop for the most part, with the exception of occasional reference to "the man" and sometimes labeling a post with "OMG!"... So, I'm not going to vent my personal opinions on the subjects in the movie. I prefer to listen to and consider all sides of the story. Today I'd much rather hear what you think. Go ahead, you can post anonymously. I don't mind... and if you'd rather not watch the movie, that's great too! Tell us why. Like I said, I just want to collect opinions... I don't wanna judge or push agendas... just to listen. If you believe it's a crock-o-shite, say it. If you are scared, say it. We're all ears. Let us know if Hollywood's movie recommendation gets the thumbs up, or thumbs down.

Lambretta with dazzle camouflage?

IMG_1679
Originally uploaded by sir knight

Perhaps to confuse navel artillery?

Scooter flock

Delivery
Originally uploaded by _saif

Waiting in the wings to deliver some American food to India.

Best viewed really big. Thanks for sharing Saif!

The most micro of micro cars gets a patent

Dudel comes with another fresh scoop (no... not the clumping cat litter) from the US Patent Office. This one from a Taiwanese company. One thing to remember, as is the case with everything from the patent office, is that this little oddity may not ever see the light of day. They are essentially just calling "dibs" on the idea. Sometimes it's best that these things spend their days hidden in a giant filing cabinet. I'm hoping in this case that either something is lost in translation OR it has the ability to traverse small lakes and ponds.

Here's Dudel's summary:

Min-Jan Lin of Pingtung City, Taiwan has a idea for a MINI TWO-WHEEL AUTOMOBILE that comes complete with a single windshield wiper and little "training wheels" that automatically drop-down at slow-speeds or when the vehicle stops that is controlled by a speed sensor. He envisions it being powered by a 150cc scooter engine either air-cooled or water-cooled. The pastel pink and green color scheme can be blamed on me.

I think the color is fine if they are planning an early Spring release. Looks sorta like a giant, pastel Stormtrooper egg.

Some others that he found for your consideration are:


Ming C. Kuo of Cerritos California has a idea for an ENCLOSED MOTORCYCLE with a pair of outrigger landing wheels that are automatically extended at a predetermined speed to prevent tipping at slow speeds or when stopped. (almost looks like a micro pickup truck)

Peter and Roy Bothwell of Warwickshire England have an idea for an ENCLOSED MOTORCYCLE with support members for both feet that can be moved downward to engage with the ground. (hrm... Interesting. I like the idea of not relying on a computer to engage the stabilizers, but in it's current state, it looks a bit uncomfortable. Dudel's vote goes for the Bothwell's design for best body style but he was not sure how well his system would work on a sloping and angled hill.)

Also included is an idea by Harold D. Parham of White Plains Kentucky for a three-wheel motorcycle (trike) designed to accommodate three people. (Not exactly enclosed, but wouldn't be impossible to imagine as a woody. Really this thing looks straight outta the 1890's. Say, Dudel! Maybe you could do some fancy body concepting for 'em.)

At the end of the day it's safe to say the world has PLENTY of room for new enclosed designs, so bust out your markers and have at it.

Vectrix announces Fuel Cell plans

Jalopnik, the cool blog with the funny little name made a discovery back in July that Vectrix has some hydrogen fuel cell plans in the works. They sum it up like this:

Electric scooter manufacturer Vertrix is working up a fuel-cell powered machine that'll run 155 miles on a tank of Zeppelin juice. The 500-watt cell gives the two-wheeler a top speed of 62 mph and features regenerative braking to dump juice back into the NiMH battery pack. It'll also run on reformed methanol, or can be plugged into either a 110 or 220v wall socket.

Click on the title link and you'll see a link to a pretty official looking PDF with all the deets.
Whew... almost 2am. I gotta get to bed.

Support the Last Mile Ride! Enter to win a Vespa LX50!

You can help to make life better for those nearing life's last mile. Here's a note straight from Girlbike's Crystal Waters:

Most of you know that I'm riding in the Last Mile Ride (http://girlbike.com/lastmileride/) on August 25th in memory of Charles "Shod" McCullough. I've raised about $3,500 so far to benefit Gifford's end-of life care. Thank you to those who have donated - and for those who haven't yet, it's not too late! To those who haven't heard from me in awhile, this is what I've been up to in my spare time: Getting ready for a 600-mile scooter trip to Vermont to participate in the Last Mile Ride, and doing my darndest to raise funds for this great cause.

I'm very happy to report that Vespa USA has generously donated a new Vespa LX50 to be raffled off for Gifford. The proceeds go directly to benefit end-of-life care at Gifford Memorial Hospital. Only 250 tickets are available, so you have a 1 in 250 chance of winning a $3,199 Vespa LX50. You can buy tickets even if you don't live in Vermont, since you would receive your Vespa LX through your area Vespa dealer. Tickets are $25 each.

Please feel free to contact me if you would like to buy a ticket (or 10), or write Ashley Lincoln, development director at Gifford, ALincoln@GIFFORDMED.org with questions, info about the event, and to buy tickets. She can also be reached at (802) 728-2380. Only 3 more weeks until the drawing on August 25, so get your tickets while they are still available!

For Vespa LX50 specs, visit http://www.vespausa.com/Products/LX.cfm

You're doing a great job for a great cause, Crystal. Why don't YOU shoot Crystal an email and get your ticket today! $25 is less than it costs to fill up your car and it'll really help them to reach their $10k goal.

Live in the US and want a BMW C1? Check out eBay!

(She is sweet, no? Of course this news would have never made the scoop if I thought I could afford to bid on it. hehe)

Timo from the C1 Owner's Club knows that I'm hot for the big, goofy, roofed oddity from BMW. This is as safe as 2-wheels gets right here, PLUS it looks like a police scooter or an early concept for a Troncycle. Anyway, here's what Tim said:

There is a c1 for sale in the US. It looks like a very nice one too. All of the options, except maybe the sunroof. It is a 125, but they are very strong 125 engines. I think 13 horsepower.

Anyway, just thought I'd let you know.

And we appreciate you for it. Please keep me posted in the future, just in case. ;)
Oh, and... Sunroof? I'm holding off for that. Click on the title link if you wanna see the listing and tons more pictures. If you win, can I take her for a spin?

***UPDATE***
Right now it's up to $2800 with a $500 deposit.

Straight.com - New Suzuki breaks all the scooter rules (review uses word oxymoronic)

The Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive has been a pretty small blip on the radar since it's inception but just last week they got a little review at Vancouver's Straight.com.

Here's a snippet:

Power is provided by a 638cc twin with dual overhead camshafts, fuel injection, liquid cooling, and four valves per cylinder. Suzuki doesn’t release horsepower or torque numbers for its products, but if I had to guess, I’d say the Burgman 650 Executive is good for at least 40 horses. You can hardly hear the engine tucked away below you at the back of the bike, and it has a honkin’ big, chrome, canister-style exhaust pipe that blends in nicely with the bike’s lines. The aforementioned two-speed CVT can be set via a handlebar-mounted button to “power” or “normal” mode, with the former setting dropping engine revs down about 1,000 rpm to provide a sportier riding experience.

That in itself is oxymoronic for a scooter. Since when has sport had anything to do with scooter riding? Radial tires are standard equipment, and braking duties are handled by a pair of dual discs up front and a single disc in back. Both levers on the handlebars operate the brakes and I’m hard-pressed to think of any other scooter I’ve ridden that scrubs off speed this well. These are outstanding brakes.

Overall Ted loved everything about it... but dubbed it "Dorky". I wonder if "Good performance, unbelievably comfortable, outstanding brakes, versatile" is overshadowed by it's "Massive dork factor." That would be kinda shallow, don't 'cha think?

WFMY News 2 - Scooters Hitting The Road Again

(Check out the Blur and matching helmet.)
Scooters Hitting The Road Again

VIDEO

Scooters are the latest rage and the name of the game is "customized"!
Greensboro, NC --Scooters are hitting the streets again across america. With gas prices soaring out-of-control these days everyone is searching for an answer and the scooter is it!

Believe it or not, scooters are making a comeback these days.. And it's not just because you get 100 miles to the gallon.

Sam Zealy owns 2 scooters and he says It's a kind of ride that people will say a car will move your body but a scooter moves your soul.

You see, Sam owns a Stella. That's a modern day version of the Vespa, those famous Italian scooters we've all seen in old movies.
But the Stella has a cult following.clubs all over the country.

John Hill owns ScooterNerds in downtown Greensboro. He says for scooter enthusiasts its all about customization.

Windshields, luggage racks, side cars, rear carriers, seat covers, bonnets that cover your legs and keeps them out of the cold air....you name it, its out there.

And that's just the beginning.

Some folks even install stereo systems complete with a CD player.

From flashing LED lights to personalized decals they make it their own.

And what about gas milage? How about 180 miles for about $5 worth of gas.

Saving money is great but these scooter heads say it's all about the experience.

They say it's therapy. It's something that lets them get out here and feel the wind rush and unwind.

They say ....you'll never see a vespa in front of a psychiatrist office.

And if a standard scooter isn't your fare then how about a convertible rickshaw scooter, sort of a taxi.
There's a delivery scooter and how about this .The Whizzer is an old fashion bike with a motor.

They come in crazy colors..
They come is different shapes.
But the bottom line is they're coming back to a street near you.

Click the title link for the original story and another link to the video if the top link didn't work.

Vectrix rollout and event schedule

The U.S. customer delivery of a Vectrix took place on July 18 in Lebanon, Pa., with additional deliveries taking place in across the country. The first Vectrix retail store is scheduled to open this summer in Newport.

Vectrix can be ordered online at www.vectrix.com or through distributors in a growing number of U.S. cities and surrounding areas. Currently, distribution networks are in the mid-Atlantic region, including New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C., as well as Los Angeles, Austin, Seattle, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Miami and West Palm Beach.

Upcoming Vectrix events and appearances include:

• July 28-29: Concours d’Elegance at the Newport Mansions , Newport, R.I.
• August 9: Vectrix Test Ride Event at the Presidio with British Motor Car Distributors LTD (BMC), San Francisco.
• August 11-12: Vectrix Test Ride Event with Green Car in Seattle
• August 18: Vectrix Store Grand Opening, Newport, R.I.
• August 25: 35th Annual Electric Car Rally & Show, Palo Alto, Calif.
• September 28-29: AltWheels Alternative Transportation & Energy Festival, Boston.

We recently got our Vectrix at Alien Scooters here in Austin. I'll be there soon (as we get a week without rain) to give her a go.

OH! If you wanna keep an eye out on what's available from an alternate fuel perspective you should check out this show on the Science Channel called CoolFuel Roadtrip. In the show, a team of Aussies(?) cross 30 states in the USA on everything but gasoline. Lots of talk about micro-hydro, corn moonshine, Grassolean, Darrryl Hanna and other organic, feel good, planet friendly stuff.
(caution, high level of Quiznos & Dell ads, talk of Mauniy Ants and Hyundai "Duh" commercials between show footage. I am looking forward to that Ecotech show they keep pimpin' though.)

***UPDATE***
Scootdawg did a little review on his site. Check it out here.

Short post to test spacing issue with IE (please stand by)

Testing one, two. In Internet Explorer you will see a HUGE space then the comments and tags and remaining posts. Wassup with that? Test...

Gizmag - Piaggio ready to release 170 mpg hybrid two and three wheel scooters

August 2, 2007
Italian manufacturer Piaggio, the maker of Vespa, is set to become the first company to release a hybrid drive scooter following an announcement that it is developing hybrid versions of its Vespa LX, Piaggio X8 and Vespa MP3 (the carving three-wheeler) models. The new hybrid system, which has a working title of HyS (Hybrid Scooter), can operate in full electric mode with a range of around 20 kilometres as well as hybrid mode - whenever the rider needs to accelerate more aggressively, the electric motor kicks in, providing about 85 per cent extra performance. Piaggio’s HyS system is a parallel hybrid in which a combustion engine and an electric motor incorporated into the gearbox casing are mechanically and electronically linked and simultaneously supply power to the rear wheel. The system uses drive-by-wire and the in-built electronic management combines the two engines to offer not only better acceleration but also a significant reduction in fuel consumption (up to 170 mpg or 1.67 liters/100 km) and in CO2 emissions, only 40 g/km (using 65% the hybrid modes and 35% the electric one). Perhaps the most exciting prospect is the hybrid MP3 which enjoyed such success as a 250cc it has since been developed as a 400cc version and was recently shown as a stylish 500cc Gilera – a sportier hybrid version of the 500 would enjoy exceptional performance.

In this dual drive-by-wire type system, a sophisticated electronic management system interprets the rider’s request for more power, and selects the level of assistance based on the current level of battery charge. The HyS uses a regenerative braking system to capture much of the energy usually lost under braking and the scooter’s range can be further optimised in the garage by charging the battery from an electricity source using the 220V battery charger.

The automatic gearbox, electric ignition and automatic start provide the usual zip and ease of use in town as well as out-of-town trips. The gas engine offers sparkling performance in standard running, charging the electric motor all the while.

The Piaggio HyS uses very innovative, avant-garde technical solutions but remains incredibly easy and intuitive to use.

The rider uses all the normal controls (accelerator, brakes and additional handlebar commands) as well as a specific switch to choose one of the different operating modes: three hybrid, one electric-only and the reverse.

In the first three modes the HyS manages power output from the two engines, thermal and electric, using a drive-by-wire type system: the electronic management system (SGE) interprets the rider’s request for more torque and selects the assist ratio based on the state of the system (e.g. the level of battery charge). During deceleration and braking, the control system recovers and accumulates power that is lost on normal vehicles in the battery.

The three hybrid modes are conceived to optimize performances, consumption and battery charge.

The rider simply turns a handlebar switch to shut down the combustion engine and turn the Piaggio HyS into a silent zero-emissions vehicle that can go into areas closed to internal combustion engined traffic. Another turn of the switch and the petrol engine turns itself on and goes back to being the main engine, charging the battery as it travels through areas open to normal traffic.

Drive-by-wire technology not only allows the control system to optimally manage the combined power output of the two engines but also ‘forces’ the thermal engine to work when it can be most efficient, thereby reducing specific consumption, with obvious advantages in terms of lower consumption and emissions.

All this technology is neatly tucked away. The three Piaggio HyS versions look like any standard Vespa LX, Piaggio X8 or MP3. On X8 and MP3 versions the traction batteries are hidden in the under-seat storage space, which is sufficiently large to also hold a helmet. The Vespa LX hybrid prototype comes with a top case to hold the helmet.

There is a battery charge indicator on the dashboard. The battery can be recharged from an electricity source by inserting a normal cable into the plug provided for this purpose. Charging time is roughly three hours.

Two 12V 26Ah batteries are located under the LX 50 HyS seat, with an additional top box replacing lost storage space. The X8 uses three 12V 26Ah batteries while still offering sufficient under-seat space for a helmet. Piaggio is based in the Tuscan countryside between Florence and Pisa, and invented the scooter in 1946 when it produced the first-ever Vespa. Vespa remains the iconic scooter brand with its unique metal-bodied design, though the company also produce scooters under the sporty Gilera brand and the contemporary Piaggio brand.

Thanks to Bas Putter for the scoop!

Painful bug troubles IE users at TheScooterScoop

(Come'ear lemme see yer eyes. *scratches eyes out*)

I hope you'll hang in there while we try to fix this weird bug. It appears to be affecting IE users where they can see the first post, but the bottom of the post and subsequent posts don't happen 'till after the grey sidebars are done which leads to scrolliosis... the excessive necessity to scroll and scroll to read the posts.

If anyone has experience with troubleshooting this issue, please let us know!
thescooterscoop@gmail.com

THANKS!
steve

Alix B. is putting PEACE on the map!

(Alix & Audrey preparing for the Peace Ride)

Well, right now Alix is passing the 117 mile point on her 9,000 mile journey. I'd say that's about as Ironbutt as it gets, right there. On her trusty Genuine Buddy "Audrey", she plans on riding from the White House (where ol' Dubya works) and landing in Crawford, Texas (Dubya's crib).

The idea is that she will travel for two months asking people from community to community to define Peace. What she captures on this journey will be part of a documentary for her "WE Space production". As she states, "The P.E.A.C.E. Scooter Tour is an open invitation to co-create a more peaceful present and future".

You should visit her site at PeaceScooter.com and keep up with her daily travels. It makes for some good reading and she has lots of pretty pictures too. (oh, and Happy Birthday Alix! I hope you don't have to put up with any more inconsiderate drivers.)

We wish you much success and plan on meeting up with you in Crawford to celebrate the event. Special shout out to Philip McCaleb over at Genuine Scooter Co. / Scooterworks (also proud sponsors of TheScooterScoop) for getting involved and helping her make it happen. You can always count on Phil to support a good cause.


(Crawford is as close to Austin as Alix is riding. It's only 97 miles away. If she's going 9000 miles, I think we can make a measly 200mile round trip. Just give us a date Alix.)

The Scooter Scoop gets a makeover (and a good waxing)

For too long we've been using that old (but nice) standard Blogger template. It has served us well for more than two years, but it was time for a change and since some readers go with RSS feeds as opposed to actually visiting the site, I thought I would write this post so you would know to come pay us a visit. Kick the tires. Suck in all that "new blog smell". I baked coooookieees!

As long as we're on the topic... I don't know what to think about RSS feeds. It's like, going to Wolfgang Puck's and ordering Tuna tartare on Potato Gaufrettes then asking them to throw it in a McDonalds bag to go. But... I'm as guilty as the next Illnoise er... person.

So... Something else you might notice are the added buttons, like "PEEPS" and the missing buttons like "Virtual Tip Jar". I figured if I'm gonna be placing real ads on the left I need to stop begging for money, right? The addition of the ads will help do things like pay my graphic designer bill ,but ALSO help to promote products that I believe in. In other words, I'm actually hand picking each of the sponsors listed. These are products and / or services that I actually believe in. I hope it doesn't have to come down to selling spots on ebay to an online gambling casino... but for August we are ok.

Now, back to PEEPS. This page, as well as the Amazon Affiliates page (under the STORE button) are works in progress. My designer asked for some info and I just dug up a handful of items so we could make our 8/1/07 deadline. I'm sorry if I missed some of my peeps (skutergruven) but over the course of the next couple of weeks I should have it straightened out. If you feel you were left out in error, send me the link via email at thescooterscoop@gmail and I'll run it though my "PEEPS-OR-NO-INATOR 3000" to see what it comes up with.

I hope that you like the new layout. If you have problems reading it or any feedback, send it my way. At the end of the day YOU are the ones that matter... so don't be shy. As a matter of fact, lemme start out with a poll. What do you really think? (see below)



Thanks for coming by! We hope you'll visit again real soon... we've got a new SHoOOOOW. Expect it in about a week (or so).

SMART must have a good agent!

Pete scooped me to a movie cars database called IMCDB.org and in it I found three pages of film and TV credits for the diminutive diesel... well, sometimes diesel. Pretty good fun to be had there.

You can also find listings for Motobécane, Piaggio, Puch, Italjet, as well as MacGyver on his Honda Elite. The site even has a star rating to indicate what sort of role the vehicle played... everything from "Background Vehicle", which pays the standard "non speaking extra" daily wage all the way up to five stars which means the vehicle was part of the movie and should have negotiated for royalties.

The site's coverage is exhaustive and the perfect place for vehiclespotters. Thanks Pete!

Howdy! So... what's new?

Wow!
It's 4:40am and am I ever tired.
Well. Enjoy your day! Maybe you'll
have some nice riding weather today.