A little more Suzuki Gemma eye candy.

No, sorry. No news on the eminent release of Suzuki's 2007 concept scooter, but we do have a few new images of their "lead sled" here thanks to the Tokyo Scooter Stuff guys (title link) and yasukun2 (for the YouTube video). I kinda dig it still.

Brief market survey - Design your perfect scooter

Hey scooter fanatics!

Imagine if you will, the chance to build the scooter of your DREAMS! How would it look? What sort of displacement, tires, fuel would it have? How much would it cost? The answer to these questions and MORE are in your head. Now we just need to get them out.

Please take a few minutes to complete our very brief and tiny survey. I doubt it will take you more than 6 minutes. It will be greatly appreciated.

Click Here to take survey

Thank you!
steve

PS> It would be REAL cool if you could ask your friends at your local newsgroup, forum or pub to participate too!

Most "out there" modern Italian scooter design

I've been following this post on ModernVespa (title link) called "Fastest Looking Scooter" and submitted a few myself, but I was struck with fear by the sight above. I've never seen anything like it (and it's not new). This is the Aprilia Area 51. There was DEFINITELY some alien technology that went into this baby or at least into the drugs being used by the executive who approved this. I'm not calling it ugly, I'm just saying this baby is BIZARRE! Bravo Aprilia! I didn't think you had it in you.

You know, I was thinking (because I do that once in a while). If the Space Age was like the late 50's early 60's and someone was selling you something built with "Space Age Technology"... Wouldn't it be kinda old? Wouldn't you rather something built with "Data Age Technology"? or "Nano Age Technology"? Just curious.

Another lost "star studded" Honda commercial

You could do a search to find the others. I don't know what the count is up to, but Honda used to REALLY hawk some scooters back in the 80's.

Don't forget Sandra's follow up spot:

Sigh... I just never get enough pimped out scooters from Japan

I was over at the Goo auto & motorbike page (title link... and no, I didn't make up the name "Goo", that's what it's really called), reviewing the 2006 and 2007 Tokyo Motorcycle Show photos and came across a couple of cool / unique ones.


First check out the Mastermind Maxam. Lots of black, lots of gold and a cool custom seat.


I think if I were coaxed, I could easily become a Ruckus Rider. It seems the customs are virtually endless. Check the crazy headlight configuration.


Eh... It's different. It's got a towing hitch. Maybe it's used to pull a boat or something.


These are the LARGEST Ruckus accessories I've ever seen. Shield in the front and fridge in the back... no back... right... look up just a bit... ok, now to the left. See the fridge? Sheesh! I can't take you anywhere.

For more where these came from click on the title link.

CNN Money reviews the SMART

(Shouts to Mysterious Mimir for the eye catching SMART shot)

CNNMoney.com managed to put together one of the most level headed reviews (from a practicality standpoint) of the SMART. Well, it started out nice... they didn't really say anything that most hadn't already figured out; it's cute, easy to park, etc. , etc. and then they gave it the smack-down and said it handled like a 3-cylindered turd. Not exactly in those words, but they weren't that far off. I'm still one to say that "car handling is all a matter of opinion". A scooterist reviewing it from a scooter point of view might say it handles like a great little 999cc, 4-stroke, 4-wheeled, two-passenger, roofed scooter where someone reviewing it like a car (against the likes of Mercedes or BMW) might say it handles like an over priced, under featured, urban city hipster-mobile that runs on turtle turds... (did I just use that word twice in one post? Hrm... I'm outta practice). I still like the SMART, but also welcome more competition.

So again... If you're considering dropping a hefty wad ($14,000) on a 2-wheeler and you're not looking for a vehicle to boost your masculinity, you might consider a 4-wheeler like the SMART. It's about as practical as a touring bike and will draw more eyes than an exhibitionist at Disney World.

And as for safety, it can't be any less safe than THIS:

Click on the title link to read the whole story according to the stodgy old CNN dude. Hehe, I kid. Though I do wonder about his approval of the H3. Thanks to Scotty B for the scoopage!

Fool's Gold, real Vespa

Found a good reason to go see the new movie Fool's Gold, 1:45 into the trailer above you'll see the stars of the film, Mat McConaughey and Kate Hudson, riding through the jungle on an old Vespa. Actually, after I watched that trailer I thought the movie actually looks kinda fun even without a jungle night ride. I might have to add it to my list of things to do next week.

Thanks to Fritz and also to April over at JustScoot! for the scoop! Chalk that up to yet ANOTHER film credit for the old wasp. Forty-three films and not ONE Oscar... We're not even going to get into the whole Emmy shut-out.

Off topic a bit - The Italjet Grifon 650

No, it's not a scooter. I try very hard to make this a site dedicated to motor scooters, microcars, mopeds and oddities... but given my relationship with Italjet, I wanted to give you an idea on how they are making strides to get back in the game.

I found this video preview of the Italjet Grifon 650 on the MCN site (title link). This will be the first that I've seen of the Grifon in motion. Now for the follow up question, "will we see the Grifon 650 in the USA?". The answer to that is, "not in 2008". No, unfortunately the weakened state of our dollar makes it difficult to import some products, like the Grifon.

There are lots of rumblings about how 2008 will be a difficult year for "powersports", which is a word used to describe a broad range of equipment like dirt bikes, quad runners, utility vehicles, v-twin, metric twin, dune buggies, golf carts, sport bikes, mopeds and scooters. I believe it will actually be MORE difficult for some than others and I have a feeling that SCOOTERS and MOPEDS will be fortunate to not feel the same impact.

It's the "recreational powersport" vehicles that will really feel the pinch. Sure scooters and mopeds are often someone's "neighborhood romper", but many Americans may begin considering them for their daily commuter once they see the savings this summer. Gas is expected to break $3.50 a gallon; a $52 fill up for your average car would be a $7 fill up for your average scooter. That makes scooters and mopeds a smart consideration for many, unlike Jetskis and Waverunners... unless you can boat to work, then they would be a completely AWESOME choice.

PS> At the beginning of the video he says "New owners have bought the name.", what he should have said was Leopoldo Tartarini's son, Mossimo, took over the name. Italjet has always been Leopoldo, Alessandro and Mossimo as far as I know.

Scrubs - Watch for puddles!

Thanks to Chris D for bringing this one up. The scooter part is after the bubbly bath part. Reminds me of the good old Loony Toons. I almost like this one as much as the Overkill scene.

Pimp my ass (or donkey)

The video quality makes it hardly watchable, but it's definitely a conversation piece. You can NEVER say your scooter sucks again after you watch this... it could always be worse.

How to be safe without looking it. Icon Field Armor

I'm a big fan of Icon gear. As a proper Icon fanatic I've got an Icon jacket, gloves, pants, reflective vest and 2 Icon helmets... pretty much the whole setup except boots and my summer helmet (see Momo), so anytime you see me riding, you'll see SOMETHING Icon. I like the fact that they have a selection of more understated gear. That's not to say they don't also have some outlandish/bad ass type stuff in their closet, but if you're looking for something that is less kneedragger / power ranger / macho man, then they may have something for you. Now, let me tell you a little story.

When I was a kid living in Hawaii, we used a pidgin word "Safe", and we used it a lot... as in "Wow bra, you so safe!" which in standard American english means "Gosh dude, you are so stupid". So, to the island kids "Safe" equated to "Stupid". Why? I have no idea. Strangely enough, non-island kids also seem to equate "Safe" with "Stupid" too. They don't wanna wear helmets, jackets or gloves, why? Because it's dorky? Stupid? Ok tough guy, I might have just the solution for you. Say you want to ride and be protected BUT you want to look REALLY casual, like "Hey! I don't give a $#!+ about nothin'. I just jumped on my scooter and hit the road." Observe the photo below.


Would you be willing to hit the pavement at 40 mph in this outfit? What would happen? You might loose some meat off your arms, perhaps shatter a kneecap or burn a hole through your jeans and then your ass? Not at all!


Because, under this mild mannered attire I'm sportin' a complete set of Icon Field Armor! It's low profile enough to fit under your everyday clothes (well, no... I don't actually wear a shirt and tie everyday, it just adds to the superman look I was going for here).


So what is Icon Field Armor? It's light weight, low profile, form fitting, impact absorbing, adjustable ride armor for your torso and limbs (see slide show above).

Here's whats included in the slide show:
The Vest (MSRP $100) - At the very minimum, if you want to protect yourself while wearing your favorite sweatshirt, hoodie, argyle sweater or shop jacket, you need to cover your spine. The impact absorbing, articulated plastic will do a fine job at it. There are a few Velcro adjustments to help the vest fit comfortably snug and yet it still allow for a full range of motion AND as jmi3 says "it's a lot cheaper than a skin graft". The vest gets lots of praises from the kneedraggers site.

The Shorts (MSRP $115) - Composed of stretchable aramid (Kevlar), a heat and abrasion resistant synthetic fiber, these shorts don't have much in the way of padding, but will save your nalga hide should you find yourself skating down the pavement on your posterior. The breathable mesh crotch helps to prevent a drop in your zygote count. I need to sell my XL's and try on a Large though. These seem a little baggy on me. Cool and comfortable, but baggy. They do, however, fit very comfortably under my jeans.

The Elbows (MSRP $55) - Low profile, impact absorbing/distributing protection for your forearms and elbows. Each one is marked "left" or "right", to take out the guess-work. Will not reduce your range of motion, so you still move naturally with them on under your hoodie. Makes a good companion piece for the Vest.

The Knees (MSRP $65) - Some people have complained about the fit if you have large calves. Apparently, I don't because they fit me fine. If you have a nice pair of jeans you like to wear, but you'd like to keep your knees and shins intact in an accident, these low profile babies are the way to go. You won't even notice them after a half hour on the road and spectators won't know you've got them on!

So, for about $335 (MSRP) you could be properly protected from shoulders to shins and no one would even know it. Pretty cool, eh? I'll will say this though, when you're not moving, the whole get-up can get a bit warm... but if you wanna look casual but feel safe on a long ride, I can't think of a better way to go. Click on the title link to see them at the Icon website.

Here's an example (minus the gloves, which I left in my glove box).

The incredible vanishing PX

(Before with the 2008 PX in both the navigation on the left and in the box at the lower right. Caught this as a Google cached site HERE.)

I can always count on getting the Vespa scoop from my good friend... IN JAPAN, Aki Hasegawa. He noted that a few weeks ago the shiny old classic was right there on the front page of the it.Vespa.com site and now? She's gone! Vanished with narry a trace. What is the meaning of this? Is it delayed? Canceled? We can only speculate. I have a hunch that it's because their manufacturer is a bit tied up at the moment... producing Stellas. But, it's just a hunch.


(After, the PX is GAWN! Not in the nav not in the box, just a little java button that doesn't work)

Studs do it better in the snow.

Lorenzo sent us the scoop on some sweet tires for you snow riders out there... granted he sent it when there was still snow on the ground some weeks ago, so I apologize if this scoop is getting to you late.

It's the Iceman Spiked scooter tire from Schwalbe in Germany. Here's how it's described:

With around 150 spikes, ICEMAN provides the safest grip on ice and snow. Also available without spikes, the serrated tread and S1A, winter tread compound offers great performance during the colder months. Note: Please abide by local laws regarding spike tires.

I don't know about the laws surrounding spiked tires, so you're on your own there. I do know however that they are available in the follow formats:

(click the image if this is too small for ya)

I know some riders out there who are SERIOUS all weather riders (hats off to you). If you're looking for a set to help keep you on road while you're waiting for the snow to melt then contact Klaus at Schwalbe North America at www.schwalbetires.com. Tell 'em TheScooterScoop sent ya. I don't think they'll give ya anything, but it never hurts.

Thanks for the scoop Lorenzo!

OMG! Hayabusa vs. Yamaha Jog?!

I nearly fell out of my chair watching this video. Come on! Just the thought of a 'Busa racing a Jog is just "GTFO" preposterous. It's the NEW turtle versus hare. MUST WATCH! Thanks to Motoblog.it (title link) for catching THAT one.

Jog's are known to make good sprinters.


PS> I caught a little comment from Jwoselder that says:

The driver on the little scooter right is me. It's a self build frame with piaggio engine. The motorcycle is a Honda Blackbird 1100xx.
For 2/3 of the track I was on front, after that the motor overtook me with only a few meters at the end of the 200 meter track.

Ok, so it's not really a Busa vs' a Jog... but still a fun video. To see more of Joel's sprinter vids go HERE.

ObiBoi designs a Hum-Dinger of a Scooter Utility Vehicle

Bouncing around the webisphere, I made a stop by the old Dragon's place, when I found a post that said "A Hummer I'd actually own". Thinking to myself, "well, the Dragon is a scooter fan and a steam punk fan... so this is either a Hummer Scooter or a Hummer made of riveted brass and wood." Sure 'nuf, it was Oberdan Bezzi's interpretation of what would happen if you crossed the two. I really have to give Bezzi a pat on the back. You can always count on him to come up with something to tickle the imagination.

If executed, this could actually be a good PR move for GM. Now if they just had a platform they could start with... Hrm...

Ahhh HA! GM... teams up with Honda and POOF! ObiBoi's dreams become reality. Now, who's gonna be the first to put together a prototype? Anyone got a Big Ruckus and a hankerin' for some fiberglass forming?

I think it's alright, but not NEARLY as sexy as Bezzi's concept for an electric Moto Guzzi. OUCH! That's HOT!

Steve gets to chat about Italjet... TWICE IN ONE WEEK!

(Photo provided by Kesha Brindell Photography)

w00t! I had a chance to spread the gospel recently through the top two podcasts in my subscription list. Dave M. at SCTRCST (pronounced "Scooter Cast") got me in the booth for episode 46, their 1 year collector's anniversary edition and David H. from Just Gotta Scoot was crazy enough to have us BACK on the show for episode 45.

Were secrets revealed? You'll have to listen in to see for yourself! Many MANY thanks to Dave at SCTRCST and Dave at Just Gotta Scoot (quite a interesting phenomena, the whole "Dave" thing) for taking the time... NOT just to give me an outlet for Italjet, but for taking the time to make such an important contribution to the scooter community! I love how prolific you guys are. Keep it up my brothers! I'm tuned in. Here are the direct links to the shows SCTRCST and JUST GOTTA SCOOT

Yamaha Brazil shows a pretty sweet bigwheel

Dudel aka "scoopdaddy", caught me at the right time this morning and hit me with a fresh dollop from Yamaha. What you see in the picture is a 2008 Yamaha Neo CVT. Obviously it's a big-wheel (16"), and it an automatic (CVT) with 114cc under the seat, which isn't going to win you any races, but over all it looks to be a pretty road worthy specimen. While the center support bracket does make this baby look more sporty, and may add to the stability by helping to eliminate flexing between the front and rear of the scooter, I personally like flat foot boards... they give you more options with what to do with your feet while you're on a looooong ride. You know? Like sitting in your computer chair. If you had to keep both feet shoulder width apart and flat on the floor in front of you, you'd get a case of the "ants pants" in under an hour.

No word if Yamaha will be spreading the love outside of Brazil, but if your Portuguese is good you can click on the title link to peep the info. Thanks Dudel!

PS> Back in 2006 Yamaha had already introduced a 50cc scooter called the Neo's, seen here and it's still available. Why name a new model Neo CVT when you've got a completely different looking scooter called the Neo's? Because your creative team in Brazil was still recovering from Carnival when the deadline hit... I suppose.