March 27, 2006
Orange County Scooter Owners Schedule First Ride
The fledgling Orange County Scooter Owners group, just started at Yahoo!, has scheduled their first ride, tentatively for Saturday, April 8.
Here's the lead's message:
Hi Everyone --
It has been suggested that we set up a date and get together and meet one another and then go for a ride.
I would like to propose we tentatively schedule for April 8, Saturday.
We could meet somewhere for breakfast and take a ride. I am open to
suggestions on meeting places and routes.
So, mark your calendars and watch this forum for more details.
Thanks,
Carl Jackson
Posted by Frank at 1:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Vespa Growing Like Mad in the Cayman Islands
A Vespa dealer in the Cayman Islands is doing so well with the Italian scooter line that they sent one of their tech, Giuliano Cornale [pictured, left], to Piaggio’s North American Tech Center in Costa Mesa, California for training.
Auto Alternative Cayman Ltd opened in September 2005, and the manager, Lee Arie [at right] said sending Cornale through the factory training was important for their customers. "Mr. Cornale attended training for service and maintenance for 2-stroke, 4-stroke carbureted and fuel injection engines, and electronics for Piaggio and Vespa scooters," according to the article.
Posted by Frank at 1:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 26, 2006
Eastern Scooter Racing Association Schedule
It's all in the graphic posted above. We found out about the Eastern Scooter Racing Association [ESRA] after someone signed us up for the Yahoo! group, which can be found here, and will repeat the same message we posted on their forum -- Feel free to contact use directly via e-mail with anything you think may be of interest. Like my car site, I want to serve as a central resource.
In terms of linking, everything scoot worthy gets a plug, including other publications, websites, clubs, dealers, shops, product, pictures [excepting big fat hairy naked guys with traffic cones sticking out of their butts while scootering] and so on. So send it in!
Here's a description of the ESRA from their Yahoo! page.
The Eastern Scooter Racing Association is being set up to bring scooter racing to the Eastern United States. The ASRA and MASS circuts have really brought the sport of scooter racing into being in the the US, and the ESRA is going to complete the ring! Right now the main goal is to nail down tracks, rules, members, etc. We are going to be democratic in the way we run things, and keep it all about racing the machines we love and having fun while we do it!
Posted by Frank at 5:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 25, 2006
Genius Arrested Trying to Get Stolen Moped Fixed
A 36-year-old man was arrested Tuesday after he brought a stolen moped to a shop for repairs, according to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
Staff at the shop check the vehicle's ID number, found it had been stolen from a 61-year-old man, and called the cops.
Police showed up at the shop and did the ole cuff and stuff.
Posted by Frank at 11:39 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Fuel Cell Gyroscope Scooter Concept
The Embrio Concept vehicle is a hydrogen fuel cell powered unicycle that has handlebars like a scooter and uses gyroscope technology to keep you moving in the direction you intend, much like a Segway HT.
Look closer at the photo, though, and you'll see a pair of smaller "landing wheels" that deploy in stand-by mode or when the Embrio slows to under 20 km/h. The Embrio is a project of Bombardier Repcreational Products -- and it's only a concept, so don't write in to ask where you can buy one.
via BornRich.
Posted by Frank at 11:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Cannonball Run 2006 -- Cross-Country Scooter Endurance Ride
This September, 30 scooter warriors will ride their bikes 3,293 miles, from Pacific City, Oregon to Bloomfield, New Jersey in the 2006 Cannonball Run.
Slated as an endurance ride and not a race, the last Cannonball was in 2004 -- you can read first person experiences of a Vespa rider and a Bajaj guy from that race at the respective links.
Cannonball 2006 is a nine day ride, starting September 10. Each of the riders has paid a $250 entry fee, which covers the costs for support, shirts and maps, though race organizers expect to be able to return some unspent funds to the [butt] weary riders.
Rally 4 Autism, a scooter org that raises funds and awareness for the disease, is participating in the Cannonball -- meaning you can donate either a pre-determined amount, or a per-mile pledge, with all proceeds going to an autism charity.
Posted by Frank at 10:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Columbia Scooters [Portland, OR] Moving to New Location, April 1, No Joke
Columbia Scooters, a Portland Oregon scoot shop, is moving into their fourth location in nine years, thanks to the growth of the business. The new location, at 205 SE Martin Luther King Blvd., is scheduled to open April 1.
Here's a brief history of the shop, from their website:
The shop was founded in 1998 in Hood River, Oregon. We did some Kymco rentals there, and worked on vintage Vespas. Folks kept asking us where they could buy a scooter, so we decided to sell scooters, too. A year later, we opened a tiny shop in Portland (on E. Burnside) to see if there was potential demand for a real shop in the city. The success of that location inspired us to move to our current location at SE 9th and Madison, which we have since outgrown. Hopefully the move to 205 SE Martin Luther King Blvd will be our last.
Posted by Frank at 10:39 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Updated: Scooter Rally Riding Tips for Newbies
There's an excellent thread going on at ScooterBBS right now, with old hands weighing in on how newer riders need to approach riding in packs aka, "rallies".
Of course, there is the usual dull wit and resident evil found on most BBS' but this thread actually contains some good info.
Groovy patch design by Dave Schwanke, Oregon Scooter Club, Portland, OR.
Posted by Frank at 8:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 22, 2006
March For Mods 2 in San Diego, 3/24-26
This weekend, the March For Mods 2 ride is taking place in San Diego, and here's the description we got in the e-mail from the Orange County Scooters [Yahoo!] Group:
Check this out ... Friday night ride to meet and greet from lovely Kate Sessions Park ... Saturday late morning ride to Border Field State Park for a through-the-fence gathering of clubs and scooter enthusiasts. The farthest south west you can go in California, you've got to see it to believe it!
With a ride back to San Diego; Saturday night show at the Kensington Club... free admission and free beer with rally pack while supplies last ... Sunday late morning ride up the coast to Moonlight Beach and back .... or just sleep on the beach.
For info contact Aubrey or Nicole @ 619-302-0989 or e-mail: dancingskeletonssc@yahoo.com.
Posted by Frank at 11:42 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Rides of March Rally to Lower the Bar This Weekend
The Rides of March rally, whose slogan is, "lowering the bar," invites scooterists to sink into depravity on their annual ride, March 24-26.
The ride starts at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo at 7:30 p.m. Friday for a shape-up before a night ride. Saturday's ride is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Full itinerary is here.
Posted by Frank at 11:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 21, 2006
Kymco's Cool Scooter Shopping Tool
Kymco has a neat tool on their site that allows you to compare other manufacturer's scooters against a particular Kymco model you're considering.
Officially known as a "comparator," this tool lets you see, side-by-side what the Kymco model offers in terms of specs and price, versus the other guys. Useful.
Posted by Frank at 6:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Spring Fever For Used Scooters
Notwithstanding the few flakes of snow that drifted down on the Washington, D.C. area today, Spring has officially begun and that means people are opening their garages to sell their bikes and/or dreaming about new ones.
At the same time, plenty of folks are thinking about getting into scootering the easy way, by buying a used bike.
By just casually checking in on Craigslist over the last several weeks, I've seen a huge jump in the number of scooters for sale, and they seem to go pretty fast, so if you're thinking you're going to steal one, ah, maybe not.
But you can still get a good deal buying used. It's up to the buyer to make sure the thing runs, so you may want to bring your friend the motorcycle mechanic with you. And cash -- that's always the way to get the price down a little bit, by flashing a roll.
For the more serious buyers, the folks who want true vintage bikes, either in restored or project condition, there is also the excellent classified section at Scoot.net, from where the above picture is sourced. The bike is a 1960 Vespa with a new Stella 150cc, 4-speed engine. The bike is in LA [which makes the local Craigslist board sound better already] and the asking price is $2,900.
Posted by Frank at 5:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Yamaha Vino Only Sips At Your Wallet
With a suggested retail price of $1,849, the Yamaha Vino might be a good choice for new scooterists looking to get into a 49cc bike at an affordable price -- without resorting to a no-name import that may or may not ever run.
The Vino has an all-new 4-stroke engine for 2006, a new anti-theft rear wheel lock that prevents tampering with the ignition switch and locks the rear wheel, as well as a new speedometer with integrated fuel gauge.
Plus, the automatic transmission is also good for newbies, who want to scoot around town simply via "twist and go."
For those wishing more power -- and not minding going to DMV and getting an actual motorcycle license, Yamaha also has a 125cc version of the Vino, pictured below, that also features an automatic transmission. The Vino 125 has a suggested retail of $2,499.
Posted by Frank at 3:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Kirsten Dunst Demonstrates Helmet Use
Spiderman actress Kirsten Dunst can be seen in this outtake video putting on a helmet as she sits astride a two-wheeler.
Hilarity ensues when she, and the crew, realize they hadn't provided her with clear enough directions as to which side faces front.
Posted by Frank at 3:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Gomoto Mantis Review
This review of the Chinese-made Gomoto Mantis 150cc scooter is not only well-informed, the author Dave Abrahams has a splendidly dry sense of humor.
The author and the bike are in South Africa, so this is an FYI-only piece, but you've got to love a guy who compares a scooter engine to sounding "like a Second World War American bomber engine!"
Posted by Frank at 3:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Manslaughter Charges for Woman in Scooter Fatality
Savannah Sutherland, 21, has been charged with manslaughter following a collision that killed a scooterist, 36-year-old Genevieve Tepec-Juarez, according to The Arizona Republic.
A local TV news station had footage of the accident scene, includingthe wrecked scooter. Police say the Chevy Cavalier operated by Sutherland hit the scooter so hard that the victim was thrown from the bike and hit the car's windshield.
The moral of this terrible story -- be careful out there.
Posted by Frank at 3:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 20, 2006
British Actor Recalls Lambretta Crash
Robert Lindsay, a Brit actor, recalls a Lambretta crash he and another actor had while a helicopter shot them from above.
A longtime Vespa owner/rider, Lindsay also recounts how he's finally had to get rid of the bike and cautions other riders:
"You’ve got to be a pretty confident human being to ride a motorbike — if you wake up with even a slight hangover or have the flu, don’t even think of getting on one."
Posted by Frank at 4:42 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Scooter Dave Discovers Starter Fluid
Scooter Dave finally got his 1969 Vespa Rally 180 started, and took a short video to demonstrate the results. You can view the video here.
He admits to using starter fluid, and you can see some actually applied to the engine at the end of the vid. Why didn't they think of that first?
In a completely unrelated development, a new study shows that white males are more likely to abuse inhalants.
Posted by Frank at 4:35 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Scooter Patrol Saves Drunks From Themselves
Scooterpatrol is a California org with a unique twist on "drunk rides," or services that drive people home who've had too much to drink to safely operate a motor vehicle.
The Scooterpatrol volunteers will show up at your location with a stowable "Go-Ped," then drive you home in your vehicle. Once at your home, he or she will give you back the keys, then take the Go-ped and scoot off like a Boy Scout.
There are now two chapters of the Scooterpatrol, in Long Beach and Orange County.
Posted by Frank at 3:46 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 19, 2006
Electric Scooter Co. Runs Out of Juice
Personal Electric Transports, a company that was supposed to supply Los Angeles with 100 electric scooters and recharging stations, has gone under, according to this report.
The company received a $1.87 million loan from the city water authority for the project, and now it looks like the city will get stuck for the cash as well.
Simple math shows those electric scooters would have cost $18,700 each. Even allowing for the recharging stations, that's steep -- why not just buy $3,500 electric bikes and assign everyone an electrical outlet?
Posted by Frank at 2:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Video of Electric Scooter With WiFi, or WiMax, Actually
This is a little bizarre. To demonstrate the finctionality of a new wireless Internet protocol, Intel rigged an electric scooter with a laptop and the new tech, and showed how real-time maps and directions can be downloaded onto a screen fitted between the handlebars.
You can watch a video of the demonstration here.
No matter how hard geeks try to appropriate cool, sometimes it just doesn't work for 'em. Still the tech is interesting.
Posted by Frank at 2:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Jackie Chan Investigated For Illegal Segway Riding
According to this report, Hong Kong police are investigating actor Jackie Chan for riding a Segway HT on city streets, which is illegal.
Chan is also rumored to have taken a child actor for a ride on the Seg without a helmet, which, while illegal, also enjoys the distinction of being bad action star PR.
Unfortunately for Chan, there are pictures.
Posted by Frank at 2:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Lambretta Watches
Some company has bought the rights to the Lambretta name and is marketing an extensive line of watches with the famed scooter brand logo.
Prices range from $95 to $225, through Amazon. The Jet Blue model pictured here retails for $195. You can download a 7-page PDF catalog here, or you can go to the company's USA site here.
Luxist, the blog I found this info at, says the Lambretta scooter isn't being made anymore, which is true, but as many of you know Twist N' Go is bringing a new generation of Lambrettas to life.
Posted by Frank at 1:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 15, 2006
The Gentle Art of Shifting a [Bajaj] Scooter
This incredibly long, detailed article on the Bajaj site is not just about how to shift, but why, and how it works, and possibly reveals the mystery as to why a four-speed manual scooter transmission is an analogy for the meaning of life.
Posted by Frank at 1:53 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Scooter Company Can't Get Rolling
Dwayne Fraser, pictured here, is a Canadian entrepreneur trying to start a scooter sales and rental shop and is having a hard time getting funding.
After attending a business seminar, Fraser has been pounding on doors to get loans, earning nothing but denials, and his big complaint is that all the gov't-funded and non-profit agencies that tout self-employment are the same ones shutting the door in his face.
To read the Chronicle Herald article about this scootpreneur, click here.
Posted by Frank at 1:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 14, 2006
The Science of Helmet Safety
We know there are some rabid anti-helmeteers out there, but if the choice comes down to being safe or doing a carrot impersonation the rest of our lives, we'll wear the brain bucket thanks.
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has an easy-to-read four page PDF brochure that explains how helmets work, how to try them on and choose the right size and their proper care. A perfect lit piece for either totally virginal two-wheelers, and/or their parents.
You can download the MSF helmet brochure here.
Posted by Frank at 8:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Messerschmitt Cabin Scooter
This Messerschmitt Kabinenroller, aka "Cabin Scooter" was also known as a Flitzer, after the engineer who's designs inspired the vehicles made after World War II, when for some reason, German companies were not allowed to make planes.
Posted by Frank at 7:11 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
NYC Cops + Scooters = Cooters? or, Scoopers?
Probably neither. This NYC Cops on Scoots photo from the Wikipedia entry on Scooters, which looks like it could be added to by an ambitious Scootering editor/afficionado.
Posted by Frank at 7:07 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Portland Schwinn Dealer Donates Scooter to Disabled Man
Here's a heartbreaker -- a 50-year-old mentally disabled man, who's worked as a dishwasher at the same restaurant for 32 years, recently had his three-wheeled Honda Gyro stolen from in front of his house.
The local media covered it, and of course, the guy got dozens of offers of help, including from the Portland Motorcycle Company, that gave him a Schwinn Campus to replace his lost moto. The man had the chance to go to the showroom to pick out a replacement bike and damn if the story don't make you feel good.
Click here to read the story -- if the thieves didn't know who they were stealing from, they're probably too embarrassed to do anything with the bike.
Posted by Frank at 6:34 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 13, 2006
Awesome Vintage Scooter Image & Memorabilia Collection
The UK site Punks in Parkas has a beautiful and deep collection of vintage images, including postcards, pics, posters and so on, as well as magazines and memorabilia, including toys, all yours for dozens of mouse clicks to slideshow yourself through the online library.
Posted by Frank at 11:08 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Download the Stella Brochure
If you're actually in the market or just ogling, you can download a four-page PDF brochure of Stella's classic line, by clicking here.
The bikes are 150CC and retail at $2,999.
Posted by Frank at 11:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Talking to a Friend About Buying a Scooter
Out of the blue, a friend of mine said she wanted to buy a scooter -- and she only knows me as a car guy. So we got into it, and since I know she's a classic car chick, loves all things American muscle, she quickly agreed it was going to be a classic retro design, probably Vespa, but maybe Stella, Bajaj or Lambretta, with the Twist n' Go Milano a distant possibility.
I tried to start talking about the 50CC break-off, but she quickly informed me she's already got her motorcycle license, and she's raring to go 150CCs and up!
Posted by Frank at 10:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Vespa Pin-Up Girls on Flickr
There are a ton of scooter photos on Flckr, the pic sharing site, including a series of Vespa "pin-ups" from the 50s and 60s. They're pretty tame, of course, given the era, but fun to look at for a taste of scoot culture.
There's also a set of Vespa manual diagrams from the 50s and 60s, here, all you can just go to the Flickr main page and search 'scooter,' or whatever you're looking for.
Posted by Frank at 10:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
There's a Lotta' Love [and Scootering] in the Air
Have you noticed all the scooters on the road this past weekend? One guy did a long-run wheelie on the road in front of my apartment, musta' been a couple hundred feet, and it musta' been the great weather that made him [or maybe it was a her] so damn happy.
Back in college, every Spring a friend used to say, "there's a lotta' love in the air, Frankie," and so, I'm amending that sentiment for scootering.
Posted by Frank at 10:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 12, 2006
Elvis Scooter, From the "Vegas Period"
After finding the Pic of John Wayne on a Vespa, I got to talking about other famous folks on two wheels, and several of us are sure there is one of the King of Rock and Roll on a bike, from one of his kitschy movies.
And speaking of kitsch, all I could find so far was this Elvis memorabilia wheelie, on display at the Farragut Folk Life Museum in Tennessee.
The rhinestone encrusted rims alone make posting this worth the bandwidth.
Posted by Frank at 7:47 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Orange County Scooter Forum Hits the Trail, Pilgrim
A fella' named Carl Jackson has organized an Orange County Scooter Forum at Yahoo Groups, and membership is open to all without any of that snooty manual review.
Carl says the purpose of the forum is simply for locals who have or want to own a scooter to get together online, with the eventual goal of forming a club and organizing rides.
In turn, we would like to propose this picture of the Duke, John Wayne, posing with his Vespa, as the club's official logo. The Duke got himself an airport named after him in the O.C. -- why not a scooter club?
Check out the forum, here.
Posted by Frank at 7:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 10, 2006
Boy Beats Would-Be Kidnapper With Scooter
According to this story, an eight-year-old California boy responded to an attempted kidnapping by hitting the man with his scooter -- which we're assuming is a razor-type.
Sounds like a story told by a kid who needs some attention, but it would be fun if it were true.
Posted by Frank at 11:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 6, 2006
Search for Scooter News on the Internet ...
... and you will get three categories of results:
1. Accident, death and injury reports of scooterists and moped riders, generally on the losing end of an automobile transaction.
2. Warnings about moped gangs, thieves and unsavory types.
3. Scooter Libby jokes.
Posted by Frank at 2:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 5, 2006
Vespa Sponsored Blogs Online
Vespa has been sponsoring a pair of blogs, one written by boys, one by girls -- since June, 2005.
The boys' blog, Vespaway, is written by Jonathan Oglivy and Neil Barton. Vespaquest is written by Justene Adamec and Crystal Waters.
Posted by Frank at 9:13 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 4, 2006
TV's Scrubs Scoot on Set
The cast of TV's Scrubs rides Twist N' Go scooters on the set when they're not working, as you can see here and at the Behind the Scenes section of the show's website.
Twist N' Go says they're on Venice scooters -- but right click on the images and you'll see the file names all say "Vespa"!
We believe TNG, it's just that the webmaster probably doesn't know the difference!
Posted by Frank at 6:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Wrench Time with Scooter Dave
Scooter Dave of Cincinnati has been rebuilding his 1969 Vespa Rally 180 for some time now. He swears it's going to be ready for the WKRP ride, March 31 to April 2. Really.
He had a wrench session today with a couple of the usual suspects, putting the engine back in and running cables. We're not sure if beer was involved, but we did see some crack in the photo gallery.
You can check out pictures from the shop by going to his website and going to the photo gallery.
Posted by Frank at 5:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Peak Oil Proponent Drives a Scooter
Randy White believes that the age of peak oil is upon us, and that everyone had better start doing something to reduce their oil addiction.
Peak oil is a school of thought that says global oil production is now on the other side of easy, meaning it's going to get harder and more expensive to get oil out of the ground. And that eventually, oil will run out, ending our way of life as we know it.
So White sold his vW Jetta and bought a Twist N' Go Milano scooter that is now his primary transportation around Portland Oregon. He figures it's cut his family's emissions in half. People scoot for all kinds of reasons.
Click here to read the article in Willamette Week.
Posted by Frank at 5:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Md. Cops Get Segways
As time goes on, it seems the Segway is doomed to be a device only purchased by law enforcement and other institutions, versus the dream once held that it would be embraced as an all-round Human Transporter.
This Baltimore Sun article talks about a small Maryland force buying a couple of the units for patrol officers.
Segway has a dedicated law enforcement model on sale since last year; the i180 Police.
Posted by Frank at 3:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Meet Sunny, the Italian Solar Scooter
This three-wheeled electric scooter is powered by solar panels and is being featured this weekend at an eco-vehicle show in Rome, according to Ansa.
A group of five young Italians have been working on “Sunny' since they revealed a prototype in October; the scoot has a top speed of 16 MPH and weighs only 66 pounds, if the report is accurate.
Besides the solar power, other advantages of Sunny include the ability to fold the bike and store it in a small space.
Posted by Frank at 3:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Bajaj Three-Wheeler Pickup Truck
This Bajaj three-wheeled pickup truck has a 4-stroke, 175cc engine and carries a suggested retail price of $6,499.
Good for large landowners, construction sites or even in-town deliveries, Bajaj also sells a "rickshaw" model and one with an enclosed cargo area.
Each of the models has four forward speeds and one reverse and cargo capacity is listed at up to half a ton. Bajaj three-wheelers and scooters are made in India.
These images sent in by "Scooter Dave" of Cincinnati and were taken in the Autobahn Craftwerks showroom, an authorized Bajaj dealer.
Posted by Frank at 2:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 3, 2006
2007 Kymco Scooter Overview
Scooter Press has an overview of Kymco's eight new scooters from their 2007 line, including the Agility 50 pictured here.
All of Kymco's new scooters are 4-stroke and built in Taiwan, including the four new bikes in the People S series, which now includes 50, 125, 200, and 250cc models.
To read the article, go to Scooter Press' main page, then click on the link for the Kymco story.
Posted by Frank at 6:48 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 2, 2006
Honda Reflex Scooter Review
Steve Bond of the Toronto Star reviews the 249 CC Honda Reflex in Las Vegas, of all places and finds it's got excellent brakes and somewhat flat performance between 30 to 36 MPH, and that it's a bit cramped for his six-foot-three-ness. The Reflex has an MSRP of $5,499.
Here's the money graf:
I commandeered the Reflex for a night ride down the entire length of the fabled Las Vegas Strip and it was darn near the perfect vehicle. Heavy stop and go traffic made me appreciate the lack of a clutch lever and I discovered the mirrors were very good for keeping an eye on rogue limos, kamikaze taxis and boneheads intent on gawking at the bright lights.
Posted by Frank at 1:23 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
San Antonio Bans Pocket Bikes, Moto-Razr Scoots and NEVs
The San Antonio City Council has banned pocket bikes, motorized razor-type scooters as well as small electric cars known as Neighborhood Electrc Vehicles, or NEVs, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
The law establishes a $500 fine for driving any of the vehicles, and came about following citizen complaints and a dozen injuries in 2005 from pocket bike accidents.
Scooters apparently scoot around the new law, which has a less than 50 CC limit but also defines mini-motorcycles as 15 to 18 inches high. The motorized scooter portion of the law defines the rides as being able to be propelled by human power alone.
According to this link from the Texas Department of Public Safety, they classify all scooters as "mopeds," which require a license obtained via written test. The legal age to get a license in the Lone Star State is 15 and does not require a skills test.
The thing about NEVs strikes me as odd, as no justification was given in the article for this portion of the ban. I wonder if the folks at GEM [Global Electric Motorcars] will have anything to say about it, as it removes a seemingly legitimate alt-transport vehicle from the roads.
Posted by Frank at 12:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Disabled Scooter Boy Drops Police Complaint
An 11-year-old British boy afflicted with cerebral palsy who had said police ordered him off his motorized scooter to "prove he was disabled" has dropped his complaint, according to the BBC.
Police said the incident didn't happen, and that there was a mix-up during an investigation of another group of youths causing trouble, during which they questioned the boy and his friends.
Posted by Frank at 12:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Dog Powered Scooter -- EPA, not PETA-Friendly
The Dog Powered Scooter has a base price of $540 plus a $20 service charge, and you can have add-on harnesses for additional mutts at $220 for the second musher, $200 for the third.
Go Nanook, Go!
Posted by Frank at 11:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Cincinnati Scooter Club Ride End O' March
The XYL Scooter Club of Cincinnati is having their annual ride March 31 to April 2, and the itinerary is jam packed with bands, DJs, drinking, mixing, socializing, and oh yeah, a 50-mile ride on Saturday. The Sunday ride is to Happen, Inc. a community children's non-profit, where riders will have a chance to build their own toy in the org's Toy Lab, for a $14 fee.
Registering for the ride is free, however, check out the site here. The club's main site is here.
Posted by Frank at 11:34 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 1, 2006
Scooterworks Sale + Catalog Online
Just because you missed Scooterworks' December Open House doesn't mean you still can't good deals from the Chicago shop.
You can download this PDF flyer advertising specials and closeouts good through March 31, or you can go to this page and order their 92-page color catalog.
Posted by Frank at 2:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
