May 31, 2006
More Stories Linking Gas Prices & Scooters
This story links high gas prices with increased scooter sales; this one links high gas prices to increased scooter commuting.
Posted by Frank at 9:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Segway Introduces Financing
Stuck with the high cost and relatively low usefulness of their Segway Human Transporters, along with that stupid name, the company is now offering financing for their $5,000 toys.
Link.
Posted by Frank at 9:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
30% of Americans Ready to Straddle a Scooter
This survey, sponsored by Piaggio, indicates that 30% of Americans are so fed up with gas prices, they are willing to transfer up to 35% of their weekly mileage to scooters.
Posted by Frank at 9:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Oy! Dead Battery Sputters Scooterjacking
A couple of young thugs tried to scooterjack another kid, but the battery was dead.
They didn't think to try the kickstart.
Link.
Posted by Frank at 9:43 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Maryland Gets its First Vespa Dealer
Bob's BMW in Columbia, Maryland is now carrying Vespas.
Link.
Posted by Frank at 9:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Even Seniors Scoot
Check out this story of a 69-year-old enjoying his Honda gas scooter.
Posted by Frank at 9:39 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 24, 2006
News Reporter Crashes a Vespa -- Film at 11
There's no written test for blond TV reporter.
Posted by Frank at 7:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Riderless Vespa Video
Posted by Frank at 7:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Vespa Wheelie Video
While this clip of a 30-plus second wheelie is impressive, you've got to ask yourself who's operating the camera.
Posted by Frank at 7:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Vespa GS160 Italian Video Commerical
Posted by Frank at 7:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Hong Kong Vespa Commercial Starring King Kong
It appears Kong has a taste for Vespa [riders].
Posted by Frank at 7:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Vespa Mini-Documentary Video
This video is from an Asian affiliate of the Discovery channel, can't tell if it's Chinese or Japanese, and offers some pretty interesting historical tidbits. Cuts off at the end, but it sounds like the narrator was wrapping it up anyway.
Posted by Frank at 7:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Faux Vespa, Faux Vintage, Scooter Video
This video is purportedly of a Vespa, is shot in sepia tone and is set to a trillingly bad french love song.
Other than that, it's not too annoying.
Posted by Frank at 7:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Vespa Video Commercial
Posted by Frank at 7:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Vespa SS 180 Video
Posted by Frank at 7:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 22, 2006
Helmetless Scooterists Die, Injured in Crash
A 59-year-old Las Vegas man died last Thursday after crashing his scooter into a curb and fire hydrant, and his 4-year-old grandson was injured. Neither were wearing helmets, which are not required in Nevada for sub-50cc bikes.
The crash prompted a TV station to post this story about helmet safety.
Posted by Frank at 9:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Man on Scooter Menaces German Town
The title of this Reuters story is so good I couldn't change it.
A 22-year-old guy crashed his scooter three times in two hours, and the Frankenstein citizens got so pissed they held him for the cops. Gotta give him credit though, maybe he's one of those if you don't succeed at first, crash, crash again kind of guys.
Who booked him on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Posted by Frank at 9:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Would You Invite a Scooter to Your Wedding?
Wherein we try to consummate a marriage of style and grace
Continuing to mine CL for scooter news, I found an entry of someone seeking to rent a Vespa for their wedding day, so pictures could be taken at the blessed event.
Since we love weddings, we went out and found a priest who might be likely to perform the nuptials.
We also found a site dedicated to biker weddings, but no service for their smaller counterparts.
Is this a business opportunity that is going unfilled?
However, we did find another CL entry where a guy is selling a restored 1966 Vespa, also in our area.
Pictured here, the 150cc bike is going for $2,300.
And now, we're going to e-mail both parties to see if we can bring about a Vespa union made in heaven.
Cupid, after all, is the Roman god of love.
Posted by Frank at 6:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Scooter Sound System Project
I came across this guy's project on Craigslist in the DC area. He's looking to install a pair of 3.5-inch speakers in the glovebox of his Vespa, and has a sample pic to show the effect he's after.
As he doesn't own a rotozip saw, he's looking for help -- either someone to come over and do teh cuts or to rent him the saw.
Here's the link.
Posted by Frank at 3:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 10, 2006
Scootering Sales Soaring in San Diego
With gas prices painfully at the forefront of people's wallets, the scooter stories just keep on rolling.
This article is from San Diego City Beat, an alt-weekly that interviews a couple shop owners who relate their sales are up as much as 500%.
Posted by Frank at 1:25 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 9, 2006
Moped Army Graphic Novel Up for Literary Awards
Paul Sizer's graphic novel, Moped Army, is up for several literary awards, according to this release.
Taken from the release, a description of the book follows. Moped Army can be purchased via Amazon or the author's site. You can also visit the Moped Army site, where you can purchase a patch based on the logo from the novel.
"Moped Army" took two years to create and is rated for ages 16 and up. Sizer self-published the novel through his own publishing company, Cafe Digital Studios. He launched the company in 2005 so all of his future comic work could be released under one publishers' imprint.
International sales of "Moped Army" are being handled through Diamond Comic Distribution.
The 144-page novel's title is taken from a real-life group of vintage moped enthusiasts founded in Kalamazoo, Mich., in 1997. Since then, the Moped Army has grown into a nationwide organization with branches across the county and its own Web site (www.mopedarmy.com).
Sizer approached the group's originators with the idea of doing a graphic novel based on their organization. They not only approved of the "Moped Army" book, they also provided technical information to enhance its futuristic story line.
The novel is set in the year 2277, when gasoline is an illegal substance and new cities are built over existing ones. Those who live below must pave their own future, or decay like the environment around them.
Posted by Frank at 7:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Scooter Thugs Terrorizing Ottawa
Boy that headline sure does send shivers down ye' timbers doesn't it?
I clicked on the article in response to a similar scare hed, but then found that the complaints are mostly about noise generated by the 30-40 member "Hell'z Moppet Gang," and perhaps the decidedly illegal antics of one ruffian that wears the colors. He was arrested following a B&E with some other, non Moppet scooter riders.
Yawn.
Posted by Frank at 7:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Which Rabbit Do You Prefer?
We have here a pair of battling rabbit logos.
Above is the Tomos rabbit, the logo of a Slovenian moped manufacturer.
Below is the newly reincarnated Volkswagen rabbit.
Personally I think there's room enough for a pair of wascawee wabbit badges.
But maybe we should let Bugs decide.
Posted by Frank at 7:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
SUI: Sooo-eee! Drunk Crashes Scooter Into Tractor-Trailer
A 65-year-old North Carolina man has been charged with DUI [SUI?] after crashing his scooter into several cars, and a tractor-trailer.
We obviously have a size envy problem here. This guy is so angry he tried to take on the big boys. And lost.
Consistent, however, with his downsized vehicle, police report finding several miniature vodka bottles near the scooter, which was lying across the driver's legs.
What we don't understand is how the police charged him with leaving the scene of an accident.
Posted by Frank at 7:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Honda Outselling Bajaj in India
Due to Bajaj suspending the majority of its Indian production, Honda is outselling the brand in its home market, according to this report.
Honda sold 6,000 scooters in April compared to Bajaj's 2,000. Bajaj is currently readying a new slate of products and expects to be able to regain their lead in the future.
Posted by Frank at 6:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 8, 2006
Back to the Future, Scooters are Cool Again
This article tries to make the case that scooters are becoming popular with a new crowd tagged as the "millenials."
Similar to what happened in Britain in the 60s when the Mods adopted scooters, the American adoption of scooters is being tied to a cultural, demographic force.
This kind of coverage is typical of writers trying too hard to write trend pieces for daily publications.
A more accurate approach would be to focus on the scooters themselves, that their unique styling and functionality are enduring and keep attracting new fans over the years.
Posted by Frank at 9:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Austinites Importing Used European Mopeds
A pair of entrepreneurs are importing used European mopeds, reconditioning and selling them out of a shop called Austin Mopeds.
Posted by Frank at 9:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
New California Vespa Dealer
Cycle Specialties of Modesto, California, has now started selling Vespas in addition to their primary line, BMW Motorcycles.
They don't have a dedicated Vespa site yet, but there are a couple pages.
Posted by Frank at 5:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 7, 2006
The Kama Scooter's Enviable Positions
As part of Vespa's 60th anniversary, a London advertising shop was commissioned to create a website that showcases the erotic sensibilities of the world's most elegant two-wheeled conveyance.
And let's say the project, known as The Kama Scooter, conveys the sensuous experience of Vespas in ways we would never have imagined.
The site has a series of nine short, softly erotic videos that have something to do with scooters.
But not much.
Check it out, here.
Posted by Frank at 6:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Register to Win a Vespa
Through June 23, 2006, you can register to win a new Vespa at Metropulse.com.
There's no cost to enter, but you do have to pick up the bike in Knoxville, Tennessee. Or arrange to have it shipped.
You can enter once every week until the deadline.
Posted by Frank at 6:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Buy a Vespa Dealership On eBay
Just how much do you love scooters? Enough to chuck the Norman life and open up your very own Vespa dealership?
Right now you can buy a turnkey dealership in Memphis, Tennessee, that's selling on eBay for only $179,000.
Feel lucky? Well do ya?
Check out the eBay auction.
Posted by Frank at 6:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 5, 2006
Bada Bam! Gandolfini Gets Whacked On Vespa
James Gandolfini, whose HBO character Tony Soprano would probably never get caught dead on a scooter nearly wound up that way when a cab sideswiped him while riding his Vespa.
"I'm all right," Gandolfini reportedly told a person in the crowd that gathered. "I'm going to be f- - -ing sore tomorrow."
Read the article.
Posted by Frank at 4:53 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
