August 31, 2006
Test Drive: 2007 Suzuki Burgman 400
To demonstrate exactly what a modern maxi-scooter can do, Suzuki flew a bunch of motorcycle journalists to San Francisco, then had us ride the company’s new 2007 Burgman 400 through the city, out into the country on freeways and normal roads, to end up in the scenic Sonoma winelands.
That’s as varied an application as you can find for any vehicle—barring off-road stuff—and it underscored the versatility of these popular two-wheelers, helping explain their burgeoning sales success of late. Maxi-scooters are maneuverable in cities, yet have enough legs for the open road.
The new Burgman, in particular, is better suited for all-around work than ever. The single-cylinder engine is new, with dual camshafts replacing the former single camshaft design, and its displacement has increased from 385cc to a full 400cc. Fueled by a sophisticated electronic fuel-injection system with a port-mounted injector, the Burman’s exhaust emissions are controlled by a catalyzed exhaust with a closed-loop feedback system informed by an exhaust-stream oxygen sensor. The machine meets tight Euro-3 exhaust regulations.
Although power output is only slightly increased over the previous Burgman 400, the delivery is smoother and more flexible, and the exhaust note has been retuned for a sportier sound. The tube-frame chassis is a new design, incorporating an updated front end with 41 mm forks, a larger, 14-inch cast-alloy front wheel with dual 10.2-inch disc brakes, and significantly improved styling.
Link.
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Scooter arrest turns into fun-filled family riot
VINELAND -- He would have been issued a summons for not wearing a helmet, but, instead, an 18-year-old man received a slew of charges for fighting with officers who pulled him over on his scooter.
His sister was also arrested when she came to his aid, police said.
Moises Colon, of Broadlawn Terrace, was driving south on Seventh Street near Plum Street when Officer John Warrington pulled him over, according to his police report.
When he stepped out of the car, Colon immediately started yelling that he didn't do anything wrong and he clenched his fists in an aggressive manner, according to the report.
Officer Angel Tellado arrived as backup as Colon's sister, Laiza Prieto, 20, of Broadlawn Terrace, walked up to them.
When Colon started flailing his arms in the air when he was asked to sit in the back of the police car, she tried to calm him down.
He sat in the car with his legs outside, and he became agitated when Tellado told him to put his feet inside so he could close the door.
Link.
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August 30, 2006
Scooters: Fuel-efficiency trumps safety fears
Whenever I pull up on two wheels, I can count on one comment: "You're crazy," strangers tell me. "Riding is dangerous." The comment is usually accompanied by a horror story about some neighbor's friend's gastroenterologist or other distant acquaintance who had a spectacular crash.
But a funny thing's been happening lately. In addition to the usual comments on my sanity and safety, I'm hearing envy, and the horror stories they tell are their own. "What kind of gas mileage are you getting?" they ask. The question is typically followed by the price tag on their latest fill-up, usually about $60.
Link.
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August 29, 2006
Suzuki's $500 scooter, Japan-only
The Choinori is a new 49cc four-stroke mini-scooter from Suzuki, aimed for the Japanese home market. Suzuki wanted to launch a small scooter model that was clearly cheaper than any other scooter on the market, and managed to do it. The retail price for the Choinori for 2003 is 59.800 Yen in Japan, that is about 40% cheaper than any of its competitors.
Simple technology and cheaper components were the key to be able to make the Choinori that cheap. There is no rear suspension, to name a detail. The small engine of the bike delivers 2 hp, giving the bike a maximum speed is less than 40 km/h. That's normal figures for Europe, but the Japanese customers are used to get more power from their 50cc bike engines.
The price could have probably be pressed down even more if Suzuki had chosen to assemble the Choinori in China, but to many people's surprise it is entirely made in Japan where the personnel expenses are high.
Link.
Suzuki's Choi Nori site, in Japanese.
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UK scoot rally massive success
Thousands of scooterists hit the Island over the bank holiday for the annual International Scooter Rally.
The rally has become one of the biggest in the world and John Bolland, of organisers VFM, said this weekend might have been the best yet.
"Everything was right. Ryde was so welcoming as always, the weather was great despite the rubbish forecasts and it was just a great party. Probably the best we have ever done," said Mr Bolland.
Smallbrook Stadium was packed with vans and tents from Thursday night until Tuesday as a colourful campsite accommodated many of the scooterists, while others filled hotels and guest houses across the Island.
Link.
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Here's the how to save gas Segway
MARION - Trent Dufour is accustomed to strange looks when he zips around town on an electric scooter that looks like something out of a futuristic movie.
"I've nearly caused a few wrecks," Dufour said. "People are not used to seeing something like this."
Dufour, a computer technician at Pos Plus in Marion, said his boss purchased a pair of the electric scooters four years ago.
"He toyed with the idea of become a dealer and selling these scooters," Dufour said. "But he didn't believe there was a big enough market for them around here."
Although the Segway Scooters have been marketed since 2001, the price could be considered an obstacle for buyers. Early versions sold for as much as $5,000, but newer versions can top $7,000. Dufour said used Segways have sold through eBay for several thousand dollars less.
Link.
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August 28, 2006
Scooter punks starting early
pre-teens part of scoot theft wave
On a recent August afternoon while he was studying with a friend, Devin Byrnes said he was dumbfounded as he saw his scooter being rolled out of his carport.
The 23-year-old University of Florida student who lives in a house behind Sorority Row said he was more shocked to catch two boys, 12 and 14, stealing his blue Hyosung scooter in broad daylight. After he scared them off, he saw them go over to three more scooters.
"I didn't want to ruin their lives over it because I caught them and they didn't get my scooter," Byrnes said. "But when I saw them with the other scooters, I had to call police. I'm surprised at how young and brazen these kids were."
Link.
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Italian scooter keeps it simple
Free parking, great on gas. What more do you need to know about scooters?
Scooters come in all shapes, sizes and displacements, from 50 cc tiddlers to mid-displacement sport touring machines.
Worldwide, they're incredibly popular, although in North America, land of the SUV, we've been a bit slow off the mark accepting them as viable, economical transportation.
Many Canadians may not be overly familiar with Piaggio, but in a nutshell, it's a very large Italian conglomerate that owns (among other marques) Moto Guzzi, Derbi, Gilera, Aprilia and (the usual Jeopardy response to "What is a scooter, Alex?"), Vespa.
Canadian Scooter Corp. imports several Piaggios, and the BV500 is the company's flagship model. Billed as a commuter with touring capabilities, the BV is ably propelled by a four-valve, SOHC, 460 cc single-cylinder engine.
An efficient, belt-driven variable-speed transmission puts the power to the ground while electronic fuel injection and a catalytic converter allow the Piaggio to meet strict Euro emission requirements.
Link.
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Californians trading cars for Vespas
High gas prices over the summer have led many drivers to alter their lifestyles – from buying vehicles that get better mileage to going on shorter driving trips.
Chris Hamilton, 28, of Ladera Ranch plans on driving to Temecula and San Diego during the Labor Day holiday, trips that will be more bearable because of a vehicle swap he made six months ago. The computer systems engineer is still hesitant to take an annual trip to San Francisco because of the gas spike.
To appease the money spent on gas, the former Dodge Ram 1500 owner bought a Mini Cooper. The swap has doubled the gas mileage he can eke out of the significantly smaller car.
Link.
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Revisiting the Vespa of his youth
Vespa means Wasp in Italian, but to my 15-year-old self in Gainesville, Florida, it meant two-wheel freedom. My scooter sported a jaunty continental spare tire and a buzzy 4-horsepower engine that would propel it upwards of 43 mph downhill, with the wind and over a cliff.
To picture my scooter, remember Terry the Toad, the scooter nerd in American Graffiti. Cool I was not. That scooter got me to school, to my Publix bagging job, and yes, an occasional Sunday afternoon movie date. If my little brother sucked up to me enough, I would take him fishing at a bass lake.
I left my dented Vespa to my brother when I went into the service and bought one just like it when I returned to college. Many's the time I bought a week's groceries and wobbled home with a bag on the floorboard and my canvas war surplus courier bags brimming with canned food and Rice-a-Roni. A gallon of gas saw me through the week. A license tag cost $5, a tire $6, and I didn't need insurance.
Link.
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Segway's lean & steer
The Segway Human Transporter was introduced in late 2001 after a flood of anticipation, a barrelful of venture capital and a promise from its inventor, Dean Kamen, to revolutionize the way cities worked.
Since then, the two-wheeled vehicle has popped up periodically in news reports that treat it as a novelty toy for the rich and geeky.
But the Segway's reputation in the United States as the anti-Vespa has not deterred Segway Inc. from rolling out the next generation of battery-powered, standing-rider machines, this time with more-intuitive steering controls.
Riding on the new version of Segway's self-balancing electric scooter is "very similar to skiing," according to the company's chief technology officer.
Link.
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August 24, 2006
Vespa: nobody does it quite like the Italians
THIS month I discovered the definition of pride and delight.
No, I have not encountered fatherhood or had a winning entry in the Curiously Groomed category of an exclusive Venezuelan dog show.
Instead, I met the Welshman who is custodian of one of Italy's finest treasure houses.
Bruno Alessandrini does not polish Roman eggcups or guide tourists around heaps of Etruscan rubble. Instead, he celebrates the wonder of the Vespa scooter at the Piaggio factory in Pontedera.
Motorbikes in Britain and America are associated with noise, grease, long hair, black leather and Niagara-like torrents of testosterone. A machine is judged great if it has a roar like that of a cigar-smoking Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Link.
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Korean robot to ride Segway
South Korea’s two-legged robot Hubo will move around on an electric scooter, according to its creator Thursday.
Professor Oh Jun-ho of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology said Hubo will drive a two-wheeled scooter vended by U.S.-based Segway later this year.
``Hubo’s hardware is good enough to travel on board Segway and upgrading its software will be sufficient for the robot to use the scooter as it is without modification. Software revisions will begin soon,’’ Oh said.
``We selected Segway because it can help Hubo maneuver easily in varied environments like narrow areas, where it has struggled to pass through thus far,’’ he said.
Oh added Hubo will be the first robot to get on Segway and control the scooter.
Segway is a one-axle, stand-up transporter with a rechargeable battery and a unique control system that redirects the bike in the direction the rider leans.
Invented by Dean Kamen and unveiled in Dec. 2001, the high-tech self-balancing device is today used by tech-savvy early adopters and some police agencies around the globe.
``This year, Hubo will need help when stepping onto Segway or getting off it. However, its next version will be able to perform all the things without any help,’’ Oh said.
Link.
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August 23, 2006
Moron alert -- scooters carrying extra gas in plastic bags
It seems some teen UK scooterers are carrying extra gas on board.
In plastic bags.
Draped over the engine.
The cops are alarmed.
Kids could turn into fireballs.
Ya' think?
Link.
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Paper boy gets scooter age limit lowered
If this kid gets hurt, the lawsuits are gonna fly
MOSES LAKE -- Moses Lake resident Nicholas Reed, 12, was riding his scooter last May when a police officer stopped him.
"He said that I'm underage," Nicholas said.
Nicholas learned the age limit for riding a motorized scooter in Moses Lake was 16 years old. To him, the law didn't make sense -- so he changed it.
The age limit is now exactly the same as Nicholas'.
In May, Nicholas wrote a letter to the City Council asking them to lower the age limit. The council placed him on the agenda, and at the meeting he spoke in support of the change, along with some buddies from school. Nicholas is a Columbia Basin Herald newspaper carrier who saved $180 from his routes to buy a scooter and make his deliveries easier. He rode the scooter for six months before he learned he was breaking the law.
Link.
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Florida retiree goes native in a Bajaj pickup
At 73, Ronald Flynn still has enough air in the tires to describe himself as "handsome, debonair, a connoisseur of fine wine, lover and defender of the faith."
Having exhausted two wives, he talks wistfully of his long lost affair with high-performing Cessna aircraft. And lest anyone doubt his petroleum-slurping street cred, there's a Chevy van and a 1978 Cadillac Coup de Ville beneath the carport.
"I keep (the Caddy) around in case Ashley Judd calls someday and says, 'I'll meet you down at the bar,' " Flynn says.
These details matter because the retired flight-control dispatcher for Federal Express doesn't want anyone to think he's lost his marbles and gone Third World.
"I've worked hard for 40, 45 years, breaking my (butt) so I could have a few toys," he cautions. "And that's what this is."
Link.
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August 22, 2006
PSP-branded Vespa, Europe only
If you are looking for a Vespa and a Sony PSP and you want both in white, you can check out the Vespa PSP(in Dutch). The limited edition White Vespa LX 50 comes with the decals of the Sony PSP logos on the side of the scooter. When you buy the Vespa PSP, you receive a coupon for a free white PlayStation Portable Value Pack. Price:€ 2.699 or approx. $3445 US (a normal Vespa LX 50 costs about $3200).
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Cops take away his license and his lawn mower, but elderly cheese head keeps on trucking
After 85-year-old Ben Steinbach got his license taken away, he started driving his lawn mower on errands -- then the cops shut that down, too.
But now a woman has offered to donate a mobility scooter to the gent, so he can keep his independence.
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"Fat" Jamie Oliver wrecks his Vespa for a good cause
Inside every fat man, it is claimed, there is a thin one trying to get out.
In this case, the thin man is Jamie Oliver.
The 31-year-old celebrity chef spent four hours being cocooned in latex before emerging as a waddling lard-tub for an advert to promote the follow-up to his Jamie's School Dinners series.
He clutched a brace of burgers in his sausage-like fingers before climbing aboard a motor scooter which duly buckled under his weight.
There was no doubting the message that junk food piles on the pounds.
"He did look very convincing as a fat person," said a passer-by who saw the ad being filmed in Peckham, South London.
Link.
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Campus cops like Segways
Police officers at the University of Maryland in College Park nowadays glide across the often-crowded campus, eight inches off the ground. Since April, police officers and student auxiliary members of the university's Department of Public Safety have used Segway Human Transporters to patrol the campus, which has 32,000 full-time students during the school year.
Link.
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Gas prices drive scooter sales [AU]
FAITH Hardman has ditched the car for a motor scooter in a move that will save her $3000 a year in petrol.
Faith's weekly fuel bill is less than $10 a week on a Vespa motor scooter that travels 33km on a litre of petrol.
She is part of a growing number swapping four wheels for two as petrol soars towards $1.50 a litre.
"I took a loan for a car, but decided to buy a motor scooter because of the fuel savings," Faith, an article clerk at a city law office, said.
"Running a car was going to be far too expensive. I can run the scooter for a handful of change, park it just about anywhere and it's equipped with an immobiliser. Now when I fill the tank, I just laugh. The scooter is fun to ride and it also cuts travel time in heavy traffic. It takes me 25 minutes to travel from my Hawthorn unit to the city in the morning and usually less at night."
Link.
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When taking to the roads, play it safe
Besides considering the fun and economic benefits, there is one topic consumers should cover when buying a motor scooter — safety.
“People shouldn’t forget about safety when they’re trying to save money on gasoline,” said Bob Costa, owner of East Coast Scooters on Route 422 in Myerstown. “Just remember, you have a lot more protection on the road if there is steel all around you.”
According to 2003 figures by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists were about 32 times more likely than passenger-car occupants to die in a motor-vehicle crash and six times more likely to be injured, on a per-vehicle-mile-traveled basis. The agency said motor scooters are “blended” into those figures.
Link.
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The Segway i2
The maker of the Segway scooter on Monday unveiled the second generation of its self-balancing electric one-person vehicle.
The redesigned scooter allows the rider to steer by leaning to the right or left, rather than by turning the handlebars. It also features a wireless electric key and alarm system.
The scooters feature two side-by-side wheels, and are ridden in a standing position, with the rider grasping handlebars. A gyroscope provides balance, making it fairly easy to remain in the upright position.
Officials at Bedford, New Hampshire,-based Segway Inc. said they have sold tens of thousands of the scooters since they were unveiled with great fanfare in 2002.
Link.
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New Segway i2 video
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Mobility scooter warning [UK]
Some models could burst into flames
Some models of mobility scooter are in danger of bursting into flames when being used, a government watchdog has warned.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) says there is a potential fire risk with the Maxi 3, Maxi 4 and Midi 4 Plus mobility scooters.
The health watchdog is aware of two incidents in the UK where scooters have caught fire although no injuries were reported in either case.
The manufacturer, Day Healthcare Ltd, has started an update of the battery wiring of those scooters to remove the risk of fire during use. But the company warns there could be further fires if its updates aren't carried out.
Battery problem
If you own a scooters manufactured between April 2004 and March 2006, which can be identified by the serial numbers listed below, contact the dealer who supplied it to arrange for the necessary update. This will be carried out for free.
The serial numbers of affected scooters are:
* EV10FB-UK00002 to EV10FB-UK00517, for Maxi 3
* EV10FA-UK00157 to EV10FA-UK02101, for Maxi 4
* EV10DC-UK00101 to EV10DC-UK01227, for Midi 4 Plus.
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New Segway scooter can start by remote control
Segway has overhauled its self-balancing scooter with a new batch of technology that allows riders to start the device with a remote control and steer it simply by leaning in the direction they want to go.
"Some people describe it as very similar to skiing," the company's chief technology officer, Doug Field, said of the new 'LeanSteer' technology that replaces a set of handlebars as the Segway's means of steering.
Link.
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The Mods are back in town
For all those who thought Mod culture was dead and buried along with flares and glitter balls, a trip to an Edgware pub will consign that idea to the dustbin. NEETA DUTTA speaks to the people who are reviving the 1960s and Seventies fashion Parkas, The Who and the perfect pitch of a Vespa are back in Barnet.
The Sparrow pub, in Glengall Road, has again become a haven for Mods, although the new generation are more interested in day-trips than getting into a tussle with their well-known adversaries, The Rockers.
Most have their families in tow this time around as they plan rides across the country and gather to admire their vehicles. The group of 40 have christened themselves The Inn Crowd and hosted their first community event on Sunday.
Link.
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Scooters, the perfect anniversary gift
If the family that prays together...stays together, then what happens to the family that scoots together?
Debbie Kuehn reports one Minot couple has found an interesting answer to that question.
Some are silver...and others are gold.
(Gary Keller, Minot) "And seeing the smile on your wife's face, man, it's all worth it."
But Gary Keller wanted to give his wife a gift for their 35th wedding anniversary that would really move her.
And he did it...at a top speed of 45 miles an hour!
Link.
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Battery dead, man coasts on for charity
My scooter batteries ran out on charity challenge – so I freewheeled to the end!
ONE man, his dog and a mobility scooter completed an 18-mile, nine-church challenge to help multiple sclerosis patients.
Mike Coley's tour started at tiny Didlington, and continued to neighbouring Northwold. He made good progress to Methwold, Whittington, Stoke Ferry, Wretton, West Dereham and Boughton ... but then came to a temporary halt.
After nearly five hours his scooter's batteries were flat – but Mr Coley still managed to complete the challenge.
Link.
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Yes, Virginia, gas prices are driving scooter sales
Drivers on two wheels aren't paying much attention to the swings in prices at the pump.
Oil prices continued to drop on Thursday, and AAA reported that the average price of a gallon of unleaded is back under $3 in Omaha.
But scooter and motorcycle riders said they don't much care. Sales of motorcycles are up 10 percent this year, and sales of motorized scooters are 15 percent higher nationwide. The reason is simple: They use less gas.
Link.
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Moped Mafia rolls
When dinner is done, the small Thumb community of Reese is swarmed with the buzz of itty-bitty engines.
It's the Moped Mafia, out for a turn around town.
A lot of the group's antics are tongue-in-cheek, like the rubber chicken mounted to one of the iron ponies.
Link.
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Utah gets Vespa'd
A Little Italy is emerging in downtown Salt Lake City along 3rd south near 3rd West.
Ed La Guardia of the Italian Center of the West sees the area as a rebirth of Salt Lake's original Little Italy, once anchored by a cluster of Italian merchants on Rio Grande Street. The new neighborhood includes Tony Caputo's, Carlucci's bakery, Cucina restaurant and Vespa of Utah.
Link.
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Target recalls 185K scooters [push&ride]
Target, the Minneapolis discounter, is recalling 185,000 scooters because various parts may break and detach.
The handlebars, wheels and wheel brakes of the 'Firestreet Scooters' can break and detach, causing the rider to lose control, fall and suffer injuries.
Target said Thursday it had received five reports of incidents and injuries resulting from breaking or collapsing parts. Injuries resulting from falls include a fractured arm, cracked teeth, bruises to the head, face and arm, a report of a lacerated toe and scratches.
The red or blue aluminum scooters have a fold-down frame and model number BZ 020 SP. The 'F Forward' logo is noted on the stem, wheel or base deck of the scooter.
Consumers should take these scooters from children immediately and return the scooter to the nearest Target store for a $24 gift card, plus applicable sales tax.
Questions may be directed to 800-440-0680.
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Circumnavigating Australia on a scooter
Julio Languiller, who is attempting a 16,000 km circumnavigation of Australia in 15 days on a scooter reached the quarter way 'round point yesterday.
Allowing himself the small luxury of a break as the odometer ticked over 4,000 km, Julio said that while this was an important landmark in his quest, there was still a long way to go before he accomplished his task.
"Yesterday was a great day for me," he said, "because not only did we reach the quarter way point, we also entered some of the most beautiful and varied country of the trip so far."
Link.
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Time to scoot
Whenever I pull up on two wheels, I can count on one comment: "You're crazy," strangers tell me. "Riding is dangerous." The comment is usually accompanied by a horror story about some neighbor's friend's gastroenterologist or other distant acquaintance who had a spectacular crash.
But a funny thing has been happening lately. In addition to the usual comments on my sanity and safety, I'm hearing envy, and the horror stories they tell are their own. "What kind of gas mileage are you getting?" they ask. The question is typically followed by the price tag on their latest fill-up, usually about $60.
While the average U.S. passenger car chugs gas at a rate of 22.4 miles per gallon, two-wheelers average about 50. So it shouldn't come as too huge a surprise that sales are up for the lightest drinkers: scooters — by about 17 percent in 2005 (though the rate has slowed to single digits this year).
The appeal over motorcycles? For novice riders, they're a less intimidating alternative. Scooters are lower in weight and lower to the ground, with automatic transmissions, step-through designs and exhaust pipes that won't burn a leg.
We tested the most recent crop of scooters, which come in all styles, from lawnmower-esque 50cc models to 650cc bruisers. I decided to split the difference for our scooter shootout, selecting the midlevel 250cc class because the engines are large enough to get decent speed, yet small enough for better-than-average fuel efficiency. Of the models tested, all of them go at least 70 mph; 250cc scooters average 60 to 80 miles per gallon.
Link.
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Scooters not only fun, but gas-efficient
Jason Ciolfi, owner of Boston Scoot in Billerica, says two types of people own motorized scooters: the casual and the obsessed.
Ciolfi is definitely the latter.
Standing in his shop on Boston Road, he moves among his seven scooters, talking about cylinder kits, exhaust pipes, leg shields and carburetors.
He is part of a growing population of scooter enthusiasts who not only love to ride, but have an appreciation for the scooter's unique history.
However, with scooters getting about 75 miles per gallon and generally costing less than $5,000, this population is eclipsed by an even larger number of casual scooter owners who are fed up with skyrocketing gas prices and an increasingly tumultuous economy.
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Bobbies clamp down on scooter riders
Enfield Council's parks police have warned scooter riders they risk losing their wheels in a move to combat the growing concerns over mini-moto madness.
Officers from the Safer Neighbourhoods parks unit are handing out leaflets warning bike riders their scooters could be seized or even crushed if they are caught riding them in the borough parks.
Children as young as six have been caught illegaly driving the petrol-driven bikes known as mini-motos since the craze set in before Christmas 2005. The bikes cost between £150 and £200 and can reach speeds of up to 60mph.
Link.
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Danish Royals scoot into action
Crown Prince Frederik obviously isn't the kind of man who's afraid to let his wife Mary take the driving seat for a while. The future king was happy to sit back and let his Australian-born princess take control when the pair went for a spin on an old scooter in the grounds of Grasten Palace.
In a scene reminiscent of Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn's classic movie Roman Holiday, the couple took a ride on an old Vespa scooter. The romantic royals may be more accustomed to travelling in limousines or horse-drawn carriages, but they both seemed to be enjoying the chance to indulge in a little two-wheeled fun.
Frederik and Mary aren't the only big names to have discovered the delights of travelling by scooter. British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is well-known for his Vespa, which helped him beat the traffic in London in the early days of his career.
Link.
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August 14, 2006
Gas prices driving scooter sales
The high price of gasoline is steering more and more Lebanon County drivers toward a breezier way of getting around — one that is not only cheaper but often a lot more fun.
As gas edges $3 a gallon, motor-scooter sales are picking up at local retail outlets this summer, with drivers looking for alternatives to spending as much as $50 or $60 for a tank of gas.
And the two-wheelers seem to be taking the city by storm. Though they won’t replace 500-horsepower, four-wheel-drive SUVs anytime soon, dozens of these gas sippers, which can get from 70 to 100 miles per gallon depending on engine size, are suddenly puttering down the roads.
Link.
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August 3, 2006
Kinetic's [India] Blaze scooter being exported to Japan
Indian two wheeler manufacturer Kinetic Motor will begin exporting its recently launched stylish and powerful motoscooter Kinetic Blaze to Japan. This marks an interesting reversal of trends; Japanese two wheeler companies are established brands world-wide, whereas India's two wheeler companies are beginning to make their mark. This is another important indicator of emergence of Indian- two wheeler companies as global players.
It is also noteworthy that the Blaze, a 165cc large-format scooter with big wheels, is India's first motoscooter - the first of a seven-vehicle series that Kinetic acquired from an Italian two wheeler major Italjet SpA. Blaze is an original design by world-famous two wheeler designer and enthusiast Leopoldo Tartarini.
Confirming the planned shipment to Japan, Ms. Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Managing Director of Kinetic Motor Company said, "yes, its true. The exciting Blaze from our Italiano series will soon head to Japan and be seen on Japanese highways. We believe there exists tremendous potential for the Italiano series from global markets - as these are glamorous true-blue Italian designs at very inviting prices. When we acquired the seven scooters and their production lines, we also made it a point to acquire sole global distribution rights to them; and we intend to fully capitalize on the opportunity. Its a matter of pride to have a shipment scheduled for Japan, which has been considered the mecca of two wheelers. But then, worldwide Italian automobile designs are renowned as truly special. So we are looking forward to flying the Kinetic flag in Japan."
Kinetic Motor, which has previously been a joint venture partner of a Japanese company, today directly competes with the Japanese manufacturers in the Indian market. Now, this intrepid Indian company is invading their hometurf, and hopes to make its mark. Motoscooters are gaining popularity in Japanese cities like Tokyo where traffic is congested and parking is difficult, and style is important. The Blaze is distinguished from its Japanese counterparts by its gorgeous, detailed styling, and is at par with them in features, performance, quality and comfort. Kinetic has appointed an enthusiastic importer in Japan, and the first shipment is scheduled to leave in August.
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Scooter sales hit high gear
Whenever I pull up on two wheels, I can count on one comment: “You’re crazy,” strangers tell me. “Riding is dangerous.” The comment is usually accompanied by a horror story about some neighbor’s friend’s gastroenterologist or other distant acquaintance who had a spectacular crash.
But a funny thing’s been happening lately. In addition to the usual comments on my sanity and safety, I’m hearing envy, and the horror stories they tell are their own.
“What kind of gas mileage are you getting?” they ask. The question is typically followed by the price tag on their latest fill-up, usually about $60.
Link.
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Mobility scooter thief gets 7 years
A Springfield man earlier found guilty of stealing another man's mobility scooter while they both were at a church was sentenced Wednesday to seven years in prison.
Stacey N. Bland, 43, was convicted May 31, after only 15 minutes of deliberation by a jury, of theft over $300 in a place of worship.
Link.
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August 2, 2006
Motorcycle afficionado's collection includes rare scooter
Ever start collecting something when you were young that you gave away in adulthood?
Imagine not giving that passion up, ever wondered what might have been if you had kept collecting?
Wangaratta's Barry Hartnell has never given up his passion for vintage motorcycles.
Barry’s passion for old bikes started when he was a teenager.
"When I was a kid my Dad used to take me out to watch the motorbike trials in the hills and I got very interested in old bikes. At the age of 14 I started collecting and restoring them and now 50 years later I have quite a collection.”
Link.
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August 1, 2006
Yamaha Black Max review
Some scooters, like a Vespa, have style; some have real clout – the Suzuki Burgman 650 springs to mind – but until now none has had genuine street cred, that quality of coolness that, like Paul Newman's Luke in the film of 'Cool Hand Luke', creates instant respect.
So, meet Black Max, by Yamaha.
Link.
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Two-wheel obsession: Scooter use up among all ages, inspired by gas price, fun
Scooters are no longer resigned to the courier business, college towns and replays of Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn's Vespa-enchanted "Roman Holiday." And they're no longer foreign to U.S. buyers.
Domestic sales of these gas-saving two-wheelers have surged as budget- and environment-minded consumers look for relief from high pump prices and as more-appealing models come on the market. Demand isn't expected to stall anytime soon, industry observers say.
U.S. sales for just the leading manufacturers Honda, Yamaha and Aprilia of scooters with engine sizes of 150cc or less (generally considered midsize to small and not usually reaching sustainable highway speeds) totaled about 16,000 in 1999. Sales from this group had jumped some 200%, to 48,000, by 2004, and they continue to rise, according to industry stats from Robert Pandya, spokesman for the Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows.
Link.
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Denver: Scooter Friendly Town
High gas prices may have encouraged many drivers to get out of their cars and onto scooters, but scooter fans say it's the fun that keeps them riding.
More scooters than usual were on Denver's streets this weekend as the city played host to the 14th annual Amerivespa Scooter Rally.
Scooters have improved over the course of the years, especially in terms of reaching street speeds.
"All you do is twist the gas and they go faster and faster and faster," said John Beldock, owner of Erico Motor Sports, on CBS4 Sunday morning.
New models of scooters have top speeds of 35 to 60 mph. That increased speed means they are safer on city streets.
The new scooters also have plenty of storage, so scooter-riders can even do the grocery shopping.
Click this link to continue reading the story and watch two scooter videos.
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