November 30, 2007
Scooters in Toronto's HOV lanes
Motorcyclists and scooter riders should be allowed to use the city's high-occupancy vehicle lanes, the city's works committee recommended yesterday.
The lanes on city roads are now reserved for buses, bikes, taxis and cars with three occupants,. Councillor Case Ootes has been pushing the city to allow motorcycles and scooters with just one occupant as well, to help with traffic congestion and pollution.
City staff had concluded that many motorcycles were not much more fuel efficient than cars, although that was disputed yesterday by the heads of various motorcycling and scooter organizations who addressed the committee.
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November 28, 2007
MIT scooter defined by electricity, portability
It's energy efficient, it's clean, compact and simple, and, above all, it's very cool.
All of these factors could be significant in getting people to adopt a lightweight, electrically powered scooter designed by William J. Mitchell, the Alexander W. Dreyfoos Professor of Architecture and Media Arts and Sciences, and several of his students in MIT's Smart Cities Group, in collaboration with SYM, a major scooter manufacturer in Taiwan, and ITRI, Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute.
A prototype of the new design was a hit at the Milan Auto Show, where it was unveiled earlier this month.
Motor scooters are a very popular form of transportation in Asian and European cities, Mitchell said, because they provide convenient, inexpensive transportation. But conventional scooters, using inefficient two-stroke gas engines, are also a source of local air pollution. The new design "was all about providing a clean, green, silent electric scooter that would provide, even better, the same kind of urban mobility," he said.
As an added bonus, the simplicity of the electric design, which eliminates the powertrain by putting motors directly inside each of the two wheels, made it possible to design the scooter so that it could be folded up to about half its size, making it even easier to store in crowded urban environments.
"In very dense urban areas where scooter parking is a big issue, the small size is a big advantage. It makes it possible to park it in narrow streets and alleys," Mitchell said. When folded, it can also be easily wheeled along like a trolley suitcase, and is no larger, making it easy to take along on trains or even indoors.
The simplified design could bring down production costs significantly, he said. "A typical gas scooter has about 1,000 parts, but ours only has 150."
Mitchell and his team envision the scooters being provided in racks at convenience stores, train stations and other convenient city locations as one-way rentals. Users would swipe a credit card to remove a scooter from the rack (in which its batteries would be kept fully charged up), unfold it for the trip and then fold it up again to deposit at another rack at the destination.
The viability of the one-way-rental business model has been demonstrated in Paris, Mitchell said, where a company has recently begun a similar service with 1,000 bicycles.
The design of the scooter is also important in getting the new concept adopted. "People want to look cool," Mitchell said, and the folding scooter was highly praised at the Milan show, where vehicle design is especially prized.
The team now plans to further develop the prototype to come up with two different production models. One will be a refinement of the folding scooter introduced in Milan, and the other will be an even simpler model, without the folding capability, to be produced for regions where low cost is most important and space restrictions are not as crucial.
The whole design project was accomplished in eight months, "from a blank sheet to a built concept," Mitchell said. The multigenerational, cross-disciplinary team included a core group of four graduate students along with several others who made contributions, and a group of MIT's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program students. One key to their ability to accomplish the innovative design, he said, was that "they don't know what's 'impossible,' so they just go out and do it."
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Senior scooter riders finish island tour
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- A group of elderly scooter riders have been praised for their determination and perseverance after they finished a round-the-island tour at the last leg of the trip in Fengyuan City in central Taiwan's Taichung County.
Taichung County Magistrate Huang Chung-sheng greeted the senior adventure seekers at a welcoming ceremony Sunday, expressing admiration for their determination to join the 13-day tour and their perseverance in finishing the tour.
"The senior citizens' spirit of taking on challenges was worth learning by young people," Huang said.
Tour participants, including several people in their 80s, started their journey from neighboring Taichung City Nov. 13. They returned to Taichung City Sunday afternoon after the trip.
The 20 elderly riders were chosen by the Hondao Welfare Foundation for the Elderly, from a pool of more than 100 applicants, through physical ability tests. Among those selected, 14 are aged over 80 and six are between the ages of 70-79. The eldest member Chu Miao-kuei is 89 years old.
Participants received a two-month training course in Taichung City before departure to help them prepare for obstacles and difficulties they were likely to encounter on the way.
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Scooting in to scooters
With oil nudging $100 a barrel this week, I did a set of test rides of vehicles that are so cheap to run you can travel 100km for as little as 40c.
These vehicles -- electric scooters or bikes -- potentially solve two problems that characterise motorised travel in Johannesburg: rising energy costs and increasing gridlock.
The three bikes I rode are made in China, which has undergone a revolution in personal transport since 1998, when most major cities in China began banning the use of petrol-powered motorbikes to clean up pollution.
The result has been the emergence of the ubiquitous electric scooter and bike. More than nine million electric bikes and scooters were sold in China last year, according to Business Week, citing Goldman Sachs, at a cost of $1,5-billion.
Piet Jooste, an entrepreneur based in Albertskroon near Northcliff in Johannesburg, has imported a container of Chinese-made bikes and scooters to test the local market. The idea is spanking new and is yet to be registered as a company, but will probably trade as Pick a Bike.
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Cayman Doc wins Vespa
As part of their 40th anniversary celebrations, Butterfield Bank (Cayman) Limited gave away a Vespa scooter valued at $4,600 to one lucky winner.
Dr Dax Basdeo’s name was drawn live out of over 600 entries and announced on the Day Break TV show last week.
“I was completely surprised to win and am very appreciative to Butterfield Bank for helping to jump start my Christmas celebrations!” said Dr Basdeo who entered the contest at Butterfield Bank’s booth at the Chamber Business Expo in October.
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November 27, 2007
Brammo Enertia Electric Motorcycle Debuts
ASHLAND, Ore. -- Brammo, a leading manufacturer of ultra-efficient, lightweight vehicles, will feature the Brammo Enertia (http://www.enertiabike.com/) motorcycle on display at EVS-23 .
EVS-23, December 2-5, 2007 in Anaheim, California will be the largest gathering of electric drive professionals in the world and is hosted by the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA).
"This is a phenomenal gathering featuring the next generation in eco-friendly transportation" said Craig Bramscher, CEO of Brammo. "There is no question that this is where we would want to unveil the Brammo Enertia. Between the public day and the Mayor's Forum, we're excited to share a sneak peek of the Brammo Enertia production electric motorcycle prior next year's release."
Brammo will be showcasing a bike in Booth #657 with battery partner Valence Technology. Additionally, there will be a second Enertia motorcycle on the streets of Anaheim for special press-previews including demos and test-rides for credentialed press with motorcycle drivers license endorsements.
The Enertia motorcycle is an urban commuter bike that exceeds 50mph and 40 miles on a single 3-hour charge. At roughly $.32 a fill-up and under one-cent a mile -- it is positioned to be the compelling green alternative for the new urban consumer.
About Brammo
Brammo (http://www.brammo.com/) is a premier specialty vehicle manufacturer developing sustainable performance products for the next generation of transportation. Through integration of digital engineering and high impact design, Brammo transforms ideas into compelling products. Located in Ashland, Oregon the company was founded in 2002 and is privately held.
About the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA):
The Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) is the trade association representing battery, hybrid and fuel cell electric drive technologies and infrastructure. EDTA conducts public policy advocacy, education, industry networking, and international conferences. EDTA's membership includes automotive and other equipment manufacturers, utilities, technology developers, component suppliers, and government agencies. For more information about EDTA and its members, visit http://www.electricdrive.org/.
Source: Brammo
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Suzuki Partners to Develop a Hydrogen-Powered Motorcycle
CHICAGO -- The British Midlands Development Corporation announced that Loughborough Innovation Center based Intelligent Energy and Suzuki have developed the Crosscage, a hydrogen-powered motorcycle that claims to make green driving a reality.
The motorcycle, which runs in almost complete silence and emits pure water, is a joint venture between British Midlands based company, Intelligent Energy, the UK's leading commercial developer of Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell technology and the Japanese motorcycle and scooter giant.
Although the technology to build hydrogen-powered and fuel efficient vehicles exists, they carry hefty price tags. Until now, mass-production has eluded the industry and nobody has managed to build a commercially viable motorcycle. The Crosscage represents a huge breakthrough. By combining Suzuki's capacity for mass-production and Intelligent Energy's lightweight, air-cooled fuel cell design, the reality of affordable green transportation moves closer to reality.
"This is just one of many examples of innovation coming out of The British Midlands," said Vern Sebby, President and CEO of the British Midlands Development Corporation, " There are over 3,000 foreign companies operating in the Midlands and many of them are there to partner with our local companies and universities."
About British Midlands Development Corporation
The British Midlands Development Corporation is the North American economic development agency for central England. The Midlands region is located just one hour to the north of London and includes the major commercial centers of Birmingham, Nottingham, Coventry and Northampton.
Source: British Midlands Development Corporation
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TheMotorcycleYellowPages.com Launches
LOS ANGELES -- YellowPages Corporation, operator of popular online YellowPages sites and telephone books including travel website aggregator YELLOWPAGES travel and popular search engine SearchBoth.com, today announced it has launched an online directory specifically for the Motorcycle industry with TheMotorcycleYellowPages.com covering stores, manufacturers, and everything involved with the Motorcycle industry.
The YellowPages Corporation, known for providing quality business directories for nearly 100 years has now launched TheMotorcycleYellowPages.com specifically for the Motorcycle industry. The company intends to meet the demand for category specific local search. The site lists all businesses involved in the Motorcycle industry across the nation.
Motorcycle related businesses interested in listing their business with TheMotorcycleYellowPages.com can do so by contacting the company directly at 1-866-YELLOW-1.
YellowPages Corporation and several of its subsidiaries such as YELLOWPAGES.travel and SearchBoth.com, have recently announced that they will donate 15% of their net proceeds to multiple charitable organizations such as the American Red Cross, the American Cancer Society and other non-profit organizations. Consumers that use any online YellowPages properties will be indirectly donating to these charities. The company urges users to use its online properties and help these charitable organizations benefit society.
According to Matt Richards the company spokesperson, "Our overall revenues are high while our overhead remains fairly low. Our company and our larger sister company can afford to donate some of the profits to benefit good causes. We can comfortably give away 15-20% of our profits while still remaining very profitable for our shareholders. Major corporations need to take the lead in times of lower economic growth and slowdown; the YellowPages being one of the most respected is no different."
Source: YellowPages Corporation
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November 26, 2007
From London to Helsinki on two wheels
HELSINKI -- I was spitting dust; my face was burning after days in the sun's glare and the dead insects plastered on my windscreen were too many to count.
But the satisfaction of crossing 2700 km of Europe from London to Helsinki on a motor scooter was sweet as well -- the best part being able to say: I have arrived.
People told me I was mad and reckless to rush off to my new job in this way. Four days in all on the road, averaging 90 km/h, and more terrifying moments than I dare count.
After all, speeding on the motorway like a mouse in a herd of elephants is not everyone's idea of fun.
But the jug of beer at the end of the day -- be it German, Polish or Estonian -- never tasted better than after hours and hours staring ahead, manoeuvring in traffic, and anxiously hoping to reach the next petrol station in time.
The trip this autumn started in London where I set out with a duffle bag tied on back, a small rucksack clamped between my legs and an adventurous friend wedged behind me.
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Australia's first biker mayor
The Mayor of Glamorgan-Spring Bay on Tasmania's East Coast wants to become the first Australian mayor to have a motorbike as his official vehicle.
The newly elected Mayor, Bertrand Cadart says he is proud to be part of a "motorbike friendly" council and is testing a maxi scooter to see if he is able to use it to carry out his mayoral duties.
Councillor Cadart says he is not aware of any other council providing its mayor with two-wheel transport.
"So far it has been so good," he said.
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November 25, 2007
Mercedes, builder of the world's first motorcycle
Gottleib Daimler’s first engine, built together with his long-time congenial companion Wilhelm Maybach, was a horizontal four-stroke single-cylinder unit.
The horizontal engine was soon replaced by the so-called grandfather clock, a vertical, considerably smaller engine which was perfectly suitable for installation in vehicles. This engine saw the first use of the float carburetor developed by Maybach, a type nowadays referred to as a surface carburetor, which enabled reliable operation with gasoline.
Daimler first installed this air-cooled, 0.5 hp (0.4 kW) engine in the “riding car,” a wooden two-wheeler that was used as a test vehicle and quite incidentally went down in history as the world’s first motorcycle.
Power was transmitted from the engine’s belt pulley to the rear wheel via a drive belt. Two speeds were possible depending on the belt pulley chosen: 6 or 12 km/h.
via Car Buyer's Notebook.
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With gas prices rising, scooter a good purchase
You see that slowpoke on a moped holding up traffic. That might be me.
Yes, I’m now the proud owner of a slightly-used moped. Well, legally it is classified as a motorcycle, but it certainly doesn’t resemble a Harley. Maybe calling it a scooter is the best term.
But anyway, I bought this mean beast (which tops out at about 55-60 mph) from a friend, and I must say I’ve really enjoyed it so far.
Honestly, I’d never driven a motorcycle before, but the price was right, I had a little extra money, so I thought, “What the heck?! Might as well give it a try.”
I’ve always enjoyed riding a bicycle, and this is just as fun, only less work.
The wind in my hair. The sun on my back. A small motor doing the ‘peddling’ for me (and taking me places much faster than my legs could ever could). And at a fuel cost where I can afford to just joyride if I want to. Yes, it is the ultimate lazy man’s (and poor man’s) vehicle.
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November 24, 2007
Limited Edition Vespa LX 50 Designed By Gap
Gap has teamed up with Piaggio, the maker of Vespa motor scooters, to design the ultimate two-wheeler and celebrate Gap's iconic crazy stripe this holiday season. The Limited Edition Vespa LX 50 in the Crazy Strike design puts a stylish new spin on the classic Vespa scooter.
f you live in NYC, San Francisco, LA, Chicago, or Las Vegas, the limited edition scooter will be on display in select stores in these markets until December 3. Don't live in those areas? No worries, you can still check it out online at www.gap.com/vespa.
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November 22, 2007
Gap Dangles Vespa In Online Holiday Promotion
GAP HAS TAPPED YAHOO TO launch its holiday campaign, called GapTIDINGS. The promotion centers on letting consumers create video greetings and e-mail them to family and friends.
At the Yahoo-hosted GapTIDINGS (http://gaptidings.yahoo.com) microsite, users are invited to upload their holiday greetings and automatically enter to win one of three limited-edition Vespa LX50 scooters.
Users will also find tips and tools for making great videos on the site, like Gap-remixed holiday tunes from artists like Dean Martin and Louis Armstrong that they can add to their creations. They can also view and rate other videos, including greetings uploaded by Gap ambassadors like "Saturday Night Live" comedic duo Amy Poehler and Will Arnett, as well as port their videos to various social networking sites (including MySpace and Facebook).
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November 21, 2007
Macon officers test drive scooter-like vehicle
Macon police officers could soon be zooming around downtown - but not in cars or on motorcycles.
Police Chief Mike Burns said he's considering purchasing two personal mobility vehiclesthat would allow officers "walking the beat" to get around faster and be more visible.
Lt. Eric Woodford said he and two officers test drove a T3 Motion personal mobility vehicle while "The Oprah Winfrey Show" was in town Saturday.
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November 20, 2007
Council may kill obscure ‘scooter’ law
The city council will consider repealing a little-known and hardly enforced ordinance that bans sports, games and wheeled toys from city streets when it meets today.
“It was creating a situation where it was in silly ways making citizens lawbreakers for riding bikes and roller blades,” said Carrier, who is sponsoring the resolution to repeal the ordinance. He notes that under the regulations, a scooter used by individuals who are handicapped would be illegal on Florence streets.
“I don’t think we need a law on the books that makes everyday living illegal. It puts the police in the position where they have to look the other way for exemptions,” Carrier said.
The issue gained attention two weeks ago after Mayor Bobby Irons shelved an amendment that would have banned skateboards from city streets and sidewalks. He is working with the city attorney on an alternative ordinance. Although still in progress, his alternative resolution would define geographically where skateboarding would be restricted.
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November 19, 2007
Mock Vespanomics/Heroes mashups
I admit, I’m a “Heroes” fanboy. I finished the entire Season One in a iPod video marathon. Now I’m hooked with Season 2 with it’s 4th episode (The Kindness of Strangers) being the best ever for me!
Anyway, I’ve seen this picture of Claire Bennet (Hayden Panettiere) sitting on a Vespa before. But after seeing picture another Heroes cast member on a scooter, an idea struck me to make some mock Vespa print ads.
For the ad copy, I used a line from this actual Vespa advertisment seen on the road. To make the ad series more relevant, the slant of the ads tackled issues taken up in Vespanomics, like traffic and rising gas prices.
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November 18, 2007
Tennessee Man To Travel 1,000 Miles In Hybrid Scooter
Jay Perdue of Erin, Tennessee is a local inventor and businessman.
His company, Exertrike, builds reverse trikes or hybrid vehicles that can be powered by an engine, battery or by a human.
Perdue is planning on driving to 1,000 miles to Amarillo, Texas in his Exertrike Tri-Hybrid.
“This is Exertrike Tri-Hybrid and it is not a production model,” Perdue showed News 2. “This one was set up to run down the interstate down to Amarillo, Texas, a 1,000 miles getting over 300 miles per gallon. It is street legal in the state of Tennessee, with lights and running lights, turn signals and mirrors and even has a horn. “...
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November 17, 2007
Bellingham Council to vote on scooter rules
BELLINGHAM — More than a year after City Council members held off on approving new laws to regulate motorized foot scooters and Segways, the ordinance is back for a vote.
And almost nothing has changed in the ordinance since the council sent it back to committee and police for review because of residents’ concerns.
Segways are still lumped in with the motorized foot scooters and are banned from the city’s trail system, though language was added to ensure that the law is in compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
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Peugeot Satelis 50
Large scooters have yet to make an impact in Britain, but Peugeot's Satelis 500 could change all that, says Kevin Ash
Peugeot is a late entrant into the big capacity maxi-scooter category, a fact that will have slipped past most people in Britain as the streets are not exactly overrun with 500cc-plus scooters.
Elsewhere in Europe though, especially Italy, they're big in more ways than the physical, as the combination of intercity commutability and ease of use has won many over to this unlikely cause.
The problem for the French factory has always been sourcing an engine, but that's solved now a deal has been struck with Italian giant Piaggio to use its 493cc Master single-cylinder motor.
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November 16, 2007
Local Scooter Sales Get Pumped Up
As gas prices started to climb in 2005, so did scooter sales.
According to a 2005 survey, scooter sales increased by 65 percent. Jay Cherry, a salesman at Cycle World in Virginia Beach, says scooters are, "flying out the door" because of soaring gas prices. According to Cherry, "the supply just cannot keep up with the demand."
Scooters come in many sizes, but all are cost-effective. A scooter that travels up to 35 mph will only cost $2,000, but gets 100 miles per gallon. If you want a scooter with more power, that can travel at speeds of more than 100 mph, it will set you back about $,7800.
These souped-up scooters are comparable in size to motorcycles and get about 50 miles per gallon.
If you are interested in driving one of these two-wheeled alternatives, you need to be at least 16 years old and eligible for a driver's license.
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Vectrix ZEV Awarded 2008 Best of Adventure Gear
WASHINGTON -- Vectrix, the world's first high performance, two-wheel zero emission vehicle (ZEV), was awarded 2008 Best of Adventure Gear by the editors of National Geographic ADVENTURE magazine.
The award was given at National Geographic headquarters yesterday in Washington, D.C. This is the fifth-annual year-end Best of Adventure gear awards.
The all-electric Vectrix offers performance and style along with a clean, efficient, electric engine. It was designed to provide reliable and affordable transportation for commuting and recreational needs, helping relieve traffic congestion, pollution, parking hassles and inflexible public transportation.
Vectrix reaches a top speed of 62 mph and offers acceleration from 0-50 mph in 6.8 seconds. Its nickel metal hydride battery has an average range of 40-60 miles and an onboard charger plugs into any standard 110-volt electrical outlet to recharge the battery in just 2-3 hours. It weighs 500 pounds, has a 60-inch wheelbase and 30-inch seat height to seat two comfortably.
Compared to traditional gasoline scooters that can produce up to 10 times the pollution of an average automobile, Vectrix is totally emissions free. It is virtually silent and highly efficient -- a patented regenerative braking system redirects energy back into the Vectrix battery pack, which helps to extend its range by up to 12 percent. It's more cost effective than gas or hybrid vehicles, too, since electricity is now one-tenth the cost of gasoline.
Sophisticated design efficiencies include a high-efficiency gearbox and drive train, aluminum construction for weight reduction and aerodynamic styling to reduce drag. A low center of gravity, stiff frame and even weight distribution provide superior handling.
Vectrix is both convenient and cost effective. The driver can stop and go with one hand by simply twisting the throttle back for acceleration and twisting it forward to slow down smoothly and safely.
National Geographic Adventure's approach to its Best of Adventure gear awards differs from other magazines in that it has established an advisory board of 44 of the country's leading outdoor retailers to assist Adventure editors with the honors. The board's contribution was twofold: to weigh in on products that in its expert opinion are innovative and to report on what products consumers are particularly excited about in the marketplace.
Vectrix can be ordered online at www.vectrix.com or through distributors in a growing number of U.S. cities and surrounding areas. Currently, Vectrix has distribution networks in five countries, including the U.S. in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Miami, West Palm Beach and the Florida Keys.
About Vectrix Corporation
Vectrix Corporation was formed in 1996 to develop and commercialize zero emission vehicle platform technologies focused on two-wheel applications. The single focus of Vectrix has been to provide clean, efficient, reliable and affordable inner-city transportation. Vectrix USA is located in Middletown, R.I., with an engineering and test facility in New Bedford, Mass.
Source: Vectrix Corporation
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November 14, 2007
Artists crafts scoot from scrap
This isn't an ordinary scooter; nope, it wasn't built in a factory somewhere from parts specially designed for scooters.
It's a labor of love built by artist Nemo Gould. It's made completely out of old appliance and gadget parts, including a taillight made from a vacuum cleaner from the 1950s.
It's a slick, retro-looking scooter, one that'll stand out from the plasticy stuff that we see on the roads nowadays.
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Scooters getting boosted in Sydney
WHEN it comes to having your vehicle stolen in Sydney, it's all about what type of car or motorcycle you have, where you leave it and when you park.
Blacktown, Bankstown and the City of Sydney were the areas targeted most by thieves last financial year, and the Holden Commodore was their favourite.
But the iconic Vespa was a hot target. While there were only 31 Vespas stolen over 12 months, it was the highest rate of theft per 1000 registered vehicles by manufacturer. Experts are warning scooter owners to keep their bikes off the street.
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November 13, 2007
An adventure on a Vespa, Italian style
I CAUGHT an overnight ferry from Sardinia to Sicily. It was called the Emilia and was a floating version of a rundown tenement building in the Bronx.
The lower decks were dark and dingy. The cabins were cramped and worn. And the hallways echoed with the muffled sounds of men fighting, babies crying, dogs barking and couples cuddling.
I half expected to get a knock on my cabin door from someone called Jimmy "TwoFingers'' Ragatoni, asking for a pizzo – a small bribe – to ensure nothing happened to me on the crossing.
Most of the Italian passengers were out on the deck feverishly thumbing text messages and making frantic calls on their cell phones. At first I feared that I'd missed an announcement to abandon ship.
The desperate way the Italians were trying to contact loved ones suggested that some sort of disaster had befallen us – a fire in the engine room or a rogue Mediterranean iceberg, perhaps.
It was worse than that. The mobile phone signals were fading and it would be another 10 hours before the ship would be back in range of the phone towers again.
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November 12, 2007
Three wheel Gilera scooter
It looks like something from a Mad Max film, but forget the Australian outback – as this is an ideal companion on Britain’s city streets and motorways.
Meet the new Gilera Fuoco 500.
It follows on from parent firm Piaggio’s three-wheeled MP3. The difference is, the Gilera has a larger 500cc engine.
The unit is a bigger, slightly modified version of the motor in the Piaggio X9, and allows the Fuoco to keep up with motorway traffic easily.
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UK Scooterists raise money for hospice
DOZENS of scooter fans made sure they were seen - and heard - as they made their way through the New Forest.
Fifty scooters took part in a charity ride, setting off from Mayflower Park in Southampton and arriving in Lymington several hours later after a couple of refreshment stops.
Each rider paid £5 to take part and, along with other donations, the New Forest Scooter Club raised more than £500 for The Oakhaven Hospice Trust.
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November 11, 2007
Electric Scooter by Razor
Razor offers a line of retro styled pocket scooters for grownups (max weight 175lbs) as well as kids 12 and older.
The top model is the Pocket Mod Vapor Electric Scooter (photo). The top speed of this electric pocket scooter is 15mph. The 250W/24V electric motor takes you 10 miles on a single charge.
To charge the battery pack, plug directly into a standard outlet for about 8 hours. Sharper Image sells it for $289.95.
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November 10, 2007
Scooter club's 10th anniversary
YOU'D better stop dreaming of the quiet life 'cos it's the one you'll never know – especially if you help Peterborough Lambretta and Vespa Club celebrate its 10th anniversary.
The club, which raises hundreds of pounds for charity each year, is inviting people to its final event of the year, with The Jam tribute band The Real Gift taking centre stage.
Support on the night will come from DJ Jay Watson. The evening kicks off on Saturday, November 10, at 7.30pm, at Peterborough FC's executive suite and sponsors lounge on London Road.
n Entry costs £6 on the door. For more information about the event, call Corky on 07759 777132 or visit the website at www.plvsc.co.uk
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Scooters not a solution for Taipei
By David Pendery
I am writing in response to the letter from Craig Dodge (Letters, Nov. 6, page 8).
Dodge proposes deploying more motorcycles as a solution to Taipei's traffic and pollution problems. That's just what we need in this woefully congested, polluted city, where wholly irresponsible scooter drivers run riot.
"Drivers seem to have this feeling of entitlement," Dodge wrote, and they misguidedly "view motorcycles as a nuisance." I'll keep "entitlement" and "nuisance" in mind the next time I dodge a scooter cruising at medium speed through a crowd of pedestrians in a crosswalk in Taipei, roaring through a red light at top speed, or forcing me to leap to the side of a bike and walking path along a river in Taipei (where scooters are, ostensibly, forbidden).
We can also wax enthusiastic about scooters and their drivers as we pick our way through a multitude of scooters clogging Taipei sidewalks, making our way through some of the most uncomfortable, dirty, chaotic conditions we have to live with in this city.
Dodge does some math and figures that things would be a whole lot better in Taiwan if every car driver would just get a scooter -- as if adding tens of thousands more of those obnoxious machines on the roads would transform Taiwanese cities into Shangri-Las.
Dodge asks if scooters are as noisy as diesel trucks and buses. I don't have the numbers to back up my claim, but I have noted that three or four of those howler-monkey, shrieking scooter engines can easily be as noisy as a city bus. And multiply that by tens of thousands.
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November 8, 2007
Mickey Rourke, Drunk on a Scooter
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. - A scooter-riding Mickey Rourke was arrested Thursday on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Rourke, star of "Sin City," "Diner" and "9 1/2 Weeks," was arrested at 4:20 a.m. and booked at the Miami-Dade County Jail, said Janelle Hall, a jail spokeswoman. He was released on a $1,000 bond, she said.
A Miami Beach Police report said Rourke made a U-turn with a red light and then swerved several times while on a green scooter. He had a flushed face and bloodshot, watery eyes, his speech was slurred, and he had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, the report said.
"I'm not drunk, I didn't even drink that much," the report quoted Rourke as saying.
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Check out the latest scootering videos
Featuring another version of a nifty YouTube player.
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November 7, 2007
Takata's Motorcycle Airbag Named Award Finalist
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Takata, a leading global supplier of automotive safety systems, has been named a finalist for the 2008 Automotive News PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers' Contribution to Excellence) Award, for their pioneering advances in motorcycle airbags. The motorcycle airbag was developed by Takata in a partnership with Honda Motor Company, and is currently available to consumers on the 2008 Honda Gold Wing.
Takata's motorcycle airbag design is the first on the market for motorcycle applications, and Honda is the only manufacturer to currently offer the technology. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates approximately 5,000 people are killed annually from motorcycle accidents, and the motorcycle airbag was developed specifically to address this situation by improving motorcycle crashworthiness.
"As a company dedicated to the development of automotive life-saving technology advancements, we are elated to be recognized for our motorcycle airbag design," said Alby Berman, vice president of communications, Takata. "Our long-standing partnership with Honda Motor Company has enabled this ground-breaking technology to prove its life-saving application."
Recognizing superior innovation, technological advancement and business performance, the Automotive News PACE Award is open to suppliers that contribute products, processes, information technology, materials or services directly to the manufacture of cars or trucks. The award is accepted around the world as the industry symbol of innovation. Takata, along with other Automotive News PACE Award finalists, will undergo an extensive review process - including a site visit - by industry, academic and business leaders to select award winners, to be announced at a gala ceremony in Detroit on April 14, 2008.
The PACE Award, presented by Automotive News with Microsoft, SAP and the Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC Inc.), is recognized throughout the industry as the "Academy Award for Automotive Innovation" and honors innovations, technological advancements and business performance among automotive suppliers. This award sets industry standards and recognizes suppliers who exceed expectations of their OEM customers and automotive consumers. Winners of the 14th annual PACE Awards are selected by an independent panel of judges and will be announced April 14, 2008. For complete details of the 2008 Automotive News PACE Award, visit www.autonews.com/PACE.
Takata, the world's leading supplier of automotive safety belts, has a long history of safety innovation and provides a host of safety technologies with the goal of protecting human life. The company's product portfolio includes seat belts, front- and side-impact protection, electronics and textiles. The company, with its North American headquarters in Auburn Hills, is involved in many consumer and government safety efforts, including being a corporate sponsor and active board member of the Traffic Improvement Association of Michigan.
Source: Takata
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HMSI to launch new scooter in India
MILAN (ITALY) -- Honda Motorcycle Scooter India (HMSI), a unit of Japanese two-wheeler major Honda Motor, is planning to introduce new scooter and motorcycle models in the next few months to strengthen its product portfolio in the country as it targets sales of 8.8 lakh units this fiscal.
The company, which is the biggest scooter maker in the country, will introduce a new scooter model at the upcoming Auto Expo in New Delhi in January followed by a motorcycle targeted at youngsters early next fiscal.
"HMSI has been well represented in the Indian two-wheeler market and going forward we want to strengthen our presence by offering new models to the customers. As part of our efforts, we would introduce a new scooter model at the Auto Expo and a new bike early next fiscal," company's Head Sales and Marketing N K Rattan told media.
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Honda’s Lead 100 scooter gets less basic
Honda has made a serious of minor tweaks to the bottom-of-the-range Lead 100 to get it through new emissions regulations and improve its ride.
The air-cooled 100cc engine has been changed for a 108cc liquid-cooled four-stroke single, with a fuel injection system to ensure it passes emissions. Honda claim that a larger airbox, silent cam drive and new exhaust mean the bike is very quiet. The radiator is integrated into the side of the engine like the Zoomer 50, and the engine is now electric start only – a kickstart is no longer fitted.
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November 6, 2007
Social networking on a scooter
Social networking and its close cousin mobile dating, is getting lots of press recently. Your Internet-connected mobile phone, it turns out, is a great tool for meeting new people or staying in touch with the people you already know.
Take for example the developing story of Mr Storm. On 6th November Mr Storm and his wife are going to embark on an adventure. They are going to hop onto their 125cc scooter and, with little more than the clothes on their back, travel around the country to meet up with the new buddies they have made on DateClub. They are going to use DateClub to document their trip, stopping every couple of hours to post updates and to add new photos so that others can share in their journey.
DateClub, a service available to anyone over 18 with a WAP enabled cell phone, is for the most part used by single people interested in dating. However, because it provides an easy and convenient way to meet and stay in touch with people, Mr Storm is using it as a social networking tool. Here is the story as explained by Mr Storm in the messages he posted on DateClub.
“Mrs Storm and I are planning an adventure. You are the first we are telling. I want your input if you can. Before things get too expensive and we too old, we have not seen all of our beautiful country. We have also made good friends in Bloem, Kimberly and quite a few in Cape Town. All the places we have not seen. We have a 125cc scooter and the end of the month we want to take it and go via the route of our buds and go to Cape town, and meet DateClub buds. We want to include DateClub on our journey stopping every two hours, go on line and report how things are going. Adding pics of the trip as we go.
“All of our buds are from DateClub. We only have three friends here in Boksburg. All our other friends were made right here. We still want to get to know more DateClub members. There are some really great people here. We have made some friends for life.
“Since our message to buds we have been getting requests to come Natal way to. We want to have a great time and help make the site that made this possible for us the most popular site to be on. Thank you for your support :)”
When Ewe Ruszczynski, Marketing Director of DateClub's parent company BlackHatMedia, heard about the story she was touched and DateClub decided to sponsor some of Mr Storm's expenses for the trip namely petrol and toll gate fees to help the couple along the way.
Ruszczynski said, “It is exciting to be part of something that is changing peoples lives and launching them on new adventures. While DateClub has thousands of traditional success stories where people have met their soul mates, we thought that this story was a particularly interesting illustration of how the online mobile world is complementing the offline world when it comes to how people socialise.”
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November 5, 2007
Gap and Vespa Team Up to Introduce the 2007 Limited Edition Vespa LX 50
SAN FRANCISCO -- This holiday, for the first time, Gap and Vespa have partnered to design the ultimate gift for that special someone on your list -- the 2007 Limited Edition Vespa LX 50 in a custom "Crazy Stripe" design by Gap.
This collaboration is a first for Gap and brings together two brands known for classic style, Vespa as a symbol of Italian style and elegance and Gap as the brand known for classic, casual American design.
"To celebrate Gap's iconic crazy stripe this holiday, we wanted to create a unique gift for the person on your list who has everything," said Marka Hansen, president, Gap North America. "Our partnership with Vespa presented the perfect opportunity to surprise our customers with a special, unexpected gift idea for this special time of year."
This 2007 Limited Edition Vespa LX 50 in the Crazy Stripe design represents a new spin on the classic Vespa scooter and continues to incorporate the core values of Vespa -- eco-friendly engineering, passion, individualism, and integrity -- in a stylish mode of transportation.
Beginning November 8, details on how to purchase this unique gift will be available exclusively online at http://www.gap.com/vespa*. The 2007 Limited Edition Vespa LX 50 retails for $5,999 and will be available while supplies last or by special order until December 23, 2007.
Holiday shoppers in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Las Vegas will have the opportunity to check out the 2007 Limited Edition Vespa LX 50 on display in select Gap stores from November 15 to December 3, 2007. Customers interested in purchasing this special Vespa LX 50 can visit http://www.gap.com/vespa* for purchasing details. To find a local Vespa USA dealer and for complete Vespa LX 50 information, visit http://www.vespausa.com/.
About The Piaggio Group
Established in 1884 by Rinaldo Piaggio and based in Pontedera (Pisa), Italy, the Piaggio Group is one of the world's top manufacturers of two-wheel motor vehicles. With seven production facilities, five Research & Development centers, over 6,300 employees in 50 countries and an annual production of more than 680,000 vehicles, the Piaggio Group has a consolidated leadership in the European 2-wheeler market. Piaggio ended 2006 with more than 300 dealers in the US, and an over 20 percent share of the US scooter market for Piaggio and Vespa scooters.
Its production includes scooters, motorcycles and mopeds in the 50cc to 1,200cc displacement range, marketed under the Piaggio, Vespa, Gilera, Derbi, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and Scarabeo brands. The Piaggio Group is controlled by Immsi S.p.A., an industrial and services holding listed on the Milan Stock Exchange, and is headed by Chairman and CEO, Roberto Colaninno. As of July 11th, 2006, Piaggio & C. S.p.A.'s ordinary shares are listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (Borsa Italiana).
Across its more than 120-year history, the Group has been active in almost every area of transport including: naval fittings; the construction of locomotives and rolling stock; engines for the aeronautics sector; seaplanes; and civil and military aircraft. Since the introduction of the Vespa scooter in 1946, Piaggio has led the way in meeting the growing demand for personal mobility. A universally recognized symbol of Italian style, Vespa is an outstanding success story with more than 16 million scooters produced to date. In addition, at the end of 2004, Piaggio acquired two prestigious brands, Moto Guzzi and Aprilia.
Please note http://www.gap.com/vespa does not go live until Nov. 8.
Source: Gap Inc.
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November 4, 2007
Arkansas Vespa Dealer Set to Open
ROGERS — A local couple think northwest Arkansans should scoot over their SUVs to make room in the garage for a Vespa scooter, saving fuel and enjoying the occasional openair ride in the process.
Leonard and Melody Zechiedrich will open Vespa of the Ozarks in downtown Rogers on Oct. 19. In the shop, on Walnut Street near its intersection with First Street, the character of the historic building blends with the funky, shiny appeal of 15 Italian scooters parked inside.
The two, who work as science teachers in the Rogers School District, hatched the idea for the business on a trip to Alaska. They stopped in Seattle to see streets filled with scooters, a desirable alternative to their small car.
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Rude Scooters Spied on by Neighbors
Community spies' are taking a stand against antisocial scooter riders - by photographing the culprits and handing the images over to police.
In a move prompted by the hit-and-run accident which seriously injured Selsdon Sergeant Alec Stowe last November, residents are acting as the eyes and ears of police and reporting nuisance riders to officers.
In one case, a youth is thought to have had his scooter confiscated after police were shown images of him riding antisocially.
And riders are being warned they face having their bikes confiscated and crushed if they continue to behave irresponsibly.
One resident, who the Croydon Guardian is not identifying, sometimes follows antisocial riders in their car.
They said: "Sometimes we follow gangs of them around in a car to record their activities. We make them known to police if officers don't already know who they are.
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Peugeot's new Satelis 500 maxi-scooter
Peugeot’s new maxi-scooter, the Satelis 500, is one of the best-equipped – and most affordable – superscooters yet, as Kevin Ash discovered during his first test in MCN in its October 31 issue.
What comes across most though is the quality of the Satelis, as our pictures here show: Push the seat shut and it closes with a satisfying thunk more like an executive car door’s than a scooter, while the fit and finish generally are impressive.
The level of equipment is high and the information on the dash is comprehensive, including a rev counter and various warnings including seat open.
The ABS version with some other extras such an integral lock costs another £500, and if you add further accessories such as the capacious top box (which cleverly pivots back s you can still open the front-hinged seat) or sat nav, the price will climb.
But even so, with its performance and quality, that well-known badge and a two year warranty, the Satelis looks like the best buy in the class.
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Kinetic hopes to ride high with Flyte
Kinetic will be banking on Flyte 125, a product of its technology and manufacturing tie-up with SYM — the $1 billion Taiwanese company — to pull up its sagging sales. And it appears that the Flyte might do just that.
During the last few months, there seemed to have been a lull at Kinetic. After the Blaze, which came from the portfolio of eight scooters that Kinetic bought over from Italjet, there has been a fairly long break.
But that doesn’t mean that the company and its engineers haven’t been busy. The technology and manufacturing tie-up with SYM — the $1 billion Taiwanese automobile company — which Kinetic signed early last year will enable it to launch a range of scooters.
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November 3, 2007
Men Complete Trip Around Britain -- on a Mobility Scooter
Five men braved floods and car crashes in a record-breaking 5,349-mile clockwise circuit of Britain on an 8mph disabled scooter.
The team took four months, spending nine hours a day in the saddle, to drive around the coasts of England, Wales and Scotland.
John Seamons, Simon Parrott, Jason Uren, John Duckworth, from Plymouth, and Geoff West, from Lancashire, have just got back after setting off from Devon in June.
On their epic trek they hit Britain's summer floods and also crashed into a Ford Escort but the car came off second-best. The team - who hope to make £50,000 for disabled kids' holidays - took turns on the scooter as the rest followed in a van. Mr Seamons, 60, said: "We hit floods in Gloucester. It was very wet and windy in Scotland. And we hit a Ford Escort. The scooter was not damaged but the bumper fell off the car."
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November 2, 2007
Piaggio HyS Hybrid Scooter
As the wise muppet sage Kermit the Frog once said, "It ain't easy being green."
But that hasn't stopped motorcycle manufacturers from experimenting with environmentally-friendly concept vehicles. At the recent Tokyo Motor Show, Japanese manufacturers had all-electric, gas/electric hybrids, and even two-wheeled designs powered by fuel-cell technology on display. European manufacturer Piaggio has a gas/electric hybrid of its own in the HyS scooter. Unlike those prototype vehicles at the Tokyo Show, however, the Piaggio HyS is reported to be slated for 2008 production.
The HyS gas/electric system will be fitted to three scooter designs, the Vespa LX, Piaggio X8 and the innovative three-wheeled MP3. Piaggio released information on the HyS this summer, but we're guessing the hybrid design and future production plans will take center stage for the manufacturer at the upcoming Milan Bike Show this November 5-11.
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2008 Piaggio X7 scooter
Agile and compact as an urban scooter should be, but with all the protection of a maxi, the X7 is a worthy heir to Piaggio's traditions in GT scooter design.
Made by Europe's largest manufacturer of two-wheelers, the X7 is Piaggio's latest offering in the medium size commuter market. Excellent performance is guaranteed by liquid cooled, four valve, four stroke, 125 and 250 ie engines. Impressive handling is also ensured by large 14" and 13" wheels and a chassis designed specifically for urban riding.
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Ride your briefcase to work with Yamaha's BOBBY
A new mini-scooter from Yamaha can fold up to resemble a suitcase on wheels. The Yamaha BOBBY, which was recently debuted at the 2007 40th Tokyo Motor Show, will include a variety of Internet features (yet to be disclosed) and is turned on with a cell phone.
The BOBBY is still just a prototype, with no set market release date, and most of its features have not been revealed. However, the BOBBY seems to be intended as a business commuter´s travel gadget, and since nothing quite like it exists yet, the company hopes its uniqueness will be attractive.
Click Here!
One feature of BOBBY that was revealed at the Motor Show is how the mini-scooter is turned on. The system uses one of Sony´s smart IC e-cards (FeliCa), the same technology currently employed by many Japanese train ticket systems and cash cards. More information about this suitcase on wheels will hopefully be announced in the future.
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Scooter coupe?
Don't know what to buy your rich nephew who has everything?
Does he have this three-wheeled scooter coupe, which, if you floor it can get to 30 mph? With its 1 1/2 gallon fuel tank, this baby can cruise up to 100 miles for two riders (up to 400 lbs. total). The Scooter Coupe is available in red, yellow, green, or blue.
It features a chrome dashboard, automatic transmission with independent all-wheel suspension, and shock absorbers that provide a smooth ride on its 13" alloy wheels; rubber tires and two-point restraint seatbelts for safe driving (unlike most scooters).
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November 1, 2007
Scoot, already!
So you work far from home (shame on you!) and need a greener way to get to work. It takes too long to ride your bike (plus, the sweat factor won’t fly at early board meetings), a Prius is outside your budget and a gasoline car is out of the question. Light rail is nowhere nearby and your company doesn’t have its own fleet of shuttles like Google.
Thankfully, Vectrix is here to save the day with a super sleek, highway-legal Maxi-Scooter, now available in the U.S. With a top speed of 60 mph and a maximum range of nearly 70 miles, the Maxi-Scooter outperforms the average Vespa. It plugs into any standard 110/220-volt outlet and recharges in a couple hours.
It’s stealthily quiet and uses regenerative braking technology to restore up to 10 percent of battery life. Between the low sticker price ($11,000) and savings in gas and maintenance, it’s a bargain you can’t pass up. Instead, you’ll be passing up cars and their noxious CO2 emissions as you ride to work in style.
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