February 27, 2008
Kinetic energy
Life is an adventure and that’s how I live it — through adventure,” says Major General (Retired) R K Jain. His adventures have taken him through close to 40 countries of the world on his Kinetic Honda scooter. The scooter, he says, is his spirit.
At 74, his body seems to be supporting his spirit and he plans to go riding again, this time on the Golden Quadrilateral that is presently under construction.
But that will be one of his smallest and one of his last trips to spread a message of peace and adventure. It will bring the journey to an end—a journey that began more than half a century ago.
After joining the army in only the second session of the Indian Military Academy at the age of just over 15, Jain took on his trips as a hobby. He drove through Europe with his mother and roamed the extents of the country.
Posted by Frank at 3:20 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Scooters meet trans-Vietnam challenge
Eight expats this week successfully completed the Saigon Scooter Center’s first-ever 2,591-kilometer Saigon to Hanoi Scooter Run.
The scooterists, led by Brit Pat Joynt, puttered through HCMC, Vung Tau, Phan Thiet, Nha Trang, Buon Ma Thuot, Pleiku, Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, Dong Hoi, Vinh, Ninh Binh and Hanoi between February 6 and 18.
Seven of the team members live in Vietnam, with the eighth a resident of Hong Kong.
The scooter enthusiasts rode old-style bikes, including Lambrettas and Vespas from the sixties and eighties.
“This fascinating trip has been overwhelmed by impressive milestones such as city chaos, baking heat, a Highway One death race of 2,000 trucks, freezing mountains, torrential rain, axe wielding hillbillies and flooded rice paddies,” said Joynt, who opened the Saigon Scooter Center in Ho Chi Minh City in 1997 .
Posted by Frank at 3:18 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Vespa Café
On a calm street in Teşvikiye, near the American Hospital, lies a quiet yet intriguing café with two Vespa Scooters in its industrial window display. Easily mistaken for a dealer shop, Vespa Café is actually a local hangout for the neighborhood. Vespa Café services simple yet sophisticated bistro fare in a non-smoking environment.
Vespa Café, which was opened about eight months ago by Aslan Fatin Rüştü Yener and his partner Candan Şıpka, seats only 12 people – often friends and fans of the Italian brand scooter Vespa.
Unlike the Harley Davidson crowd, Vespa followers are more of a funky urban crowd composed of hipsters and “environmentally conscience” yuppies. “Sales of Vespa motorcycles have grown dramatically in the past few years,” said Aslan. How do these citizens commute in the notoriously chaotic Istanbul traffic? “Much faster than cars stuck in traffic,” he declared.
Posted by Frank at 3:18 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Entrepreneur Makes Right Connections to Launch Scooter Business
Trick question: What’s battery powered, runs on three wheels and can lean into hairpin turns at 15 mph without losing traction or tipping over the passenger’s water bottle?
Don’t worry, no one is supposed to know the answer just yet, says entrepreneur Tom Boyd, president of San Diego-based ZuumCraft Inc.
“It’s the craziest thing out there,” said Boyd, comparing it to the two-wheeled Segway. “You know what a Segway is? This is going to kick its tail.”
His prototype, “Zuumer,” resembles a three-wheeled scooter with bicycle handlebars. It runs on rechargeable lithium batteries that supply power up to 30 miles per charge.
Posted by Frank at 3:11 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 23, 2008
South Carolina Bikers Go Topless
"You mean South Carolina doesn't have a helmet law," I asked the hotel van driver.
"Nope, I'd say about eighty percent of the riders don't wear one," he said.
"And the rest wear brain buckets -- you know why they call them that -- cause the EMS guys use them to scoop up their brains after they crash," I said.
This biker going without a helmet struck me as so unsafe I had to take a pic. No offense to him and we hope he rides safe, but South Carolina should catch up to the statistics and implement a mandatory helmet law. Sure, you look like a mushroom with legs, but they keep you alive, more often than not.
Posted by Frank at 5:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 22, 2008
Reese Witherspoon's Vespa Dilemma
Reese Witherspoon has no problem delivering a towering performance on the big screen. Just look at her Oscar winning turn as June Cash in I Walk The Line.
But the truth is that she's pretty tiny in person and this can cause problems during filming.
"I'm height-challenged," she says matter-of-factly. She was again reminded of that reality during the filming of Penelope, in which she plays a biker chick.
"I got to run around the streets of London on a Vespa," she says happily. "I got to wear the fun hair and just be ballsy and funny."
But these scenes aren't quite what they seem in the finished movie.
"My feet wouldn't touch the ground on the Vespa," she confesses. "They tried to lower it as low as they possibly could, and my feet still wouldn't touch the ground."
There were more problems in her scenes with Christina Ricci, who plays the title role of Penelope, a lonely heiress unfortunate enough to have been born with the snout of a pig. Penelope and this feisty biker girl become friends and love to go whizzing through London on the Vespa.
Posted by Frank at 6:50 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 21, 2008
Glasgow cops to use eco-friendly scooter
Police have launched a bid to reduce their carbon footprint with the introduction of an electric scooter to their fleet.
The Vectrix scooter just needs to be plugged in to charge and will be used by officers to control traffic around Glasgow Airport.
Strathclyde Police are the first in the UK to purchase such a scooter.
The machine has no carbon emissions, making it environmentally-friendly, and reaches speeds of up to 62mph.
Inspector Colin Pearson, chief of Glasgow Airport Police Unit, said: "The Vectrix electric scooter has no emissions whatsoever and works by plugging into a 13amp plug. We have two other motor scooters just now which are both petrol driven but they are coming to end of their life. We felt that to go for the green option would be the proper thing to do."
Sergeant Kenny Brown is one of a team of officers who have been trained to ride the Vectrix, which only needs an hour to charge up to full power.
Posted by Frank at 7:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Vectrix Test Drive
Today’s the day, my first proper test-ride for londonbikers.com. Yet I can’t seem to get too excited. Maybe that is because I’m to test the UK’s first serious electric scooter, the Vectrix.
Marketed as the first true zero emissions scooter combined with the performance to match, if not shame its traditional petrol competition. Every electric scooter I've seen seems to look like a child's bike and crawls about five miles at a similar speed with cyclist whizzing past. I have even seen one with push bike forks and v-brakes... nice.
The time has come, the van is here, and my excitement holds no bound. The Vectrix has arrived. I struggle to contain my excitement as the man from Vectrix unloads the van. I look in disbelief as the scooter that is being pulled out is vast...not a toy then, but a serious attempt. I give the Vectrix a quick walk around, it’s big, on par with any maxi scooter around, picture a T-Max or X8 and the weights are similar.
Posted by Frank at 6:52 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Folding scooter inventor rides the wave
IT WAS created on an industrial estate outside Glasgow by the man behind the controversial Alien Birth Pod toy.
But now the Scottish version of the folding scooter has taken the world by storm – selling more than 700,000 since its launch four years ago.
The Flashing Storm scooter is now the proud holder of the best children's outdoor product title, handed out by the British Association of Toy Retailers.
Already available in the UK, Denmark, Australia and Canada – where it has also scooped a top industry accolade at the country's national toy fair – the scooter is set to be patented in Spain, Germany, France, Italy and Russia.
Posted by Frank at 3:53 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Sgt. Brown glides on with Vectrix
SERGEANT Kenny Brown is in the driving seat of a new bid by Strathclyde Police to reduce its carbon footprint.
The force is the first in the UK to add a Vectrix electric scooter to its fleet. And Sergeant Brown is part of a team of officers trained to ride the scooter, which only needs an hour to charge up to full power.
The Vectrix will be used by officers to control traffic around Glasgow Airport. It has no carbon emissions, but can still reach speeds of up to 62mph.
Sergeant Brown said: "It's very smooth, accelerates quickly and is quite manoeuvrable and stable.
Posted by Frank at 3:02 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 20, 2008
Amsterdam to address polluting scooters
Amsterdam -- Today, the municipality presented its plans to improve air quality. Environmental organisation Milieucentrum Amsterdam (MCA) applauds the plans, but says that mopeds, SUVs, fireplaces and the Port of Amsterdam have been overlooked.
Drastic measures are needed to protect the health of the Amsterdammers and to meet EU criteria by 2010, says Maja van der Voet-Kurbatsch of the MCA. She is ‘very happy’ with the plans presented today. Proposed measures include raising parking fees, banning cars built before 1992 and a scrap subsidy for old cars.
Van der Voet-Kurbatsch says the plans do pay attention to the tuktuk - the three-wheel taxis imported from Thailand. However, they overlook the mopeds and scooters, even though these have been found to be the most polluting form of transportation on short distances. She argues for a stick-and-carrot approach to promote electronic mopeds and to discourage the use of older and more polluting models.
A few years ago, the Oud-West district created subsidies to get pizza chains to switch to electronic scooters for deliveries. This did not work, explains alderman Werner Toonk (VVD), because the batteries were not good enough and the scooters too slow.
Posted by Frank at 7:04 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Italy uses incentives to rid road of polluting scooters
MILAN -- Italian lawmakers have decided to introduce incentives to replace old scooters with new and less-polluting models, the La Stampa daily reported.
The incentives, valid until Dec 2008, include a 300 eur bonus to buy a new scooter and scrap an old one, the newspaper said in an unsourced report.
Posted by Frank at 6:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
New electric bike gets Aussie approval
Perth scooter fans could be firmly putting the pedal on their carbon footprint with the arrival of an electric bike on Australian shores.
The Vectrix electric maxi scooter was on show for the first time in Perth this morning.
It was quickly given the stamp of approval from the State’s Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan, who was impressed with the bulky-looking scooter.
The bike, which weighs 200kg and can reach speeds of 105kmh, runs on a battery that charges by plugging it into the mains power switch.
The battery can last up to 10 hours and the bikes have a daily running cost of about 53 cents.
Posted by Frank at 6:56 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 19, 2008
Six Flags to Launch In-Park Fuzion Scooter Riding Zones
EMERYVILLE, Calif. -- NextSport, the creator and manufacturer of the popular line of Fuzion performance scooters, announced today, that it has entered into a multi-year partnership with Six Flags Theme Parks to create in-park Fuzion Scooter Riding Zones with the first Fuzion Zone to be unveiled in Spring 2008 at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California.
“As all things related to board sports continue to gain popularity, a partnership with Six Flags is a natural fit to create an engaging consumer experience with our young brand as we share the same consumer audience that seeks a safe, yet exhilarating experience,” commented Ed Dua, President of NextSport. “The Fuzion Scooter Riding Zones will introduce a large audience of kids all over the country to the great new ride of the Fuzion performance scooter.”
The Fuzion Zones will provide Six Flags’ park guests the exciting opportunity to ride a Fuzion scooter in a custom designed and fully supervised Fuzion skate park. The Fuzion skate park will feature basic riding zones and a variety of different ramp and jump configurations to accommodate all levels of riders. Park guests will be trained and supervised by Fuzion trained park staff and a team of Fuzion riders to help facilitate a safe and fun experience for everyone.
Additionally, Fuzion Zone participants and observers alike will have the opportunity to watch members of the national Fuzion Pro Team demonstrate their skills during Fuzion exhibitions, followed by meet and greet sessions and autograph signings. And, eager and aspiring Fuzion Zone riders will be given the unique opportunity to win prizes and sign up to be a member of Team Fuzion.
“The creation of the onsite Fuzion Zone is another example of the powerful experiential marketing offerings available in our parks,” said David McKillips, Vice President of Corporate Alliances for Six Flags. “This partnership allows Fuzion to market its product directly to our guests and get invaluable one-on-one face time with their key customers.”
Six Flags will utilize their in-park signage programs, print and online promotions and radio and TV advertisements to showcase the park’s Fuzion Zones.
Posted by Frank at 10:20 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
TVS Motor kicks off electric scooter
TVS Motor Company launched its first electric scooter Scooty Teenz Electric, reports Economic Times.
Scooty Teenz Electric will save about 15-20% of customers` money in comparison to a petrol-run scooter. The vehicle generates an average range of 40 km per nine hours of charge. This can increase by 50% if the rider opts for lower speed of 20-25 km.
The electric scooter has 800 watts of power driving. Its other benefits are low running costs, no pollution, no noise and high durability. The company`s target customers are young women who need mobility and whose daily travel is limited to around 15-25 km per day. The ex-showroom price of the vehicle will be Rs 32,500.
Posted by Frank at 10:09 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 18, 2008
Lamponi's vintage scooter headlight lamps
Check out Lamponi's Lamps website -- where the artisan Maurizio Lamponi Leopardi fashions tres cool lighting applicances out of old Vespa and Lambretta headlights and handlebars.
The lamps are aluminium castings, turned, polished or painted, whatever you require and every single one is made to order to your specification. Which means each piece is a genuine one off (it also means you'll have to wait around 25 days for Mr Maurizio Lamponi Leopardi to make it).
Great design, individually made - you know it isn't going to be cheap. The lamps actually retail for between 1300 and 1500 Euros (around £882 - £1,017).
via Retro To Go
Posted by Frank at 3:07 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Kick 'N Go Scooter Makes High Tech Comeback
SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. -- Bravo Sports, one of the world leaders in the production of wheeled toys and action sports products, announced today the release of its long awaited Pulse Kick 'N Go, a reengineered version of the original Kick 'N Go scooter of the 1970s.
This modern incarnation of a classic racing machine offers a markedly faster and smoother ride; new high-tech gearing; and contemporary design features including a high performance Chromoly steel frame, band braking system and state of the art high speed polyurethane wheels. The Pulse Kick 'N Go is currently available for presale at http://www.Toysrus.com.
The new two wheeled Pulse Kick 'N Go ain't your daddy's scooter of yesteryear! Unlike traditional scooters that require constant pushing off the ground, the Pulse Kick 'N Go uses a unique chain driven kick lever propulsion system that allows even the most novice of riders to accelerate and maintain speed without ever touching foot-to-ground.
The ease of use is extraordinary allowing first time riders to jump on and go while easily executing tight turns and maintaining a balanced stance on the deck. Strong enough for dad to take his nostalgic laps around the neighborhood, the Pulse Kick 'N Go represents the next generation of wheeled products to offer transportation and perennial fun in a physical outdoor activity for kids of all ages.
"One of the most vivid memories from my youth is my Kick 'N Go," said Bravo Sports President and CEO Tony Armand. "It was my all time favorite toy, and it has been in the back of my mind for years to start a project here at Bravo to re-create the Kick 'N Go, utilizing our world renowned polyurethane wheel technology.
What a deja vu thrill it was for me to climb on that first prototype and rip around the warehouse. This product is so unique, and everyone who rides it has a blast right from the very first kick. Needless to say, we are as excited about the Kick 'N Go's potential as we are about riding it."
The Pulse Kick 'N Go, to be available in stores in March, retails for $99.99msrp and has two color options: one with black wheels and decals, the other in red. Visit http://www.pulsekickngo.com for additional information about the Pulse Kick 'N Go and its unique drive-train.
Posted by Frank at 3:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Razor E300 Electric Scooter
Why walk when you can zip around on the rather cool looking Razor E300 electric scooter.
This E300 electric scooter is a real eye catcher and as it can travel up to 15mph, it really would be quite hard to catch.
This environmentally friendly electric scooter comes with a powerful 300 watt chain driven motor that’s neatly hidden away under the footplate, which means it’s unbelievably quiet but can deliver the necessary power when needed.
Charge it up for 8 hours and you get 45 minutes of highly addictive scooter riding.
Posted by Frank at 3:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
My Accident: What I did right and what I did wrong
It happened without warning, as accidents do.
I was tooling around downtown Great Falls, Montana, when suddenly I knew I was going to get hit. My first thought was “That was stupid,” realising my mistake, and the next was “Cool! Just like in the movies!” as I rolled up on the hood of the car. Later I learned that I broke its windshield.
I ride a Honda Reflex, a scooter, but the rules of the road are the same as for motorcycles. In fact, because the Reflex has a 250cc engine, I had to get my motorcycle license.
I took a safety course alongside men with dreams of Harleys, but the basics, other than I didn’t need to shift, pertained to me as much as to them. I am just as vulnerable as any other biker going the same speed in the same traffic, so I need to be just as alert and as focused on my riding.
Posted by Frank at 2:53 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Scooter club plans charity rally
Scooterists are getting on their bikes and revving up for a fundraising drive to benefit the Exeter Leukaemia Fund.
Rick Alden, 46, battled against leukaemia last year after chest pains and breathlessness led to the shocking diagnosis.
Now he, his wife Clare and family friend Liz Libby are organising a rally to raise money for ELF.
The three are members of Isca Scooter Club, based in Exeter, so decided to organise a rally to boost the club profile and vital funds.
Posted by Frank at 2:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Vespa's the big prize
Imagine yourself tooling around the city on a Vespa LX 50, like the one featured in the new romantic comedy "Penelope." You could be riding one, courtesy of Vespa Philadelphia, 201 Spring Garden St., by entering this week's movie contest.
And if you don't win the bike, you might be one of the 40 lucky readers who will get four passes each to see the film, which stars Christina Ricci and James McAvoy, and which opens Feb. 29. To enter go to http://contest.philly.com
Posted by Frank at 2:39 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Target Purchases a Fleet of Segways for Security Patrols
MINNEAPOLIS -- Segway Inc. today announced that Target has purchased a fleet of Segway Personal Transporters (PTs) making Target one of Segway's largest customers.
The units will be used for security patrols at more than 150 Target and SuperTarget stores throughout the U.S. Minneapolis-based B2B Segway, a Segway Authorized Dealer specializing in commercial applications, secured the Target contract and executed the deployment of the units to the Target stores.
Tripp Welborne, director of operations, Assets Protection, Target, said, "The Segway PT is an innovative addition to our multi-layered mobile security strategy that employs technology to ensure the safeness of our guests and team members."
"We are honored to have Target as our customer," said Jim Norrod, CEO of Segway Inc. "Target has achieved success by focusing on great guest service and this purchase of a large Segway PT fleet is an extension of that."
Target Assets Protection team members will use the Segway PTs to patrol the parking lots and surrounding environments of Target stores in markets such as Chicago, Miami, Dallas, Los Angeles and Seattle. In preparation for the launch of the program, Target developed a comprehensive Segway PT training program that security personnel completed before the units were deployed at their stores.
Worldwide more than 600 police and security organizations use Segway PTs to patrol urban business centers, airports, university and corporate campuses, parks and shopping malls. The Segway PT has several operating characteristics that make it ideally suited to these tasks:
-- Officers stand eight inches taller on a Segway PT making it easier for
them to see and be seen over crowds and parked cars.
-- Segway PTs are self-balancing even when standing still, and can turn in
place. This enables officers to easily move among parked cars and
shoppers.
-- The units are battery powered, use no gasoline and give off no
emissions during operation. Thus, they can be used both indoors and
out.
Segway Inc. develops intelligent motion control technology known as Segway(R) Smart Motion(TM) that is embedded in the light electric transportation devices it manufactures, such as the Segway(R) Personal Transporter (PT). The company has a worldwide distribution network of more than 350 retail points in 80 countries.
Source: Segway Inc.
Posted by Frank at 1:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
NASCAR Racer Kasey Kahne to Appear at Polaris Open House
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- Seven-time winner in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series “Rookie of the Year,” Kasey Kahne will be visiting Chaparral Motorsports in San Bernardino, Calif.
As Kahne embarks on his fifth season of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition, he looks to the 2008 season as being a, “New year with new beginnings.” He will be signing autographs for fans during his visit.
When:
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where:
Chaparral Motorsports
555 South H Street
San Bernardino, Calif.
About Polaris
With annual 2007 sales of $1.8 billion, Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), including the Polaris RANGER™, snowmobiles and Victory motorcycles for recreational and utility use.
Polaris is a recognized leader in the snowmobile industry; and one of the largest manufacturers of ATVs in the world. Victory motorcycles, established in 1998 and representing the first all-new American-made motorcycle from a major company in nearly 60 years, are rapidly making impressive in-roads into the motorcycle cruiser and touring marketplace. Polaris also enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Pure Polaris apparel, accessories and parts, available at Polaris dealerships.
Posted by Frank at 1:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 15, 2008
TVS launches electric scooter in Gujarat
CHENNAI: TVS Motor Company, on Wednesday, launched its first electric scooter, Scooty Teenz Electric in Gujarat.
Aimed at teenage girls, Scooty Teenz Electric is easy to use and maneuver. ``It is an ideal choice for young women, who need mobility and whose daily travel is limited to around 15-25 km per day,'' says a release from the company.
Scooty Teenz Electric, the release says, can generate an average range of 40 km per nine hours of charge. This can increase by fifty per cent if the rider opts for lower speeds by using a unique feature of this electric bike, the range selector. The range selector allows the rider to select a preferred range, either high or low.
Posted by Frank at 2:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 14, 2008
Electric two-wheelers in Kerala
Kochi: With the entry of high power electric scooters, Kerala is hopeful of reducing the air pollution-causing emissions by automobiles. Hero Ultra, a venture between Hero Exports Private Limited and UK-based Ultra Motor Company announced its foray into Kerala.
Hero Cycles Limited had earlier in October 2006, signed a Technical Collaboration-cum-Joint Marketing Agreement with Ultra Motor Company, to produce and jointly market the range of “Hero Electric-Ultra Powered” electric two-wheelers in India. Both Hero Cycles Limited and Ultra Motor Company wanted to understand the strength of the market and hence the technical collaboration was the first step towards entering the Indian market.
Posted by Frank at 2:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 11, 2008
High gas prices fuel scooter shop vision
Sitting in traffic among cars and SUVs stalled by road construction, Gena Dennis had an epiphany: There must be a more fuel-efficient way to get from point A to point B.
Recalling the motorcycles and scooters her father owned during her youth in Ringle, she and her husband, Chad, began researching the motor scooters currently available on the market. They decided they liked the ones offered by Genuine Scooter Co. of Chicago and then made the two-hour drive to the closest dealership in De Pere to buy one.
During that drive came another car-seat epiphany: There ought to be a dealership in Wausau that can serve customers here.
So after obtaining the necessary permits from the city and doing some remodeling, the couple next month plans to open Joy Rides, a scooter sales and service shop at 718 N. Third Ave.
"It's something that we are so passionate about and we want to do," said Gena Dennis, who hopes the scooter craze will catch on and make Wausau a better place for their two young children and the community as a whole. "We want to try to provide a fun, environmentally friendly ride at a great price and make the community a little greener.
Posted by Frank at 7:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
RoboScooter moves toward production
At last week's Systems, Cities, and Sustainable Mobility summit in Pasadena, Calif., Raul-David Poblano of MIT announced that the RoboScooter is moving toward commercial production.
The RoboScooter, developed by the MIT Media Laboratory, Sanyang Motors, and Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute, is an electric scooter designed for cities.
The goal of the program is to provide clean transportation for congested urban areas.
Posted by Frank at 5:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 10, 2008
Scooters back in fast lane
The scooter industry has come of age, literally. From the Bajaj Vespa and the Lambretta some 30 years back to the Hero Honda Pleasure, the Kinetic Flyte or the Suzuki Access now, the industry in India has passed one milestone after another.
There were, of course, the ubiquitous Bajaj Chetak, the LML NV in the ’80s, the TVS Scooty in the early ’90s, and the Honda Activa in 2001, that were harbingers of modern two-wheeler dreams.
Trends past and present make evident that scooters just can’t be kept off roads in India. Be it the steep fall in the segment after the introduction of the 100cc motorcycles in the early ’80s or a gradual shift from a two-stroke scooter to a four-stroke one, the segment may have had a rough ride, but nothing could stop its revival. It is now growing at a compound annual growth rate of 15-17% over the last few years.
Posted by Frank at 8:34 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Piaggio to begin electric car sales in Israel
Scooter maker Piaggio will be the first company to market an electric car in Israel. Sales are set to begin in about a month, three years before the expected launch of Shai Agassi's electric car initiative. Figaro's Porter model is a small multipurpose van (MPV) that runs on an electric 12 or 14 horsepower engine that can reach a maximum speed of 58 km/h.
These qualities, along with the vehicle's short length of 3.37 meters, make it suitable only for urban use. The car is able to run for 250 kilometers on a full battery charge that takes just two hours. The battery can be charged with normal home outlets.
Posted by Frank at 8:32 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Gilera: a giant among scooters
GILERA scooters are becoming anything but ordinary! The company has already broken new ground with its three-wheeling Fuoco and the new GP800, launched in time to celebrate the company's 100th birthday, has gone one step further.
Although it's not the first scooter to be powered by a large twin-cylinder engine (Honda's Silverwing has a 582cc parallel twin for example) the GP800 is the first to have an impressive 839cc in a 90 degree V-twin configuration and it's the same engine being used to power Aprilia's automatic motorcycle, the Mana.
Posted by Frank at 8:25 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Vectrix Electric Scooters Taking Off [Silently]
It could be the Toyota Prius of the two-wheeled world - transport with green credentials that lets you show off how much you are doing to save the planet.
The Vectrix electric scooter is probably about the quietest thing on display at this year's London Motorcycle Show and it could also be the greenest.
For commuters anxious to minimize their carbon footprint, the Vectrix could be just what they are looking for.
The bulky-looking scooter will take two people and their shopping for a distance of 50 miles before it needs to be plugged into the mains for a charge-up. That takes two hours and will cost 20 pence (40 cents), the company says.
"They are beginning to take off now," says Vectrix's Annette Harris. "It was a slow start."
Posted by Frank at 8:08 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Alfardan named exclusive importer of Piaggio Group in Qatar
Alfardan Motorcycles Centre, Qatar's premier motorcycles' dealer, was named exclusive importer of Piaggio Group in the country, adding yet another achievement to its prestigious portfolio of global brand names.
The announcement was made during a press conference held at the Centre's Khalifa showroom.
Listed on Milan Stock Exchange, Piaggio Group is a leading, international two-wheel motor vehicles' manufacturer established in 1884 by Rinaldo Piaggio and based in Pontedera, Pisa, Italy. The Group boasts an unparalleled line of scooters, motorcycles and mopeds in the 50 cc and the 1200 cc displacement range with prominent brand names the likes of Piaggio, Vespa, Gilera.
Posted by Frank at 8:06 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Joyriders behind UK scoot thefts
POLICE are on the trail of joyriding youths thought to be behind a recent spate of motorbike and scooter thefts in Millom.
The force is also urging residents in the town to lock vehicles with wheel chains to prevent further incidents.
It follows a sharp rise in motorbike and scooter thefts so far this year.
A grey blue Ford Galaxy worth £5,900 was stolen on Lord Street between January 17 and 18, but it is not known whether police are linking the incident with the bike thefts.
Several of the vehicles have been stolen from Wellington Street, Holborn Hill, Nelson Street and Devonshire Industrial Estate in the past few weeks.
Police say the bikes are often recovered near to where they were taken, but often only after they have been damaged.
The bikes have been taken, not only when left unattended at the road side for short times, but also when secured in garages.
Posted by Frank at 8:04 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Chinese Super Scooter
Hate the small wheels of a scooter, but love the auto' gearbox? You might find the answer in the Jonway Ranger 150.
Riding a bike in South Africa is an act of faith. Drivers often do not see other cars, let alone bikes. New riders have to master the controls of a bike, such as changing gears, while contending with manic motorists, taxis, vans, buses and trucks.
So scooters are easier for novices, but their small wheels make their handling inferior to that of "regular" bikes. Enter the Jonway Ranger 125 and 150, with big 16-inch wheels, disc brakes front (with ABS) and rear, and plenty of knee room for tall riders thanks to a 1.5m wheelbase.
Posted by Frank at 3:31 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Kinetic SYM Flyte wins awards
Kinetic SYM Flyte scooter won two awards at the recently concluded Auto Expo-2008 at New Delhi and was declared ‘Scooter of the Year 2008’.
Experts of the car and bike magazine ‘Overdrive’ selected the scooter for the award after field trial and tests on all the different terrains and under difficult conditions in India.
Five out of five stars were awarded to the engine, handling braking, riders comfort, pillion comfort, fuel efficiency and value for money by the experts after comparing the other scooter in the range in India.
Posted by Frank at 2:21 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Global Automobiles launches 150cc scooter
New Delhi: Global Automobiles, a part of the Kolkata-based Xenitis group has launched a 150cc scooter, named UFO0150.
The two wheeler has been priced at Rs34,990.
Global Automobiles also announced the nationwide launch of its 100cc Rock100 motorcycle, which is priced at Rs19,990. According to the company, the bike offers a mileage of 125 kilometres per litre, and has already been launched in Kolkata.
Posted by Frank at 12:20 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
