May 30, 2008
Honda Cub reaches 60 million in sales
TOKYO – Cumulative worldwide production of Honda Cub series motorcycles*1 reached the 60 million-unit milestone at the end of April 2008. Honda Super Cub C100, first introduced in Japan in 1958, has gained worldwide acceptance both as a business-use motorcycle and for daily transportation, and has been being enjoyed by customers in more than 160 countries around the world. This August will mark the 50th anniversary of launching of Honda Cub series.
When Super Cub was originally launched, the 2-stroke engine was the mainstream power plant for motorcycles. However, the first generation Honda Super Cub C100 was equipped with an innovative and high-performance 50cc 4-stroke engine which was highly economical and durable.
Super Cub C100 also achieved creative and unique designs including the low-floor backbone frame which enhanced the ease of getting on and off, a centrifugal clutch system which required no clutch operations, and the installation of a large plastic leg shield which reduced the amount of dirt splatter and wind experienced by the rider. Since the introduction of the first generation model, the basic design and concept have remained virtually unchanged, and the unique style has been passed on even to current models.
In regions outside of Japan, such as Asia, the Honda Cub series has evolved to accommodate the unique culture and diversifying customer needs in each country. In Japan, an electronically-controlled fuel injection system, Honda’s PGM-FI*2, was installed on Super Cub in 2007, enhancing the environmental performance of the model. Demonstrated by these examples, Honda Cub has been continuously advancing throughout the world.
Exports of Super Cub began in 1959 with the first destination being the U.S., and production in regions outside of Japan began in 1961 in Taiwan, with production based on component parts sets. Since that time, based on Honda’s long-standing commitment to “build products close to the customer,” local production began in many other countries. The Honda Cub series is currently being produced in 15 countries around the world.
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Wireless Headsets Enable Bike-to-Bike Communications
Cardo Systems, Inc., the world’s market leader in the field of wireless Bluetooth communications for motorcycle helmet headsets, has announced the launch of its new SCALA RIDER® MultiSet.
The MultiSet retail box includes two ready-to-use SCALA RIDER Q2 wireless headsets for hands-free and safe bike-to-bike communication at distances of up to 540 yards as well as for use with mobile phones.
“With the SCALA RIDER MultiSet we continue to empower bikers with the best communication technology available, without compromising safety. To offer a smooth out-of-the-box experience the two headsets come factory paired, so that users can instantly start enjoying the product. As the fifth scion in our SCALA RIDER line of products we keep pushing the envelope for our customers by offering optimal solutions for every need”, said Abraham Glezerman, CEO of Cardo Systems, Inc.
The two Q2 headsets in the MultiSet retail box offer Multiple Device Connection (MDC) technology, with added features that allow bikers to connect wirelessly by Bluetooth to several audio sources including the following: voice instructions from a GPS, mobile phone conversations with third parties, intercom conversations with passengers and with other bikers, and high-quality FM radio transmissions from the embedded FM module. Whether you are riding your motorcycle with a friend on another motorcycle or riding with a passenger, the SCALA RIDER MultiSet is a great and instant way to stay in touch.
The MultiSet are also fully backward-compatible with the entire line of earlier SCALA RIDER models (solo, Combo, FM and TeamSet). In addition to MDC technology and Bike-to-Bike intercom, the two Q2 headsets offers the same high-quality performance as in previous SCALA RIDER models, including wind impact reduction, voice controlled receipt and rejection of incoming mobile calls, automatic volume adjustment according to driving speed and ambient noise, full rain and snow protection and more.
The new SCALA RIDER MultiSet is now available through select distributors, retail outlets, specialty motorcycle shops, and directly from the Cardo Systems web site at www.scalarider.com with a suggested retail price of $395.95.
About Cardo Systems, Inc.
Cardo Systems, Inc., headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, specializes in the design, development, manufacturing, and sale of innovative wireless Bluetooth® consumer electronic devices. Cardo’s award-winning products integrate state of the art technology and features, with the latest innovative audio design. The company's SCALA RIDER line of products for motorcycle helmets are sold in over 50 countries and are leading the market in the segment.
Max. range of 540 yards is attainable only in wide open spaces and with no obstacles between the bikers. The typical effective range is approximately 800 ft. / 250 m depending on line of sight, terrain and traffic.
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Piaggio's strategy update expected to be cautious
MILAN -- After a weak start to the year, Italian scooter maker Piaggio & C SpA (PIA.MI: Quote, Profile, Research) is expected to be cautious at best when it gives an update of its three-year strategic plan on Friday.
Like most vehicle manufacturers, Piaggio, best known for its Vespa scooter, is facing a drop in sales as consumers postpone big-ticket purchases amid signs of a weakening economy.
The weather has not helped, either. In Italy, its home market, rain has washed out the spring season and dampened demand for scooters and motorcycles.
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Scooting past the gas station
Harley-Davidson might be wishing it made a scooter. In fact, most motorcycle manufacturers without one in their lineups have to be feeling the pain. Motorcycle sales are down.
Scooters, on the other hand, are selling as fast as their little wheels can carry them from showroom floors. Sales have jumped 23.6 percent in the first quarter of 2008 compared with the same period in 2007.
Why? A scooter gets between 40 and 120 miles per gallon, compared with 27.5 mpg for the average car and about 50 for a motorcycle.
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Gas-efficient scooters gain following
TOLONO – When it is time for Tolono hairstylist Debbie Revell to make a house call to give a fellow resident a perm or a haircut, she puts her equipment in the back of red and black scooter and rides to her next appointment.
"Riding a scooter is a blast, and it saves me a lot of money on gasoline," Revell said.
Revell said her scooter gets up to 100 miles per gallon.
"I can go to the gas station, fill up my (one-gallon) tank with a $5 bill and still get change back," Revell said.
Revell said she uses her scooter for everything from grocery shopping to asparagus hunting.
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Could you scoot along for four dollars a week in gas?
How would you like to spend about four dollars a week for gas? Chris vann says it's possible. He bought a scooter last September. "Mine goes about 35 miles per hour," he says. "I get about 60 miles to the gallon, I spend about 30 dollars a month in gas. I use it every day, it's my only transportation."
Pete Vanderberry from Coastal Sooters says more people are deciding that riding a scooter is appealing. "They come in here just tired of spending 60 or 70 bucks to fill up their car, he says. "Over the past few weeks, we've been selling about one day."
Vanderberry says scooters can sell from $2,000 to $4,000 and if you buy one that's less than 50 cc (cubic centimeters) you just need a helmet and you can ride it.
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Scooter Sales Increasing as Gas Prices Rise
The economy may be taking a dive, but one industry seems to be booming. And it's all related to the price of gas.
Local retailers say people are snatching up scooters as fast as they can. And with gas prices expected to continue rising, some say scooters will soon be as popular as the SUV was back in the 1990's.
Michael Dixson, who purchased a scooter six months ago for commuting, says, "Since gas has been up, I've paid only $1.83 to fill up. And that will probably last me about three to four weeks before I have to fill up again, which is really nice."
So nice in fact, that many more people are trading their four wheels for two.
Gary Vass, owner of the Super Scooter Shop in Springfield, says, "A lot of our customers just can not afford the gas. It's a matter of making some major changes or not having enough groceries on their table."
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May 28, 2008
Insane Scooter Jacking Update
Jonathan Lieber bought his scooter, an orange Buddy 125, just a week before he nearly lost it. Here’s his version of the events: Around 9 p.m. on Friday May 16, he was riding north on 13th Street NW and came to a stop at the light at Euclid. A group of teenagers started crossing the street toward him, but that didn’t seem odd, it being DC, on a Friday night.
Then one of the young men marched over and told Lieber to give up his scooter. Not comprehending his assailant’s determination, Lieber refused. To help him understand, a second teen lifted up his shirt, grabbed the pistol stuffed in his waistband, and used it to slapped Lieber in the face. That sort of backfired. Instead of dismounting, the panicking Lieber yanked his throttle and zoomed into the intersection, where he collided with a car and toppled over the hood and onto the ground.
The kids ran off, someone called 911 and John sat bleeding from his split lip. Another driver ran out of his car after the hoodlums. In return for this daring deed, his car rolled down the hill and crashed into another vehicle. Lieber, after giving a statement to police, took an ambulance to Howard University Hospital, where he got eight stitches.
Then he got another surprise: an officer showed up with a $50 ticket charging Lieber with causing the collision on Euclid. Lieber says the officer explained that he had to blame someone, for insurance purposes, but promised not to show up in court if Lieber contested the ticket.
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Scoot over, SUVs
WEST GOSHEN -- Dominic Caporale puts his money where his mouth is.
A salesman at Vespa of West Chester, he also drives a Vespa 150 to and from work.
Caporale is like many a new motor scooter owner. Concerned about sky-high gasoline prices, which now flirt with the $4 per gallon mark, Caporale drives his car (a Saab) only when wet weather interrupts his Vespa habit.
Motor scooter sales are up about 15 percent from this time last year at the Vespa dealership, which is owned by Mike Homaijani. (He also owns the adjacent Import Cars of West Chester. Both businesses are in the 700 block of East Market Street.)
Sales are also 10 percent better so far this year than last at the Planet Honda dealership in Chadds Ford, Delaware County, according to saleswoman Jillian Soden.
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Scooter riders laughing all the way to the pump
Jim Klinge gets plenty of honks as he rides his blue scooter to and from work. But the 49-year-old Grand Rapids man doesn't think motorists are commending him for his fuel-conscious vehicle choice.
"Cars don't have any respect for you," Klinge said. "You can be doing the speed limit, and they still come and pass you."
Still, Klinge is willing to deal with a few horn-happy gas guzzlers. He's laughing all the way to the pump.
Klinge bought his 49cc Wildfire for $901 from Mill Creek Motors, 3867 West River Drive NE in Plainfield Township. He made the decision about three weeks ago as gasoline neared $4 per gallon.
He gets about 100 miles per gallon and rides it whenever possible, using bungee cords to strap groceries to the back.
"I had to do something," he said. "My pickup (truck) was getting like 10 miles or 11 miles per gallon, if that."
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Two-wheeling is on the rise
Bruce Halliday's fuel bill last year was $110. He expects his bill this year may skyrocket, all the way to $130.
With the average gas price across Canada on Monday at $1.31 per litre (Nanaimo is just a shade under $1.35) people are looking at alternate transportation.
Halliday has been riding a scooter regularly for more than a decade.
He first bought a vintage Vespa as a teenager in Victoria in the 1970s.
"It's fun, kind of sexy," said Halliday of scootering.
Currently, the Gabriola Island resident gets to his job as general manager of the Port Theatre on a gas-powered Vespa ET2 scooter he bought three years ago.
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Gas prices prompting changes
The Spokane Vespa dealership says these Italian scooters are now selling as fast as they come in.
"If you don't ride this, you get a motorcycle or bicycle. I just can't see spending, I have a diesel truck that got 12 miles to the gallon. I don't have it anymore," said Mark, the president of a local group of riders called the Minions Club.
Depending on the size, the Vespa can get more than 150 miles to the tank.
"It cost about $8 to fill up," Mark said. "We ride it every day. You can't beat that."
"People are definitely more interested in bikes," Sullivan said. "They are just tired of paying the money."
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May 27, 2008
Sales of scooters expected to skyrocket
The high cost of gasoline fuels a trend toward more economical scooters and motorcycles.
Grady Maples was fed up with high gas prices.
Maples, 54, of Tulsa, took matters into his own hands and exchanged his car for a motor scooter.
The Owasso native is just one of many Oklahomans opting to use motorcycles or motor scooters as a primary method of transportation instead of an automobile in an effort to save money on gas.
"I save hundreds of dollars each month by using a scooter," Maples said.
Dealers across the Tulsa area have seen a recent spike in the sales of motorcycles and motor scooters over the last few months. Many employees attribute the shift to the cost of gas, which has been on a steady rise.
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Scooter Safety
A combination of high gas prices and spring weather means we are seeing a lot more motorcycles and scooters out on the roadways in the Wabash Valley.
Indiana State Police troopers say when sharing the road with motorcycles, make sure to use extra caution.
Troopers say the smaller vehicles can be hard to see, so motorists should be sure to take an extra look for them.
Police say scooter and motorcycle drivers should anticipate drivers' moves and always wear protective clothing.
Troopers say they see a spike in motorcycle accidents in the early spring.
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Hop on a scooter
You've seen their bright colors speckling the streets, gliding in and out of traffic, and though they aren't quite as formidable as a Harley-Davidson, you've probably daydreamed about how cool you'd look cruising on a scooter.
That's okay. With gas prices rising with the summer heat, it may be time to swap that SUV for something a little less taxing on your wallet. Brian Ducharme, managing editor of Virtual Strategy magazine, and creator of Scoot Free or Die, an online New Hampshire scooter club, had a few tips for those ready to hop on two wheels.
"One of the nice things about riding a (50cc) scooter is that you don't need a motorcycle license. They're good to start on. Registering it comes out to about $12," he said.
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The scooter solution to high gas prices
Out of the large windows that line the front of Metzger's Cycles & Accessories, Jason Metzger can watch the price of gas at the gas station across 10th Avenue South.
Every time gas goes up 4 cents, he figures he'll sell an extra scooter that week.
With the price of gas climbing and the possibility of $4-per-gallon gas looming, consumers are looking for ways to fill up their tanks less often and looking for smaller gas tanks.
The price for a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline climbed to $3.77 in Great Falls last week. That's compared to $3.48 a month ago and $3.21 at this time last year, according to AAA.
Metzger opened his business, which sells Vespa and Piaggio scooters, as well as motorcycle accessories, late last fall. Business has steadily been picking up since.
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'Scooting' by high gas prices
MARION — Julie Daiber is making a statement. Her answer to the rising gas prices was to purchase a Buddy 125 Scooter about a month ago.
Daiber said she had ridden a motorcycle for about 8 years but knew the scooter would get better gas mileage.
“It (scooter) looked like a lot of fun,” she said. “Gas prices are going through the roof. I drive a Corolla and it gets really good gas mileage so I shouldn’t complain compared to what some of my co-workers and friends who drive SUV’s are getting.”
The scooter, which reaches a top speed of 70 miles per hour and gets about 100 miles per gallon, draws a lot of comments from people when she rides into a gas station for a fill-up.
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Gas prices benefit some businesses
As gas prices climb higher, jumping nearly 20 cents in one day this week and inching closer to the dreaded $4 per gallon, some local businesses are actually reaping the benefits.
Bicycle, scooter and even motorcycle sales are skyrocketing as consumers seek alternative modes of transportation.
At Trimble’s Cycle Center in Austin, not only are they sold out of their coveted Honda scooters — the company is too.
“We haven’t got any left,” Dick Trimble said Thursday.
Trimble said they are trying to get other brands in stock but are having difficulty due to the high demand.
The dealer, which began carrying scooters about 10 years ago, typically orders them in the fall and begins stocking them for the season in February and March. Many customers are parents buying them for their high school children, Trimble said. The legal age to drive a scooter is 15.
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Vespa Product Placement
Vespa lands a role in a hot summer film while gas prices climb to records highs - another example of fantastic timing in the world of product placement.
Vespa, the world's most iconic scooter brand, is joining forces this summer with SUBWAY restaurants and secret agents Maxwell Smart and Agent 99 from the action comedy "Get Smart" to fight the forces of evil - traffic congestion, fuel consumption, global warming and boring transportation. Supporting a cameo appearance by a silver Vespa LX 150 scooter in the upcoming Warner Bros. Pictures release will be a national promotional campaign and placement within a SUBWAY-branded promotional online Instant Win Game and Sweepstakes with a chance to win one of 10 Vespa scooters, as well as two exclusive offers to enjoy free food and gear. The multi-tiered promotion ties-in with the June 20 launch of "Get Smart," starring Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson and Alan Arkin.
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Scooterists to converge at rally
More than 100 scooterists will converge on Waxahachie from June 13-15 for the North Texas Lakes Rally, sponsored by the Cabana Boys Scooter Group of North Texas.
Scooters of all sizes, makes, ages and speeds can be seen, including Vespas, Cushmans, Lambrettas – even the old Sears and Roebuck Allstate scooters will be on hand.
“There will be all kinds of vendors, including a new scooter shop out of Colleyville that will have new scooters on display,” said Daniel Smith, club leader and Waxahachie resident. “We’re also going to raffle off a 1980 Honda Elite 50 scooter. It’s a little rough, but it’s registered and has a clear Texas title.”
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May 24, 2008
Vespas Taking Over Streets Of Philly
The trend started in Italy, and soon the little scooters named Vespas were a huge hit all over Europe. Now they're taking over the streets of the USA and as Stephanie Abrams reports, you'll see them driven all around Center City Philadelphia.
So why all the buzz? The manager of Philly Vespa on Spring Garden Street says it has everything to do with the skyrocketing gas prices.
People we spoke with say the price they're paying at the pump is "tragic" but add, "What else can you do?"
Angie Foster says she spends 120 dollars a week to gas up her car. She's fed up, and that's why she went to Philly Vespa, ready to downsize.
Stephanie asked her, "You'd give up your car for that ... For a scooter?" "Yes!" said Angie. "I don't care if it rains. I do not care! I will get a scooter before I drive that car. It costs too much!!!"
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Scooter Sales Rise With Gas Prices
Record high gas prices have more drivers downsizing from four wheels to two. Scooter sales at Vespa of Des Moines have been "amazing" says Paula James. The reason? Drivers want to save money at the pumps. "They only hold 2.3 gallons, so you figure you can spend $8 or $9 at the pump and go almost 200 miles," says James.
At Garvis Honda, scooters are going so fast the dealer is having a hard time keeping them in stock. Only four are for sale today. "We've sold 40 or 50 in the last month or so," says Kevin McKinney.
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Gas Goes Up, Scooter Sales Follow
“It’s up about 25%.” Super Scooter Shop owner Gary Vass is talking about business.
It took a turn for the worse when the weather did the same in February, but bounced back in March and is now on the rise, much like the prices at the pump.
“I think they have 90% to do with the increase in business,” Vass continues.
Gary's selling about a bike a day, and every one of them gets between 80 and 150 miles per gallon. Mopeds, bicycle-style vehicles that run on chains instead of belts, are the most fuel-efficient. And possibly for that reason, you're seeing more mopeds, scooters and motorcycles.
Springfield police say that accident statistics may support the theory there are more motorcyclists on the road.
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May 23, 2008
Vespa: It’s no gas hog
Kelly Thompson remembers getting quizzical looks when he hummed around Grand Forks on his four-year-old Vespa scooter.
Not anymore.
With gas prices hovering near $4 a gallon, local scooter sales are surging as consumers search for an alternative mode of summer transportation.
“I used to turn heads when I drove by,” Thompson, 47, said. “People would point and look. But now it’s not such a novelty. I’ve seen a lot more people on scooters. They have really grown in popularity.”
Paul Callina, sales manager of Revolutions Power Sports in Grand Forks, estimated scooter sales this year have increased 70 percent from the first five months of last year.
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May 22, 2008
Vespa Get's Smart with Subway Giveaway
NEW YORK -- Vespa, the world's most iconic scooter brand, is joining forces this summer with SUBWAY restaurants and secret agents Maxwell Smart and Agent 99 from the action comedy "Get Smart" to fight the forces of evil - traffic congestion, fuel consumption, global warming and boring transportation.
Supporting a cameo appearance by a silver Vespa LX 150 scooter in the upcoming Warner Bros. Pictures release will be a national promotional campaign and placement within a SUBWAY-branded promotional online Instant Win Game and Sweepstakes with a chance to win one of 10 Vespa scooters, as well as two exclusive offers to enjoy free food and gear.
The multi-tiered promotion ties-in with the June 20 launch of "Get Smart," starring Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson and Alan Arkin.
While Maxwell Smart (Carell) and his savvy partner Agent 99 (Hathaway) pursue the evil forces of KAOS, consumers can ensure that they're not starting their own mission on an empty stomach or without the right protection. Secret agents in search of fresh fare and the ideal getaway ride can receive a free $5 SUBWAY(R) card with a test drive or product demonstration at all Vespa dealers.
Participants in SUBWAY(R) restaurant's Get Smart Eat Fresh Instant Win Game and Sweepstakes will receive a message to take advantage of a special offer to receive a free Vespa Soft-Touch helmet, a $300-value, with the purchase of a new Vespa scooter. The online, print and in-store promotions run June 2 through August 10, 2008 at all Vespa dealers and more than 21,500 SUBWAY(R) restaurants in the U.S.
"The Vespa brand is synonymous with smart, spirited transportation," says Paolo Timoni, President and CEO of Piaggio Group Americas, Inc. "Vespa riders already know that scooters are a fresh way to tackle today's fuel and congestion issues, and we're pleased that this promotion gives us the opportunity to help even more consumers uncover the facts about Vespanomics."
Shoe Phone Not Required
To achieve their mission and get away on a fuel-efficient, eco-friendly and fun Vespa, consumers don't need a bag of secret gadgets and tricks. In addition to potentially winning a Vespa GTS or LX 50 scooter via SUBWAY(R) restaurant's Get Smart, Eat Fresh Instant Win Game and Sweepstakes, amateur agents are also invited to follow the links to print out a coupon good for one of the latest Vespa Soft Touch or Piaggio Copter helmets, available free of charge with the purchase of a new Vespa scooter.
SUBWAY(R) restaurant's Instant Win Game and Sweepstakes details are a click away at www.subwayfreshbuzz.com, via a special movie-themed microsite. Even if you don't play the Instant Win Game, all consumers over the age of 18 are invited to visit a Vespa dealer to receive a free $5 SUBWAY(R) card, available with a Vespa test ride or product demonstration. Consumers can learn more about the free $5 SUBWAY(R) card offer at www.VespaUSA.com.
Both participating Vespa dealerships and SUBWAY(R) restaurants will promote the campaign with point of sale promotional materials. All offers are valid while supplies last. For complete terms and conditions, consumers should visit www.subwayfreshbuzz.com or www.VespaUSA.com.
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Gas prices accelerating scooter sales
Last July, fed up with delays on Boston’s mass transit and unwilling to drive my car every day, I bought myself a Honda Metropolitan scooter and began using it to commute the four miles from my apartment to the Monitor’s offices in downtown Boston. It goes about 40 miles an hour and gets between 80 and 100 miles per gallon (depending on the outside temperature and whether I ride like a maniac).
And yes, I’ll be the first to admit that it’s dorky, but I’ve found that I’ve become much happier after I stopped trying to look cool.
My Met’s engine displacement is under 50 cubic centimeters, which means I don’t need a motorcycle license to ride it in Massachusetts, just a regular driver’s license. It also means that I can legally ride it in the bike lane, which is what I do when traffic is backed up, a great way to draw angry glares from drivers. Parking is never a problem; I can legally leave it on the sidewalk.
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Born to Be Fuel-Efficient
Chris Casal, a Brooklyn, N.Y., elementary-school teacher, used to drive to work almost every day, mainly because it took 12 minutes compared with an hour by subway. But rising fuel and parking costs made the trip "kind of ridiculous," he says.
So last year he bought a Vespa GTS scooter that uses about $7 of fuel every two weeks instead of the $30 his Honda Civic consumed. He parks free in the schoolyard, and the two-wheeler impresses his students. The kids also like "the odd factor," he says. "I'm a six-foot-one-inch, 255-pound guy on a little Italian scooter."
You know drivers are feeling the pinch of pricey gas when big guys, even pickup-driving contractors, start trading four wheels for two.
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Safety courses for scooter riders
Gas prices are fueling scooter sales, but a large part of scooters' appeal is their non-threatening profile and ease of use. You don't swing a leg over a scooter as you would on a motorcycle. You merely step through and sit down. Nor do you need to master a manual transmission. You just twist the grip and go.
Yet scooters are prone to many of the same safety issues as motorcycles. Their size makes them difficult for drivers to see, and on smaller-displacement models in particular, their low power makes mixing with fast-moving traffic more challenging.
If you want to ride a scooter and aren't already a regular rider of two wheels, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation has a few recommendations.
First, start bicycling - "just to get used to balancing on two wheels and using the hand controls," said Ray Ochs, MSF's director of training systems. "Make sure you have the motor skills integrated. That's very, very important."
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Motor Scooter Sales Skyrocketing With Price Of Gasoline
With gas prices closing in on $4 a gallon, people are looking for new ways to get around town. Maybe that's why motor scooter sales are skyrocketing, and all of a sudden what's old is new again.
Customers are pouring in to check out the scooter selection at Vespa of San Diego in Hillcrest. The attraction seems to be all about the price of gas. Jen Berry is looking to spend about $5,000 on a new Vespa.
"Travel to and from work, weekend trips traveling around. It will be easier to park at the beach, too," Jen said.
Over at Motorsport Scooters in North Park, sales are up too.
"Last time I filled up it cost $4.75," one scooter owner said.
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Scooting around the gas crunch
Harley-Davidson might be wishing it made a scooter about now. In fact, most motorcycle manufacturers without one in their lineups have got to be feeling the pain. Motorcycle sales are down this year.
Scooters, on the other hand, are selling as fast as their little wheels can carry them from showroom floors. Sales have jumped 23.6% in the first quarter of 2008 compared with the same period in 2007, and they're likely to continue their quick and upward trajectory.
Daily headlines and the signs at your nearest Chevron already give the reason, but I'll spell it out: G-A-S. Depending on the displacement, a scooter gets between 40 and 120 miles per gallon, compared with 27.5 mpg for the average car and about 50 for a motorcycle.
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High gas prices driving booming scooter sales
KNOXVILLE, Tennn. -- In a time of pinching pennies due to high gas prices, there is one business that really seems to really be booming.
Those that have short distances to travel are opting to leave their cars parked, and invest in a little less-traditional form of transportation.
"Just looking at scooters to see if it would be beneficial or not."
Wesley Crow is considering trading four wheels for two.
“I've got a truck so it uses a lot of gas. The more I keep it parked the better."
He’s hoping to park his gas-guzzling truck for a while, and buy a scooter for his daily commute to work.
"Probably about seven miles, so it would help out. It's back roads, so a scooter would work."
Crow isn’t alone. The riding season is early, and the sales department at Honda Yamaha of Knoxville is already selling out of some scooter models.
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Scooter Sales Soar As Gas Prices Rise
OMAHA, Neb. -- Gas prices averaged $3.77 for a gallon of regular in Omaha on Tuesday, according to AAA.
Some people are turning in the keys to their car for something smaller. Tiffany Smith already changed jobs to a position within walking distance of her home. Now, she's considering swapping her vehicle for a scooter.
"It's just too expensive to drive anywhere," Smith said.
Smith's research has showed her that some scooters get 100 miles to the gallon.
Ryan Burkle, at Powersports Pro, said his shop has seen an increase in scooter sales lately, and it's a completely different type of customer.
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May 20, 2008
Riding the Vespa S
I was a bit skeptical about venturing onto the city streets aboard the Vespa S. After touring through Manhattan and Brooklyn on a group ride for journalists, though, I found myself persuaded that scooters are extremely useful for basic city transport — at least when the weather’s cooperative.
The S, which is closely related to Vespa’s LX, is powered by a 150cc air-cooled four-stroke. Indeed, the two scoots share many of the same specs. (S specs here; LX specs here.) The most significant differences between the S and the LX are stylistic — the S is a bit leaner, intended to recall 1960s models such as the Vespa Special and the Vespa Primavera.
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The other Rome sees a scooter boom
The price of gas is $3.75 a gallon and rising. The convenience of pay at the pump, buckle up and go has left most dragging. The high cost of gasoline is stressful, but local scooter and motorcycle owners are trying to leave those gas guzzling ways behind them.
Jaime Maddox, 28, a medical assistant at Rome Family Dermatology and mother of two, is not your ordinary biker. She had never owned or ridden a two-wheel motorized vehicle before getting her scooter.
Her dad, Sgt. Ray Plymel, a firefighter at the Floyd County Fire Department, has given her extensive exposure to the dangerous realities of motorcycle and automobile collisions.
“I was a bit surprised that she was interested in it. It only takes a few seconds to get injured. It’s unforgiving,” said Plymel.
Road safety is a big concern for first-timer Jaime. However, saving money is a bigger concern for the Maddox family.
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Riding a scooter saves more than gas
Corey Mood has no qualms about having his fiancee take a back seat in his life more often these days.
That's because he's driving a motorized scooter around the city, saving money in gas. And she's often literally behind him, arms wrapped around his waist.
The 30-year-old physician's assistant bought the Vespa last month for $1,500.
Now, the Logan Square resident leaves his Audi parked whenever he can. He still drives his car to and from his Morton Grove job.
"For pretty much everything else, I plan on using the scooter -- trips to the grocery store, around town, going to the beach on weekends. ..," he said.
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Baghdad's Vespa Market
BAGHDAD -- At the side of a bustling street in central Baghdad scores of Iraqi youngsters keen to buy their first motorbike wander amid the engine fumes searching for a bargain. Welcome to the Vespa Souk.
The weekly wheel-dealing is shrouded in a cloud of dust and smoke as buyers and sellers jostle among the goods, ranging from heavy, growling racing machines to ancient, spluttering scooters.
Musthafa Ahmed may be only 16-years-old but he already considers himself a seasoned biker.
Dwarfed by his Honda CM250 Custom bike, he proudly showed off his skills by tearing off down a one-way street -- the wrong way -- and weaving between oncoming traffic with heart-stopping dexterity.
Motorcycle broker Ahmed Hussain, 22, said demand for two-wheelers has been rising since the US-led occupation in March 2003, as bikes prove a safer and more practical way to negotiate Baghdad's treacherous streets.
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Rising fuel prices cause many to look at 2-wheels
PIERRE, S.D. — Joan Kohler is not a typical new scooter customer.
But the 51-year-old restaurant owner bought a candy-apple red Honda recently as worries about the price of gasoline overrode any trepidation about learning to drive it.
With the average price of gasoline closing in on $4 a gallon, many cash-strapped motorists are turning to fuel-stingy motor scooters and smaller motorcycles. Dealers across the nation report brisk sales this spring, particularly for those that get from 75 to 120 miles per gallon.
"Ninety-five percent of those who come in mention high gas prices," said Lonnie Trujillo, sales manager for Vespa of California at Sherman Oaks, Calif. "Even though we're in southern California and have year-round riding weather, April sales were phenomenal," he added.
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May 18, 2008
Scooter rider pleads with 'intolerant' motorists
DARWIN scooter rider Aleja Perkins has called for motorists to be more mindful of sharing the roads.
The 23-year-old cafe manager, from Bayview, is angry at the way she is treated on the roads and is now scared to use her only form of transport.
"People sticking their fingers up, being impatient, overtaking on merging lanes so I have had to brake and telling me I have to ride on the shoulder is what I deal with,'' she said. "It makes me feel angry and scared.''
Ms Perkins said riding her yellow Jive Bug nicknamed "Bumblebee'' is not only more economical than driving a car but is her way of contributing to the environment.
"I ride for economical and environmental reasons,'' she said.
"Just this week three people have given me the finger -- I don't want to start off my day like that.
"To motorists, give us a chance -- I am doing everything legally."
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Scooting away from high gas prices
Eric Sanders senses he's not very popular at the gas station when he drives up to the gas pumps on his Piaggio scooter - the one that gets 70 miles to the gallon.
The envy in those paying big bucks to fill their cars, sport utility vehicles and trucks with $4-a-gallon gasoline is palpable, he said.
"When I go to get gas, people look at me like they're hateful," Sanders, 45, of White Plains, said.
Fuel-sipping motor scooters and motorcycles are becoming a popular choice for drivers trying to cope with gasoline prices that have reached record highs and that analysts expect to continue rising at least through the Fourth of July.
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Robber Uses A Scooter To Get Away
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Police have a unique search underway. They are looking for a man on a scooter that robbed the Rb2 Lounge on the west end of Huntington.
The robbery happened just after 9 Saturday morning. The video lottery establishment is located on Waverly Road. It's the same business someone robbed back in March. That suspect got away with 11,000 dollars.
The person who robbed the lounge today is described as a tall, slim man wearing a brown jacket. Witnesses tell police he was riding a scooter when he left the parking lot.
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Drivers Find Way To Scoot Around High Gas Prices
PLAINVILLE, Conn. -- Two months ago, Rick Whinnem decided to find a more cost-effective way to travel to work than driving his car. He parked the car and got a scooter to use for his 25-mile commute to work in Cromwell.
“I actually save $200 a month over my Jeep,” he said.
His scooter has one wheel in the back and two in the front for stability.
“Last weekend I took it down to the shore for a couple of days, all on back roads back and forth, and that's where I got 61 and a half miles to the gallon so, it's unbelievable,” Whinnem said.
Doug Day from Vespa Hartford said some bikes get 60 miles per gallon, while the smallest bikes will get more than 100 miles per gallon.
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Ups and downs of riding a scooter
SEATTLE -- Step aside, youngsters. There's a new breed of scooter riders in town.
With gas prices on the rise, scooter sales are booming and more than half of the buyers are between 40 and 60 years old.
"Dense city, high price of gas - a scooter makes sense," said Steve Calvo, dealer with Vespa Seattle. "We're up 225 percent over last year."
The gas mileage explains the hype. You can fill up a 50cc scooter for around $4 and travel 75 miles before filling up again.
Patti West, who commutes by scooter year-round, says she saves money and time with her choice of wheels.
"I show up at events sooner than my friends because I can find parking right away," she said.
But parking takes precedence over power. On a flat street, a scooter with a 50cc engine can reach up to 45 mph, but on a hill, you're lucky if you can hit 20 mph.
And there are safety worries, including wipe outs, lack of scooter driving experience and car drivers who fail to see scooters coming.
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High Gas Prices Fuel Scooter Sales
ORLANDO, Fla. -- With rising gas across the country, more Floridians are turning in their gas-guzzling vehicles for two-wheeled scooters as a method of saving big bucks.
Lauren Rodriquez is a pet sitter, which is a job that takes her everywhere.
"The last month I had a car and I spent $300 just in one month on gas," Rodriguez said.
After trading in her car for a scooter, Rodriguez now maxes out at $70 per month. She believes there is no better way to save money than by paying $5 to fill up her tank and getting 75 miles to the gallon.
"I have almost 17,000 miles on my Vespa," Rodriquez said.
The same scenario pertains to Rev. Bryan Fulwider, who says he pays one-fourth of what he used to spend on gas.
"Over the last two weeks, I think we've spent about $14 or $15 on gas, compared to $65 or $70 every two weeks," Fulwider said.
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3,500 mile trip on a scooter
A COUNCILLOR is travelling round the coastline of Britain to raise cash for charity - on a scooter.
Coun Alan Neal is aiming to raise £100,000 for two causes close to his heart, with Peter and Michael Parsons of Whitworth Warriors Motorcycle Club.
The team will set off on September 6, hoping to cover 3,750 miles in a week, with a typical day involving 17 hours of riding.
David Dearden, MD of Robinsons of Rochdale, will sponsor the 125CC scooter and an environmental unit, donated from Casey's in Bury, will lead it and provide somewhere to eat, sleep and wash.
Coun Neal, who represents Whitworth, said: "We are raising money for Cancer UK and Leukaemia Research and we're going to split the money we raise equally between them.
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High gas prices bring new customers to local businesses
LOUISVILLE -- When it comes to getting around, many people aren't just examining how to save on travel plans. As WAVE 3's Lindsay English reports, some are also making some changes when it comes to the daily commute.
They seem to be popping up more and more.
"I'm seeing more bikes when I'm coming to work then I've seen over the past few years," says Steve Wood of Bardstown Road Bicycle Company.
Commuters of the two-wheeled kind, sharing the roads, and not spending a dime on gas. Employees say more customers are coming in with plans to leave their cars parked more often.
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Gas Prices Prompting More To Consider Scooters
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Triangle is a region with streets and highways that are packed full of high horsepower SUV’s and pickups. However, in recent months, more and more people are leaving their four wheeled rides at home.
For Durham resident Paul Friedman, his choice to buy a classic Vespa is not one necessarily rooted in economy.
“I spent some time in Italy and fell in love with the scooters there,” Paul Friedman said.
But over the last few months, he's been getting more and more inquiries from his fellow motorists at the gas pumps, not just about the 1960's styling of his “Roman Holliday” scooter, but about its modern day economy.
“I think it gets about 70 to 80 miles a gallon,” Friedman said.
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Gas prices speed motor scooter sales
When he opened his Vespa of Toledo motor scooter dealership a year ago, Mike Kookoothe sold 35 of the two-wheeled vehicles during the summer and considered that a roaring success.
Last month, he sold more than 35 and so far this month he's getting 200 calls a day from people wanting to know about Vespas.
People want to know how much the scooter costs and what is its gas mileage, said Mr. Kookoothe's daughter, Amanda, a salesman at his Sylvania dealership.
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Brothers will open region’s only Vespa dealership
SCHENECTADY — Peter Caschera was 6 years old when he rode on his first Vespa scooter, zooming through the streets of Sora in central Italy. His aunt was driving.
That experience in the homeland of Caschera’s father began a love affair with the Italian-made scooters. A decade later, Caschera got his first Vespa: a red Sears Allstate model from 1959. Four other Vespas followed.
By Wednesday, the 21-year-old Caschera had an inventory of 23 Vespas, many of which were on display at Anca’s Foreign Auto Parts, the Erie Boulevard shop co-owned by his father, Rocco. From there, Peter Caschera and his brother, Guiseppe, next month will launch the Capital Region’s only Vespa dealership: Vespa Schenectady.
“They’re so much more than something to ride. They’re pieces of art. They’re beautiful to look at,” said Peter Caschera, a Rotterdam native who will graduate Saturday from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The international business student’s senior thesis project is titled, “A Survey of Vespas Past, Present and Future in the USA.”
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May 16, 2008
Record gas prices driving up sales
WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS - Brett Campbell doesn't have to drive by a gas station to find out the latest prices at the pump.
Campbell's customers tell him all about it.
Campbell is a managing partner of Vespa Cleveland. He sells Vespa motor scooters, which can reach speeds of up to 95 miles per hour.
But it's the MPG's, miles per gallon, that has peaked customer interest.
"Based on the sales from the same time last year," Campbell said, "we're up over 50 percent."
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High Gas Prices Fuel Scooters' Surging Popularity
WASHINGTON -- With no end in sight to rising gas prices, some people are trading four wheels for two.
The Vespa Scooter, which has been around for more than 60 years, is enjoying a resurgence, in part because of high gas prices.
"Instead of filling your tank once a week, which is what I do when I'm driving my car in bad weather, exclusively, I'm filling the tank once every four to five weeks," said Vespa Washington manager Jerry Helfgott.
Helfgott said he remembers a similar spike in sales linked to rising prices a year and a half ago.
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Scooter sales up
With the average price of gas closing in on $4 per gallon and a prediction that oil may hit $200 a barrel within two years, many cash-strapped motorists are turning to fuel-stingy motor scooters and motorcycles.
Dealers across the nation report brisk sales this spring, particularly for misery scooters that can get from 75 to 120 miles per gallon.
“Scooter sales are really strong,” confirms Mike Mount, communications director of the Motorcycle Industry Council.
Sales of name-brand scooters in the first quarter of the year – not exactly a hot sales period because of cool weather in much of the nation – were up 24 percent from the same period in 2007, he says.
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Gas Prices Fuel Scooter Sales
Imagine filling up your gas tank for five dollars instead of fifty. A scooter phenomenon is speeding into Northeast Wisconsin, and local bike shops are trying to catch up with the demand.
Customers walking into Cycle City in Green Bay keep saying the same thing: "They're sick of paying 50 to 60 dollars to fill up their car with gas," Cycle City GM Adam Rockman said.
Scooters can get anywhere from 60 to 100 miles to the gallon, depending on engine power.
"Demand's up this year. You know, everyone is coming in and they're talking about gas prices and wanting to save money on gas. We're obviously not able to keep up with that extra demand," Rockman said.
Rockman said his shop is seeing people from college kids to older adults switching their mode of transportation.
When sales started reaching 20 a week, they found it hard to keep up.
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Scooter -- the new second car
You've heard about people going from big cars to smaller ones? Well, some are going even further.
Scooter sales are way up.
Why? The reason is pretty simple. Scooters average about 85 miles a gallon, and usually cost between $2,000 and $5,000.
Then, there's that feeling you get when you drive by gas stations!
"It's actually a huge relief," one scooter owner told me, "because, before, you just got sort of a sick feeling, like, 'I'm going to have to go there again. I'm enslaved to gasoline.' But now, you fill (a scooter) up, and you go forever."
Scooter shop owner Pedro Calderon says, "The scooter has become like a second car for the American family lately. They've been selling cars to buy scooters. And of course, the reason is obvious: They want to save some money."
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Gas prices send scooter sales shooting up
Sue Whitewater of La Crosse was bracing herself Tuesday for the next time she has to gas up her minivan.
“I’m a little scared,” she said, noting it cost nearly $60 the last time she filled up — and that was two gas hikes ago.
That’s what brought Whitewater to Two Brothers Powersports in La Crosse to check out their line of mopeds.
“I’ve got to cut corners somewhere,” she said.
Whitewater, who said she already carpools to work to save gas and the environment, thinks a moped would be a more affordable means to get to her job about a mile from her La Crosse home.
The closer gas prices get to $4 a gallon, the more people are walking into area scooter and moped dealers to see what they can save by traveling on two wheels, said Eric Williams, sales manager at Two Brothers Powersports in Onalaska.
Scooter and moped sales at the Onalaska store have tripled this year, said Williams.
“I’ve been doing this for five years, and I’ve never seen a demand for scooters and mopeds like there is this year,” he said.
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Motor scooters save on gas
With the average price of gas closing in on $4 a gallon, many cash-strapped motorists are turning to fuel-stingy motor scooters and smaller motorcycles. Dealers across the nation report brisk sales this spring, particularly for those that get from 75-120 miles per gallon.
"Ninety-five percent of those who come in mention high gas prices," said Lonnie Trujillo, sales manager for Vespa of California at Sherman Oaks, Calif. "Even though we're in southern California and have year-round riding weather, April sales were phenomenal," he added.
Sales of name-brand scooters such as Honda, Yamaha, Vespa and Suzuki rose 24 percent in the first quarter of the year, said Mike Mount, spokesman for the Motorcycle Industry Council trade group — noting that it's not exactly a hot sales period because of cool weather in much of the nation.
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