June 30, 2008
Making A Turn To Motor Scooters
Doug Day is one of the few people in Connecticut not griping about escalating gas prices. Hey, even the station owners claim they're hurting.
Day is president and owner of Scooter Centrale in Plainville, where sales at his 6-year-old business have doubled in the last year. It seems that his customers are enamored of filling their one-gallon gas tanks and having the gas last for 60 to 100 miles. Insurance on the two-wheelers is about $125 a year, and many of them go up to 45 mph -- the bigger ones can hit over 50 mph.
Dr. Matthew Carley, 49, of Simsbury, was picking up his $2,000 Buddy 50cc model when I visited Day this week. Weather permitting, the doc says, he'll be making the daily 28-mile round-trip commute to his Hartford office on his new wheels.
Sean Gregor spent about $2,000 to buy his 125cc Kymco Agility a week ago. The 34-year-old plans to use it for the 13-mile round-trip trek from his Southington house to the Plymouth group home where he works as a residential program staff member.
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Get On That Scooter And Ride
BROOKSVILLE - Paul Weaver parked his motor scooter outside a local bar frequented by a clan of burly bikers.
They crowded around him seconds after he strolled through the door.
The Harley Davidson owners were not about to hassle him or taunt him for his choice of ride. They had questions - namely, "What kind of gas mileage do you get on that thing?"
"They'll inquire about my scooter," said Weaver. "I'd say that old stigma is gone."
Weaver is a manager at Adventure Cycle Center, which sells motorcycles, dirt bikes, scooters and other motorized hobby vehicles. Since mid-May the store's scooter sales have noticeably spiked.
That trend is being seen across the country.
People have been more creative lately in their efforts to avoid paying high gas prices. While they might not be going as far as selling a car and buying a scooter, they are willing to add a $2,000 high-powered two-wheeler in their garage. They think the more use they get out of it, the more money they will save in the long run.
As a result, some secondary cars are staying in the garage whenever the owner goes to work or the local store.
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Scooters become the new hot wheels
Deanna Zeek of Atlantic Beach has a short commute between her home and job as a personal trainer in Jacksonville Beach.
Even so, she is tired of paying $75 every time she fills her sport-utility vehicle at the gas pump.
Now she's shopping for a scooter so she can zip up and down the Beaches for far less money.
"I would spend about $8 every two weeks on gas," Zeek said one recent day when she stopped by Roadpower USA in Jacksonville Beach to test drive a sporty blue-and-white model.
"A lot of my friends and clients have them," she said. "They absolutely love them."
More and more people around the Beaches are driving scooters, two-wheeled automatic transition gasoline-powered vehicles that feature step-through frames and an engine below the rider.
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Scooter scarcity
HICKORY -- With fuel prices at an all-time high, savvy commuters are taking a look at some two-wheeled fuel-sipping alternatives - scooters.
Scooter prices start below $1,000 and with prices like that, it doesn't take some commuters too long to recoup their investment with the money they save on gas. According to the New York Times, scooter sales jumped 24 percent across the nation in the first three months of 2008.
"We had five of them in the showroom the other day and now we're down to two, so yeah - they're selling like crazy," said Derek Ramsey of Kawasaki Suzuki Yamaha of Hickory. He added that men and women of all ages are making their way to the showroom in search of a way to save money on their commutes.
Dave Stansell of Import Motor Sports agrees that scooter sales are robust and says a depleted inventory is his only impediment to sales. "If I had more scooters I'd be able to move more product," he said.
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Scooters moving fast
Consumers looking to shell out less cash for gas are hopping on motorcycles and scooters for the first time, keeping motorcycle training courses busy and scooter dealers waiting for new shipments.
"Scooter sales are just non-stop," said Keith Johnson, assistant sales manager at Nault's Honda Powerhouse in Manchester.
The dealership has a list of around 45 people who have pre-bought scooters weeks before they arrive from the factory.
"We're having a hard time keeping them in stock," Johnson said. "We could have easily sold in the hundreds."
With gas prices soaring, drivers are looking for ways to save on gas.
And,with mileage rates ranging from 60 miles per gallon to 90 miles per gallon and beyond, scooters are becoming an increasingly attractive option.
If you want to drive 100 miles, you can spend $4 on gas and ride a 2008 Honda Ruckus scooter ($2,049 manufacturer's suggested retail price) or nearly $24 and drive a 2008 Ford Explorer ($26,495 MSRP).
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Do scooter drivers catch break on insurance?
While it's true that drivers save gas money driving scooters and motorcycles, do they really save money in the end?
Besides the price of a scooter or motorcycle and the fuel costs that come with it, auto insurance is another thing that drivers should consider.
"By and large motorcycle rates are real competitive now," says Mike Flowers, the owner of a local Allstate agency.
Motorcycle insurance is the usual blanket term given to insurance covering those who ride motorcycles, scooters and mopeds. Insurance companies consider a variety of factors when determining rates. Age, driving record, size of motorcycle or scooter, marital status and time with a motorcycle license are among variables considered by insurance companies.
Under Texas law, a driver is required to have liability insurance. The minimum liability that a driver of an automobile must carry is $25,000 in bodily injury for one person, $50,000 in bodily injury for all injuries in one accident and $25,000 for property damage liability. Both motorcycles and cars have the same liability requirements.
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Scooter's pleasures require proper attire
Whether it's a 50cc engine or not, an accident or mishap at any speed will leave riders scraped, battered, and bruised if they are fortunate. With less luck, the potential outcome is far worse.
I learned this through my own inexperience and with the "help" of a wet manhole cover. I hit the ground at roughly 15 miles per hour, and still managed to place a solid dent in the helmet and scrape my right arm. The minor arm injury was sobering, as I was wearing protective gloves and a riding jacket with a ballistic nylon outer layer and plastic armor inserts for joint and spine areas. Without that material, I'm not sure what my knuckles and arm would look like today.
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More People Buying Scooters, Mopeds
EL PASO, Texas -- Tracy Baeza never thought she would be buying a moped.
"It's economical. I have a Mustang which eats the gas, so we were thinking that having a little moped would help out with gas and everything."
Baeza bought her Ford Mustang just two years ago, but now she finds herself wanting a scooter to save on gas.
"Cruising around during the weekend and hopefully trying to go to work, using it for work, and for school purposes," said Baeza.
She's not alone. The employees at Mr. Motorcycle in East El Paso said they have seen a 300 percent increase in Honda scooter sales, 600 percent for the popular Vespa.
"In '06 when gas prices kind of spiked we had a run on scooters. And we actually ran out, and so this year we stocked up heavily," said Tracy McIntyre with Mr. Motorcycle.
The big selling point for the scooters is the miles per gallon.
"I think it's the triple threat, it's fun. It's fun and exciting. It's inexpensive. And they get to up to 110 miles per gallon of gasoline," said McIntyre.
As far as miles per gallon is concerned, that's 10 times better than a Ford F-150, four and a half times better than a Honda Accord, and nearly two and a half times better than a Toyota Prius hybrid.
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June 29, 2008
Filling up is easy for Vespa owners
PHILADELPHIA -- When Bill Schwab stops at a traffic light on his Vespa, car drivers chuckle and motorcycle riders snicker.
"They just laugh at me," the Peco Energy Co. lineman said of his daily work commute. "I'm a big guy. ... When people see me on my little scooter, they smirk."
But Schwab, 46, has the last laugh. "I get 70 miles per gallon," Schwab said. "I tell them and they shut up real fast."
Schwab owns a Harley-Davidson, a Corvette and a pickup. But they've remained locked in his South Jersey garage since he bought his scooter.
Gas prices -- now above $4 -- have been very, very good to scooter manufacturers, with the Italian-made Vespa leading the pack.
Sales of Vespas more than doubled nationwide as the price of oil rose above $100 a barrel. Americans bought 1,300 in May 2007. Last month, sales topped 2,700.
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Fuel-efficient scooters growing more popular
If it seems like more motor scooters are zipping past you in traffic, it's true: Scooter sales have skyrocketed this year as consumers cope with ever-rising gas prices.
Inventory at some scooter dealerships is gone. "We're actually completely sold out," said Mark Kite, general manager of Sun Enterprises Inc., a Honda scooter dealer in Littleton.
Colorado ranked ninth in the nation for scooter sales in 2007, up from 10th in 2006, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC), based in Irvine, Calif.
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Triad residents turn to scooters, motorcycles
It used to be that those looking for a small motor scooter at Mid Carolina Powersports didn't have a license, but needed a quick way to get around town.
Not anymore. Sales manager and part-owner Mark Christopher said these days, everyone is coming in, with one goal in mind -- saving gas.
"Today, you're seeing all walks of life," he said.
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Vespismo's mod-friendly scooter helmets
Petrol prices are on the up - which means more people are opting for two wheels to get around town. Which is good news for the scooter accessory companies, the latest of which is Vespismo.
Based in Holland (but shipping worldwide), the company offers mod-friendly scooter clothing and the helmets above. All are approved for safety, clad in weatherproof sky leather and made in Italy.
Link.
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June 28, 2008
Gas-busting scooters offer alternative
SAINT JOHN - For her 70th birthday, Sharon O'Brien bought herself a present.
"I saw one and I fell in love with it," O'Brien says of her brand-new, fire-engine red Honda Jazz scooter. "It's like you see the red shoes, and you want them - I wanted the red Honda."
O'Brien picked up the $2,500 gas scooter in Fredericton a few weeks ago, after her bike became too difficult to take everywhere and her car became to too expensive to fill. She taught herself to ride by practising in a parking garage at 5:30 a.m., and takes it around the city when weather permits.
"It only holds five litres. I can go just as far on my five litres as I can in my car, and it costs me $42 to fill that," she said.
"And how many people can fill their cars for $5?"
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Scoot over, cars
As Adam Gross watched the news during the past year, it became clear to him what lay ahead. Gas prices were on the rise and would likely continue to climb well into the future.
To combat the prices, he spent just more than $3,000 on a scooter last year and rides it to his work at Crone's Gas & Goodies in Dover.
"Everyone laughed at me when I bought it," he said.
But now, people are beginning to see the benefits of the gas-saving ride.
Gross' commute from his West Manchester Township home to work is about two and half miles, which means he puts less than $4 of gas in the Yamaha Vino 125cc scooter every two weeks.
He admitted he's a little nervous about taking the bike out on the freeway, even though it can hit speeds of 65 mph, because of the added traffic and drivers not paying attention.
"If I'm getting the extra miles, I'll take the back roads instead," Gross said.
Scooters sales have "gone through the roof" lately, said Jim Tufarolo, owner of Market Motors in Springettsbury Township.
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Scooter shop opening in Avon
AVON -- Dan Kourafas, 50, has owned dozens of motorcycles in his lifetime.
But one by one, the Randolph man traded in his Harley, Ducati, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Honda sport and cruiser motorcycles for motorized scooters.
Kourafas said the world passes by at a slower, more comfortable pace at about 30 mph.
"When a bug hits you in the face, it doesn't go through your cheek," he said.
His girlfriend, Diane Park, said riding a scooter opens a panoramic world where she can smell everything and feel the climate change as she climbs a hill or descends into a valley.
"I always equate it to being like a dog with his head out the window," said Park, 48, of Randolph.
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High Gas Prices Raise Scooter Popularity
As gas prices soar, consumers are looking to two wheels to get around.
That's exactly why so many people are suddenly looking at certain motor scooters and small motorcycles -- because of the unbelievable gas mileage they offer.
More people are zipping around on scooters for their commute, increasing their demand and causing classes covering motorcycle safety to fill up fast.
"I get 220 miles on $12 to $15 in gas," one scooter rider said.
"I understand I can get 70 to 80 miles to the gallon. That's what I need right now," another rider said.
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Scooter sales take off
With gas prices at more than $4 a gallon, motorized scooters are are no longer just for intellectuals and environmentalists.
Inland Valley motorized scooter dealerships have seen a significant uptick in sales over the past two months as gas prices hit record highs.
"We're not able to keep up with the demand," said Randy Jackson, sales manager for Excalibur Motor Cars in Chino, which formerly sold mostly all-terrain vehicles. Now scooters - two-wheeled vehicles with a floorboard the rider can stand on - are their most popular item.
"A scooter is more upright (than a motorcycle) and usually completely encased so you don't see the motor," said Brian Hoogeveen, owner of Power Toys in Chino.
Hoogeveen said there has been an increase in sales and also an increase in people asking questions about lightweight motorcycles and scooters. He also has noticed an increase in the number of women customers.
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Scooter Makes Comeback
KENNEBUNK, Maine -- Scooters are making a comeback.
So much so, one southern Maine dealer can't keep them on his lot.
Sandy Boardman bought her Chinese-made "Roketa" scooter about two months ago after realizing she was wasting too much money on gas driving her Volvo station wagon.
"That's where you really burn the gas. The stop-and-start stuff. I would get that on the Volvo, just buzzing around looking for a place to park to do errands," said Boardman.
Boardman said her scooter is getting 80 to 100 miles a gallon rather than the 25 her Volvo gets.
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June 27, 2008
Touring Rome on a Vespa
ROME -- When it comes to looking classy on a Vespa in Rome, no one did it better than Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn in "Roman Holiday." The classic film helped put Vespa on the map (for Americans) and gave the little scooters a romantic and stylish air, as well as permanent place in popular culture.
Sergio Caggia, founder of Nerone Tours came up with the idea of organizing Vespa tours of Rome after spending nearly a decade giving private walking tours of the city (called "Rome Made to Measure").
Mr. Caggia explained it was a conversation with a friend, who rented scooters to tourists that led him to the idea of incorporating classic Vespas and vintage cars into his own tour operations. A fan of classic cars and scooters himself, Mr. Caggia used his connections with local enthusiast clubs to find owners willing to use their vehicles to tote tourists throughout Rome.
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Vespa dealership opens in Schenectady
Peter Caschera's lifetime love of Vespa scooters was the family's impetus to open a dealership in Schenectady.
Vespa Schenectady sold eight of the Italian bikes since opening three weeks ago. The scooter store is Vespa's first in the region since 2005.
Prices for the scooters, which get 70-80 miles per gallon, run from $3,300 to $6,000.
One caveat catches potential buyers off-guard when they visit the shop at 1401 Erie Boulevard: The bikes require a motorcycle license.
"That's the little hump we need to get over," manager Caschera, 22, said of the family-owned business.
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Scooters Rise In Popularity As Gas Climbs
Gas is threatening on a daily basis to set records -- the national average has been more than $4 per gallon for more than an month.
For Bob Hedstrom, however, filling his tank for $6.50 seems like an inconvenience.
Hedstrom, who drives a Vespa -- the iconic Italian scooter -- is also the owner of Scooterville, the Minneapolis store that has been doing record business this year.
"It's been busy beyond what we've ever seen," said Hedstrom, who opened his shop in May 2002. "I think it's pretty clear that a lot of it is attributable to gas prices."
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Scooting Around New York
I'VE always thought that driving in New York City is a bit like a game of touch football between the Jets and the Giants -- you're always seconds away from a painful collision, but for the most part you don't get clobbered. Getting through a traffic jam on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway is a game of inches.
So even though I'm a fan of almost anything with a motor and two wheels, I was a bit skeptical about venturing onto city streets aboard a Vespa. After touring through Manhattan and Brooklyn on a group ride for journalists on a recent Saturday, though, I discovered that scooters are extremely useful for basic city transport.
The S, which is related to Vespa's LX, is powered by a 150 cc air-cooled four-stroke motor. Indeed, the two scooters share many of the same specs. The significant differences between the S and the LX are stylistic. The S is leaner, intended to recall 1960s models such as the Vespa Special and the Vespa Primavera.
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June 26, 2008
Scooter sales take off
With gas prices at more than $4 a gallon, motorized scooters are are no longer just for intellectuals and environmentalists.
Inland Valley motorized scooter dealerships have seen a significant uptick in sales over the past two months as gas prices hit record highs.
"We're not able to keep up with the demand," said Randy Jackson, sales manager for Excalibur Motor Cars in Chino, which formerly sold mostly all-terrain vehicles. Now scooters - two-wheeled vehicles with a floorboard the rider can stand on - are their most popular item.
"A scooter is more upright (than a motorcycle) and usually completely encased so you don't see the motor," said Brian Hoogeveen, owner of Power Toys in Chino.
Hoogeveen said there has been an increase in sales and also an increase in people asking questions about lightweight motorcycles and scooters. He also has noticed an increase in the number of women customers.
"For some reason, people who would not normally ride a motorcycle are not intimidated by scooters," Hoogeveen said.
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Scooter helps county officials save big at the pump
Gas prices have caused a Four State county assessor to park his four wheel drive truck at home and drive a scooter to work. Now he's laughing at those big trucks when he thinks of what he's saving at the pump.
Anyone driving these days is feeling the pinch at the pump, but some are turning to two wheels to save cash.
"I've got a four wheel drive pickup that gets terrible gas mileage in town, so there's no comparison, I just smile all the time I go buy filling stations with all those SUV's and pickups whatever filling up," says Jasper County Assessor Don Davis.
With high gas prices, Isaac Sowersby says scooters are all about saving cash.
"Just gas prices - it holds a gallon, you pay four bucks, get a gallon of gas can go like 80 miles on a gallon," Sowersby says.
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Scooter sales fueled by pain at the pump
Tired of paying almost $60 to fill up the tank of his Ford Taurus, Kentuckian J.D. Riddle found a $12 alternative.
After returning to Shelbyville in February from China, where he noticed many more scooters on the roads, he bought one for himself.
Now that gasoline has crossed the $4-a-gallon mark, Riddle and others are part of a trend that is turning motorbikes, mopeds and scooters from a weekend amusement into a primary transportation choice.
Scooter dealers in the Louisville area said they've seen an increase in customers looking for something efficient to drive while they keep their car in the garage. And some aren't keeping their cars at all.
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Scooter Popularity Fuels Need For Safety
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Because of the increased demand for fuel-efficient scooters and motorcycles, the Central Florida Safety Council is offering more safety classes to new riders.
"Our phones have been ringing off the hook," Safety Council representative Glenn Victor said.
The Safety Council has added a new location where students can practice.
"It's all about the gas prices. Everyone wants to save gas," Victor said.
The classes have become as important as ever because all two-wheelers can be hard to see.
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June 25, 2008
Scooter Buyers Don't Ignore Safety
As the costs of fuel continues to set new records more people are turning to two wheeled options to save a few pennies at the pump.
Scooter sales are up across the state as well as concerns about safety.
Adult riders in Idaho are not required to wear a helmet while on the road, but scooter dealers in east Idaho say that isn't slowing helmet sales.
Workers at Power Sports in pocatello says they sell a helmet with almost every new scooter that leaves their showroom.
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High gas prices drive surge in scooter use
More Idahoans are turning to scooters to help ease the pinch of high fuel prices.
The Idaho Department of Transportation reports that sales of motorized scooters increased 24 percent during the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007.
With gas prices soaring above the $4 per gallon mark, scooter dealers say it's no surprise that more people are looking for cheaper alternatives to getting around town. Some of the models now being sold get between 75 and 100 miles per gallon.
With more scooters on the road, state transportation officials are stressing safety and education.
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Utah motorcycle, scooter laws changing
Every nine hours in Utah, there's a motorcycle crash, according to the Utah Department of Public Safety. That statistic is illustrated by a number of dangerous and deadly motorcycle crashes in the past few weeks.
While there are a number of motorcyclists on the road wearing the right gear and following the law, there seem to be more cases coming to light with riders putting themselves and others in serious danger.
Three-year-old Dylan Stroud is slowly getting settled back at home. His mom, Carrie, said, "I guarantee you he could have been killed. It was very dangerous, very scary."
Sunday night, two motorcycles were speeding down the family's Herriman street when they lost control, hitting Dylan and a crowd of people at a block party. Today, Dylan's dad spoke with investigators about the teenage drivers. He said, "They've told us they were intoxicated."
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Rising fuel costs have some trading cars for scooters
Rising gas prices are forcing many drivers to trade in their wheels, but not for more fuel-efficient cars. Instead they're trading their cars for a motorcycle or scooter. Some motorcycles average 55 miles per gallon of gasoline, and scooters can average over 130 miles per. As fuel prices keep rising, some drivers are re-thinking their choice of vehicle.
Lawton Deputy Fire Chief Juan Rodriguez parks his truck as much as possible lately. "[With a] 32 mile round trip, it's costing me $4.50 just to go to work for one day." Now, he drives his scooter to work instead - all the way from Cache to the Central Fire Station in Lawton. "I can drive that scooter three times to work and back before I fill it up," he says. His scooter gets 68 miles per gallon.
Rodriguez was thinking ahead. He bought it when gas prices reached $3 per gallon. "People laughed at me because I'm kind of big to be riding a scooter," he says. But, he has had the last laugh now that gas prices have reached nearly $4 per gallon.
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Scooters everywhere!
Ok! It's definitely a new thing this summer. I'm seeing a 10 fold increase in the number of scooters rolling around PB. Let's be careful on our roads! Cagers (people in cars, as we call them) are not always on the lookout for these vehicles. Even though they more noticeable than a bicycle they are still not always ready to see them in the middle of traffic.
Thankfully, in PB, traffic is rather slow moving most of the time and gives the scooter rider ample time to avoid 'situations'. There's three obvious camps about scooters... love them, hate them, and the "Oh My God I Think I Might Kill Them" camp. For the later group, no worries... scooter riders (and all two-wheeled riders) are taught to pretend nobody else can see them when they are on the road and it is their own job to avoid YOU. So long as YOU follow the rules of the road (signal lane changes, stop at red lights ... etc.)
For the haters... get used to it - they are here to stay. Have you seen the size of that scooter store on Garnet and Gresham? Don't get mad when they zip by you between traffic when you are in gridlock. Don't get mad when there are 4 of them in front of you going the speed limit. -Get mad- when they fill up for the week costing a grand total of $5.
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High fuel prices drive Kodiak scooter sales
KODIAK, Alaska -- Gas prices are nearing $5 a gallon, prompting Kodiak residents to look for relief at scooter sales lots.
Taylor Humphreys with Warner Tire and Yamaha says the dealership is selling more fuel-efficient scooters and motorcycles at a pace not previously been seen at the shop.
Humphreys orders scooters every two weeks and is typically sold out by the time the next shipment arrives.
Kodiak resident Doug Letch recently purchased a scooter, saying he can get 123 miles per gallon.
Letch says scooters are very practical for Kodiak because it's not very far between places.
The upsurge in scooter and motorcycle sales has not yet taken a bite out of the large vehicle market in Kodiak, though. Debbie Refior, the owner of Kodiak Motors, says the sales of trucks at her Ford dealership have not decreased.
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Motor scooter sales up
"Gas is definitely the driving factor. It hasn't gotten to the point where they are selling their main vehicles, but many are replacing their second one [with a scooter]," said Warren Bolc, with the Vespa Shop on Third Street in Jacksonville Beach.
Bolc said sales are 100 percent better than this time last year. Beach people seem to be looking for ways to save gasoline. There are now four scooter shops in Jacksonville Beach. All are clustered within about a half-mile of each other. Three are on Third Street North. The fourth is just off Third on First Avenue North at Fourth Street.
One cannot just walk in and test ride a scooter. You must plan ahead. To legally ride one rated at 150 cc's or higher, you must have a "motorcycle endorsement" on your license. In the near future, an expensive motorcycle safety course may be required for nearly all scooters.
Two of the three shops have limited test rides on Saturdays. Recent visits to the four scooter shops left me surprised at the differences in available models and sales styles. Only one model with manual transmission is left. All the rest have automatic transmissions.
In 1965, I bought a used Vespa for $150 from a shop in Long Beach, Calif. During my yearlong working visit there, that ugly green machine and I had many adventures on the Pacific Coast Highway.
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Piaggio's CEO sees "good" order book in June
PONTEDERA, Italy - Italy's Piaggio & C had a "good" book of orders for its scooters in June as higher oil prices push consumers towards lighter consumption vehicles, Chief Executive Roberto Colaninno said on Tuesday.
"Paradoxically the oil crisis is helping Piaggio," Colaninno said on the sidelines of a shareholders' meeting. "In June we are seeing a good order book."
Piaggio cut forecasts in its business plan in May blaming the slower economy for a weaker sales trend. The Vespa scooter maker posted a 21 percent drop in core profit in the first quarter.
"We hope that the second half of the year is in line with the recovery we witnessed in June," Colaninno added.
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Indian subsidies set to charge up electric scooter market
Manufacturers are hopeful that the 15 per cent subsidy announced recently on the base price of electric vehicles, along with the abolition of the 12.5 per cent value-added tax (VAT) in Delhi, Chhattisgarh and Chandigarh, will boost sales by making their products cheaper.
This comes on the back of an excise duty cut to nil from 8.24 per cent announced in this year's Budget. Overall, the subsidy works out to a little over 20 per cent, which means a saving of Rs 4,000-7,890.
"In addition, we are working on how much more we can lower prices to woo the undecided customer," said Sohinder Gill, CEO, Hero Electric. "We sent representations to various state governments about 45 days ago. We hope to meet them soon and persuade them to offer similar subsidies."
Hero Electric's scooter model, Optima, which is priced Rs 28,000 (ex-showroom), will now cost Rs 22,000, while its Maxi model, priced at Rs 27,000 (ex-showroom), will cost Rs 20,000. Ultra Motors' Velociti model, priced Rs 34,000 (ex-showroom), will now cost about Rs 26,000, a discount of around Rs 8,000.
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June 24, 2008
The scooter: Once a toy, now a top seller
In May, Carol Somers bought herself a white and chrome Vespa Piaggio as a birthday present. She's zipped around Bend throughout the past two months, getting thumbs up from drivers and walkers alike. And since the price of gas has risen well past $4 a gallon, she's kept busy converting her friends to the way of the scooter.
On Friday, she took a friend to Bend Euro Moto to purchase a new scooter. Last week, another friend joined her to get a look at the small vehicles, which sometimes get as many as 100 miles to the gallon. Right now, scooter and motorcycle dealerships are seeing a jump in the number of vehicles they're selling. Scooters in particular, which can range in price from less than $1,000 to well over $5,000, are catching the eyes of gas price-weary Central Oregonians.
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Scooter sales soar with high gas prices
SAVANNAH, GA - Russ Moore would like to sell you a scooter. It's what he does. He just might not be able to, depending when you see him.
"Right now we have basically one scooter left in the shop,'' said Moore, who has rented and sold scooters in downtown Savannah for four year. "And that's pretty good, because last week we brought in seven scooters. Four of those were prepaid and we sold the other three over the weekend.''
And while that's a good problem to have for the owner of Coastal Scooters, struggling to meet the rising demand for scooters actually has become a problem as individuals and businesses turn to the two-wheelers as a way to fight today's gas prices.
"People are buying them in record numbers,'' says Moore, who sees a correspondence between the sales increase and the latest bump in gas prices.
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High gas prices drive surge in scooter use
TWIN FALLS, Idaho - More Idahohans are turning to scooters to help ease the pinch of high fuel prices.
The Idaho Department of Transportation reports that sales of motorized scooters increased 24% during the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007.
With gas prices soaring above the $4 per gallon mark, scooter dealers say it's no surprise that more people are looking for cheaper alternatives to getting around town. Some of the models now being sold get between 75 and 100 miles per gallon.
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Scooter sales rise on price of gas
Scooters appear to be riding the crest of a sales wave that's pushed by rising gas prices, which should surprise no one. But the rising popularity of the little vehicles became evident long before Canadians started paying $1.40 for a litre of gas.
As far back as 1999 - 2000, sales of scooters were on the rise, according to a Yamaha Canada document. From 1999 to 2006, scooter sales quadrupled, says Yamaha.
Recently, however, the surge in scooter popularity has strengthened, with sales increasing month by month and year over year.
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Genuine Vespa Accessories For The GTS300
At 300cc, the sporty GTS 300 Super is the largest capacity Vespa ever, with performance and acceleration to match. Summer is just around the corner and the versatility of the GTS means that for commuting across town, making a scene at a scooter rally or eating up the miles on a cross continent grand tour, this stylish and powerful scooter will make every journey - however short - a riding pleasure.
For the Vespa rider wanting to make the most of the GTS 300 Super's touring capability or who just wants to personalise their Vespa, there is a range of genuine Vespa accessories to complement the GTS. As with the Vespa itself, Italian design and style blend seamlessly with practicality and quality, so the roomy 42-litre rear top case, harmonising with the unique shape of the GTS 300 Super, is ideal for carrying luggage, belongings or just everyday shopping. Available in matching Black or Montebianco White, the top case has an integral padded backrest, is supplied with a mounting kit and costs £219.99.
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Rising gas cost sets creativity in motion
COLUMBUS -- Gas prices nudging up to $4 a gallon have driven some people to consider alternate means of transportation, such as all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and golf carts, to reduce fuel consumption.
Although some modes of transportation are street legal, such as mopeds and Vespa scooters, others such as those previously mentioned are permitted only under certain conditions according to local ordinances and state statutes. Fuel conservation is not a qualification.
Police Chief William Gumm said Columbus follows the laws and regulations established by state statute, which limits the use of ATVs on roadways but prohibits street use by vehicles such as minibikes, golf carts, go-carts, riding lawnmowers, garden tractors and snowmobiles.
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Suzuki Launch The Sixteen Scooter
Suzuki has launched an all-new big-wheeled scooter - the 125cc Sixteen.
Already renowned as the manufacturer behind the luxury 'Burgman' scooter range, the new Suzuki Sixteen is a first for the Japanese manufacturer, boasting true flat footboard step-thru practicalities with great manoeuvrability and ride quality thanks to its 16-inch wheels.
Talking about the new scooter, marketing manager George Cheeseman commented, "It's great to add the Sixteen to our already comprehensive learner legal range. Naturally the larger wheels aid stability, and of course help with ride quality on poorer road surfaces. The flat footboard area, automatic transmission and dual linked disc brakes make the Sixteen one of the best all-round and versatile scooters available on the market."
Available at authorised dealers now and with a recommended retail price of £2,499 on the road, the Sixteen offers great value for money too, and with the continuation of Free third party Insurance on any new 125cc Suzuki, it really does tick all of the boxes for many.
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June 23, 2008
Ciao car, hello Vespa
It was an all-too-familiar situation: Ahead, a red light glared, and bumper-to-bumper traffic stretched as far as the eye could see.
Taxis honked. Drivers sighed. Nobody was happy - except the reporter on the white Vespa who slipped into the space between the lanes and nimbly passed among the cars. Pedestrians stopped to watch, and drivers' eyes gleamed with irritation and envy as the reporter made her way to the front of the line, turned right, and zipped off on her way.
She would giddily repeat the move all day. And people would notice, often wistfully.
"That's what I need, a Vespa," said one of them, Garry Rizzuto, as he watched from a sidewalk in the North End.
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Growing number of commuters on scooters
BLOOMINGTON -- State Farm Insurance Cos. worker Darren Fischer is part of a growing trend in this town: Scooter commuters.
As gas prices climb, some Central Illinois drivers turn to bicycles, city buses or carpools to adapt. Others, like the 38-year-old Bloomington man hop on the two-wheeled driving machines for getting around, saving money and living greener.
"Our scooter customers are getting some looks at the gas pump when their tank is full at $7.50, while next to them an SUV needs close to $80 to fill up," said Robin Juhler, a co-owner of Bloomington-based Sportland, a motorcycle dealership that carries Yamaha, Honda and Polaris scooters.
Fischer laughed a little as he talked of savings since buying his scooter in May. Like most scooter owners, he also has a car.
Gas savings also led Ryan Wilson, 21, of Bloomington to his purchase a few weeks ago. Now, Wilson said, friends and family are inquiring. "I get about 100 miles to a gallon on this. ... Now, some of them are thinking about buying one," said the Maguire's Pub worker.
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Utah laws changing for scooter riders
If you're a new college student looking to save gas money freshman year by trading in your car keys for a scooter, there are some changes in Utah law you may need to know.
Starting July 1, the state is implementing some minor changes to the rules for getting licenses to drive scooters, a mode of transportation whose popularity has soared in the past few years due to rising gas prices. The new rule, however, only applies to riders who are under 19.
Currently, all riders either need a motorcycle endorsement on their driver's license or a motorcycle-only license. But under the new law, anyone who is under 19 will have to get a two-month learner's permit before they can get the endorsement. Under state law, scooters qualify as motorcycles.
Nanette Rolfe, the director of the state driver's license division, said the new law will bring only minor changes and that the process for getting a motorcycle endorsement will not be much different than what it is today.
"[It's] similar to when a 16-year-old gets their license, they have that period to practice before they actually get the license," Rolfe said.
Rolfe said the state is abolishing its motorcycle-only licenses. Only 15 people in Utah currently have that type of driver's license, she said.
Another, more widespread change is that when people get motorcycle endorsements on the driver's licenses, they will be bound to the type of vehicle they test on at the DMV. For example, if someone takes their motorcycle test on a scooter with a 200 cc engine, they will not be able to use their motorcycle endorsement to ride a big Harley Davidson.
The engine categories will be for 90 cc or less, 249 cc or less, or 649 cc or less. Anyone who tests on a motorcycle with an engine bigger than 649 will not have any restrictions on the kind of bike they can ride.
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Scooter sales are having a great ride
Lee Quandt says he has always been a scooter and motorcycle fanatic at heart. He received his motorcycle license in the early 1970s as a police officer in Hampton, but gave up his bike-riding ways when he had children.
"I was yearning to get back out on the open road," said Quandt, a state representative from Exeter.
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Like so many scooter owners, Quandt loves the economic advantages of the smaller mode of transportation. He commented that most of them now are made in China, and that's what makes them inexpensive.
Quandt recently bought a new ride, and changed from the old-style scooter to one technically classified as a motorcycle.
"I stepped up to the motorcycle-looking one," said Quandt.
Quandt's motorcycle gets about 70 miles per gallon of gasoline and can travel up to speeds of 45 to 55 mph. His old scooter, though it could not travel at such high speeds, averaged anywhere from 85 to 110 miles per gallon, depending on how many hills it had to climb.
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A good week for scooter sellers
It's no surprise, with gas prices near $4.59 a gallon in San Jose, that drivers are looking for more fuel-efficient alternatives. In Hindsight is happy enough with his bike and the VTA's convenient (if somewhat flawed) light-rail system.
But a new Vespa - at 70 to 80 mpg - would be a very stylish and economical way of getting around San Jose's compact (if somewhat flawed) urban core. Unfortunately, "we are just about sold out," Jeff "Bosco" Biafore of San Jose BMW and Vespa told a Merc reporter. In fact, Vespa USA says its May sales were up 105 percent from a year earlier.
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New scooter club caters to mature riders
If the thought of a pack of two-wheeled fanatics prowling along country back roads and scenic routes in the Chattanooga area worries you, you may want to look out for the Fossils gang on your next Sunday outing.
Don't fret, though; they're pretty easy to spot. Most of the riders are more than 50 years old, they putter along at a serene 40 mph and they're all riding scooters.
The Fossils Scooter Club, a group for motor-scooter riders 50 and older, was founded in March by Chattanoogans Bill Levy, 67, his wife, Maxine, 59, and Bill Tracy, 67.
Beginning in October of last year, these three lifelong motorcycle lovers began trading in their hogs for something a little quieter, a little more comfortable and way more gas-efficient.
Other soon followed suit.
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James McAvoy trades in motorbike for scooter
FILM star James McAvoy has traded in his motorbike for a scooter after an encounter with a road bully.
The 29-year-old Scot fell off his red Hyosung bike after a car driver revving his engine made him nervous.
The Last King of Scotland star said: "I was lost and stopped at traffic lights.
"There was this guy looking at my shiny, red bike and he kept thinking, 'I'm going to make him race.'
James added: "It was kind of scary, so I've gone back to just having a little scooter now. That's so much safer for me."
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Top Gear opens Vespa dealership in Athens
Top Gear Motorsports, the 15-year-old Kawasaki motorcycle dealer in Athens, recently began serving as a Vespa and Piaggio scooter dealership.
The Athens Vespa dealership began at the end of May, and is operating at 4215 Atlanta Highway, out of the same building Top Gear moved into last fall, said Athens Vespa manager Dave Frederick.
The same company makes Vespa and Piaggio scooters, though Vespa scooters stick to more classic designs while Piaggio leans to trendier looks, Frederick said. Piaggio scooters usually are priced lower than Vespas of comparable size and mechanics. The prices for the scooters range from $1,849 for Piaggio's least expensive model to $9,000 for Piaggio's top-of-the-line scooter, Frederick said.
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June 22, 2008
Couple Offers Chihuahuas For Scooter
Five tiny eight-week old chihuahuas are for sale in Cocoa Beach. The owner is willing to part ways with them to save on gas. Michelle Bandi says she can't afford to drive her car.
So in order to get better gas mileage she's willing to barter a pup or two for a new cheaper ride, a scooter! She put out an ad on Craigslist and hopes someone will swap. If you'd like to help Michelle, you can contact her by email. It's michellecat68@yahoo.com.
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Scooters help drivers stretch gas dollars
Most businesses have been slowed in recent months by an underperforming economy, but one business that keeps rolling is motorcycle and scooter shops.
Mark Sheffield, manager of Woods Cycle Country, is seeing his business post recent gains as customers seek alternative transportation with better gas mileage than the trucks and SUVs that many Texans favor.
"Usually businesses suffer during an economic downturn, but the equation has not been the same for us because of high gas prices," Sheffield said.
AF1 Racing's president Ed Cook says that sales have been off the charts at his New Braunfels store.
"As fast as we get them, they're out the door," Cook said in reference to his scooter sales. AF1's motorcycle sales also are doing well as shoppers scramble for alternative ways to run errands and drive to work.
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Scooter riders take gas price protest on the road
RAEFORD -- The sun broke through the clouds just in time for Charles Ragan and members of the Piglet Scooter Club to begin their protest of rising gas prices.
The men put on their "Caution Gas Price Protest in Progress" T-shirts before mounting their scooters in the parking lot of Universal Pawn Shop on Saturday morning. Nine men showed up for the round-trip ride from Raeford through west Fayetteville. Ragan had hoped for a larger crowd, but an early morning thunderstorm stopped some riders from coming out, he said.
The goal of Saturday's ride was to show how more people are turning to scooters and mopeds to offset the expense of fuel.
"There is an economic terrorist attack on our economy right now because of the high cost of fuel," Ragan said. "What we are doing is making a concession to try to cut down on the lost income. To buy gas right now is almost as bad as your light bill. We should have started raising Cain when they jacked the cost of oil up when there was a storm off the coast of Africa. It went up ten cents. Why? It's ridiculous. It's scary. It's really scary and I am scared of the future."
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Scooter sales up
Business is booming at Scooter Mania, the Coos Bay retailer on North Bayshore Drive.
Sales are up about 40 percent from this time last year, and owner Victor Pisani has a pretty good idea why.
"I've seen some people come here right after filling up at the Chevron," he said, referring to the gas station a block away. "They come here and buy a scooter."
Pisani figures there are other factors at play, such as the nice weather and favorable payment plans, but he surmises sales are up because scooters make between 75 and 141 miles to the gallon.
"We've seen highs and lows before, but not like this," he said.
Pisani considers a good day to be one where he sells two scooters. One day last week, he sold four. And even on days he doesn't sell a thing, he has lots of foot traffic.
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Mileage makes Vespa more stylish
PHILADELPHIA - When Bill Schwab comes to a stop at a traffic light on his Vespa, car drivers chuckle and motorcycle riders snicker.
"They just laugh at me," the Peco Energy Co. lineman said of his daily work commute. "I'm a big guy. I got a bunch of tattoos. When people see me on my little scooter, they smirk."
But Schwab, 46, always has the last laugh.
"I get 70 miles per gallon," Schwab said. "I tell them and they shut up real fast."
Schwab owns a Harley-Davidson, a Corvette and a pickup truck. But they've remained locked in his South Jersey garage since he bought his scooter. He rides it daily from Delran, up Route 130, over the Betsy Ross Bridge, to his job in Philadelphia.
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Scooter Sales At Record Numbers
Scooter sales have also peaked possibly as a result of high gas prices. As we approach the official start of summer people are doing anything they can to get better gas mileage. Local scooter dealers say they just "can't manage to keep them on the lot, they sell before they can even get them out of the box".
The average scooter gets anywhere from 50 to 70 miles to the gallon, and when the national average for a gallon of gas is $4 that's pretty appealing. Now buying a scooter doesn't require a motorcycle license, but some sort of trainnig is recommended so that you ride your scooter safely.
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