July 31, 2008
Seattle may move to protect parked scooters
SEATTLE -- Moving a parked scooter in Seattle may soon be against the law.
The City Council Transportation Committee approved an ordinance Tuesday to outlaw moving a parked scooter or motorcycle from a parking space.
The full council is expected to vote Monday to impose a $38 fine for scooter-moving.
Some scooter owners have complained their vehicles have been moved from parking spots to make room for cars.
Police would have to witness the illegal scooter moving to write a ticket.
Posted by Frank at 9:09 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Consider the scooter
If you do a lot of city driving, buying a highly efficient scooter for warm-weather months makes a good deal of sense. Scooters can get upward of 90 mpg (sometimes well over 100), they're cheap to insure and are perfect for making short jaunts across town.
You can get your hands on a decent used model for around $1,500, and even the most expensive -- which are more like small motorcycles -- only cost around $6,000. Scooter sales are up 24% compared to this time last year, and the industry thinks that has to do mostly with high gas prices. This makes sense because sales of less fuel-efficient bikes, like those sold by Harley-Davidson, are down 23% this year after continuously hitting record sales year after year for two straight decades.
Posted by Frank at 9:02 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Hop on a scooter for fun alone
Hop on a scooter and you make a bold statement: You're stylish, you care for the planet, a rebel in our SUV-loving society. Until gas started closing in on the $4 a gallon mark, though, most Americans took little note. Now, the ultra-efficient two-wheelers are swiftly catching on.
Don and Heather Chiusa, 30-somethings living in Spring Hill, Tenn., have adopted an unexpected hobby in a time of soaring gasoline prices.
Eating up Tennessee asphalt, they've discovered, is far more fun when journeying on gas-sipping scooters.
"They get you to work, but they're not like cars," Don Chiusa says. "They're more like jet skis - you're investing in something fun."
Posted by Frank at 8:58 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 30, 2008
Miramar police trying out new set of wheels
MIRAMAR - Police in this city have added an unlikely tool to their arsenal: a three-wheeled electric scooter that evokes R2-D2, the Star Wars droid.
The $10,663 battery-powered chariot bears Miramar police decals, with flashing lights and sirens lending some heft and authority. Each weekday, an officer will use it to patrol the Town Center, monitoring the parking garage, new library and City Hall as a way to deter crime. But because it reaches only 25 mph, the scooter has yet to prove it's as agile as it is green.
"I doubt this thing will chase down escaping convicts," said Phil Rosenberg, the city's human resources director. "It doesn't substitute for the things a patrol car can do, but it provides a more direct link between citizens and law enforcement in garages and with outdoor gatherings."
Posted by Frank at 8:54 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Older consumers buy 25% of Vespas
The wealthiest demographic group in the United States is frequently bypassed by advertisers, industry experts said.
There are 100 million U.S. consumers above age 50 and the group owns $8 trillion in assets, which amounts to 70 percent of the U.S. population's disposable money, the Kansas City Star reported Tuesday.
The group buys 25 percent of the Vespa scooters sold in the United States and those over 45 purchased 19 percent of the iPods, the newspaper reported. They also buy more than half of the U.S. cars sold, the Star reported.
Posted by Frank at 8:53 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Mods march on Sheffield for scooter rally
TALKING about their generation...The mods were on the march again in Sheffield this weekend when more than 800 gathered for a scooter rally at the Davy sports ground on Prince Of Wales Road.
They came from Middlesbrough, Southport, Derby and as far away as Scotland for the rally called Hammered In Sheffield that featured a celebration of scooters and mod culture with three live bands, specialist stalls and karaoke.
The faces aren't as young as they were but many the followers of the 1960s cult - some of them originals - came on immaculate scooters in their parkas and formations that scattered holiday makers in Brighton, Skegness and Scarborough in 1964.
Posted by Frank at 8:51 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Motorcycle, Scooter Crashes Rise 38 Percent In Winston-Salem
WINSTON-SALEM -- Despite recent declines in fuel prices, real relief at the pump seems anything but near. And those costs for some motorists to get around town have driven many to invest in scooters.
But scooter driving isn't for the faint of heart. While most scooters top out at a maximum speed of around 35 mph, that's hardly fast enough to keep impatient motorists from whizzing by.
One local scooter driver was killed in a crash over the weekend. Billy Ray Hester, 48, of Winston-Salem had just purchased his scooter the day before. He was driving on Jonestown road Sunday afternoon when he drove off the roadway and was thrown from the vehicle. He died on Monday, police said.
Posted by Frank at 8:45 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 29, 2008
Will Scooters Make Downtown Peoria Look Like Downtown Hanoi?
On your way to work, but you don't want to get chain grease all over your Armani trousers? Time to get the new ultimate urban accessory: a scooter.
A scooter hasn't received so much media attention since the Vice President's Chief of Staff was indicted, and it's easy to see why: plunk down $1,000 to $10,000 and you'll be rolling at close to 100 miles per gallon. Heck, get an electric scooter and you'll only be paying your electric bill. Depending on where you live, you might not even need to bring (or even have) your driver's license, as some scooters are considered motorized bicycles and aren't subject to the same rules as mopeds and scooters.
Once reserved for congested and car-unfriendly European and Asian cities, American scooter owners outside of Martha's Vineyard were looked at as wacky paparazzi wannabes. Now, they're getting a second look by a more mature audience, just like how scooter-riding Finch ended up with Stifler's mom.
Scooter sales are up more than 66% this year, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council. Plus, new electric models might even be certified for highway use, as terrifying as that sounds outside of gridlocked rush hours.
Posted by Frank at 6:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Scooter therapy
In a famous scene from the 1950s romantic comedy "Roman Holiday," Gregory Peck, playing an American journalist, takes Audrey Hepburn, the runaway princess, on a tour of Rome on a motorscooter.
More than half a century later, scooters still hold their appeal - particularly now because gasoline prices are so high and they get great mileage.
It helps that they're fun to drive on the backroads of Nevada County.
Meanwhile, prices at the pump have slipped a bit for the first time since oil began its upward zoom, and the national average for a gallon of regular last week dropped to about $4 - the first time it's been that low in seven weeks.
Oil fell last week to about $123 a barrel for September deliveries of light, sweet crude, down from a high in early July of $147, the Associated Press reported.
Posted by Frank at 6:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
It's easy riding for the Westenders
When a tight cluster of 40 scooters whir down California Avenue on a pleasant weekend morning these quaint two-wheelers of pink, powder blue, mustard yellow and rosy red look about as menacing as a parade of grinning Golden Retrievers and just as fun to observe.
They are the Westenders Scooter Club, a practical and whimsical troupe anchored in West Seattle that operate 70-100 mile-per-gallon toys. This international fleet of Italian-made Vespas, Indian-made Stellas, Chicago-based Buddy's, and Japanese Yamaha Vino's, run lean and clean.
"My Vespa is a two-stroke (engine) but it is important to point out it has a catalytic converter and runs very clean," said Westender president, Robert Brown. He named his bright red PX 150 "Luciana."
"Luciana Paluzzi was the Italian actress in the James Bond film 'Thunderball.' Like her namesake, my Luciana is exotic, sexy, and red," he said. The actress had red hair.
Posted by Frank at 4:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Segway Cop Nails DWI Arrest
It may still turn your head to see a Segway scooter rolling down the street... and it may turn you head even quicker to see one being driven at four o'clock in the morning on the streets of Jackson... and it may turn your head even more quickly to see a police officer driving a Segway at four o'clock in the morning on the streets of Jackson... but that's just what an 18-year old woman saw early this morning, before she was arrested.
Jackson Police tell News 10 that the first arrest made by one of their officers riding the Segway, a 2-wheeled, electronic, upright, motorized vehicle, took place in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. Police say they caught a drunk driver who paused to notice the odd appearance of the Segway, and didn't notice that the driver of that Segway was a police officer. Officer Lewis Costley had seen the car traveling at a high rate of speed on East Biddle Street. When the car stopped at the intersection of Francis street, Officer Costley rode up on his unusual looking transport, and determined that the 18-year old girl had been drinking. The driver, who is not being identified until her arraignment, was arrested for operating while intoxicated.
Posted by Frank at 3:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
SX1 Scooter gets a Facelift
Scooters are bucking the credit crunch as people look for economical transport and Sachs have given their SX1 a facelift for Summer 2008 to make it even more attractive.
By the end of June sales on scooters in the UK had risen by 1.3% compared to the previous year, while overall motorcycle sales dipped by 3.6%. Launched in the UK in January, the SX1 from Sachs proved an agile contemporary scooter that creates sporty urban transport for riders aged 16 and over at an affordable price.
Posted by Frank at 1:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Scoot in style
Scooter sales are soaring - and no wonder. While automobiles guzzle gasoline, scooters sip it. Most can squeeze about 75 miles from a single gallon. That's a lot of trips to and from the office for a mere $4-and-change.
But scooting to work does present fashion challenges, especially for women. Skirts and scooters don't exactly go together - unless you're Audrey Hepburn, spinning around town on a Vespa in "Roman Holiday." For the scooter scenes in that classic romantic comedy, Hepburn wears a flyaway skirt, flimsy gladiator sandals - and no helmet.
Today, smart scooter-riders do wear helmets - which means they must deal with the horrors of helmet hair. And for safety reasons, they also wear goggles, gloves, biker jackets and sensible shoes. Picture all that accessorizing a business suit or dress. And let's not forget summer's sweat-inducing heat.
Posted by Frank at 1:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Setting the record straight about scooter regulations
Well, if you haven't bought one yet, you've certainly seen them. They're out there in force and the number is likely to increase.
I'm talking about the scooters and motorcycles that everyone seems to be buying in the battle against high gas prices. Police have seen an increase in the number and frequency of collisions involving these vehicles.
There is a corresponding increase in the number of people that don't seem to be aware of the laws in place regulating scooters. One mother called from Las Vegas and asked about the scooter laws for her child coming to Dixie State College. She "knew" that a scooter under 50ccs didn't need a motorcycle license and she asked about the number of crashes and the safety of these small vehicles. She was wrong about the need for a motorcycle license, by the way.
Posted by Frank at 11:14 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
A new way to scoot
NEWPORT - A motor scooter could become a common sight in the neighborhoods served by Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative.
For the past few months, the cooperative's field service representatives have been trying out a scooter for meter reading in several residential areas, zooming from house to house with relative ease and doing so without guzzling as much gasoline.
The "meter" scooter is still in the test drive phase, but so far the field service representatives have found it has saved gas and increased efficiency.
"We're letting some of the other guys get a feel for it, see how they like it. So far it is looking positive," said CCEC Communications Director Lisa Taylor-Galizia.
Posted by Frank at 9:12 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Ultra Motors launches high range electric scooter
Kochi -- UK-based electric vehicle maker Ultra Motor Company today launched a high-range electric scooter, Marathon, priced at Rs 31,047 (ex-showroom Kochi) in India, which it claims would travel 100 km on a single charge.
"Marathon is primarily targeted at 24-plus year olds, riding a petrol scooter or a moped and who are looking at economy and utility," Ultra Motor India Director (Marketing) Deba Ghoshal told reporters.
The company had set sale target of 60,000 units during this fiscal. Last year, Ultra Motors, in partnership with Hero Exports, sold 22,000 ultra powered electric two-wheelers across the country, he said.
In fiscal 2007-08, the company had a technical collaboration cum-joint marketing agreement with Hero Exports to produce and jointly market electric two-wheelers in India.
Posted by Frank at 8:21 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 28, 2008
Scooter Caution Urged
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Many Columbus area residents have considered dealing with high gas prices by investing in a motor scooter.
The possible savings in fuel costs and the nimble little vehicles have caused a buying spurt at many retailers, including Zoot Scoots on Fifth Avenue.
But a recent serious scooter accident in Pennsylvania involving the daughter and son-in-law of Ohio State University President Gordon Gee has caused some to have second thoughts.
"We've had three people come in and cancel their orders based on Gordon's son in law," commented Rick Beam of Zoot Scoots to NBC 4's Matt Alvarez.
Posted by Frank at 10:00 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Honda Elite 80 Scooter raffle tickets available
MARION - The Fraternal Order of Police Associates, Marion Lodge 49, is selling raffle tickets for a new Honda Elite 80 Scooter.
Advertisement
The Elite 80 has an automatic transmission, gets 80 miles per gallon and is capable of reaching speeds up to 55 miles per hour.
Tickets are $5 per ticket or five tickets for $20. The drawing will be held Dec. 20. Winner is responsible for sales tax, title and licensing requirements. In addition, the winner receives an option of $1,500 cash as an alternate prize.
For more information, please contact Charlie Daniels at 740-361-7795.
Posted by Frank at 9:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Scooter craze hits Southern Utah
With gasoline selling for more than $4 a gallon, many people are looking for ways to save on transportation costs. One look at the streets of Southern Utah will show there is an apparent increase in the amount of scooters on the road.
"We got the scooter in July of last year," said St. George resident Mark Speener of his family's scooter. "We bought it to try and save money on gas. That was when gas was hitting $3 a gallon last summer. É The gas savings will pile up the more you ride it."
Now the fuel prices are even higher and the scooter has become a welcome addition to the Speener family fleet, which includes a sedan and a minivan.
Posted by Frank at 9:58 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Gas prices fuel scooter sales
RALEIGH - When Johnny Edwards opened his scooter store in Raleigh a year ago, gas prices were around $2.68 per gallon. At that time, he was selling 20 to 30 of the bikes a month.
"Right now we're selling 60 to 100 scooters per month," Edwards, owner of Scooterz Inc., said.
The craze is growing coast to coast, with sales up 66 percent nationwide, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council.
"This has already happened all over the world, except for here in the United States," Edwards said. "We've had our big vehicles, and now people are kind of reverting back."
He said although scooters range in gas mileage from 80 to 100 miles per gallon, his biggest sellers are the bikes that get more than 100 miles per gallon.
Posted by Frank at 9:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 27, 2008
Cute scoot boogie
It's bigger than a breadbox. But way smaller than a Hummer. It's as stylish as a Marc Jacobs bag. But, unlike said bag, it will get you to work and back. The fastest can go up to 100 miles per hour. But the most efficient can get up to 100 miles per gallon.
Here's a hint: It's not a Prius. Or a Fit. Or a smart fortwo.
It's a scooter. And these days, it's almost as hot as a hybrid. And frankly, I'd take a Vespa over a Prius any day.
After talking with a few eastern Maine scooter dealers, it's easy to understand why they can't seem to keep them in stock.
"For a lot of people, [this summer's $4-plus gas prices are] the last straw," said Lou Fraser, who manages Friend & Friend in Orono and teaches motorcycle education classes. "They've seen the light. ... Some people who are getting into it think it's a necessity, but at the same time, they're thinking, 'What the hell? This is fun.'"
Posted by Frank at 11:26 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Two wheels - better than four
With his black-and-red armored jacket and rally buttons across his chest, Bart Weitzman, 51, could be mistaken for a typical biker. He does own a vintage Honda motorcycle, but it's his white 1973 Vespa Sprint 150 that has stolen his heart.
"I get my ya-yas off going 30 to 60 miles per hour - Yee-haw!" Weitzman said by phone from his home in Rydal, Montgomery County .
Weitzman is a member of the Hostile City Scooter Club, a group of local scooter enthusiasts.
His Vespa gets 55 miles per gallon, he said. Compared to his Toyota Sienna, which takes $75 to fill up, it costs Weitzman only a few bucks to fill his scooter's 2.1-gallon gas tank, he said.
That fuel efficiency, scooter-sellers say, is bringing more people through the doors.
Larry Wang, 43, owner of Philadelphia Scooters in South Philly, said business has increased at least 150 percent this year. Wang is having trouble keeping the store's most popular brand, the Genuine Buddy, in stock, he said.
Posted by Frank at 11:25 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
''Scooting'' to Save Gas
Bill Tracy lives in Chattanooga. And eight months ago, he bought a scooter.
With what he's saving on gas, he hasn't looked back.
"I guess my most expensive gas bill, the other day I paid $4.10 worth of gas," he says.
He says he gets nearly 119 miles a gallon on his scooter.
Jen Obal with Scenic City Scooters says the savings on gas, and the relatively cheap prices for scooters have lead more people to their doors.
"Since gas prices have gone up, people have gone from looking at the scooter as something fun to do as something that's more necessary to do to save some money on gas," she says.
Posted by Frank at 11:19 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Electric Scooter from Vectrix is Sleek, Slick
The future of motorcycles and scooters is electrifying or I should say electric. In April, I wrote about the Zero X, an electric dirt bike just hitting the market. Now there's the high performance Vectrix ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle), a high performance scooter which, according to the Boston Globe, has grown its dealer network from 5 to 50 dealers in the U.S. So far, 1,000 have been shipped by the Middletown, R.I.-based Vectrix Corp., according to the article.
With a 21 Kw DC brushless motor and a nickel hydride battery, the ZEV can go up to 62 MPH and has a range of 35-55 miles between charges. And it's goes from 0-50 in a respectable 6.8 seconds, according the tech specs on Vectrix web site. The on-board 1.5 Kw charger plugs into a standard 110 volt socket and charges the battery in 3-5 hours.
The electronics -- CANBUS networking, an insular bi-polar transistor (IGBT) and DSP to control the power to the motor and an LCD instrument cluster - can be diagnosed by Vectrix software loaded onto a laptop. Will it hold up? Time will tell, but the warranty is good for 24 months.
Posted by Frank at 11:18 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Scooter Sales Soar
Oil prices sank to their lowest point in seven weeks Friday and the price of gas has dropped a little bit too. But with gas still hovering around four dollars a gallon, scooter sales are sky high.
If you are one of the many people feeling the pain at the pump, you may want to check out a scooter or motorcycle. Worried about safety? Take a class. And load up on protective gear like jackets, helmets, gloves, and more.
Jeremy Ayo at Honda of Lafayette says, "Always wear them no matter what time of year it is and just be safe and be careful."
Be safe and be careful, if you can buy one. Dealers are having a hard time just keeping scooters in stock.
Bill Young at First Turn says, "In the last 2 months, business is booming. We're up about 25-30% above last year. Last year was our best year in business. We sold 88 machines last month which was a record for us for the month."
Posted by Frank at 11:17 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Do you know your scooter law?
FORT COLLINS - Not a motorcycle, not a car, the scooter has its own set of road rules.
With the dizzying gas prices pushing more and more people onto scooters, police think it high time to let drivers know about the law that surrounds them.
First, a scooter is not a motorcycle. You don't need a motorcycle license - just a regular driver's license - to drive one as long as it's under 50ccs and you stay under 30 miles per hour.
Many scooters are able to go over 30 mph, but if you're caught above that limit and don't have a motorcycle endorsement, you can get a ticket.
Also, scooters must have an automatic transmission to be considered a scooter. If it has a clutch, it's a motorcycle.
Second, helmets are required for any person under 18 years of age. That includes passengers. Still, police recommend them for all drivers.
Posted by Frank at 11:16 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Vespa Holland is riding the wave of scooter popularity
CASCADE TOWNSHIP -- A Lakeshore area scooter dealer is riding the wave of high gas prices right into the Grand Rapids market.
Vespa Holland, which opened a full-scale showroom last year inside Lincoln-Mercury-Suzuki of Holland, plans to open a second location next month at 5771 28th St. SE.
"There's a big demand for it," said Dan Stewart, who oversees the bike business at the dealership.
He also is actively searching for more locations to expand.
"We're looking at Kalamazoo, possibly Battle Creek, Muskegon, Lansing," Stewart said. "I get so many customers from all over. I had one lady that came all the way from Okemos."
The Italian scooters are being purchased by people young and old, professional or student -- anyone interested in saving money on fuel. Some scooter models can get up to 100 mpg.
The median age of a scooter buyer rose from 26 in 1990 to 46 in 2003, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council.
Posted by Frank at 11:13 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Dirt cheap ticket to ride
Radio programmer Murry Pretscherer swapped one of his two cars for a trendy Vespa scooter three years ago.
And the married father-of-two from Auckland's Mt Albert hasn't looked back.
"We live close to the city and we decided two cars was a bit ridiculous with the cost," said the 31-year-old co-programme director at George FM, based in Ponsonby.
"We've saved stacks. It costs me about $14 to fill up, which lasts me 10 days to two weeks. Registration is about $60 a year and insurance is dirt cheap as well. In the past nine months to a year I've noticed a stack more scooters around."
Posted by Frank at 11:12 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Piaggio Accessories for Carnaby Scooter
Piaggio offers a range of accessories for the new-look Carnaby designed to enhance the carrying capacity of their big-wheel 125cc scooter.
Although the Carnaby is light and compact, space is intelligently distributed too, so that the rider and passenger benefit from a broad, comfortably shaped seat and flat platform that offers plenty of legroom. The under-seat bay is big enough to hold a jet helmet and also contains two side pockets for smaller objects and this can be supplemented by the innovative Easy Bag that attaches to the leg shield. This fully detachable bag is made from a waterproof and tear-proof synthetic fabric that blends in with the interior trim without reducing legroom, priced at £34.99.
Posted by Frank at 11:11 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Scooter Owners Reccommend the Gas Saving Vehicles
With gas prices hovering near 4 bucks a gallon, many people park four wheeled gas guzzlers and turn to two wheels. If you're considering switching to a scooter, we have advice from the experts. Riders in town for the country's largest scooter rally describe the vehicles' virtues.
They're fairly fast, fun, and fuel efficient.
Craig Huard, "It tops out at about 75 miles an hour."
Bryan Howard, "It's the most fun you can have on two wheels."
Brittanie Holland, "It's less that five bucks to fill up and I can ride for weeks."
It's no wonder more drivers settle on scooters now to beat the gas crunch.
Posted by Frank at 6:14 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 26, 2008
Gas prices drive Valley scooter craze
Walk into the Scooters of Boise showroom, and you'll find a selection of the increasingly popular fuel-efficient motor bikes. But you can't have them.
They've already been sold. Well, there was one available Thursday, but it probably won't be there on Friday.
"I can't keep up," said co-owner Kitty Smith. "We got 20 scooters on Monday and sold out Tuesday morning."
The supply of the little gas-sippers is dwindling at other Treasure Valley stores, too, because of a booming U.S. demand amid $4-plus gasoline and manufacturers' desire to satisfy their longtime customers in Europe and Asia, Smith said.
Posted by Frank at 12:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Vancouver hopes scooter buyers consider electric
The City of Vancouver loves electric scooters and hopes more drivers will ditch their cars in favour of them. But they hope residents avoid gas-fuelled versions.
"While scooters are a really fuel-efficient means of transportation, their air pollution, what we call common air contaminants, [is] really quite bad, like 10 times worse than a car," said Sean Pander, the city's climate change program manager.
The city is working with developers to explore the cost and safety codes involved in electrifying parkades in new condominiums. They want to determine, for example, the cost of providing electricity to 15 per cent of the stalls.
Posted by Frank at 12:37 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Investors say electric scooter a good investment
Four years ago, Mike Ehrler invested in -- of all things -- a company pioneering the technology of large electric scooters closer in overall size to a motorcycle.
"It wasn't much money, about $70,000. Back then, I did it on a lark," Ehrler said.
At the time, gas cost less than $2 per gallon, said the retired Ehrler's Dairy Inc. co-founder and Louisville-based investor.
Now, with gas at $4 per gallon, investing in Vectrix Corp. seems more like kismet.
"With the price of gas where it is, I think it's a very good investment," Ehrler said.
Rising fuel costs and concerns about the environment have made Vectrix a hot item, especially considering that it's a fairly expensive, first-generation electric scooter.
Posted by Frank at 12:36 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Quite the sales plug
A New England company that makes electric scooters is getting a boost from the high price of gasoline. Vectrix Corp., which is based in Middletown, R.I., and has an engineering plant in New Bedford, said its dealership total nationwide has increased from 5 to 50 in the past 100 days.
Since last year, Vectrix has shipped just 1,000 of the scooters, but that number could soon rise dramatically, given consumers' increased interest in alternatives to gas-powered vehicles.
The company said it costs about 1 cent a mile to run the zero-emission Vectrix - and that it gets the equivalent of 357 miles per gallon. The scooter can accelerate from zero to 50 miles per hour in 6.8 seconds, has a top speed of 62 miles per hour, according to the company, and can travel 30 to 55 miles on a single battery charge. Recharging takes two to three hours if it's completely depleted.
Posted by Frank at 12:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Electric Scooters Arrive In Nashville
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- With gas prices more than $4 a gallon, scooter sales have jumped more than 100 percent in Nashville and some drivers are turning to electric ones.
The new Vectrix Maxi scooter has arrived and is on sale in middle Tennessee.
There are seven moving parts through the whole scooter. It doesn't use gas or oil, so it's pretty much maintenance free.
"A gentleman out in Green Hills has purchased one. He uses it everyday for his work commute," said Trevor Clay of Yamaha Suzuki of Cool Springs. "He drives from Green Hills to Cool Springs everyday and loves it. He says even his work is putting an outlet outside on a light fixture so he can plug it in when he gets to work."
At $8,700 the Vectrix is not cheap, but when you consider some drivers are paying $2,000 or more each year for gas, the scooter could pay for itself in just a few years.
Posted by Frank at 12:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
A shocking scooter development
This is so weird. I shouldn't be surprised by the Vectrix, but I am. I have read up on the groundbreaking electric scooter; I have watched video of the machine in action; I know, in short, what to expect. And yet, here I am, not quite understanding how I have suddenly been propelled forward by a bike that gave me no advance warning of its impending surge into traffic.
Tzahi Ziv of IFI Motors, which is importing the American-made scooter, has already briefed me on the vehicle's operation. He has explained that the brushless electric motor housed in the rear wheel spins in near silence, and that, unlike internal combustion engines, it makes its maximum output right away, so it doesn't need to reach high RPMs to pour on the power.
In other words, there's no "vroom, vroom" when you pull back on the throttle, but there's plenty of "zoom, zoom." And what a strange "zoom, zoom" it is! Upon turning the starter key (you can't really call it the ignition), I am greeted not with the usual throaty growl of a thumping engine, but with a chipper "Ready... GO!" on one of the bike's digital dials.
Posted by Frank at 4:39 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 25, 2008
Viva la Vespa!
Gas is topping $4 per gallon. Parking, even in a cheap lot, can cost more then some people make in a day. And keeping a car in the city, between alternate-side parking, epic traffic jams and torn-up roads, is enough to make anyone long for the subway.
There are a growing number of Brooklynites who don't have to worry about such things anymore, though, since scooters -- especially the Mod-throwback Vespa bikes -- are taking the borough by storm.
"We're looking to have sold 75 to 80 bikes for the month," said Andrew Hadjiminas, owner of the borough's first dealership, Vespa Brooklyn, which opened in Clinton Hill last month. "We get a lot of people that come in, and -- right off the bat -- they're talking about gas prices, so that's one of the biggest selling points.
Posted by Frank at 10:44 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Scooters Are In High Demand
It seems just about everyone is trying to figure out ways to save money on gas. More and more North Dakotans are discovering a mode of transportation that`s been popular in Europe and Asia for decades. Not a single car in America can achieve the kind of mileage of the average scooter. That`s why their scooting off of dealer lots quicker than you can say Vespa.
They come in all sorts of styles. Some are small and cute. Others are a bit brawnier. Either way, high gas prices are boosting the popularity of the motorcycle`s little brother, the scooter.
Jesse Auday of Open Road Honda notes, "Scooter inventory is nonexistent. Basically, at this point, we are pre-sold into our 2009 models already now. We`re still continuing to get lists, get them in as fast as we can, and get them back into the customers` hands."
At a cost of about $2,000-$8,000 depending on the model, scooters won`t break the bank, and many of discovering that the savings don`t end there.
Talk about economical, a 49 c.c. scooter like this one gets over 100 miles to the gallon. And with only a 1.2 gallon fuel tank, you can pay for your fill up with a five and still get change back. That little scooter is strictly for around town, and only requires a motorized bicycle permit. Beefier models require a motorcycle permit.
Posted by Frank at 10:43 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Better for commuters - car or scooter?
As rising petrol prices take grip, what is quicker in the rush hour - a scooter or a car?
Central Scooters in Lye have noticed a change in clientele lately as more and more business people purchase scooters and mopeds.
As petrol prices continue to soar, it appears the nippy vehicles, which cost just £7 to fill up for 140 miles of scooting, are back in fashion.
Posted by Frank at 10:43 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
As gas prices soar, so do scooter sales
Chris Crawford has a problem that any business owner would love to have.
As soaring gas prices drain drivers' wallets, Crawford can't keep up with demand for the electric bikes and scooters he sells at his St. Catharines Daymak dealership.
"We've been backlogged since March," he said Tuesday. "Customers are waiting six to eight weeks for delivery because they're selling like hot cakes."
Other shops in the area also say they're seeing a big spike in interest from customers.
Those customers are keen on letting their gas-guzzling cars sit in the driveway in favour of cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Posted by Frank at 10:29 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Commission gives early nod to allow scooter business
A store that will sell motorcycle-type scooters got a preliminary nod of approval Tuesday from Clinton's Planning and Zoning Commission.
Billy Lancaster of Edwards asked the panel for a conditional use permit to operate his new business in the storefront at 313 Clinton Blvd. formerly occupied by Tobacco Town. The building is owned by James Crawford.
Lancaster plans to sell small scooters with engines ranging from 50cc to 250cc and weights from about 160 pounds to up to 225 pounds. They're designed generally for a single rider, and will be priced ranging from $1,400 to $3,200, Lancaster said.
He hasn't decided yet on a vendor or vendors, but "most of them come from China," he told commissioners.
Posted by Frank at 10:19 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Chattanooga: Scooter lovers from across nation gather here this week
Scooter popularity is soaring. But scooters are not kid stuff, local enthusiasts said.
With engines up to 800 cubic centimeters and top speeds greater than 100 mph, today's scooters are serious machines that demand real safety precautions.
"A lot of people make the mistake of thinking scooters are toys, but other than your seating position, they're no different than a motorcycle," said Noelle Omer, a 30-year-old magazine editor and member of the Hill City United Scooter Club.
This weekend, as many as 450 Vespa scooter riders from around the country will be attending the Amerivespa 2008 rally in Chattanooga. Events include a ride from Scenic City Scooters in Red Bank to Deals Gap on the Tennessee-North Carolina border, famous for more than 300 turns in 11 miles.
A scooter show from 1:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday at First Tennessee Pavilion downtown is open to the public. Scooters and games can be viewed for free. Registration is required ($70 for today-Sunday, meals included) to try out demo scooters or to participate in games, Ms. Omer said.
Posted by Frank at 10:15 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Sydney offers free scooter parking
MOTORCYCLE and scooter riders will be able to park for free on streets controlled by the Sydney City Council in its proposal to encourage smaller, more environmentally-friendly modes of travel.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore today launched a draft of the City of Sydney Motorcycle and Scooter Strategy, which also proposes cheaper road tolls for those travelling on two wheels, and the installation of public charging points for electric motorcycles.
"The city is committed to sustainable transport options and supports the gradual shift away from large, polluting vehicles to smaller, more efficient vehicles to complement walking, cycling and public transport," Cr Moore said.
Posted by Frank at 10:13 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 24, 2008
Amerivespa rolls into Chattanooga
More than 450 scooter riders from across the country and beyond will be taking to the streets this Thursday through Sunday for Vespa Club of America's Amerivespa 2008. Amerivespa is the country's largest scooter rally; it travels to a new city each year.
This year VCOA teamed with Hill City United Scooter Club to organize and host this event. After a year of planning and with support of local and national sponsors, organizers expect this to be an event that brings quite a bit of attention to Chattanooga.
"I have visited Chattanooga several times in the past few years, and through those trips I knew this was a city I wanted to bring Amerivespa to," said J.D. Merryweather, president of Vespa Club of America. "We have an amazing schedule planned, and I encourage anyone interested in riding a scooter, no matter what brand it is, to join us this weekend."
Posted by Frank at 2:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Happy 50th, Super Cub
While 2008 marks the 100th anniversary of Ford's Model T, a machine that mobilized America, it also marks the 50th anniversary of the Honda Super Cub, the scooter that accomplished a similar task across Asia.
Introduced in 1958 as the C100, the Cub was Honda's attempt at an affordable means of urban transportation - and with a 4-hp, four-stroke 50cc one cylinder, often coupled to a semi-automatic gear box, it quickly developed a cult following.
Over the past fifty years, Honda has built over 60 million examples of the Super Cub and its derivatives (in contrast, Volkswagen manufactured only 21.5 million copies of the original Beetle across sixty-five years) and continues to sell the bike today.
Posted by Frank at 2:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Environmental, Cost Benefits Make Vectrix Scooter Tempting For New Riders
CHATHAM -- Despite headlines trumpeting a three-cent drop in gas prices in the last week, there are plenty of drivers tempted by the idea of cheap transportation. The Vectrix scooter, which plugs into a standard wall outlet, provides reliable transportation for just a few cents per "fill up" of electricity. But environmentally, the Vectrix is unmatched. Because it runs on batteries, there are no tailpipe emissions, no soot, carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases of any type. Of course, it still relies on electricity generated by local power suppliers, which means that some of the power probably originally came from fossil fuel-burning power plants.
Even so, according to a calculator on the Vectrix website, the electric scooter's impact on the environment is a fraction of the impact of gasoline-powered vehicles. That impact is expressed as a carbon footprint, or a measure of greenhouse gas emissions over a period of time, per kilometer of travel. The carbon footprint of the Vectrix scooter is 35.5 kilograms of carbon dioxide per kilometer, compared to 277 kilograms for a Ford Taurus, and 436 kilograms for a Chevy Suburban.
Posted by Frank at 1:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Scooter Riders Urged To Use Caution, Follow Laws
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. -- Hot weather and high gas prices are causing drivers to turn to more fuel-friendly modes of transportation, but police are warning motorists to be careful with their new rides.
Fairfax police said more drivers with different experience levels are traveling by moped, scooter and motorcycle, creating safety concerns as small vehicles share the road with larger cars.
The Fairfax Police Department released a new educational brochure for operators of small vehicles. Click here to view the brochure.
According to a law that went into effect July 1, a moped is considered a motorcycle if it is driven at speeds of more than 35 mph, meaning operators need to have additional driver's certifications and a motorcycle license.
Posted by Frank at 1:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 23, 2008
Scooter sales booming as gas prices skyrocket
With gas prices entrenched around the $4 mark, consumers are turning to two-wheeled transportation alternatives in greater numbers than ever. Retailers are seeing big boosts in scooter sales.
Sales figures for the first half of 2008 released Monday by the Motorcycle Industry Council show scooter sales nationwide are exploding.
"The percentage on scooters is up 56 percent compared to last year," said Mike Mount, director of communication for the Motorcycle Industry Council.
Perry Coon, a sales representative at Noblesville Honda said his store has seen big sales gains primarily from first-time buyers looking to trim their commuting costs.
"Scooter sales are up probably by about 35 percent this year," Coon said. "I would say that's probably a conservative number."
Some models like the popular Honda Elite have sold out completely.
"I believe the Elite right now is probably done for the year," he said. "I don't believe I'm going to have any additional stock on that unit period. I think it's just sold out nationwide."
The trend has carried over to smaller motorcycles as well, Coon added. The store has sold out of several models which he said is unusual.
Posted by Frank at 10:07 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Soaring gas prices drive U.S. scooter sales
Record gasoline prices are fuelling a boom in sales of fuel-efficient scooters across the United States, as commuters ditch their gas-guzzlers and don helmets and goggles to beat high prices at the pump.
U.S. scooter sales have risen 65.7 percent in the first half of 2008, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council, making the industry one of the biggest beneficiaries of a more than 30 percent spike in oil prices this year.
"They are just flying out of here," said Steve Travers, who manages a scooter and motorcycle dealership in midtown Manhattan. "Consumers want to escape gas prices, they can't afford to drive their cars and they want an inexpensive way to get around."
Posted by Frank at 10:02 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Piaggio sees big gains in U.S.
The US is demanding smaller cars and more scooters. High oil prices are driving up scooter sales, with the italian Vespa leading the way, just like it did in 'Roman holiday'.
Piaggio, Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki on average increased their sales by 24% in May. Piaggio sold more than 2,600 Vespas, doubling sales figures in a single year. Overall sales of Piaggio scooters increased by 105% in May. A growth rate that should be confirmed in June as well, according to Piaggio CEO Roberto Colaninno.
In the US Piaggio has been growing for at least 3 years and in 2005 it had already sold 17,000 Vespas, 36% more than in 2004. But Piaggio believes that the real winner is going to be their hybrid engine that will be marketed as of next year, capable of covering 60 km with a single litre of fuel.
The new models will be able to work on electric power alone, adding normal power above a certain speed. Batteries can be recharged simply by plugging into a home electric socket for 3 hours. The new engine on the 3-wheel Mp3 scooter has already been marketed in the US in the 'thermal' version.
Posted by Frank at 9:47 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 22, 2008
Scooters making sense as gas prices rise
PANAMA CITY -- People are scooting around more often these days.
One only needs to ride down Front Beach Road on a bright sunny day to see the small-scale motorcycles cruising up and down the strip. And as gas prices have shot up, sales of scooters have skyrocketed, too, according to a salesman at Yamaha Seedoo of Panama.
"I'm down to three from 30," said Chris Williams.
Gas mileage definitely is a factor in the scooter's appeal, he said.
"They can get over 100 miles per gallon," Williams said.
On its Web site, Yamaha has seven different 2008 models of scooters available. At the top end is the TMAX, a super sport line, which retails for around $8,000. For bargain hunters is the Vino Classic, a Euro-style scooter that goes for around $2,100.
Williams said the majority of buyers "live in town."
"People that don't have to get above 45 mph," he said.
Posted by Frank at 1:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Dealers Keep up with Scooter Demand
High gas prices are driving demand for a smaller set of wheels.
Hybrid cars and smaller vehicles are getting harder to come by, and now, you can add scooters to the list.
Cutting back on gas this summer has been tough and many people are trying to figure out ways to get the best bang for their buck.
That includes Dwayne Olson.
"My pickup gets about 15 miles a gallon and this here I get 100," he says of his scooter.
Olson says scooters are economical and are worth the investment.
Shops are trying to get their hands on as many scooters as they can to keep up with the demand.
"They seem to be a little short in supply but we try to get as many as we can but they never seem to have enough," says Owner of Northstar Powersports, Brian Berhow.
Posted by Frank at 1:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Campus Police Go Electric
The University of Nebraska has found a way to conserve energy on its Lincoln campus and not just gas. UNL police officers will soon be patrolling on electric scooters.
Capt. Carl Oestmann says the department recently purchased four Segway scooters to save on fuel and to help make officers more accessible.
UNL officers will continue to patrol campus in cars and on bikes, but the scooters will reduce car use saving on fuel costs and reduce wear-and-tear on vehicles. And unlike cars, scooters can reach nearly every corner of campus.
Posted by Frank at 1:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Mopeds selling like hotcakes
Don't be surprised if you see more mopeds and scooters on the road. Amy Swanoski reports sales of these energy efficient rides are off the charts.
Kids, parents, even grandparents love them, and they get great gas mileage. Moped and scooter dealers say sales are definitely up this year. Sue Pisa is the owner of Full Throttle Sports in Rice Lake.
"People can buy a 50cc and get a hundred plus miles to the gallon versus taking their car or their truck to work so that's what a lot of people are opting to do."
Pisa says with such high gas prices scooter popularity is gaining momentum.
"Looking not only because of the gas they are looking at the entertainment part of it, people are forming scooter clubs in this area because it is an inexpensive thing for them to get together and do. They get together, their scooters get over a hundred miles to the gallon and they go riding."
Posted by Frank at 1:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Gas prices spark sales in 2-wheeled rides
Local retailers that can provide people with a more fuel-efficient way to get to work are poised to be the sales winners through the balance of this year.
As gas prices remain firmly fixed above $4 a gallon, buyers for new vehicles like the Penske Automotive Group Inc.'s Smart Car still face long waiting lists, retro-chic scooters such as the iconic Vespa have seen a renewed boost in sales, and that old standby, the bicycle, is selling briskly.
At Continental Bike Shop in Hazel Park, sales have doubled from this time last year, said Randy Martin, president.
The shop sold between 30 and 40 bikes in June, compared with 15 to 20 in the same month last year.
Posted by Frank at 12:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 21, 2008
Mopeds' uncharted ground
Nichole Burton's new $2,800 Piaggio Fly 50 moped - the economy version of a Vespa - is saving her hundreds on gasoline, exactly as advertised. But owning a moped comes with its share of problems - foremost being, where the heck are you supposed to park it?
At first Burton left it on the sidewalk, chained like a bicycle to a street sign. But her landlady warned her that it was illegal to park mopeds on the sidewalk in Somerville, and if she did it again, the police said they'd tow it away.
The street was the next likely option, but Somerville doesn't issue residential parking stickers to moped owners. Without a residential sticker, Burton figured she'd get ticketed.
"If I can't legally park it on the sidewalk and I can't park it on my street, what does that mean?" she asked. "It should be one or the other."
Posted by Frank at 10:05 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Drivers hop on scooters to save on fuel costs
John Smith of Putnam is proud to say he burned nearly a full tank of gas on a recent trip from his hometown of Putnam to Lyman Orchards in Middlefield and back.
"It cost me less than $8," Smith boasted.
With his Vespa GTS 250, a scooter that gets between 60 and 70 miles per gallon, Smith is among a growing number of people who are finding the fun and practicality of riding a scooter.
Smith, 38, is a longtime scooter rider, motorcyclist and the founder of the Sun and Fun Scooter Club.
"Because of the gas crisis, people are turning to scooters," Smith said. "I see so many more out there now."
Posted by Frank at 10:03 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack