August 12, 2008
Vespa scooter given added zest
Getting out of the driver's seat and on to a scooter is becoming more popular as drivers try to beat the jams and cut costs.
Vespa is at the forefront of classic looking scooters, and its new limited-edition Zafferano brings impossibly cool Italian urban chic to British streets.
It comes in exclusive hot orange paint, has plenty of retro detailing and the graphics are unique to this model.
The bike also features the signature rectangular headlight synonymous with the rest of the recently revised range. Two engine sizes are available - 50cc and 125cc. The former model comes with a sports seat, while the latter uses a more comfortable touring option.
Posted by Frank at 11:53 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 10, 2008
The Vespatition
The scooter craze is spreading throughout NWA. Fewer scooter parking spots has led to the Vespatition. It's a petition set up for users to sign up online. The company will then send a petition to the City Mayor's office in your area, asking for more Vespa-Scooter parking spots in the area. Supporters say their plan would convert a regular parking spot, into up to 6 spots for Vespas. Think of it as parking numerous scooters in the place of one car.
Owner of Vespa Ozarks, Leonard Zeichiedrich says, "People need to realize it actually gets on the Mayor's desk. They may look at it, or they may look at it, but if we have more asking for those situations, then it will be better."
Posted by Frank at 2:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 7, 2008
Pininfarina CEO dies in scooter accident
TURIN -- Andrea Pininfarina, CEO of Italian design and contract manufacturer Pininfarina, died Thursday morning in a road accident near Turin.
Pininfarina, 51, died after a car collided with the Vespa motorcycle scooter he was riding to the company's design and r&d center in Cambiano.
Pininfarina's death comes at a time when the family-controlled company is in the midst of a crucial restructuring. Andrea Pininfarina has been Pininfarina's CEO since June 2001. He was also appointed chairman in May 2006.
Posted by Frank at 10:42 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Scooter fans head for the Piece Hall
VESPA and Lambretta fans revved their engines at the first Piece Hall Scooter Rally.
Organised in conjunction with the Yorkshire Scooter Alliance, the event attracted more than 35 scooter owners and bike fans.
Phoenix Radio provided sounds of the 60s for the event which Ruth Taylor, Piece Hall events officer, said they hoped would become a yearly fixture.
"We hope this will be an annual event for people to come and show off their bikes. It was a real Quadrophenia style atmosphere with the mods and so on," she said.
Posted by Frank at 8:51 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 5, 2008
Scooter use increases in Morgan County
For some, they are a statement about a way of life -- for some, they are about gas savings.
And gosh darn it, they're just plain fun. More and more scooters can be seen on the roads of Morgan County, and they're usually driven by people with big smiles on their faces.
Madisonian Ishmael Bowman bought his first scooter--a 1978 Vespa Piaggio 150--in 1982. At the time he was living in Westport, CT, a bedroom community of New York City.
"Westport was a sort of summer town, the crowds were heavy," remembers Bowman. "At night time, near the restaurants, there was no parking, but bicycles and Vespas were ideal."
After moving from New York, Bowman--a self-employed private investor--stored his Vespa for a while. But he has been riding it again recently, and he's part of a growing local trend.
Posted by Frank at 2:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 2, 2008
Vespa LX150 scooter
About a month ago we promised to get our hands on some scooters for evaluation. We've just added a couple of Vespas to our test fleet, a 50cc LX50 and a 150cc LX150. The LX50 model cost us $3,299, the LX150 $4,399. After some buzzing around ("Vespa" means wasp in Italian) in the immediate vicinity, it became clear that most of us prefer the 150. Though the 50cc model doesn't require a motorcycle license, it's limited to only 30 mph and feels sluggish. In order to ride legally and confidently on highways, you'd need a 250cc scooter.
The other day I ferried the LX150 home on a trailer so I could ride it in more urban and suburban settings than the rural roads around our test track. I immediately felt very trendy. Spurred on by record high gas prices, the Vespa has become a fashion statement in my neck of the woods in Fairfield County, Connecticut.
Mind you, I'm not a two-wheeler novice: I used to own a Triumph motorcycle. It took a bit of a mindset adjustment to ride the Vespa, but I'm happy to announce that my ego remained intact. Luckily, everything else also remained intact despite a few nerve-racking moments in rush-hour traffic and a sudden booming thunderstorm. Riding in the rain is very stressful and fatiguing due to the reduced grip, impaired visibility, and the already oblivious motorists around you.
Posted by Frank at 11:19 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Big ol' choppers...and lil' scooters
LEWISTON - This $4 plus a gallon gas has everyone searching for the cheapest way to travel.
And that means scooters and motorcycles are becoming increasingly hard to keep in stock. One Valley business that normally sells big bikes, says it's responding to customers. Lewiston's Harley Davidson General Manager Matt Thomasson says the need for a fuel efficient ride is overwhelming, so he brought in a new product.
"We are now a Vespa dealer, and we're going to be an Aprilla dealer too," said Thomasson. "We have Vespa scooters here now, and we have a bunch more on the way. So they're coming in."
Thomasson says he's seeing more two-wheel hungry customers than ever.
"We've definitely seen an increase in motorcycle sales, as the price of gas has gone up. It's good for us but bad for everybody else."
Posted by Frank at 11:18 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Britain's youngest Mod
DON'T blink or you may miss Billie Lynch whizzing through East London--just a flash of bright red zooming past.
This latter-day 'Billie Whiz' is probably Britain's youngest Mod, a 'born again' Quadrophenia fan just turned 16.
She passed her Driving Test last Wednesday (July 30) to ride a motor scooter, just a day after her 16th birthday... after a few hours getting to grips with her dad's bright red Vespa at East London's Cardrome training centre.
"I was really nervous, really shaking, and sick before the test," she admitted.
"But they were really nice and took me through it carefully and passed me."
Posted by Frank at 11:17 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Vespa takes sting out of carbon
Canada's first-ever national carbon-neutral driving program is indeed creating a buzz across Canada.
Launched last month by Toronto-based Canadian Scooter Corp. (Vespa Canada), the company and its partners Environmental Defence (www.environmentaldefence.ca) and the Carbon Reduction Fund (carbonreductionfund.org) have introduced a new program to offset the estimated carbon emissions created by the production and distribution of all new Vespa scooters sold in Canada.
Included are three "green-themed" EnviroVespas in the colours Sun (yellow), Sky (blue) and Grass (green).
Posted by Frank at 11:14 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 30, 2008
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
July 27, 2008
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
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
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
July 23, 2008
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 21, 2008
Gas prices popularize scooters in Nevada County
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 scooter.
More than half a century later, scooters still hold their appeal-particularly now because they give great mileage and are fun to drive on the backroads of Nevada County.
Recently, a group of local scooter enthusiasts formed a club in Grass Valley called Sierra Scootz.
Members convene once a month at the First Baptist Church on Ridge Road for a club meeting and once a week at the parking lot of Sierra Motor Sports on Nevada City Highway for a group ride, said club member Bill Braden.
Posted by Frank at 9:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 19, 2008
Two-Wheel Savings
Kevin Montanaro's work day ends at 3:30 p.m. and it's time to head home.
He hits the road on two wheels-- a commuter on a scooter.
"It turns your commute into recreation," he says.
Montanaro saves money riding his scooter to and from work each day. That's because he get's 70 miles per gallon of gas-- compared to his car which gets about half that.
He fills up about once a month. Since his scooter is vintage-- a 1963 VESPA-- he mixes motor oil at the same... Not necessary with newer scooters.
Montanaro's not alone on the road. More people are parking their gas guzzlers in favor of fuel efficient scooters. Sales have skyrocketed. Membership in the Vermont Scooter Club has nearly tripled this year.
Posted by Frank at 10:48 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 13, 2008
Vespa Sales Gain Speed In South Bay
With her blond hair blowing behind her helmet, Anna Teeples rolls the throttle on her Vespa and leans into the turn.
During short rides from her Palo Alto home to work on her two-wheeler, Teeples said she feels a little European.
The Italian bike has foreign allure and a zippy motor. But like a growing number of South Bay Vespa owners, Teeples was drawn to this scooter for its fuel efficiency.
"One of the most compelling reasons is gas prices," she said. "They keep going up and up and this made so much more sense to me."
Posted by Frank at 7:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 12, 2008
Two-Wheeled Gas Savers
Interest in scooters has been increasing as the pain at the pump has been intensifying, dealers report, as people looking to save on gas in turn cut down on the number of wheels under them!
And on The Early Show Saturday, Men's Health magazine's Matt Bean showcased several of the latest and coolest ones.
They're all ultra-fuel efficient. Two don't even use gas at all!
Vespa S:
The vehicle gets a maximum speed of 59 miles per hour and can get 72 miles per gallon. The tank holds 2.3 gallons, so this equals out to about 165 miles per tank. With gas currently at an average of $4.10 per gallon, you can fill up the gas tank for only $9.43.The Vespa S features a single-cylinder engine, front-disk brakes, and weighs 243 pounds. It comes in three colors: red, white, and black. The suggested retail price for the Vespa S is $4,199.
Posted by Frank at 2:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 11, 2008
Scooter sales hit high gear
The rising popularity of scooters is providing fuel-conscious motorists with a stylish and economical way to get from Point A to Point B, area dealerships say.
From the lanes and boulevards of Paris and Rome to the streets and rural routes of Fredericton and Oromocto, an increasing number of people can be seen scooting around town.
"It's all about the gas," said Jennifer Connors, general manager of Phil's Auto and Recreation in Lincoln.
"I've been driving my 250 cc Vespa, which is fairly high-performance and does highway speeds, back and forth to work for the past two weeks and it has only cost me $12 in gas," she said.
"When gas costs more than your mortgage, there's a problem."
Posted by Frank at 2:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 10, 2008
Genuine Scooter's Buddy is a cute crowd-pleaser
The Buddy may be the best Vespa knockoff on the market. That's saying something because so many scooters these days are attempting to emulate the famed Italian marque and style.
The brand making the scooter: Genuine, which is funny for a bike that is so shamelessly trying to be something else. But genuine also describes the appreciation I have for this small company's "new vintage" model and the cult following its scooters have generated in the six years it's been in business.
Genuine Scooter Co., whose two-wheelers are made in Taiwan, is based in Chicago. The company was founded in 2002 by self-described scooter dork Philip McCaleb, who saw a market for old-looking bikes with modern technology, though what's happening right now his crystal ball could not possibly have foreseen.
Genuine's sales are up 122% this year, according to McCaleb, and that's on the heels of five successive years of 45% annual growth. With anticipated North American sales of 11,000 for 2008, Genuine will be selling more scooters in the U.S. than Ducati sells motorcycles.
Posted by Frank at 4:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 7, 2008
Gas is cheap on a Vespa
So I sold my Porsche and bought a Vespa.
I didn't think it was a big deal. All I was doing was replacing $2,000 brake jobs, $268-a-month insurance, fading leather seats and any shred of "cool" I thought I had with a 2008 Vespa 250 GTSie. Now I roll on a scooter that gets nearly 70 miles per gallon and can hit 85 miles per hour, all while sitting on a suede leather seat hand-stitched in Modena, Italy.
A lot of people are changing their lifestyle because of high gas prices. I didn't do it to go "green" or save some polar bear for Al Gore to videotape on a piece of ice. I've got a Jeep Rubicon Unlimited sitting in the garage, which, by the way, has a little button you can push to display the terrible mileage you're getting. Nope, I did it because I thought it would be fun. And fun it is.
Posted by Frank at 12:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
2 wheels to save
For three months, Eraldo Ferracci traded in his Mercedes for something a little less glamorous: a Vespa scooter.
So, instead of spending $85 a week to fill up his car, Ferracci put three gallons in the Vespa and drove 200 miles before the gas was gone.
Ferracci has long known about the fuel efficiency of the Italian scooter. And now, more Americans are catching on, as gas prices reach record highs on an almost daily basis.
"This is no more play," said Ferracci, owner of Fast by Ferracci Inc., a motorcycle dealership in Abington. "This will save a lot of money."
Sales of scooters have climbed steadily, from 12,000 in 1997 to 131,000 units last year, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council, a California-based nonprofit industry group. Total motorcycle sales, which include scooters, grew from 356,000 to more than 1.1 million during the same time.
Posted by Frank at 12:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 6, 2008
Bank CEO commutes on a scooter
Motor scooters are becoming more common around D.C. than black SUVs. But if you see a guy in a bespoke suit riding one down MacArthur Boulevard in the morning, chances are it's Barry Watkins, chief executive officer of Fidelity Trust & Bank.
Watkins commutes from his non-Metro accessible Potomac home to his office on Eye Street NW on the Vespa he bought three years ago. He says the commute takes him about half the time it does when he drives, and, at 75 miles per gallon, uses half the gas.
"It's fun to go to the pump and fill up on $8, compared to $85. The problem is municipalities haven't embraced the concept," says Watkins, referring to the lack of sanctioned scooter parking spots in D.C. He parks his on a sidewalk and chains it to a meter.
Scooters are no longer just the ride of choice for gamine students and hipsters. Overall scooter sales were up 24 percent across the nation in 2007, with the Washington area ranking ninth out of 1,000 markets, according to the Irvine, Calif.-based Motorcycle Industry Council. Sales are up 25 percent from last year at the Washington Vespa dealership at 2233 Wisconsin Ave. NW.
Posted by Frank at 11:25 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 5, 2008
Cross-country scooter trip makes stop in DeKalb
This trip is not about the distance. Bernie "Buddy" Rosenbaum, 71, of New York and Bob Chase, 72, of Fremont, Calif., have ridden motorcycles across the United States before. They've traveled through Europe.
But the trip they're on now - a cross-country journey along Lincoln Highway that started June 13 in San Francisco and is expected to wrap up July 14 in New York City - is about finding the roots of America, the men said.
The two men - who are riding Piaggio MP3 500 scooters for the trip and plan to blog online daily - stopped Thursday afternoon in DeKalb.
After learning that the 71- and 72-year-old bikers would be cruising down Lincoln Highway on Thursday, DeKalb Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Coordinator Debbie Armstrong said she knew she had to get them to stop.
"It's very exciting to have somebody who's out on the free and open road," Armstrong said. "There's nothing better than a pair of older men riding through the country and having the time of their lives."
Local politicians greeted the two at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the Best Western DeKalb Inn & Suites. The men received gifts of DeKalb Agriculture flying ear T-shirts, hats as well as Illinois road maps and copies of the Illinois Constitution.
Posted by Frank at 10:28 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Kevin Ash tries a Vespa scooter with added oomph
Vespa hasn't used the Super suffix lightly in its 62-year history, attaching the label only to its most sporting scooters, so the GTS 300 Super really needs to be special to maintain the tradition.
Cosmetically it's similar to the GTS 250ie, which we reported on and liked two and a half years ago. The chrome trim on the front panel is different and there are grilles in the side panels, implying a hotter engine. The seat has a fastback shape and the 250's luggage rack has been dropped to boost the sporty image; the wheels are two-tone black and silver. Not a lot of justification for that, but the clue was in the name, wasn't it?
In fact, the 300 is fitted with the biggest engine ever to power a Vespa, Piaggio's Quasar four-stroke single with bore and stroke increased to 278cc, against the 250's 244cc. A mere 34cc might not sound much, but it's a 14 per cent increase: the performance is appropriately boosted. The motor has been enhanced well, the extra cubes used to boost torque at low and medium revs rather than to give it a harder top-end kick, and if anything the hike feels stronger than the figures suggest. Off the line, the 300 is brisk and confident, while for nipping past cars and patrolling A-roads as well as in urban use it's rarely overwhelmed by the speed of other traffic. You could even venture out onto a motorway: it'll top out at just over 80mph and hold 70mph under most conditions.
Posted by Frank at 10:24 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 3, 2008
Vespa Schenectady opens
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- Brand new shiny Vespas are on sale now in the electric city. A new shop opened on Erie Boulevard and it's called "Vespa Schenectady."
Mayor Brian Stratton and Assemblyman James Tedisco were both on hand for the ribbon cutting. The owners of the shop are hoping the high price of gas will help boost their scooter business. They said Vespas are a great way to take the sting out of how much people are paying to drive around today.
"Vespas get 80 miles per gallon, and it's hard to beat 80 miles per gallon. They're fuel efficient, made in Italy a lot of passion goes behind these scooters here. And besides that, they're just beautiful machines. And they're fun to ride," said Peter Caschera, Vespa Schenectady.
Posted by Frank at 12:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 2, 2008
High Gas Prices Boosting Scooter Sales
BOSTON -- Americans who are turning to other modes of transportation are creating a business boom for Vespa dealers.
Scooters are becoming a more familiar sight on the roads around Boston and the popular motor bikes are also catching on in the suburbs.
Bill Keith and his wife ride their scooter in Duxbury, Mass.
"It is about a 10-mile round-trip -- something where you don't want to have to use a big car," he said.
Posted by Frank at 12:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Store responds to demand for Italian scooters
Sanders Motor Sports owner John Sanders was having a hard time finding the Aprilia-brand Italian motor scooter last winter. So he decided to open his own dealership and sell them himself.
"Italian brands are the most durable, reliable and fuel efficient bikes available today," said Sanders, 49, a lifelong resident of Pensacola and an avid rider since childhood.
The recently opened 5,000-square-foot facility at 8945 Pensacola Blvd. sells and services the Vespa, Piaggio and Aprilia brands.
"My wife, Mikki, and the kids fell in love with the Vespa scooters the first time they saw them. She loves the fact that the Vespas are lightweight and easy for her to control," he said.
Posted by Frank at 10:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
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.
Posted by Frank at 1:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
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.
Posted by Frank at 4:02 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
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.
Posted by Frank at 9:00 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
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.
Posted by Frank at 8:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
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.
Posted by Frank at 8:55 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 25, 2008
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.
Posted by Frank at 1:16 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
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.
Posted by Frank at 1:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
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.
Posted by Frank at 1:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
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.
Posted by Frank at 7:22 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
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.
Posted by Frank at 12:22 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 22, 2008
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.
Posted by Frank at 11:23 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 13, 2008
Retirees Set Off on Cross-Country Scooter Trip
NEW YORK - Is 70 the new 50? Does four-plus-dollar-a-gallon gas have to curtail your summer road trip? Are three wheels sometimes better than two or four?
The answers are yes, no and absolutely - and to prove it, two 70-year-old retirees are tackling all 3,400-miles of the historic Lincoln Highway onboard the world's most innovative scooter - the three-wheel Piaggio MP3 500.
This no-age-limits adventure starts June 13 at San Francisco's Lincoln Park, the western terminus of "America's Main Street" and concludes at the Lincoln Highway's eastern terminus in New York City's Times Square on July 14.
In addition to enjoying the thrill of a classic American road trip on the country's first coast-to-coast route, lifelong motorcycle adventurers Bob Chase and Bernard "Buddy" Rosenbaum want to challenge the notion that chronological age and the freedom and fun of riding are mutually exclusive - and that today's soaring fuel costs should confine senior travelers on a budget to a rocking chair. To prove their point, they've enlisted the unique talents of the Piaggio MP3 scooter, an automatic twist n' go 500cc machine that's as stable as a car, leans into the curves like a sports bike, has a top speed of 92 mph and sips fuel at the rate of 53 to 55 mpg.
"Getting older shouldn't keep you from doing the things you really love," says 71-year old Buddy Rosenbaum, the dynamo behind the Piaggio MP3 Lincoln Highway: No Age Limit adventure. Rosenbaum's philosophy about aging focuses on making adjustments to accommodate age and physical capabilities, not giving up a sport or activity because of age-related realities, such as loss of muscle mass or strength. "Bob and I have spent the past few decades on two wheels, exploring every corner of the globe, and we plan to spend the next few doing exactly that - but on three wheels," says Rosenbaum, who, along with Chase, became the first Americans allowed to explore Russia on a motorcycle.
The Riders and Their Ride: Matched for a Lifetime of Adventure
Rosenbaum and riding partner Chase met on a motorcycle trip in the late 1990s and have since tamed blistering deserts and the world's tallest mountains in 40 countries. Buddy, a retired clinical psychologist and academic and Bob, a semi-retired industrial business leader, don't just have passports that rival those of international diplomats, they have the energy and fitness factor required to log thousands of miles and challenging terrain annually. As they approached their 70s, however, their heavy sport touring bikes became a bit tougher to handle. Enter the innovative Piaggio MP3 500, the only three-wheeled machine on the market that gets a rider's adrenaline into high-rev mode while delivering utility, such as cargo space, and long-distance riding comfort.
In addition to the MP3 500's sporty character, Rosenbaum and Chase chose the maxi scooter for its unparalleled stability. The MP3's innovative parallelogram front suspension technology is unlike anything else available in the market - it provides category-leading stability and impeccable road holding, while large 240 mm triple steel disk brakes ensure fast stopping power. The MP3 requires 20% less braking distance than best-in-class two-wheel scooters. Best of all for sport bike enthusiasts like Buddy and Bob, the MP3's 40-degree wheel lean angle gives riders that same ear to ear grin that comes with carving a motorcycle through a turn.
"Growing old doesn't mean you have to abandon your passions - you just need to be creative and find smart new ways of enjoying your favorite recreation or sport," says Paolo Timoni, President and CEO, Piaggio Group Americas, Inc. "The MP3 is the ideal solution for anyone who wants the pulse-pounding thrill of riding a motorcycle, with all the ease-of-riding benefits of a scooter."
The Route: Geoblogs and Adventures from America's "Main Street"
Following the June 13th, 12:00 Noon PST send-off across San Francisco's Bay Bridge (real-time broadcast provided courtesy of Seero.com) the team will begin their journey through 14 states, 128 counties and 500 cities - a trek that literally all eyes around the world are invited to experience and track around the clock, thanks to the team's daily "geoblogs" posted to www.piaggiousa.com. Using the latest interactive Google® Map technology from Geotegic, a company founded by transcontinental driving record holder Alex Roy, real-time reports and images from the road are pinpointed within the route map and continually updated as the riders journey eastward. Check in often - the No Limits Ride content debuts at Noon PST, June 13.
In addition, fans are invited to meet the team in person at scheduled appearances along the route, including Vespa Provo, Orem, UT (June 17); Vespa Greenwood Village, Greenwood Village, CO (June 24); Vespa Chicago Motoworks, Chicago, IL (July 4); Vespa Pittsburgh East, North Huntingdon, PA (July 9) and Vespa Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA (July 12). Buddy and Bob are scheduled to arrive at 42nd Street and Broadway, the highway's eastern terminus, on July 14.
Posted by Frank at 3:43 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 8, 2008
Retro isn’t what it used to be
I’ve just ridden the latest Vespa scooter, the GTS 250, whose name suggests a 1960s Ferrari, and it looks fabulous. Monroe-esque curves and Cadillac-style chrome are back in a big way, and you can have it painted in fantastically 1960s pop-art primary colours. It is another reminder that retro is all the rage, and in motoring folklore nobody does retro better than the Italians.
But then I actually rode it, and things went wrong right from the start. Kick-starting a scooter without scuffing the suede of your desert boots was once part of the national curriculum in Italian schools, but on the new Vespa that mechanical pleasure has gone, replaced by a button. Pressing it reveals that the eager little two-stroke engine has been swapped for a thudding great four-stroke with – I’d soon find out – too much power for the puny chassis, undersized wheels and limp suspension.
Posted by Frank at 12:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 7, 2008
Trading Four Wheels For Two
Record-high gas prices have drivers choosing 70-mpg scooters and gas-free bicycles over their vehicles.
According Wells Fargo Utah, in 2007 the average Utah family spent $300 a month on gas. In 2008, the average Utah family spends $471 a month in gas.
The number of drivers switching from 4-wheels to 2 wheels seems to be rising almost as fast as prices at the pump.
Chris Casal parked his Honda Civic and now drives 10 miles to work on his scooter.
“It’s made the commute a lot more fun and I am saving a ton of money on gas,” said Casal. “As gas prices go up, I almost don’t even notice.”
According to reports, sales of “Vespa” scooters are up 40 percent. Next year a hybrid Vespa is due. The new electric scooter promises to get 140 mpg.
Posted by Frank at 2:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Vespa’s GTS 300 Super
Vespa’s new GTS 300 Super has been aptly named. It is indeed super - and surprisingly so.
After 62 years, 145 different models and production numbers that have more than doubled in the past four years, Vespa have released their largest displacement scooter to date.
And there’s no better place to test it than in the heart of Milan, at rush hour, with a steady stream of fellow riders all jostling for the same small gaps between the endless taxis and trams.
Slicing through the mayhem requires a confidence in your ability and in your vehicle.
To that end, the GTS 300 Super is ideal. Not only is it slim enough to filter unobtrusively, it’s also extremely agile, making U-turns and nigh-on impossible manoeuvres satisfyingly simply.
The handling prowess is attributed to the traditional steel frame. Vespa have used this design since the first model was introduced in 1946.
Posted by Frank at 2:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 4, 2008
Anne Hathaway Gams Up a Vespa
Promoting her upcoming new flick, Get Smart, Anne Hathaway appears in the latest issue of Parade Magazine modeling in front of a very chic Vespa scooter.
As we posted earlier, Vespa has a promotional tie-in with the new film and is the transportation of choice for the main character played by Steve Carell.
Links: A Princess Grows Up
Posted by Frank at 10:43 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
How to iPod your Vespa
This is one of the coolest mods we've seen in a while -- an intrepid Vespa owner figure out how to retrofit iPod speakers into his Vespa's front compartment, to provide muzak and avoid the sin of wearing speakers under his helmet.
Link: Vespa ET4 iPod Speaker System
Posted by Frank at 10:40 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Farewell to classic Vespa
ITALIAN scooter manufacturer Piaggio has added another mid-sized scooter to its Australian line-up, but is phasing out an old faithful.
The new X7 250 has large diameter wheels (14-inch front and 13-inch rear), and is powered by a Quasar 250cc liquid-cooled, four-valve EFI engine with 16.2kW of power and 20.2Nm of torque.
Accessories include a colour-matched 44-litre topbox and all-weather hotcover (lap rug). The X7 costs $6990 and comes in metallic grey, blue and black.
As the X7 joins the line-up, the classic Vespa PX, launched in 1977, is being phased out.
Posted by Frank at 10:04 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 2, 2008
Vespa Drives “Get Smart” Sweeps with Subway
When Maxwell Smart and Agent 99 wheel away from danger on a silver Vespa LX 150 in “Get Smart,” the scene will likely spark an impulse among some viewers to hop on one those sleek Italian scooters themselves.
That is, of course, why the Vespa makes its dashing cameo appearance. In a campaign to push the June 20 release of the Warner Bros. feature, Vespa is running a sweepstakes through Subway restaurants to give 10 people a chance to ride their own scooter. They can register online at www.subwayfreshbuzz.com or on the Vespa site at www.VespaUSA.com starting June 2. The contest ends on Aug. 10.
The campaign aims to drive people to see the comedy based on the hit ‘60s TV series.
Anyone registering for the contest can opt to receive an e-mail message enabling them to obtain a free Vespa Soft-Touch helmet when they buy a scooter. Subway will also be blasting those e-mails to its database.
Posted by Frank at 3:02 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Vespa scooter: classic town flier
Blend Seventies style and modern reliability as you beat the jams on one of Vespa’s new S scooters. They pay homage to the brand’s classic products, but are designed to withstand the rigours of modern motoring.
Uniquely in the scooter world, the Vespa’s sheet steel body acts as a structural frame, which is claimed to give exceptional rigidity. There’s a choice of 50cc or 125cc versions – drivers who switch from four wheels to the latter would need to complete a day’s Compulsory Basic Training first. But both comply with Euro III emissions rules, and feature dual-action hydraulic shocks. On the larger-capacity model, the rear suspension is adjustable. Disc and drum brakes are fitted, while the 11-inch front wheel is said to provide impressive stability when manoeuvring.
Posted by Frank at 2:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Piaggio trims forecasts, works on hybrid vehicle
MILAN - Italian scooter maker Piaggio & C SpA, whose brands include the Vespa, cut its forecasts in a revision of its business plan on Friday, blaming the slower economy for the weaker sales trend.
Despite the global downturn, Piaggio said it had kept working on the development of new models, such as a four-wheel vehicle with a hybrid engine.
Based on a three- and four-wheel light commercial vehicle made by Piaggio called the Ape -- Italian for "bee" -- it would be big enough for three people to drive around town.
"This could be the future ... for the Ape," Chief Executive Roberto Colaninno told analysts at a presentation.
Posted by Frank at 12:30 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Genuine Vespa Chrome Accessories for PX Scooters
Over a million Vespa PX scooters have been manufactured and sold over the past 30 years, but production of this model has finally ceased, making 2008 the last year that this icon of Italian style and design will be sold in UK showrooms.
Customers who snap up the last of the classic 4-speed Vespa scooters can customise their machines with a range of genuine accessories for the PX, which offer a dash of classic style and practical benefits too.Helping to protect the bodywork of this steel panelled machine are a chrome-plated front bumper matching rear fender rail, which retail for £64.99 and £94.99 respectively.
Posted by Frank at 12:26 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 30, 2008
Piaggio's strategy update expected to be cautious
MILAN -- After a weak start to the year, Italian scooter maker Piaggio & C SpA (PIA.MI: Quote, Profile, Research) is expected to be cautious at best when it gives an update of its three-year strategic plan on Friday.
Like most vehicle manufacturers, Piaggio, best known for its Vespa scooter, is facing a drop in sales as consumers postpone big-ticket purchases amid signs of a weakening economy.
The weather has not helped, either. In Italy, its home market, rain has washed out the spring season and dampened demand for scooters and motorcycles.
Posted by Frank at 2:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 28, 2008
Scoot over, SUVs
WEST GOSHEN -- Dominic Caporale puts his money where his mouth is.
A salesman at Vespa of West Chester, he also drives a Vespa 150 to and from work.
Caporale is like many a new motor scooter owner. Concerned about sky-high gasoline prices, which now flirt with the $4 per gallon mark, Caporale drives his car (a Saab) only when wet weather interrupts his Vespa habit.
Motor scooter sales are up about 15 percent from this time last year at the Vespa dealership, which is owned by Mike Homaijani. (He also owns the adjacent Import Cars of West Chester. Both businesses are in the 700 block of East Market Street.)
Sales are also 10 percent better so far this year than last at the Planet Honda dealership in Chadds Ford, Delaware County, according to saleswoman Jillian Soden.
Posted by Frank at 1:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Two-wheeling is on the rise
Bruce Halliday's fuel bill last year was $110. He expects his bill this year may skyrocket, all the way to $130.
With the average gas price across Canada on Monday at $1.31 per litre (Nanaimo is just a shade under $1.35) people are looking at alternate transportation.
Halliday has been riding a scooter regularly for more than a decade.
He first bought a vintage Vespa as a teenager in Victoria in the 1970s.
"It's fun, kind of sexy," said Halliday of scootering.
Currently, the Gabriola Island resident gets to his job as general manager of the Port Theatre on a gas-powered Vespa ET2 scooter he bought three years ago.
Posted by Frank at 1:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Gas prices prompting changes
The Spokane Vespa dealership says these Italian scooters are now selling as fast as they come in.
"If you don't ride this, you get a motorcycle or bicycle. I just can't see spending, I have a diesel truck that got 12 miles to the gallon. I don't have it anymore," said Mark, the president of a local group of riders called the Minions Club.
Depending on the size, the Vespa can get more than 150 miles to the tank.
"It cost about $8 to fill up," Mark said. "We ride it every day. You can't beat that."
"People are definitely more interested in bikes," Sullivan said. "They are just tired of paying the money."
Posted by Frank at 1:23 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 27, 2008
Vespa Product Placement
Vespa lands a role in a hot summer film while gas prices climb to records highs - another example of fantastic timing in the world of product placement.
Vespa, the world's most iconic scooter brand, is joining forces this summer with SUBWAY restaurants and secret agents Maxwell Smart and Agent 99 from the action comedy "Get Smart" to fight the forces of evil - traffic congestion, fuel consumption, global warming and boring transportation. Supporting a cameo appearance by a silver Vespa LX 150 scooter in the upcoming Warner Bros. Pictures release will be a national promotional campaign and placement within a SUBWAY-branded promotional online Instant Win Game and Sweepstakes with a chance to win one of 10 Vespa scooters, as well as two exclusive offers to enjoy free food and gear. The multi-tiered promotion ties-in with the June 20 launch of "Get Smart," starring Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson and Alan Arkin.
Posted by Frank at 6:52 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 24, 2008
Vespas Taking Over Streets Of Philly
The trend started in Italy, and soon the little scooters named Vespas were a huge hit all over Europe. Now they're taking over the streets of the USA and as Stephanie Abrams reports, you'll see them driven all around Center City Philadelphia.
So why all the buzz? The manager of Philly Vespa on Spring Garden Street says it has everything to do with the skyrocketing gas prices.
People we spoke with say the price they're paying at the pump is "tragic" but add, "What else can you do?"
Angie Foster says she spends 120 dollars a week to gas up her car. She's fed up, and that's why she went to Philly Vespa, ready to downsize.
Stephanie asked her, "You'd give up your car for that ... For a scooter?" "Yes!" said Angie. "I don't care if it rains. I do not care! I will get a scooter before I drive that car. It costs too much!!!"
Posted by Frank at 12:43 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 23, 2008
Vespa: It’s no gas hog
Kelly Thompson remembers getting quizzical looks when he hummed around Grand Forks on his four-year-old Vespa scooter.
Not anymore.
With gas prices hovering near $4 a gallon, local scooter sales are surging as consumers search for an alternative mode of summer transportation.
“I used to turn heads when I drove by,” Thompson, 47, said. “People would point and look. But now it’s not such a novelty. I’ve seen a lot more people on scooters. They have really grown in popularity.”
Paul Callina, sales manager of Revolutions Power Sports in Grand Forks, estimated scooter sales this year have increased 70 percent from the first five months of last year.
Posted by Frank at 12:36 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 22, 2008
Vespa Get's Smart with Subway Giveaway
NEW YORK -- Vespa, the world's most iconic scooter brand, is joining forces this summer with SUBWAY restaurants and secret agents Maxwell Smart and Agent 99 from the action comedy "Get Smart" to fight the forces of evil - traffic congestion, fuel consumption, global warming and boring transportation.
Supporting a cameo appearance by a silver Vespa LX 150 scooter in the upcoming Warner Bros. Pictures release will be a national promotional campaign and placement within a SUBWAY-branded promotional online Instant Win Game and Sweepstakes with a chance to win one of 10 Vespa scooters, as well as two exclusive offers to enjoy free food and gear.
The multi-tiered promotion ties-in with the June 20 launch of "Get Smart," starring Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson and Alan Arkin.
While Maxwell Smart (Carell) and his savvy partner Agent 99 (Hathaway) pursue the evil forces of KAOS, consumers can ensure that they're not starting their own mission on an empty stomach or without the right protection. Secret agents in search of fresh fare and the ideal getaway ride can receive a free $5 SUBWAY(R) card with a test drive or product demonstration at all Vespa dealers.
Participants in SUBWAY(R) restaurant's Get Smart Eat Fresh Instant Win Game and Sweepstakes will receive a message to take advantage of a special offer to receive a free Vespa Soft-Touch helmet, a $300-value, with the purchase of a new Vespa scooter. The online, print and in-store promotions run June 2 through August 10, 2008 at all Vespa dealers and more than 21,500 SUBWAY(R) restaurants in the U.S.
"The Vespa brand is synonymous with smart, spirited transportation," says Paolo Timoni, President and CEO of Piaggio Group Americas, Inc. "Vespa riders already know that scooters are a fresh way to tackle today's fuel and congestion issues, and we're pleased that this promotion gives us the opportunity to help even more consumers uncover the facts about Vespanomics."
Shoe Phone Not Required
To achieve their mission and get away on a fuel-efficient, eco-friendly and fun Vespa, consumers don't need a bag of secret gadgets and tricks. In addition to potentially winning a Vespa GTS or LX 50 scooter via SUBWAY(R) restaurant's Get Smart, Eat Fresh Instant Win Game and Sweepstakes, amateur agents are also invited to follow the links to print out a coupon good for one of the latest Vespa Soft Touch or Piaggio Copter helmets, available free of charge with the purchase of a new Vespa scooter.
SUBWAY(R) restaurant's Instant Win Game and Sweepstakes details are a click away at www.subwayfreshbuzz.com, via a special movie-themed microsite. Even if you don't play the Instant Win Game, all consumers over the age of 18 are invited to visit a Vespa dealer to receive a free $5 SUBWAY(R) card, available with a Vespa test ride or product demonstration. Consumers can learn more about the free $5 SUBWAY(R) card offer at www.VespaUSA.com.
Both participating Vespa dealerships and SUBWAY(R) restaurants will promote the campaign with point of sale promotional materials. All offers are valid while supplies last. For complete terms and conditions, consumers should visit www.subwayfreshbuzz.com or www.VespaUSA.com.
Posted by Frank at 3:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 20, 2008
Riding the Vespa S
I was a bit skeptical about venturing onto the city streets aboard the Vespa S. After touring through Manhattan and Brooklyn on a group ride for journalists, though, I found myself persuaded that scooters are extremely useful for basic city transport — at least when the weather’s cooperative.
The S, which is closely related to Vespa’s LX, is powered by a 150cc air-cooled four-stroke. Indeed, the two scoots share many of the same specs. (S specs here; LX specs here.) The most significant differences between the S and the LX are stylistic — the S is a bit leaner, intended to recall 1960s models such as the Vespa Special and the Vespa Primavera.
Posted by Frank at 12:36 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Baghdad's Vespa Market
BAGHDAD -- At the side of a bustling street in central Baghdad scores of Iraqi youngsters keen to buy their first motorbike wander amid the engine fumes searching for a bargain. Welcome to the Vespa Souk.
The weekly wheel-dealing is shrouded in a cloud of dust and smoke as buyers and sellers jostle among the goods, ranging from heavy, growling racing machines to ancient, spluttering scooters.
Musthafa Ahmed may be only 16-years-old but he already considers himself a seasoned biker.
Dwarfed by his Honda CM250 Custom bike, he proudly showed off his skills by tearing off down a one-way street -- the wrong way -- and weaving between oncoming traffic with heart-stopping dexterity.
Motorcycle broker Ahmed Hussain, 22, said demand for two-wheelers has been rising since the US-led occupation in March 2003, as bikes prove a safer and more practical way to negotiate Baghdad's treacherous streets.
Posted by Frank at 12:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 18, 2008
Gas Prices Prompting More To Consider Scooters
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Triangle is a region with streets and highways that are packed full of high horsepower SUV’s and pickups. However, in recent months, more and more people are leaving their four wheeled rides at home.
For Durham resident Paul Friedman, his choice to buy a classic Vespa is not one necessarily rooted in economy.
“I spent some time in Italy and fell in love with the scooters there,” Paul Friedman said.
But over the last few months, he's been getting more and more inquiries from his fellow motorists at the gas pumps, not just about the 1960's styling of his “Roman Holliday” scooter, but about its modern day economy.
“I think it gets about 70 to 80 miles a gallon,” Friedman said.
Posted by Frank at 11:47 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Gas prices speed motor scooter sales
When he opened his Vespa of Toledo motor scooter dealership a year ago, Mike Kookoothe sold 35 of the two-wheeled vehicles during the summer and considered that a roaring success.
Last month, he sold more than 35 and so far this month he's getting 200 calls a day from people wanting to know about Vespas.
People want to know how much the scooter costs and what is its gas mileage, said Mr. Kookoothe's daughter, Amanda, a salesman at his Sylvania dealership.
Posted by Frank at 11:41 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Brothers will open region’s only Vespa dealership
SCHENECTADY — Peter Caschera was 6 years old when he rode on his first Vespa scooter, zooming through the streets of Sora in central Italy. His aunt was driving.
That experience in the homeland of Caschera’s father began a love affair with the Italian-made scooters. A decade later, Caschera got his first Vespa: a red Sears Allstate model from 1959. Four other Vespas followed.
By Wednesday, the 21-year-old Caschera had an inventory of 23 Vespas, many of which were on display at Anca’s Foreign Auto Parts, the Erie Boulevard shop co-owned by his father, Rocco. From there, Peter Caschera and his brother, Guiseppe, next month will launch the Capital Region’s only Vespa dealership: Vespa Schenectady.
“They’re so much more than something to ride. They’re pieces of art. They’re beautiful to look at,” said Peter Caschera, a Rotterdam native who will graduate Saturday from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The international business student’s senior thesis project is titled, “A Survey of Vespas Past, Present and Future in the USA.”
Posted by Frank at 11:38 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 16, 2008
Record gas prices driving up sales
WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS - Brett Campbell doesn't have to drive by a gas station to find out the latest prices at the pump.
Campbell's customers tell him all about it.
Campbell is a managing partner of Vespa Cleveland. He sells Vespa motor scooters, which can reach speeds of up to 95 miles per hour.
But it's the MPG's, miles per gallon, that has peaked customer interest.
"Based on the sales from the same time last year," Campbell said, "we're up over 50 percent."
Posted by Frank at 11:37 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
High Gas Prices Fuel Scooters' Surging Popularity
WASHINGTON -- With no end in sight to rising gas prices, some people are trading four wheels for two.
The Vespa Scooter, which has been around for more than 60 years, is enjoying a resurgence, in part because of high gas prices.
"Instead of filling your tank once a week, which is what I do when I'm driving my car in bad weather, exclusively, I'm filling the tank once every four to five weeks," said Vespa Washington manager Jerry Helfgott.
Helfgott said he remembers a similar spike in sales linked to rising prices a year and a half ago.
Posted by Frank at 11:33 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 13, 2008
Interest in fuel-efficient Vespa is growing fast
Debbie Dunning hasn't even gotten her first shipment of motor scooters yet, and she's already getting calls from would-be buyers.
The owner of Renegade Classics motorcycle dealership in Cathedral City is getting about a dozen scooters this week delivered from a Chicago manufacturer. She expects them to sell quickly.
"There's a call for them -- they get (nearly) 100 miles per gallon, and gas is going through the roof," she said.
Even longtime motorcyclists have expressed interest in the scooters she has ordered from the Genuine Scooter Co. in Chicago, Dunning said, and she plans to get another 10 or 15 in June.
More than 130,000 Vespas, Hondas, Yamahas and other scooters were sold in the United States during the first quarter of 2008, according to preliminary figures gathered by the Irvine-based Motorcycle Industry Council. That is a 24 percent increase over the same period the previous year, and the figures do not include sales by some startup manufacturers in China and elsewhere.
Posted by Frank at 10:04 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 10, 2008
Making Cents of Vespanomics
The reality this summer is we're on the brink of shelling out $4 per gallon... so, what can we do?
One answer put forth by scooter manufacturer Vespa is a little thing called Vespanomics. For a more entertaining definition of the word check out www.vespanomics.com, but the overall gist is simple - save money and the environment by swapping out your gas-guzzling commuter car for a more fuel-efficient scooter.
The key at this stage of the game is conservation - the reason why congress raised CAFE standards in the automotive industry to 35 MPG. This is where the scooter comes into play. With many designs already claiming 70 MPG figures, scooters are some of the most fuel-efficient transportation options available.
Posted by Frank at 1:48 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Zipping round town on a 3-wheel scooter
Picturing myself tooling about perched on a classic Vespa, off to Gearhead Canada I went, distributor of all things Piaggio, the parent company of Vespa. However, instead of an iconic two-wheeler, I rode away on three, unable to resist Piaggio's top-of-the-line MP3 with the beefy new-for-2008 493-cc engine.
Of course, the weird thing about the MP3 is that is has two wheels up front, and one at the back. This makes it stand out, so you're subjected to curious stares, and lots of questions. "How does it handle?" folks wondered, and I'd always answer, "Great!"
It may look funny, but those two wheels are there for a reason, I soon discovered. Rising over one hill, I came down practically on top of a jagged, cavernous pothole in the street.
A lesser scooter might have been swallowed, but the MP3 sailed over it, and the paralellogram front suspension smoothed things out so that I barely felt a bump.
Wow, I thought.
Posted by Frank at 1:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Piaggio consolidates PR functions
NEW YORK -- Piaggio Group USA consolidated the PR functions for its four major brands to one agency by naming Brandware AOR for Vespa and Piaggio scooters and Aprilia and Moto Guzzi motorcycle brands.
Prior to the consolidation, Access Communications worked on the Piaggio and Vespa brands, and Brandware handled PR for Aprilia and Moto Guzzi.
Posted by Frank at 1:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Vespa maker Piaggio profits drop, stock slides
MILAN -- Piaggio, the Italian maker of Vespa scooters, posted a 21 percent drop in its quarterly core profit on lower sales, citing weak demand in Europe and the euro's strength against the dollar and other currencies.
The result disappointed investors, sending its shares down as much as almost 5 percent before they recovered to stand at 1.55 euros, down 2.8 percent.
"Nearly all the numbers were below expectations," said one analyst on condition of anonymity.
Shares in IMMSI Piaggio said it would focus on controlling its cash flow and expanding in Asia, a market whose growth has helped compensate for a stagnant Europe, although signs of problems are looming in some Asian markets too.
Posted by Frank at 1:40 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Movie stars Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio
They were immortalized in glamorous European films by Italian maestros Federico Fellini and Michelangelo Antonioni, and in the pop culture classics “American Graffiti” and “American Pie.” When Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn saddled up a Vespa motor scooter in “Roman Holiday” and the scene was preserved on the film poster, the machine instantly became a global aesthetic icon. Now Elaine Ficcardi, an accountant, is getting into the mystique. For the last month, Ms. Ficcardi, 47, has donned her motorcycle boots and white leather jacket, hopped on her black 2008 Vespa S 150 and commuted five miles to her volunteer job at an animal shelter. She said she has never felt more cool, or saved more money on gas in a time of shockingly high fuel prices, than when she has rolled to her job, picked up groceries or stopped at the bank on her $4,000 scooter.
Posted by Frank at 2:21 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Maury Chaplick is one of the few people lucky enough to experience a real epiphany. And it was one that led him to create Motoretta, a hugely successful and still growing motor scooter, motorcycle and casual fashion business. It also allowed him to be successful selling a product he not only believes in, but loves. After 18 years in the video-game business, he found himself burnt out, so he sold his interest in the company he founded and took some time off. "I have two settings, on and off," he said. "For all of my career up until then, I was on, then I found myself completely off." His self-imposed exile from business took him to Italy, where he saw something that switched him back on again. What he saw there were motor scooters: millions of them – cheap, fuel efficient, free to park everywhere – and often quite beautiful. He saw efficiency, independence and sex appeal all in a simple two-wheeled package.
Posted by Frank at 1:08 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
MILLVILLE -- For many motorcycle riders, the feel of the open road isn't the only advantage to their two-wheeled transportation. Thanks to rising gas costs, motorcycles have become an increasingly economical way of getting from here to there. "It definitely beats the 12 miles per gallon I get in my car, that's for sure," said Debbie Mavilla, a business manager and insurance producer for Harley-Davidson of Millville. According to Mavilla, more and more customers are citing gas costs as one of the main reasons for a switch to increased motorcycle use. Motorcycles and Vespa scooters receive much better gas mileage than a typical automobile, depending on the model, she said. "Some get up to 50, maybe 55 miles per gallon," Mavilla said. "Some Vespas get up to 80 miles per gallon."
Posted by Frank at 6:38 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
With gas prices soaring ever higher, might now be the time to consider an alternative form of transportation? Brandon Boyd — the lead singer of the rock group Incubus — is hoping so and is placing his beloved Vespa LX150 up on eBay along with an arranged meeting and photo-op. One-hundred percent of the proceeds from the auction go to the non-profit organization “Make Yourself Foundation,” which was started by the band-members.
Posted by Frank at 6:34 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
SAN DIEGO -- For many drivers, filling up the gas tank and looking at the number staring back at them makes them want to scream. With many people spending as much as $100 for gas every week, some have found a way to spend $5 a week on gas. "Just commuting back and forth from work I went from about $50 a week to about $6 a week," said Jessica Pyle. Pyle recently purchased her first Vespa, a gas-powered scooter originally from Italy. Michael Kosakowski of Vespa of San Diego said, "I looked at it and said, 'It looks like a wasp.' And that's Vespa in Italian." These days, experts said there are more Vespas, Smart cars, electric vehicles and hybrids on the road.
Posted by Frank at 12:12 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
SCOOTER Lifestyle, a new book by freelance journalist Ian ‘Iggy’ Grainger, aims to lift the lid on the life of the modern Mod. Grainger, a self-confessed ‘scooterist’ has spent the past 25 years riding scooters and attending rallies and his book is an attempt to explain scooter lifestyle to the rest of car-driving Britain. It’s published by Veloce at £19.99 and contains over 200 colour photos of scooters, rallies, people, places and custom scooters; it charts the history of the scooter scene over the past 25 years and focuses on the modern scene where up to 10,000 scooter riders converge on the Isle of Wight every August bank holiday. Grainger says: “Most people wrongly assume that every scooter owner is a Mod and their scooter will be embellished with a myriad of lights and mirrors, its Parka-wearing owner will only listen to a combination of R&B and northern soul and he’ll be at war with any ‘Greasers’ he happens to come across.
Posted by Frank at 3:56 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
In a perfect world, there would be peace, gasoline would still cost two bits a gallon, mortgages would be illegal, and every person who got behind the wheel of an automobile would be a skilled and courteous driver. Motorcycles would have the right of way on city streets, and I’d be six inches taller, have a full head of hair, and weigh about 30 pounds less. But life is full of imperfections. And if you’re on the large side and still like the idea of thrifty and economical two-wheeled transportation, but find yourself on the outside looking in because most scooters are just too underpowered and flimsy, perhaps Vespa’s LX 150 is the answer. It looks like a conventional scooter—albeit with a decidedly retro flavour—but lurking beneath that sheet-metal space-frame is a 150 cc single-cylinder engine that delivers some 11.7 horsepower at 7,750 revolutions per minute, and almost eight-and-a-half foot-pounds of torque at 6,000 rpm.
Posted by Frank at 9:56 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
TOLEDO -- If you're tired of all the pain at the pump these days, there's now another mode of transportation in our area. A new Vespa shop is now open in Toledo. Imagine getting 60 to 90 miles to the gallon for your vehicle. Well, think no more. This new riding option might be riding the wave of the future. The co-owner of the new Vespa shop describes her peppy product as a solid, sturdy ride. And if you want more than pep, how about this...great gas mileage. Three to five times the amount compared to your average car!
Posted by Frank at 9:36 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Peter Ramstine was born in New Zealand. He first came to America as a teenager, but he spent much of his young adulthood exploring the world, making his way as a chef in such exotic locales as Thailand, Fiji and, appropriately enough, the Cook Islands. Four years ago, he met a girl, moved to Virginia and got a job in Washington, D.C., feeding members of the government. After the relationship ended, he relocated to Pennsylvania, injured his arm, went through multiple surgeries and basically lived off his savings. A year of that and Ramstine began brainstorming ideas to get out of the house again. It then dawned on him to combine his three greatest passions: traveling, scootering and volunteerism. On April 1, he left Thousand Oaks on a 2007 GTS 250 Vespa, embarking on what he is calling the “Vespadition.” His goal is to visit 49 United States, stopping in at least one city in every state to help those communities in various forms, whether in a homeless shelter, a children’s hospital or in the still hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast, rebuilding homes.
Posted by Frank at 1:52 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Combining advanced technology and iconic styling, the new Vespa S embraces the rebellious spirit that inspired an entire generation to change the world. With its pure, minimalist lines, sporty performance, inconspicuous carbon footprint and creative customization options, the Vespa S is now ready to empower a whole new generation of riders to challenge the conventions of our time. Vespa Heritage: Designed to Change the World When Italian manufacturer Piaggio introduced its first Vespa scooters in the post-war 1940s, they were born of functional necessity: personal mobility for the masses in a changing era. Though designed to be simple, sturdy and economical, the sense of Italian style was never an afterthought. The Vespa's aircraft-inspired unibody frame, with its clean, efficient lines, stylish contours and revolutionary features set a design benchmark that introduced comfort and elegance to the sensibility of personal transport. Prominently featured in the 1952 film Roman Holiday, the Vespa began to play a role in popular culture and became an international phenomenon. Beloved by bohemians, artists and actors, Vespa also remained a populist icon, a testament to its charm. In the 50s, European Vespa clubs numbered in the tens of thousands, while American screen icons John Wayne and Marlon Brando took to the streets on Vespas between takes. British mods, celebrated in such films as Alfie and Quadrophenia, rallied around Vespa a decade later. During the 60s and 70s, the Vespa Special and Primavera models became symbols for the revolutionary ideas of the time. As the protest movement raged, Hollywood stars such as Steve McQueen and Dennis Hopper chose Vespas for their personal style statements and innovative advertisements and style refinements kept the Vespa ahead of the cultural curve during the 70s. Today, the Vespa S continues the company's unique ability to capture its rebellious spirit in one technically advanced package. Trademark Styling, Advanced Engineering The spirit and soul of the 2008 Vespa S is in the authentic details. Classic Vespa trademarks such as chrome trim, the minimalist front shield, the unique rectangular headlight first seen in the 50 Special, the rounded rear light and a 70s-inspired single-seat saddle with contrasting piping all pay homage to the Vespa S' legendary predecessors. The Vespa's structural integrity is just as innovative as its design. The Vespa's high-strength steel body acts as the scooter's structural frame, a design solution unique in the world of scooter production. In addition to superior strength, the frame is exceptionally rigid, resulting in excellent road holding and precision control. The scooter's low center of gravity also makes riding it supremely simple. Equipped with an advanced front disc/rear drum brake system, the Vespa S offers confident stopping power. The 11" front and 10" rear wheels with light alloy rims add to the Vespa S' excellent stability, and a 150cc single- cylinder, four-stroke engine delivers sporty acceleration. Located inside the body, the 2.3 gallon fuel tank allows easy access to the engine and maximizes the size of the under-seat storage compartment. Sporty and agile performance combined with low emissions and high fuel economy reflect Vespa's commitment to safety, reliability and environmental respect. Like all Vespa scooters, the clean-running Vespa S sips fuel while delivering miles of riding thrills - over 90 miles for every gallon of gas. And, with a top speed of 59 miles per hour, the four-stroke Vespa S is ready to get you to your next protest march, reunion tour - or the office - in record time. Make Your Vespa Your Canvas Vespa has always been synonymous with freedom of expression, and the Vespa S invites buyers to show their creative side with six new optional graphic kits. Easily applied at the dealership, each decal collection celebrates an element of Vespa's heritage and personality. For example, buyers can show their passion for la dolce vitae with stylized Italian flag decals or rock on with a very "Mod" United Kingdom flag theme. A Sixties-style flower motif and a retro rally theme complete the collection. Additional accessories for the Vespa S include a matching body-color 8 1/2 gallon top box, a chrome-plated tilting rear luggage rack and a European-style half-helmet. The 2008 Vespa S has a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $4099. Available colors include Dragon Red, Shiny Black and Optic White. For more information on the Vespa S visit www.vespausa.com. About The Piaggio Group: With over 6,700 employees, an annual production of more than 680,000 vehicles in 2006, 5 R&D centers, 7 production facilities in Europe and Asia, and operations in over 50 countries, the Piaggio Group has a consolidated leadership in the European 2 wheeler market. Its production includes scooters, motorcycles and mopeds in the 50cc to 1,200 cc displacement range, marketed under the Piaggio, Vespa, Gilera, Derbi, Aprilia, Scarabeo and Moto Guzzi brands. Source: Piaggio Group USA
Posted by Frank at 10:46 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
On a calm street in Teşvikiye, near the American Hospital, lies a quiet yet intriguing café with two Vespa Scooters in its industrial window display. Easily mistaken for a dealer shop, Vespa Café is actually a local hangout for the neighborhood. Vespa Café services simple yet sophisticated bistro fare in a non-smoking environment. Vespa Café, which was opened about eight months ago by Aslan Fatin Rüştü Yener and his partner Candan Şıpka, seats only 12 people – often friends and fans of the Italian brand scooter Vespa. Unlike the Harley Davidson crowd, Vespa followers are more of a funky urban crowd composed of hipsters and “environmentally conscience” yuppies. “Sales of Vespa motorcycles have grown dramatically in the past few years,” said Aslan. How do these citizens commute in the notoriously chaotic Istanbul traffic? “Much faster than cars stuck in traffic,” he declared.
Posted by Frank at 3:18 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Reese Witherspoon has no problem delivering a towering performance on the big screen. Just look at her Oscar winning turn as June Cash in I Walk The Line. But the truth is that she's pretty tiny in person and this can cause problems during filming. "I'm height-challenged," she says matter-of-factly. She was again reminded of that reality during the filming of Penelope, in which she plays a biker chick. "I got to run around the streets of London on a Vespa," she says happily. "I got to wear the fun hair and just be ballsy and funny." But these scenes aren't quite what they seem in the finished movie. "My feet wouldn't touch the ground on the Vespa," she confesses. "They tried to lower it as low as they possibly could, and my feet still wouldn't touch the ground." There were more problems in her scenes with Christina Ricci, who plays the title role of Penelope, a lonely heiress unfortunate enough to have been born with the snout of a pig. Penelope and this feisty biker girl become friends and love to go whizzing through London on the Vespa.
Posted by Frank at 6:50 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
The lamps are aluminium castings, turned, polished or painted, whatever you require and every single one is made to order to your specification. Which means each piece is a genuine one off (it also means you'll have to wait around 25 days for Mr Maurizio Lamponi Leopardi to make it). Great design, individually made - you know it isn't going to be cheap. The lamps actually retail for between 1300 and 1500 Euros (around £882 - £1,017). via Retro To Go
Posted by Frank at 3:07 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Imagine yourself tooling around the city on a Vespa LX 50, like the one featured in the new romantic comedy "Penelope." You could be riding one, courtesy of Vespa Philadelphia, 201 Spring Garden St., by entering this week's movie contest. And if you don't win the bike, you might be one of the 40 lucky readers who will get four passes each to see the film, which stars Christina Ricci and James McAvoy, and which opens Feb. 29. To enter go to http://contest.philly.com
Posted by Frank at 2:39 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Alfardan Motorcycles Centre, Qatar's premier motorcycles' dealer, was named exclusive importer of Piaggio Group in the country, adding yet another achievement to its prestigious portfolio of global brand names. The announcement was made during a press conference held at the Centre's Khalifa showroom. Listed on Milan Stock Exchange, Piaggio Group is a leading, international two-wheel motor vehicles' manufacturer established in 1884 by Rinaldo Piaggio and based in Pontedera, Pisa, Italy. The Group boasts an unparalleled line of scooters, motorcycles and mopeds in the 50 cc and the 1200 cc displacement range with prominent brand names the likes of Piaggio, Vespa, Gilera.
Posted by Frank at 8:06 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
THE Piaggio Group in association with their local partners, the Alfardan Motorcycle Centre, launched a range of scooters in Qatar at a function on Thursday. Products are being launched under the Piaggio, Vespa and Gilera brand names. The launch was held at the recently opened Alfardan Motorcycle Centre at Khalifa Town. The products are the Vespa, Piaggio’s three wheeled 400cc MP3 and the Gilera 500cc “performance” scooter which promises to embarrass many motorcycles. The MP3 is the first three-wheeled scooter, with two wheels in the front which provide “much greater grip and safety than conventional scooters and two-wheelers”. Gilera will soon be launching the fastest scooter ever made, the GP800, which Piaggio claims will be capable of 200kph.
Posted by Frank at 6:24 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
He’s long been known as the go-to guy for snowboarding gear in St. John’s, and now Ballistic owner Lorne Loder is making a name for himself when it comes to warmer-weather activities as well. Loder has recently become the province’s first — and exclusive — dealer of Vespa, the iconic Italian motor scooter. In late November, a business contact from Toronto connected him with Morey Chaplick, president of Canadian Scooter Corp., which imports Vespas to Canada. “Within 10 or 15 minutes on the phone, he said, ‘Book a ticket to Toronto, I want to show you what we do here,’” Loder explained. “I met with him for two days and flew back home with an order in my hand.” Just before Christmas, Loder placed four Vespa scooters in his storefront windows — and they immediately created a buzz.
Posted by Frank at 6:23 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Vespa - once a household name in India and also the one time partner of Bajaj Auto to start its scooter journey, is coming back and this time, all alone. CNBC-TV18 reports Piaggio, the maker of Vespa has plans to more than just enter the Indian two-wheeler market. The classic scooter, Vespa will be back on Indian roads by 2010 and this time its a solo ride. Vespa maker, Piaggio has set a target of producing 150,000 two-wheelers per year initially. Along with the traditional Vespa scooter, adrenaline pumping motorcycles like Moto Guzzi and Aprilia from Piaggio are also on the way.
Posted by Frank at 6:13 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
MUMBAI - Piaggio will step up production in India and launch scooters in a market that is set to play a greater role in the Italian firm's global operations, its chief executive said on Tuesday. Faced with a stagnant market in Europe, Piaggio is investing in China, India and Vietnam, and expects Asia's contribution to total sales at 30-35 percent by 2010 from about 20 percent now. "The Asia-Pacific region offers immense opportunity," Roberto Colaninno said at a news conference.
Posted by Frank at 12:01 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Vespa is touting their LX line of scooters as a creative way to say "I love you" this Valentine's Day, and frankly, I find the idea strangely intriguing. The 50cc model seen here (click to enlarge) runs $3,199, while the (relatively) brawnier 150cc model will relieve your would-be loved one's bank account of $4,299.
Posted by Frank at 12:30 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
I've been riding my Vespa for five years - and yet I am still required by law to attend a one-day refresher course every two years to check that I haven't gone blind or forgotten how to make it go in a straight line. The authorities consider my scooter too little and girlish to require a proper licence, and yet a bit too dangerous to let any unqualified loon charge about the streets on it.
Posted by Frank at 6:39 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
With a love for classic scooters since his childhood, Englishman Patrick Joynt arrived by chance in Vietnam ten years ago to discover a paradise for scooter enthusiasts. He quickly turned his passion and hobby into a business, selling Vespas and other classics. The first time I met Patrick Joynt was at the third annual Charity Scooter Run which he organized. I saw him again a few days later at his new scooter showroom to talk more about his passion for the European bikes. Joynt indulged in scooters from an early age when he bought a silver Vespa 200 with a Union Jack motif.
Posted by Frank at 9:24 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
As part of their 40th anniversary celebrations, Butterfield Bank (Cayman) Limited gave away a Vespa scooter valued at $4,600 to one lucky winner. Dr Dax Basdeo’s name was drawn live out of over 600 entries and announced on the Day Break TV show last week. “I was completely surprised to win and am very appreciative to Butterfield Bank for helping to jump start my Christmas celebrations!” said Dr Basdeo who entered the contest at Butterfield Bank’s booth at the Chamber Business Expo in October.
Posted by Frank at 5:46 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
HELSINKI -- I was spitting dust; my face was burning after days in the sun's glare and the dead insects plastered on my windscreen were too many to count. But the satisfaction of crossing 2700 km of Europe from London to Helsinki on a motor scooter was sweet as well -- the best part being able to say: I have arrived. People told me I was mad and reckless to rush off to my new job in this way. Four days in all on the road, averaging 90 km/h, and more terrifying moments than I dare count. After all, speeding on the motorway like a mouse in a herd of elephants is not everyone's idea of fun. But the jug of beer at the end of the day -- be it German, Polish or Estonian -- never tasted better than after hours and hours staring ahead, manoeuvring in traffic, and anxiously hoping to reach the next petrol station in time. The trip this autumn started in London where I set out with a duffle bag tied on back, a small rucksack clamped between my legs and an adventurous friend wedged behind me.
Posted by Frank at 9:20 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
f you live in NYC, San Francisco, LA, Chicago, or Las Vegas, the limited edition scooter will be on display in select stores in these markets until December 3. Don't live in those areas? No worries, you can still check it out online at www.gap.com/vespa.
Posted by Frank at 10:10 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
GAP HAS TAPPED YAHOO TO launch its holiday campaign, called GapTIDINGS. The promotion centers on letting consumers create video greetings and e-mail them to family and friends. At the Yahoo-hosted GapTIDINGS (http://gaptidings.yahoo.com) microsite, users are invited to upload their holiday greetings and automatically enter to win one of three limited-edition Vespa LX50 scooters. Users will also find tips and tools for making great videos on the site, like Gap-remixed holiday tunes from artists like Dean Martin and Louis Armstrong that they can add to their creations. They can also view and rate other videos, including greetings uploaded by Gap ambassadors like "Saturday Night Live" comedic duo Amy Poehler and Will Arnett, as well as port their videos to various social networking sites (including MySpace and Facebook).
Posted by Frank at 8:58 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Anyway, I’ve seen this picture of Claire Bennet (Hayden Panettiere) sitting on a Vespa before. But after seeing picture another Heroes cast member on a scooter, an idea struck me to make some mock Vespa print ads. For the ad copy, I used a line from this actual Vespa advertisment seen on the road. To make the ad series more relevant, the slant of the ads tackled issues taken up in Vespanomics, like traffic and rising gas prices.
Posted by Frank at 6:54 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
WHEN it comes to having your vehicle stolen in Sydney, it's all about what type of car or motorcycle you have, where you leave it and when you park. Blacktown, Bankstown and the City of Sydney were the areas targeted most by thieves last financial year, and the Holden Commodore was their favourite. But the iconic Vespa was a hot target. While there were only 31 Vespas stolen over 12 months, it was the highest rate of theft per 1000 registered vehicles by manufacturer. Experts are warning scooter owners to keep their bikes off the street.
Posted by Frank at 6:46 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
The lower decks were dark and dingy. The cabins were cramped and worn. And the hallways echoed with the muffled sounds of men fighting, babies crying, dogs barking and couples cuddling. I half expected to get a knock on my cabin door from someone called Jimmy "TwoFingers'' Ragatoni, asking for a pizzo – a small bribe – to ensure nothing happened to me on the crossing. Most of the Italian passengers were out on the deck feverishly thumbing text messages and making frantic calls on their cell phones. At first I feared that I'd missed an announcement to abandon ship. The desperate way the Italians were trying to contact loved ones suggested that some sort of disaster had befallen us – a fire in the engine room or a rogue Mediterranean iceberg, perhaps. It was worse than that. The mobile phone signals were fading and it would be another 10 hours before the ship would be back in range of the phone towers again.
Posted by Frank at 8:34 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
YOU'D better stop dreaming of the quiet life 'cos it's the one you'll never know – especially if you help Peterborough Lambretta and Vespa Club celebrate its 10th anniversary. The club, which raises hundreds of pounds for charity each year, is inviting people to its final event of the year, with The Jam tribute band The Real Gift taking centre stage. Support on the night will come from DJ Jay Watson. The evening kicks off on Saturday, November 10, at 7.30pm, at Peterborough FC's executive suite and sponsors lounge on London Road. n Entry costs £6 on the door. For more information about the event, call Corky on 07759 777132 or visit the website at www.plvsc.co.uk
Posted by Frank at 7:15 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
This collaboration is a first for Gap and brings together two brands known for classic style, Vespa as a symbol of Italian style and elegance and Gap as the brand known for classic, casual American design. "To celebrate Gap's iconic crazy stripe this holiday, we wanted to create a unique gift for the person on your list who has everything," said Marka Hansen, president, Gap North America. "Our partnership with Vespa presented the perfect opportunity to surprise our customers with a special, unexpected gift idea for this special time of year." This 2007 Limited Edition Vespa LX 50 in the Crazy Stripe design represents a new spin on the classic Vespa scooter and continues to incorporate the core values of Vespa -- eco-friendly engineering, passion, individualism, and integrity -- in a stylish mode of transportation. Beginning November 8, details on how to purchase this unique gift will be available exclusively online at http://www.gap.com/vespa*. The 2007 Limited Edition Vespa LX 50 retails for $5,999 and will be available while supplies last or by special order until December 23, 2007. Holiday shoppers in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Las Vegas will have the opportunity to check out the 2007 Limited Edition Vespa LX 50 on display in select Gap stores from November 15 to December 3, 2007. Customers interested in purchasing this special Vespa LX 50 can visit http://www.gap.com/vespa* for purchasing details. To find a local Vespa USA dealer and for complete Vespa LX 50 information, visit http://www.vespausa.com/. About The Piaggio Group Established in 1884 by Rinaldo Piaggio and based in Pontedera (Pisa), Italy, the Piaggio Group is one of the world's top manufacturers of two-wheel motor vehicles. With seven production facilities, five Research & Development centers, over 6,300 employees in 50 countries and an annual production of more than 680,000 vehicles, the Piaggio Group has a consolidated leadership in the European 2-wheeler market. Piaggio ended 2006 with more than 300 dealers in the US, and an over 20 percent share of the US scooter market for Piaggio and Vespa scooters. Its production includes scooters, motorcycles and mopeds in the 50cc to 1,200cc displacement range, marketed under the Piaggio, Vespa, Gilera, Derbi, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and Scarabeo brands. The Piaggio Group is controlled by Immsi S.p.A., an industrial and services holding listed on the Milan Stock Exchange, and is headed by Chairman and CEO, Roberto Colaninno. As of July 11th, 2006, Piaggio & C. S.p.A.'s ordinary shares are listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (Borsa Italiana). Across its more than 120-year history, the Group has been active in almost every area of transport including: naval fittings; the construction of locomotives and rolling stock; engines for the aeronautics sector; seaplanes; and civil and military aircraft. Since the introduction of the Vespa scooter in 1946, Piaggio has led the way in meeting the growing demand for personal mobility. A universally recognized symbol of Italian style, Vespa is an outstanding success story with more than 16 million scooters produced to date. In addition, at the end of 2004, Piaggio acquired two prestigious brands, Moto Guzzi and Aprilia. Please note http://www.gap.com/vespa does not go live until Nov. 8. Source: Gap Inc.
Posted by Frank at 7:26 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
ROGERS — A local couple think northwest Arkansans should scoot over their SUVs to make room in the garage for a Vespa scooter, saving fuel and enjoying the occasional openair ride in the process. Leonard and Melody Zechiedrich will open Vespa of the Ozarks in downtown Rogers on Oct. 19. In the shop, on Walnut Street near its intersection with First Street, the character of the historic building blends with the funky, shiny appeal of 15 Italian scooters parked inside. The two, who work as science teachers in the Rogers School District, hatched the idea for the business on a trip to Alaska. They stopped in Seattle to see streets filled with scooters, a desirable alternative to their small car.
Posted by Frank at 1:07 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
What a hoot! Piaggio’s new carving three-wheeler, with two independently suspended front wheels, opens up yet another whole new category of motorcycle – a category that will surely explode once people get a glimpse of the ability of these stunning bikes. The MP3’s triangle footprint produces some sensational handling characteristics, making it an exceptionally fool-proof learner/commuter bike – as well as a hilarious hooligan tool for more experienced riders. Loz Blain and Noel McKeegan spend an afternoon with the scooter that just won’t let you mess things up. Let me get this right out of the way – I’ve never understood three-wheeler trikes. I can’t see why you’d want to combine the worst traits of cars and motorcycles into one giant annoying heap. Can’t lean into corners, can’t lane split, exposed to the elements, dangerous and slow rolled into one. But that’s really just the whopping big twin rear-wheel jobs. The Piaggio MP3 is a different beast altogether. It’s a 250cc single-cylinder, injected CVT scooter with a top speed over 110kmh and two independently suspended, tilting front wheels. Why would you build such a thing? Well, scooter riders aren’t necessarily known as the most capable and confident riders – presumably the theory was that Piaggio might snare a few more wavering buyers if they offered a scoot that didn’t look like it would fall over so easily.
Posted by Frank at 7:37 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
The shell is manufactured from lightweight ABS material and weighs less than 1 KG, so is comfortable to wear and easy to carry. It is designed to fit into the storage compartments beneath the seats of Vespa scooters and its compact size means that it can be accommodated by many other makes too. The Vespa Europe helmet is produced in five sizes, from X-Small to X-Large, and sells in the shops for £59.99. Optional clip-on goggles are available in clear, yellow, blue and smoke at £19.99.
Posted by Frank at 5:45 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
With over fifteen million scooters sold and groups of enthusiasts popping up all over the world, the classic model Piaggio’s aren’t going anywhere. What seems to be behind the increased popularity of these old scooters? The only plausible answer appears to be their aesthetic qualities. Piaggio scooters appeal to the younger generations because of their stylish appearance. For Piaggio drivers it isn’t about transportation. It’s about making a fashion statement. A local enthusiast, a journalist named Ngan, comments, “It gives the rider a feeling of pride. It makes a difference in the eyes of others. It’s impressive, generally.” Another local enthusiast named Thang started a forum for Vespa lovers on the web at www.ttvnol.com. He said “If one owns this kind of vehicle, he or she should be proud and remember that they have possession of a piece of the past… something that many other people dream of.” A decade ago these classic scooters were not in vogue and were much harder to locate.
Posted by Frank at 1:07 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
How was your commute today? Is it taking longer than before to get to work or complete your errands? The Texas Transportation Institute just released its 2007 Urban Mobility Report on traffic congestion in the country’s 437 urban areas. The report states that congestion has caused urban Americans to travel 4.2 billion hours more and to purchase an extra 2.9 billion gallons of fuel for a congestion cost of $78 billion – translating to an increase of 220 million hours, 140 million gallons and $5 billion from 2004. In fact, the peak-period traveler wasted 26 gallons of fuel in 2005—three weeks worth of gasoline for the average U.S. resident—up from 9 gallons in 1982. In light of surging gas prices, more Americans are utilizing eco-friendly motor scooters, which can get up to 70 miles per gallon. Vespa scooters are smart and fun alternatives that reduce gas consumption, provide economic and environmental benefits, and cut traffic congestion. If American travelers were to switch just 10 percent of their total mileage to scooters, they would consume 14 to 18 million gallons less fuel per day and carbon dioxide emissions could be reduced by 324 million pounds per day as well. (Source ICR survey, May 2006; see www.Vespanomics.com for details) On a personal level, American commuters could also reduce fuel consumption by approximately 58 percent, carbon dioxide emissions by 80 percent, and significantly reduce traffic congestion.
Posted by Frank at 1:18 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Pictured is Ted Danson, a member of Oceana’s Board of Directors, at the event with the Oceana-inspired Vespa scooters. The Vespa LX 50 scooters were detailed with images of the marine life that Oceana has committed to preserve, as well as Oceana logos. The Award Gala event hosted by Oceana honored Al Gore, Former U.S. Vice President, and Dr. Daniel Pauly, World Renowned Fisheries Scientist, for their commitment toward protection and restoration of the marine environment.
Posted by Frank at 12:02 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
The two-day gifting lounge featured exo-luxury brands and a two-carat Hearts ON Fire diamond-encrusted Vespa LX50 yellow scooter to be auctioned at the Environmental Media Association awards.
Posted by Frank at 11:56 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
WE'VE all heard the saying, "green is the new black". The stock exchange these days boasts such companies as Green Pacific Energy, Green Rock Energy and Greenpower Energy. Across the country, environmentally conscious Australians are paying a little more to use renewable energy at home, and ticking a box to pay a few dollars to offset their plane flights with carbon credits. So you'd think the launch of a fuel-efficient three-wheel motor scooter would be welcome. Certainly Italian scooter giant Piaggio, maker of the ubiquitous Vespa, thinks so. Piaggio Australia has spent millions on bringing the eco-friendly three-wheel MP3 scooter to Australia, in the hope that we will increase the company coffers while saving petrol and emissions. "Environmentally astute, the MP3 boasts a Euro 3 rating and runs on the smell of a not-so-oily rag," says the news release. If only Piaggio's PR team was as astute as the inanimate object it is trying to sell. Instead, it has launched the MP3 with an incredible lack of sagacity, and quite possibly the dumbest PR campaign in history. The company has sent scores of invitations launching the "green machine" to media outlets — in a giant cardboard envelope 194 centimetres long and 150 centimetres high. Maybe the PR team feels Visy Industries needs the cash.
Posted by Frank at 11:42 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Hanoi, North Vietnam - Italy's Piaggio is to invest $30-million in a factory near here to produce Vespa scooters. Local news media said on Monday that production would start in late 2009 with a target of 50 000 units a year. Motorbikes are the primary means of transportation for most Vietnamese families. In a country of 85-million people there are an estimated 21-million motorbikes. Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki produced almost two-million motorbikes in the first eight months of 2007, 28 percent more than n 2006. - Sapa-DPA
Posted by Frank at 11:41 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
THE temperature out there was 31 deg C. It was a humid night. But 19-year-old student Rizad Noor, decked out in a long-sleeved shirt and a knitted vest, was hanging around outside The Cathay. His friend, IT analyst Hanafi Md Noor, 26, even had a knitted scarf wrapped around his neck. National serviceman Kunio Suto, 21, was also dressed in a two-piece suit and a green trench coat with a furry collar. Their outfits drew curious stares from passers-by. But instead of being embarrassed, their faces glowed with pride as they stood beside their Vespa scooters. The occasion? It was a Vespa outing organised by AJ Scooter Club for this interview. More than 20 Vespa owners zipped into the meeting area outside The Cathay in their vintage scooters. They said it is usually what they do when they go for outings on the Vespa. They dig into their wardrobes for the most retro-looking outfits and some even borrow clothes from their friends. 'It is to complete the vintage look,' Mr Hanafi said. Some of them even went to the extent of not having an In-vehicle Unit (IU) on their scooters as they did not want the modern accessory to ruin the retro look. Property agent Denise Ho, 27, reached The Cathay after 8pm - to avoid the ERP gantries. Her Vespa did not have an IU. Her white scooter is also fitted with a rubber horn that squeaks when you squeeze it. 'Doesn't this remind you of the karung guni man?' she said, referring to the rag-and-bone men who frequent HDB estates to collect old newspapers and appliances, tooting their handheld horns. The extent these Vespa fans go to to retain the retro look of their scooter is telling. Musician Wilson Wong does the same. He said: 'I will use only original accessories for the scooter, and the IU is not part of it!'. Like Miss Ho, he would make detours and avoid the ERP gantries whenever he rides his scooter. When it comes to parking, they would try to park their scooters in places which do not use the automated cash payment system. They spent between $3,000 to $5,000 for their second-hand Vespas and sourced for them in online forums and motorbike workshops.
Posted by Frank at 12:38 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Once the epitome of ‘50s Roman jazz-age cool, the Vespa experienced something of a fall from grace between the 1970s-1990s. No longer considered hip, most were reduced to the scrap heap or left long forgotten in storage bins or family garages. Fast forward to the present day and the humble little scooter is undergoing a global revival. In Viet Nam where the Vespa never truly died off, because people couldn’t afford to replace them, retro scooters from the 50’s-70’s are more popular than ever. Viet Nam’s streets are jam-packed full of your run of the mill models, the Honda’s Dylan, @, SH, Suzuki’s Hayate and Yamaha’s Nouvo that all clamour for attention in some of the world’s most bizarre urban waves of traffic. But it is the chic old models that have been custom painted and fitted that are turning heads in HCM City. However, it’s not all easy trails with the old Italians and French, they are up to 50 years old and require some pampering from time to time. They are generally less convenient than the newer models and are prone to problems such as difficult start-ups, frequent breakdowns and stalled engines. Enthusiasts say its all part of the charm and the little acts of maintenance love they dote upon them make the relationship that much more special. Nguyen Quoc Ky, general director of HCM City-based Viettravel, one of the country’s largest and most successful tourism companies, rides his US$4,000 Mobylette to his office on Pasteur Road every day. Ky owns a collection of French-made motorbikes, including six Mobylettes and four Velosolexes and said although there is very little commercial value in being a collector there is a great deal of cultural value in restoring something from the past that would of otherwise be trashed.
Posted by Frank at 3:31 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
A London man is facing a drunk-driving charge after falling off his scooter in the middle of the afternoon, police said. It was 2:30 p.m. Wednesday when police were called to Hamilton Road near Sackville Street after reports a man had fallen off his Vespa scooter while pulling out of a parking lot. The same man is already facing a drunk-driving charge for an incident that occurred on a Tuesday last November at 9:30 a.m. On Wednesday, the man was taken to hospital for injuries and arrested there.
Posted by Frank at 12:42 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
When you pass a motor scooter on the street, you probably respond in one of two ways: “Wow, I’ll bet that guy is getting great mileage,” or, “Jeez, what a dork.” But when two scooter riders pass each other on the street, they’re likely to respond in one of two entirely different ways: “Neat, a vintage Vespa,” or “Humph, plastic.” The scooter universe, it seems, is divided into two separate worlds. And it’s expanding, a development that people in one of those worlds view with mixed emotions. Inhabiting the Old World are those who ride vintage versions of the Vespa, the Italian brand whose name means scooter the way Kleenex means facial tissue. Buzzing along in the New World are those who ride modern, plastic-bodied scooters generally made in China, Taiwan and other parts of Asia. And woe to anyone who calls one of those a Vespa in front of someone who owns a real Vespa. The scooter explosion has been helped along by rising gas prices. It’s not uncommon for modern scooters to get 60 to 100 miles per gallon and reach speeds of 60 mph or higher. Their increasing popularity can be seen in the fact that there are now no fewer than three shops in town that specialize in scooter sales. You might think all this would be a welcome sign of societal acceptance to the scooter pioneers, such as members of the Columbus Cutters scooter club, who will hold their 10th annual Scoot-a-Que rally this weekend. But think again. A spirited debate played out on the Cutters website earlier this summer over whether plastic scooters are a little less equal than their older Italian kin. Kat Moya, a tattoo artist and scooter owner, set off the ruckus by posting a message stating her concern about the club’s changing—perhaps diluted—identity. “It’s been hard to stay focused on who we are amidst the ever-growing population of scooter riders,” Moya wrote. “The Columbus Cutters scooter club is composed of members that have shown great involvement with our events, lend a hand and share a love for vintage scooters.”
Posted by Frank at 12:40 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
MILAN - Piaggio said its board has approved 25-30 mln usd investment in a plant in Vietnam to produce Vespa scooter models, with start-up seen within two years. During a conference call, company officials said the plant will have a capacity of 100,000 units a year, when running on a three-shift system. 'Why Vietnam? We are already there with a sales organisation and an office in Hanoi. Vietnam GDP is growing at more than 8 pct per year,' an official said. Piaggio already exports 8,000 Vespa models from Italy to Vietnam but faces 100 pct import duties, which hikes the retail price of the models, they said. On the production side, the Vietnam plant will draw on strong technology and production skills already established in the Chinese market, they said.
Posted by Frank at 12:59 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Italian manufacturer Piaggio, the maker of Vespa, is set to become the first company to release a hybrid drive scooter following an announcement that it is developing hybrid versions of its Vespa LX, Piaggio X8 and Vespa MP3 (the carving three-wheeler) models. The new hybrid system, which has a working title of HyS (Hybrid Scooter), can operate in full electric mode with a range of around 20 kilometres as well as hybrid mode - whenever the rider needs to accelerate more aggressively, the electric motor kicks in, providing about 85 per cent extra performance. Piaggio’s HyS system is a parallel hybrid in which a combustion engine and an electric motor incorporated into the gearbox casing are mechanically and electronically linked and simultaneously supply power to the rear wheel. The system uses drive-by-wire and the in-built electronic management combines the two engines to offer not only better acceleration but also a significant reduction in fuel consumption (up to 170 mpg or 1.67 liters/100 km) and in CO2 emissions, only 40 g/km (using 65% the hybrid modes and 35% the electric one). Perhaps the most exciting prospect is the hybrid MP3 which enjoyed such success as a 250cc it has since been developed as a 400cc version and was recently shown as a stylish 500cc Gilera – a sportier hybrid version of the 500 would enjoy exceptional performance. In this dual drive-by-wire type system, a sophisticated electronic management system interprets the rider’s request for more power, and selects the level of assistance based on the current level of battery charge. The HyS uses a regenerative braking system to capture much of the energy usually lost under braking and the scooter’s range can be further optimised in the garage by charging the battery from an electricity source using the 220V battery charger. The automatic gearbox, electric ignition and automatic start provide the usual zip and ease of use in town as well as out-of-town trips. The gas engine offers sparkling performance in standard running, charging the electric motor all the while. The Piaggio HyS uses very innovative, avant-garde technical solutions but remains incredibly easy and intuitive to use. The rider uses all the normal controls (accelerator, brakes and additional handlebar commands) as well as a specific switch to choose one of the different operating modes: three hybrid, one electric-only and the reverse. In the first three modes the HyS manages power output from the two engines, thermal and electric, using a drive-by-wire type system: the electronic management system (SGE) interprets the rider’s request for more torque and selects the assist ratio based on the state of the system (e.g. the level of battery charge). During deceleration and braking, the control system recovers and accumulates power that is lost on normal vehicles in the battery. The three hybrid modes are conceived to optimize performances, consumption and battery charge. The rider simply turns a handlebar switch to shut down the combustion engine and turn the Piaggio HyS into a silent zero-emissions vehicle that can go into areas closed to internal combustion engined traffic. Another turn of the switch and the petrol engine turns itself on and goes back to being the main engine, charging the battery as it travels through areas open to normal traffic. Drive-by-wire technology not only allows the control system to optimally manage the combined power output of the two engines but also ‘forces’ the thermal engine to work when it can be most efficient, thereby reducing specific consumption, with obvious advantages in terms of lower consumption and emissions. All this technology is neatly tucked away. The three Piaggio HyS versions look like any standard Vespa LX, Piaggio X8 or MP3. On X8 and MP3 versions the traction batteries are hidden in the under-seat storage space, which is sufficiently large to also hold a helmet. The Vespa LX hybrid prototype comes with a top case to hold the helmet. There is a battery charge indicator on the dashboard. The battery can be recharged from an electricity source by inserting a normal cable into the plug provided for this purpose. Charging time is roughly three hours. Two 12V 26Ah batteries are located under the LX 50 HyS seat, with an additional top box replacing lost storage space. The X8 uses three 12V 26Ah batteries while still offering sufficient under-seat space for a helmet. Piaggio is based in the Tuscan countryside between Florence and Pisa, and invented the scooter in 1946 when it produced the first-ever Vespa. Vespa remains the iconic scooter brand with its unique metal-bodied design, though the company also produce scooters under the sporty Gilera brand and the contemporary Piaggio brand.
Posted by Frank at 12:25 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
WASHINGTON—When Isabelle Goetz was getting married last November, the Washington hair stylist decided on a unique gift registry—a Vespa. “When you get married you look for the really necessary gifts,” said Goetz, who wasn’t interested in kitchen gadgets. “My husband and I really liked two wheels, and it was something I use every day.” The midnight blue Vespa LX 150 with a chrome package was eagerly purchased by family and friends this spring, and now Goetz commutes by scooter between downtown and her Arlington, Va., home in 10 minutes—“seven when there’s no traffic.” All over America, riding a scooter is suddenly chic, not to mention economical. Scooter sales are skyrocketing, say manufacturers, with women making up nearly half of the buyers in many cities. Every time gas prices rise, say dealers, the phones start ringing. While the concentration of riders is mostly urban, in cities such as Miami, Seattle and New York, there are emerging pockets of new scooteristas in such unlikely spots as Texas and the Carolinas. In the last 10 years, scooter sales have increased tenfold, from 12,000 in 1997 to about 120,000 in 2006, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council, the two-wheel industry trade association. In 2007, sales continued to grow as drivers turned to the cycles, which can get as much as 100 mpg. Honda, Yamaha and Vespa—which re-entered the United States in 2000 after a hiatus—are among the largest manufacturers, and importers carry lesser-known foreign brands. Prices range from $1,800 for the 50cc scooters to as much as $8,000 for larger models. The retro styling, automatic transmission and step-through design of the scooter appeal to women, who can drive them wearing skirts and heels. Audrey Hepburn created an iconic image for the Italian-made Vespa in “Roman Holiday,” and female riders today say that being on the scooter inevitably makes a fashion statement. Goetz, 36, who also rides on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle on the highway, said she finds that it’s the scooter that turns heads. “It’s a more feminine ride, and people seem to appreciate it,” said Goetz, who is the stylist for Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. Almost daily, passers-by will give her the thumbs-up sign. In Miami, law student Emily Goodman was looking for a vehicle she could park easily after moving from Boston. “It looks like scooters are more integrated into the culture here,” she said. After only a week on her blue Yamaha Vino, 49cc, Goodman loves her one-mile commute. “It’s so cute. I’m definitely getting some interesting looks,” she said. “I feel like I’m powerful and in control.”
Posted by Frank at 5:43 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
It's not uncommon to find motorized scooters in Europe, or even in major US cities, but Toledoan Mike Kookoothee foresees a market for them in Lucas county. Kookoothee, a retired Ford Motor Company employee, invested $90,000 in his new Vespa dealership, Vespa of Toledo, at 17th and Jefferson Street, he said. His hopes are that with high gas prices and a growing amount of entertainment Downtown, the demand for motorized scooters will increase. “We want to make Downtown happenin',” he said. “We want people to come back and go to a Mud Hens game or Tony Packo's, come down and re-discover Toledo on a Vespa.” Comparing his product to big-name environmentally friendly vehicles is one way to emphasize the advantages of purchasing a Vespa. Amanda Kookoothee works with her father and said she believes that in most cases, purchasing a Vespa will save more money than purchasing a Toyota Camry or Toyota Prius. A Vespa gets 72 miles per gallon of gas, while the Camry gets 30 and the Prius 50, she said. If each vehicle were driven 12,000 miles, on average a person would spend $936 in gas for the Camry, $511 for the Prius, and only $390 for the Vespa, she said. “It's half of what you'd spend on a Prius and two-thirds of what you'd spend on a Camry,” Kookoothee said. “It's a retro vehicle that's been redesigned; it's modern and it's comfortable.” via Car Buyer's Notebook.
Posted by Frank at 8:14 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
IN 1953, Audrey Hepburn went tootling through Rome on the back of Gregory Peck's motor scooter, and a star was born. Not the doe-eyed actress - she'd made her Broadway debut 2 years earlier - but the scooter. With the release of the romantic comedy, "Roman Holiday," sales of the Italian-made scooter spiked from 60,000 to 100,000, and soon all who knew their dolce vita from al dente were riding a Vespa. In Hollywood, such manly men as Marlon Brando, Charlton Heston and John Wayne favored the diminutive scooters for commuting between sound stages. It was stylish and easy to drive, and you could cruise all week for the price of a pepperoni pizza. Like the Volkswagen bug, its contemporary, the Vespa was a masterpiece of design. In contrast to the big, raucous American motorcycles, which were built to be straddled, the floor pan of the Vespa's monocoque steel body protected riders from the mud and dust of the road beneath and the oil and gas within its engine housing. Alas, the Italian-made, two-stroke engines couldn't meet this country's increasingly stringent emissions standards and in 1984, Vespa withdrew from the American market. Today, as any savvy moviegoer can tell you, Vespa is back where it all started - on the silver screen. Scooter chase scenes highlight such first-run action thrillers as "Transformers" and "The Bourne Ultimatum" and the animated feature, "Ratatouille." No less important, now that the Italian scooter maker has switched to more environmentally friendly, four-stroke engines (a two-cycle, 50cc model will be phased out in 2008, but it, too, is emissions-compliant), it's back in American showrooms and on the road. "We came back to the United States in 2000, but we didn't start selling Vespas until 2002," says Kevin Andrews, brand manager for Piaggio Vespa, the scooter maker's U.S. subsidiary. Since then, says Andrews, growth has been remarkable.
Posted by Frank at 7:28 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Today scooters are seen as a nuisance but the near future looks promising. Some people think motor scooters are a menace. A survey by AAMI Insurance came up with that result, but it's obviously the view of people who are not looking to the future. There will soon be more scooters in Australian cities, and not only in Queensland, where car-licence holders can ride a 50cc two-wheeler. Scooters are going to become more popular as urban infill reaches its peak, petrol prices continue to rise and more people realise an easy-going two-wheeler meets their real transport needs. A short commute, ducking down to the shops or dashing to a coffee shop is easy on a scooter. I know because I've been riding a Vespa for a few weeks to see what the latest generation of baby bikes is like. The answer, at least for the 250cc four-stroke Vespa, is comfy and convenient. And it looks good, too, with a great retro style. A Vespa is not cheap. My GTS250ie costs more than $9500, but that is for a steel chassis, a classy engine, good brakes, a digital dash and even a handy hook for holding takeaway bags.
Posted by Frank at 7:27 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Italian manufacturer Piaggio, the maker of Vespa, has launched an environmentally friendly hybrid scooter by mechanically and electronically linking a traditional combustion engine with an electric motor. As well as the hybrid set up, riders can also toggle between two other modes on a HyS scooter: electric and petrol. In electric, the combustion engine is completely shut down, and allows a range of up to 20km.
Posted by Frank at 10:59 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
NEW DELHI: Tempted by the recent revival of the scooter segment in the country, the beleaguered LML (Lohia Machines) has re-entered the domestic market after a hiatus of 14 months with its Vespa brand of geared scooters. The Kanpur-based company launched its 150cc Vespa brands — NV SPL and Select II — this week with an on-road price of Rs 35,000 in New Delhi, traditionally its biggest market. The company used to sell around 1,000 units a month in New Delhi before it went out of production in February 2006. LML has started operations with two dealers in New Delhi and is targeting sales of 500 units in the next few months. The lone player in the geared scooter segment, LML is keen to grab its old market, with scooter sales showing growth in the past few months. Scooter sales rose 17% during April-July 2007 to 3,44,006 units.
Posted by Frank at 7:52 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Believe it or not, Vespa riders get plenty of love from Harley-Davidson riders. Just ask Roger Vandevert, president of the Vespa Club of Monterey, who recently went on a ride with fellow Vespa and scooter owners to the Fourth of July bike rally in Hollister. "There's a fun kind of attraction between Harley guys and Vespas," said Vandevert, noting that whenever he shows up to a bike rally on his Vespa, he is usually besieged by one or two Harley riders. "Sports-bike guys, not so much." The Italian-made motor scooters were originally built after World War II, when the Piaggio warplane factories were bombed out. A strong need existed for transportation and for the country to get back on its feet — and on the road. The Vespa engine was the original airplane starter motor and the small wheels were aircraft landing gear. Vespas range in price from $3,199 for the LX 50 model to as much as $7,299 for the limited edition GT 60. Locals can purchase the bikes at Vespa Monterey in the Seaside Auto Mall. On the Peninsula, Vespa club riders can be seen cruising to Diva Dulce near Fisherman's Wharf, or parked outside the Starbucks at Stone Creek Center off Highway 68, sipping lattes rather than pounding a few cold ones.
Posted by Frank at 7:48 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
This video history of the Vespa is from an early 1990's episode of Discovery channel's show, "Invention".
Posted by Frank at 7:48 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Vespa riders, safety lovers: do not try this at home!
Posted by Frank at 7:44 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Thanks to the Babel Fish translation software from AltaVista, Scootering USA is now available in translation for nine languages. If you include English. The alternate languages include: Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Italian and Portugese. All you have to do is click on the appropriate flag in the box that is at the upper right hand corner of this and every page on the site. Click here to read the site in Spanish. Click here to read the site in French. Click here to read the site in Japanese. Click here to read the site in Chinese. Click here to read the site in German. Click here to read the site in Korean. Click here to read the site in Italian. Click here to read the site in Portugese.
Posted by Frank at 5:54 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
From his perch behind the latte dispenser, Starbucks employee Frank Kecseti can look outside across Ponce de Leon Avenue and ogle with envy the cream-colored Vespa parked in front of Mick's restaurant. It's not the flashy scooter that's caught the fancy of the 20-year-old Decatur resident. It's the land it occupies. The two-wheeler holds sway over that most prime piece of real estate in charm city's downtown: the free parking spot. The curbside warning sign that guards the six diagonally striped slots says it all. Scooter parking only, it informs, and just for those with 250 cc engines. Heaving hulks, back off. That means you, Mr. SUV, and you, too, Mrs. Minivan. Kecseti as well, who's a might green over the restrictions. Though he walks to work, he's eyeing a 500 cc motorcycle. So, there's no room at the in spot for him, either. Still, of the scooter slots he says, "I'm glad they did it. It's going to be an asset to our community." Lyn Menne's sure of it. She's the assistant city manager and an advocate of the spaces which were added a little over a month ago. Lines recently were repainted after they were obliterated during a water repair project.
Posted by Frank at 10:18 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
For a variety of reasons, that Vespa buzz has been gaining momentum in the United States. On the practical side, the shiny little motor scooters don’t need much gas, you don’t get your clothes dirty on them, their compact size makes them easy to park and automatic transmissions make them easy to drive. The new models are environmentally friendly and relatively inexpensive with a price range of $2000 to $6,000. But what we drive is not always just about the practical. If a person is judged by their ride, the constantly evolving American culture jury has recently reached a verdict: It’s cool again to own a Vespa. Like a laptop, cell phone or iPod, the less-is-more philosophy definitely applies to the iconic Italian motor scooter and other scooters as well.
Posted by Frank at 12:53 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
PONTEDERA, Italy - Piaggio SpA plans to launch a hybrid scooter for congested cities in the second half of next year, powered by a traditional petrol engine and alternative electric power, said chairman Roberto Colaninno. The hybrid will be based on the three-wheel Piaggio-branded MP3 scooter, launched last year, and will have a price tag of less than 10,000 eur, against the 7,000 eur the solely petrol-powered scooter currently csells for, company officials said. 'The hybrid can represent a very important reply to the problems of traffic, safety and pollution. The hybrid generates synergies from the two motors, using electronic systems,' Colannino said at a news conference.
Posted by Frank at 12:50 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
The LXV is styled to pay tribute to the classic Vespas of the 1960s and this collection of genuine Vespa chrome racks and crash bars means that riders can recreate similar fashions to scooters of the period. The chrome front carry rack is designed to complement the rear carrier, which is fitted as standard to both 50cc and 125cc models. It fits to existing mounting points with minimum fuss and can be folded upright when not in use. The front carry rack sells in the shops for £95.
Posted by Frank at 12:49 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Put a few hundred Vespa owners in a parking lot together with free Red Bulls and an intoxicating afternoon sun, and sparks are inevitable. At Saturday's Amerivespa rally, part of a three-day event for scooter enthusiasts of all types, riders eyed each other's seats, asking about comfort vs. style. They traded stories of spills, sideswipes and sympathetic spouses (or the opposite). They got personal sometimes, too. "You've got a really short inseam, like I do," one man said to a new friend. "Probably," the other replied, and agreed it can be hard sometimes to straddle a gas tank. The riders came to Seattle from as far as Germany for the annual rally, held in a different city each year. It ends today.
Posted by Frank at 9:06 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
In the gladiatorial traffic of New York City, a motor scooter, with or without racing stripes, is something between a motorcycle and a Radio Flyer wagon. Now, however, thanks to a new marketing campaign, it is also something else: a ticket to the closest thing to New York nirvana, free parking. On Wednesday, an American importer of Vespa, the Italian maker of probably the best-known brand of motor scooter, said it had paid for almost two months’ worth of parking at 48 spaces in lots and garages in Chinatown, TriBeCa, Midtown and the theater district. Anyone with a Vespa can leave it in one of those spaces for hours. (But not overnight; the lots don’t allow overnight parking.) The promotion, done in conjunction with Edison ParkFast garages, ends Sept. 30. The promotion made Peter Scanlan ecstatic. Mr. Scanlan, 26, a college admissions official, parked his $7,000 Vespa GTS 250 for the first time in a garage yesterday on the Avenue of the Americas, near 44th Street. “It’s on street level,” he said, almost in a whisper. “It’s incredible. We win, we win!” Piaggio Group America, the Manhattan importer of Vespas, would not disclose how much it paid for the parking spaces. “Why must you know?” said Paolo Timoni, Piaggio’s president, with a laugh.
Posted by Frank at 12:59 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
LONDON - Vectrix Corp, a zero-emission two-wheel electric vehicles maker, said it has decided to restrict production of its MAXI scooter to not more than 25 bikes a day in the near term, to address product quality issues. The company said it expects to rework the number of bikes manufactured based on the number built to date and added that it expects total production for the year to September 2007 to be in the range of 1,800 to 2,000 bikes.
Posted by Frank at 12:52 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
You may have to dart out of the way, Rome-style, the next few days because about 1,000 Vespa owners from across the country will take to the streets of Seattle and beyond through Sunday. Amerivespa, the 15th annual celebration of the classic Italian scooter, visits Seattle this year with group rides, meetings, an art show and numerous contests (including one on how slow a rider can go). The event begins Thursday at 6 p.m. with a "meet and greet" in Pioneer Square and ends Sunday on Vashon Island after a ferry ride. Most events Friday and Saturday (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) take place in South Lake Union Park. Scooters on display will run the gamut from vintage machines to new models that can be test ridden. Attendees are required to register; for events not open to the public, the cost is $70 for non-members of the Vespa Club. For information, visit amerivespa.org.
Posted by Frank at 1:00 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Posted by Frank at 1:47 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
NEW YORK -- Piaggio Group Americas, the U.S. importer of the world-famous Vespa(R) scooter, today announced that the company is sponsoring a limited free parking program for scooters at Edison ParkFast garages in New York City during the summer to raise awareness of the need for scooter parking across the country. Piaggio Group is funding scooter parking for locals, commuters and NY Scooter Club meetings throughout the summer. Relative to cars, trucks and SUV's, motor scooters are an environmentally- friendly means of transportation that help alleviate city congestion and should be included on the list of vehicles exempt from the proposed congestion tariff. To demonstrate the need for legal scooter parking on city streets to local government officials and to prompt private garage operators to expand and/or add scooter parking to their list of accepted vehicles, Piaggio Group has instituted free parking for two-wheel vehicles in Edison ParkFast garages. Specially-marked parking spots in the participating garages will accommodate 12 two-wheel scooters and will be branded with the Vespa logo. During the months of July and August, riders can park their scooters free of charge (when space is available and in accordance to program rules) at any of the following locations: -- Chinatown -- 174 Centre Street, between Hester and Canal Streets "The popularity of the two-wheel vehicle is on the rise. Piaggio Group recognizes the need to do our part in helping scooter owners find adequate, safe and legal parking in New York and in cities around the country," said Paolo Timoni, President and CEO of Piaggio Group Americas. "Funding free parking during the summer brings our city one step closer to allotting appropriate parking, but we plan to continue reaching out to local government officials to demonstrate both the need for and benefit of scooter parking." To promote the program, titled "Free Parking in NYC?" Piaggio Group Americas will send teams of Vespa branded ambassadors to high traffic locations in New York City to distribute pocket brochures highlighting the free Edison ParkFast locations and other facts on how scootering can help to curb global warming now. They will also conduct their own internal website and email campaign, plus seeding of blogs and scooter group message boards. This free scooter parking initiative, a continuation of Piaggio Group's "Vespanomics" campaign, continues to position two-wheel vehicles as a solution that could greatly reduce energy consumption, while helping to preserve the environment and alleviate traffic congestion. Studies have shown that if Americans were to utilize one of the latest eco-friendly motor scooters for just 10 percent of their everyday travel, they could potentially reduce national fuel consumption by 14 million gallons of gasoline per day and decrease carbon dioxide emissions by 324 million pounds per day. (Source: ICR on behalf of Piaggio Group, May 2006) The Vespanomics campaign is designed to further educate consumers on how the use of motorized scooters, like Vespa, can quickly reduce their oil consumption, carbon dioxide emissions and traffic congestion. In 2006, Piaggio Group launched the online petition, "Vespatition" on the Vespa USA Web site, to create a venue for consumers to express their support for two-wheel parking. Piaggio Group is also working with local government officials, community board districts and urban planners to increase support for legal two-wheel parking wherever parking for motor vehicles is provided. Source: Piaggio Group, Car Buyer's Notebook
Posted by Frank at 12:39 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Have you ever dreamt of riding along with a glow in your cheeks and the wind in your hair? Well, with this latest competition from Numero at Manchester235, the lively and vibrant Italian eatery you could be cruising round town in style on an Italian Vespa. So grab your leathers and get down to Numero, where you can enter their competition every time you eat there between July and August. To get your hands on the handlebars simply fill in your details below and print off the form provided. Remember, to enter the competition you must bring along your completed form when you next eat at Numero. Good luck. The Great Northern Warehouse, Watson St, M3 4LP 0161 828 0344 www.manchester235.com
Posted by Frank at 1:41 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Called the Vespa S, it's based on the existing 50cc and 125cc LX models with styling revamped for a 1970s look. The leaner handlebar area is distinguished by a square instead of round headlamp while the mudguards are cut back to reveal more of the suspension. But the most effective change visually is the removal of the bulky plastic on the inside of the legshield, revealing the shape of the steel chassis spine typical of older Vespas.
Posted by Frank at 1:37 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
And that's okay. "We all know we're dorks," said Len Smith of Fallbrook. "Once you're riding a scooter, you've got nothing to prove." Saturday marked Smith's third year taking part in Temecula's annual Vespa ride, now called "R'Idyllwild." Matt Gordon, event organizer and member of the Cafe Moto Vespa Club, said while the ride typically is a jaunt through Temecula Wine Country, this year, the group opted for a longer ride. Beginning at 10:30 a.m., the group of approximately 100 Vespas left the Tower Plaza parking lot and headed north to Winchester Road to continue to Hemet and, ultimately, Idyllwild. The group would then connect to Highway 371 to bring them back into Temecula at roughly 3:30 p.m.
Posted by Frank at 10:07 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
More than 17,000 mopeds and motorcycles were registered in New Zealand last year - a 65 per cent jump on 2004 figures. Over that same period, the price of regular petrol rose 35 per cent and diesel prices went up 48 per cent. Auckland had more bikes registered than any other region last year (7565) followed by Canterbury (2773), Wellington (2113) and Waikato (1546). Sales manager Miles Allpress, who works at Retro Scooter in Auckland, says the rise is partly due to a bigger range of cheaper brands, many from China. Vespa shop owner Goetz Neugebauer says students used to push sales, but the typical customer is now a high-earning professional in their late 20s to mid-40s.
Posted by Frank at 8:41 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Owners of vintage Vespas, and all other scooters built before 2001, have been offered hundreds of euros worth of incentives to switch to bicycles or electric vehicles. Italy's environment ministry, which has set aside £10 million for the project, will pay as much as £680 towards the cost of an electric scooter, or £170 towards a bicycle. Smaller incentives are on offer for the latest eco-friendly petrol scooters. Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio, the environment minister, said: "We are doing our best to combat carbon emissions and the fine dust that these scooters create. This will all help us live better."
Posted by Frank at 8:33 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Since the end of World War II, Vespas have been ridden the world over, bringing a touch of Italian class and style everywhere they go. Originally, the scooters were produced with a noisy, temperamental two-stroke engine mated to a manual transmission. The two-strokes were bad polluters, which led to the end of Vespas in the U.S. in the mid-1980s as well as the bankruptcy of Vespa’s U.S. importer. Luckily, in the late 1990s, Piaggio executed a complete redesign of the iconic little bike. New features included a more powerful electrical system, a cleaner four-stroke engine, better brakes and above all, a fully automatic CVT belt-driven transmission—no more shifting. The new Vespas took off in Europe but took a while to gain acceptance in our SUV-loving society. Early models were hard to come by and parts were even more so. Not so much these days. Vespa has a standard line of scooters with engine sizes ranging from the small-town grocery getter 50 cc LX to the highway cruising, 80 mph, 250 cc, fuel-injected GTS model. For the sake of the scooter novices out there, this review will focus on the mid-sized, mid-priced Vespa LX150.
Posted by Frank at 8:33 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Major Marketing Campaign Planned with Fully Integrated Promotional Activities Tied to DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures Highly Anticipated Summer Movie NEW YORK -- Piaggio Group Americas announced today an integrated partnership with the upcoming DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures release "Transformers" with a full slate of promotional and marketing initiatives nationwide including: a national dealer open house, free movie tickets, an advertising campaign and a sweepstakes awarding a Vespa scooter. The "Transformers" movie partnership marks an expanded presence in the product integration space for Piaggio Group Americas. Scheduled for theatrical release July 3rd, "Transformers" is already generating buzz as a hot summer blockbuster. As part of the fully integrated marketing strategy surrounding the "Transformers" partnership, Piaggio is hosting a variety of activities throughout the U.S. Tied directly with the launch of the movie, Piaggio is holding a special Vespa national open house June 14-24, 2007. During the open house, consumers who sign up to receive Vespa emails and bring their confirmation coupon to participating Vespa dealerships will receive a free movie ticket to see "Transformers" after they test drive a Vespa. Additionally, people visiting dealerships during the open house will receive a free official mini "Transformers" movie poster. In addition, Piaggio is conducting a special online sweepstakes where one winner will be selected to win a Vespa scooter. Piaggio has also developed advertising creative titled, "Vespa...Transportation Transformers(TM)," which will appear in motorcycle and scooter trade publications as well as part of a comprehensive Internet campaign. Participating Vespa dealerships will receive promotional materials which they can display and utilize in local ad campaigns. "Piaggio is always looking for opportunities that highlight the great brands we represent," said Paolo Timoni, President and CEO, Piaggio Group Americas. "The 'Transformers' movie is sure to be one of the summer's biggest hits and we are thrilled to be integrating numerous marketing and promotional activities to support that involvement. We look forward to even more strategic partnership opportunities in the future." For centuries, two races of robotic aliens - the Autobots(R) and the Decepticons(R) - have waged a war, with the fate of the universe at stake. When the battle comes to Earth, all that stands between the evil Decepticons(R) and ultimate power is a clue held by young Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf). An average teenager, Sam is consumed with everyday worries about school, friends, cars and girls. Unaware that he alone is mankind's last chance for survival, Sam and his friend Mikaela (Megan Fox) find themselves in a tug of war between the Autobots(R) and Decepticons.(R) With the world hanging in the balance, Sam comes to realize the true meaning behind the Witwicky family motto - "No sacrifice, No victory!" For more information visit: www.VespaUSA.com or www.ApriliaUSA.com Source: Piaggio Group Americas
Posted by Frank at 10:46 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
LONDON -- Leading car hire specialist Auto Europe (www.auto-europe.co.uk, 800-358-1245) is offering travellers to France and Italy the opportunity to rent a scooter for their holiday at selected destinations - and enjoy great savings. Italian Vespa lifestyle for less Auto Europe is offering a great new deal on Vespa LX 125 scooter hire in Rome, Venice, Milan and Florence. Take your lead from the Italians who have already got wise to travelling by scooter. Hiring a Vespa is the perfect way to get around if you want to have fun enjoying the sights and sunshine, without the stress of Italy's infamous traffic jams. Scooter hire savings in France Taking in the sights of Paris, Marseille, Nice and Cannes by scooter has never been easier or more affordable. Auto Europe has a new price offer on Yamaha YP 125 Majesty scooters for hire at these destinations. Remember - Paris may be notorious for traffic congestion but it only takes 25 minutes to cross the city in style by scooter. Scooters enjoy great popularity on the European continent, where many cities are perfect for life on two wheels. How better to beat the traffic, squeeze into tiny parking spaces, save on petrol and see the sights than hiring a scooter? For further details of this offer visit: http://www.auto-europe.co.uk/showspecial.cfm?specid=527 This special promotion is currently available as a "call to book" service rather than an online booking service. To book a scooter at the select cities included in the offer, customers can call 800-358-1245. About Auto Europe Auto Europe has is committed to providing the best deals possible. Backed up by the Auto Europe 'Beat Rate Guarantee', it guarantees to beat any like-for-like quote so you can book with confidence. There are no cancellation or amendment fees and a 24/7 freephone number, 800-358-1245, connects directly to a real person who can deal with any enquiries. With more than 4,000 rental locations around the world, it's the ideal first stop for vehicle rental. Source: Auto Europe
Posted by Frank at 8:44 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
SEATTLE -- Not since Audrey Hepburn rode a scooter across the big screen in "Roman Holiday" has the motor scooter enjoyed such a spotlight. High gas prices have sent news media to scooter dealers across the nation to report on increased sales as commuters look for a more fuel-efficient way of getting around. Workers at Vespa Seattle – a dealer on Denny Way -- say this could be their most profitable season. But Seattle motor scooter owners say there are more benefits to scootering than being able to smirk at SUV drivers at the gas pump. And Puget Sound has a burgeoning scooter community that's been thriving since the days when gas didn’t cost an arm and a leg. "I think I used the excuse to my wife about gas mileage," said Vincent Rowley, a Queen Anne resident who owns several scooters. "But if they had three miles to the gallon, we'd probably still be riding them."
Posted by Frank at 10:06 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Des Moines, IA -- With gas going for more than three dollars a gallon, more and more Iowans are adapting their lifestyles and bracing for a future of routinely high gas prices. Last month, three neighbors on High Street in Des Moines decided to shrink the amount of gas they used by shrinking their rides. They all purchased a Vespa Scooter. Vespas are made in Italy. Most models go 60 miles per hour and up. They don't require shifting and, more importantly, they don't require a lot of gas. The models get anywhere from 60 to 80 miles per gallon. Great American Outdoor in Ankeny started selling Vespas last year. After selling 27 in 2006 they've already sold 30 this year. The saleswoman tells Channel 13 the raise in sales is definitely a result of high gas prices. "That is the first thing they discuss, how many miles to the gallon can they get," said Paula James. Models cost anywhere from 35 hundred dollars to 7000 dollars. Drivers also need a motorcycle license.
Posted by Frank at 10:14 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Vespas might have originally been devised as a no nonsense and zero frills approach to transport for the depression stricken post WWII Italy, but there is nothing basic about the GTS. The latest addition to the Vespa family sports a powerful 4stroke 4-valve liquid cooled engine with the largest displacement in the Vespa range. Advanced technology of the electronic injection system with three-way catalytic converter, allows for reduced emissions and fuel consumption as well as progressive acceleration and responsive handling. The exhaust, cylinder and piston have been designed to provide a smoother and quieter ride that suits the stylishly racy GTS. And to enhance performance. The Vespa's natural riding position and ergonomics have always made the Vespa comfortable and the seat on the GTS has a new shape and material for an even better ride.
Posted by Frank at 5:21 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
LONDON -- They can be pink, metallic-white or decorated with flags: the Vespa scooters outside Yasir Al-Turaihi's shop look fresh and hip - even though some are already 60 years old. It was five years ago that the Iraqi-born mechanic and his brother invested in Londinivm Scooters, a Piaggio dealership in central London. Today overwhelmed by customers and another branch they opened a few months back, he feels that specialising in Vespas was the right choice. "It's such an ageless classic," Al-Turaihi says. "People get excited about it, regardless of age and sex." London scooter sales have risen 16-fold to 8,000 in 2005 from 500 in 1993, especially after the introduction of the congestion charge in 2003 from which two-wheelers are exempt. In 2006, three of the Vespa models were listed among the top five favourites of the 133,077 scooters and mopeds registered, the British Motorcycle Industry Association said.
Posted by Frank at 10:54 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
The drink-driving case against Sydney radio personality Steve Price has been adjourned until later this month. Price, 52, who hosts the drive-time spot on radio station 2UE, was charged with mid-range drink driving on April 14. Police caught him riding a Vespa scooter at Neutral Bay, in Sydney's north, with his wife Wendy as a passenger. Interviewed on the Nine Network and Southern Cross Broadcasting after the incident, Price said he had two beers and two glasses of red wine and returned a blood-alcohol reading of .08.
Posted by Frank at 12:21 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Piaggio President/CEO Available To Discuss 'Vespanomics' As One Solution Piaggio is the Manufacturer the World Famous Vespa Scooter NEW YORK -- With the official start of summer and the peak travel season just weeks away, gas prices are once again skyrocketing to record highs and consumers are again feeling the pain at the pump. More Americans are beginning to utilize gas-sipping and eco- friendly motor scooters as a smart and safe option that could dramatically reduce gas consumption and bring substantial economic and environmental benefits to Americans and the communities in which they live. According to a survey conducted by ICR on behalf of Piaggio Group Americas, 30% of U.S. consumers indicated that they would be extremely or somewhat likely to consider using a scooter for 35% of the mileage currently traveled by car, truck or SUV - yielding a willingness of consumers to convert 10% of mileage to a scooter. If Americans were to switch just 10% of their mileage to scooters, they would consume 14 million gallons less fuel per day. -- It costs approximately $5 to fill the empty tank of a scooter. -- Scooters tend to offer gas mileage of approximately 70 miles per gallon. -- Over 70% of Americans are concerned with global warming, which points toward their receptiveness of alternative, environmentally-friendly forms of transportation. -- In addition to their fuel savings, research has shown that theuse of motor scooters can also dramatically improve traffic congestion and produce significant time saving from urban commutes. Who: Paolo Timoni, President and CEO of Piaggio Group Americas What: Mr. Timoni is the President and CEO of Piaggio Group Americas, a leading manufacturer of scooters and motorcycles marketed under the Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Piaggio and Vespa brands. In his current position, Mr. Timoni has responsibility and oversight of all sales and marketing operations within North, South and Central America. Source: Piaggio Group Americas
Posted by Frank at 11:15 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Vietnam’s scooter market has been described as a delicious cake and motorbike manufacturers are trying to get as many pieces of the cake as possible. Motorbike importers have been earning big money as Honda SH, @ and PS have been selling like hot cakes. Piaggio, after two years of reaping successes in Vietnam, has finally decided to make investment in the country. Meanwhile, local motorbike manufacturers are trying to launch new models consecutively in an attempt to dominate the market before the Italian giant enters ‘attack’ mode. What the two biggest domestic manufacturers are most interested in are the first steps Piaggio has made to set up its assembling factories in Vietnam. The Italian manufacturer has announced that in the next three years production lines in Vietnam, India and Brazil will become operational with the total investment capital of $420mil. If the announcement is true, it means that every production line will receive $140mil, and the figure will be a big challenge for domestic manufacturers. The reasons for the decision by Piaggio to set up a workshop in Vietnam are the high and stable economic growth rate, the demand for scooters being very big in Vietnam, while it does not take much money in investment. Piaggio has made big leaps in the last two years. The 2006 total turnover of one of its distributors, Viet Y Motor, increased by 50% over 2005, much higher than the growth rate of 10% reported by local manufacturers. Nguyen Xuan Chuan, former deputy minister of industry, also said at AutoExpo 2007 on April 12, 2007 that he had not expected that Piaggio could have recorded such rapid success. The far-beyond expected growth rate gained by Piaggio in the last time has shown the big potential of Vietnam’s market. The statistics showed that in the first three months of the year, 33,800 motorbikes were imported, an increase of 123% over the same period of 2006. Experts said that it was the right time for Piaggio to make investment in Vietnam. 90% of imports are luxury scooters, and as the average income of Vietnamese people has been increasing, the demand for scooters is increasingly high. While Piaggio is happy with satisfactory sales in Vietnam, Honda Vietnam is trying to market a scooter model to compete with Piaggio, which proves to be very competitive thanks to softer price. A Click scooter is now selling at VND25.5mil ($1,593) only, which has helped the manufacturer sell 28,000 units in the first three months of launching. Meanwhile, Yamaha is trying to upgrade Mio into two versions, Maximo and Ultimo. Smaller and cheaper by VND5mil/unit, Mio Maximo and Mio Ultimo are expected to see 40,000 units sold in the first launching. The ambition to dominate the scooter market has prompted Honda Vietnam to launch a new product, Air Blade, slated for April 20. Bigger and stronger than Click, Air Blade is hoped to help Honda to penetrate the higher-grade market segment. The details and parameters of Air Blade have not been revealed yet. However, analysts guess that it will be priced at VND30mil/unit. Air Blade is expected to be a rival for Yamaha’s Nouvo. In the time to come, the market will witness fierce competition among the two models and imported products. Analysts said that Vietnam’s motorbike market is forecast to be saturated only in 15 years, and from now to that time, scooters will have enough time to ‘eat’ the market.
Posted by Frank at 4:27 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
MILAN -- Piaggio SpA's chairman Roberto Colaninno said the motor bike and scooter firm will launch 55-56 new models this year, including 25-26 completely new products for the group's various brands. Speaking at the annual shareholder meeting, he said the recently-launched three-wheel MP3 scooter is 'a big success', while in September, the Gilera brand will launch a scooter with an 800 cubic centimetre-sized engine, which will reach a speed of 200 kilometres per hour. In India, he said production is expected to reach 160,000-170,000 units, up from 140,000 in 2006.
Posted by Frank at 4:24 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
The Vespa festival was held for the first time in Vietnam for those who like a kind of motorbikes originating from Italy. More than 400 Vespas, aged from 30 to 60, were decorated colourfully with flowers and cloth, becoming “typical mobile art works” on Da Lat city’s roads. After the opening ceremony, members of 21 clubs from all over the country were marching around Xuan Huong Lake, creating a romantic and interesting image and attracting special attention of Da Lat city’s residents and tourists during the holidays on April 30 and May 1. During the festival, the members of Vespa clubs marched to Langbian tourist site of Lac Duong district and Gougah waterfall resort in Duc Trong district to join cultural activities with ethnic locals, said Nguyen Vu Hoang, head of the organising board.
Posted by Frank at 10:23 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
It was five years ago that the Iraqi-born mechanic and his brother invested in Londinivm Scooters, a Piaggio dealership in central London. Today overwhelmed by customers and another branch they opened a few months back, he feels that specialising in Vespas was the right choice. "It's such an ageless classic," Al-Turaihi says. "People get excited about it, regardless of age and sex." London scooter sales have risen 16-fold to 8,000 in 2005 from 500 in 1993, especially after the introduction of the congestion charge in 2003 from which two-wheelers are exempt. In 2006, three of the Vespa models were listed among the top five favourites of the 133,077 scooters and mopeds registered, the British Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) said. More than 16 million Vespa scooters have been sold worldwide and selling a scooter valued at 2,500 pounds has been easy, Al-Turaihi says. Five to eight leave his shop every week. In the winter scooter sales go down, but customers return for everything else from the Vespa brand. "The good thing about the Vespa is that it comes with all sorts of accessories," Al-Turaihi says. "People come to ask about gloves, masks or windshields - really, you name it."
Posted by Frank at 10:19 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Vespas might have originally been devised as a no nonsense and zero frills approach to transport for the depression stricken post WWII Italy, but there is nothing basic about the GTS. The latest addition to the Vespa family sports a powerful 4stroke 4-valve liquid cooled engine with the largest displacement in the Vespa range. Advanced technology of the electronic injection system with three-way catalytic converter, allows for reduced emissions and fuel consumption as well as progressive acceleration and responsive handling. The exhaust, cylinder and piston have been designed to provide a smoother and quieter ride that suits the stylishly racy GTS. And to enhance performance.
Posted by Frank at 10:17 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS -- The rising gas prices are driving people to cut down on their horsepower. At Vespa Cleveland, in Warrensville Heights, the motor scooter business is booming. Four machines were wheeled out the door in the last two days...each one averages about 60 miles to the gallon or better. Tom Ferrara, who rode off on his new Vespa motorcycle today says, "Well, I'm trying to save money on gas. I see people in their homes for physical therapy. So I ride the bike and save money on gas." The motor bikes are legal on interstates and can reach speeds of up to 90 miles-per-hour.
Posted by Frank at 10:14 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
MILAN, Italy -- Italian scooter maker Piaggio & C. SpA said Friday that its net profit nearly doubled in 2006 as it booked good sales growth in markets like India and the U.S. and paid less in taxes than a year earlier. In a statement, Milan-based Piaggio, the maker of the iconic Vespa scooter, said net profit for 2006 was €70 million (US$92 million), 85 percent higher than 2005's €37.9 million. Piaggio, which has undergone a turnaround under Chairman Roberto Colannino, launched a successful initial public offering last summer. Colannino, who also took the role of CEO in October, last month declared that the reorganization phase had been completed and that the company was now looking to grow, setting sights on Vietnam and Brazil in the next three years. Piaggio has already expanded into China and India.
Posted by Frank at 10:13 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
The festival, featuring a nighttime party with music, dancing, wine, and French food, will run until Tuesday. After the opening ceremony, the scooters joined the the Ngau hung Vespa (Vespa’s Inspiration) procession around the Xuan Huong Lake in the heart of the famous resort city before parking along the banks for visitors to view and take photographs. Most of the participating scooters were manufactured by Italian famous firm Piaggio before 1975. The event is showcasing four Vespa models: Acma, Standard, Super and Sprin. Four of the participating Vespas were crowned “Queen Vespas.” Their owners come from Ho Chi Minh city, Can Tho city, Nha Trang and Da Lat. The organizers also awarded the Duyen dang Viet Nam (Charming Vietnam) prizes to the eight most beautifully refurbished scooters. Vespas first appeared in Dalat in the 1950s and since have been a part of the city’s culture ever since. John Davis, a tourist from the United States, said he knew the festival through a friend and decided to travel to Da Lat to join the event. “Unlike the Vespa festival in the US, many Vespas in Vietnam have their original components and engines,” he said. “Many Vietnamese consider collecting Vespas their hobby while many American Vespa owners like to change the original engines to make their scooters faster.” The scooters are to be decorated with flowers for the Lang man Vespa (Romantic Vespa) parade Monday afternoon.
Posted by Frank at 8:52 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
CAMDEN -- Some lucky community member will soon be tooling around town in a brand new Vespa VX 50 motor scooter. And it may not be too late to win. The Camden-Rockport Japan Exchange Program has been working hard to raffle off this new motor scooter as part of its efforts to raise money for its trip to Japan in June. Ten local 8th graders were chosen to travel to Japan to learn the customs and experience a foreign culture. The kids will stay briefly in Tokyo, sight-seeing and visting museums, temples and sites of interest, then travel to our sister city of Harakawa, where they will stay with host families in their homes. The drawing for the Vespa will be Thursday May 3 at 3 p.m. You do NOT need to be present to win. Tickets will be available until that time at CRMS on Knowlton Street. For more information, contact Dee Kopesky, CRMS, 236-7805.
Posted by Frank at 8:46 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
In the spring of 2005, Vespa South Africa and Guerrilla Marketing launched an interactive email campaign aimed at advertising agencies, inviting SA’s brightest creative minds to design a unique Art Vespa and gave participants the chance to drive home on a brand new Vespa LX. 2006 marked a record number of 183 designs entered, double that of the previous year. Due to an overwhelming request for deadline extension, Vespa and Guerrilla Marketing granted entrants a month’s extra time. The winner, Weber, submitted more than one design, but it was his “chicken runner” Art Vespa that guaranteed him the loudest cluck of all and a Vespa LX as a prize. The design that left a smile on the judges’ faces took him two hours to complete.
Posted by Frank at 11:14 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Auto Alternative, a company that specializes in Piaggio-made motor scooters, opened in September 2005 on Mary St, George Town. Recently Auto Alternative has moved to a new location, on Dorcy Drive, a move that coincided with the company being bought by the Fosters group. The company has expanded its product range to include Suzuki automobiles, but their continued emphasis on scooters as an alternative to cars still sets it apart from other automotive dealerships. Lee Arie, Manager at Auto Alternative, is himself an enthusiastic scooter rider, which he believes puts him in a better position to help his customers. Mr Arie also believes that Auto Alternative can provide its customers with the kind of customer service they would expect from an automobile dealer, which includes the provision of spare parts for the scooters, a feature that Mr Arie believes is lacking in other retailers, who may offer the scooter, but no after-sales support. “Each new Vespa, Piaggio or Gilera scooter from Auto Alternative comes with a 1-year unlimited mileage warranty and the first scheduled service,” Mr Arie added.
Posted by Frank at 11:08 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Auto Europe offers a great new way to see Rome on your vacation - rent a Vespa 125 LX, a classic design based on the original Vespa motor scooter, but with the convenience of an automatic transmission and electric start. With the Vespa, you'll average 90 miles per gallon on fuel, beat the traffic congestion, and you'll be able to go places cars can't go in Rome, including special parking spots where you can park for free. Check out this great new rental deal from Auto Europe. Don't worry, if you don't want to ride a Vespa, they have cars, too.
Posted by Frank at 11:05 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
More than just a scooter, boasts the official Web site, the Vespa is “one of the great icons of Italian style and elegance.” Prices range from $2000 to over $6000 for a GTS 250, a renewal of the original Vespa that’s been on the market for 50 years. According to legend, the scooter was named when the president of its manufacturer Piaggio, Enrico Piaggio, exclaimed in Italian, “It reminds me of a wasp!” Vespa—wasp in both Italian and Latin-- it was. More than 15 million units have been sold over the years with popularity spiking in the 50s and 60s. Now the company is enjoying resurgence. In the United States, 69,000 units were sold in 2002, a substantial increase since 1997 when 12,000 were sold.
Posted by Frank at 11:01 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Icons of quality such as sleek sports cars and legendary Vespa scooters are synonymous with the Italian art of seduction. They’ve become international objects of desire. Owning a Vespa, like savouring a good espresso, has always been a guaranteed ingredient for locking into “La Dolce Vita”. Icons of quality such as sleek sports cars and legendary Vespa scooters are synonymous with the Italian art of seduction. They’ve become international objects of desire. Owning a Vespa, like savouring a good espresso, has always been a guaranteed ingredient for locking into “La Dolce Vita”. Local Vespa specialist Neil Felgate, and Capetonian businessman Jonathan Maliepaard, both share a deep passion for vintage Vespas. Their recently opened motor scooter restoration and resale shop, Scoot Dr, is a one-stop-shrine to classic scooters. The devoted Vespistis met two years ago when Jon’s 1975 silver Vespa PX 150 was crying out for a spot of TLC. Neil restored Jon’s seventies Vespa to its former glory and gained Jon’s respect for his expert knowledge of Italy’s best-loved icon of freedom.
Posted by Frank at 9:47 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
The rally was held in Nelson and attracted 70 riders on Vespas, Maikolettas, Heinkels, Triumphs and BSAs. The machines ranged in age from the late 1940s through to modern scooters. About 40 riders met up in Picton on Friday and rally organiser and scooter fanatic Mark Brown, who owns 30 machines, said they headed to Nelson via the road at the base of the Marlborough Sounds. "It's one of the best in New Zealand, especially for scooters, it's so twisty and windy."
Posted by Frank at 9:13 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
By the time I returned the bike to the dealer a couple of hours later I had my answer: brand buyers, that's who; people who spend more on a Rolex than my new 650cc sportbike cost even though a Japanese digital at a hundredth of the price will keep time just as well. People for whom a bonnet badge defines the worthiness of their car and people who wouldn't be seen dead on a scooter unless it said Vespa on the legshield. Which is rather a pity, because the GTV250 is actually a very capable scooter. It's the production version – mechanically identical - of the ultra-scarce GT60, a very few of which were produced in 2006 to mark the 60th birthday of the badge. There are only two in South Africa and neither is for sale; they've been retained by Vespa SA as marketing tools. But the GTV250, in less-fancy colours and with polished aluminium rims rather than the chrome of the anniversary model, is available – albeit at an eyebrow-raising R69 950.
Posted by Frank at 7:14 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Two years ago, Michael Duckworth reached his limit with Dubai parking hassles. The solution, he decided, was Vespa. For six decades, Italy's Piaggio has manufactured this sleek, stylish and easy-to-operate scooter, long popular with European fashionistas. But Vespa was not sold in Dubai. Until then, Duckworth says, "I thought entrepreneurs needed two things - business acumen and a good idea. I lacked an idea." Now Duckworth had his idea. Dubai needed Vespa. So the 35-year-old began his transition from life-long "salaryman" to entrepreneur. Along the way, he learned some lessons. Lesson one: Market research Instinct told Duckworth that Dubai and Vespa were made for each other. Dubai has more months of splendid weather compared to three in Europe where Vespa is very popular. Vespa is also seen as cool, very svelte, says Duckworth, which fits beautifully with Dubai's cosmopolitan lifestyle. But he backed up gut feel with market research. Demographics told Duckworth that European expats who know the Vespa brand were a big share of the Dubai's population. Duckworth also thought that scooters would be valuable in business and government. Fast food delivery was the obvious play. But scooters had other applications. Most European postal services use them, for example.
Posted by Frank at 7:12 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
It's go time! Celebrating the retro-cool of our all-time favorite two-wheeler, this racy Vespa clock is modeled after the headlight of its very first scooter, introduced in 1946. It features the original signature green metal casing and chrome bezel with the lens replaced with an apropos analog clock. Takes one AA battery (not included). Imported. 4" diam., 6 1/2" long. Price: $178.00
Posted by Frank at 1:54 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Adding Scooters to Traffic Mix Could Save New Yorkers Time and Money Lost to Traffic Delays, Reduce Emissions That Contribute to Global Warming NEW YORK -- Data from a new traffic model released today demonstrates that the nation's largest city could significantly reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a key factor in the global warming debate, and reduce fuel consumption while saving a great deal of time lost to congestion by simply incorporating more motor scooters into the commuting vehicle mix. The results of this study directly respond to growing concerns about traffic congestion in New York City. In his December 2006 sustainability speech, Mayor Michael Bloomberg discussed the City's growing congestion challenges and set a goal to reduce New York's emissions by 30 percent. The traffic model, examining a central section of midtown Manhattan in New York City, was developed by transportation engineering and planning firm Sam Schwartz PLLC using Synchro/Sim Traffic 6.0 -- an industry-standard tool deployed by transportation engineers. Through modeling, the simulation incorporated scooters into the traffic mix in 10 percent increments -- examining the impact of moving from 100 percent cars (including small SUVs, vans, etc.), to 90 percent cars/10 percent scooters, to 80 percent cars/20 percent scooters, and so on. The results of the core simulation were extrapolated to encompass the entire Manhattan Central Business District (stretching from 60th Street to the lower tip of Manhattan). By shifting the daytime vehicle mix to 80 percent cars/20 percent scooters, the following would result annually: * A total decrease in delay of more than 4.6 million hours per year -- The team at Sam Schwartz PLLC noted that the simulation was conservative in its estimation of the positive impact of scooters -- as it did not factor into the model that two scooters can occupy a single lane side-by-side when riding, as permitted by New York law. "This is the first traffic model for New York City to assess the potential impact of shifting the traffic mix to a greater percentage of two-wheel vehicles like scooters," said Sam Schwartz, president/CEO of Sam Schwartz PLLC and a former New York City Traffic Commissioner. "With a population of over 8 million, and millions more commuting in each weekday, New York is one of the most heavily congested areas in the world. Given the current dialogue about traffic congestion and environmental impact, it is extremely timely to examine the positive implications of a change in the vehicle mix." "Throughout the world, scooters are recognized as a smart transportation alternative, and this traffic simulation underscores the tangible impact that two-wheel vehicles can have on a major urban area like New York City," said Paolo Timoni, President and CEO of Piaggio Group Americas, which sponsored the modeling project. "The impact of this kind of shift has already been seen in London, which instituted congestion tariffs for commuting cars. That policy led to a significant increase in vehicles like scooters being used for commuting. Research is now validating that even small behavioral changes, like using scooters for a portion of one's commuting, can benefit the economy and help address critical environmental issues like global warming." Source: Piaggio Group Americas
Posted by Frank at 12:41 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
THIEVES have stolen three rare mopeds worth a total of £15,500 from a shed in Stockton. The crooks are believed to have taken the bikes sometime on Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning at an address in Ragpath Lane. The first moped, a Lambretta GP200, was green and was valued at £7,500 with a licence plate of FWB 889H. The second bike was a bronze coloured Lambretta L1125 with licence plate PKH 224F and was worth £5,000. The third moped was a cream coloured Vespa T5 with an unknown number plate and was valued at £3,000.
Posted by Frank at 5:11 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
The sturdy molded plastic frame fully encloses the motor, wiring, and gearbox for safety, and evokes the iconic monocoque, or single-shell, unibody steel-chassis design of the original models, intended to protect riders from road dirt. The scooters two-speed electric motor propels children up to 85 lbs. at 21/2 and 5 mph on a 12V battery across dirt, grass, and sidewalks with a press of the foot accelerator. A foot brake brings the vinyl-capped non-skid wheels to a safe stop. Includes working headlight, horn, flashing hazard lights, and electric engine sounds, and a glove box in the dash and a rear storage box. Two rear-view mirrors provide additional authentic detail. With removable training wheels and kickstand. Ages 3 to 7. Requires two AA batteries for sounds and lights (not included). 42 L x 20 1/2 W x 30 1/4 H. (42 lbs.) Link.
Posted by Frank at 1:11 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
VietNamNet Bridge – Petrolimex has announced it will give Vespa motorbikes as gifts to buyers of A95 petrol in an effort to encourage the consumption of this kind of petrol. The Vietnam Petrol Import – Export Corporation (Petrolimex) began putting high-quality petrol A95 into circulation late last year to replace A90 petrol to ensure the safety and raise the life expectancy of engines. However, the total volume of sold A95 petrol just accounted for 15% of the total 3mil cu m of petrol sold in 2006. The main cause of the slow consumption of A95 is its high price, despite the fact that it has advantages like low consumption fuel level and higher engine life expectancy. Petrolimex has decided to launch a sales promotion programme worth several billions. When customers buy 20 litres of A95 petrol at once, they will be given a voucher to join a lucky draw. The prizes will be 10 Vespa LX125 motorbikes and 20 Sony 32-inch LCD TV sets. Link.
Posted by Frank at 9:40 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Sleek motorcycles with high performance and prices may be showcases for their makers' technical and aesthetic prowess, but lately cycle companies have been pushing new smaller, less-expensive models meant for basic transportation. Manufacturers are rolling out a wider range of midsize sport models, low-slung cruisers and scooters with storage compartments big enough to hold a briefcase and gym clothes. The result is more choices for consumers who may be considering two-wheelers for commuting, running errands and other basic daily missions. Italian scooter maker Vespa has boosted the number of models in its lineup to include more stylish machines with enough power to take on highway traffic. Other makers including Honda, Yamaha Motor Co. and Suzuki Motor Corp. are selling more large scooters that have as much power and speed as motorcycles but offer automatic transmissions and large storage compartments that make them more like cars. Their designs even make it practical to ride while wearing a skirt. Vespa's parent company, Piaggio & C. SpA, is even planning to sell a three-wheel model designed to help riders conquer fears of tipping over. The wave of new models has helped to boost the overall market for two-wheelers. Motorcycle sales rose 57% since 2000 to 1.1 million in 2005 while car sales sagged over the period. It is happening in part because sustained high fuel prices are driving consumers to look for ways to cut their commuting budgets, and motorcycles and scooters can travel up to 70 miles on a gallon of gasoline. Makers are also looking for ways to attract buyers who they feel are on the verge of trying two-wheel transport but have shied away because of cost, impracticality, or the perceived difficulty of learning to ride. Makers also know their potential customers' demographics are changing, so new models are meant to appeal to older, more-mature riders looking to bikes more for their everyday usefulness than as recreational outlets. The median age of a scooter buyer today, for example, is 46, compared with 37 in 1998 and 26 in 1990, the Motorcycle Industry Council says. Buyers are also getting wealthier. In its last owner survey in 2003, the trade group said 13% of riders reported household incomes of more than $100,000 -- up from just 6.1% five years earlier. So while they may be looking to spend less on fuel, buyers are more likely to consider more expensive, better-equipped models than before. Piaggio's three-wheel MP3 scooter has been on the market in Europe since last year and the company plans to begin selling it in the U.S. in March. The MP3 has two side-by-side front wheels with a complex suspension that allows both wheels to lean when making turns. The company says this design gives twice as much front-end traction, allowing faster turns and shorter stops. The third wheel also eliminates some of the tippy feeling one can have on a two-wheeler. "You can throw yourself into a turn with confidence and stability that you don't get with a traditional two-wheel vehicle," says Paolo Timoni, president and chief executive of Piaggio Group Americas. The MP3 can also stand upright without a kickstand, which can make it easier to park. Piaggio says the MP3 will cost $6,999 in the U.S.
Posted by Frank at 12:28 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Nearly two years ago, Vespa parent Piaggo USA and its PR firm CooperKatz began recruiting writers for two blogs singing the praises of its scooters. One was conceived as an "urban lifestyle" blog, the other was about "life's journey." Today, both sites have been abandoned. The last of their remaining writers, Crystal Waters of Vespaway, walked away from the project in November. Her final post offers a simple apology to the community, along with an explanation that the company failed to respond to several of her queries about the site's future. Link.
Posted by Frank at 7:21 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
VESPA, famous for their scooters have just produced the 100,000th Vespa this year, it was a red Vespa GTS 250. Vespa production volumes and shipments have made impressive progress in the last two years: production volumes in 2004 were just over 50,000, approximately 87,000 in 2005, and more than 100,000 in 2006: an increase of 16% in the last 12 months alone. Vespa’s record-breaking success will also have an important social impact: as Roberto Colaninno announced on 27 April during the celebrations to mark the Vespa’s 60th anniversary, the Piaggio Group is to donate one Euro for each Vespa sold in 2006 and 2007 to the Italian Multiple Sclerosis Association (AISM), a body set up in 1968 to provide social and medical assistance, raise public awareness about multiple sclerosis and promote scientific research into the disease. The record output of 100,000 Vespa scooters in 2006 is a direct reflection of the success of the world’s most famous scooter range, which this year welcomed the Vespa GTV and LXV vintage line, as well as the Vespa GT 60°, a limited edition whose 999 numbered units"produced to mark the iconic scooter’s 60th anniversary"were purchased within days by collectors and scooter enthusiasts around the world. Yet another indication of a brand appeal that has continued to flourish over the years, an accomplishment that very few brands can match. Since the launch of the Vespa 98cc in 1946, the model that laid the foundation for the myth, the Vespa has sold all over the world, for a total of nearly 17 million scooters.
Posted by Frank at 1:31 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Scooterworks is touthing this as the COOLEST PRESENT FOR ANYONE: Unit pictured above is a 1965 model that is selling for $5,695 on their website, and there are others under four grand. Link.
Posted by Frank at 11:44 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
*Shells not included "So, what's the most unusual military vehicle you can think of? Maybe the Japanese airplane-launching submarine of WW2? Or perhaps the Soviet attempts to build a flying tank? Or perhaps the 1000 ton rolling fortress the Germans tried to build in WW2? All quite odd, I agree, but barely made it past the drawing boards. For us, the oddest is a scooter armed with a 75mm cannon. After World War II, there was little money for defense spending while the nations of Europe rebuilt their industry and society. When there was some cash to spend, one had to be creative to stretch it as far as possible. The French probably accomplished the most astounding example of that with the ACMA Troupes Aeról Portées Mle. 56. Deployed with their airborne forces, this was essentially a militarized Vespa scooter outfitted with a 75mm recoilless rifle. Five parachutes would carry the two-man gun crew, weapon, ammunition, and two scooters safely to earth, and the men would load the weapon on one scooter and the ammo on the other, then ride away. More impressively, the recoilless rifle could be fired effectively on the move by the best of the gun crews. Total cost? About $500 for the scooter and the recoilless rifle was war surplus. Link.
Posted by Frank at 10:53 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
A faithful reproduction of the grown-up scooter (stabilisers aside), this miniature Vespa has a two-speed gearbox (2.5 and 5 mph) powered by a rechargeable battery, automatic brakes and working headlight, horn and hazard-warning lights. It is suitable for children aged from three to seven. Link.
Posted by Frank at 2:49 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
"Total obsession" doesn't begin to describe Kenny Brown's love affair with his motor scooter. It's a veritable religion where Vespas are idols, garages are temples, and ritual is pushing a start button to bring forth the buzz of a two-stroke engine. As Brown, a phlebotomist living in Arroyo Grande, puts it, "It's a way of life. It's a totally different world." Sixty years after Italy's war-torn Piaggio first started producing the wasp-like Vespa, scooters have seen a monumental comeback. They're sleek, nostalgic and infinitely cool, a favorite with hipsters, professionals and Italophiles alike. Twenty years ago, you might have seen 20 or 30 scooters cruising SLO County streets, Brown said. Now the figure is closer to 100 with demand so strong that this month, the county gained its own certified Vespa dealer. Jim Wilmore said he's had about 20 people a day stopping to check out the scooters at his Wilmore Auto Works in San Luis Obispo. Getting in on the action, he bought himself a brand-new burgundy Vespa as soon as the shipment came in. Unlike motorcycles, scooters feature full bodywork including leg shields and a "step-through" design that allows users to sit rather than straddle the engine — as well as more compact, generally less powerful engines and frames. What's more, they boast stunning gas mileage and ease of use. A newer model might get up to 100 miles per gallon. Bonnie Scott of San Luis Obispo is among the scooter enthusiasts drawn by the economic benefits of Vespas and other brands — cheaper-than-cars prices, low gas costs and the ability to park just about anywhere. Link.
Posted by Frank at 3:34 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Scoot over to see an Italian icon MOST people flying into Pisa head straight for the obvious charms of Florence and Siena. But it is well worth spending a day or two exploring Tuscany’s less-crowded northern region. If you have only time to see one attraction in this neck of the woods, then head for Pontedera, a 20-minute drive from Pisa. On the site of the iconic transport company’s former factory, the Museo Piaggio is home to the world’s biggest collection of Vespa, Piaggio and Gilera motorbikes. Although best known for the cult Vespa scooter, Piaggio manufactured almost every mode of transport, from cars, buses, motorbikes and trucks to aircraft and trains. The museum traces the entire collection and provides a fascinating social and economic history of the area. The company was founded by Rinaldo Piaggio in 1884. By the second world war Piaggio was one of the most important European aeronautics, railway, steamship and transatlantic liner manufacturers. In 1946 Rinaldo’s son Enrico envisaged and produced the Vespa, a vehicle that came to symbolise post-war reconstruction in Italy. Since then, more than 100 Vespa models have been produced and 20 million sold, making it one of the most successful post-war brands ever created. The first Vespa prototypes are on display alongside more modern models, such as the Montlhéry and Siluro, as well as the Dalì, designed by Salvador Dalì, the Catalan artist, in 1962. Link.
Posted by Frank at 3:33 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
The South African Vespa site is well worth a visit - Vespa's current campaign and website get a big thumbs up from Represent - and you know we fussy like that. Have you seen the billboards around town "Pay to use the road" and "4 wheels pay. 2 wheels don't" "Road Tax coming" - well they're all part of Vespa's latest campaign - they're asking peeps to sign a petition against the forthcoming road tax bill to be put before parliament. Go online and download your form! But if you'd rather not focus on politics and get a little creative, enter the ArtVespa competition before the 31 November - it's super simple, all you have to do make a Vespa look funky with your very own style. You can download a photo of a Vespa from the site and photoshop it and send it back for your chance to win - tres simple!! Check it out here. Good Luck!
Posted by Frank at 2:21 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
MILAN, Italy Piaggio & C. SpA CEO Rocco Sabelli has resigned from the Italian scooter maker, citing personal reasons, and will be replaced by Chairman Roberto Colannino, who engineered the company's successful IPO, Piaggio said Thursday. Link.
Posted by Frank at 10:49 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Winner of Dr. Toy's "Best Classic Toy Award," the Chicco Vespa is for kida aged 18 months to 3 years and has a battery operated working horn. Link.
Posted by Frank at 1:01 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Chris Hamilton, 28, of Ladera Ranch plans on driving to Temecula and San Diego during the Labor Day holiday, trips that will be more bearable because of a vehicle swap he made six months ago. The computer systems engineer is still hesitant to take an annual trip to San Francisco because of the gas spike. To appease the money spent on gas, the former Dodge Ram 1500 owner bought a Mini Cooper. The swap has doubled the gas mileage he can eke out of the significantly smaller car. Link.
Posted by Frank at 9:08 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Vespa means Wasp in Italian, but to my 15-year-old self in Gainesville, Florida, it meant two-wheel freedom. My scooter sported a jaunty continental spare tire and a buzzy 4-horsepower engine that would propel it upwards of 43 mph downhill, with the wind and over a cliff. To picture my scooter, remember Terry the Toad, the scooter nerd in American Graffiti. Cool I was not. That scooter got me to school, to my Publix bagging job, and yes, an occasional Sunday afternoon movie date. If my little brother sucked up to me enough, I would take him fishing at a bass lake. I left my dented Vespa to my brother when I went into the service and bought one just like it when I returned to college. Many's the time I bought a week's groceries and wobbled home with a bag on the floorboard and my canvas war surplus courier bags brimming with canned food and Rice-a-Roni. A gallon of gas saw me through the week. A license tag cost $5, a tire $6, and I didn't need insurance. Link.
Posted by Frank at 9:05 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
THIS month I discovered the definition of pride and delight. No, I have not encountered fatherhood or had a winning entry in the Curiously Groomed category of an exclusive Venezuelan dog show. Instead, I met the Welshman who is custodian of one of Italy's finest treasure houses. Bruno Alessandrini does not polish Roman eggcups or guide tourists around heaps of Etruscan rubble. Instead, he celebrates the wonder of the Vespa scooter at the Piaggio factory in Pontedera. Motorbikes in Britain and America are associated with noise, grease, long hair, black leather and Niagara-like torrents of testosterone. A machine is judged great if it has a roar like that of a cigar-smoking Tyrannosaurus Rex. Link.
Posted by Frank at 5:45 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
If you are looking for a Vespa and a Sony PSP and you want both in white, you can check out the Vespa PSP(in Dutch). The limited edition White Vespa LX 50 comes with the decals of the Sony PSP logos on the side of the scooter. When you buy the Vespa PSP, you receive a coupon for a free white PlayStation Portable Value Pack. Price:€ 2.699 or approx. $3445 US (a normal Vespa LX 50 costs about $3200).
Posted by Frank at 4:28 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Inside every fat man, it is claimed, there is a thin one trying to get out. In this case, the thin man is Jamie Oliver. The 31-year-old celebrity chef spent four hours being cocooned in latex before emerging as a waddling lard-tub for an advert to promote the follow-up to his Jamie's School Dinners series. He clutched a brace of burgers in his sausage-like fingers before climbing aboard a motor scooter which duly buckled under his weight. There was no doubting the message that junk food piles on the pounds. "He did look very convincing as a fat person," said a passer-by who saw the ad being filmed in Peckham, South London. Link.
Posted by Frank at 11:28 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
For all those who thought Mod culture was dead and buried along with flares and glitter balls, a trip to an Edgware pub will consign that idea to the dustbin. NEETA DUTTA speaks to the people who are reviving the 1960s and Seventies fashion Parkas, The Who and the perfect pitch of a Vespa are back in Barnet. The Sparrow pub, in Glengall Road, has again become a haven for Mods, although the new generation are more interested in day-trips than getting into a tussle with their well-known adversaries, The Rockers. Most have their families in tow this time around as they plan rides across the country and gather to admire their vehicles. The group of 40 have christened themselves The Inn Crowd and hosted their first community event on Sunday. Link.
Posted by Frank at 11:09 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
A Little Italy is emerging in downtown Salt Lake City along 3rd south near 3rd West. Ed La Guardia of the Italian Center of the West sees the area as a rebirth of Salt Lake's original Little Italy, once anchored by a cluster of Italian merchants on Rio Grande Street. The new neighborhood includes Tony Caputo's, Carlucci's bakery, Cucina restaurant and Vespa of Utah. Link.
Posted by Frank at 10:57 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Crown Prince Frederik obviously isn't the kind of man who's afraid to let his wife Mary take the driving seat for a while. The future king was happy to sit back and let his Australian-born princess take control when the pair went for a spin on an old scooter in the grounds of Grasten Palace. In a scene reminiscent of Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn's classic movie Roman Holiday, the couple took a ride on an old Vespa scooter. The romantic royals may be more accustomed to travelling in limousines or horse-drawn carriages, but they both seemed to be enjoying the chance to indulge in a little two-wheeled fun. Frederik and Mary aren't the only big names to have discovered the delights of travelling by scooter. British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is well-known for his Vespa, which helped him beat the traffic in London in the early days of his career. Link.
Posted by Frank at 10:13 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
The question was how to best explore this Italian city. The answer came on a Vespa, and his name was Constantino. The Vespa sped through the winding streets of Rome, high and low, on cobblestone and pavement. It squeezed between cars and competed against them for space, along with a multitude of other scooters. A cold wind lashed my hair, bumps on the road nearly knocked me off the back. I held tightly to the rider. "Ooh hoo!" I yelled, while tightening my grip around his waist. "Having fun?" he asked me through the engine's noise. "Yeeees," I replied loudly. "Thank you!" Link.
Posted by Frank at 5:22 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Scooter fans will love the new '60 years of Vespa 1946-2006' book by Giorgio Sarti; it celebrates the milestone of the Italian icon with profiles of each of the 150 different models produced. Each model includes a history, technical specification, product figures, chassis numbers, pictures and factory brochures. Now a venerable icon of Italian style, the internationally known quintessential scooter - the Vespa - was once a two-wheeled revolution, offering mobility to everyone. Today it has come to symbolize scootering status, style, and freedom. As Vespa reaches its 60s without showing a wrinkle, this book celebrates its decades of incomparable spirit. In glowing images and words, the book shows Vespa in its many guises—as the two-wheeled vehicle of the post-war economic boom; as the symbol of the forward-charging ideas of the 1960s; appearing in romantic films such as Roman Holiday; and promoted in delirious ads that claimed, “Whoever Vespas, eats apples.” Decades of period ads and famous calendars are included, as well as technical and production information on every model ever built, including rare prototypes and variants. Each model is detailed in over 30 categories, from engine specs to production facts. Filled with stunning color photos and illustrations, the book is itself a stylish tribute to the iconic vehicle it celebrates.
Posted by Frank at 7:03 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Nothing is more synonymous with Italian style and sensibility than the iconic Vespa scooter. The cool ride has been thrilling riders for six decades, prompting the Leaside-based Canadian Scooter Corp. to celebrate the brand’s anniversary on June 14. Held at their Esandar Dr. warehouse and corporate office, the two-year-old company, which is the sole distributor of the scooters in Canada, celebrated Vespa’s 60th anniversary in style. Link.
Posted by Frank at 2:38 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
A modish image and $3-a-gallon gas are pushing sales of Vespa motor scooters to record heights in U.S. cities — but not in Chicago. With the area's only Vespa dealer in bankruptcy, the Italian manufacturer has stopped shipping new scooters here. Vespa of Chicago is selling what's left of its inventory out of a single location in Lincoln Park. And while the dealer insists it is still open for sales and service, many Chicagoans are having better luck buying Vespas out of town, from dealerships as far away as Downstate Edwardsville. Link.
Posted by Frank at 1:02 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
The Vespa GTS 250 has it all: an iconic brand, a fuel-miserly engine, and more style than a Milanese tailor. Life as a commuter does not get any better than this. Anyone seeking stylish, economical, not to mention environmentally-friendly transport should look no further. The hardest part of riding the new Vespa GTS 250 ie? Getting official approval to do so. Once the licence is safely tucked into your wallet, life definitely takes a turn for the easier. On the Vespa you whiz across town where once you crawled. You can park outside your destination, and the only people that may take offence at your choice of transport are grumpy ol' Harley riders - who seem to think the entire population should wear black leather, and hang out at tat parlours and wet T-shirt contests. The Vespa's obviously way too classy for them. But, then again, it may even be too classy for me. For this is the Porsche 911 of scooters. It has the same iconic and recognisable shape as the Vespa PX-series, and stops short of super-excessive performance while still delivering enough to qualify as a genuine sports machine. The 911 is the only four-wheeler that can claim to have comparable enduring appeal. In design terms, the Vespa is the kauri tree of the personal mobility forest, and can trace its form heritage all the way back to 1948. That's some 15 years before the first 911 made its world debut in 1963, and nine years before the Harley Sportster first made an appearance in 1957. Where Triumph Bonnevilles have come, then gone, then come again, Vespas have endured as the tuataras of the two-wheeled world. Link.
Posted by Frank at 1:01 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Standing in front of one of his company’s most coveted products, a curvaceous 1100cc Moto Guzzi Grizo, Piaggio chairperson Roberto Colaninno admits he has never actually ridden one. “I’m too scared; I’d kill myself in five minutes,’’ he laughs. Colaninno took control of Piaggio in 2003 and has since transformed it from an ailing icon into a profitable company, with prospects of breaking into emerging markets such as India and China. He says he was drawn to the company, whose other classic Italian brands include Vespa Aprilia and Gilera, not because of the desirability of its products, but rather as what he matter-of-factly calls an “industrial investment’’. The 60-year-old, who was the chief executive of Olivetti in 1999 when it launched its successful takeover of Telecom Italia, has turned the company around based on a combination of cost-cutting and the introduction of new products, such as the MP3, a three-wheeled scooter that was shown in the United Kingdom for the first time this week. Link.
Posted by Frank at 12:59 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Marcello Mastroianni would be proud. And not just because his countrymen at Vespa's parent company, the Pontedera, Italy-based Piaggio Group, pulled off a financial coup on July 11: A stentorian initial public offering on the Borsa Italiana thoroughly beat expectations, defying a weak market by rallying 14 percent on its first day of trading. Like Mastroianni's sexy, swaggering cinema persona, Vespa has managed to maintain its classic image through a period of 8½-proportioned chaos and confusion. Three short years ago, a successful IPO was the last thing on Piaggio observers' minds. Decades of mismanagement, a failed venture in China, and severe market-share incursions by much larger Asian firms like Yamaha and Honda had brought the iconic scooter maker to the brink. Then, in October, 2003, maverick Italian entrepreneur Roberto Colaninno stepped in, beginning the robust turnaround that led to the winning stock play. Link.
Posted by Frank at 8:36 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Bob's BMW in Columbia, Maryland is now carrying Vespas. Link.
Posted by Frank at 9:41 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
There's no written test for blond TV reporter.
Posted by Frank at 7:55 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Posted by Frank at 7:46 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
While this clip of a 30-plus second wheelie is impressive, you've got to ask yourself who's operating the camera.
Posted by Frank at 7:44 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Posted by Frank at 7:41 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
It appears Kong has a taste for Vespa [riders].
Posted by Frank at 7:38 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
This video is from an Asian affiliate of the Discovery channel, can't tell if it's Chinese or Japanese, and offers some pretty interesting historical tidbits. Cuts off at the end, but it sounds like the narrator was wrapping it up anyway.
Posted by Frank at 7:34 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Posted by Frank at 7:26 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Posted by Frank at 7:24 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Continuing to mine CL for scooter news, I found an entry of someone seeking to rent a Vespa for their wedding day, so pictures could be taken at the blessed event. Since we love weddings, we went out and found a priest who might be likely to perform the nuptials. We also found a site dedicated to biker weddings, but no service for their smaller counterparts. Is this a business opportunity that is going unfilled? However, we did find another CL entry where a guy is selling a restored 1966 Vespa, also in our area. And now, we're going to e-mail both parties to see if we can bring about a Vespa union made in heaven. Cupid, after all, is the Roman god of love.
Posted by Frank at 6:13 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Cycle Specialties of Modesto, California, has now started selling Vespas in addition to their primary line, BMW Motorcycles. They don't have a dedicated Vespa site yet, but there are a couple pages.
Posted by Frank at 5:01 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
As part of Vespa's 60th anniversary, a London advertising shop was commissioned to create a website that showcases the erotic sensibilities of the world's most elegant two-wheeled conveyance. And let's say the project, known as The Kama Scooter, conveys the sensuous experience of Vespas in ways we would never have imagined. The site has a series of nine short, softly erotic videos that have something to do with scooters. But not much. Check it out, here.
Posted by Frank at 6:50 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
There's no cost May 7, 2008
Scootermania
May 6, 2008
Ridin' the scooter sensation
May 2, 2008
Gas prices fuel motorcycle resurgence
Incubus Lead Singer Auctioning His Vespa On eBay
April 24, 2008
Travelers Go Small To Save Big At Gas Pump
April 16, 2008
Book Gives the Scoot on Modern Mods
April 11, 2008
Vespa's punchy new scooter keeps up with traffic
Vespa brings new mode of transport to Toledo
April 7, 2008
Vespadition rolls forward
March 12, 2008
2008 Vespa S Announced by Piaggio Group
NEW YORK -- Italian manufacturer Piaggio, renowned for revolutionary ideas in personal transportation, announces the debut of the 2008 Vespa S, a retro-forward 150cc interpretation of the iconic "Vespino" scooters that dominated the European street scene in the '60s and '70s.February 27, 2008
Vespa Café
February 22, 2008
Reese Witherspoon's Vespa Dilemma
February 18, 2008
Lamponi's vintage scooter headlight lamps
Check out Lamponi's Lamps website -- where the artisan Maurizio Lamponi Leopardi fashions tres cool lighting applicances out of old Vespa and Lambretta headlights and handlebars.Vespa's the big prize
February 10, 2008
Alfardan named exclusive importer of Piaggio Group in Qatar
January 28, 2008
Piaggio launches premium scooters in Qatar
Vespa motors into Newfoundland
Loder, who opened Ballistic on Water Street 12 years ago, at the age of 26, said he had once considered buying used Vespas in Europe and shipping them back here to sell, but decided against it.Vespa to make a comeback!
January 22, 2008
Piaggio to launch scooters in India
January 20, 2008
Saying "I Love You" in Scooterese
January 17, 2008
Singing the scooter refresher course blues
December 14, 2007
Vietnam perfect for Brit with a passion for scooters
November 28, 2007
Cayman Doc wins Vespa
November 26, 2007
From London to Helsinki on two wheels
November 24, 2007
Limited Edition Vespa LX 50 Designed By Gap
Gap has teamed up with Piaggio, the maker of Vespa motor scooters, to design the ultimate two-wheeler and celebrate Gap's iconic crazy stripe this holiday season. The Limited Edition Vespa LX 50 in the Crazy Strike design puts a stylish new spin on the classic Vespa scooter.November 22, 2007
Gap Dangles Vespa In Online Holiday Promotion
November 19, 2007
Mock Vespanomics/Heroes mashups
I admit, I’m a “Heroes” fanboy. I finished the entire Season One in a iPod video marathon. Now I’m hooked with Season 2 with it’s 4th episode (The Kindness of Strangers) being the best ever for me!November 14, 2007
Scooters getting boosted in Sydney
November 13, 2007
An adventure on a Vespa, Italian style
I CAUGHT an overnight ferry from Sardinia to Sicily. It was called the Emilia and was a floating version of a rundown tenement building in the Bronx.November 10, 2007
Scooter club's 10th anniversary
November 5, 2007
Gap and Vespa Team Up to Introduce the 2007 Limited Edition Vespa LX 50
SAN FRANCISCO -- This holiday, for the first time, Gap and Vespa have partnered to design the ultimate gift for that special someone on your list -- the 2007 Limited Edition Vespa LX 50 in a custom "Crazy Stripe" design by Gap.November 4, 2007
Arkansas Vespa Dealer Set to Open
October 30, 2007
First ride: Piaggio’s MP3 three-wheeled carver
October 27, 2007
Vespa European Helmet
Vespa has created a range of Seventies-styled helmets to match their new S 125 retro scooter. The Europe helmet is produced in three eye-catching designs that are evocative of the decade that began with the excitement of Apollo13 and embraced style icons including the Vespa 50 Special scooter, Star Wars and T-Rex.October 23, 2007
Classic scooters in style
October 12, 2007
Traffic congestion report -- leave the car at home and take a motorized scooter
Vespa Supports Oceana Awards Gala
In supporting Oceana, the largest international ocean environmental advocacy group, Vespa participated in a silent auction of two Vespa LX 50 scooters at Oceana's 2007 Partners Award Gala, which took place on Friday October 5, 2007. Mario Lopez Wins a Vespa
Weekend ''EXTRA'' co-host Mario Lopez wins a Vespa LX50 yellow scooter at the hearts on fire 'Green With Envi' Emmy Awards Celebrity Gifting Lounge benefiting the Environmental Media Association.Wheels fall off Piaggio's launch campaign
Piaggio to sink $30m in Vietnam scooter plant
September 24, 2007
Ride Vintage, Wear Retro
Click to see larger imageSeptember 19, 2007
Classic Vespas rev up trends in HCM City
September 17, 2007
Falls off Vespa, charged with drunk driving
For true scooter cred, you need an old Vespa
September 11, 2007
Piaggio to invest 25-30 million in Vietnam Vespa plant
August 25, 2007
Piaggio readies hybrid scooters for market
August 21, 2007
Scooters rev up in popularity
August 18, 2007
Former Ford employee opens Toledo Vespa dealership
August 17, 2007
Once the star of silver screen, Vespa rolls back into limelight
Scooters are inexpensive fun
August 15, 2007
Piaggio Developing Plug-In Hybrid-electric Vespa
The new design, which has a working title of HyS (Hybrid Scooter), allows the petrol engine to work as ‘normal’, but whenever the rider needs to accelerate more aggressively, the electric motor kicks in, providing about 85 per cent extra performance. The grouping of petrol and electric provides significant reductions in fuel consumption and C02 emissions.
In this dual drive-by-wire type system, a sophisticated electronic management system interprets the rider’s request for more power, and selects the level of assistance based on the current level of battery charge. During deceleration, the battery is then recharged, which can also be achieved via a regular electricity source, taking about three hours.
“Scooters already enjoy a low environmental impact and soon owners will be able to further reduce their footprint on the earth,” said Piaggio’s Brand Manager Simon Gloyne. “Our studies have revealed that potential owners want to do the right thing, but are reluctant about electric-only scooters due to their limited range and inability to take on fresh energy at the drop of a hat. The HyS models will enable owners to have their environmental cake and eat it too.”
Piaggio has already produced prototypes of the HyS, based on the Vespa LX and Piaggio X8 and three-wheeled MP3 scooter families. The HyS versions are visually identical to the standard scooters, with the batteries housed in the underseat storage space. There is a battery charge indicator on the respective dashboards.
Piaggio Australia is planning to introduce these new models, although a release date for the revolutionary HyS scooter is yet to be determined.LML plans comeback with Vespa
Monterey Vespa Club brings motor-scooter enthusiasts together
August 3, 2007
Video: Vespa History
Video: Vespa Wheelie King
July 29, 2007
Scootering USA now available in nine languages!
Scooters get free parking in Decatur
July 26, 2007
Vespa resurgent
Thanks mainly to the impact of movies, European countries can be identified with just a few visual cues. For France it’s the Eiffel Tower and a long baguette. All you need to say England is Big Ben and the Union Jack. And Italy is easy: the Coliseum and a street full of Vespas buzzing past the Trevi Fountain.Piaggio plans hybrid scooter in '08
Old school Vespa accessories
Genuine Vespa chrome accessories for retro LXV scooters Vespa offers a range of stylish chrome accessories that enable owners to customise its new LXV scooter.July 15, 2007
Scooter rally invades Seattle streets
July 14, 2007
Piaggio Pays for NYC Scooter Parking
Vectrix slows production to address quality issues
July 13, 2007
Amerivespa converges in Seattle
July 12, 2007
Vespa cam -- Trip Around Dunbar Scotland
Piaggio Hooks Up NYC Scooterists with Free Parking
-- Midtown -- 412-422 W. 33rd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues
-- Theater District -- 1120 Avenue of the Americas, near 44th Street
(enter on 43rd Street)
-- Tribeca -- 15-21 Worth Street, between Worth Street and West BroadwayJuly 9, 2007
Manchester: Eat in Numero at Manchester235 and win a Vespa
Eat in Numero at Manchester235 for your chance to WIN!New Vespa S from Piaggio
If any two-wheeler inspires as much affection as Fiat's Cinquecento it's the Vespa, and with serendipitous timing Piaggio is about to launch a second retro version of the 61-year-old scooter.June 24, 2007
California Road Trip
TEMECULA ---- There may be a reason why there are no "Vespa gangs." Turquoise scooters ridden by drivers with argyle sweaters certainly don't conjure the same emotions as the image of chromed-out motorcycles with leather-clad captains.June 14, 2007
Wealthy Folks Buying Scoots
Italians Urged to Surrender Pre-2K VEspas
Drivers won’t be bored riding around town on the fuel-efficient, stylish and surprisingly powerful Vespa
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN them zipping around Atlanta lately. Too small to be a “real” motorcycle, too big to pedal. With gas prices on the rise, it seems scooters are everywhere these days. In recent years, there has been an explosion of models flooding the market, and it’s easy to make a mistake and settle for something that’ll get you from boring old Point A to boring old Point B. Luckily, the company that started it all way back in 1946 is still around. That company is Piaggio, makers of the one and only Vespa line of motor scooters.June 12, 2007
Piaggio Provides Transportation for New 'Transformers' Movie Collaboration
Auto Europe Offers New Scooter Hire Service in Italy and France
- So you can Enjoy the Freedom of the Vespa Lifestyle on VacationJune 5, 2007
Scooters breeze by high Seattle gas prices
Scooters Gain Popularity
May 15, 2007
Vespa's suburban speedster
Last year Vespa launched the exquisitely retro GTV 250 to celebrate the company's 60th anniversary. This year the GT200 has been upgraded to the GTS250 with a powerful new engine.May 14, 2007
London scooter fans love "rebellious" vintage Vespa
May 10, 2007
Alleged drunken Vespa riding DJ case reskedded
More Commuters Turn to Motor Scooters as Gas Prices Rise
May 8, 2007
Vietnamese scooter market becomes hotter and fiercer
Piaggio to launch 55-56 new models this year
May 6, 2007
Vespa Festival in Da Lat
Vespa Festival, a typical event for classical Vespa lovers, was held on poetic Xuan Huong lake bank on April 29, attracting more than 400 participants with a great variety of Vespa from 21 provinces and cities nationwide.
The organising board awarded four prizes called “Vespa Queens” for beautiful classical Vespas and eight prizes four graceful Vespas.Scooter fans love "rebellious" vintage Vespa
LONDON -- They can be pink, metallic-white or decorated with flags: the Vespa scooters outside Yasir Al-Turaihi's shop look fresh and hip - even though some are already 60 years old.Vespa's suburban speedster
Last year Vespa launched the exquisitely retro GTV 250 to celebrate the company's 60th anniversary. This year the GT200 has been upgraded to the GTS250 with a powerful new engine.Scooting around high gas prices
Piaggio says net profit nearly doubled in 2006
May 2, 2007
Vintage Vespa scooters parade Vietnam’s central highlands
The “Da Lat, the Destination for Vespa Lovers” festival kicked off in Da Lat on Sunday with a procession of nearly 400 vintage scooters from 20 Vespa clubs nationwide.Vespa raffle drawing, May 3
April 26, 2007
Art Vespa winner no chicken
By winning the Art Vespa 2007 competition, Adam Weber of TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris has shown that he’s no spring chicken when it comes to graphic design. He will soon be zipping through the city on his personalised Vespa LX, thanks to Vespa South Africa and advertising partner Guerrilla Marketing.Scooters a practical and attractive auto alternative
Rent a Vespa in Rome
Vroom With A View
Zooming around town on her diamond white Vespa LX50, Frances Gentile has found a fun, environmentally-friendly form of alternative transportation. It makes great sense in today’s economy with gas prices soaring—and it looks really cool, too.March 1, 2007
Vintage Vespa Revival
Neil persuaded Jonathan to help launch what was once a serious hobby into a fully-fledged scooter workshop business. Scoot Dr was born. Based in Upper Bree street, Cape Town, Scoot Dr aims to serve the neglected niche market of vintage Vespa and classic scooter fanatics.February 27, 2007
Scooter ride 'one of the best'
The weekend's National Classic Scooter Rally kick started along Marlborough's Queen Charlotte Drive - one of the best scooter rides in the country and one of the best rallies yet, according to the organisers.February 21, 2007
Vespa GTV250 - 60 years of style
All I could think as I rode the Vespa GTV250 in unseasonable rain along Cape Town's Atlantic coast was: "Who on earth will lay out 70 grand for a scooter?"Entrepreneur rides scooter to success
February 18, 2007
1946 Vespa Clock
February 13, 2007
Study: Fleet of Scooters Would Improve NYC Environment, Congestion
which translates to time savings of nearly 100 working hours per person
* A reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by over 26,000 tons
(52,000,000-pounds) per year
* A decrease in fuel consumption by over 2.5 million gallons per year
* A total savings for New York City of more than $122 million per year in
fuel and labor productivityFebruary 1, 2007
Rare scooters stolen
January 25, 2007
Classic Child's Vespa
Made by Peg Perego and licensed by Piaggio, inventors of the original Vespa in post-WWII Italy, this is the childs version of the classic European scooter that sells for $329.95.January 23, 2007
Buy high octane, win a Vespa [for Vietnam customers only]
Petrolimex to give Vespa motorbikes to A95 petrol buyersJanuary 18, 2007
Consumers getting more two wheel choices
January 11, 2007
Two Years After Launching Brand Blogs, Vespa Forgets Them
December 29, 2006
Vespa produce 100,000th scooter in 2006
December 22, 2006
Sidecar with Scooter on Sale at Scooterworks
1970'S 8" Vespa 150 with matching colored STEEL torpedo sidecar. Available in three colors ...mint, red, and royal blue. Assembled in the USA by Scooterworks with all new reproduction parts; reliable and fun. Will turn heads anywhere...take your kid, your dog or your wife (husband!!) Allow 4 weeks for delivery, order must be place by 12/31/06. Our Price: $4,900 FOB Chicago Scooterworks sales rep will assist you with freight information.December 18, 2006
French Army Vespa, with Cannon*
December 3, 2006
Toy Vespa in the UK
When you were a kiddie, you probably wanted a motorised thing to drive around on. I recall hearing the unmistakable wrrrr of an electronic motorbike struggling up a shallow hill. Well, I imagine that they've got much better since then, and what better way to spoil a young wannabe mod child than with an a motorised Vespa for your kids!November 27, 2006
Exploring the West Coast scooter revival
Visiting the Piaggio museum
November 14, 2006
Designers - Win a Vespa!
October 28, 2006
Piaggio CEO Rocco Sabelli resigns, to be replaced by Chairman Colannino
The board will vote on the appointment at a Nov. 13 meeting previously scheduled to discuss a management reorganization aimed at consolidating the business on its core European market as well as strategic markets identified for growth, the statement said.September 9, 2006
Vespa for the training wheel set
This three-wheeled toy Vespa is available at Target for $49.99.August 28, 2006
Californians trading cars for Vespas
High gas prices over the summer have led many drivers to alter their lifestyles – from buying vehicles that get better mileage to going on shorter driving trips.Revisiting the Vespa of his youth
August 24, 2006
Vespa: nobody does it quite like the Italians
August 22, 2006
PSP-branded Vespa, Europe only
"Fat" Jamie Oliver wrecks his Vespa for a good cause
The Mods are back in town
Utah gets Vespa'd
Danish Royals scoot into action
July 30, 2006
Roman holiday on a Vespa
July 26, 2006
New book -- Vespa: 1946-2006: 60 Years of the Vespa
Here's the Amazon description:
Author Giorgio Sarti knows Vespa, and this book is a thorough and thoroughly enchanting tribute to the scooter as it has sped through history, meaning something new to each generation, and in the process making its unique mode of personal transport synonymous with freedom. Officially licensed and includes a foreword from Piaggio Group President Roberto Colaninno.
About the Author
Giorgio Sarti is the author of Bimota: Twenty Five Years of Excellence and The Great Book of European and American Bikes of the ’70s and the co-author of Vespa: From Italy with Love. A noted motorcycling and scootering enthusiast and journalist, his work is known internationally and he takes great pride in not owning a ca and riding 2-wheeled vehicles exclusively.July 25, 2006
Canadian Vespa distributor throws a party
July 22, 2006
Chicago Vespa dealer files bankruptcy
Vespa GTS 250 review
Putting vroom back into Vespa
July 17, 2006
Veni, vidi, Vespa
May 31, 2006
Maryland Gets its First Vespa Dealer
May 24, 2006
News Reporter Crashes a Vespa -- Film at 11
Riderless Vespa Video
Vespa Wheelie Video
Vespa GS160 Italian Video Commerical
Hong Kong Vespa Commercial Starring King Kong
Vespa Mini-Documentary Video
Vespa Video Commercial
Vespa SS 180 Video
May 22, 2006
Would You Invite a Scooter to Your Wedding?
Wherein we try to consummate a marriage of style and grace
Pictured here, the 150cc bike is going for $2,300.May 8, 2006
New California Vespa Dealer
May 7, 2006
The Kama Scooter's Enviable Positions
Register to Win a Vespa
Through June 23, 2006, you can register to win a new Vespa at Metropulse.com.