New Zealand Scooter

Dumb and Dumber Scooter Scene

2009-08-05T11:26:00.000+12:00

Classic scene from Dumb and Dumber that is very funny. Enjoy!

Hertz introduces electric scooters

2009-07-05T16:16:00.000+12:00

Cycling has always enjoyed popularity amongst visitors to the city and now green and adventurous tourists can experience Amsterdam on two wheels - without needing to pedal. Rental rates start at €15 for 3 hours from Overtoom, Amsterdam.

Hertz hopes the electric scooters would appeal to tourists and business travellers alike, touting its freedom, flexibility, ease-of-use and convenience for getting around and parking.

It also presents a new choice for environmentally-conscious travellers as the Hertz city scooter is CO2 neutral. With a maximum speed of 35 km/ph it has a total reach of 50 kilometres and can easily be re-charged by simply using an electricity socket.

Hertz electric city scooters are the latest addition to the Hertz Green Collection of environmentally friendly and fuel efficient vehicles.

"Whether for business or leisure travel, consumers are increasingly interested in innovative and environmentally friendly products and services. The Hertz city scooter is such a service - allowing people the freedom to explore the city on an electric two wheeler that boasts zero carbon emissions. Hertz plans to expand the service to other Netherlands cities, such as Rotterdam, very soon," explained Henk van den Helder, General Manager Hertz Benelux.

The minimum age for renting scooters is 21 years and renters need to have had their driver's license or motoring certificate for a least one year. Helmets can also be rented. You can book directly at Hertz's downtown Amsterdam location, Overtoom, or via email (neams60@hertz.com) or phone +31 (0)20 612 2441.

Source: Click HERE

Classic Kiwi Scooter Video

2009-05-07T08:34:00.001+12:00

For all you scooter junkies out there, here’s a teaser for a as yet to be completed documentary into the New Zealand scooter scene.

Source: The Taranaki Chronicles Blog - Click HERE

Flying car......We just want one!

2009-05-04T22:26:00.002+12:00

Ok, we have to admit that this is going a bit off topic here.....

At scooterhire.co.nz we grew up with the TV show "The Jetsons" and we expected by now, to own a personal flying vehicle. So far we believe we have been ripped off.....until now!

We just couldn't help ourselves with sharing this video. We know that our fellow scooter enthusiasts will enjoy this:

Scott's Roadtrip Across America

2009-05-04T10:57:00.006+12:00

Scott seems to have reached a crossroads in his life. He want's to clear his head and find some inner meaning.

What better way to find yourself than to sell up everything and hit the road on a scooter from Miami to LA!

The road trip is supposed to take a month and Scott will be avoiding interstate highways, by winding his way via the back roads of America. The scooter is only 50cc and carries all his worldly possessions at a top speed of 40 miles an hour.

Will Scott make it to LA? Is Scott running from something or running to something?

At scooterhire.co.nz we will be finding the answers to these questions and more by reading how Scott's mid-life crisis, self-discovery journey pans out on his blog HERE

Check out Scott's departure video below:

Goodbye Hummer? Hello electric scooter

2009-04-09T09:22:00.002+12:00

We don't think the young lady is impressed. This ain't going past the first date!

What do you think?

At scooterhire.co.nz we are curious, but not impressed.

It would appear to us to be a marketing exercise by motor giant GM that have collaborated with Segway to fast track a feel-good environmental statement.

GM was once a proud icon of American industry that have fallen from grace due to years of complacency, miss management and producing bland cars that no-one wanted.

The final nail in the coffin was acceptance of corporate welfare from the American government. Sadly, this has appeared to have stifled any creativity and passion left within the company.

Daniel Nasaw in Washington

guardian.co.uk

7 April 2009

Ailing car multinational General Motors tries to green itself by collaborating with Segway and dumping Hummer

General Motors and Segway unveiled a prototype two-seat electric scooter today, intended to ease urban congestion and pollution and help GM recast itself as environmentally progressive and technologically innovative.

The vehicle, named Puma (for Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility), is the product of an unlikely collaboration between an ailing American industrial behemoth known for manufacturing gas-guzzlers and a privately held company founded on technological wizardry.

The companies have no plans as yet to mass produce the vehicle and offer it for sale, instead characterising today's announcement as a demonstration of technology.

"It's a directional statement that we're making ... an urban transportation we need to reinvent how we move people around in cities and towns," Segway president and chief executive officer, Jim Norrod, said in an interview.

The announcement comes eight days after President Barack Obama challenged General Motors and Chrysler to "restructure, to modernise, and to make themselves more competitive". At the same time, Obama fired GM's chairman and chief executive, Rick Wagoner, who had failed to stem a long-term decline in the company's US sales and whom Obama said lacked vision to take the company forward.

General Motors has already received $15bn (£10bn) in bailout loans from the taxpayer, and Obama demanded last week that the company devise a radical restructuring plan if it hopes to receive more funds.

General Motors and Segway began talks on the project 18 months ago, before the taxpayer bailout, but the company was keen today to promote the Puma as a symbol of the company's break from tradition.

"Imagine small, nimble electric vehicles that know where other moving objects are and avoid running into them," said GM's vice-president of research and development, Larry Burns. Meanwhile, the company has signalled that it may jettison its Hummer brand, the massive, much-loathed military-style vehicles.

The new vehicle can hit a top speed of about 35 miles an hour and its lithium-ion battery system gives it a range of 35 miles, the company said. A full recharge for the vehicle takes between eight and 10 hours, but uses only 40 pence worth of power.

"We think 35 miles in a city is pretty reasonable to do in a day," Norrod said. "Then you get back and you charge it overnight, and we think that's sufficient."

The company has not tested the vehicle in poor weather or on terrain rougher than pavements. The company said in a statement that it had "no current plans to offer it for sale" and did not suggest a price range but added that "it's probably less than most current small car prices".

Norrod said mass production would depend on whether cities created the necessary infrastructure – "bike lanes could be a good start," he said. He said London, Paris, Abu Dhabi and Singapore would be likely candidates for the vehicle, as would Indianapolis, Atlanta and Washington in the United States.

The vehicle rides on two side-by-side wheels, but like the $5,000 stand-up Segway on the market since 2002, the Puma stabilises and balances itself. It boasts a zero turning-radius, making it easy to squeeze into tight parking spots.

The vehicle's appearance, which resembles a double-width wheelchair with a windscreen canopy, drew sniggers on its first outing.

"How would you imagine a guy picking you up at your place in that thing?" a CNN anchorman, TJ Holmes, asked a woman colleague, with a chuckle.

Source: Click HERE

Quit the car and join the scooterlution

2009-04-07T12:26:00.000+12:00

At scooterhire.co.nz, we like to see that the popularity of the scooter is soaring as people trade in the car for a fun and easy method of transportation.

07 April 2009
www.nzherald.co.nz
By Rebecca Barry

It was crashing the car that did it. The car wasn't mine but it seemed to think it belonged in my garden when it reversed off the driveway, leaving a dangling bumper on the left and a dent a hammer could have made on the right.

Go on, try parking me somewhere else, it said as I stared dumbly at the carnage I'd just created. Spend money on me. I'm not even yours. Ha ha ha.

Meanwhile a scooter gleamed imperiously from the top of the drive like the skinny cow who just fitted into your old jeans. A friend had been zooming around on it for the past year, trying to convince me to invest in his uber-urban, eco-conscious, warrant-of-fitness-less lifestyle, one that precipitated his wearing of leather jackets, padded trousers and a smug expression.

I was starting to see his point. I didn't have far to travel to the office (upstairs at home), my parents, the supermarket and the gym were only 10 minutes away and if I joined the gym and started driving there, I'd have to get through Bangkok traffic first.

Also, after a year away in which I revelled in the freedom of the two-wheeler, I'd clearly forgotten how to drive a car. It appears I'm not alone in reconsidering my transport options.

Registration figures from the New Zealand Transport Agency show nearly 5000 Aucklanders drive a scooter, almost a quarter of New Zealand's moped population. Last year, registration figures were up by 139 on the previous year and although retailers say sales have slumped since the recession kicked in, shops such as Kingsland's Scootling report an increase in hireage and repairs.

Even winter doesn't appear to put people off. Last year, more than 400 Aucklanders registered mopeds in May and June, more than any other months.

On one hand it's exciting to think of Auckland as a Romanesque city of beeping Vespas. On the other, it looks as though hordes of angry fashion designers have taken to the streets on ride-on sewing machines. Everywhere I look a big, buzzing mosquito goes by, the driver ramrod straight on its back.

It's almost impossible to slouch on a scooter, probably to the behest of the 40-somethings keen to relive their motorbike-riding youth but with less danger and expense. Who needs pilates when you can strengthen your lumbar on the way to work?

But what was once considered a wimpy alternative to a motorbike has become a fashion accessory more functional than a belt on a dress without belt loops, perhaps in part thanks to a legion of high-profile riders - Gwyneth Paltrow, Jamie Oliver and, closer to home, Heart of the City's Alex Swney.

Most scooter drivers I know are pragmatists rather than trendsetters, although there are plenty of style-conscious scootlings judging by the prominence of shops such as The Retro Scooter Company.
They live within 10km of work, generally close to the city. They're sick of being stuck in traffic. They like that it costs $5-$10 to fill up the tank and nothing to park.

They're also all men, one of whom gets a kick out of walking into his corporate office with his fluoro safety vest on, prompting his workmates to ask where his roading tools are. "Perhaps they're just jealous their wife won't let them get one," muses his brother, a fellow scootling.

Well, the wives have a point. The brother was rear-ended on Pitt St and sent hurtling off his scooter which, thankfully, sustained more damage than he did. This went through my mind as I watched the Shortland Street crew film a scooter accident scene in Rarotonga last week.

The victim lay on the grassy verge, covered in fake blood, his vehicle resting benignly behind a sharp rock. It would have been entertaining to watch had I not just gained my moped drivers' licence and was about to go for my first blat around the island. There's no buffer from the world like there is in a car. The wind whipping past your face is warm and smoky. Obstacles don't beep and swear but bark and cluck.

After a few days of exploring the island's roads, I started to imagine doing the same in Auckland, buoyed by advice from Sean Willmot, editor of scooter magazine Rush Hour, who says now is a good time to buy new as there are lots of good bargains to be had.

He points out the recession will lead to impulse-buying on cheap, easy-to-maintain forms of transport and that consumers are wary of looming congestion tax. Well all that aside, I think I'm ready to join the scooterlution, if only to avoid reversing down the driveway.

Source: Click HERE

Vespa Advertising Complaint

2009-04-07T12:12:00.006+12:00

Oops! Vespa pushes the boundaries

Vespa, throughout their history have been known to push the boundaries of advertising.

Earlier this year the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in New Zealand considered a complaint from a M Gerrard and J Barry.

This was over an ad for the the “GTS 300 SUPER. THE FASTEST VESPA EVER” that was published in NZ Rush Hour magazine. The ad depicted a cheetah that appeared to have been run over by a Vespa scooter.

The complainants were upset that the picture implied that "the mode of transport can be used to run over big cats".

In response the advertiser said:

"The theme of the advert was to express that the Vespa GTS300 is a fast scooter. The use of the cheetah was a tongue in cheek reference to this, not to imply that the scooter can run over a big cat, or any animal for that matter. The Vespa GTS300 advert is intended to be humourous, and not to offend or cause distress.”

After consideration the ASA, "took into account the darkly humorous and hyperbolic reference to speed, the cheetah being one of the fastest land animals in the world, and concurred with the Advertiser that there was nothing in the advertisement to suggest that the incident was real, or that would encourage reader’s to try and run over animals on their scooters. It noted the surrounding environs appeared to be a desert or other desolate off road area, and was certainly not a sealed road where a scooter would be driven".

The complaint was not upheld

Source: Click HERE Vespa GTS 300 Super

Hover Scooter

2009-03-30T09:55:00.002+13:00

At ScooterHire.co.nz, we allow ourselves to go off topic from time to time.

We liked the following video of a "Hover Scooter" that looked to be a nicely finished prototype back in 1960.

This is a cross between a motorcycle and a hovercraft.

Apparently the tweed jacket and tie worn by the dapper gentleman-rider was optional equipment.

This was filmed almost 50 years ago. There is no doubt that technological advancements from this time have dramatically changed and enriched our lifestyles. It is interesting to note that the advancement of a widely available levitating vehicle has failed to become a reality and has not advanced well beyond the point depicted in this video.

Birthday Celebration!

2009-03-20T10:06:00.001+13:00

What's the best way to celebrate your 71st birthday.

At scooterhire.co.nz we have the answer - hire a scooter!

This dapper gentleman will be tooling around town and enjoying a bit of inner city culture, before embarking on an East Coast adventure.

Tolaga Bay is the planned destination, a 55km ride where our intrepid traveler will stroll along the historic Tolaga Bay Wharf that is 660m long and is said to be the longest in the southern hemisphere.

Another attraction at Tolaga Bay is the Cooks Cove Walkway, a five kilometres walk over farmland and through bush of Eastland to Cook's Cove, where Captain Cook halted to repair the Endeavour and take on fresh supplies.

After a leisurely look around the Tolaga Bay township and a spot of lunch it's homeward bond for a well deserved rest and perhaps a celebratory drink!

AutoMoto Scooter Review

2009-03-08T07:48:00.001+13:00

At scooterhire.co.nz, we enjoy new toys!

Checkout the all new Automoto, a 3 wheeled scooter. The Automoto is much more like a conventional scooter. It just happens to have two wheels in the back. This aids in stability, giving riders a greater sense of control as they rip around the corners.

You’ll also notice that the Automoto has a full roof and windshield, helping to protect you against the elements and making the Automoto more of an all-weather vehicle. There’s also a trunk in the back, as well as four-speakers for in-scooter entertainment.

Is it as cool as a conventional scooter...well, you be the judge:

Scooter vs Car

2009-02-23T13:34:00.000+13:00

The Scooter Review.com has provided us with this fantastic video that shows us very simply how much time and money you can save by using a scooter instead of a car. Many people will recognize the host Ketzal Sterling who has starred in the much loved High Octane series.

I think you will be surprised by the results so turn up the volume and watch. If you have time afterwards head to The Scooter Reviews website for many interesting articles and news on scootering.

Source: Click HERE

Carpenter makes Vespa out of wood

2009-02-18T08:22:00.007+13:00

The machine was made in ten months by Carlos Alberto and has been carved out of ten different types of wood and even has an original 1957 Vespa engine.

Capable of speeds of up to 46 mph, Mr Alberton first hit on the idea in 2001 during a conversation with a fellow Vespa enthusiast, but didn't start work on his labour of love until October 2007.

Covered in a special fire-proof varnish and built using woods from Brazil and Mozambique, Mr Alberto's Vespa cost him £2,491 (2,800 euros), but to him the tiny scooter is priceless.

"The idea came to me in 2001 when I was lying in bed with a terrible case of flu," Mr Alberto said. "I told couple of my friends who are crazy about Vespa's that I had seen an article about an Italian man who builds motorcycles out of wood and I told them I was going to emulate that.

"They said that I must be delirious from my illness, but I kept the project at the back of my mind.

"I finally finished work on my Vespa in July of 2008 and to commemorate the support of my family I named the bike Daniela, after my daughter."

Weighing nearly 107kg (17stones), which is 20 more than the original 1950's model, accomplished carpenter Mr Alberto used only the finest rosewood and ebony woods to build his masterpiece.

"The most difficult part of the construction process was arranging to find an engine that would equal the 1957 original," says Mr Alberto.

"However all things considered it was my family who got me through the most difficult parts of the building process."

So impressive is the wooden scooter that Vespa has been trying to get in contact from Italy and the official Vespa museum in Germany too has expressed serious interest.

"Unfortunately my Vespa is not legally road-worthy as it is not considered to be a genuine motorcycle," says Carlos.

"However, if Vespa were to examine my cycle and see that it is possible to ride it safely then I would hope that they would give it its proper status."

Source: Click HERE

Stylish New Vespas

2009-01-20T07:55:00.001+13:00

January 18 2009
By Brian Clark Howard

The vibe was casual, as jeans, leather jackets, beards and tattoos set the scene in the massive Jacob K. Javits Convention Center last Friday, as riders mingled with industry reps for the 28th annual Cycle World International Motorcycle Show. Sponsored by Toyota, the show visits 13 cities across the U.S., and features the latest in on and off-road motorcycles, scooters and ATVs, from most major manufacturers.

Unlike flashy, over-the-top auto shows I've covered, the bike show was decidedly low-key, both in terms of attitudes and presentation. There were no multi-story faux rock outcroppings for SUVs to scale, or multi-million dollar displays with lights, sounds and moving parts. Even the babes on hand to hype various brands seemed a little less fake than the "actors" at other trade shows.

I didn't quite fit in among the bike enthusiasts and motor journalists -- a bike fanatic friend in college gave up teaching me how to ride his crotch rocket when I dropped it in the parking lot one too many times -- but I know a thing or two about green transportation. I missed the world debut of the Vectrix Vx-1E electric urban commuting model (I had transportation problems of my own getting to Javits), and I didn't see the BMX stunt show, either.

But I did spend some time learning about the latest offerings from Vespa, a brand long admired by my Bohemian neighbors in Greenwich Village. Some 17 million Vespa scooters have been made since 1946 by the 7,000-employee Italian company Piaggio Group. If you didn't know, Vespa means "wasp" in Italian.
Kevin Andrews, Vespa America's brand manager, told me that sales of the iconic, classic scooters exploded last summer, on the heels of record high gas prices. "We sold everything we had," Andrews said. In the last quarter of 2008 sales were flat versus 2007.

"Some people look at [a Vespa] as an economic purchase, and others look at it as a luxury purchase," said Andrews. "A Vespa can't totally replace a car, but it can replace a lot of car miles." Andrews added that the company has been steadily adding dealers in the U.S., despite the economic downturn, and that the customer base keeps broadening.

Andrews stressed that all Vespas sold in America since 2001 have come with four-stroke engines, which burn much cleaner than the two-stroke engines still used by many scooters around the world. Plus, up to 7 Vespas can fit neatly into one full-size car parking space -- something that can go a long way to helping reduce sprawl and congestion. In fact, in some towns commuters have to endure extremely long waiting lists to even be eligible for a parking space at the local train or bus station, and even then the expense can be considerable.

As population continues its march upwards, we need to find more ways to get people out of their cars, and clean, efficient scooters can be part of the solution.

At Cycle World, Vespa announced the launch of the new 2009 Vespa S 50 and the GTS 300 Super. With an MSRP of $3,199, the S 50 offers better power and handling than other 50cc scooters, according to the manufacturer, due to engineering advances that reduced weight and improved performance. The S 50 can do about 4 horsepower and a max speed of 39 mph, with a reported 70 to 80 mpg. It comes in red, black, orange and Montebianco.

If you want more power and cargo capacity, the 278cc GTS 300 might be for you (MSRP $6,199). This scooter can hit 80 mph, and gets fuel economy in the neighborhood of 70 mpg (at least according to one reviewer). It comes in black or white.

The CEO of Piaggio Group America, Paolo Timoni, told journalists at the show that the scooter market is bigger than the motorcycle market in Europe -- which is reversed in America, a land of daredevils and lovers of wide open road. "Americans spend $1.5 trillion a year to get around," said Timoni. "It costs Americans $650-850 a month to own and operate a car, not including parking. It costs only $150-180 a month for a scooter. A lot of people are going to look at this and think it's a good idea."

Timoni added that in December 2009 or January 2010, Vespa will be releasing a hybrid scooter. "It will have the latest technology, but it will be expensive," he said, with a price premium of two to three thousand dollars. "With a hybrid scooter a user might use about $3 a week in gas, instead of $8 a week," added Timoni.

Timoni said his company has considered purely electric scooters, but that they haven't been satisfied with the quality of batteries currently available, and the resultant range. "For many people, it's a psychological thing [having a reduced range]," Timoni said. He pointed out that even though studies show 90% of people primarily use their vehicles for short commutes, they are still uncomfortable buying something that can't go hundreds of miles without a refill/recharge.

There's no denying that Vespas are hot, or that the design is enduring, like the original Jeep, Pez dispensers, Coca-Cola or the Gibson guitar. Like many iconic items, Vespa scooters can retain good resale value. And as Andrews points out, "With the all-steel chassis, Vespas can last a really long time." That’s good for the environment.

Scooters aren't necessarily for everyone, but they can be part of the transportation mix that helps us use less gas and reduce congestion.

Source: Click HERE

Scooter sales accelerate

2009-01-15T08:43:00.002+13:00

In New Zealand there has been an 8% increase in registration of under 60cc motorbikes, commonly known as scooters, in 2008 compared with 2007.

In December, 794 scooters were registered in New Zealand, 2% up on the 2007 figure of 777.

The following report on scooter sales in Australia mirrors what is happening in New Zealand.

14 January 2009
www.smartcompany.com.au

While car manufacturers are feeling the pinch of the global financial crisis, it seems scooters have picked up the slack.

A record number of the two-wheeled vehicles were sold last year, with 15,364 scooters sold, up 7.6% on 2007’s figures.

In total, 134,112 motorcycles, scooters and all-terrain vehicles were sold in 2008, an increase of 3.2% from 2007.

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Andrew McKellar says the figures indicate a move towards financially-friendly transportation.

“Many people, particularly those who live and work in busy cities, are being drawn to scooters in record numbers because of their obvious convenience and practicality,” he says.

“I think with the financial situation being the way that it is, it means that a second car is not that viable. Even though fuel prices have come down recently, that wasn’t the case a few months back.”

Source: Click HERE

Scooter sales jump as buyers pawn TVs, laptops for cheap transport

2009-01-13T08:54:00.002+13:00

At scooterhire.co.nz you don't have to pawn your flat screen TV to ride a scooter! Summer is here and it is a fantastic time to ride a scooter. Check out our "Sizzling Summer Sale" on our website www.scooterhire.co.nz.

By Mark Hinchliffe
The Courier Mail
January 13, 2009

MOTORISTS desperate to survive tough economic times are pawning laptops, furniture and television sets to buy scooters for cheap transport.

Scooter sales rocketed 7.6 per cent last year, helping the two-wheeled market to a record 3.2 per cent increase, according to figures released yesterday by the Federal Chamber of Austomotive Industries.

Car, van and truck sales dropped 3.6 per cent.

Major Brisbane scooter dealer Joe D'Ercole said he expected sales to continue rising, The Courier-Mail reports.

"The whole reason Vespa exists is that after World War II there was a credit crisis, mortgage issues and high fuel costs just like today," he said.

"The main problem is that people can't get credit to buy a $2500 scooter. People are even selling off household items just to buy one.

"I had one guy trying to sell his big flat screen TV because they had two of them. The trouble is, what's a second-hand TV worth?"

FCAI chief executive Andrew McKellar said the drop in fuel prices below $1 a litre would not slow the scooter or low-capacity motorcycle market.

"With the sort of economic challenges around, people will still be looking at those sorts of economic alternatives," he said.

Piaggio scooter brand manager Simon Gloyne said the factors that drove scooter growth in the past six years remained.

Source: Click HERE

La dolce Vespa

2009-01-12T08:42:00.003+13:00

At scooterhire.co.nz, we love the thought of touring Italy on a red Vespa. As long as it didn't rain! Check out our "Rain Guarantee" when you hire a nippy scooter from us at www.scooterhire.co.nz

11 January 2009
www.chicagotribune.com

The winding roads and quaint villages of central Tuscany form the backdrop for a weeklong guided tour by Vespa scooter. Based at Hotel Vignale in Radda, riders set out each day on individual red Vespas to soak up Chianti's local culture, stopping at wineries, medieval estates, artisans' shops and scenic overlooks. Siena and San Gimignano are on the itinerary as well as the estate of the Ferragamo family and the scenic Saturday market in the town of Greve.

With April-October departures, the Vespa tours are priced from $3,838 for seven nights, including accommodations, many meals, leadership, admissions and activities, plus use of a Vespa (with fuel and limited insurance) and round-trip transfers from Florence. Extra costs are trans-Atlantic air travel and optional activities as well as taxes and fees amounting to 20 percent of the tour price. Participants should be familiar with handling a scooter. Italy by Vespa, the tour operator, also offers a five-night version of the Vespa vacation, priced from $2,988. (866-297-7725; www.italybyvespa.com)

Source: Click HERE

Adidas x Vespa - Scooter Shoe

2009-01-08T10:06:00.004+13:00

At scooterhire.co.nz, we bow at the alter of rampant consumerism - We don't know why, but we just want a pair of these scooter-shoes!

This is the Adidas x Vespa Scooter Shoe. As the name suggests, these shoes were created with people who own Vespa Scooters in mind. The Vespa model is a mid-top model with rounded details, it has a suede upper and gummy sole. The Vespa logo is lasered into the heel in silver and the midsole features a patterned fabric with both Adidas and Vespa logos. These shoes are perfect for a scooter ride through the countryside. Via colette.

: Adidas x Vespa - Scooter Shoe

: Adidas x Vespa - Scooter Shoe

: Adidas x Vespa - Scooter Shoe

: Adidas x Vespa - Scooter Shoe

Vehicle Design Master Outlines Scooter Market Trends

2008-12-27T07:42:00.002+13:00

26 December 2008

cens.com

By Quincy Liang

Pierangelo Andreani, an internationally known Italian who has been designing transportation equipment for over 40 years, generously shared his views on trends in powered two-wheeler (PTW) design, especially in the European market, during a recent visit to Taiwan.

Andreani works with cars, motorcycles, scooters, and bicycles, as well as boats. He joined the global car-design firm Pinifarina S.P.A. back in 1970 after leaving the design center of the Italian carmaker Fiat. He also worked with another eminent Italian design company, De Tomaso, where he completed design projects for such famous sports-car makers as Maserati and such motorcycle brands Moto Guzzi and Benelli.

Pierangelo Andreani, the globally renowned Italian designer, has been designing transportation equipment for over 40 years.

In 1981 Adreani set up his own design company, logically named Andreani Design. Ever since that time he has been cooperating with various world-class enterprises in Italy and elsewhere, including the Nova Design Co. of Taiwan, the design firm for local auto and motorcycle manufacturer Sanyang Industry Co. (SYM). The reason for his recent visit to Taiwan was the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Nova Design, which is now the largest transportation-vehicle and industrial design house in the Greater China region.

Trends in Scooter Design

During an exclusive interview by a journalist working for the Taiwan Motorcycle Guide (TMG) magazine, Andreani first outlined the scooter market in Europe as having two major segments: cheap scooters and big scooters.

In the cheap-scooter segment, he said, some of the major design trends prevailing today, including big wheels (with over-16-inch wheel rims) and compact size, are related to the appeal of easy riding for higher urban mobility.

Andreani describes the Yamaha T-Max as a successful combination of good steering and riding comfort. (photo of Yamaha press release)

In the more-important big-scooter segment, the designer pointed out, the current design trend-in other words, the market-is moving toward models that combine the features of scooter and motorcycle and are equipped with 300cc to 400cc engines with automatic-gear powertrains. "Under this design trend," Andreani explained, "a vehicle is required to simultaneously provide good acceleration performance (much better than that of cheap, small-displacement scooters), riding comfort (provided mainly by the scooter chassis), clean or simplified design, and riding ease (you do not have to be dressed in full-body leather riding wear, but only a raincoat or a short jacket over your suit or work dress).

"More and more riders worldwide are relying on scooters to overcome traffic jams in city transportation for trips of less than 30 minutes, and these riders also require better power performance so that they can ride both in and out of a city. But the 300cc to 400cc engine displacement is enough; and scooters with displacements over-400cc--in Italy, at least--require much higher insurance payments."

Motorcycles with automatic transmissions, according to Andreani, illustrate a trend worth noting. (Photo of Aprilia`s press material)

Andreani added that he does not believe the market for over-400cc scooters is big enough to exploit, because such machines are too heavy to ride in the city (for which a 125cc engine is enough), too expensive for most people, and perhaps a bit too unrealistic because someone who wanted so much engine performance would choose a motorcycle rather than a scooter.

Big Wheels

Big-wheel scooters featuring easy control have been a major advancement in scooter design in the past few years, Andreani said, and if makers further improve the frame and suspension of big-wheel scooters to give them even better steering and comfort, they will surely be, like Yamaha`s T-Max, a success.

Andreani suggested that vehicle designers and manufacturers take note of the factors that led to the T-Max`s big success in many markets: good steering, the riding ease of a motorcycle with the comfort of a scooter, and the feeling of riding a motorcycle while actually on a scooter.

Demographic Change

The designer also called for attention to the market shifts that result from demographic change, like the shift to the automatic transmission. Some of these shifts have implications for scooter design.

He explained: "Some PTW makers, like Aprilia and Honda, have noticed that when motorcycle fans get older and in many cases wealthier, they need higher-end, easier-operating motorcycles such as big-displacement touring bikes with automatic transmissions. Demographic changes really affect the market. For example, most people in Europe think that automatic transmissions are for disabled or new drivers, and they prefer manual-shift cars. But when the buying group gets older, the finger gearshift located on the steering wheels of some luxury car models become their favorite."

Source: Click HERE

Scoot out to beat the crunch in 2009

2008-12-22T07:40:00.000+13:00

December 22 2008
Harriet Ridley

www.acadvertiser.co.uk

DESPITE the dire economic climate, the scooter market is thriving. And it's no wonder - scooters are the perfect antidote to the credit crunch.

They're cheap to buy and run, incredibly practical and will get you anywhere in no time.

There's a scooter for every purpose too: If you simply need to run around town then a 50cc is just the job, although a 125 will be quicker and safer on the overtakes.

If you're commuting long distances, than you're going to need at least 125cc powering your two wheels, although you could splash out on the plethora of bigger scooters that are gracing the dealers, from 250cc all the way to Gilera's insane 800cc monster scooter.

The continuing growth of the sector means manufacturers are investing in their ranges, the result being a load of both new and revamped models at the 2008 international shows.

First up the big boys: Piaggio was proud to introduce the Carnaby Cruiser 300. The Carnaby range in general gets several design improvements over the previous versions.

Big news however was the latest addition to the MP3 range, the MP3 LT. The bike has a larger front track of 465mm which means it can now be ridden by holders of a normal car licence, even though it's equipped with either a 250cc or 400cc engine.

Meanwhile, the latest MP3 125 now gets 'ride-by-wire' electronic throttle management; Piaggio claims it's the first 'scooter' in the world to get this. The entire 2009 MP3 range features a new car-look shield grille, blue tinted windscreen and a new passenger grab handle.

Last but not least, the Zip 50 2T is one of Piaggio's greatest successes and has been in production for more than well over a decade. Now it's back with a brand-new 50cc two-stroke engine.

It seems 300cc is the new capacity to go for in the scooter world. Gilera, also part of the Piaggio Group, displayed its new Nexus 300, which replaces the 250cc version.

The new Quasar four-valve engine features liquid cooling and electronic fuel injection, and new bore/stroke values for stronger torque. And to celebrate the company's centenary, all Gilera scooters, including the Fuoco three-wheeler, will carry a new logo in 2009.

The new design is an adaptation of the famous logo of the 1950s, with the Italian colours and the symbolic dates of 1909 and 2009.

In-line with the other Piaggio Group brands, Aprilia's Scarabeo range now also gets a 300cc version. Meanwhile Vespa, the Piaggio Group's most iconic brand, unveiled the new GTS 125 available in a sexy racing red, while the S 50 gets an all-new four-valve, four-stroke engine that meets emissions regulations as well as providing decent performance for the size.

Moving away from the Piaggio Group but staying with the great icons of the scooter world, and Lambretta has plastered its legendary name all over a very modern-looking, four-stroke scooter range. The Pato is available in 50, 125 and 150cc engine sizes and they look very sleek indeed.

Malaguti has unveiled its brand new Blog 125 scooter, but enough of the Italians. From Japan, Yamaha has the X-City 125 and 250 that now come equipped with adjustable windscreens as standard. Other changes in the Yamaha range include a restyled Majesty 400 and special edition X-Max models.

Big news from Peugeot is the new Speedfight 3 range. Also available is the French manufacturer's new high-wheel LXR200.

There are several models among this section of the market that could easily be confused as being produced by more well-known manufacturers, had the badge not said otherwise. These are a good bet if you're not too bothered about brands, and simply want something dirt cheap to run you around.
Leading the charge is Sym, a Chinese brand that's becoming a regular fixture on our streets. Sym's latest model is the Symphony, a high-wheeled scooter with a compact body. There's also a new GTS 300 model which - surprise, surprise - replaces the previous GTS 250 version. Sym has also started producing a range of eco scooters, starting with the Robo, powered by a 48v/350W electric motor.

With such a massive range of scooters to choose from, travel cards are on their way out for 2009.

Source: Click HERE

Midsize Scooter Battle

2008-12-12T11:35:00.006+13:00

Our friends at thescooterreview.com have gone back to the road and the race-track with yet another brace of scooters. This time testing hand picked, reasonably priced 100cc to 180cc "mid sized" machines . Get ready another totally independent, comprehensive comparison test.

Models being tested: SYM Mio 100, Italjet Torpedo 150, Yamaha Beewee 100, CPI GTR 180, SYM VS150, Yamaha Cygnus 125, Suzuki AN125

Hey, who put my scooter up there?!

2008-12-10T15:03:00.000+13:00

Iconic Quadrophenia scooter sold

2008-11-27T08:13:00.000+13:00

25 November 2008
BBC News

The Lambretta scooter ridden by actor Phil Daniels in the iconic 1970s film Quadrophenia has sold at auction for £36,000 - more than had been expected.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/7747557.stm

Buy one - get one FREE!

2008-11-12T11:19:00.002+13:00

At scooterhire.co.nz we like innovation:

A new ‘buy one car and get a scooter free’ offer has been introduced as a solution to fight the current economic crisis.

As the car industry continues to plummet, Workington car dealer, Percy Clark, 69, of PLC Trade Sales used the new approach as a bid to encourage car sales. He said: ‘The car sales business is in the doldrums. We have recognised a massive change in needs, and after a lot of consideration we have decided on giving away a free scooter with selected cars.’

According to Mr Clark, the cost of running a scooter has more financial advantages than the cost of running a car. Road tax, fuel prices, car insurance and maintenance costs for a scooter are lower than such costs for family cars. He said that a scooter will also help save the planet. ‘If 1,000 people left their cars at home and went to work on a scooter, it would make a vast difference.’

Early this month, dealers were offering supermarket style ‘buy one get one free’ offers on the new Dodge Avenger SXT 2.4i as a desperate bid to increase car sales.

Managing director, Simon Epsom of Broadspeed.com said last month: ‘The motor trade is beyond desperate - it's in crisis. Because of the credit crunch, many people are struggling to get the finance they need to buy new cars - they simply can't borrow money anymore…Dealers are becoming more and more desperate and that's why we get deals like this,’ he added.

http://www.onlyfinance.com/Car-Insurance-News/12754728-Car-dealer-introduces-buy-one-car-and-get-a-scooter-free-offer.aspx

Jimmy's Lambretta scooter from Quadrophenia up for auction

2008-11-08T07:40:00.001+13:00

A piece of movie history is going through Bonham's auction room later this month - the scooter rode by Jimmy Cooper in the cult mod flick Quadrophenia, complete with its original KRU 251F number plate.

It's a Lambretta Li 150 Series 3 scooter, originally dating from 1967 and being sold by current owners Allstyles in Portsmouth. The bike is on its third owner since the movie finished, but has been overhauled to a high standard fairly recently - although this does mean some of the original parts have been replaced by modern spares. Its recent used has been mainly confined to shows and press events of late - a possible money spinner should you want to invest in it.

And it might need to earn its keep, with a hefty estimate being quoted by Bonham's, between £20,000 and £25,000. Check over the page for a picture of the bike in the movie or check out the Bonham's site for more on the bike. The auction is being hosted at the Knightsbridge branch on 25th November 2008.

http://www.retrotogo.com/2008/11/jimmys-lambrett.html

Bonhams auction details...

2008-11-08T07:30:00.001+13:00

Rock & Roll Memorabilia

1967 Lambretta Li150 Series 3 Scooter,
Registration no. KRU 251F

As ridden by Phil Daniels ('Jimmy') in the film 'Quadrophenia', 1979, Manufactured by the Italian industrial giant Innocenti, the Lambretta motor scooter, together with the rival Piaggio-built Vespa, mobilised an entire generation of Italians in the immediate post-war years.

The scooter gained instant acceptance everywhere, its cleanliness and convenience in particular appealing to those who regarded the true motorcycle with suspicion. Scooters would eventually surpass their strictly utilitarian origins to become an integral part of British youth culture in the 1960s as favourite transport of the fashion-conscious ‘Modernists’, or ‘Mods’. The scooter’s enclosed engine and decent weather protection meant that its rider could arrive at a club, doff his parka and look like he’d just stepped out of a taxi, which was a definite advantage within a dandified sub-culture that placed a premium on smartness of appearance.

Introduced in 1947, the Lambretta scooter went through a series of mechanical and stylistic evolutions before arriving at the ‘Li’ series in 1958. One of Lambretta’s all-time greats, the Li resulted from the relative failure of the unreliable TV 175 Series 1, which forced the company to go back to the drawing board. Built in 125cc and 150cc capacities, the classic Li used the bore/stroke dimensions of the preceding ‘D’ Series but housed its entirely new engine in modern bodywork similar to that of the TV. The Li subsequently underwent a series of styling alterations, the Series 3 being readily distinguishable by its handlebar-mounted headlight and ‘slimline’ styling, embodying what for many enthusiasts is the definitive Lambretta look.

Estimate: £20,000 - 25,000.

The Lambretta Li 150 Series 3 offered here is the actual machine ridden by Phil Daniels’ character, James 'Jimmy'' Cooper in the 1979 film, 'Quadrophenia', inspired by The Who’s double album of the same name. After filming finished, the 'Jimmy Bike' was sold to scooter dealers Rafferty Newman and put on display in the window of their shop in Portsmouth. It was subsequently purchased by Eddie Harris who then sold it on to Paul Marsh, both these owners being Portsmouth residents.

Although far too young to be a 'Mod' in the 1960s, the vendor caught the post-Quadrophenia revival in the early 1980s and was on the lookout for a scooter to buy. Quite by chance he spotted 'KRU 251F' lying in a front garden in Southsea, Portsmouth and, recognising the registration number from 'Quadrophenia', knew that he had found Jimmy Cooper’s old bike. (It should be noted that as 'Quadrophenia' was set in the early 1960s, the registration’s 'F' suffix denoting 1967 was removed for the filming). A sale was negotiated and the Lambretta collected together with its accessories, which had been removed for safekeeping by the owner, Paul Marsh.

The machine’s restoration was commenced almost immediately but would not be properly completed until 1995, by which time the vendor was running his own scooter shop - Allstyles - in Portsmouth (It should be noted that, as is the case with most motorcycle restorations, some parts were replaced during the rebuild and prospective purchasers are advised to satisfy themselves with regard to the extent of this machine’s originality before bidding). In June of that year the ex-Jimmy Cooper Lambretta was pictured on the front cover of Scootering International magazine and featured in an accompanying article. Since then it has gone on to win various concours awards and been used for a host of promotional events, photo shoots, trade shows, etc, as well as featuring in other publications. When 'Quadrophenia' was re-released in January 1997, 'KRU 251F' attended the premiere in Brighton where it was reunited with Phil Daniels and other members of the original cast. Later that same year the 'Jimmy Bike' was used for filming at The Who’s Quadrophenia concert in Hyde Park, London and on location in Brighton.

For the past few years, 'KRU 251F' has been kept carefully stored inside the vendor’s house and is to the same specification today as it was back in 1979, including the Ken Cobbing sports exhaust system. The machine remains in excellent condition, although a certain amount of re-commissioning - new battery, carburettor clean, fresh petrol, etc - will be required before returning it to the road. Offered with current SORN and Swansea V5, 'KRU 251F' represents an exciting opportunity to acquire the 'Jimmy Bike', one of the most famous Lambrettas of all time.

Make a bid by clicking on the following link!

http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=EUR&screen=lotdetailsNoFlash&iSaleItemNo=4117506&iSaleNo=15844&iSaleSectio%3Cspan%20style=#

Real men do ride scooters

2008-11-02T18:37:00.005+13:00

At scooterhire.co.nz we love the heritage and style of Vespa scooters. We are still mourning the demise of the Vespa PX that was the last of the 4-speed 2-stoke classics that was put to rest due to political correctness. Vespa goes some way to claw back the aura and the pizzazz by creating a new modern classic. Here's an article on Vespa's latest and biggest production scooter that we would love to own.

By Mark Hinchliffe

www.news.com.au

October 31, 2008

SCOOTERS may be an economic imperative for some, but those buying the Vespa GTS 300 Super want more than frugal commuting.

With a displacement of 278cc, it is the largest-capacity Vespa yet and Australian brand manager Simon Gloyne reckons the "super scooter" will appeal mainly to "sporty" men.

"The family with a couple of kids is not going to fork out almost $9000 for a Vespa to save them some money on fuel," he said last week at the national launch of the 300 in Sydney. "But those who appreciate a bit of performance and the ability to carry two people with ease, yet still save money on fuel, that will be the market for this scooter.

"We're talking more about a want rather than a need.

"If everyone bought a car for need rather than want, we'd all be driving Corollas." The Vespa is no Corolla.

Oozing style and history, it is basically a GTS 250ie, but with a bored and stroked engine, stiffer suspension, a few styling modifications (chromed rear grab rail, black wheels, vented rear fender, all-analogue instruments) and a firmer seat with retro white piping.

However, whether these will be enough to warrant the extra $1000 will depend on the buyer. The differences are more about performance and handling:

• Where the 250 bump-steers and tram tracks, the 300 steers true and stable.
• Where the 250 lags in take-off, the 300 has power from just a tick over idle.
• Where the 250 struggles a little on hills or with a pillion, the 300 powers on.
• Where the 250 has a soft ride but bottoms out easily, the 300 is less compliant but takes a fair whack before it bottoms out.

By boring and stroking the engine, it now features 3Nm more torque at 1750rpm less and, while it has the same maximum power, it comes on much earlier.

Despite the power boost, the scooter is still classed as a Learner Approved Motorcycle in most states. In Queensland, learners and first-year licensed riders will not be able to ride it.

Mr Gloyne said the Italians wouldn't say what they had done to the suspension, except to make it more "sporty".

The springs are now red, but they must also be stiffer and maybe better damped.

Mr Gloyne said the gender mix of scooter buyers was 60 per cent male, which grew more male-oriented as the capacity of the scooter increased.

He expected up to 75 per cent of GTS 300 buyers to be male, mostly upgrading from the 250.

The 300 costs $1000 more because the 250, which will remain in the range, is being offered at a special price. Mr Gloyne said the price of the 300 was held down, but it might rise, depending on the exchange rate.

"We actually had an offer from Piaggio to buy all our November and December stock before the dollar fell," he said.

"In hindsight, we should have taken them up on the offer."

The biggest Vespa yet comes in white or black with red coming in February or March.
A top box with padded pillion backrest will be available at $450.

Vespa GTS 300 Super

PRICE: $8990
ENGINE: 4-stroke, 4-valve, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, 278cc single-cylinder
BORE X STROKE: 75 x 63mm
POWER: 15.8Kw @ 7500rpm
TORQUE: 22.3Nm @ 5000rpm
FUEL: 95 RON, 9L tank
TRANSMISSION: continuously variable with torque server, auto centrifugal dry clutch
SUSPENSION: dual chamber hydraulic shock absorber with coaxial spring (front), two dual-effect shock absorbers with adjustable preload
BRAKES: 220mm (front), 220mm (rear)
TYRES: 120/70-12 (front), 130/70-12 (rear)
DIMENSIONS (mm): 1930 (l), 755 (w), 1370 (wheelbase), 790 (seat)
WET WEIGHT: 148kg
EMISSIONS: Euro 3
WARRANTY: 2 years

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24570567-5010760,00.html

Mud sticks over 'dummy run'

2008-10-23T08:39:00.002+13:00

At scooterhite.co.nz we do not condone illegal activities, especially when it comes to the use of vehicles...but, we found the following story in today's newspaper amusing:

The Dominion Post

23 October 2008

Trying to outrun police on a pint-sized motor scooter was not the brightest move Glenn Dodd has made.

Getting stuck in a muddy ditch while trying to make a spectacular getaway was worse. But finding out he was not drunk and had no reason to run from police in the first place really capped off a bad night for the 43-year-old Napier father-of-three.

Dodd set off from home at 1am on Saturday to buy bread for breakfast when police spotted him cruising along Prebensen Drive on his Suzuki scooter. He drew their attention because he had covered his licence plate in case a speed camera clocked him speeding - he reckons he can squeeze 100kmh out of its 125cc engine at a push.

Police turned on their flashing lights, then their siren, but Dodd did not stop. "I was panicking so much I didn't know what to do. I think they call it the flight instinct. "To be honest I have no idea why I did what I did. It was completely stupid and quite out of character," Dodd, a mechanic, said.

He veered off the road into a shallow ditch with the intention of jumping out the other side and making "a spectacular getaway". But after splashing through a puddle, the wheels failed to gain traction leaving a frustrated Dodd struggling to stay upright.

He is still at a loss to explain why he behaved the way he did. "I thought there was a chance I'd be over the [breath alcohol] limit. It was the first night in ages that my partner and I had been out. "When we got home I found out we didn't have bread for bacon and eggs the next morning. We were looking forward to a nice breakfast ... so I went into town. It was a really dumb thing to do," he said.

He passed the breath test and his scooter was registered and warranted.

He appeared in Napier District Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to failing to stop and resisting arrest. He was fined $400 and ordered to pay $260 court costs.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4736361a11.html

Thurman buys scooter to avoid congestion charge

2008-10-21T08:32:00.003+13:00

London (ANI): American actress Uma Thurman, who recently moved to Britain, has got herself a scooter to beat London's heavy traffic. The 38-year-old actress, who recently moved to London with her fiance Arpad 'Arki' Busson, has bought a bright green Vespa to beat the city's traffic congestion - exempting her from paying the city centre's rising congestion toll.

"She can avoid the congestion charge and park easily with her new scooter. She drives Arki around on it all the time," the Daily Express quoted a source, as saying.

The Kill Bill star's neighbours have even given her a new name 'Vrooma Uma.' "The neighbours call her Vrooma Uma because she is always scooting around the area," the source added.

http://entertainment.oneindia.in/hollywood/top-stories/scoop/2008/uma-thurman-scooter-vespa-201008.html

The Motorcycle and Scooter Dilemma

2008-10-19T20:37:00.000+13:00

Heads up to Stephen Fung that wrote the following insightful post. At scooterhire.co.nz we like your style!

Posted by Stephen Fung

October 6, 2008

www.stephenfung.net

Since testing and passing for my full learners motorcycle license, I’ve been presented with a bit of a problem. I’m torn between whether I should get a new motorcycle or buy a bigger scooter. Here’s how it played out based on my criteria…

Parking - One of the things that is awesome about a scooter is that I can pretty much put it wherever I want. It’s like RockStar parking wherever I go. The change to a motorcycle will not only get me noticed, but the parking cops and the mall security people start to notice too. Right now, with Happy Scooter, I can stick it beside a bike rack, go away for hours. I know I couldn’t do that with a motorcycle.
Point for new scooter.

Storage - Happy Scooter has crazy amounts of storage. You can hold two bags of groceries in the cavernous trunk. Motorcycles have no trunks and if you need additional storage, you need to add hard cases and top cases, making the vehicle fatter, heavier, and even more difficult to maneuver in super tight spots. All scooters have varying degrees of underseat storage and some scooters have hooks on the front for your groceries. Since I often have stuff to pick up at the post office, or errands to do, the added bulk and cost of adding storage cases put the motorcycle in the dog house.
Point for new scooter.

Performance - Although most motorcycles are much more powerful than scooters, their size and weight make them hard to maneuver in tight traffic. Motorcycles also have additional controls for the clutch and a foot brake. A scooter is comparatively simple, only requiring you to twist the throttle and the CVT transmission takes care of the rest. Front and rear brakes are both on the bars, making them easy to reach in a panic. This puts less distractions in front of you when jockeying for position in the city traffic. Outside the city however, the added weight and power of a motorcycle gives way to highway stability and headroom for passing slow moving cars and staying out of the way of large trucks. Since I’ll be mainly traversing urban highways and battling traffic in the city, the scooter makes more sense in my case.
Draw: A scooter is better in the city but the motorcycle is better outside the city.

Gas Mileage - A motorcycle, displacement for displacement, gets lower gas mileage than any scooter. The CVT transmission always shifts at the optimum RPM and as a result, the engine is more efficent. We know that blipping the throttle, taking off in a lower gear and what not is a lot of fun, but it doesn’t make for the best gas mileage. Since one of my major reasons for getting into two wheeled transport in the first place was to stick it to the oil companies, it’s clear that scooter wins.
Point for scooter.

Cool Factor - Of course, scooters are dorky as hell in North America. However, in the rest of the world, they are the mode of transportation of choice for the masses. When I selected my Yamaha C3 scooter, I knew that it wasn’t the looker. Some thought it was ugly, and no one called it pretty. However, it was definitely functional. Since I’m all about utility these days, the scooter works for me, but cool factor definitely belongs to a bad ass cruiser anyday of the week.
Point for Motorcycle.

At the end of the day though, I turned to two wheeled transport for the practical aspects. I save nearly enough money in gas each month to purchase an Xbox 360 (Arcade) and I get to park wherever the hell I want. Most of the time I don’t even have to pay even though everyone else does. Although I can’t rule out getting a motorcycle in the future, for now, scooter FTW.

http://www.stephenfung.net/the-motorcycle-and-scooter-dilemma

EagleRider Expands Rental Line-Up With Scooters

2008-10-19T20:28:00.001+13:00

Hey, us folk at scootehire.co.nz are pleased to have another company join us by offering scooters to the masses:

LOS ANGELES, CA

Oct 06, 2008

(MARKET WIRE via COMTEX)

EagleRider, the world's largest motorcycle rental company, is proud to announce the addition of the Piaggio and Vespa Scooter line to their existing line-up of Harley-Davidson(R), Honda, and BMW motorcycles available for rent.

"Strong Vespa Scooters sales growth in 2008 coupled with increasing gas prices makes the addition of the Vespa line-up a necessary choice," said Chris McIntyre, EagleRider President. "Vespa is a world famous lifestyle brand that will be a great complement to our prestigious rental fleet of Harley-Davidson(R), Honda and BMW motorcycles."

EagleRider will begin renting Piaggio and Vespa Scooters starting Saturday, October 11th, 2008 out of the EagleRider Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco locations. The EagleRider Orlando location will begin renting the Vespa product line on October 15, 2008.

Requirements to rent a scooter are: twenty-one years of age, major credit card and possess a valid motorcycle license. To book your Piaggio or Vespa scooter rental log-on to www.eaglerider.com or call (888) 817-7660 to speak with an EagleRider Rental Specialist.

About EagleRider:

EagleRider pioneered the motorcycle rental concept in 1992 and today operates the world's largest motorcycle rental and powersport rental fleet from premier manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson(R), Honda(R), BMW(R), Vespa and Polaris(R). EagleRider's expansion of its franchise rental facilities targets global tourist destinations and currently offers adventure tours and motorcycle travel enthusiasts the opportunity to experience their dream vacation from rental facilities in the USA, United Kingdom, Austria, Australia, Spain, France, Ireland, Mexico, Costa Rica, and New Zealand.

Website http://www.eaglerider.com

The furthest thing from a motorcycle gang

2008-10-03T07:17:00.000+13:00

By PHIL LUCIANO

Journal Star

Oct 01, 2008

BARTONVILLE. On any given weekend, when the spirit of adventure and danger call, the mean streets of Bartonville quake with the menacing rumble of two-wheeled mayhem.

OK, maybe that's overstating the case a tad. It's not so much a menacing rumble as an annoying whine. And as for the mayhem, it's really more of a silliness than anything else.

But yes, there are two wheels involved, along with a gang, leathers, nicknames and other trappings of the biker culture. The thing is, these riders don't sit on hogs, but scooters.

Meet the Ghost Riderz, the baddest - and goofiest - scooter gang ever to hit the Peoria area.
"We're the furthest thing you can get from a motorcycle gang," says a chuckling Mike "Snake" Bredernitz, founder of the scooter squad. "A few people have asked, 'Why didn't you just buy a cheap motorcycle?' Well buying a motorcycle isn't funny. But buying a scooter, that's funny."

Bredernitz, 45, doesn't exactly live a life of lawlessness. Married with three kids, he works as a risk-management consultant for an insurance company. Months ago, he saw a kid putzing through his neighborhood on a scooter. Bredernitz thought the modest vehicle might be a cheap way to get around town. So he bought a 150-cc scooter.

He caught the eye - and derision - of buddy Bret Henry, 39. The sales manager would chide Bredernitz for his milquetoast mode of transportation. Eventually, though, Henry saw humor in the notion."One scooter is dorky," Henry told Bredernitz. "But two is a gang."

Soon, Henry bought a scooter and took on the moniker of Bulldog. Soon, three others joined the scooter lifestyle: Jason "Spider" Walker, Loren "Blaze" Peacock and Steve "Iceman" Christiansen. They adopted a decidedly unintimidating logo: the name Ghost Riderz surrounding the image of Casper the Friendly Ghost. They put the logo on black T-shirts, plus black flags jutting from their scooters.

The pack soon took to the streets, leaving local residents recoiling - not in abject fear, but in head-scratching wonder about the curious quintet of nerds. "About 90 percent (of observers) get it," Bredernitz says. "The others think it's a mid-life crisis."

Mostly, though, it's a reason for the fivesome to hang out. Often, they pop into Hammer's pub, which has become the scooter clubhouse - so much so that a banner on the wall proclaims, "Official Home of the Ghost Riderz."

As Bredernitz promised the owner, almost seriously, "If there's trouble in here, we'll take care of it."
When they're feeling crazy, they'll mess with real bikers. Recently, they arrived to see a lone, top-line Harley out front. As a gag, they hemmed in the hog with their scooters. Later, when the biker left the saloon, the Ghost Riderz hoped he'd get the joke. "He came back in, bent over laughing," Bredernitz says.

The gang has taken on a public profile. At Limestone Community High School's Homecoming variety show, the Ghost Riderz brought down the house with a tongue-in-cheek skit about the scooter crew.

Next, they plan to help civic groups by appearing at fundraisers. They also hope to launch a charity golf outing. But it'd be not just for scooter riders; civilians would be welcome as well. "It'd be a small crowd if it were only scooters," Bredernitz says, laughing.

PHIL LUCIANO is a columnist with the Journal Star. He can be reached at pluciano@pjstar.com, 686-3155 or (800) 225-5757, Ext. 3155.

Movember 2008!

2008-10-02T10:06:00.001+13:00

It's October! That means one more month until Movember (the month formerly known as November). This is a great cause tackling men's health issues and being proactive in the fight against men's depression and prostate cancer.

At scooterhire.co.nz, we will be again joining a few select men that will be cultivating the upper lip region. We urge all men to become a Mo Bro and support this worthy cause.

Celebrate being a man for Movember and enjoy the fellowship of like-minded men. To donate to my Mo click here www.movember.com and donate online using your credit card.

Scooter sales skyrocket 66%

2008-09-27T08:53:00.001+12:00

By Catherine Clifford
September 23, 2008

With pain at the pump still real, Americans are jumping on those two-wheeled get-ups that Europeans have been riding for generations.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The scooter is becoming the new must-have set of wheels in a lot of American cities.

While auto sales have continued to sink, scooter sales were up 66% in the first half of 2008 compared to a year ago, while motorcycle sales overall only ticked up 0.5%, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council.

"About 5 years ago, most of the people were buying motor scooters more as a recreational product to enjoy on the weekend," said Paolo Timoni, president of Piaggio Group Americas, the maker of the Vespa scooter. "Nowadays, most of the people that buy this vehicle buy them as an alternative transportation vehicle."

Retail gas prices have come significantly off recent highs, but gas prices are still 33% higher than the same time last year, and that is motivation enough for Americans.

Scooter sales are outpacing sales of some motorcycle brands, which are typically more expensive and use more fuel.

A scooter is distinguished not by its size or speed. A scooter is defined by its automatic transmission, step-through design and wrap-around body work that hides the engine.

While a motorcycle gets between 40 and 60 miles per gallon, a scooter gets between 60 and 100 miles per gallon, according to Mike Mount, a spokesman for the motorcycle group.

Customers "are sick of feeding their big trucks," said Darrin Gitlitz, owner of New York Honda Yamaha. Gitlitz said that he has seen scooter sales increase more than sales of other kinds of motorbikes.

Honda typically sells more than 12 million two-wheeled bikes globally every year, according to John Seidel, a Honda spokesman. This year, in an attempt to capture sales, Honda released its 2009 scooter models to dealers early, according to Seidel. "We went ahead and released '09 this summer," said Seidel. The two 2009 Honda scooter brands - the Rucqus and the Metropolitan - both sell for between $2,049 and $2,149. In contrast, a Honda motorcycle starts around $3,000 and maxes out near $25,000.

The Italian manufacturer of scooters, the Piaggio Group, has logged record U.S. sales.The owners of the Vespa, Piaggio and Aprilia scooter brands saw a 100.5% increase in scooter sales in May compared to the same month a year ago. In June, sales were 147% higher in a year-over-year comparison and in July, sales were 173% higher.

While the Vespa scooter brand, which runs anywhere from $2,000 to $8,000, has been hitting record sales numbers, the luxury-class Harley-Davidson (HOG, Fortune 500) motorcycle reported that weakness in the U.S. economy dragged sales down in its second-quarter financial report. Globally, Harley-Davidson shipped 15.6% fewer motorcycles to dealers and distributors in the second quarter of 2008 compared with the year-ago period. Retail sales in the United States decreased by 8.7% in 2008 compared to the same quarter last year. A low-end Harley starts at $7,000, but other models can easily run you nearly $20,000 a pop.

Suzuki's scooters have big engines and therefore actually cost more than some of Suzuki's motorcycles. The larger scooters range in price from $5,949 to $7,899, but Suzuki's little cruiser motorcycle, the GZ250, goes for only $3,249. Sales of the Suzuki scooters, which get between 40 and 50 miles per gallon, ticked up 16% from January through July over last year, according to Glenn Hansen, a Suzuki spokesman. Sales of the GZ250, which gets 80 miles per gallon, are up 53%.Given the success of the smaller, more fuel-efficient two wheelers, Suzuki is working to bring some of its smaller models, already particularly popular in Italy, to the United States, Hansen said.

Yamaha saw a 99.8% increase in U.S. scooter sales from September 2007 through July 2008 over the same period a year ago, according to Kevin Foley, a Yamaha representative. One of Yamaha's most popular scooters is the Zuma 50 cc model, which costs only $2,199 and gets 123 miles per gallon.

Between high gas prices, traffic and congestion, "more and more people have started to realize that what they have seen people doing in Europe might be a good idea over here as well," said Timoni. "Go to Europe - London, Paris, Madrid - you see millions of people driving them to work everyday!"

Scoot to the movies

2008-09-26T08:29:00.001+12:00

Sep 25, 2008
By Peter Calder
New Zealand Herald

If you find yourself in Newmarket or Northcote in the first couple of weeks of October and you can't move for motor scooters, blame it on the movies. The Italian Film Festival revs up next week for the 13th year in a row and on the programme is a valentine to one of the most-recognised and best-loved Italian icons: the Vespa motor scooter.

Sure the artistry may not be up there with the Sistine Chapel but take it from a Vespa owner: a renaissance fresco isn't much use when you need to get to Newmarket in 15 minutes through rush-hour traffic.
The rise in fuel costs has spawned a scooter boom. The last time I looked, sales were up about 80 per cent on the previous year. These days, a scooter rider is not a lone eccentric afloat in an ocean of cars. The other day, I found myself in a bunch of a dozen at a red light: as we throttled away in a buzzy swarm, leaving the ponderous saloons in our wake, I pretended I was in Rome.

Trouble is - and one doesn't want to be too snobby about this - not everything that buzzes is a Vespa. We Vespa owners do get a chuckle when people refer to a plastic and aluminium toy from Taiwan or Korea as their Vespa - although we are happy to accept as cousins anyone who rides one of those Indian-made Belladonnas, which were made to Piaggio's standards.

If you need to know why we feel this way, Forever Vespa will help. The film, whose full title includes the words "the story of an Italian legend", is so enthusiastic about its subject that I suspected it of being a promo film. But its makers, Pippo Cappellano and Marina Cappabianca, are independent filmmakers who were considerably assisted by the fact that Piaggio, the manufacturer, has kept impeccable records and even runs a museum in Pontedera, near Pisa.

Piaggio made aeroplanes and found itself in 1945 with a drastic drop in demand for its products. So it set itself the challenge of getting Italy back on the road by producing one of the most successful vehicles in history.

The film makes a fascinating chronicle of the scooter's design history and, more important, its part in rebuilding Italians' sense of themselves along with their bombed country in the years after the war.The Vespas in this movie range from the familiar (Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday) to the downright bizarre. I did not know that one model was fitted with a 75mm cannon and sold to the French to be used against the Algerians, though there are times in Auckland traffic where such an accessory would be useful.

As a traditionalist, I was distinctly unsure about the wisdom of the one fitted with ape-hanger handlebars. Ditto the stretch Vespa (with the handlebars about five metres from the seat, is a work of art, not a vehicle) but there are plenty of mint vintage models too, including a sidecar which, as the film shows, is vital if you want to change a tyre without coming to a halt. And I loved the canny marketing campaign which created a verb - vespare - meaning "to ride a Vespa".

It's unadulterated fun even if you are unfortunate enough to get around on four wheels. Festival director Tony Lambert has alerted the scooter clubs, so you've been warned: book early.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/movies/news/article.cfm?c_id=200&objectid=10533898

Saigon by Vespa Part 2

2008-09-25T08:40:00.002+12:00

Our previous post was about Vespa tours in Saigon. Sounds like a relaxing and idilic way to see this fantastic city. There is a catch though...have you seen the traffic!

Saigon by Vespa Part 1

2008-09-25T08:11:00.004+12:00

VietNamNet Bridge – For foreign travelers who want to explore the city, taxis or Xich lo (cyclo) are the most popular means of transportation. However, now there is an additional choice for anyone interested in riding bikes or scooters.

In addition to classic bikes, like the Lambretta and Sprint, tourism agencies, in cooperation with Saigon Vespa Club, can now arrange tours on Vespa scooters.

The Vespa tours have attracted attention from many Saigonese and foreign tourists on the city streets. Dominic Steven, a tourist, told the Daily last Friday that he found the scooters convenient, faster and less expensive and more exciting for touring the city.

The Saigon Vespa Club has about 60 members, ten of them women, offering Vespa tours of the city. Chairman of Saigon Vespa Club Nguyen Anh Tuan told the Daily that traveling on scooters has been an option for years, but has become more popular these days. His club is aiming to offer Trans-Viet tours on those bikes in a near future.Tuan said that his club now has about ten to fifteen tours each month. He added that all profits, less the cost of gasoline that is approximately US$10 per tour, would go into the club's charity fund for supporting disadvantaged children and solitary elderly people in the city.

After taking those tours many visitors have been interested in Vespa scooters and wanted to know more about them. After taking a tour last Friday a visitor asked about the model and price of the scooter, and said that he would buy one on his next visit.

For more information, contact travel agencies in the city or Saigon Vespa Club at 135 Hai Ba Street, Ward 1, Ben Nghe District, tel: (08) 323 99 88.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/travel/2008/09/805319/

Vectrix Maxi Electric Scooter

2008-09-24T09:25:00.006+12:00

At scooterhire.co.nz we love toys - most of them burn petrol.

Here's something a little bit different that we have put on our wish-list. The Vectrix Maxi Scooter is battery powered with power claimed to be 20kw and torque of 65Nm. Top speed is claimed at 100kmh.

The Vectrix company started in America some 13 years ago. Here, the Australian NRMA tests the Vectrix Maxi electric scooter.

Pricing

Pricing is AUD$14,990 plus on-road costs.

Standard features

There is a reasonably sized under-seat storage bin and a lockable glove/sunglasses compartment on the left hand side of the front fairing. Brakes are Brembo calipers with disc brakes front and rear.

Accessories

Options available at the time of writing are a top box valued at around $500.

Comfort

The rider's seat pad and backrest built into the front of the rear seat is quite comfortable and supportive whilst riding. The bars are placed well and the switches for indicators, high-beam and horn easy to use. Dual footrest positions further enhance the comfort factor. Pillion comfort is excellent with a large seat and pad-and-grab rails to help a passenger feel secure.

Ergonomics

Instruments are well placed, with a red, backlit, analogue speedometer in the middle which also houses the trip computer. LCD displays show battery life on the right and expected kilometres in the battery and time of day on the left. Both LCD displays are backlit by a funky blue light and provide a clear view whilst riding. On top of the three displays sit the warning lights for indicator flash, which was quite hard to see during daylight hours; high beam lights; side stand down and battery fail. Diamond shaped mirrors limit some rearward view.

Luggage space

A 40 litre storage box is located beneath the rear seat. It will fit a full face helmet with a tight squeeze, whereas an open face helmet has no problems and leaves room for other small items. The very handy 6 litre glove/sunglasses compartment located in the front fairing is large enough to accommodate a one litre carton of milk, wallet, keys and a mobile phone.

Build quality & finish

Mostly Italian parts further enhance the European feel to the bike. Sculptured plastic front cowls blend with the rest of the body to give a chunky look. Overall the fairing offers good protection in most weather. My test was conducted with occasional light rain falling and only a couple of drops hit my helmet visor and shoulders.

Paintwork is good with no defects found. The headlight offers good projection, whilst the rear brake light is an LED. However the centre tunnel cover was of concern with some marks to the plastic slightly evident on our test bike. The finish on the swingarm and rear shocks may dull if not regularly cleaned.

Security

The Maxi has lockable steering via the key and a starting procedure that requires a certain technique, which provide a sense of security.

Fuel

As the bike is electric the fuel used is simply any household electricity outlet. An 80 per cent charge is achieved within two hours. Battery life is claimed to be 10 years or 100,000km. Running costs are claimed at 2 cents per kilometre. Claims of up to 90km out of the batteries were not seen during my tests.

For my first ride I didn't use any regenerative braking, used full accelerator from standstill and got a total of 45km from the battery. On my second ride I used a lot of regenerative braking, which increases battery life, used half accelerator from standstill and got 66km from the battery. I would therefore suggest that if you planned to ride further than 55km per day, you recharge the battery.

Recharging
Recharge time	2 hours
Recommended voltage	240V electricity

Performance

Power is claimed to be 20kw and torque of 65Nm which provides seamless and smooth power from take off with the torque really pulling from the 30km/h mark. This makes for a swift manoeuvring bike in and out of traffic and makes for an enjoyable ride in the conditions for which the bike is designed. Top speed is claimed at 100kmh at which the Maxi stops accelerating and maintains that speed.

Ride

Turn on the ignition and there is no noise; only the dash comes to life. Hold the rear brake and flick the front brake to illuminate the 'Go' symbol and you are ready to ride. Turn the accelerator and straight away you notice the lack of noise. It is an eerie feeling, but I soon adapted to it. As the speed reaches around 30km/h, a small electric whine can be heard but is hardly noticeable. Whilst sitting at traffic lights there is no noise.

The Maxi has a multi function accelerator which provides regenerative braking and a slow speed reverse. The regenerative braking acts by twisting the accelerator forward which slows the bike to reduce braking distance and assists in recharging the battery. The only downside to this is if the need arises for quick application of the front brake you have to twist back the accelerator and squeeze the brake which in turn increases braking distance slightly whilst no braking is applied.

The reverse function is operated in the same way, but will only come on if at a complete stop. It is very handy to assist manoeurving in tight spots and parking.

Having only a side stand and no centre stand may restrict some parking options in tight places.

Handling

Overall handling is good with the bike quite easy to manoeuvre and comfortable to use on its Pirelli tyres. The rear suspension gave good grip and felt stable. The twin rear shocks can be adjusted for damping if carrying a pillion or for personal adjustments. The front suspension felt okay on smooth roads, but was upset on rough roads and gave a lack of feel mid-corner. An adjustable front suspension would improve this area.

Braking

With Brembo calipers as standard you would expect braking performance to be at a high level. However I was disappointed with the front brake which gave limited feel and low performance. The rear brake on the other hand was very good with loads of feel and power available. The only thing on offer to compensate for the front brake is the regenerative braking. However applying the rear brake and using the regenerative braking could result in a locked rear wheel so this feature should be used with care.

Summary

A large amount of research and development went into the design and manufacture of the electric Vectrix Maxi scooter to make it a viable mode of transport. Its aim is city riding while reducing its impact on the environment. In fact, it is claimed the only mode of transport with less emissions than the Vectrix Maxi is a push bike, although you have to take into account that the electricity used in NSW is mostly generated from coal, even if the emissions are located away from city areas...

If you wish to reduce your local environmental impact, want low maintenance costs, travel around 55km per day and can justify the high purchase price, this could be the perfect city or close range scooter for you.

Always remember when riding, wear an approved helmet and quality riding gear, enjoy yourself and ride safely.

Scooter Eco-Analysis

2008-09-24T09:00:00.002+12:00

Wired Magazine
October 2008

Dear Mr. Know-It-All I've always been proud of my scooter's great gas mileage. But a friend tells me its emissions make it no greener than a Chevy. Have I been deluding myself?

Your use of the word always implies that your scooter is rather aged. If that's the case, then your contrarian pal may be right. Older scooters with two-stroke engines emit far more smoggy pollutants per mile than their four-wheeled counterparts.

True, you probably get double the fuel economy of a Chevy and can thus crow about your ride's smaller carbon footprint (and thus smaller contribution to climate change). But your tailpipe may also be belching out 10 to 15 times more smog (nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons) than that Chevy, to the severe detriment of your city's air quality.

If you switched to a new, four-stroke scooter, you could pop your eco-jersey a bit more. New federal regulations on two-wheeler emissions kicked in for the 2006 model year, and they're slated to get even tougher for 2010. Look for a scooter with a catalytic converter — the emissions-scrubbing gizmos aren't required, but they are becoming more common.

http://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/16-10/st_kia#

At scooterhire.co.nz, we do not spend a lot of time wringing our hands over environmental guilt. We do however get a wee bit annoyed over environmental misconceptions and hysteria about Scooters.

Scooters are at the other extreme of engine size of a "Chevy" (or most other “vehicles”) and typically have 50cc to 150cc engines. Admittedly some of these engines do have more lenient EPA emissions standards. However, while they may pollute more per displacement size, they are far smaller in engine displacement and will emit a smaller total amount of alleged pollutants into the atmosphere than larger motorcycles or automobiles.

Most modern scooters have a catalytic converter. If this article was written 10 years ago, the writer might have more of a point. But the fact is that these days most reputable manufacturers offer modern emissions-controlled, CARB and Euro III certified scooters.

Scooters are also cheaper energywise to build and maintain, which is a factor the writer forgot to mention. Half of the emissions created during a vehicles life are in the manufacture and cars and trucks lose that game in a huge way.
Cars emit CO2 in direct relation to how much petrol they burn, so using a lot less fuel should keep the environmentalists happy!

Peugeot scooter just right for the city

2008-09-18T23:06:00.002+12:00

17 September 2008
Harriet Ridley

WHAT costs £829 brand new, will take you across town in no time whether it?s rush hour or not - and costs peanuts to run?

It's Peugeot's answer to the credit crunch. The V-Clic 50, the cheapest small scooter in town with one of the most respected European brand names.

For years now Chinese brands have flooded our markets with cheap runarounds and funny names. Yes, they're a bargain but there's always that element of doubt. If something goes wrong, what kind of comeback do you get?

Many of us choose to stick to brand names we know, stumping up the extra cash for peace of mind.
So it was only a matter of time before one of the big manufacturers took a long hard look at what the Chinese are doing to bring us exactly what we want - a scooter for the masses that lets us bypass overcrowded and overpriced public transport systems, escape the congestion and spoil us for choice when it comes to parking.
And that's with a brand name we trust, which ensures European standards are applied to the manufacturing. To prove the point, the V-Clic proudly displays Peugeot?s lion badge and comes with the manufacturer's two-year warranty.

Make no mistake, the V-Clic is no trendy NRG or Speedfight in styling. It's plain functional, keeping costs low while providing everything we need - a decent fairing, mirrors with a clear rear view, indicators that make a loud clicking noise so you can't forget they're on and a headlamp with strong beam.

Underseat storage is deep enough to accommodate a full-faced helmet and there's a handy, open cubby hole at the front to store things on the go.

Of course, the obligatory hook for handbag, man bag or shopping bag is present, with a flat floor optimising carrying capacity - even Kate Moss would have enough room to store her most oversized of handbags here.

The 50cc four-stroke engine reaches 30mph in restricted form. Unless you have a motorcycle licence or go through the effort of passing your CBT, you can ride a 50cc with L-plates on your car licence as long as it doesn?t exceed 30mph.

But that's all you need through town, with enough poke low-down to whizz past the traffic and through the world's busiest high streets. It's so small it really will squeeze through the narrowest gaps between cars.

It has the typical agility of small-wheeled scooters - U-turns are swift and at a measly 78kg it's so light you can jump off and push the V-Clic, engine off, across a stretch of pavement if necessary.

The V-Clic has a disc front brake and a drum back brake. This makes sense as most of the braking is done with the front brake, as the weight moves over the front end as you decelerate. So it needs the sharpest tool for the job.

Meanwhile the drum back brake applies the right amount of pressure without being strong enough to accidentally lock the rear wheel in wet weather. Working together the brakes are just the job to slow or bring the V-Clic to a rapid stop.

With the rising cost of public transport and the cost of petrol showing no signs of lowering, you can't go wrong with Peugeot's latest £829 proposition.

Tax costs £15 a year, insurance on a cheap 50cc is negligible and with an average of 100mpg, you can wave goodbye to the credit crunch on the V-Clic 50.

FAST FACTS
Peugeot V-Clic 50
Price : £829
Engine : 50cc single cylinder 4-stroke air-cooled 4-valve carburettor
Braking : (F) Single 170mm, (R) drum
Weight : 79kg
Seat height : 715mm
Fuel tank : 6.3 litre
Warranty : 2-year from manufacturer

http://www.ayrshirepost.net/lifestyle/motoring-car-news/2008/09/17/peugeot-scooter-just-right-for-the-city-102545-21844909/

Riders at risk without the leathers

2008-09-13T23:00:00.001+12:00

At scooterhire.co.nz we love the "scooter image" however it pays to keep it in perspective:

KATE BENSON MEDICAL REPORTER
13/09/2008

SYDNEY'S love affair with scooters has a price, say doctors and ambulance officers who are seeing a growing number of riders injured because they don't wear protective clothing or full-face helmets.
There are more than 6200 scooters on NSW roads, including about 1870 registered last year alone, as motorists struggle to beat rising petrol prices and Sydney's congested traffic. But experts fear riders are not taking the dangers seriously.

"When people buy a scooter, they are in love with the image promoted by advertisers, so you have plenty of young girls in short skirts and heels riding around the streets," the chairman of the Motorcycle Council of NSW, Guy Stanford, said. "Well, sorry, the crash statistics say it's all the same, whether you're on a scooter or a motorcycle. If you come off and you're not wearing protective gear, such as jackets with body armour, gloves, boots and eyewear, you can find yourself … inconvenienced for months."

Or dead, says the Roads and Traffic Authority, which points out motorcycle riders are 16 to 20 times more likely to be killed in a road accident than a car occupant.

Despite that, many scooter riders wear half-face helmets, which don't protect the chin and teeth and rarely come with visors to protect the eyes from common dangers, including insects and burning cigarettes thrown from cars. Only 51 per cent of riders wear leather boots, which can prevent fractured bones piercing the skin and infections from gravel and grease on the road. Only 38 per cent wear motorcycle pants.

Mr Stanford, who believes half of all motorcycle injuries could be reduced or prevented if people wore protective clothing, said cheaper helmets, usually the half-face versions, were often heavier and put extra stress on the neck and spine in an accident, while riders who wore jackets without body armour were at risk of chipping bones in their elbows or vertebrae.

The most common injuries from motorcycle falls or crashes included fractured skulls, bruising and bleeding on the brain, compound fractures of the leg and infections caused by gravel rash, but some injuries were particular to fashion-conscious female scooter riders, an emergency physician at St Vincent's Hospital, Fiona Chow, said yesterday. "We had someone recently who was wearing a scarf which got caught in the wheel of her scooter. She was OK, but if it had been tied differently around her neck, she may been strangulated," Dr Chow said.

A spokeswoman for the NSW Ambulance Service said paramedics were seeing more injuries from riders wearing inappropriate footwear.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/general/riders-at-risk-without-the-leathers/1271486.aspx#

2008 Scooter Cannonball Run

2008-09-12T23:44:00.000+12:00

By Chris Somerville
September 11th, 2008

The 2008 Scooter Cannonball Run started today, a 3000+ mile coast-to-coast endurance run for hardcore scooterists who want to test themselves and their machines.

The Cannonball Run is a 10-day timed rally and is open to all scooters up to 252cc.

The proverbial green flag dropped this morning in San Francisco, sending 23 scooter fanatics off on a wild ride of more than 300 miles a day as they head to Ocean City, Maryland with a planned ending date of September 20th.

As an avid scooter rider myself, I’m envious of the freewheeling spirit and adventurous attitude that Cannonball participants have to have to embark on such a monstorous and potentially perilous journey. But just the thought of riding more than 300 miles a day on a scooter makes my butt, back and legs ache.

The Cannonball is not only a test of vehicle endurance, but a test of a rider’s mental stability as well. Riding for more than 8 hours a day on a scooter for 10 straight days is not something to be entered into lightly. Of course there is the worry of having a mechanical breakdown, something that seems to happen with amazing regularity on some of the older Vespas and Lambrettas on the run. But there is also the concern of hitting checkpoints, finding lodging and food and calculating gas mileage — all while riding on 10-inch tires.

Back in 1996, a group of my club members from Secret Society Scooter Club and some other scooterist took a “Ride of a Lifetime” from San Francisco to Italy for the 50th Anniversary of the Vespa (clearly they had their bikes shipped over “the pond” and then continued to ride from there).

They rode more than 350 miles a day on classic Vespas, and while everything went OK for them, the hardship tales from the trip convinced me that it takes a special breed to ride that far in such a short time.

Send your good thought out to these hearty souls who have embarked on their own ride of a lifetime. Many of them have blogs to detail their adventure, along with pictures and even GPS real-time locators so you can “live the dream” along with them from the comfort of your office chair. Check the forums and who knows, maybe next year you will decide to Cannonball it yourself.

Motor On!!

http://www.somervillecustompublishing.com/Gasoline-Alley/scooter-cannonball-takes-off/68/

Scooter girls can beat helmet hair

2008-09-11T23:59:00.000+12:00

At scooterhire.co.nz, we tackle the big scooter problems head-on...here's an article about that age old problem of helmet hair:

10/10/08
Harriet Ridley

THERE'S a soaring number of women discovering the joys of two wheels to beat the credit crunch. With the latest generation of super-cool scooter gear girls can now be really trendy. But the problems begin when we reach destination and take our helmets off to reveal hair that's as flat as a pancake and clinging to our heads.

Helmet hair is the plague of every two-wheeled rider with hair. The longer the hair, the more tragic the problem. So what can we do about it?

Don't even think about not wearing a helmet. You would never get away with it and can you imagine the tangles? Faced with no viable alternative, over the years I've learned there are things we can do to minimise the problem.

For instance, washing your hair the night before rather than on the day makes it less pliable and thus less willing to take the shape of your helmet.

And get a helmet with a removable washable lining. A dirty helmet will make your hair greasy and smelly. All good-quality helmets nowadays come with removable lining. Alternatively, wear a clean balaclava under the helmet. This is also good for keeping the hair tucked inside the jacket so it doesn?t creep out and get tangled.

These tips can help, although I still haven't found a solution to end helmet hair days for good, so do let me know if you have one? just as long as it's not something like, get a helmet that fits loosely.

A loose-fitting helmet won't do anything to protect your head in the event of a fall. Getting a helmet that fits properly is vital: Too small and it will give you a headache, too big and it won't cushion your head during impact. It's better to have helmet hair than brain damage.

There's a range of helmets to choose from. Open-faced helmets are popular on scooters, although I steer clear as they don't protect your chin in a fall. However, on some modern scooters storage space is only big enough for open-faced helmets, so this may be enough to convince some riders of their worth.

Different helmets suit different people as everyone has a different shaped head. Clearly I've got an expensive head shape as Arai fits me most comfortably. Well, it is one of the best quality helmets money can buy.
However, Shoei is an expensive brand too, but their helmets don't fit my head shape comfortably, squeezing my cheeks to give me that fish-in-a-bowl feeling.

Arai is bringing out a full-faced helmet with a new design for girls in 2009. You?ll be able to see it at this year's International Motorcycle and Scooter Show at the NEC, so if you're going check it out it's gorgeous! And will cost £344.

Suomy is bang on trend at the moment with its cheaper range of full-faced helmets with colourful, flowery and sparkling designs. It has a good selection of open-faced versions too. See www.suomy.com for details.

HJC is another brand to look out for. The girly designs include the Art Fighter for £120, or the EVE in pink or white and lilac for £119.

And check out Shark's limited edition butterfly full-faced helmet for £139.99; there's an open-faced version too.

IXS do a good selection of jet helmets in girly colours. You can find all these brands at www.girlsbike2.com .
Meanwhile, super-popular brand Momo have a selection of girl-friendly designs at www.momo.com .

And if pink is your thing, I'm the not-so-proud owner of a bubble gum pink open-faced helmet from Nexx (www.nexx-helmets.co.uk), although you won't catch me wearing it too often.

Still, it's not as bad as the latest craze to have hit Spain. Scooter riders there are wearing horse riding hats! All the trendy kids wear them, call me old-fashioned but they look ridiculous. That's one trend I can't see catching on here.

http://www.ayrshirepost.net/lifestyle/motoring-car-news/2008/09/10/scooter-girls-can-beat-helmet-hair-102545-21794289/

Wi Fi Scooter

2008-09-06T10:13:00.000+12:00

At scooterhire.co.nz we thought that this was cool. We love scooters and we love technology - so why not combine the two!

If you own a scooter, that's great. Fancy turning it into a portable Wi-Fi hotspot? Well, all the necessary instructions are provided here, so read on to find out how you can spruce up that old boneshaker of yours into one funky scooter that is able to offer GPS navigation, a pirated radio station and even enough power to juice up an electric guitar so that you can play songs via the Web. You'd best be equipped with a decent amount of DIY knowledge if you want to attempt this project though.

Vietnam scooter swarm

2008-09-02T21:20:00.000+12:00

This is unbelievable! Is this what driving down Auckland's Queen Street is going to be like in a few years time...

The Romance of the Scooter

2008-08-31T21:53:00.010+12:00

At scooternz.co.nz we are reasonably passionate about scooters. We believe that they are much more that a convenient means of transportation that saves you gas...we believe that they represent a sense of freedom and individuality.

In this politically correct world, the humble scooter provides a much needed sanctuary from collective responsibility. You can enjoy indulging yourself without guilt and by not conforming to the restraints of other forms of transportation. The scooter has its own unique quirky style and sense of humor. When you drive a scooter, you will always enjoy the journey and you can always guarantee a smile.

We like how the Cartel Agency has capitulated the style and romance of the scooter in the following article:
31 August 2008
by Jordan

In Italy they’re called by the more elegant and somehow far cuter name Motorino. A cornerstone of mediterranean culture, especially in urban centres, motorini are still the simplest and easiest way to navigate a city. The various iterations of Piaggio’s famous Vespa from the 1950s onwards are indisputable vehicle design classics, and even after days and days in the south of Italy I still found myself staring like a man transfixed when an old white vespa whizzed past me.

There’s something about the simplicity of a motorino that’s irresistible: it’s a culture entirely different from that of the motocicletta or motorcycle, which involves shifting gears and straddling the bike like a horse; on a motorino you sit like you’re having dinner, with only a simplified spedometer and a couple of lights on your display. People from 14 to 85 drive them here, and hopping on a scooter is about as natural as going for a walk.
A couple of years ago, Piaggio introduced a new line of their famous Vespa scooters that, while not exactly re-creating the perfect heavy lines of the old Vespa frontpiece, comes pretty close. It’s a happily backwards-looking design similar to Fiat new’s cinquecento, the closest a lot of people will get to ever owning one of Fiat’s old masterpiece of a car.
Vespa Canada (yeah, we do drive some vespas in Canada, even if they’re prohibitively expensive and our scooter season outside of Vancouver is far too short) recently commissioned some great print ads that simultaneously introudced the new Vespa and harkened the arrival of spring. The theme is butterflies, close enough to the original meaning of the word Vespa (which would be wasp) and a little more appealing than that annoying insect when we’re talking about heralding in a new season.
The thematic unity of the butterfly/scooter concept left the designers free to incorporate elements of different design eras into each particular ad, with splendid results all around. I especially love the 1970s-themed design with its concentric lines and perfect colour scheme. Beautiful stuff.
Our final scooter-related find is this set of stunning high-end helmets from the Parisian designer Les Ateliers Ruby, which top any helmet I have ever seen anyone wearing anywhere. They’re lush, shiny, and thematically perfect for anyone buying a scooter for more than just a convenient method of transport.
I once saw a dude on a vintage vespa in Paris, sporting white converse, good jeans, a perfect vintage button-up shirt, and smoking a Gauluoises–which wasn’t hanging out of his mouth, mind you, but resting there in that inimitable ‘this took me 3 seconds to do but would take you a damn lifetime‘ French style. If he’d had this helmet, we would have our winner in the coolest man ever to ride a scooter. He’s probably already got one, the bastard.
http://blog.cartelagency.com/2008/08/31/the-romance-of-the-scooter/

Vespa S scooter - tested

2008-08-31T08:11:00.003+12:00

S marks spot for new retro scoot.

Nobody captures the spirit of Seventies scootering better than Vespa – and the new S takes the concept further.

The company’s classic rectangular headlight has made a return, while the body has been cut away at the rear to reveal more of the frame and motor.

But because the S is essentially a restyled LX, under the retro skin is a very modern Vespa. And buyers get a choice of 50cc or 125cc engines.

We tried the bigger machine, and although it was lively around town, we felt it lacked the punch of similar-capacity offerings from Vespa.

Those small wheels – 11 inches on the front and 10 inches at the rear – ensure the S corners well. At faster speeds, though, the slightest bump, road marking or gust of wind upsets it. We would have liked a bit more braking confidence, too. Stopping from high speed takes a lot of effort.

Tested - Vespa S scooter
Prices: £1,999 (50cc), £2,699 (125cc)
Rating: 3/5
Contact: 08008 182 9800, www.uk.vespa.com
Problems? Brakes lack bite, poor high-speed stability.
So why buy? Classic styling, very comfortable, easy low-speed manoeuvring.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/226929/vespa_s_scooter_tested.html

TECHNICAL DATA

Engine: 49 CC oil injected Two stroke
Transmission: Twist & Go
Starter: Kick & electric
Cooling: Forced air
Front suspension: Single sided trailing link, hydraulic shock
Rear suspension: Hydraulic shock
Front brake: 200mm Disc
Rear brake: 110mm Drum
Front tyre: 110x70x11
Rear tyre: 120x70x10
Length: 1800mm
Width: 740mm
Wheelbase: 1280mm
Seat Height: 785mm
Running weight: 98kg
Fuel tank: 8.6 litres
Front storage compartment Digital clock Under seat compartment Approximate fuel consumption: 100-130 kms/5 litres

Scooter sales zooming as gas prices stay high

2008-08-31T08:01:00.002+12:00

By JAMIE GUMBRECHT
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Saturday, August 30, 2008

Scoot over, drivers.

More motor scooters are hitting metro Atlanta streets, flaunting how far they go on a gallon of gas. Sellers say scooter sales have at least tripled since gas hit $4 a gallon this spring. At Twist ‘n’ Scoot on Piedmont Avenue, shoppers used to have about 50 to browse and test drive. Lately, the store has about a dozen in stock, and manufacturers and distributors are just beginning to fill months of back orders.

“Some shoppers were panic-stricken, over the top, buying these thinking it was going to be the best solution,” said owner Bill Gortno, who recently opened a Twist ‘n’ Scoot store in Decatur, too.

About 191,000 motorcycles have been registered so far this year, according to the Georgia Department of Revenue. (The figure includes scooters with engines large enough to require a tag, but not smaller scooters on the road.) Already, this year’s figure is a jump from the 2007 total of 174,000 registrations.

Christie Hall, 36, of Decatur, recently bought a sage green Buddy-brand scooter to run errands and commute to work in Inman Park. Its 150 cubic centimeter engine gets 85 miles per gallon of gas, so its fuel bills are lower than her Toyota Rav4’s. The scooter is more fun to drive, too, she says. “I get tons of smiles and waves. When I stop, people in cars start chatting me up,” Hall says of her scoot commute. “The first time a motorcycle guy waved to me, I felt really tough.”

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF A SCOOTER IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

What’s the attraction?

Scooters can feel cute, sporty, even a little “Roman Holiday”-Audrey-Hepburn hip. But consider the cost: Scooters can get up to 90 miles per gallon of gas, and with prices at $2,000 to $4,000 new, they cost far less than a car.

Who can drive a scooter?

If a scooter’s engine is larger than 51 cubic centimeters, it is considered a motorcycle and requires the driver to have a motorcycle operator’s license. Drivers must be at least 16 to get an instructional permit or 17 to get a license. (Drivers younger than 18 need a parent’s consent.) Motorcycle licensing information is available at . If a scooter’s engine is 50cc or less, drivers must be at least 15 and have a valid driver’s license, instructional permit or learner’s permit. Those bikes don’t require a tag, but they can’t travel where the minimum speed is higher than 35 mph, either.

Can a scooter handle the open road?

“People scoot in front of me on Ponce all day long,” says Joe Nieberding, manager of ATLscooters on Ponce De Leon Avenue. A scooter can easily handle neighborhood streets or a commute from nearby suburbs, but drivers shouldn’t take them on an expressway, or even a busy road if they’re inexperienced. People use them
year-round in Atlanta, but they are tougher to handle on wet winter roads.

Where can you park a scooter?

It depends: bike racks, car spaces and sidewalks might be your parking lot. If there’s no designated scooter space, try to pick a safe, out-of-the-way spot. Scooter parking “is something we can look into more, and should,” says Angie Laurie, vice president of transportation for Central Atlanta Progress. She suggests scouting out parking lots and bike racks on the map at .

The University of Georgia has installed scooter corrals, and Decatur added free scooter parking in three locations: downtown, on East Ponce De Leon Avenue near Wachovia Bank and West Ponce de Leon Avenue near Taqueria del Sol. The city split three car spaces into five scooter spaces, and might add security racks. “We try to encourage alternative transportation. This seemed simple,” says Lyn Menne, community and economic development director.

What does scooting cost?

Aside from the cost of a scooter, consider helmets, which the state requires, and other safety gear like boots, jackets and gloves; motorcycle education classes and licensing fees; cleaning and maintenance, like oil changes; parking and traffic tickets; insurance. Despite the savings at the gas station, a gas-powered scooter will still require some cash.

What’s the downside?

Theft can be a problem for the small vehicles, so store them away from the street, and lock them up when parked in public. Accidents can be disastrous, too, when the small two-wheelers tangle with four-wheeled cars and trucks. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says there were 35 scooter accident deaths in 2006, and the number is expected to rise as popularity increases.

Hall, the new scooter owner, says she feels more vulnerable on her scooter, but it made her into a safer driver. She plans to take a motorcycle education course in November, too. “It made me aware of how much I was on autopilot in my car,” Hall says. “Now I try to pay more attention.”

http://www.ajc.com/business/content/living/stories/2008/08/30/scooter_sales_atlanta.html

Rome’s motorcycle police

2008-08-29T22:12:00.000+12:00

At scooterhire.co.nz, we found the following video that we think you will enjoy! This a classic performance of daring and skill by Rome’s motorcycle police:

Fill her up with fuel - for $9!

2008-08-29T21:51:00.004+12:00

29th August 2008
www.thedaily.com.au

It’s a head turner and a conversation starter. It saves loads of petrol money and its owner can almost always find a place to park it.

No wonder Michael Hughes loves his powder-blue 1963 Vespa. “I like it because it’s stylish,” he said.

His vintage, two-wheeler transports him from Noosa Outlook to work at Snack eatery in Noosa Junction each day. It costs him $9 to fill the tank, which he said lasted for about two weeks.

Mr Hughes is part of a growing scooter movement across Noosa and the Sunshine Coast. Sunshine Coast Regional Council has just replaced several car parks on Hastings Street with 25 new scooter parks, while up to 10 new scooter parks have been put in place at Noosa Junction.

Integrated transport planning leader Nigel Walker said the new parks were part of council’s scooter strategy. “Promoting scooter use is integral to maintaining a sustainable balance,” he said. “Scooters have less parking requirements, less greenhouse-gas emissions, less wear and tear on road networks.” He said if the new scooter parks were well used, the council would look at rolling out more of them. “It’s a supply and demand issue,” he said. “We didn’t want to put in 70 scooter parks if they don’t get used.

“We’ll encourage the use and, as the parking fills, then maybe we can take more space away from cars.” One car park can be converted into four scooter parks. Mr Walker said car users would need to accept scooters on the road, particularly as they grew in popularity. “People often don’t feel they want to share that road space,” he said. “The more we provide for them and make them attractive, car drivers will come to accept it.”

Mr Hughes said he was “all for” council’s scooter strategy, but scooter riders needed to be educated about safe riding practices before they hit the road.

SCOOTER STRATEGY

*Will be implemented from 2008-2012.
*Initiative of the former Noosa Shire Council and will be continued by Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
*About 35 new scooter parks have been rolled out in Noosa, with a look to converting more car parks.
*Council is in discussions about how the strategy can be implemented across the Coast.

http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2008/aug/29/fill-her-fuel-for-9/

Win a Must-Do Weekend

2008-08-25T10:45:00.004+12:00

Thanks to AA Travel, The New Zealand Herald and Herald on Sunday, 16 Must-Do Weekends are to be given away. That's 4 Weekend Experiences to be won every week for four weeks.

Purchase The New Zealand Herald and Herald on Sunday between Monday, August 25 and Sunday, September 21, 2008 for your chance to win. Each amazing AA Must-Do weekend experience.

There are two ways to enter:

Web: Go to www.winaweekend.co.nz and enter the daily keywords printed in the Herald along with your details.
Postal: Fill out the daily entry form printed in the Herald and send it to "NZ Herald Win a Weekend, PO Box 37774, Parnell, Auckland 1151.

Each week you could win one of 16 Must-Do Weekends.

We may be biased, but we think that the best weekend offer is:

Must-Do “Enrich Your Soul” Eastland Weekend

Open from Monday, 15.09.08 to Wednesday 24.09.08

Prize is for 4 adults and includes a prize donated by scooterhire.co.nz:

Two nights accommodation at Teal Motor Lodge, Gisborne
3-days Budget Rent a Car hire
TomTom navigation unit for each of the winners to keep
Winners will receive a Canon PowerShot A580 Digital Still Camera
Winners will be provided with either return flights or $200 petrol vouchers to be used with the rental car
A reef experience with Dive Tatapouri
A five-hour tour with Go Gisborne
A $200 dinner voucher to The Marina Restaurant and Bar, Gisborne
A cultural experience with Waka Toa
Free scooter rental for one person to travel around the city for two days including insurance and unlimited kilometres

For full details of all prizes and terms & conditions, click: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/promotion/story.cfm?c_id=500848&objectid=10528470

The Vespa PX classic stops rolling

2008-08-24T21:26:00.002+12:00

I own a classic 1965 VBB Vespa 150, 2 stroke, 4-speed that has many similarities to the more "modern" Vespa PX. It is a shame to say goodbye to the last of these models with their old school 2-stroke motors and manual gears...

By Clark Ainsworth
BBC News, Tunbridge Wells

Hundreds of scooter enthusiasts will head to the coast this bank holiday weekend at a time when a model that is a direct descendant of the bikes favoured by the Mods of the 1960s ceases to be sold in showrooms.

Stringent new European emission legislation has meant the Vespa PX, with its distinctive waspish engine sound and oil-thick blue exhaust smoke, is no longer economically viable.

Vespa said that although sales of the 30-year-old two-stroke manually-geared bike were fairly static at about 15,000 units annually, tightening emission legislation sounded the death-knell on the model.

It will now only produce machines that have a fully automatic gear box.

UK general manager Tony Campbell said: "In an effort to clean up emissions of all motorised vehicles, the EU government has set a number of standards to be met within certain deadlines.

"The new emissions regulations, known as "Euro 3", make the production of a two-stroke engine larger than 50cc not economically feasible.

"The Vespa PX will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the best. A model does not last for 30 years unless it was right in the first place."

Recently the firm has been riding high with sales of its congestion charge-busting and fuel-efficient automatic bikes doubling in recent years.

Rising petrol and parking prices have meant there are almost as many of their models on the roads as in the halcyon days of scooter riding in the late 50s and 60s.

But the decision by parent company Piaggio to cease production of the two-stroke PX 125cc, has saddened those who feel the model is a design classic.

And over the past few months the final few examples of the last ever mass-produced European manually-geared scooter have been snapped up by enthusiasts.

The scooters made by Vespa, and Lambretta, until they ceased to make bikes, were favoured by the original Mods who travelled to seaside resorts such Brighton and Margate and enthusiasts that followed.

Their distinctive sound combined with the whiff of oil-infused smoke also set them apart from their modern rivals and made them attractive to commuters who wanted something a bit different as they traversed 21st Century roads.

Andy Gillard, who is the editor of Scootering Magazine, said: "My generation has grown up with the PX. It was designed and created in 1977 when I was eight so I've known nothing else.

"It mobilised the masses again in the 80s. You had The Jam, Quadrophenia and the Mod revival and the PX was sitting there in the showroom.

"There were thousands of scooters on the roads again. You could buy it on hire purchase. It was style you could afford. Thirty years on people were still buying it.

"You could say it was the VW Beetle of the two-wheeled world."

He said the legislation did not take into account the fact that they were fuel efficient and the simplicity of their engines meant older models were repaired rather than scrapped.

Mr Gillard added: "It's a shame really because It's the end of a long line of motor scooters. It's the end of the true blood line.

"There are new Vespas out there. The company created the scooter 60 years ago and is still making a version of it.

"So you can still go out and buy a stylish scooter but what you can't buy is the last piece of the history."

"It's like the new Fiat 500, the style is there but it's just not quite the same, which is a shame as the Vespa PX is a design classic."

Vespa said it felt its latest crop of automatic scooters, which include a new 300cc model and a sport model, carry on the brand's heritage while making bikes more accessible to new riders.

Mr Campbell said: "The modern scooter rider requires ease of use as one of its main priorities for scootering around and a 'twist and go' machine provides that easy driving style.

"The PX had a manual gearbox that was born out of its traditional heritage as opposed to what today's customer demands.

"Other Vespa models such as the GTS and Vintage Range are now beginning to win over the scooter enthusiast and we are confident that Vespa buyers will appreciate the new product developments."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/7576529.stm

Scooterquest 08 LIVE!

2008-08-23T15:40:00.007+12:00

At scooterhire.co.nz, we are kinda excited about "Scooterquest '08" A background to this unique event is on our original post here.

Watch 3-men on scooters embark on an Epic Quest from Minnesota to New York City and back again - LIVE! (...when they get out of bed)

TIME: Minnesota, United States

Riding A Scooter in Beijing City

2008-08-22T21:15:00.004+12:00

A new saying about Beijing’s traffic goes: “Cars are jammed, bicycles are slow, scooters are best.” Beijing’s expat motorcycle and scooter riders enjoy weaving in and out of jams, but many of them are unaware that they are driving illegally.

Xavier, a Frenchman who works in an insurance-related company, loves his motorcycle. He bought it a year and half ago at Wudaokou for a mere 2,200 yuan (US$272). Now he has ridden 10,000 kilometers on it. Although he has spent more than 1,000 yuan (US$123) on reparations, plus 15 yuan (US$2) worth of oil for every 80 kilometers, he thinks it is a good deal.

“If I take a taxi, it costs me 10 yuan (US$1.23) to go four kilometers. So my motorbike has saved me 25,000 yuan (US$3,125) during this past a year and a half,” he calculated. “Back in France, the same motorbike would cost me 10 times more.”

He has been to the Hutong, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, the bar streets and outside Beijing on his bike.

“It is not expensive, and I’m never late anymore,” he claimed. “It is the cheapest and best way to discover Beijing.”

With all of its merits Xavier knows he has been driving the motorcycle illegally.

His 125 cc motorcycle, which can hit up to 100 kilometers per hour, has a Hebei plate that cost him 300 yuan (US$37). But in Beijing only a Jing-A (-A) plate can go beyond the Fourth Ring Road.

Also, his motorcycle is not supposed to go on the second, third, fourth and fifth ring roads.

Even worse, the city stopped issuing any new plates for new motorcycles in January 1998, But plates for scrapped Jing-As can be bought for up to as much as 15,000 yuan (US$185).

The punishment for driving without a license can be an 800 yuan (US$99) fine and 13 days’ custody.

Safety is also a problem. One Korean student at the Beijing Language and Culture University died in a traffic accident in May after driving a motorcycle while drunk.

Pollution is another issue. Beijing has already asked all vehicles on the road to meet Europe III emission standards, including motorcycles. Many motorcycles and scooters do not meet these standards.

Two other types of bikes available in shops are petrol powered scooters and electric scooters, called zhu li che in Chinese.

At scooter shops near Xiaoyunqiao on the North Fourth Ring Road, shop assistants said they sell four to five scooters a day. But according to a policeman on the North Fourth Ring Road, all petrol scooters are banned. If one has a D-type license for motorcycle driving, it might help. But it does not mean the scooter will not be impounded by traffic police.

As for electric scooters, Beijing Traffic Administration issued a decree in 2002, stating that all electric scooters will be forbidden by the end of 2005.

The main reasons electric scooters are to be banned are safety and battery pollution. They can drive up to 50 kilometers per hour, which is more than double the speed of bicycles. People can drive these with no training, and judging by the way some people ride bicycles in Beijing it is surely a recipe for disaster.

According to estimates by the Chinese Association of Bicycles, there are 10 million electric bicycles in China, 500,000 of which are in Beijing. The end of the year will reveal the answer to the question of electric scooters’ legitimacy.

For many expats, it is the fact that they are often ignored by the police that makes them neglect proper licensing and insurance.

Briton, David Jones, bought a second hand scooter from a friend and has been driving it for a month.

“I drive past the police all the time and they have never stopped me,” he said. “In Britain if a policeman noticed anybody without a license plate he would certainly pull him over. Here I seem to get away with it.”

Gerald Gardebled, a motorcycle enthusiast from France, was once fined 200 yuan (US$25) for driving his motorcycle in a bicycle lane. Once he was stopped by police who suspected that his motorcycle was stolen. The police then radioed headquarters to confirm his identity and the legitimacy of his black Jing-A plate for foreigners. Although Gardebled forgot to carry his license, they let him go when they learned that the vehicle was legally his.

To get a D-type license people need to visit the Foreign Affairs’ Office of the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau. They will then be asked to fill in a form and take their passport and resident permit and go through a physical examination and then pass a traffic rule test and a driving test.

Expats can either go by themselves or contact Beijing Foreign Enterprise Service Group (FESCO) to have people help them complete the process at a cost of 800 yuan (US$99).

“If you ask them, most people do not want to break the law,” said David Jones. “They would also be hoping that conforming to the law won’t cost them too much money, time and effort. They just want to get any problems sorted out quickly and easily.”

http://www.chinamotorscooter.com/blog/2008/riding-a-scooter-in-beijing-city/

Scooter Nana rules the road

2008-08-21T19:11:00.004+12:00

The Gisborne Herald
Letter to the Editor
Thursday, 21 August 2008

I have ridden a motor scooter for 25 years. I started with a Suzuki FA50cc, progressed to a Honda 80cc and now ride a 125cc motor scooter.

I have noticed that a large number of scooter riders keep too far to the left - so they are in the wrong place should a car door open, or a car back out of a park.

The scooter should have a motor powerful enough to enable the rider to "keep up with the traffic", at 50ks plus per hour.

The rider should be able to sit behind the car in front and be able to see the rear vision mirror in the car, and know that the driver of the car can also see the rider behind him/her.

I also wear a bright-coloured windbreaker jacket and bright-coloured helmet - both very visible - on a scooter it is vital that you can be seen.

Too many motor-bike riders and cyclists wear dark clothing and are not clearly visible.

Ride safely - ride well.

Scooter-riding Nana

http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/Default.aspx?s=3&s1=2&id=4818

The 60's Mod scooter scene

2008-08-20T22:59:00.002+12:00

At scooterhire.co.nz we have noticed a more than a few of our customers enjoy recapturing a slice of lost youth.

When the movie "Quadrophenia" was released in 1979, some of our customers were immpressionable youths. Quadrophenia is a classic cult-movie set in London at the height of the mod era in 1964. The stars of the movie was the rock opera album sondtrack by The Who, closely followed by tricked-out Vespa & Lambretta scooters.

Quadrophenia is about that crucial time in teenhood when the lion's share of your sense of identity is tied up in the music you listen to, the clothes you wear, and the groups you hang out with.

Jimmy (Phil Daniels) identifies himself with the sharp-dressing, scooter-riding Mods, who listen to American soul and British pop-rock. The Rockers, on the other hand, are leather-jacketed, black-booted, motorcycle-riding tough guys who listen primarily to classic American rock & roll. The film captures this pop-culture revolution perfectly.

If you haven't seem the movie yet, we recommend you do. Great soundtrack, classic story and interesting social history.

“I don't wanna be the same as everybody else. That's why I'm a Mod, see? I mean, you gotta be somebody, ain't ya, or you might as well jump in the sea and drown. ” Jimmy in Quadrophenia

The film Trailer appears here:

Scooter Quest '08

2008-08-20T09:57:00.010+12:00

An Epic Quest from Minnesota to New York City is to be undertaken by a group of scooter enthusiasts that enjoy traveling, exploration and fun together. The adventure begins on August 23rd, 2008 from Minneapolis, MN ending in New York, NY with checkpoints in Chicago, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia along the way.

There are many scooter treks being publicised at the moment, but these guys are doing it with a difference. The scooters will be equipped with cameras streaming the entire event live on scooterquest.com! You're able to come along on the ride through the latest in technological interactivity.

The trip's goal is three-fold:

To show you don't have to give up your freedom to travel due to high fuel prices
You can conserve the Earth and protect the environment through more eco-friendly means
You can have fun and meet awesome and interesting people on the way.

I guess the obligatory eco message had to be included, however our opinion at scooterhire.co.nz is that the boys will be concentrating on goal number 3!

Click on their website to interact and follow them live: www.scooterquest.com

11 seconds to steal a scooter

2008-08-19T20:17:00.004+12:00

It's great that scooters are growing in popularity, however there also appears to be an increase in scooter thefts .

The average scooter in NZ would weigh approximately 85Kg and would be easily lifted on the back of a vehicle by a couple of motivated criminals.

At scooter.co.nz we have yet to lose a scooter to theft, however we recommend that our customers activate the steering lock and secure the scoot to an immovable object with the scooter lock provided.

A news report from CBS Denver shows surveillance footage of three men with a truck stealing a scooter in 11 seconds. The report also features some good tips to prevent theft.

Click here to watch the news report: www.cbs4denver.com

Who hires scooters?

2008-08-19T10:00:00.002+12:00

At scooterhire.co.nz, we are traditionally quiet at this time of year, however people are still hiring scooters from us. We are often asked, "what type of market do you attract"...well, there doesn't seem to be one particular group of people that hires scooters.

Last week we had a backpacker in his early 20s from the UK hire a scooter for 24 hours. He wanted to explore the East Coast and in particular wanted to visit Tokomaru Bay, 90 km up the Coast. We suggested that he should take a short blast up the coast to Wainui that was only 5 km up the Coast and return to explore the fantastic local scenery. Our intrepid explorer was determined, so thats what he did. I bet the Coasties are still talking about the mad pom on a scooter!

We recently had a thirty something couple hire two 2-seater scooters for the day. On a fine Gisborne winter day, they arrived early morning, with their pre-schooler and slightly older boy that were wearing their own helmets. As a family, they spent the day zipping around Gisborne, visiting relatives, a cafe for lunch and sightseeing. They came back buzzing and booked again for a fortnight.

A few weeks ago, we hired a scooter to a lady of mature years that had flown into Gisborne to visit a sick relative. After several days, she felt that she needed to break out and explore Gisborne. The weather was atrocious and she came in during a brief fine spell to hire a scooter for several days. We warned her about the unfavorable forecast, but this did not deter her. Several days later she returned as scheduled with a huge smile on her face. She had taken the scooter out at every opportunity between showers and had a blast!

Just goes to show that scooters transcend all market groups!

Scooter Video - because we can!

2008-08-15T15:32:00.004+12:00

Hey, the video's working again so us folk at scooterhire.co.nz thought why not upload a couple of rapid fire scooter advert movies for the hell of it!

We found this one for Vespa kinda amusing:

This one for Lambretta is from the retro vault and is so catchy that it will guaranteed to get on your nerves. You have been warned!

This is a short advertising film featuring the vocal group "Quartetto Cetra", probably made in the 1960s to be shown in movie theaters (in Italy there was no color TV at the time, and TV commercials for motor vehicles were also not allowed then...).

Looks kind of prophetic in showing characters from places where Lambretta scooters were to become very popular (the Scotsman for the UK, the Chinese for the Far East, the Indian for southeast Asia, etc).

Video back on stream!

2008-08-14T23:18:00.004+12:00

Yeah baby!

At scooterhire.co.nz we enjoy sharing words, but we like sharing moving pictures even better.

Google and YouTube seem to be talking again, so all of our video streams are now back on line.

In particular, you can now enjoy our previous posting with accompanying video on: Why are scooters so popular?

Scooterhire.co.nz Review

2008-08-12T23:39:00.005+12:00

Hey, this is kind of cool! Unaccustomed to bragging as we are...we found the following review of our services when surfing the web checking out our web-cred. I can remember this couple as they stayed at our motel and their car was never used over the several days that they stayed. Can also remember taking a photo - If you are out there please feel free to send us a copy!

"Gisborne by scooter!" by Val (from Hamilton)

April 2007 - My boyfriend and I had a long weekend last April and stayed at Teal Motor Lodge. It was a relaxing time with fantastic weather, great restaurants and magnificent accommodation. What was the highlight? – well… the motel had some cool scooters to hire from “sooterhire”. We had never ridden scooters before and we thought what the heck! This was the most fun over a weekend that we have ever had! We parked up the car and never used it. We went to heaps of cafes the beaches and a ride out to some bush domain just out of Gisborne (forget the name??) What a hoot! If you go to Gisborne would recommend that you hire a scooter from this awesome company – I guarantee you will have a smile for days after!

http://www.reviewblue.com/NewZealand/NorthIsland/GisborneArea/GisborneNZ/BusinessReviews/29-3699-2.html

What Licence do you need to ride a 50cc scooter

2008-08-12T22:17:00.006+12:00

At scooterhire.co.nz we need to know the legalities of operating a scooter. We have reproduced the following guide from the The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) website www.ltsa.govt.nz to outline what driver licence do you require to ride on a public road.

Anyone with a "Valid Driver Licence" can ride a scooter of 50cc or less.

What is a Valid Driver Licence?

Holders of the following NZ Driver Licences can hire a scooter:

Class 1

Car Learner*
Restricted*
Full Licence

Class 6

Motorcycle Learner*
Restricted*
Full Licence

*NB: The holder of a Learner or Restricted Licence for either Car or Motorcycle are:

Prohibited from driving during the at-risk times between 10pm and 5am
Prohibited from carrying pillion passengers.

Holders of an Overseas Driver Licence or International Driving Permit can also ride a scooter.

Note: if the Overseas Licence or Permit isn't in English, this must be accompanied with an accurate translation issued by:

The New Zealand Translation service
A diplomatic representative at a high commission, embassy or consulate
The authority that issued the overseas licence (an international driving permit may be acceptable as a translation).

If this is unclear you can call the Driver Licensing Call Centre: ph 0800 822 422.

Scooters / Mopeds: Road rules and equipment

2008-08-12T21:45:00.008+12:00

At scooterhire.co.nz we take safety and security very seriously and spend time ensuring that our eager riders are familiar with the road rules before they hit the street. We also keep up to date with the legal requirements of our equipment.

With the boom of sales, we anticipate that there will be some amendment to the rules and regulations governing scooters. We all know that if people find freedom and enjoyment the government will find ways to regulate or tax it!

The following is extracted from The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) website www.ltsa.govt.nz:

Mopeds share the roads with motor vehicles. If you ride a moped, then for your own safety and the safety of other road users, you must follow the road rules for moped riders, and you must have the right equipment.

What rules must I follow?

You must have a driver licence. This can be any class of New Zealand licence. If you don't hold an New Zealand licence, you may be able to use an overseas licence. Refer to Factsheet 56, New residents and visitors - driving in New Zealand for more information.
Your moped must have the right equipment.
You must ride on the road - you can't ride on the footpath or a cycle path. Keep as far left as you can. You may use bus lanes, as long as there isn't a sign forbidding this.
If you're riding with other mopeds or cyclists, don't ride more than two abreast. Ride in single file when you're passing other vehicles - including parked vehicles.
If you don't have direction indicators or stop lamps, use a clear arm signal when you intend to turn and reduce your speed or stop before making the turn.
At intersections, you must follow the road rules for motor vehicles, or get off your moped and walk across.
You can only carry a passenger if your moped has a pillion seat and footrests for the passenger. A container or seat for an infant must protect their legs from the wheels.
You can tow a trailer with your moped, but you can't tow any other sort of vehicle. Your moped can't be towed by another vehicle.
If you carry a load it must be secure and must not touch the ground. It must not extend more than one metre in front of or behind the wheels, or half a metre (50 cm) on either side (from the centre of the moped).

What are the rules for wearing helmets?

It is compulsory for all moped riders on New Zealand roads to wear motorcycle helmets. Your helmet must:

meet an approved standard
be securely fastened.

Check that your helmet is the right size - it should fit snugly on your head with minimum use of pads. If your helmet gets damaged, replace it with a new one.

Please note that if a Police officer stops you and asks to inspect your helmet, you must give it to them.

Courtesy on the road

Be considerate of other road users. Where the road is narrow, check that you are not slowing down the traffic flow and let the traffic pass as soon as it's safe.

Registration and licensing

You must register and license your moped for use on the road - but check first that it is really a 'moped' and not a motorcycle (see below). The registration plate must be clearly displayed (and securely attached) at the rear of the moped.

Is it a moped or a motorcycle?

There are slightly different definitions of a moped, depending on the context:

For vehicle registration and licensing: a moped has a power output of 2 KW or under and a maximum design speed of 50 km/h or under. A vehicle with a power output over 2 KW or a maximum design speed over 50 km/h is a motorcycle. It is illegal to register a motorcycle as a moped.

For vehicle importation inspections: a vehicle with an engine over 50 cc or a speed greater than 50 km/h must meet the technical requirements for a motorcycle.

For in-service inspections:a vehicle with an engine over 50 cc or a speed greater than 50 km/h or a power output greater than 2 KW needs to have a warrant of fitness and must meet the technical requirements for a motorcycle.

What equipment must my moped have?

Mopeds must have safety equipment fitted and must be in good condition. Mopeds manufactured on or after the dates in the table must meet approved standards for items listed.

Moped manufactured on
or after this date Must meet approved standard for this item
1 January 1992 reflector
1 October 2002 brakes
1 January 2006 headlamps, stop lamps, rear-facing lamp

Brakes

Your moped must have at least one service brake on each wheel.

Lighting equipment - lamps and reflectors

Your moped must be fitted with:

one or two dipped-beam headlamps ('dipped beam' means 'low beam'. It may be a single lamp that is fixed in the dipped position or a lamp that can be dipped by the rider). When turned on, this must illuminate the road in front for at least 30 metres
at least one red rear-facing lamp that can be seen from 100 metres away when turned on
at least one rear reflector that can be seen from 100 metres away when light shines on it.

If your moped was first registered in New Zealand on or after 1 January 1991, it must also be fitted with one or two rear stop lamps.

Rear-view mirror

If your moped was manufactured on or after 1 July 2000, it must have a rear-view mirror that gives you a clear view behind the moped.

Other equipment

Your moped must also have:

good quality tyres. The tread pattern must be clearly visible across at least 3/4 of the tread width and around the entire circumference
a horn that can be heard by other road users from at least 100 metres away (in normal traffic conditions)
mudguards (if it is practical to fit them)
an exhaust system, in good condition, that is not excessively noisy
adequate footrests or pedals for the rider and any pillion passenger.

Your responsibilities

Mopeds aren't inspected for a warrant of fitness, but it is up you to:

make sure your moped is fitted with equipment that complies with the law
wear your motorcycle helmet
follow the road rules.

If you don't, you could get an infringement fine or be taken to court.

Manufacturers' and retailers' responsibilities

Manufacturers and retailers must make sure that any moped they sell, and its equipment, complies with the law. Standards markings and information supplied by manufacturers can be used to show that a moped and its equipment comply.

It's an offence to sell a motorcycle helmet that doesn't meet an approved standard.
Motorcycle helmet standards

Your helmet should have a sticker inside it stating which standard it complies with.

Where you can find out more

* Call our help desk: (freephone) 0800 699 000.
* Email us: info@landtransport.govt.nz
* Write to us: Land Transport New Zealand, P O Box 2840, Wellington.

Source: http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/factsheets/43.html

Save on your daily commute - scoot!

2008-08-11T09:11:00.004+12:00

By Jacquelyn Farris

Girl vs. Wild

www.newsok.com

The rise in gas prices has me looking elsewhere. I have decided it's time to think smart. Something fun, fast, and possibly two wheels? Yes, scooters!

Scooters have been a European staple for daily commuting and even weekend getaways. Men in suits, Moms in the daily hurry, and young adults zipping to and from the places that make life great. So why not me? I am Girl vs. Wild, and it's time to save some dinaro and start having a daily commuting scooter adventure!

Atomic Brown Scooter Shop, Oklahoma City's family-owned scooter dealer located on North Western Avenue, is where my latest adventure has taken me, and better yet I didn't have to drive far to get there.

Steve and Pam Hudson, owners' of Atomic Brown Scooter Shop have been selling and educating Oklahoma City on the fun, fast, and fuel efficient advantages of riding scooters since June of 2004.

For many people, Atomic Brown is their first taste of scooters. Atomic Brown feels they are not only selling scooters, but they are also educating the public on ins and outs of scooter ownership. Many people stop by the shop four to five times before selecting a scooter. This allows the Hudsons to really get know their customers, and in doing so select the perfect scooter for each new scooterist's needs.

Atomic Brown's most popular scooter is the Buddy, made by Genuine Scooter Company. Voted 2007's scooter of the year, this zippy scooter comes in 50cc, 125cc, and new for 2008 the Buddy International 150cc with speeds toping 75 mph. With a twist-and-go engine, this scooter is fierce off the line while also putting the driver at ease knowing that there is no hassle of shifting gears.

Brace yourself for the most exciting feature! The Buddy gets up to 100 miles per gallon. That is no typo; this little scooter packs a mighty fuel efficient punch, and with prices starting at $1,999 Genuine's Buddy is hard for Atomic Brown to keep it in stock.

Scooters are recognized in Oklahoma as a motor vehicle. This means it's not as simple as purchasing your scooter and hitting the open road. Oklahoma state law requires scooters, just like motorcycles, to be registered, tagged, and titled. You will also need to get an M, or motorcycle, endorsement on your Oklahoma driver's license.

Now, scooters are not right for everybody. All the options should be weighed before rushing to buy. But for me, this is definitely an exciting possibility. In fact, I have already picked my tangerine-colored Buddy out and am just waiting for it arrive.

To see more of my Girl vs. Wild adventure at the Atomic Brown Scooter Shop, head to Newsok.tv. Who knows maybe I will pass you in traffic and give you a big, scooter-loving wave!

Jacquelyn Farris You can follow Jacquelyn Farris' continuing adventures in her Girl vs. Wild blog, which is now featured in the ‘Know It: Travel” at http//newsok.com/vacations.

Which scooter should you buy?

2008-08-10T08:08:00.004+12:00

Which scooter is right for you?

Well ... to assist your decision making, our friends at www.thescooterreview.com spent seven days, 100 laps of a test track, 1000kms of road riding and about 27 dollars of fuel to compare 13 of the top 50cc scoots.

Here are the performance figures and test results for the 2008 50cc Super Battle.

The top result for each category is highlighted in orange.

Scooter	0-50kph	Top Speed	Economy	Lap time	Dry Weight**
Yamaha Jog	8.7	61	2.8l/100 85MPG	42.8	69kg
Vespa 50S	12.0	64	3.1L/100 76MPG	45.4	96kg
Vmoto Milan	10.8	67	2.8l/100 85MPG	43.8	66kg
Keeway Venus	10.9	67	2.8l/100 85MPG	44	66kg
Suzuki AZ50	9.6	60	3.6L/100 65MPG	43.5	72kg
Vespa LX 50	11.7	62	3.0L/100 79MPG	46	102kg
Honda Today	15.2	57	2.5L/100 94MPG	47.3	71kg
Adly Silver Fox	11.8	61	2.8l/100 85MPG	43.5	75kg
Yamaha Vino	14.6	*50	3.6L/100 65MPG	45.1	76kg
Lifan Metro	14.9	63	2.6L/100 91MPG	47.3	93kg
Urban R4	14.0	70	4.2L/100 56MPG	46	86kg
PGO PMX	14.3	74	3.0L/100 79MPG	47	92kg
Piaggio Zip	19.9	65	2.4L/100 96MPG	47.8	89kg

top speed restricted *NB Weight is as per Manufacturers specification For full results click here

Is your scooter a polluter?

2008-08-09T22:38:00.003+12:00

BY CYNTHIA SEWELL
Edition Date: 08/08/08
IdahoStatesman.com

Two-wheeled gas sippers, including motorcycles, put out more emissions per mile than an SUV, says the EPA.

Which gets better gas mileage, a Hummer or a scooter?

No contest.

But which is more polluting?

It may not be what you think.

"It's true. The cleanest scooter is still dirtier than a car," said John Swanton, air pollution specialist with the California Air Resources Board.

Motorcycles and scooters may be fuel-efficient, but they are big polluters - and none of them are tested in the Treasure Valley, even in Ada County, where most cars and trucks must pass emissions muster.

Some motorcycles emit as much hydrocarbon in 10 miles as a car driven 850 miles, according to Environmental Protection Agency studies.

Car engines use much more fuel and create more pollution than motorcycle engines, but sophisticated emission-control devices prevent much of a car's emissions from getting into the air, said Wayne Elson, environmental protection specialist with the EPA's Seattle office.

When it comes to reducing fuel consumption and improving global climate conditions, a motorcycle or scooter is still the better choice, Swanton said.

But when it comes to reducing smog and improving local air quality, "the Hummer is better than a small scooter because it has more sophisticated emission controls," he said. "Its emissions are pretty low relative to a motorcycle."

EPA'S MOTORCYCLE STANDARDS MORE LENIENT

Motorcycles and scooters that meet EPA emission standards are still more polluting than cars because the federal emission standards are more lenient for motorcycles.

The maximum emission standard for motorcycle hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide is 2.25 grams per mile, compared with .098 for cars, meaning a motorcycle can emit 23 times more ozone-forming pollutants as a car does and still meet EPA standards. The carbon monoxide standard for motorcycles is about six times higher than a car's standard.

The EPA has several reasons for the difference.

Emission-control devices can be too big and too heavy to fit on a motorcycle, Elson said. Also, motorcycles comprise about 1 percent of all vehicles on the road nationwide, so collectively, their impact on air quality is small, Elson said. But it is growing.

Some countries, like India and China, have more scooters and motorcycles on the roads than cars - a seemingly impossible scenario in the U.S., given Americans' love of cars, but that could be changing.

"We are entering new territory with fuel prices," Swanton said. "The whole game is changing. We are going to see a lot of innovative approaches; some of them may not be environmentally friendly."

Meanwhile, many off-road motorcycles are made "street legal" by adding street tires and head-, tail- and brake lights. According to the EPA, many of these off-road vehicles on public streets and highways are not EPA emission-compliant, but it can be difficult to get the polluters fixed or off the road.

Vehicle emission testing is mandatory in 34 states, but to Elson's knowledge, no states require motorcycle emission testing since special equipment is needed to test motorcycle emissions.

"It's the cost versus the benefits," he said.

California, which has stricter vehicle and motorcycle emission standards than the EPA, does not conduct motorcycles emission testing, but that may be changing, Swanton said, given the rising popularity of motorcycles and scooters and their proclivity to pollute.

SCOOTER SALES SOAR, BUT YOU CAN CHOOSE WISELY

Two-wheeled commuter vehicles are getting more popular here, too.

For the second year in a row, new motorcycle sales, including scooters, have outpaced new passenger car sales in Ada County - a trend some sellers attribute to increasing gas prices.

"So far this year we are up 40 percent," said Kathy Naven, co-owner of Scooters of Boise, which had been selling out orders about as fast as they came in last month.

Rising fuel costs and decreasing motorcycle and scooter prices are driving people to trade in their four-wheeled rides for two-wheeled ones, Swanton said. But many people do not realize how polluting motorcycles and scooters can be, Swanton said.

"Cleaner is not going to be cheaper," he said.

Consumers need to read the labels, Swanton said. The question is more complex than opting for a four-stroke engine rather than a two-stroke, which usually are more polluting, Swanton said. Some two-strokes can be cleaner than some four-strokes, depending on what emission-control devices the manufacturer installs - but each new measure means added cost.

For example, Stella makes a two-stroke engine scooter with a catalytic converter, so it will burn cleaner than some four-stroke engines, Naven said.

Compounding the problem is a rise in substandard Asian imports, Swanton said. These cheap and dirty scooters and motorcycles do not comply with EPA standards. In 2005, the EPA issued an enforcement alert warning importers and the public about non-EPA compliant motorcycles and scooters entering the U.S. market.

"Tales of retailers and consumers stuck with substandard products, useless warranties and uncertified scooters are becoming too common," the EPA said.

The onus is on the consumer. The EPA and U.S. Customs cannot stop all shipments at the border, and Internet sales are difficult to monitor.

"Read the label, look for the EPA sticker, make sure it has a warranty," Naven said.

California Department of Motor Vehicles will not register scooters and motorcycles that do not comply with California and EPA emission standards, Swanton said, so it is up to consumers to make sure they do not purchase a substandard vehicle.

Idaho will not register motorcycles or scooters that do not comply with federal safety standards, but the state does not discern whether the motorcycles or scooters comply with EPA emission standards.

"Theoretically, these products are being addressed through federal importing requirements, but some importers are getting around those issues and some of them do get in," said ITD spokesperson Mollie McCarty.

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Scooters are at the other extreme of engine size of a Hummer (or most other “vehicles”) and typically have 50cc to 150cc engines. Admittedly some of these engines do have more lenient EPA emissions standards. However, while they may pollute more per displacement size, they are far smaller in engine displacement and will emit a smaller total amount of alleged pollutants into the atmosphere than larger motorcycles or automobiles.

Cars emit CO2 in direct relation to how much petrol they burn, so using a lot less fuel should keep the environmentalists happy!

Scooter to help police fight crime at beach

2008-08-09T20:24:00.002+12:00

OK, not a real scooter (I told you that Americans struggle with the scooter concept) but I still want one!

Sean Dugas
sdugas@pnj.com

Escambia County deputies in bicycle helmets may not seem intimidating.

But one law enforcement officer on Pensacola Beach will be riding more than a bicycle this weekend.

Sheriff Ron McNesby on Friday unveiled a new crime-fighting tool: the T3 Mobile. The $9,000, three-wheeled scooter includes red and blue flashing lights and a siren.

"This gives deputies the opportunity to talk to people and gives them better maneuverability in large crowds," McNesby said.

Recent frays during busy beach weekends and an increase in car burglaries prompted the T3's purchase, McNesby said. Federal grant money covered the cost.

The T3 has a top speed of 18 mph, and its near-silent operation makes it easier for deputies to spot trouble before a crime is committed.

It can run nonstop for three hours before it has to stop for a recharged battery. Deputies will use it on a rotating basis.

"If it works well out here, we want to expand into other areas of the county," McNesby said. "We hope to go to the community redevelopment areas like Montclair and Brownsville."

Lt. Alan Barton demonstrated some of the T3's capabilities, turning the vehicle in its own footprint and traversing from sidewalk to parking lot.

"We're excited about getting to use it," he said. "It'll change how we work the beach, because we'll be able to interact with people better."

How to countersteer a scooter

2008-08-08T23:37:00.009+12:00

If you are riding scooter, you are already counter steering, whether you realize it or not. It’s actually very difficult to initiate a turn without some amount of counter steering. Knowing the physics involved and the technique will give you a greater appreciation and impetus to practice in a safe environment.

In training courses, when they tell you to momentarily flick the wheel in the opposite direction of the turn to initiate the lean into the turn, that is counter steering. For most everyday riding, it’s a short, subtle process that goes almost un-noticed. For more aggressive riding, counter steering must be more deliberate and pronounced. It’s still the same dynamic though.

As the video mentioned, the simple definition is: "The act of turning a two wheeled cycle in one direction by momentarily steering the front wheel in the opposite direction".

The physics of counter steering is actually complex and contrary what the video may insinuate, is not restricted to a "two wheeled cycle". If you watch car rallying, you will see rally car drivers demonstrate the countersteering techniques required to get a car efficiently around a corner.

Major car manufacturers like BMW, Mercedes and General Motors have been experimenting since the 1970’s with automated counter steering and wheel leaning systems that would vastly improve the handling and performance of four-wheelers. So far, they haven’t come up with a commercially viable solution.

Fuel-sipping scooters zoom out of dealer showrooms

2008-08-08T22:57:00.001+12:00

"USA Today" featured the following article on the increase in sales of scooters in the USA. The majority of Americans don't seem to know what to make of the scooter phenomenon. The large gas guzzling automobile is still entrenched in their culture as a birthright and a symbol of freedom.

By Chris Woodyard
USA TODAY

Scooters may be the runts of the road, but high-priced gas is making them kings of the showroom.

Dealers are periodically running short, and manufacturers say they're trying, sometimes in vain, to produce more scooters.

"There's no way we could have planned for almost doubling our sales," says Kevin Foley, spokesman for maker Yamaha.

While scooters made up about 15% of all street-licensable motorcycles in 2007, their U.S. sales zoomed 66% in the first half of the year, highest of any segment in the motorcycle market, the Motorcycle Industry Council says. Some scooter makers say sales boomed when gas hit $4 a gallon: Piaggio Group Americas, which makes Vespa, saw sales rise 174% in July compared with a year ago.

"Suppliers, used to a fairly stable but slow-growing market, are going crazy" trying to meet demand, says Bev Brinson, publisher of ScooterWorld Magazine.

Once seen as the quirky wheels in foreign films, scooters are moving mainstream. With engines as small as 50 cubic centimeters, they typically get 70 miles per gallon or more. Their automatic transmissions, under-seat storage and upright riding position make them commuter-friendly.

But dealers say they're sporadically out of some models. "Some are gone for the year, and others (are) down to the last five or six," says Steve Travers, manager of the Camrod Motorsports dealership in New York. This time last year, Camrod had 70 scooters in stock. As of Monday, it had 17. Replacements on some models aren't due until late September, he says.

In Idaho, Scooters of Boise was down to five scooters two weeks ago. Now, it has 10, and inventory generally is "still short," says manager Ryan Mahoney. The store closed its waiting list at 200.

Piaggio's U.S. chief Paolo Timoni says the factories are churning out more, and they have the capacity because added demand is mostly a U.S. phenomenon. Supplies are adequate, he says, although dealers may lack a particular color or style.

At Genuine Scooter, whose brands include Buddy and Stella, there's no longer a need for a warehouse. All scooters go straight to dealers.

"They're selling faster than we can make them," says Brett Ratner, Genuine's dealer development director.

ScooterHire Merchandise

2008-08-07T00:35:00.005+12:00

We have had a few customers at scooterhire.co.nz that are so excited about their scooter experience that they purchase a lasting momento.

With the adrenalin still pumping soon after dismount, some make the bold decision to buy scooterhire.co.nz merchandise. Some say that we are taking advantage of the euphoria that comes with riding a scooter... Hey, shoot us - but we can't help offering something that looks so good!

Come on you know you want to!

Click on the sidebar to order yours today...

Extreme petrol saving techniques!

2008-08-06T20:11:00.004+12:00

Ever heard of “hypermiling techniques” used by riders to maximise fuel economy?

Well, apparently if you are not satisfied with your motorbike or scooter’s petrol use you can obtain an immediate 20 to 40% increase in fuel economy by employing a few “simple” techniques.

Cut and paste here: These views do not reflect the views of scooterhire.co.nz:

“However in these desperate times when a trip to the gas station can cost more than a week's groceries, some motorcyclists may want to wring even more miles from each mind- and wallet-numbingly expensive gallon.

Extreme hypermiling involves applying techniques which are much more radical than the typical common sense "conventional wisdom" tips to increase fuel mileage. However, these extreme hypermiling processes can return a remarkable increase in fuel economy.

Here are the top five extreme hypermiling procedures that any motorcyclist anywhere can apply to skyrocket your MPG. These techniques are effective with all motorcycles, from the weeniest 50cc commuter single cylinder to the most powerful 2 litre V-twin. When you consider that these techniques can squeeze 179 MPG from a motorcycle (not a scooter, but a real motorcycle), and even up to 113 MPG from a modern 750 like a Honda Shadow Aero they are definitely worth considering!

Important! All of these have significant if not outright compromising safety considerations and may even be illegal in some jurisdictions. They should not be implemented without clear and comprehensive understanding of the severe ramifications.

1) Adjust your carburettor’s throttle lever so that it can only open up to half of its normal travel. This will limit your maximum revs and acceleration. Remember that you won't have the power to do all the things you easily do now, like pass on the highway!

2) Change your handlebars to clipons. I hate those blasted low bars that make me feel like I'm caught halfway in a pushup, but lowering your arm position will drop your body down to the tank of the bike and considerably decrease your bike's overall aerodynamic drag.

3) Cover your radiator. On watercooled motorcycles, you can cover the radiator with a piece of cardboard to keep your engine warmer and thus more efficient. Not a good idea to seal it hermetically with duct tape, nor is it a wise choice for stop and go rush hour commuting in August in Phoenix.

Now onto the two extreme hypermiling techniques which provide by far the greatest MPG advantage while at the same time providing by far the greatest chance that you'll end up as a hood ornament on an SUV.

4) Use the kill switch. Unlike automobile drivers, we motorcyclists have an easily accessible kill switch. You can hit that kill switch when coasting and especially downhills, then while holding the clutch in and in an appropriate gear, turn the kill switch back on, release the clutch and restart the engine without using the starter. It is a procedure that when well rehearsed can be smooth and safe, and when it is done without due care and skill can cause you to flip your bike. Also note that in some motorcycles, you will lose braking power if your engine is off.

5) Draft. This can kill you deader than almost any other hypermiling technique, but anyone who has ridden behind an 18 wheeler on the highway will testify that the "draft air zone" which is created by the wake of the truck can extend back well over 100 feet. If you don't get distracted and your life insurance policy is paid up, this technique can drastically increase your highway MPG.”

There you have it! We post this article for interest sake only. Now you can drop in the phrase “hypermiling techniques” when you next wish to impress your two wheeled buddies!

How much petrol does a scooter use?

2008-08-06T19:48:00.002+12:00

From our last post, us folk at scooterhire.co.nz firmly believe that the focus on the frugalness of scooter’s fuel use is … well, boring! We would rather commentate on the amount of FUN that scooters are to ride.

We must admit that the most common question that we are asked by our customers is “how much petrol do our scooters use”. Coming up with reasonable, legitimate fuel economy figures for our scooters is next to utterly impossible. There are so many variables. The rider’s weight, total load, traffic, speed, driving style, operating temperature, and many more factors dictates the fuel economy of a scooter.

In the absence of any form of official L/100kms (MPG) figures, we have been keeping track of average fuel use.

We prefer to use V-Moto Milan and Monza scooter models that are all 50cc models that have fuel capacity of up to 5-litres.

Our unofficial Fuel Economy figures are:

V-Moto Monza 3.2L/100kms (74MPG)

V-Moto Milan 2.8L/100kms (85MPG)

What does this mean – well… our scooters use bugger all petrol!

Keep in mind that these are not exact fuel economy figures and there is no guarantee that any of these scooters will return this exact mpg figure, but it should serve as a somewhat reasonable guideline.

Why Are Scooters So Popular?

2008-08-05T10:43:00.012+12:00

Sure, the "petrol prices" are assisting the boom in scooter sales, but there are many other reasons:

The lower price of scooters
The ease of use
The freedom
The rediscovery of youth
"Free" and easy parking
They are a babe magnet (it's true!)
The environmental benefits?
We think it's just because they are FUN and COOL!

...but is there another reason??

Because us folk at scooterhire.co.nz do the hard work for you, we are happy to share with a selected few a more compelling reason why scooters are becoming sooo popular:

For those that are interested, the "model" in the video is a V-Moto Milan and is available from scooterhire.co.nz by the hour!

Boom in sales of the frugal scooter

2008-08-04T12:36:00.004+12:00

Gisborne is the perfect environment for riding a scooter. The following article was printed in the Gisborne Herald on 2 August 2008 in response to a marked increase in the amount of scooters buzzing around the city. With a scooter, Gisborne easily becomes more accessible and a 'five-minute town'

By Martin Gibson

The weather is keeping most people in their cars, but this will be the summer of the scooter if inquiries are anything to go by, dealers here say.

"I think it will really take off just before Christmas. Although we are not selling many right now, we're getting four or five inquiries a day, says Derek Mead at Gisborne Honda."

"Gisborne is a 'five-minute town' -you can get anywhere in five minutes, and a scooter will do 60 to 70 kilometres a litre.

"One of our customers works next to us in Hammer Hardware, and lives by the hospital. She spends eight dollars a month on fuel - perhaps nine dollars with the price rises."

Over at CGM Motorcycles, Phil Summerfield is astonished they are selling scooters in winter.

"Our sales have increased twofold since the last fuel price increases - there's a huge demand, especially considering how the weather is now."

As scooter demand has risen, Gisborne Auto Court has been selling a Chinese scooter, branded Powerchief in New Zealand.

Although he is 105kg, service manager Karl Schwass says the little 49cc motor still "gets me along OK".

"One of our customers rode to Tolaga Bay and back a couple of times, although it's not something I'd recommend. But it goes to show it can be done."

One who has made the shift is Charles Laverty, who owns Umami Deli with his wife Mariette. The couple took the scooter option after deciding they needed a second vehicle.

"We toyed with the idea of getting another car but with the price of fuel, and rising interest rates, it just didn't seem worth it.

"We live about four or five kilometres from work. I've had it for three weeks, and I haven't had to fill it up yet, although it's not too flash in this weather."
It is a less nerve-racking mode of transport than he thought it might be.

"You find your line and hold it and you're fine. People are pretty good - I think more and more people are looking at it as an option."

One man who came to grief on his scooter last year is right back on that horse. Co-owner of Soho Bar Tony Trafford was hit by a car.

"I got my scooter in August last year and six weeks later a lady pulled out in front of me and I broke both my wrists. It was a dumb accident. You have just got to drive like everyone's trying to kill you, but if you're careful you're fine."

Undeterred, six weeks after he got out of plaster Mr Trafford got another scooter and has been happily and safely scooting ever since.

"I was keen because it's so much fun and so cheap - it's an absolute bargain. I spend $4.50 a week in gas and with the fuel price increases it's up to $5. And I use it all the time."

The idea of Gisborne buzzing, Rome-like, with scooters appeals to him.

"I think everyone should ride a scooter. It would be so cool if there were more of them, as long as they were good ones."

When Steve Abramowitz and his partner bought Café Ruba, it came with a sign-written scooter that he uses to pick up supplies.

"Not just small things either - I use it to carry 20kg containers of oil, and I spend about $5 a week on gas. That's with me and stuff on it, and I'm 106kg - someone who is 70kg would take a month to get through that. It's also governed so it can't go faster than 50kmh, so there are no speeding fines either."

While he has had a couple of close shaves, he has not had an accident.

"The logging trucks know I'm going to stop for them - it's a matter of smaller weight giving way. I've

also had a couple of narrow escapes from women talking on their mobile phones, but I normally follow them and point out their mistake."

The scooter lifestyle

2008-08-03T12:02:00.006+12:00

V Moto have some cool adds at the moment that capture the FUN of the scooter lifestyle. click on the following and feel free to comment:

Eight golden rules of riding a scooter

2008-08-03T10:52:00.003+12:00

At scooterhire.co.nz, we spend time inducting our customers into scooter riding safety. Here is what we define as the "eight golden rules of riding" - what do you think should be added, embellished or amended?

1. Look where you want to go.

2. Move away from danger.

3. Know the abilities of your scooter.

4. The best way to lean your scooter for a corner is to counter steer.

5. Ride sober.

6. When in doubt, give way.

7. When cornering: Slow in, Faster out.

8. Learn practice, learn practice...

Scooter riding tips

2008-08-02T19:29:00.005+12:00

We have a "Riding Tips" handout at scooterhire.co.nz that we encourage our clients to read before they hire a scooter. We also spend as much time as we can, inducting and giving riding tuition. This can be difficult as the client often wants to hit the street and start enjoying the freedom and FUN of the scooter experience.
What do you think we can add to the following?

Effective braking is accomplished by using both front and rear brakes together. Independent use of only the front or rear brake reduces stopping performance.
Excessive brake application may cause either wheel to lock, reducing control of the Scooter.
Ride very cautiously until you are used to the way the scooter handles.
Take turns and corners slower and give yourself extra stopping distances.
Test the brakes to get the feel of how they operate.
When riding in wet or rainy conditions or on loose surfaces, the ability to manoeuvre and stop will be reduced. For your safety, use extreme caution when braking, accelerating or turning.
Avoid road markings in wet weather, they can be extremely slippery.
Always wear protective clothing.
Be considerate of other road users. Check that you are not slowing down the traffic flow and let the traffic pass as soon as it's safe.
Ride defensively.
Park the Scooter on firm, level ground to prevent overturning.

Before you ride a scooter

2008-08-02T19:26:00.003+12:00

Here's a simple list of pre-ride checks that we at scooterhire.co.nz work through with our clients before they hit the street.

Please feel free to comment?

Always check your Scooter before you ride.

Braking performance may be impaired immediately after washing the Scooter. When the brakes get wet, they may need to be used a couple of times before they work properly again.

Familiarise yourself where everything is — especially the indicators, horn, headlight switch, and engine cut-off switch. Make sure you can find them without having to look at them.

Clean & adjust the mirrors — Sit on the seat and swing the mirrors outward far enough so you can see around your own body. Adjust each mirror so that it lets you see about half of the lane behind and as much as possible of the lane next to you.

Work the throttle and brakes a few times before you start off.

Always wear a helmet. Make sure the helmet fits properly (not too tight, not too loose) and is fastened properly. Helmets with visors protect your eyes, or wear goggles.

Wear leather gloves to protect your hands in case of a unwanted contact with the road surface, and too keep your hands warm.

Two wheels scoot up sales ranks

2008-08-02T19:10:00.000+12:00

New Zealand Herald
3 June 2008
By Jacqueline Smith

Michael Davies says two-wheelers are not about to rule New Zealand roads.

Motorists may be out of pocket but scooter and motorcycle dealers across the country are reaping the benefits of soaring petrol prices.

Michael Davies, the owner of Retroscooter on Auckland's Great North Rd, said the company's sales had accelerated over the past 18 months and he had no doubt this coincided with rising petrol costs.

Scooter sales are generally seasonal - cold, wet weather draws people to the warmth of their cars - but Davies said sales were looking to remain high this winter as the price of 91 octane flickers around $2 a litre.

"I think it's reached the point now where people are seriously looking at alternatives regardless of the weather and how cold it is."

His customers, mostly male, range from students to doctors and lawyers.

Davies said commuters saved more than $40 a week on parking and fuel when swapping their car for a scooter.

Land Transport New Zealand says motorcycle registrations from January to April this year were up 14 per cent on the same period in 2007, while car registrations were down 3 per cent.

Davies said he expected his sales to rise 50 per cent more next summer.

Tom Peck, the general manager of Suzuki New Zealand, said motorists right across the country were realising a scooter would get them 10 times further for every dollar of fuel.

While stores near universities were selling the highest number of scooters, commuter models were also selling well in rural areas, Peck said.

Suzuki's most popular model was the AZ 50, with a 50cc engine, which for a typical Auckland commuter would use $8-$10 of fuel a week, he said.

The most popular motorcycle was the VL 250cc get-to-work bike.

Kevin Golding, the owner of central Auckland's Scooterworld, which focuses on scooter parts, said the store had noticed an increase in people resurrecting old scooters, but not only because of petrol costs.

He said the older two-stroke models were expensive to run, and most of their riders did so to avoid traffic congestion and parking costs.

Steve Meadows, national sales manager for Blue Wing Honda, which imports scooters and motorcycles, said the company began focusing on scooters when it noticed sales increasing two years ago.

To the company's surprise, sales were high not only in the cities but also in the small towns, particularly Masterton and Rangiora, he said.

Honda's motorcycle sales were also high and Meadows said the company's family motorcycle weekends attracted up to 800 people.

"In general, whether it's off road for fun, commuting for work or road bikes for weekend fun, there's certainly more being sold," he said.

But rather than replacing cars with motorcycles and scooters, Meadows said New Zealanders seemed to be adding them to the fleet.

He expected customer demand to continue over the coming years, but not at the recent rates.

Davies said the rise in registrations did not mean roads would be flooded with two wheelers instead of four.

Before the flood of cheap Japanese imports in the 1990s, the poor man's transport was the motorcycle, he said.

"To put things into perspective, in 1972 there were 38,000 registered motorcycles on New Zealand roads.

We have a long way to go before we have the same number of motorcycles on the road that we had 30 or 40 years ago."

Scooter registrations soar

2008-08-02T16:53:00.000+12:00

NZ Listener
17 November 2006
Alistair Bone

Rising traffic congestion and fuel costs mean the third age of scootering is upon us.
Andreas Vaioleti is staking it all on motor scooters, again. Once already, the 25-year-old has sold everything he owned, gone to Japan and brought back scoots to sell from his driveway. Last year was good, especially the three weeks at the end of winter when fuel prices went up just as the sunny weather arrived. He sold five in one week, and that sort of demand has given him the confidence to open a proper shop – Scootling – in central Auckland. It is probably a safe bet.

The Transport Registry Centre’s provisional figures for 2005 show that 5135 new mopeds – things under 60cc that are more than likely (the statistics don’t differentiate between types of vehicle), motor scooters – were registered last year. This is more than double the 2528 in 2004 and way up on the 783 new machines in 2000. Scooters officially include such monsters as the 638cc, $15,495 Burgman Executive. But it is the under 50cc class, easy-to-ride automatics for which no car licence is required, that are the growth area. The Ministry of Transport has 13,162 mopeds on their books, and reckons another 5000 or so unregistered examples are sitting in sheds waiting for repair or summer.

Vaioletti says that 60 to 70 percent of his buyers are men in their early twenties to mid-thirties who live in the inner suburbs. He says a third of buyers want freedom from waiting in traffic and looking for car parks, a third like the look, and a third are concerned about fuel costs. His most frugal bikes will deliver somewhere between 50 and 60 kilometres per litre.

At upmarket Scooter World, the demographic is a bit different. Owner Kevin Golding reckons his people also live centrally, but are generally 35 to 50-year-old men whose first vehicle is a flash European car. Mechanic Andrew Pierce says that kids aren’t into the top-of-the-range game. “Things have shifted from the way the scene was in the 60s. For the $4000 it costs to buy a Vespa, you can buy a pretty wicked hot Japanese car. The person who is concerned about how expensive petrol is won’t shell out five grand for a new Italian scoot. They will buy a Japanese or a Chinese scooter or a Minimoto [see box opposite].” Golding puts the big demand for scooters down to one main thing – congestion.

It is easy to go to the front at a red light and ride between lines of stalled cars. It’s called lane splitting, and saves untold minutes. But it is illegal, even if usually overlooked by police with better things to do. It is a sore point at Scooter World that an obvious answer to Auckland’s gridlock is being ignored by the powers that be. “You can only use the Auckland City Council bus lanes,” says Golding. “The other councils won’t allow it. And you can’t use them on the motorway. Which is just … really … why? Whenever a media organisation does one of those competitions to see which mode of transport will get you into Auckland quickest, they never use a scooter or motorbike. It is never factored in, in any respect. With government, it is the same thing. They say they need to sort out Auckland’s congestion problem. But there is never any encouragement for people to use commuter motorcycles.”

Why not just get a motorcycle proper then? The storage space on a scooter is one reason. Pierce takes his scooter on tours. “The amount of crap you can stick on them is mint! Tents, fishing rod, meals, primus, booze. You can’t do that on a motorbike.” Golding’s reason appeals more to the inner-city set. “With motorcycles, if you turn up somewhere and you say, ‘I’ve got my Z9 outside’, people are like, uhhh, whatever. But if you say ‘I came on my Vespa’, you don’t have to explain anything”.

Not to Richard Brands and Gary Kettless. Brands has ridden a scooter since 1962, Kettless since 1980. The two are the leading lights in the Magnetos Scooter Club, the country’s biggest. Brands was there in the first of the three ages of scootering – the Mod scene. In the 60s, the sharply dressed Mods decorated their scooters with as much chrome as would fit. In the “second coming” around 1980, Kettless and his “scooter boy” mates were wearing MA1 flight jackets, camo trousers and Doc Marten boots and making their scoots go fast. The third age of scootering is upon us and the pair haven’t defined it yet, apart from being a “mixed bag”, with some newbies picking up on the Mods’ music (the Jam, Northern Soul, the Kinks, etc) and some just riding.

But even with the surge in the number of riders, scooter fatalities aren’t common. The MOT crash stats don’t differentiate between scoots and other bikes, but a spokesman says that he suspects that scooter riders make up a small part of the road toll, possibly because they are mainly used over short distances. Brands rides motorbikes, too. He knows which are safer. “I’ll say straight out that a motorbike has way better handling than a scooter. But a modern motorbike is a .357 Magnum. A young guy can get on it and do 300kph, zero to 100 in three seconds. So it is like you are in an F16 and all those cars are like slow-moving bombers …”

Brands says that scooting is just a different trip. “When I am in a swarm of scoots, I get a hell of a good buzz. The comradeship, the feeling of them all around you. They are a much less serious vehicle than a motorcycle; they have a nice, happy persona. A day without riding, that’s a day wasted.”