Dumb and Dumber Scooter Scene

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

Hertz introduces electric scooters

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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 HEREVespa GTS 300 Super

Hover Scooter

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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