Scooter News

New 50cc four-stroke powerplant delivers a sporty punch of good, clean fun

NEW YORK, November 19, 2008 – Italian manufacturer Piaggio, renowned for
revolutionary ideas in personal transportation, announces the debut of the
2009 Vespa S 50.  This all-new addition to the company’s iconic scooter
portfolio blends all the premium Vespa product benefits, such as Italian
styling and the unique single-steel chassis, with a newly engineered
four-stroke, four-valve SOHC engine.  To develop the most powerful 50cc
four-stroke available today, Vespa engineers minimized weight and maximized
the power curve, creating a performance character that to-date has been
exclusively associated with two-stroke technology.  The new engine variant
not only gives the Vespa S 50 a distinct performance edge in the 50cc
category, but offers all the environmental benefits of modern four-stroke
design.

Clean, Lean, and Ready to Twist and Go

Read the rest of this entry »

From the Wired Blog:

Italian scooter-maker Piaggio has unveiled a plug-in hybrid three-wheeler it says will get up to 141 mpg and could be on the road as early as next year.

The gas-electric version of Piaggio’s funky but fun MP3 scooter uses a parallel hybrid system much like that in the Toyota Prius but advances the technology by adding an electrical cord. Although Toyota, General Motors and several other automakers are developing cars that can be charged from a wall socket, Piaggio’s timeline, if met, would make it the first in the world to mass-produce a plug-in hybrid.

The MP3 Hybrid that Piaggio rolled out at the big international motorcycle expo in Milan, Italy,  combines a 125-cc gasoline engine with an electric motor in an easy-to-ride three-wheeler that reportedly could do zero to 60 in around 5 seconds.

Wired Blog

Plot and post favorite routes, trace your ride’s roots, calculate fuel savings and uncover a world of new reasons to ride

NEW YORK, NY – November 13, 2008 - Piaggio Group Americas, Inc., importer of the iconic Vespa scooter brand, continues to accelerate ahead of the personal transportation curve with the debut of its new consumer web site, scheduled to go live Friday, November 14.  Functional, fun and fast, the new web site – just like Vespa scooters – connects with users by delivering an entertaining interactive experience, a shared sense of community and a wealth of practical reasons to ride.  Every element of the new site, from the latest product news to user-generated favorite riding routes, has been designed to educate and engage visitors while giving them plenty of fun reasons to return.

Read the rest of this entry »

Moto enthusiast Jay Leno surprised an appreciative audience at the 2009 national Piaggio Group Americas dealer meeting in Palm Springs, CA, introducing dealers  to 11 of the latest Vespa, Piaggio, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi products, including the all-new Vespa S 50 and Aprilia SMV 750 Dorsoduro.   A long-time and outspoken ambassador of motorcycling and a fan of the Piaggio brands, Leno took the opportunity to put on his test rider helmet.  He personally evaluated the Aprilia Mana 850 as well as the three-wheel Piaggio MP3 250 scooter, and also got the inside scoop on several future products that the Italian manufacturer previewed for attending dealers.  Leno’s video test impressions of the Aprilia and Piaggio can be found at JayLenosGarage.com, or click here for the Mana review and here for the MP3 250 review. Interested in a test ride of your own?  Log on to www.PiaggioUSA.com to find a dealer near you.

It’s only logical that with the increase in the number of scooters on the road, the number of scooter thefts will also rise. Unfortunately, the number of scooter-related accidents is also growing as more and more people switch to a more economical mode of transportation.

This article from NPR explores the increase in thefts and scooter accidents. Complete with interviews from scooter dealers, shop owners and everyday scooterists. It’s nice to see our beloved machines get a little more of the national attention they deserve.

NPR Story

Apparently, it’s not illegal to move someone else’s scooter to free up a parking space in Seattle.The Seattle Times is reporting that the city may vote to impose a fine for anyone who gets caught.

I guess I’ve always assumed that a scooter was a motor vehicle like any other and never thought of moving someone else’s car… Now, I know how I feel when someone looks at my scooter funny. I’d never thought about what I would do to the unfortunate soul who layed hands on the rusty beast. I remember years ago a scene in front of a bar when a close friend of mine found a stranger sitting on his motorcycle… Not a pretty sight. Pay the $38.00.

From TopSpeed.com

The fact that motorcycles and scooters are getting more popular thanks to enormous hikes in fuel prices is no surprise to anyone, least to gasoline companies. French oil company, Total, has taken note and has started looking towards these motorcycles as a real “market”.

Total have recently opened a gas pump designed for motorcycles in the Paris suburbs (L’Isle Adam) . Cars aren’t welcome (and will not fit), and the pump has all sorts of stuff designed for bikers.

Read more at TopSpeed.com

Divine Caroline has posted an interesting top ten list that includes both the advantages and disadvanges of our beloved scooters…  Sadly, the list makes the the disadvantages sound worse than they actually are…

Scooters are ‘wimpy’? You’ve obviously never experienced the beauty of a fully restored Lambretta SX200 in all of it’s power and glory… Maybe they’re talking about modern scooters.

The title alone should tell the average scooterist that the author may not have done their homework. The Herald of Rock Hill South Carolina is warning it’s readers to “Beware of Scooters”…

Some great quotes throughout the article only confirm my original supposition:

“Scooters may look like a kid-toy version of a Harley…”

What? Where? Which scooter make or model are you referring to? I can’t think of one that looks anthing like a Harley…

“But these vehicles are more than just a glorified moped. The Vespa GTS 250, for example, can reach speeds of 76 mph.”

Umm… Yes.

Here’s the deal. A scooter is not a toy. Yes, there are some scooters out there geared toward younger or smaller riders, but these machines are just as dangerous as any other motorized vehicle on the road today. There is a reason that there are motorcycle and scooter laws in every state. There is a reason that licenses are required to ride a scooter larger than 50cc’s in almost every state. There are safety courses available to teach new riders all about the pros and cons of owning, riding, and enjoying scooters.

Luckily, someone beat me to the punch on commenting on this article. I’m not sure I could have voiced my opinions in such a non-condescending tone. Please, Staff Writer Person, go back to writing those common sense manuals and stay away from glorified mopeds.

Don’t ask me how this photo led me to this article, but both were nice…

An article on MSN Money points out some things to consider if you’re thinking of buying a scooter. Sure, the price of fuel is a major factor, but is it as big as you think? What’s the break-even point? How about licensing, safety, insurance, service, reliability and security?