Month: December 2003

Robert Volz posted a conversation with “new lambretta” designer Jeffrey Smith on the International Scooterist BBS. Smith didn’t give much away, but it’s a start. Meanwhile, across the scootering world, the rumors and innuendo fly regarding the distributor and the manufacturer.

It’s “Italy: Back from the Grave Week.” Today, AGI Online reports Moto Morini has been brought back to life by the Morini and Berti families. No word yet on products. (Thanks Lucash.)

LambrettaUSA announced today that Lambretta scooters will return to the USA in 2004. I haven’t seen anything at all for a couple years about the Lambretta comeback, apparently the Khurana family of Seattle owns the name. “Lambretta.com” and “LambrettaInternational.com” are both “under construction.” The US distributor will be CMSI, who also markets Ural Motorcycles and TN’G scooters. Many thanks to M5 for the news.

Piaggio’s rumored 850cc scooter is still under wraps, but the new Gilera Ferro 850 is an automatic motorcycle based on the same engine. Automatic motorcycles have generally been disappointing, but this one seems pretty hot. Thanks to M5 for the link.

Apple.com features a profile of Vespa Soho in their “Macs in Business” section. It’s a big PR wank, but nevertheless a worthwhile read, especially Zach and Wen Schieffelin’s insightful comparison of Apple computers and Vespa scooters.

It’s been about a month since I sent an email to the Chamber of Commerce, and I’ve heard absolutely nothing from Mr. Roper. The Aprilia boutique has opened, after hiring their staff through a Chicago Reader ad, and several 2sb readers have reported that they’re just as snobbish and clueless as Vespa boutique employees.

The India Times reported Thursday that Bajaj and Piaggio were meeting to discuss production and technology collaberation. Bajaj produced Vespas under license in the 60s and 70s and has been making their own scooters based on the design of the Vespa ever since. According to the story, Piaggio already has a production plant in Baramati, India. The India Business Standard reported on Saturday that Piaggio India Ltd, with a plant in Surajpur, had merged with Piaggio & C. S.p.A, and will cease production of scooters and now only produce three-wheelers, while the Barmati plant will produce three-wheelers and a new four-wheeler called the Quadricycle for the European market. The story also reports that Piaggio plans to export US $12 millon worth of components from India. Thanks to Patrick from Baron Von Scoot for the lead.