Month: January 2004

South Dakota Congressman (and ex-attorney general and governor) Bill Janklow was sentenced to only 100 days in jail last week for killing motorcyclist Randy Scott, while speeding and running a stop sign near Trent, SD on August 16 2003. Janklow had been served 13 speeding tickets since 1990, but argued that, being a diabetic, his low blood sugar had affected his judgement in the fatal crash. Motorcyclists across the country are outraged that a well-connected politician known for his tough stance on law-and-order was given such a light sentence, and several biker groups have threatened to boycott Sturgis in protest. Janklow has since resigned from the House of Representatives.

Nitro reminds us all: “Be careful where you park in Taiwan”.

Chances are you know my brother Keith and his wife Carole, they’re leaving Chicago today for Cincinnati [ 1 | 2 | 3 ]. Goodbye, you guys.

Poster Corner has a large selection of reproduction vintage motorcycle posters, including Iso and Starlett scooters and a Moto Guzzi moped.

The UK patent office has cleared the way, designers are free to overuse the RAF Roundel once again. Better yet, we can listen to the Rondelles!

Belated congratulations to Chicago scooterist Kim Stewart, she’s now the sous/pastry chef at the northside restaurant Tweet, which recently recieved a glowing three-star review in the Tribune. We can’t wait to check it out, we’ll be visiting as soon as we find a babysitter.

2SB reader Tom Shaddox sent us an Economic Times of India story about the Kinetic/Italjet deal, he actually sent it a while back but we were caught up in parenthood (our apologies, Tom). This story is a bit more clear and reveals a bit more, Kinetic will become the sole worldwide manufacturer and distributor of the current Italjet models Jet Set, Dragster, Formula, Torpedo, Velocifero, Millennium and Jupiter. All will be outfitted with Kinetic motors. Italjet founder/owner Leopoldo Tartarini will also be involved in future Kinetic design projects.

A source tells us that 300 Vespa GT200s are currently in Newark, NJ, being prepped, and, that Piaggio is planning to import the 50cc Typhoon as soon as late spring (under $2000) and the X9 as soon as this summer. I hope Piaggio and/or Vespa will bother to show up this year at the Chicago Motorcycle show.

Speaking of the Cycle World Show, it’s February 6-7-8 at Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. We’ll try to write up another overview like last year, only with more cute photos of Milena on bikes. And we’ll buy our “Phillipines” patches before the booth closes.

Rupees continue to fall like rain on Italy this month as Piaggio announced their plans for a Rs 1,000-cr turnover in India by 2005, mainly on the heels of their Quadracycle and other cargo vehicles. “Rs 1,000-cr” means “One thousand Crore Rupees,” or “1,000 10-million rupees,” which I think works out to ten billion rupees, or something like US$221 millon, if my math is right. Could they make that a little more confusing? Meanwhile, Italjet has licensed seven models to Kinetic to be produced in India. Italjet will cease domestic production of the models and Kinetic will manufacture, distribute and market them worldwide, using Italjet’s current distributors. All engines will be manufactured by Kinetic, unlike the Italian versions which used Piaggio and other outsourced motors.

How to void your Stella warranty, with help from your friends at Stella Speed.

Milena at her Great-Grandma Haluda’s party.

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A couple weeks ago, Brian at nh-scooters interviewed Phil McCaleb of Scooterworks and Genuine Scooter Co. (Stella). Now I have to find someone in New Hampshire to interview to show him up.