Niall King’s Vespa Smallframes site is an oldie but goodie, with tech info and photos of Vespa’s smallframe scooters, and a good amount of info on Asian-market models. It also features a downloadable font “Primavera,” a Mac or Windows version of the 70s Piaggio logo font (sort of a stylized Clarendon Bold Extended, if you’re a type nerd).
Month: August 2006
Slaughterhouse pre-party tonight!
Los Corazones Negros’ annual Slaughterhouse pre-party is tonight (Thursday, August 31) at Liar’s Club, 1665 W. Fullerton Ave. 9pm-til-midnight, an $8 wristband gets you free beer, Midnight-to-close, beer is only $1 DJs spin all night. 2strokebuzz will be there, running the Crapraffleâ„¢ and selling merchandise to support Scooterrelief.org.
Slaughterhouse 12 continues Friday night at Frank & Mary’s (2905 N. Elston Ave), with Karaoke and a midnight ride.
La Dolce Vita scooter in California?
Rocco’s Ristorante and Pizzeria in Walnut Creek, CA claims to have the original Vespa from “La Dolce Vita.” There’s a picture in the slide show, anyone care to speculate on its authenticity?
živeli!
How many things are wrong (read: freaking sweet) in this picture? It’s from the Oldtimer-Grand Prix, held at the Vrsac airport in Serbia.
Piaggio Typhoon giveaway at Slaughterhouse
In a surprise last-minute announcement–days before the rally–Motoplex/Old Town Motocycle Shoppe has told us they’ll be giving away a Piaggio Typhoon in the Slaughterhouse raffle this Saturday night at the Cobra Lounge. Big thanks to Dan and Derrick at Motoplex for the scooter!
The Blur 150: Modern scooters aren’t rubbish
This my first review of a scooter in more than ten years of writing 2strokebuzz. My first scooter was a vintage Vespa and have pretty much stuck to what I know. I’ve taken a few spins on various modern scooters, and have been impressed by some, and not by others. The Blur impressed me.
Continue reading “The Blur 150: Modern scooters aren’t rubbish”
Slaughterhouse countdown!
Only a few days left until Chicago’s oldest, biggest and best scooter rally; Slaughterhouse 12. We’ll be at Los Corazones Negros’ pre-party (Thursday night at Liar’s Club) running a Crapraffleâ„¢ to raise some money for scooterrelief.org, please bring along a few extra bucks to help scooterists in need. And be sure to try the pulled pork on Saturday!
Kinetic, Ducati electrical units form joint venture
The Business Standard of India reports a joint venture has been formed by Kinetic Communication and Ducati Energia to manufacture “flywheel magnetos, CDI, ignition system, regulators and ECU for two and three-wheelers.” The venture will be called “Ducati Energia India,” and will be based in Pune. Kinetic is currently developing and manufacturing the former Italjet line of scooters. If only they could work Lucas into this deal, they’d pretty much dominate motorcycle electrics for a thousand years.
“…And the topbox fits a two-four”
The Toronto Star reviews the Piaggio BV500.
LML: Rhymes with “What the Hell?”
From HindustanTimes.com:
MEMBERS OF the All-India Central Council of Trade Union (AICCTU) have warned that the responsibility for any attempt of group self-immolation by the employees of the closed LML Limited would lie on the Chief Minister, Labour Ministry and owners of the LML Limited. The warning was issued in a letter written by AICCTU state president Hari Singh to the Chief Minister and Secretary, Labour Ministry. He said about 5,000 employees and their family members were in deep financial trouble due to the lockout declared by the LML Limited from March 7, 2006.
“Self-Immolation?” As in this? Is that properly translated? Are LML workers seriously threatining suicide-by-fire if the plant doesn’t reopen? I’m no expert in Indian culture or Indian business methods, but that sounds bad.
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Kids ain’t too smart in Hemel Hempstead
I can’t even believe this is true, but apparently there have been multiple reports in Hertfordshire, England, that kids are carrying around extra gas for their minibikes and Go-Peds in motherf••king plastic bags. So that’s one more sticker that the MOT will require on all new bikes, just because people are stupid as all get-out. I don’t think I need to tell you that’s a bad idea. Everyone knows you’re supposed to store your extra gas in a styrofoam 72oz. Big Gulp cup*.
* That was a joke, don’t be stupid.
Genuine lineup update
We’ve been telling you this for months: The few Stellas left on showroom floors are the last ones we’ll ever see. Despite yesterday’s glimmer of hope for LML, the Stella has officially been deleted from Genuine’s lineup (though parts and accessories are available). The updated site features Genuine’s current all-PGO lineup: The Black Cat and Buddy, and the brand-new Blur and Rattler.
LML in Daelim talks?
Moneycontrol India reports:
…Daelim, [LML’s] South Korean partner, might buy into the Lucknow-based company. Sources say talks between the two companies have been on for about four months now.
LML management had no comment.
Kinetic Blazes in India, U.S. waits
While you’re waiting for 2sb’s Genuine Blur review (3/4 finished! it’s epic!), The Hindu Business Line is drooling all over the Kinetic Blaze, the Indian version of the Italjet Millennium. Still no clues towards a U.S. importer, despite Kinetic’s claims the Velocifero would be here by the end of the year.
Amerivespa, No Direction Home Photos
G-MP, Nelly, and Biddle devo-lve at Amerivespa
I finally uploaded some photos: 2sb’s Amerivespa Gallery, Jordan’s Amerivespa Gallery, and 2sb’s Minneapolis gallery. Scoot.net, of course, has many more.