CENS Taiwan Economic news reports (in great depth) that PGO has been working with british rotary-valve experts RCV Engine Ltd. for two years. Suddenly the rotary-powered Genuine rumors don’t sound so crazy. (Thanks to Rikko on Modern Buddy for the link.)
Category: Asia
Chinese Nuclear Mopeds
NoZone magazine’s 100 Year Forecast is pretty right-on, funny, and well-designed.
Nissan Mori
Another really cool concept scooter and a really good essay on why showing off “concepts,” and separating design from engineering, is pointless. The original Vespa is the perfect example: Form and function developed equally–with amazing insight and creativity–by Corradino D’Ascanio.
ZNen “Lance” factory video tour
Welcome to Zhejiang Zhongneng Industry Group Co Ltd or “ZNen”. They make (or have made) scooters for many different importers, including the new “Lambretta” sold in Italy, Baron, FlyScooter, ZN, possibly Roketa, TNG, and Peirspeed, and plenty more (it’s hard to tell without looking at the VIN, and even then, it’s confusing). Some of these brands are better than others, and often the dealer and importer you buy from has as much to do with your experience as the manufacturer. The Chinese are plenty capable of making good scooters, it comes down to the ethical and financial choices made by the manufacturer, importer, and their dealers.
At Dealer Expo2008, a ZNen rep spent a half hour trying to convince me to import their scooters. I finally cut her off and asked “don’t you already have many importers here? She said “sure, but you can make more money if you import directly.” I said I wasn’t interested in importing (I didn’t bother telling her I’m not a dealer, either). Only then did she reluctantly staple a Lance Motorsports business card to my brochure.
I talked to a couple other booths selling scooter manufactured by ZNen. When I asked “Aren’t these the ZNen models they’re selling at their booth?,” most admitted they were pretty angry that ZNen had bought a huge booth to try to sell scooters directly to the same customers they were targeting. Then they went on to explain that their quality control and dealer support was better than all the other ZN importers’. Lance didn’t have a booth, and probably were under the impression that ZNen was giving dealers their information, which was hardly the case.
You can’t tell much about ethics or quality from a video. Even if you think this video does prove something, it still leaves 20 importers to choose from. I’ve never ridden a Lance scooter, but there’s plenty of evidence on the internet that they’re not great: Many complaints about quality and service, Many dealers sell them online, they’re indistinguishable from some other brands that friends have had negative experiences with, no experienced dealers that I know and respect sell them, and ZNen’s ethics are questionable, as noted above. Are Lance Scooters OK? I don’t know, but this video tells me nothing.
New PGOs (and future Genuines?)
The PGO I’ME 125 that we mentioned in June is now listed on PGO’s english site, as well as the Ligero 125, which appears to be a Euro-friendly BuBu 125 in Genuine’s Buddy International colors. (Interestingly, it seems PGO has never offered a 150cc BuBu on their site). Also new: the Black Magic 50, with a Buddy/BuBu rear end and an X2 front end (it’s called the “Young BuBu” on their Taiwanese site, and is also offered in what appears to be an electric version). The Hot 50 isn’t labeled as “new,” but I don’t remember it from before. The G-Max (Genuine Blur) Evo (4-valve version) is now listed on the Taiwanese site as 150 and 200cc models, and the 200cc model gets the fancy new digital speedometer that we’ve all been lusting for at Modern Buddy (Speaking of speedos, check out the the I’ME’s handsome cluster).
I’ve been assembling a long list of questions for Genuine, this news just gave me ten more. The way scooters have been selling, it’s a safe bet we’ll see some new Genuine models soon.
Opening Ceremony
Congratulations on a fantastic show, Beijing. Now that we’ve seen what potential your nation holds, let’s see what you can do about your scooters.
I know you can make good scooters, I know you’re cutting corners so the importers make more money, but it’s time to go legit.
Astro Boy scooter toy
$2,650 for this Astro Boy Scooter friction toy on eBay with 2 days left. Sure, you could buy a real scooter for that, but it wouldn’t be cooler than this toy. Seller says he sold one in worse condition for $10,000… ten years ago.
UPDATE: Bidding closed at $3,600, with reserve not met. Crazy. Also, in the comments, POCphil has offered up his Fuji Rabbit to be painted with the same graphics.
Unspeakable Xingyue love
“Local man loves his Chinese-made scooter.” Despite the headline, the video was totally disappointing. Just wipe up your mess when you, uh, “finish,” Mumford.
For the record, that’s a Xingyue Euro 150, and I really doubt he’s getting that mileage. Their logo creeps me out for some reason, but I think that’s the only currently-available covered three-wheel scooter (Bajaj’s autorickshaws don’t really count) available in the U.S., if you’re into only getting your arms wet in the rain.
Japanese Customs
Here’s a nice collection of photos of customized twist-n-gos from Japan on twowheelsblog. Not my thing, at all, but worth a look.
Lambretta Pato commercial
A TV commercial for the European-market “Lambretta” Pato (aka the Lance Milan, ZNen ZN151T-F, Flyscooter LaVie, etc.), not to be confused with the Lambretta International Uno and Due sold in the U.S., or an actual Lambretta. The only thing sadder than a Chinese Lambretta is putting end credits on a commercial on YouTube. (Via motoblog.it.)
Malaguti: “Draw your own conclusions”
Baron Motors’ BBS announcement-of-sorts is actually more of a caption contest than an announcement. (BTW, that’s one “t” in Malaguti). I suppose the gist is that CFmoto is building Malaguti-branded bikes and selling them here via Baron. (See also: PSF/QJ/Benelli, LS/?/Italjet.) Also, just for fun, read the Wikipedia Malaguti page and guess who probably wrote it. (Thanks, Matty.)
Electric Buddy?
I posted this last week after skimming it, and I skimmed right over the part where PGO UNVEILED AN ELECTRIC-POWERED BU BU at EICMA. Electric-powered chinese scooters were a dime a dozen at Dealer Expo, but maybe PGO will get it right. And is it a coincidence that the model shown apppears to be painted in Genuine’s Buddy Italia colors?
Taiwan @ EICMA
Here’s a nice PR roundup of Taiwan’s offerings at the EICMA show in Milan. If you think I’m taking a long time to write up DealerExpo reports, remember that EICMA was last November, and these dudes are presumably getting paid to write this stuff.
Tu Trung, a Vietnamese Vespa restorer
Thanhnien News profiles Tu Trung, a Vespa restorer in Ho Chi Minh city. I don’t know his work, but it’s neat to read a local perspective on the Vietnamese Vespa restoration industry.
Daelim Besbi 125
Dunno if South Korea’s Daelim scooters are any good, but their Besbi is sort of cute, if you’re into the “faux-retro” thing. It doesn’t look like Daelim USA is importing it, though.