The newest Scooterworks mailer offers a 5-Speed Transmission Upgrade for the Vespa P-series and late-70s largeframes. I remember talk of a five-speed kit that was available in the early nineties, but I haven’t seen one for sale in the last ten years. It’s not my bag to tamper with Piaggio’s genius, but if you’re the type who insists his amplifer “goes to eleven,” order now.
Month: April 2006
Dave Tooley and the Wildcat Lambretta
Dave Tooley raced Lambrettas in the early seventies for the Rafferty Newman “Wildcat” team in the UK, most notably the 158cc-model that dominated the 160-and-under class. Dave’s site contains great scooter racing photos, memoirs, scans of period magazines and advertisements, and technical info about Les Rafferty’s Wildcat Lambretta race scooters. And unlike most UK scooter sites, there’s not an animated navigation button or mod target to be found. Well-done!
L&N Seats
L&N Products in the UK have been re-covering seats since 2001. They specialize in Ancilloti-style seats, but can also re-do just about any other kind of scooter seat, and they make spare tire covers. Aside from the usual mod targets and Union Jacks, they have many music-inspired designs (like the Kinks tire cover at right), and they do custom work. Probably the old-school upholstery shop in your neck of the woods does equally good work, but are they Kinks fans?
Two rides on Saturday, April 22
The spring itch to ride manifests itself via two Chicago-area scooter rides happening next Saturday (April 22): The Heck’s Angels (warning: MySpace) are sponsoring a Benefit Ride for Kalaisha Watrous, and all are wecome to donate and participate. (Info about Kalaisha’s accident.) Also next Saturday is Scooterworks’ annual Spring Ride, (more info to come). I heard some girl behind me on the street the other day say “God, it’s GORGEOUS out” and out of nowhere (without even seeing her) I got the temptation to turn around and say “it JUST GOT GORGEOUS-ER!” but I chickened out.
New M/C Stamps: Scooters Snubbed!
In August, the US Postal Service will introduce Commemorative Motorcycle Stamps. The stamps feature a 1918 Cleveland, a 1940 Indian, a 1965 Harley, and a “c.1970” Chopper. Too bad David Mann wasn’t around to do the illustrations, but they’re nicely done. We’re just sort of wondering why they left off the 1946 Doodle Bug. Thanks for the news, Racecar Bob!
Allstate feeds the meters
In the greatest PR stunt in recent memory, Allstate Insurance is celebrating their 75th anniversary by paying for parking in the Chicago Loop next Monday.
Piaggio Hybrids: more info
The Vespa LX50 HyS and Piaggio X8 125 HyS were designed in response to European Union specifications, as well as a growing number of urban zones that prohibit all emissions.
First it should be noted that the HyS prototypes feature all (if not more) of the conveniences and performance of their gas counterparts (albeit at a cost of helmet space and dry weight), and like US hybrid automobiles, generate electric power through braking and deceleration, which is in turn used to assist the gas motor, especially during acceleraton. This results in an alleged 25% increase in acceleration power, and an alleged 20% reduction in emissions. Not magical numbers, but respectable, and certainly a well-intentioned (or at least EU-mandated) step in the right direction. But there’s more.
Continue reading “Piaggio Hybrids: more info”
In the news
Retirees start a scooter club in a Florida gated community, College Students in Georgia love scooters, and Madison, WI, gets a Vespa dealer.
Piaggio Hybrids: Vespa LX50 HyS and Piaggio X8 HyS
Our report yesterday of “two prototypes” of Piaggio hybrids should have read “Prototypes of two hybrid models:” the Vespa LX50 HyS and PiaggioX8 125 HyS:
Vespa LX50 HyS photos
Piaggio X8 125 HyS photos
VESPA LX50 HyS |
X8 125 4-stroke HyS |
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| Combustion Engine Single cylinder Piaggio Hi-Per 50cc, 4 stroke, 2 valve | Combustion Engine Single cylinder Piaggio Leader 125cc, 4 stroke, 4 valve |
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| Electric Motor Functions as an electric motor as well as a generator, power 1 kW |
Electric Motor Functions as an electric motor as well as a generator, power 2.5 kW |
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| Distance range Up to 20 km (at 25 km/h) |
Distance range Up to 20 km (at 35 km/h) |
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| Batteries 2 standard 12V, 26Ah batteries for a total of 24V, 26Ah |
Batteries 3 standard 12V, 26Ah batteries for a total of 36V, 26Ah |
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| Battery charger Included in the electronics, allows the traction battery to be charged while running or by plugging into a 220V socket |
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| Engine control Drive-by-wire: the electronics interpret and manage rider’s demands based on the state of the system |
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| Acceleration Acceleration time reduced by approx. 10% |
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| Energy recovery System recovers battery power during deceleration and braking |
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| Consumption and costs Reduction of at least 20%. Using electrical recharge, consumption and running costs are half those of a traditional vehicle |
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Piaggio HyS Hybrid to be tested in Milan
The emotional rollercoaster for “green” scooter fans has reached a new high as life imitates April Fools Prank: Today, Piaggio SpA president Roberto Colaninno and Milan mayor Gabriele Albertini announced that two prototypes of the Piaggio HyS gas-electric hybrid-powered scooter will be tested by the City of Milan. This is the first we’ve heard of the HyS, a web search finds nothing but this undated, unsourced news clipping (PDF, in Italian).
More labor unrest in India
Following last month’s strike at the LML factory that produces the Stella, thousands of contract workers at Hero Honda’s Gurgaon plant called a strike today, demanding more reasonable benefits from the plant that produces 6,200 motorcycles a day. A strike at Honda Motorcycles and Scooters of India several months ago resulted in highly-publicized police beatings and national outrage, and many labor actions have followed, including last week’s strikes at the State Bank of India and a Bangalore Toyota plant. China, if you’re reading, this is your future.
Pardon the nostalgia
The first issue of 2strokebuzz came out just about 11 years ago, and we’ve been online for almost six years. The first year or so of 2strokebuzz.com wasn’t technically a blog, but we started blogging in October, 2001, and most of those posts are still in our archive (though we lost a few in various server crashes, and some dates were lost). So if you’re feeling nostalgic, or you’re just jonesing for more 2sb (it happens!) check the bottom of the sidebar to see what was happening in 2strokebuzz’s past.
Piaggio activity in Persian Gulf region?
Harley invades China, ignores Harley riders.
Today, Harley opened their first dealership in China (per-capita income: US$1,200). From the BusinessWeek story:
A handful of Hogs have been on Chinese highways for the better part of a decade, piloted by the likes of Qin Huan. He is a longtime Harley owner, and founder of the Beijing Chrome Horse Motor Club. His group today provides service for Harleys, but Foley says the club won’t be an authorized repair shop.
That treatment has angered Qin, who thinks the company is being narrow-minded when it comes to loyal customers. “I believe Harley is more about culture than business,” he says. “Without the culture it stands for, Harley loses its meaning.”
Sound familiar to any US scooter shops that were around in 1998? (Thanks, Lu$ for the link, and Brooke for the analysis.)
“Mini Skini” throws Canadians for a loop
Speaking of scooter pranks, another April Fools’ joke slipped past us while we were at the WKRP rally: Mini of Canada announced the “Mini Skini,” (more images)a scooter version of the BMW Mini. Many Canadian news agencies and Mini fans were fooled, despite the “dual airbags” and “all-wheel-drive.” A full-size mockup was created and photographed, a lot of effort for a one-day prank. (The mighty Scooter Scoop, once again, scooped us.)