On the heels of the hybrid Vespa prank comes news regarding a real “green” scooter: Bajaj Auto announced today plans are underway to bring a liquid-propane/compressed-natural-gas-powered scooter to the market next year. Bajaj rival Kinetic plans to release two electric scooter models in 2007 (presumably after they get those Dragster 180s on line). Bajaj might look for design inspiration from China’s Chongqing Union Auto Co., who are already selling Bajaj-branded CNG-powered three-wheelers, without permission. Bajaj has promised to challenge Gaongqing, but trademark infringement justice is hard to come by in China.
Month: April 2006
DOT Certification information
Please take some time to skim this FAQ from the NHTSA site about DOT Certification of Motorcycles and Scooters. It’s interesting to note that:
- Few people realize this: Manufacturers do NOT submit a sample machine (or helmet) for testing, it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to manufacture, test, and label the bike (or helmet) to conform to DOT specs. DOT has absolutely no involvement in the process. This makes one wonder how many of the scooters out there bragging to be “Street Legal” really are.
- It’s well known that many manufacturers sell their bikes as “mini-bikes” or “off-road use only” bikes to avoid DOT compliance, but reading some of the letters attached, it seems the DOT actually ENCOURAGES this for some reason. Despite their own rules describing “off road” bikes, they’ve told at least some manufacturers of potentially street-ridden minibikes to not bother trying to meet their standards.
The document also links to a search engine of companies that have compliance records with the DOT (search in “Part 566”).
Breaky is alive!
Got Vina’s Honda CB350 running today just in time to hook up with the remnants of the Chicago Scootercycle ride. Goodtimes. Riding that makes me wonder why I bother with scooters. If you live in Illinois, don’t forget to update your license plate stickers (oops). Photo courtesy of silent-ron.kicks-ass.org
Lunabase
Proof that the Lambretta Luna is the next big thing for scooter collectors: Lunabase is a well-designed, up-to-date, comprehensive British site celebrating the underappreciated Lambretta Luna range–Lui, Vega, and Cometa–designed by Bertone in the seventies. The site features technical info, brochures, a mailing list, and even an owners club. You’ll be coveting a Luna in no time.
Vintage 2strokebuzz!
If you were reading 2strokebuzz online way back at the turn of the millenium, you’ll be happy to know that you can see our earliest online version (from before the word “blog” was invented). Relive the early days of the animated gearshift and read all the classics, including the first MASS race, Vina’s ride to the clown cemetery, Rally Soccer, Matt Howie’s Fashion Forecast and Ryan Bastianelli’s (now Silent Ron’s) $100,000 “Can of Corn” Lambretta, and more! Don’t forget, our print issues, dating back to 1995, are also available to download. Ten years goes by so fast.
2strokebuzz Archives
Once we got all the old posts imported, the sidebar archive lists were getting unwieldy, so we’ve moved them to their own page that can always be found under in the sidebar. We’ve also redirected some bad links, so other than a few cosmetic changes and finishing the links page, everything should be nailed-down now. Thanks again for your support as we wrangle 2sb back into a lean, mean, blogging machine.
Teenager’s terror over scooter kidnap ordeal
I’d think after my third scooterjacking, i’d pretty much be ready to give up riding in Croydon.
Incriminators Scooter Club: Sean’s Tech Section
This might be old news, but the Incriminators SC of North Caroline have redesigned their site, and Sean Steven’s always-handy Tech Section, with his comprehensive (anal) plug-chop instructions, is working again.
Rhode Island redefines scooters, revises law
The Rhode Island General Assembly passed new legislation today that redefines moped and scooter vehicle classes and allows anyone with a regular driver’s license to pilot a under-50cc/under-4.9hp “scooter.” The law appears designed to please local rental services and dealers, especially those selling glass-pistoned Chinese scooters in gas-station parking lots. (thanks, Scooter Scoop)
Reminder- two weekend rides!
Looks like a good weekend for riding, 2sb might even show up for once:
- Saturday: Chicago Scooterist Motorcycle ride. Leaves from Pontiac (1531 N Damen Ave) at noon. For scooterists with motorcycles (or very fast, reliable scooters). Invite your motorcyclist friends. Route includes stop at Big Basin Saloon, a riverside biker/boater bar. (off I-55 so you can take the interstate back into the city if you wish.)
- Sunday, 11:30am Nitro’s Top Notch Burger Run, leaves from Rancho Nitro, (3120 N Elston) at 11:30. Inner-city ride, everyone welcome.
Honda UK’s “My First License”
In another example of how the British motorcycle industry kicks the American motorcycle industry’s ass, Honda UK is offering “license classes”? for 5-11-year olds at local bike shows. The licenses aren’t valid, of course, but the program delivers a message about safety and responsibility to british kids (along with Honda’s sales message) at an age when their American counterparts are riding dirt bikes without helmets on their uncle’s farm.
RetroThing Hybrid Vespa GTS prank
2sb may not be the brightest or most knowlegeable scooter blog out there, but we like to think that with our Google News subscriptions and unhealthy amount of scooter site surfing, we more or less have our finger on the pulse of scootering. So imagine my surprise when i noticed out of the corner of my eye a tiny blurb in the corner of Finkbuilt (of all places) that Vespa had announced a hybrid Diesel/Electric GTS for 2007. The link took me to the Vespa GTS site in italian, on which I couldn’t make out anything about a hybrid model. I excitedly drooled all over my keyboard looking for info, but sadly eventually figured out it was a cruel April Fools’ joke from RetroThing that many other blogs had picked up. Reading the actual story, it’s clear it’s a joke (3-stroke!?) but that link sure had me going for a while.
Vespa giveaway under the Wigshpere
Metro Pulse, “Knoxville’s Weekly Voice,” is giving away a Vespa LX, which begs the question… “Knoxville has a pulse?”
Good News and Bad News
I finally got ALL the old entries imported and posted last night. The problem is that almost all the old posts have “from_the_archives” in the title (oops) so I’m going to try to delete those and reimport them correctly tonight. Also, since the archive and category lists are so long now, I’m going to move them to their own pages. Thanks for putting up with all the changes here, we’re very close to ‘getting back to normal.’
Honda UK’s “My First License”
In another example of how the British motorcycle industry kicks the American motorcycle industry’s ass, Honda UK is offering “license classesâ€? for 5-11-year olds at local bike shows. The licenses aren’t valid, of course, but the program delivers a message about safety and responsibility to british kids (along with Honda’s sales message) at an age when their American counterparts are riding dirt bikes without helmets on their uncle’s farm.