Month: June 2006

“This technology deserves to be tested under real power”

Another, more detailed review of the MP3 from the Independent.
Via Mad Man Maddox, who adds:

What intrigues me is that this might be a Thing (I hate to call it a scooter) that lets me ride to work all year long. I did that this year but i am crazy, The bike has power to drive heated lap covers, heated vests, and heated handle bars, plus LARGE and small wind screens designed for summer and winter conditions. And it has up to 110 liters of storage. My winter riding jacket and my full face helmet fit in my 45 liter top case now after I take out my mac book and lunch. I ride the Kymco 250 all over Chicago — I-57, I-55 — and it’s fine. I have never ridden it farther on the interstate than Cleveland. If the stability [of the MP3] is as good as I hope, this is a car replacement. Did not you quote an article in french talking about a 400cc upgrade?

Yes, the 400cc MP3 is due in December for Europe, and there are also rumors of an Aprilia version, but the US is only getting the 125cc version for now. Hopefully it will find success in Europe, because Piaggio, despite their PR and soundbites to the contrary, doesn’t seem too interested in us.

Lake Erie Loop 2006: POC Phil’s report

Lake Erie Loop entrants

Phil and the Pink BuddyHere’s Phil Waters’ report on this year’s Lake Erie Loop, a low-displacement motorcycle race around Lake Erie to benefit the Aluminum Cans for Burned Children Foundation:

Any scooter or bike 200cc or under can compete. Bikes over 200cc can participate in the non-timed “tourist class.” All proceeds go to help burned kids, so you can feel good about breaking the law and destroying your scooter or bike. There were 18 contestants this year. We proved that scooters posed a real threat, 5 scooters were entered and ALL of them completed the course with 2 of us taking home trophies.

Continue reading “Lake Erie Loop 2006: POC Phil’s report”

Malaguti gets their own MP3

But will it be as user friendly to those with disabilities?

MotoGP.com reports that the racing division of Italian scooter and motorcycle manufacturer Malaguti, Malaguti Corse (they haven’t updated the racing website but they field a 125cc team with Japanse rider Tomoyoshi Koyama who last year had two podiums on a Honda), have developed a sponsorship arrangement with MP3 maker Nortek.  I just hope that Malguti won’t go the way of the mainland Chinese scooter mills that have put battery draining alarms and MP3 players in their 2-wheelers.  I do hope that some more sponsors of any kind get out and put their euros, pounds sterling or dollars behind a few more current and former 2-stroke riders like Ant West, Chaz Davies and Casey Stoner.

Ben Roethlisberger: Too cool for a helmet

This screenshot from ESPN is funny, but riding without a helmet is not. Especially if you have a multimillion-dollar sports contract that prohibits riding a motorcycle, and your coach has already bawled you out for riding without a helmet. I’m sure once he heals, the Bears will pick him up, Kordell-style, and pay him a few million bucks to play three exhibition games and then get injured or busted for drunk driving or some other vast act of lameness that I can’t even conceive right now. (Thanks Steve for this and the last link)

Norway Kart track reopened to cycles, scooters

Our first post on 2001’s newly-blogified 2strokebuzz was about a MASS practice session at Norway Kart track. The track, then a favorite for racers and spectators for its layout and proximity to Chicago, was later closed to motorcycles and scooters, and (correct me if I’m wrong Ryan) then closed entirely. Apparently they’ve re-opened, and CIMR held a practice day there today for motards. In other local racing news, MiniMotoTT is organizing track days at Michiana and Rolling Green with possible races in 2007. Thanks to Ryan for the info.

New garage alarm can send text messages

If you don’t happen to have a webcam in your garage, this might be handy: British company Nobells sells a $550 self-contained, battery-powered GSM Alarm System for garages and motorhomes. If the alarm senses motion, the alarm can send a text message to up to three cellular phones. The alarm runs on AA batteries and doesn’t require a telephone or electric connection.

ScootRS develops new Vespa tubeless rims

ScootRS has introduced their third-generation tubeless rims for 10″-wheel Vespas. The new design improves on earlier designs for Lambretta scooters. As big fans of the convenience of the Vespa split-rim design, 2sb would ask: “Why tubeless?” ScootRS, of course, has an answer:

A rim that requires a tube, as all Vespa rims do, means your tire suddenly and dangerously blows out when punctured. On a tubeless rim, however, you merely have a slow air leak, as on a car. No blowout means no danger.