The website is up, and registration is open for Amerivespa 2009, July 2-5 in Los Gatos, CA. Nice artwork! Don’t forget the dates fishtail nicely into the Motogiro America AND the MotoGP at Laguna Seca, so you might want to go ahead and take two weeks off work.
Author: illnoise
Venti 150: The impossible dream
“It’s simple,” we always say. “Why can’t someone just slap a modern engine in a Vespa frame already? Why can’t Vespa just put the 160GS back on the assembly line? Why can’t LML/Stella make a California-legal 250cc Vespa? Everyone would buy it, no matter what they charged!”
Well, here’s proof, straight from an ad in Dealer News that it’s not so easy to make a truly-vintage-looking scooter in this day and age: Ladies and Gentlemen of the scooter buying public, witness the Venti 150 (click on photo to enlarge).
Continue reading “Venti 150: The impossible dream”
CWC update, finally… Bob’s Vectrix leads
Well, another cold snap through the northeast last week brought us an almost entirely new top 5 in the Cold Weather Challenge Former leader Colin Doyle was knocked to third place by Bob Hedstrom of Scooterville in Minneapolis (-16°F!) on a Vectrix electric scooter, and on his heels, Tom from Omaha (-11°F), with a second entry, vowing to not let Minnesota take the CWC title. Colin’s down to third, then Luigi G. sits in 4th place at -7°F (with a long writeup in the comments.). Rounding out the top 5 is Stefan from Cleveland, at -6°F. Stefan is clearly delusional from the cold and demanding some Malört.
Say what you will about a Vectrix leading the CWC, I think it’s cool, and Bob’s got two 50cc bikes and two 30+-year-old Vespas nipping at his (cold) ankles, which I see as proof that ANYONE could win this thing.
Read through the comments, we have a lot more entries, and good stories, and try a cold ride, anyone who posts a ride under 32° (and/or the coldest ride in his/her state) gets a prize for participating!
Scooterworks’ “Cabin Fever”
Scooterworks here in Chicago’s having a big “Cabin Fever Sale” on (Saturday January 24, 2009). They’ve got free t-shirts for the first 50 people there, closeouts on helmets and apparel, and new and used scooters at “The best prices of the year,” including 1.9% financing on new Genuine scooters. (click on flyer to enlarge) Guess they’ve got to make room for all the Blur 225 Turbos and Stella 300 Eco-maticas.
The SYM-ba unveiled, a little
The Scooter Scoop gets a sneak peek at Sym’s new Honda- Cub-like “Symba.” Nice!
Vespa 300 coming to U.S.
PiaggioUSA announced on January 16th that The Vespa GTS 300 Super will be sold in the U.S., though the scooter isn’t included on vespausa.com yet and no availability date was mentioned. Specs appear to be the same as the European model, with the same body as the U.S.-only GTS 250 Super. “The GTS 300 Super doesn’t just stand out in the crowd – it gets you out of the crowd,” quipped PiaggioUSA CEO Paolo Timoni. The GTS 300 Super (which features a 278cc engine, debate away!) is the largest-displacement scooter ever to bear the Vespa brand name, and a subtle but very handsome upgrade from the 250cc model.
UPDATE: Here’s the full press release. It’s due in March.
“Daniela” Wooden Vespa
Clearly, 2sb has jumped the shark when Boing Boing and Jalopnik beat us to a scooter story. For the three of you that haven’t seen it, check out the Wooden “Daniela” Vespa. The body was hand-made by Portuguese craftsman Carlos Alberto, and it features a real engine and lights. One photos shows Alberto in motion on the scooter, so it apparently runs! Whether it’s rideable or not, it’s absolutely inspirational and beautiful.
CWC madness
Lots of activity in the CWC over the past week, I’ll update later today, I promise, but you can scroll through the comments and do the math if you can’t wait.
European Motorcycle tariff rejected
There was a huge story/outrage brewing last month about a proposed U.S. import tariff on motorcycles designed to protest a European ban on U.S. beef. With our cruddy December, we never got the chance to write about how foolish it was, but luckily, it’s all moot now. it was rejected. This new government’s already looking better.
FOXNews.com – How Green Are Motor Scooters?
Oh boy! FOXNews.com – How Green Are Motor Scooters? I gotta let this sink in, and I’ll write more tonight.
CWC Update, and another quick contest
Entries in the Cold Weather Challenge have been slow thanks to schloads of snow in the northern U.S., but don’t forget runners-up will be recognized by state, so wherever you live, you have a chance at everlasting glory. One notable recent entry is Clayton from South Korea, who holds third place after a fried-chicken-inspired ride through Namhansansong. Chicagoans scooter through the snow for bibimbap, Koreans scooter through the snow for the Colonel. Who knew?
Anyway, here’s a new mini-contest until we have rideable conditions again: That there photo is CWC cosponsor Ryan’s Yamaha Razz, he did a few doughnuts in his back yard on Jan. 9th and then threw it into that snowbank with the centerstand up. Guess what day and time it falls over (in the comments) and the closest guess gets a $10 gift certificate from Scootmoto.com. Go!
“Jimmy’s” Lambretta auctioned for US$52,250
The Lambretta LI ridden by Phil Daniels as “Jimmy” in the film Quadrophenia was sold at an auction of british comedian Spike Milligan’s belongings to an Aberdeen nightclub owner for £36,000. That’s a British record price for a scooter, though to be fair, it is the most famous Lambretta of all time.
“Vespa Girl” from Paper Replika
If you liked our 2SB Articulated Toy and/or the postcard Vespa model that Scooterworks sells, this paper model of a a Vespa 150 and a girl to ride it will blow your mind. And the best part is that they’re free downloads. Truly, truly awesome.
But it has a “DOT” sticker!
Nigerian police are cracking down on motorcyclists wearing dried, hollowed pumpkins as helmets. Thanks for the warning, Becky!
Lutz rides a Vectrix?
If it’s actually true that GM boss Bob Lutz owns and rides a Vectrix electric scooter, I see a reflection of his excessive disposable income, rather than an expression of his commitment to earth-friendly transportation. (This is a guy who called global warming “a crock of shit” this time last year.)