Category: Lifestyle

Return of the 5-speed Vespa transmission

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.

Dave Tooley and the Wildcat Lambretta

Dave Tooley WildcatDave 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

kink-heart tire coverL&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!

USPS Motorcycle Stamps

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!

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.)

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”).

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.

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.