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Category: Yamaha
Yamaha’s EC-02 hits Japanese market
Photos of the Superman-logo-shaped Yamaha EC-02 electric bike have been circulating since 2005, but InventorSpot reports that it’s finally available (at about US$2000) in Japan. Unlike the Vectrix, it doesn’t come close to the performance of even a 50cc gas-powered scooter. But it has several pluses over the many ho-hum electric cycles on the market: an iPod dock with speakers, an original and distinctive design, the Yamaha name (and dealer network), and some sort of mysterious 3-D glow-in-the-dark coating. (Thanks, Kevan!)
Honda, Yamaha, and Piaggio prepare for Vietnam war
In the last week, both Honda and Yamaha have announced new factories in Vietnam. The Japanese marques are targeting a booming Vietnamese market for scooters and small motorcycles, Honda will build mainly scooters at their new facility, and Yamaha will increase capacity for their bestselling “Nuovo” and Sirius” big-wheeled scooter models. Even if the Vietnamese market growth continues, Piaggio will find plenty of competition when their Vietnamese plant opens in 2010, though analysts suggest the higher-end Vespas will find their own niche.
Rossi Aerox (now in bleu et blanc)
Yamaha, the offical paddock scooter of MotoGP, has introduced a new Valentino Rossi “Fiat” Yamaha Aerox replica, not to be confused with last year’s Valentino Rossi “Camel” Yamaha Aerox replica. Being a Rossi fan is an expensive hobby, we’re sticking with Nicky because his mom is nice.
Return of the Zuma
Via Girlbike: the venerable Yamaha Zuma returns “by popular demand” for 2008. We await Brooke’s comments.
Yamaha to supply offical scooters for MotoGP in 2007 campaign
Yamaha has been supplying the FIM Grand Prix paddock with BW scooters (a.k.a. old-style zumas to us in the USA) for several years now. This year they’ll be the official paddock scooter for MotoGP. The scooter model has changed to the Yamaha Jog RR (a.k.a. a cool scooter that will never grace our shores to us in the USA). Yamaha will also offer an exclusive special edition replica model at dealers across Europe with MotoGP logos and track maps of each of the Grand Prix stops in the 2007 season. The Season kicks off in one week at Losail for the Grand Prix of Qatar.
C3 on ScooterScoop
Steve got a better look at the Yamaha C3 than we did. Apparently it’s not a Vino engine, Yamaha has engineered it to be even slower and more fuel efficient than a Vino. I also forgot to mention that the legshield turns with the wheel, which is weird. Steve points out that it has a bit in common with the Honda Ruckus. I’m not sure where Steve got his 117mpg figure, but if that’s true, I dub thee, C3, “the Yamaha Ruckelshaus” in honor of the first head of the EPA.
Chicago International Motorcycle Show 2007
You’ll hopefully forgive 2strokebuzz if coverage of the 2007 Cycle World International Motorcycle show is a little scaled back this year. The truth is, very little has changed from year to year. Each year there are fewer surprises, less swag, and fewer perks (the bus service to the CTA parking lot was cancelled this year, brrr.), while parking, concessions, and admission (at least seem to) get more expensive. Probably that’s why Triumph didn’t appear for the second year in a row, and why Kymco, CMSI, and Genuine rarely bother with these shows.
On top of that, we had a head start on new 2007 models, thanks to the Milan EIMCA show, and next weekend I’m attending the Indianapolis Dealer Expo (my first trip), which promises to be a bit more exciting. But out of a sense of duty, and because Ryan was driving, I decided to once again trek through the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, to see what there was to see. Which wasn’t much, really.
Continue reading “Chicago International Motorcycle Show 2007”
20,000 miles @ 50cc
Another great link from Crystal Waters’ Girlbike: “In 2003, Rupert Wilson-Young rode from Alaska to Ushuaia in South America — that’s over 20,000 miles — on his 50cc Yamaha Vino.”
Speaking of Crystal, it looks like Vespaquest and Vespaway are — thankfully — back online.
IAAD/Yamaha concept scooters
Some really interesting Yamaha concept scooters designed by students at the Istituto d’Arte Applicata e Design in Turin. (The names, “Street Player” and “Ploof” were created through a similar project involving Kymco and a third-grader in Atlanta.) Thanks to Mad Man Maddox, who sent this in October, whoops!
Yamaha Giggle 50
The Yamaha Giggle 50 looks like a stripped-down version of the C3, which is due in America next year. The logo is kinda neat.
Well, I’ll be FC-ed.
After unveiling the FC-aquel hydrogen-fuel-cell prototype last week, Yamaha is hinting that an earlier direct-methanol-fuel-cell (DMFC) prototype, The FC-me (oof!) is being readied for mass production. (via Core77)
Yamaha Maxam news (or not)
Today’s story from Gizmag teased us once again with Yamaha’s ultra-cool-looking Maxam3000 scooter, before going on to say that the popular Japan-market-only Maxam 250 will make an international debut soon at an Australian motor show, with the rest of the world to follow. Not so exciting as the futuristic “3000” (that’s 3000mm — almost ten feet — long) version, but new scooters are always good news, right? Unfortunately, Gizmag (who knew they were Australian?) is apparently unaware we’ve had the Morphous250 (the same scooter) here in America since early this year.
News briefs
- Yamaha will present the FC-Aqel hydrogen fuel-cell scooter at the International Electric Automobile show in Yokohama.
- The 22-year old daughter of the Coldstone Creamery founders has been indicted for manslaughter after killing a scooterist in a Mesa, AZ drunk-driving accident this spring. Savannah Sutherland’s blood-alcohol content was .19% when tested by police. She faces up to 21 years in prison.
- This editorial from the Lawrence (KS) Journal-World just might be the most pointless and unresearched scooter story ever. The headline (“Born to be Mild,” yet again!) is just the tip of the iceberg.
- PiaggioUSA has landed the same rehashed press release in at least six newspapers this week, hitting all the “Vespanomics” talking points. Funny that the story was originally appeared in Philadelphia, where the Vespa dealer is closed and allegedly under investigation for fraud. If only the rest of PiaggioUSA was as efficient as their PR team.
- An Australian industry group reports Australian scooter sales are up 54.3% in the first 9 months of 2006 (vs. 2005).
- The University of Iowa joined the list of schools where a “park a scooter anywhere” mentality has become a problem. The Iowa City Council is considering adding more spaces for scooters and mopeds with designated parking permits, which cost $46 for nine months.
Morphous test ride
JustGottaScoot has a go on the Yamaha Morphous.