Riding in London? Keep an eye out for Orlando Bloom.
Piaggio 2006 line announced
Piaggio X8 400ie
Today Piaggio announced a whole schload of new and redesigned models.
- The Beverly line now includes five models: the 125, 250 ie (“iniezione elettronica” –electronic injection), S 250ie, 400ie, and 500.
- The Liberty and new “racier” Liberty S are both available in a 50cc 2-stroke, as well as 50, 125, and 200cc 4-stroke versions.
- The Typhoon 50 has been redesigned for 2006.
- The redesigned X8 range features five versions: the X8 125 and 150 “Street,” the X8 125, and the 250ie, and the 400ie.
Photos of some of the new models are in our gallery, More photos and specs will be posted as we make sense of it all. Note: these are worldwide-market names and products, few will likely make it to the US, and the Beverly will likely continue to be called the “BV” here.
60 already?
It seems like Vespa’s 50th anniversary was just last month! Can you believe the ET-series is already ten years old? Coverage of the Italian festivities, with all the usual cliches, ran today on Times Online: “Cool at any age: The Vespa hits 60” Note: That’s 60 years old, not 60 mph.
Yamaha wins “copycat” suit
Speaking of Asian copycats (Via the BBS):
Yamaha Motor Company, U.S.A., Cypress, Calif., has obtained a Consent Judgment in its lawsuit against Yamoto Motor Corporation, Union City, Calif. Yamoto has agreed to stop the import and sale of Yamoto products into the United States which Yamaha claimed were copycats of its products.
The lawsuit, filed October 12, 2005 in Los Angeles Federal Court against Yamoto Motor Corporation and Patriot Motorcycles Corporation (Pink Sheets: PMCY), alleged trademark infringement and copyright infringement, among other claims.
Read the full story at Powersports Business
TNG files charges against Schwinn Scooters
As 2strokebuzz noted a couple weeks ago, the new Schwinn Scooters bear more than a casual similarity to the TNG Venice and Milano models, and as promised, we’ve dug a little deeper into the situation and our findings are rather startling. Tom Lynott, president of CMSI, makers of the TNG scooters, had no comment on April 4th, but since then, a source outside CMSI confirmed that CMSI were preparing legal action against Pacific Cycle, the parent company of Schwinn, Mongoose, and GT bicycles. A complaint, which alleges that Pacific Cycle effectively “stole” TNG’s product and business model after a proposed collaboration was abandoned, was submitted to the United States District Court in Seattle on April 6, (two days after our original story), listing six charges against Pacific Cycle: False Designation of Origin, Violation of Washington’s Consumer Protection Act, Common Law Unfair Competition, Intentional Interference with Contract, Intentional Interference with Prospective Economic Relations, and Breach of Contract.
Continue reading “TNG files charges against Schwinn Scooters”
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 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
L&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!
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!
Allstate feeds the meters
In the greatest PR stunt in recent memory, Allstate Insurance is celebrating their 75th anniversary by paying for parking in the Chicago Loop next Monday.
Piaggio Hybrids: more info
The Vespa LX50 HyS and Piaggio X8 125 HyS were designed in response to European Union specifications, as well as a growing number of urban zones that prohibit all emissions.
First it should be noted that the HyS prototypes feature all (if not more) of the conveniences and performance of their gas counterparts (albeit at a cost of helmet space and dry weight), and like US hybrid automobiles, generate electric power through braking and deceleration, which is in turn used to assist the gas motor, especially during acceleraton. This results in an alleged 25% increase in acceleration power, and an alleged 20% reduction in emissions. Not magical numbers, but respectable, and certainly a well-intentioned (or at least EU-mandated) step in the right direction. But there’s more.
Continue reading “Piaggio Hybrids: more info”
In the news
Retirees start a scooter club in a Florida gated community, College Students in Georgia love scooters, and Madison, WI, gets a Vespa dealer.
Piaggio Hybrids: Vespa LX50 HyS and Piaggio X8 HyS
Our report yesterday of “two prototypes” of Piaggio hybrids should have read “Prototypes of two hybrid models:” the Vespa LX50 HyS and PiaggioX8 125 HyS:
Vespa LX50 HyS photos
Piaggio X8 125 HyS photos
VESPA LX50 HyS |
X8 125 4-stroke HyS |
|
| Combustion Engine Single cylinder Piaggio Hi-Per 50cc, 4 stroke, 2 valve | Combustion Engine Single cylinder Piaggio Leader 125cc, 4 stroke, 4 valve |
|
| Electric Motor Functions as an electric motor as well as a generator, power 1 kW |
Electric Motor Functions as an electric motor as well as a generator, power 2.5 kW |
|
| Distance range Up to 20 km (at 25 km/h) |
Distance range Up to 20 km (at 35 km/h) |
|
| Batteries 2 standard 12V, 26Ah batteries for a total of 24V, 26Ah |
Batteries 3 standard 12V, 26Ah batteries for a total of 36V, 26Ah |
|
| Battery charger Included in the electronics, allows the traction battery to be charged while running or by plugging into a 220V socket |
||
| Engine control Drive-by-wire: the electronics interpret and manage rider’s demands based on the state of the system |
||
| Acceleration Acceleration time reduced by approx. 10% |
||
| Energy recovery System recovers battery power during deceleration and braking |
||
| Consumption and costs Reduction of at least 20%. Using electrical recharge, consumption and running costs are half those of a traditional vehicle |
||
Piaggio HyS Hybrid to be tested in Milan
The emotional rollercoaster for “green” scooter fans has reached a new high as life imitates April Fools Prank: Today, Piaggio SpA president Roberto Colaninno and Milan mayor Gabriele Albertini announced that two prototypes of the Piaggio HyS gas-electric hybrid-powered scooter will be tested by the City of Milan. This is the first we’ve heard of the HyS, a web search finds nothing but this undated, unsourced news clipping (PDF, in Italian).