Look Who's in American Motorcyclist...

In June, Grant Parsons from the American Motorcyclist Association asked me to write a piece for the back-of-the-book guest column in the association's magazine, American Motorcyclist. The subject was up to me, which left me with a lot of possibility. Should I write about the practicality of riding a scooter? Should I extol the virtues of a small parking footprint and gas economy? Should I talk about Roman Holiday and Quadrophenia? I was a bit stumped on how to say something fresh and new that didn't sound as if I assumed that the AMA readers didn't know anything about scooters. I also didn't want to sound apologetic. Many scooterists take that sort of tone, as if they are lesser riders because they ride scooters. I struggled with the concept of the article and was unable to decide before I took off for my week away at Comic-Con.

When I returned, I had to close the next issue of Scoot! and every spare moment of writing was dedicated to the issue. However, while I was editing the events calendar, I noticed something unusual. There were several Mods vs Rockers events happening this summer/fall. While Mods/Rockers events are nothing new, it was the amount of such events, spread out over the country, which impressed me. It meant that in pockets of the US, there were groups of scooterists and motorcyclists getting together to have fun, with no attitude...actually thumbing their noses at the notion that the two groups don't get along. Cool! I found the inspiration for my column.

Once I figured on a theme, it went quickly. As much as I think Quadrophenia is a tired source to cite, it actually was pertinent to the point, so I evoked it once (I promise to leave it alone for a while!) to illustrate the old view of scooters versus motorcycles. The point that I wanted to make was that scooterists and motorcyclists aren't that different. We want the same things, we find pleasure in two-wheeled transport, so we should offer each other respect.

The issue just hit mailboxes this week, and I have received some great feedback. If you are an AMA member, I hope you check it out. If you aren't an AMA member, why not join?

Photo by Jen Good @ jengood.com

Blog entry Soundtrack: Electricity by OMD and The Promise by When in Rome.

KYMCO Announced Three New Models

An all-new 298.9 cc model tops the list of new scooters available from Taiwanese manufacturer, KYMCO. The new Downtown 300i is well suited for commuters who will enjoy the powerful engine and dual disc brakes as well as the many amenities such as 2-helmet underseat storage, a watertight cell phone compartment with a 12v accessory outlet, and an optional top case.

The Like 200

Two new versions of established models are also debuting. The Like (previously only a 50cc) is now available in a 163cc 4-stroke version with dual disc brakes, and dual real shocks. Our review of the 50cc Like in the April issue said that we wanted to see a more powerful engine, so we're eager to check this one out. Finally, the company is also introducing a 2-stroke version of their popular sporty Super 8, which should be of interest to 50cc racers out there. Find out more at kymcousa.com.

The Super 8 2T

New Scoot? Tax Deduction!

Our friends at the American Motorcycle Association sent out a press release to remind folks that some new motorcycle/scooter purchases in 2009 qualify for a tax deduction:


Don't forget to claim federal tax deduction if you bought a new on-highway motorcycle in 2009

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is reminding riders that they may be eligible for a federal tax deduction on their 2009 taxes if they bought a new motorcycle last year.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act -- a landmark $787 billion economic stimulus package that President Barack Obama signed into law in February 2009 -- provides a deduction for state and local sales and excise taxes paid on the purchase of qualified new vehicles from Feb. 17 through Dec. 31, 2009. Qualified new vehicles include street and dual-sport motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, cars, light trucks and motor homes.

"At first, Congress was not going to include motorcycles in this bill, but the AMA and the association's members, along with Harley-Davidson and others, persuaded our elected representatives to go back to the drawing board and fix that oversight," said AMA Vice President for Government Relations Ed Moreland. "Congress responded, and now motorcyclists who purchased a new bike last year can enjoy the same tax savings as those who opted for four-wheeled transportation."

Eligible vehicles must have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 8,500 pounds or less, and cost less than $49,500. Individuals can take the full deduction if they make less than $125,000, or $250,000 for joint filers. The deduction is phased out for taxpayers with income between $125,000 and $135,000 ($250,000 to $260,000 for a joint return). Individuals don't have to itemize to claim the deduction.

To illustrate the impact of the tax deduction, consider the case of a new motorcycle purchase of $10,500. For a 7.5 percent sales tax rate, the tax would be $787.50. The purchaser takes this deduction on the federal income tax form, reducing their taxable income by $787.50. Sales and excise taxes vary by state, so the actual savings will depend on the taxpayer's state and tax rate.

To read the Internal Revenue Service "Questions and Answers" about the deduction, go to IRS.gov or www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=211310,00.html.

About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world's largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists' interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through its Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations.

Scoot! Buyer's Guide Goes Online

In an effort to provide the most up-to-date and accessible information on new scooters, the Scoot! Magazine Buyer's Guide has moved online. Prospective scooter buyers can now access the guide 24/7 at www.scootmagazine.com and select the "Buyer's Guide" link from the top navigation bar. Not only does the online version provide all of the specs from our original print guide, it now has an interactive component that allows you to sort by model year, manufacturer, MSRP, displacement and tire size. You can also compare up to three different models simultaneously. By going online the Guide is now easily accessible, easily updateable and information can be updated when it is available rather than once a year in the print guide. Another convenient feature is the Reviewed by Scoot logo that provides a link to the Scoot! issue in which the bike was reviewed. This year many manufacturers are releasing new bike later than usual. Our team will be adding bikes as soon as their specs are available.

Give it a try and let us know what you think!

 

Sample screen

International Motorcycle Shows

The Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows are making their way around the country. Last year, Scoot! had a booth at the San Mateo stop, but we won't this year. Josh and I will be walking the floor, meeting with manufacturers and checking out the new products that are available.  The dates & locations are:

• November 13-15, 2009 Dallas Convention Center Dallas, TX
• November 20-22, 2009 San Mateo County Event Center San Mateo, CA
• December 4-6, 2009 Long Beach Convention Center Long Beach, CA
• December 11-13, 2009 Qwest Field & Event Center Seattle, WA
• January 1-3, 2010 Rock Financial Showplace Novi, MI
• January 8-10, 2010 Carolina First Center Greenville, SC
• January 15-17, 2010 Washington Convention Center Washington D.C.
• January 22-24, 2010 Jacob K. Javits Convention Center New York, NY
• January 29-31, 2010 I-X Center Cleveland, OH
• February 5-7, 2010 Minneapolis Convention Center Minneapolis, MN
• February 19-21, 2010 Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Chicago, IL

The show is also offering builders and owners of custom bikes to display their best at the show:

If you have a custom cruiser or custom sportbike and want an opportunity to display it in front of tens of thousands of attendees, e-mail your name, contact information, and photos to Kurt Whittington at kwhittington@advanstar.com. Put 'Custom Showcase' in the subject line. After we review your information you'll be contacted with additional information and instructions on how to participate in this exciting opportunity.

Would  be great to see some awesome custom scooters there!

Scoot! Rides the Honda SH150i

Scoot! staff members Mike and Josh went to Santa Cruz, CA to get a ride on the new Honda SH150i. Check out this video where the guys (and our friend Christine) hare their thoughts on this new scooter. Look for a full review in Scoot! issue # 51 late this summer.

New Scooter: The Auto Moto

GadgetReview.com just posted a review of the new Auto Moto scooter which has three wheels and a roof. Reminiscent of the BMW C1 and other covered scooters (Benelli Adiva). I can't recall what other companies made a foray into covered scooters over the past few years, but I know none of them did it with three wheels. We'll include this scooter in our upcoming Buyer's Guide and look forward to giving it a try.

UPDATE: Mike from NOHO on NPR

Here is link to where you can hear the interview with Mike Frankovich from Noho scooters on NPR last week.

2009 Vectrix Announced

Vectrix has made some changes to its electric scooters for the '09 model year. The Vx-1 will be available in 4 color combos: white/burgundy red, white/metallic silver, white/sapphire blue and white/acid green. It also gets some new accessories including a lower seat for those who have shorter legs, new windscreen options and a redesigned center stand. The 2009 Vx-1 will be available in dealerships by January 2009 with an MSRP of $10,495.

Further more, the company plans two additional models:

Vectrix plans to introduce two additional models in Spring/Summer 2009, the Vx-1e and Vx-2. The Vx-1e uses the same platform and drive train as the Vx-1, but features a lower price point, a more urban commuter driver profile with slightly less acceleration and top speed. The Vx-2 will be a smaller and more compact electric equivalent of a 50cc internal combustion engine (ICE) bike and use both U.S. and European designs. The Company expects to add additional power profiles to this product up to the electric equivalent of a 150cc ICE motorbike.

It looks very police-like to me, but I applaud them for trying something new with the bike. I'm anxious to see the new models.

Blog entry soundtrack: The new album by Point Juncture, WA.

Global Rights to Lambretta Bikes?

In my opinion, the Lambretta name isn't what it used to be. I suppose that is an understatement as you can get all sorts of tacky products from deodorant and body spray to clothing, watches and sunglasses. We have "Lambretta" scooters here in the US and apparently, there is now a global push on reviving the name as a scooter brand.

Check out this press release on Bike Biz which announces new "accessories" and a 26" wheel bike, by which I think that means bicycle. Hmmmmmh... I bet it will be exactly what Lambretta fans have been craving. :P

"Legendary Italian scooter brand Lambretta had been lying dormant for over 30 years until UK-based brand entrepreneurs Fine White Line Ltd secured the worldwide rights to the Lambretta brand."

So these are the people tanking this brand name!

I'm not sure who benefits from the use of the Lambretta name. From where I stand you either recognized the name and love the brand, thus new, cheap and totally divorced designs and products will ring false. OR you don't know the brand which seems to make the implied cache irrelevant. The only way to win is to find:
1) people that are so "brand-conscious" that they will take anything with the Lambretta name on it regardless of its relation to the actual appropriateness of the products or
2) people to "educate" about the brand's cache and relevance.

If ther are any UK readers out there, I'd love to hear your opinion on what you feel has beeen done with the Lambretta name. It seems that the license-holder will slap the name on anything. How does that go over in the UK? To me it feels like buying a "Gucci" bag on the streets of New York for $20. Empty.


Blog entry soundtrack: "I Used to Love Him" Lauryn Hill

MSN Article Shows Complexity of Scooter Choice

I love scooters. I'm glad to see more people getting into the scooter frame of mind, but I often meet folks that just haven't thought it through all the way. I'm not one to dissuade a person form becoming a scooterist, but I think that if someone does he research and invests some time into the purchase s/he will end up with a better fitting scooter that will be with him/her for quite some time.

So I was pleased to see this story on MSN where new scooterist Tracy Harger put in some investigative work before buying a scooter. I'd suggest that those wanting to buy a scooter read and use it as inspiration for their scooter hunt. Scooters are a great way to get around town using minimal gas, but if you buy a new scooter it can take a while to see the savings if you are paying off a new scooter. So I say look at it from several points of view. Back in June, I ran a post which had some of my top reasons to ride a scooter. Fuel-efficiency was only one of them. I also posted some tips on buying a new scooter. If you are a new viewer of this blog, sgo back a few months and you'll find various postings that may help you with your new hobby/lifestyle. Also, feel free to send me an email if you would like.
Happy Scooting!

Buying new scooter?

If you haven't seen our new Buyer's Guide you are missing out on some great info on over 120 scooters that are available in the US right now. May people have said that the intro to our Guide is helpful, so I'll reprint some of the info from the introduction. Remember, you should put as much thought into buying a scooter as you do a car. Do you research and find the right one for you. :)

Finding the right scooter to fill your needs

There are many considerations when buying a scooter, the two biggest are usage and your budget. There is a big difference in the type of scooter based on typical use: in the neighborhood, cross-town, inter-town travel, or even weekend warrior activities such as day trips or jaunts into the country.
Below is a list of common displacements, typical top speeds with some notes.

50cc: 30-40 mph Useful for around the neighborhood, small errands on residential streets. Not recommended for passengers.

125cc: 45-60 mph Cross-town, casual weekend excursions, light passengers on flat terrain for short distances.

150cc: 55-65 mph Acceptable for inter-town travel, good for weekend trips not involving extended high-speed periods. Suitable for a passenger.

200cc: 70-80 mph Great for inter-town travel, and weekend trips. Suitable for most freeways. Does well with passenger on hills.

400cc or higher: 80-100 mph Long-distance touring, designed with passenger in mind.

Going with the flow of traffic is very important. You shouldn't feel as if you are holding up traffic or that you just can't get to where you are going in a timely fashion. Other considerations include fit for your body type, cost of ownership,

Don't forget about how a bike feels beneath you. You should be able to touch the ground and feel in control of the scooter's weight. Some scooters get better gas mileage than others. If gas mileage is of utmost importance, a smaller displacement scooter will sip gas, yet all scooters get far better gas mileage than even most hybrid cars. Keep all of these considerations in mind so that you can find the that scooter that is right for you.