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!

Hot enough for you?

Honestly, I love riding on a warm, clear day, but this heat wave is crazy! It was nearly 100-degrees today which makes for not a good experience sitting at a stoplight in a full-face helmet. I try to park in the shade at the train station, but sometimes cars hog up the good spots, even those that aren't meant for cars!
I can also get cranky in the heat....
One thing that concerns me in this heat is my seat cover. It gets super-hot and very s-t-r-e-t-c-h-y. It can't be good for the longevity. MRP sells a seat-cover which is supposed to keep a seat cool. I haven't used one yet, but I think this weather is asking for it.



How do you keep cool during these hot weather spurts?

New Vespa GTS 300 Super

It's been quite a while since the word "Super" was used to self-describe a Vespa. Noe Piaggio has released the GTS 300, just in time to induce GTS250 owners to slap them selves on the head. I know people that bought the GT, then offloaded it for the GTS, and now I wonder how many of them will be pining for the 300?

The GTS 300 Super is the largest displacement Vespa ever produced. Vespa has seen that the consumers want updated styles that hearken back to the classic designs of the pa The Super has been redesigned and includes touches like the fender crest and new side grills on the side panels. They have also played with the color scheme on the front suspension cover (now red) and the analog instrument panels (black with white lettering) and some other touches. Gone is the "parking light" which was where the classic horn cover was. It is now an air intake.

The underseat storage holds 2 3/4 helmets and still can carry 9 liters (about 2.4 gallons)of fuel. Impressive.

The engine has also been redesigned:

The new GTS 300 Super is different from the GTS 250 because the new engine has a higher level of torque (22.3 Nm as opposed to 20.1) along with fewer revolutions per minute (5,000 rpm as opposed to 6,500 on the 250). On the road, these numbers translate into flexibility and pick-up from low speeds that are unequaled in this displacement category.

Pretty fancy, eh?

Piaggio USA PR says that it is NOT coming to the US. But that just seems stupid....

Vespa S Model finally launched

Piaggio announced the arrival of the S Model. A new smallframe. We've tested the European version, as the US version was not available, and found it to be a fun little ride, one that brings back the excitement of scootering. I'm digging the sport seat and the decorator kits that are available. It isn't without some faults, but to hear about those (and some more cool things, too) you'll need to check our our next issue which will be on stands in April. Mwah-mwah-waah! Oh, and bring your checkbook, it sells for $4,099.

Toys'R'Us Picks Scooter As Top Toy

Toys'R'Us has come out with their Hot List of toys for the holiday season. The complete list has 36 products, but they also have a "Fabulous 15" which is their most recommended toys. The Daisy Pocket Mod kid scooter from Razor made that list. According to the press release description:

"Pretty in pink, this fashionably fun Razor Pocket Mod is sure to be the talk of the town. This Toys"R"Us exclusive will get kids in gear with the latest and greatest in scooter technology. The trendy "Daisy" model boasts pink and pearl details, 12" tires and over 10 miles of smooth cruising capability at speeds up to 15 mph on a single charge. Riders can even store their gear in a special compartment under the seat. 2 rechargeable "12V Lead Acid" batteries required (included). Ages 12 and up."

While I wonder about letting a kid on a battery-powered vehicle that can go up to 15mph, I am still pleased to see that scooter toys are still being made for the kids. I would have relentlessly bugged by parents about this had it been available when I was a youngster.

While Razor has been producing these type of scooters for a couple of years, but this specific model is a TRU exclusive. The list is just a marketing ploy to generate interest in items you can only get at TRU. This model does sell on the Toys 'R'Us website for $199 while the original Razor scooter sells for $229.

News from Piaggio Dealer Meeting...

The Vespa LXS in Action.

Piaggio USA just had their dealer meeting and here are some highlights:

The LXS is finally on its way. It will have an MSRP of $4,099, it will be available in black, white or red. Unfortunately, the US version will not have a "touring" seat rather than the unusual and cool solo seat on European models. Luckily, the solo seat will be an accessory option.

The MP3 will now be available in 400- and the 500cc version (which is a rebadged Gilera Fuoco 500). Preliminary pricing places them at $8,200 and $8,600, respectively. The most obvious difference between the 400 and the original 250 (besides the engine) is the reduced storage under the seat. The concession is that the 400 now gets an accessory plug. Our sources that test rode both bikes say, "the 400 is marginally faster off the line with just a tad more power towards the top of the throttle. The 500 is significantly faster and stronger."

As for Aprilia, they are releasing a Scarabeo 200. Its MSRP will be around $3,800 and it has an appealing, re-designed headset. Otherwise, the bike retains its unique Scarabeo shape. It is reportedly, "a really nice ride."

The more rugged, rear end of the MP3 (a rebadged Fuoco)

New Issue Preview

Now that our October issue is at the printers, I can give you a sneak peek at the what is on deck:
80s Flashback: a snapshot of the 80s US scootering scene complete with lots of cool photos.
10th Anniversary, Pt. 2: we wrap up our anniversary coverage with a Then & Now section and a revisit to our cover scoooterist from issue #1.
80s music: Catch up with the English Beat and Untouchables
Ask Hot Rod Al: The debut of our new Q & A column on scooter performance!
50cc Shoot Out: we put a handful of small bikes to a big test
don't forget our rally reports, product reviews, and other regular features!

The issue is set to be in the stores on September 15, a little longer for subscribers.
The photo above is a peek at the cover photo shoot. You'll love the cover and centerfold that we have!

Vectrix Electric Scooter Arrives in US

At Scoot!, we have been talking about the Vectrix electric scooter for a couple of years. It's great to finally see it come to fruition with its release this week.

For those who ride scooters for their environmental benefits and low operating costs, the Vectrix is right up their alley. Its NiMH battery pack is said to last up to 10 years with an annual mileage of 5,000. It also has an on board charger that can plug into standard 110/220V outlets and charge in two hours. The bike retails for $11,000 which means the it will take quite some time to offset the price of gas. But, with it's peppy acceleration (0-50 in 6.8 seconds) and a range of 40-60 miles per charge it may prove to be fun enough to put way more than the estimated 5K on it each year.

Scoot! co-publisher Mike Zorn got a chance to ride a Vectrix in Italy at the Milan show and was impressed. We look forward to giving it a thorough review in an upcoming issue.

Upcoming Vectrix events and appearances include:
July 28-29: Concours d’Elegance, Newport Mansions in Newport, R.I.
August 9: Vectrix Test Ride Event with British Motor Car Distributors LTD (BMC) in San Francisco.
August 11-12: Vectrix Test Ride Event with The Green Car Company in Seattle.
August 18: Vectrix Store Grand Opening in Newport, R.I.
August 25: 35th Annual Electric Car Rally & Show in Palo Alto, Calif.
September 28-29: AltWheels Alternative Transportation & Energy Festival in Boston

Is it a scooter?

This week Californian company RideVehicles demonstrated their zero-emission personal transportation vehicles to a delegation of Canadian business leaders at an event geared at furthering trade with Canada. Above, Governor Schwarzenegger checks out one of the models.

The Ride vehicles are three-wheeled electric vehicles that are positioned for business use. The Blue-Ride is geared towards police and security use, while the Mail-Ride is for postal employees, the Base-Ride is for military bases and he Work-Ride is for private business use. All models are made to help individuals easily cover large areas which is definitely a concern for mail carriers and foot patrol police. You've probably heard of how some large factories use bicycles for workers to get quickly from one area to another. Some would argue that the bicycle is the better choice or health reasons, but there are probably several instances where this electric vehicle has some advantages over the bike.

But, is it a scooter? In the popular vernacular it probably is, although Ride may choose to avoid that term. As far as Scoot! is concerned, it is in the realm of the Segway (to which it is compared) and the mobility scooter: similar but not enough to really cover it. Although it is an interesting development for alternative transportation.
You can find out more about these vehicles at the RideVehicles website.

It's true...

The rumors on the board are true. We've got 'em and we're putting them through their paces. Look to the August issue of Scoot! for a full review.

AMSOIL Releases New 4-Stroke Oil

According to a new press release, AMSOIL is offering a new oil for four-stroke scooters:

"New AMSOIL 10W-40 Formula 4-Stroke Synthetic Scooter Oil is formulated specifically to meet the special needs of today’s high tech air-and water-cooled four-stroke motorized scooters, offering unsurpassed wear protection and friction reduction for longer equipment life and cooler operating temperatures. Its exceptional shear stability ensures consistent viscosity protection and provides additional protection for transmissions and gear boxes, while its friction modifier-free formulation ensures wet clutch compatibility and smooth clutch operating. A special anti-corrosion additive package provides long-term protection during periods of inactivity and storage.

AMSOIL 10W-40 Formula 4-Stroke Synthetic Scooter Oil is recommended for air-and water-cooled four-stroke motorized scooter engines calling for a 10W-40 viscosity, as well as transmissions and gear boxes calling for a 10W-40 motor oil, including Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Vespa, Aprilia, Piaggio, Benelli, Vento, Kymco, Tank and TGB.

Benefits of AMSOIL Formula 4-Stroke Scooter Oil include:
· Superior Wear Protection
· Cool Engine Operation
· Controls Lubricant Foaming
· Exceptional Shear Stability
· Reduced Oil Consumption and Deposit Formation
· Excellent Protection in Temperature Extremes
· Improved Fuel Economy
· Wet Clutch Compatible
· Long-Term Protection Against Rust and Corrosion

Available in quarts and cases."

[According to AMSOIL: MSRP = $6.20 / quart, $73.20 / case]


View the AMSOIL website