Scooters U.S.A.

Vespanomics: Scooters to Save the Planet!

2011-05-01T09:00:00.006-04:00

A cool chart shows how some U.S. cities are promoting the use of scooter to help relieve traffic congestion and reduce gasoline consumption:

The chart comes from a blog post at Mashable.

Motorbike Diaries make good reading

2009-06-30T10:56:00.005-04:00

I just discovered a set of entertaining blog posts from an American who is riding a motorbike in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (a k a Saigon):

The Motorbike Diaries - Vol. 1 In the first episode, Sherry (a 30-something American woman who fled the corporate world and a life in New York City) describes what it's like to trust your life to a speed-crazed Vietnamese guy who shuttles you around Saigon on the back of his 125cc motorbike.

The Motorbike Diaries - Vol. 4 The story of the first day that Sherry rode solo in the city!

The Motorbike Diaries - Vol. 8 In which Sherry demonstrates she has become a real scooterist (in less than two months!).

The Motorbike Diaries - Vol. 9 Sherry shares photos of how Vietnamese scooterists use rain gear very cleverly while they are riding.

P.S. For my own first-hand view of scooter traffic in Saigon, see this video.

Greek Islands Scooter Rally

2009-01-13T08:16:00.009-05:00

I finally committed and booked my air ticket to Athens, Greece, for the Modern Vespa Greek Islands Scooter Rally! Wow! A small group of scooterists will spend about 10 days scooting around (on rented scooters) in May 2009. (Interested? See the Yahoo! Group MVGISR for details.)

After some thought, I decided it would be best for me to take my own helmet. I have a full-face HJC FS-10, which I really love for its integrated sun visor. It fits my head well too. So I did a Google search for motorcycle helmet, air travel, and found that many people have hand-carried their helmets on planes, both domestic and international.

Then I did a search for bags to protect the helmet (and also to make myself less weird-looking, carrying a helmet in airports). The cheapest one I saw is $13 (U.S.). The one I like best is $30 (U.S.). When I was at AmeriVespa last July, I saw a guy with a backpack designed to carry a helmet. It looked very odd -- imagine the size and shape of a full-face helmet sticking out from your back! Uh-huh. So, no backpack for me.

My first new tire

2009-01-04T10:13:00.003-05:00

At 3,330 miles on the odometer, I realized that the tread on the rear tire was pretty ... gone. Worn flat. So yesterday I went to my dealer and had a new one put on. He recommended a Michelin tire instead of the Pirelli that comes standard on the LX 150. I said sure.

Total cost (including service) was $97 (with $48 of that for the tire).

I did not replace both front and rear, mainly because the front tire still has very deep tread.

The dealer warned me to ride cautiously for the first 30 miles on the new tire. He said the surface treatment of the tire might make it slip, but this surface will be gone after 30 miles.

I have had my scooter for 13 months now!

Today's Florida ride

2008-09-06T16:34:00.009-04:00

Finally, a day with no rain in the forecast!

It did get a bit hot (91.3 °F), but we're used to that here. I set out rather late, about 9:45 a.m., and returned home about 3:45 p.m. I came and went via Williston Road (State Road 121) which is nice but not terribly interesting.

South of Williston, I turned west on County Road 326 (nice road) and went out to Gulf Hammock. At the end of the road there's a boat ramp that looks just perfect for kayakers. The stream would take you out to Waccasassa Bay.

Then I took U.S. 19 south to Inglis and C.R. 40 west to Yankeetown. That Highway 19 is just too boring! It's a good, wide road, and fast, but duller than dust. I saw a giant group charity ride going north as I drank some water at a gas station in Gulf Hammock. Looked liked about 100 bikes, maybe more. A couple of the guys came in to get gas. When I asked them where they were going, they first said, "Uh, I dunno." Then one said, "Up and around Chiefland, then back over to Williston." That's a long way on 19 -- not a fun ride.

I ate a patty melt at the sandwich shop in the Shell station in Inglis after my loop around Yankeetown. I considered eating at the Hickory Island Restaurant across the road, but I wasn't all that hungry. Looks like a good place.

From Inglis I took C.R. 40 a short way to C.R. 336 North, and that took me to C.R. 337, which goes through and past Bronson. I'm marking 336 and 337 as super-nice roads in my book! Not many curves, but they run through the Goethe State Forest, so the scenery is not residential or industrial. Sweet! There's a curvy little road west of 337 that I'll have to check out some other time. Hiking trails too. Actually I was in the forest on my outward-bound leg too, but not as long.

In Bronson I turned east on Alt. 27 (big road, similar to 19) and rode that southeast back to Williston. It was hot, and I was just ready to head home before I got to feeling worn out.

Total miles: 160.4
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Best maps for riding

2008-08-30T10:09:00.002-04:00

If you're not familiar with Mad Maps, you should be. The company sells a variety of printed maps that show you excellent back roads and scenic byways, with accurate mileage counts and helpful notes about roadhouses, attractions, and so on.

They have regional maps, state maps (above: Florida), rally runs, and a series called "Get Outta Town" that shows you several nice rides around a selected major U.S. city. I bought the Atlanta one (see below) to help me navigate around Atlanta on my recent ride from Florida to Tennessee.

One other awesome map resource I discovered while planning my trip was the U.S. Highways Web site. You could spend hours here exploring the non-Interstate highways of the United States, including historic Route 66, among others.

First-person account of the MSF course

2008-08-29T10:35:00.003-04:00

Patrick Beeson lives in Tennessee. He took an MSF Basic Rider Course and thereby earned his Tennessee motorcycle license. Here's his blog post about his experience taking the course:

MSF Basic Rider Course teaches safety, skills

The MSF Basic Rider Course is definitely immersion based. And I think this is a good thing because you can talk about how to ride as much as you want, but it's very different when you are sitting on the bike.

I took this course myself in 2003, in Florida, and I always recommend it to new riders. It trains you in really valuable skill areas that could save your life.

I'm always amazed when people treat getting a new scooter like they are simply getting a bicycle and can hop on and ride. Even a 50cc scooter goes faster than a bicycle. And you're in the middle of traffic on a scooter -- not clinging to the shoulder on the side. People in cars tend not to see you. You need to be hyper-alert when you are on two wheels.

The MSF course gives you a good introduction to riding defensively, to protect yourself.

New Scooter Owners' FAQ

2008-08-24T11:48:00.003-04:00

I just found this really nice FAQ (list of frequently asked questions) at the Scootin' Old Skool blog (which is a nice blog, by the way!).

Orin O’Neill discusses helmets, licenses, protective clothing, the MSF class (take it), how to put your scooter inside your minivan (yes, really), what to do when your Vespa refuses to start, and MORE.

Scooter buying advice and tips - FAQ

2008-08-14T07:28:00.000-04:00

Answers to some frequently asked questions about buying a scooter:

1) What brand of scooter is best?

The well-known brands all have their own strong points: Vespa, Honda, Yamaha, Aprilia, etc. I met a lot of people at AmeriVespa who LOVE their Genuine brand scooters -- these are models called Stella and Buddy. I have a friend who rides a Kymco and recommends it to everyone -- very low price, but reliable.

Be wary of buying a used scooter if you are inexperienced or not mechanically inclined. A bad scooter could get you killed. Is it worth a couple hundred dollars?

Think long and hard about buying a mail-order scooter. Can you really build a gas-powered, engine-driven vehicle from parts in a box? This is not a bicycle, dude.

2) Do I need a motorcycle license to operate a scooter?

In Florida, for any scooter with an engine size of more than 50cc, you need to have a motorcycle endorsement on your driver's license. Check the laws for your own state.

Even without the motorcycle endorsement, in Florida the 50cc scooters must have a tag and registration.

3) How fast does it go?

Generally speaking:

50cc = 40 mph
150cc = 60 mph
200cc = 75 mph
250cc = 80 mph
400cc = 95 mph

4) How many miles per gallon does it get?

It totally depends on the make and model. My Vespa LX 150 easily gets 60 mpg -- but the manufacturer claims it gets 80 mpg. The ethanol in U.S. gasoline is reducing the mileage you can expect to get. (Yes, pay more for gas that doesn't take you as far. Grrr ...) Also, the manual says we should use a high-octane gasoline in Vespas, so I'm paying for Super or Ultra. Other scooters will have different requirements.

Still, I fill the tank about once every two weeks and pay less than $8 to do it.

5) How much does a scooter cost?

Again, check the make and model. Engine size is also a factor in price.

A 125cc Genuine Buddy is $2,699 (MSRP).

A Kymco People 50cc is $2,449 (MSRP), and the 125cc is $2,999 (MSRP). Only $500 difference.

A Vespa LX 150cc (if you can find one!) is $4,399 (MSRP), and the smaller engine, 50cc, is $3,299. Yeah, a big price difference there!

Meanwhile, a 250cc motorcycle, such as Honda's popular Rebel, goes for $3,199 (MSRP) -- new. Honda's Nighthawk (250cc) is $3,699.

6) So why not just buy a "real motorcycle" instead?

Ahhh ... that's a very good question. Let's just say that there are plenty of people who have ridden motorcycles, and loved riding them, and now they ride a scooter instead. There are people who got on a scooter and never wanted to ride anything else. There are even people who sold a scooter, bought a motorcycle, and ... then sold the motorcycle and bought another scooter.

It's not about shifting gears. I used to ride a Honda Shadow 750cc, and shifting gears was no problem at all. My Vespa is lighter, more nimble, more responsive, and -- best of all -- more fun to ride!

Some more advice:

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Book review: 'I See by My Outfit'

2008-08-12T07:51:00.003-04:00

An odd title, sure enough, but don't let that deter you if you ever dreamed of crossing America on two wheels -- with your best friend by your side, of course.

Peter S. Beagle made this journey in 1963 and wrote the book, a memoir, not long afterward. He and his sidekick, Phil, set out from New York City too early in the year (it was far too cold for two guys on scooters who hadn't even thought to pack long underwear), but there was a woman waiting for Pete in California, and he needed to get on the road.

The scooters are Heinkels, German, "as rare as kangaroos in this country." Their names are Jenny (Pete's) and Couchette (Phil's).

I have to confess, I probably picked the best possible time to read this book -- while I was making a much shorter solo scooter trip from Florida to Tennessee. I really looked forward to my nightly meeting with Pete and Phil and finding out what interesting characters they had met on the next leg of their trip.

It's not a travelogue, and the boys aren't sightseeing, but like all good road trip stories, this one gives you a fine sense of the country, the tedium, the distance, weather, friendship, and the strains a friendship will bear. Two things I think will stay with me for a long time: The image of Phil passing Pete and crying out, "Seventy! Seventy!" (I know how that feels!), and the afternoon they spent in a pawn shop, playing guitars and telling stories with some old men.

Some people called them beatniks, and they called themselves "fuzzy" -- bearded and shaggy, 12 years after Kerouac and much less worldly. It's a modest story, warm and tolerant, like your best friend's arm around your shoulder after a long, hard day.

Buy it at Amazon.com.
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Scooters selling like hotcakes

2008-08-09T10:35:00.004-04:00

Editorial cartoon by Ed Hall (detail):

Click to see the full version -- this is only a detail.

A recent USA Today story by Chris Woodyard says:

While scooters made up about 15% of all street-licensable motorcycles in 2007, their U.S. sales zoomed 66% in the first half of the year, highest of any segment in the motorcycle market, the Motorcycle Industry Council says. Some scooter makers say sales boomed when gas hit $4 a gallon: Piaggio Group Americas, which makes Vespa, saw sales rise 174% in July compared with a year ago.

At AmeriVespa, Piaggio mechanic and instructor Rolf Soltau explained that U.S. Vespa dealers attend a meeting once or twice a year at which they tell Piaggio how many scooters they expect to sell in the coming year. What you say is what you get. So if dealers did not anticipate the leap in gasoline prices and the subsequent spike in interest in scooters, well, there's nothing Piaggio can do about that.

Road trip: Florida to Tennessee

2008-08-03T19:25:00.029-04:00

Here's the route I followed from Florida through Georgia to Chattanooga, Tennessee, in July. I wanted to travel about 150 to 200 miles per day on smaller roads, and definitely NO INTERSTATES. Scooter style.

Northbound Day 1: July 20

From Gainesville, Florida:

State Road 26, to Fanning Springs
U.S. 19 (big road) through Cross City, Perry, and Monticello, Florida (Monticello is about 30 miles from Tallahassee)
U.S. 319 (at Thomasville, Georgia)
U.S. 319 Business to Moultrie, Georgia

Lunch: Cafe Marmalade, Monticello. Sunday buffet with fried chicken, Brunswick stew, greens, cornbread. (Who says Florida is not the South?) Not bad.

Slept: At the Barber-Tucker Bed & Breakfast in Moultrie.

Notes: Monticello has a big white courthouse smack in the center of a roundabout in the middle of town. The dome on top has four clocks, a style of public building I saw in a lot of Georgia towns along the way. Moultrie's downtown is largely intact (Early 1900s style?), nice looking, but lacking interesting shops and restaurants. There's a gigantic magnolia tree in front of their domed courthouse. This stretch of U.S. 19 is a boring road, but smooth and fast.

Miles: 185

Northbound Day 2: July 21

From Moultrie, Georgia:

State Road 133 (about 30 miles) to Albany, Georgia (nice road!)
U.S. 19/Liberty Expressway (about 7 miles of an Interstate-like highway) around Albany, then north on a smaller U.S. 19, to Leesburg
State Roads 195 and 377 to Americus (good roads)
State Road 30
State Road 41 to Buena Vista (great lunch!), and then Geneva, then Manchester
State Road 190 (I missed this turn in Manchester and went straight to Warm Springs by following the signs, then took State Road 85 south from Warm Springs to get on 190 and ride west to Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park

Lunch: Aunt Mary's Country Kitchen, in Buena Vista, had awesome meat loaf, greens, beans, and cornbread. It was packed with people.

Dinner: Mac's Bar-B-Q, Warm Springs

Slept: At the Mountain Top Inn and Resort on S.R. 190.

Notes: In Americus, a lot of spectacular Victorian-style homes; beautiful old brick public buildings in the center of town. Warm Springs, small, charming, with a vintage motorcycle museum. Most shops closed Mondays. Did not go over to Pine Mountain (sounded so touristy).

Miles: 182

Northbound Day 3: July 22

From FDR State Park, Georgia:

State Road 190
North on County Line Church Road (I had to stop for a flock of pheasants milling about on the road; they ran and then flew in confusion, as if no one had ever disturbed them before), through Durand
State Road 18 (special nice one), through Greenville
U.S. 27 Alt, to Newnan, then Whitesburg
State Road 5, to Douglasville
State Road 92
U.S. 41/Cobb Parkway
Red Top Mountain Road (toward I-75)

Breakfast: Foxx Den, Greenville (nice people, great latte)

Lunch: Cinco de Mayo, Douglasville (very yummy food; close to I-20)

Slept: At the Red Top Mountain Lodge (in the state park)

Notes: In Newnan, more wonderful Victorian houses, including this one. Some construction on U.S. 41 seems to have eliminated a clear sign to the state park. Follow signs to I-75, but don't get on it. The road with the ramps to the highway is the road to the park. A long bridge leads to the park entrance, which is impossible to miss. U.S. 41 was the only big road today -- realy nice riding! Spent all day July 23 in the park and nearby Cartersville.

Miles: 130 (includes a round-trip detour to Kennesaw to visit the Vespa dealership there)

Northbound Day 4: July 24

From Red Top Mountain State Park, Georgia:

U.S. 41/Cobb Parkway, to Calhoun
State Road 136 Connector (clear signs to 136)
State Road 136, toward Sugar Valley, then Villanow (nice road; runs through Chattahoochee National Forest)
State Road 151
State Road 95
U.S. 27, through the Chickamauga Battlefield and Fort Oglethorpe (I made a wrong turn here and got onto U.S. 2, which added at least 20 miles to my intended route -- grr! I wound up on State Road 41 going into Chattanooga.)

Lunch: Greg’s Restaurant, 12560 N. Highway 2, Chickamauga -- awesome Southern chow. I had a country fried steak, macaroni and cheese, and fresh ripe tomatoes. The waitress assured me the mac&cheese was great by explaining, "We use real Velveeta." It hadn't occurred to me that there might be fake (?) Velveeta.

Slept: At the Chattanooga Choo Choo Holiday Inn, Chattanooga, Tennessee

Notes: Stayed in Chattanooga from Thursday afternoon until Monday morning. It's a great mid-size city with a lot going on downtown, a nice-looking river going through it, some cool old bridges, quite a decent art museum, etc. I can recommend Lupi's Pizza on Broad Street, La Altena Mexican restaurant on Main Street (first-rate!), and the Long Horn Restaurant (really a diner) for breakfast anytime. I'm really sorry I missed Rock Point Books, near Lupi's on Broad Street. I found it Sunday evening after they had closed. Their windows were so enticing. I missed visiting the aquarium too. (Too busy looking at scooters!)

Miles: 113
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New Vespa dealer in Florida!

2008-07-31T15:24:00.005-04:00

About three weeks ago, a new store in the Scooter Superstore chain opened in Gainesville, Florida! That means I can have dealer service done right where I live! Hooray!

Address: 203 NE 39th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32609

Phone: (352) 373-3436

Look for the blue sign that says Vespa Piaggio. I stopped in yesterday and met Todd and Robert, the manager and (so far) sole employee. Both were very nice and enthusiastic about scooters. Their Web site is not so great, but the store is one of the nicest I have seen anywhere. (No, they are not paying me to say this! But they did give me a free T-shirt.)

I'd also like to give a shout out to Freedom Power Sports in Kennesaw, Georgia. They did a "second first service" on my scooter on July 22, after I had put 500-plus miles on her in three days. Chip was my mechanic, and I really liked the style and customer care there. They didn't give me any freebies (except a cold bottle of water, which I really appreciated), so this is just a customer recommendation.

I've seen mechanics' bays in several different motorcycle shops, and theirs was rather awe-inspiring. Clean, well-lighted, lots of big power lifts, and happy mechanics. Happy customers too, from what I could see.

Home from a 1,300-mile road trip

2008-07-30T22:49:00.005-04:00

Just got back today from my ride from Florida to Chattanooga, Tennessee. That's my Vespa LX 150 on the sidewalk across the street from the Choo Choo hotel, headquarters for AmeriVespa 2008.

I will be posting some details about the trip as soon as I have some time!

More photos here.

Norrie Kerr's Web site

2008-07-25T19:17:00.002-04:00

http://www.norrie-kerr.co.uk/

This will give you an idea what he's like, but without the charming
Scots accent, unfortunately.

Listening to Norrie Kerr

2008-07-25T19:12:00.002-04:00

I know next to nothing about scooter racing, but this man is one of
the all-time greats. This morning he spoke to a very appreciative
group of scooter enthusiasts at AmeriVespa -- and showed us a few
videos of some choice TV appearances he's made over the years.
Thoroughly enjoyable!

From Florida to Tennessee

2008-07-22T10:04:00.004-04:00

Right now I'm in a coffee shop in Greenville, Georgia, on my way to Amerivespa in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The back roads in Georgia are sweet! More to come later ... There will be photos ...

Yes, I'm riding my 150cc Vespa LX!

Scooter how-to and safety tips

2008-07-17T17:45:00.001-04:00

"Scooter School" is a program of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. You can download a useful booklet from their Web site (free):

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Florida Scooter and Motorcycle License

2008-07-15T09:43:00.002-04:00

A new state law requires riders to complete the Florida Rider Training Program before getting a motorcycle endorsement on a driver's license.

As of July 1, 2008, completion of this course is required for all motorcyclists who wish to obtain a motorcycle endorsement or motorcycle only license. Upon successful completion of the course, may be entitled to insurance premium discounts through participating insurance companies.

This makes it sound like "obtaining a motorcycle endorsement" is optional. That is NOT correct! See here:

If you wish to operate any two or three wheel motorcycle, whose engine is more than 50 cc, you are required to have a motorcycle endorsement on your driver license or a motorcycle-only license. (Source: Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles)

So if you live in Florida, and you are riding anything bigger than 50cc, you need to go and take the course. That includes a lot of scooters (like my 150cc).

The Florida course is based on the famous MSF course. I went through that course and got the endorsement on my license. Taking the course is really worthwhile, in my opinion.

Amerivespa 2008 - July 24-27

2008-07-10T11:42:00.003-04:00

The biggest U.S. rally for Vespas!

Pre-registration will close on Sunday, July 13.

The rally will kick off Thursday evening with a meet-and-greet event, according to the agenda.

There's an optional day-before ride on the famous Tail of the Dragon (318 curves in 11 miles). Yeah, I thought about it. No, I'm not doing it. My LX 150 could handle it, but I just get too freaked out by sheer drops off the side of a mountain, y'know?

The rally wraps up Sunday afternoon with a riverboat ride -- and a raffle!

U.S. Motorcycle Sales and Accidents, 1996-2005

2008-07-08T22:05:00.001-04:00

Here is some information to consider when you want to discuss motorcycle safety:

Click to see a larger version of the chart.

Sources: Motorcycle Industry Council, U.S. New Unit Motorcycle Sales; U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Traffic Safety Facts 2006 Data -- Motorcycles (PDF file).

Motorcycle deaths in U.S.

2008-07-06T10:23:00.008-04:00

Here's a large report with lots of statistics from Gannett News Service:

In 1996, 5.6 motorcyclists were killed for every 10,000 registered motorcycles on the road. By 2006, the rate had risen to 7.3.
About 42 percent of motorcycle riders killed in accidents between 2002 and 2006 were not wearing helmets.
In raw numbers, the annual death toll in motorcycle crashes rose from 2,116 in 1997 to 4,810 of 2006.

It really burns me up that this discussion focuses almost exclusively on helmets -- wearing them vs. not wearing them -- and NOT on the increasing popularity of motorcycle riding, with the associated increase in new riders (of all ages).

Someone who has been riding for less than six months is more likely to be involved in an accident than someone who has been riding (regularly) for six years. But those kinds of numbers are rarely even published, let alone discussed.

Let's look at that list again:

Tell us HOW MANY NEW MOTORCYCLES were sold in 1996 vs. 2006, and the percent change: In 1996, 5.6 motorcyclists were killed for every 10,000 registered motorcycles on the road. By 2006, the rate had risen to 7.3.
Why not talk about how 58 percent of motorcycle riders killed in accidents between 2002 and 2006 WERE wearing helmets? Their helmets did not save them. About 42 percent of motorcycle riders killed in accidents between 2002 and 2006 were not wearing helmets.
Again, you need to talk about the INCREASED NUMBER OF RIDERS: In raw numbers, the annual death toll in motorcycle crashes rose from 2,116 in 1997 to 4,810 of 2006.

Safety is hugely important on motorcycles and scooters, but a helmet doesn't make you SAFER (I always wear a helmet, by the way) -- you are safer if you ride safely. You are safer if you ride on a road with no other vehicles on it. You're safer if you don't take corners too fast.

Heck, you're safer if you ride with your eyes open, not closed!

A few photos I took in Southeast Asia

2008-06-29T03:31:00.012-04:00

Sweet classic Vespa, in Hoi An, Vietnam:

Honda Super Cub 90, May 2008, in Kampung Cham, Cambodia:

Typical scene in Battambang, Cambodia:

In Siem Reap, Cambodia:

In Hanoi, custom seats are common on many new Vespas:

Click any photo to see a larger version.

The majority of the bikes in Cambodia are relatively new Honda Wave or Honda Dream models. There were lots of new Vespas in Hanoi and Saigon, plus a fair number of Yamahas and even Suzukis.

I also saw a surprising number of original Honda Super Cubs still running in Saigon -- even the 50. For a fun read, see Honda Sells Its 60 Millionth - Yes, Millionth - Super Cub.

More about my SE Asia travels here ...

Scooters sales up in U.S.

2008-06-02T11:41:00.003-04:00

Not too surprising, given the increase in gasoline prices! Here are some sales numbers for scooters, from the May 30, 2008, issue of Business Week magazine (video):

2000: 42,000
2004: 96,000
2007: 131,000

In the first quarter of 2008, sales increased almost 25 percent over the same period last year.

How good is your helmet?

2008-03-08T22:11:00.002-05:00

Here is a very detailed article about helmet testing and what helmets can and cannot do for us: Motorcycle Helmet Performance: Blowing the Lid Off.