Daimler AG to Produce "smart escooter" Electric Scooter

This appears to be an actual fact and not some rumor. According to high-level officials at Mercedes-Benz, and parent Daimler AG, the company will begin selling an electric scooter under their smart automobile brand. It is now known as the smart escooter (all lower-case letters as is their standard with smart) and will be seen in dealerships and on the roads by 2014. Almost no details are available presently, but this is a firm commitment, so more information is certainly forthcoming. Until then, have a read:

http://tinyurl.com/d27z8uo

Friday Night Extra - Suzuki Hydrogen (FC) Powered Burgman Scooter

It actually runs and it does quite well as an inner city commuter - especially since it is one of very few like it in the known Universe and the technology is almost brand new. It sure would be nice if we could make hydrogen easily and without causing more pollution. The full review will be out in the MCN (UK) issue of next week. For now, we only get a soundbite or two, but it is something completely new. Good for you Suzuki and your sweet Burgman scooter!

http://tinyurl.com/yd4oosb

Even more on this soon-to-be-yours scooter: http://tinyurl.com/yfa4w34

Busy Tuesday Afternoon Moto News - Kim Newcombe, Piaggio and AMA/MCC

Kim Newcombe was an incredible racer; one which even the greats respected. In the documentary Love, Speed and Loss, his life is chronicled for all to see and it is worth seeing. This film was well-directed by Justin Pemberton and features racing footage from the 1970's when Newcombe was storming the Grand Prix tracks of the World Championship. All of the film is available online, so you have no excuse to not see it.

http://tinyurl.com/yehbaho

Piaggio USA has had to cut sales staff due to the lull in scooter sales in 2009. So, many top-level managers have now been sent to the unemployment line. Hopefully, they will be able to hire them back soon...at least we can hope, right? The economy has yet to fully recover and, given what has been done to the banks who caused this (we gave them money; thus, we rewarded what should have been punished - they will do it again), it is not going to improve much in the coming years. Sorry Piaggio...2010 should be a better year!

http://tinyurl.com/ydgcuf7

The AMA has awarded the Motorcycle Confedration of Canada (MCC) the MOTORCYCLE AWARD of EXCELLENCE (MAX) for Riders in the Category: Motorcycle Organization. The presentation of the award took place at the North American International Motorcycle Supershow on Saturday, January 16, 2010. This was for their work on the International Street Party at the International Women & Motorcycling Conference. One organization recognizing another...

http://tinyurl.com/y9d9uo8

Tuesday Afternoon Moto News - Yamaha Zuma 125 & Norton Cafe Racer

It's a scooter, yes, but a very cool one. The 2010 Yamaha Zuma 125 is one tight, little ride and it rides very well for a machine of this size and tune. The funny part about this specific model is that the average age of the people who purchase it is 48! Maybe it's because this scooter is built to last a very long time - and it sips petrol at 70 miles per gallon or so...

http://tinyurl.com/y8kxh79

A sweet Norton restoration if I have ever seen one. OK, so it is more of a resto-mod, but I still find it to be rather tasty. The interesting bits are numerous, but the Aprilia V-twin engine powering it seems to say enough for this post. Really, you owe it to yourself to go and learn about the Taimoshan Cycle Works and the owner of it all, John Pellew.

http://tinyurl.com/ydw9u8y

Friday Afternoon Already - Moto News - Honda, Vespa and

A first ride of a new Honda cruiser - the 2010 Shadow Phantom - and lovely and menacing looking motorcycle from the 'nice people'. The Phantom is a bit smaller than many similar models, but it has a lot going for it. It's fit and finish is impeccable, its performance great for the displacement, and it does have that great long and low look. Check it out, it may be a good bike for you or someone you know...

http://tinyurl.com/yb5dtwr

Let's not leave out scooter fanatics. Here is a riding impression of the new 2010 Vespa GTS 300 Super. It is probably one of the best looking scooters on the market, and it has a very nice performance curve too. The Italians know how to build beautiful and well-sorted small-wheeled motorcycles - along with just about every other type of bike - and this new machine from Vespa, and Piaggio, could make you think of buying one of your own.

http://tinyurl.com/ycmjaca

A Warning to Motorcycle Builders Who Want to Build in China

This story reads like a bad Chinese soap opera. The protagonist is Chris (not his real name) and the Chinese factory which he chose to build his model of electric scooter is Bright Mountain Motorcycle in Wuxi. Just take a read of this article and you will see the major differences between Western production and the Chinese way. If such stories continue to become common, China may not ever change its standing in the world. Or, worse, the Chinese way could become the way all manufacturing is done - God forbid! Of course, this is just one story - Johnny Pag manages to get his work done rather well in the world's factory.

http://tinyurl.com/ydues2e

Thursday Morning Industry News - Christmas Eve Edition

There are only a few more posts here, but they are worth reading...

First, we have a report on a blog from someone who has been using the Bagster gear for riding in rather cold weather - read, freezing. They have a line of handmuffs which keep your hands warm and a heated apron / leg cover. The author takes both of them on the road and fins them well worth the investment if you have to ride in such conditions.

http://tinyurl.com/ycjzk4x

And, we get a report that British riders have voted Avon Tires' Distanzia and Gripster tires into the top ten of best adventure tires - over 12,000 votes were registered, so the sample size is very valid. It is a press release, but worth it if you are looking for some very solid tires to spoon onto your all-purpose motorcycle.

http://tinyurl.com/ybx2k62

Indian Hybrid Motorcycle Gets 282 MPG - The ET-120

Eko Vehicles based in Bangalore, India, has built the ET-120, which is now rated at 282 MPG, for the Indian market only. It will only cost US$850 there - an incredible price considering the cost of ownership. It is not the prettiest machine on the road, but it is something which could change the face of the Indian motorcycle industry.

http://tinyurl.com/ya4o4uy

Canada's Growing Scooter Culture - Bigger Every Year

It's true - and it is happening everywhere. Canada's scooter sales have more than doubled in the last five years; it really says something about the Canadian public as it gets very cold there in the winter months - you have to be tough to ride a scooter in the Great White North. Even Toronto Motorcycle Show manager Darryl Bond rides a scooter - and, to him, it is all about the experience.

http://tinyurl.com/ybpaj6q

First Look: 2010 KYMCO Scooter and ATV Line - No Photos, Though

It is a nice list of the new machines from our friends in Taiwan, KYMCO. They will be offering 17 scooters and 11 ATV models in the US. All of their machines are competent, and they are improving them all the time. If you have a dealer near you, check them out. You never know...the Japanese brands were once considered cheap and unreliable, in case you have forgotten. (You may have forgotten this event as it happened over a month ago.)

http://tinyurl.com/yetknml

First Look: 2010 Aprilia Scarabeo 125 and 200i.e.

This is mostly from the press releases from Aprilia, but you get the idea of their Scarabeo scooters rather well from what is written. The Scarabeo is a fun around-town mount and it can carry a good amount of 'stuff' around with you or for you. These machines also ride like scooter sportbikes - they handle very well and perform great for scooters. But, one thing no one can disagree with - at least IMHO - they are lovely looking machines...

http://tinyurl.com/ydmt7yp

First Look: 2010 Aprilia Sportcity Cube 300

Aprilia started out producing scooters - well, that was what they were known for around the world - and they do make a very good two-wheel step-through. Aprilia's Sportcity 300 is one of their more sporty rides and it does show - not just in its appearance, but in its performance as well. Of course, it will not be fighting for position in a street race, but it will get you where your going rather quickly and make the ride entertaining! Have a look.

http://tinyurl.com/ylxxsaw

And, now a video: http://tinyurl.com/yeb8o62

Indian Motorcycle Company Releases Auto-Clutch Motorcycle

The TVS Motor company in India has announced that they will release the first auto-clutch motorcycle to the Indian Market - it is called the Jive. They will also be producing a new scooter called the Wego. It is an interesting concept for the company as they attempt to capture more market share on the Sub-Continent. Good luck!

http://tinyurl.com/yhpgnse

http://tinyurl.com/yhk3l2s

Updated information and pricing: http://tinyurl.com/yaowo3u

Suzuki Philippines Doing Fine Too

They dominate the market in the Philippines and that is a nation where motorcycles outnumber cagers by more than 3 to 1. So, the company has had its share of success. Well, they also have a rather edgy looking scooter called the Skydrive 125. You should take a look, it's like the scooter I would not mind owning...

http://tinyurl.com/yfuvyjb

Suzuki Motorcycle India to Double Production!

That has to be good news to any international corporation these days. Suzuki is doing very well in the sub-continent and they want to - can you guess? - do even better. Can't blame them at all. And, it certainly helps that the bikes use less energy to create than cars; something small but positive. At least there are several families in Gurgaon, Haryana, India have meals on their tables. That's better than what I can say. Good for them...

http://tinyurl.com/ygu8sst

EICMA: Piaggio Reveals USB Scooter Concept

The USB stands for Urban Sport Bike and it is only a concept at this point. However, it does have a gasoline-electric hybrid drive train which puts out 147 lb/ft of torque! The top speed is only around 60 mph, but it actually should get 155 miles per gallon in this form! If they were to produce it, it would sell in every nation that they could send it to. It is likely, though, that production costs at this time would be rather high, so the sale price would probably reflect this and make it ultra-expensive. Still, it is nice to see that the technology is improving constantly.

http://tinyurl.com/yc5l95n

Motorcycles Get Greener in the the USA for 2010

In 2010 the EPA's standards for emissions from motorcycles becomes more strict. The new rules apply to all street-going motorcycles, some off-road bikes and some scooters. It all depends on their size and how they are to be used. The good part of all of this is that the motorcycle industry gets even more environmentally benign, which is not a bad thing for us. Additionally, we have lost no power or performance due to this. Take the link and learn more...

http://tinyurl.com/ygbtr4k

EICMA: Peugeot Debuts HYbrid3 Evolution Scooter

Wow, even more hybrid scooters will soon be produced - the technology is finally coming into the two-wheeled world! Peugeot - yes, that Peugeot - has shown their HYbrid3 Evolution at the EICMA show in Milan. It is running the Peugeot 41HP 300c.c. supercharged engine plus two two 3 kW motors in the front wheels, which gives it an overall HP rating of 49. The scooter has a performance of a 500c.c. machine, but the CO2 emissions of a much smaller vehicle. Sound like fun to me!

http://tinyurl.com/yb8zk2o

Canadian Scooter Corp Loses Piaggio Group Distribution

It is sad but true - the Canadian Scooter Corp has lost their exclusive distributor status with Piaggio Group. Piaggio maintains Vespa, Piaggio, Moto Guzzi and Aprilia motorcycle marques. They have decided to let Piaggio Group Americas handle Canada as well as the US, so that leaves only Derbi for Canadian Scooter Corp. It's not the best of news. Let's all hope that the Canadian company has something else coming along soon!

http://tinyurl.com/yamy6eu

Heading to Rome and Want to Rent Local Transport?

Well, when in Rome...The article linked has a good list of three scooter rental companies. There are also directions and location information as well as current pricing for rentals. If I were going, I would probably rent one or two - but, if I were going out of the city, I would pick up something a bit more powerful!

http://tinyurl.com/yg6zxml