The Scooter Scoop

New Lazer Superskin helmet coating peels back like a real scalp!

2008-11-25T17:35:58Z

Ohhh kay? And besides "sounding really gross" how does that help us? Watch the video my friends. After I saw it I must say I like the idea... but couldn't you just coat your helmet with teflon? Maybe I don't fully understand the mechanics behind it, but if it makes riding safer? I LOVE IT! For a bit more info check out the title link to Scooter-Station. You can also check out the Lazer Helmet site or watch this video on their production facility. One problem, it looks like Brazil...(read more)

Biker vs. Geek - Who's the mouse and who's the man

2008-11-25T16:33:22Z

Austin isn't the only town in Texas putting scooters on the YouTube. Texas motorcycle magazine Texas Iron also has something to say about scooter geeks (like myself). The outcome wasn't quite what I expected considering this is from a site with "bad ass" in their tagline. Shout outs to Texas Iron Editor, Frank T., for sharing this video from their parody series. Yes, I said "series". I'm just thankful that there was no bloodshed. Keep 'em comin' Frank!...(read more)

Expect a scooter from Kawasaki as soon as the Styx River ice rink opens

2008-11-24T17:29:41Z

( Obiboi ! All that great design seems lost on Kawasaki.) Les amis over at Scooter-Station (title link) aren't the kind of guys to wait-and-see if Kawasaki will surprise us with a scooter for 2009 or 2010... nope, they went straight to Japan and asked Kawasaki's big bosses in person. So, Will we see a scooter from Kawasaki? To summarize their response, "no." Click on the title link to read the whole piece....(read more)

Poll results - Your favorite 150cc from SYM?

2008-11-24T17:10:14Z

The votes are in and it looks like the next SYM 150cc scooter with a chance at coming to the USA is the VS 150 with 67% of the 168 total votes. There are some adjustments to be made caused by 4 votes outside of the USA, but not enough to sway the results in the Fighter's favor. I personally liked the Fighter in black, but I'm feeling pretty good about the VS in white. She got some really favorable reviews outside of the US and I'm impressed by her specs given the fact that she's got...(read more)

When is it ok to speed on a wet road?

2008-11-21T17:20:40Z

When you can ride as good as Kiyonari. Thanks to Tim for pointing out this incredible example of bike control....(read more)

Mr. Projector could use YOUR help

2008-11-21T16:53:37Z

Mr. Projector Benefit at Aurora Theater Hey! What are you doing tomorrow at 6pm? How about attending the Mr. Projector Benefit? Houston Scooterist and all-around good guy Aaron Ball (AKA Mr. Projector) needs your help, so he's throwing a party at the Aurora Theater this Saturday. Proceeds from the event will go towards extensive medical bills incurred by Ball following a recent scooter accident that resulted in open-heart surgery. The benefit will take place Nov. 22 from 6-8 p.m., and will feature...(read more)

Poll: Next SYM 150cc Model? You choose.

2008-11-17T17:54:34Z

-OR- (Click to make each SUPER sized) Both scooters are 150cc 4-stroke with very similar performance and specs. Both are from the drafting tables of Nova Design . Both are from SYM , but only ONE has a chance to make it to the USA . So what's it gonna be? You choose. Review of the VS 150 is HERE . Couldn't find an English review of the Fighter, but here's a Video commercial. &amp;lt;a href="http://polls.blogflux.com/poll-31094.html"&amp;gt;Take the poll&amp;lt;...(read more)

Major Kong scooter

2008-11-13T17:31:21Z

It's never too late to prepare for next Halloween or even your next rally. Don your favorite cowboy garb and swing yer cowboy hat in the air and hold tight cause it's gonna be a bumpy ride! If Major T.J. "King" Kong is too far of a faded memory, you could always dress as Homer Simpson and reenact a similar scene (which I could only find in Spanish ). I found this thing over at Disaboom.com...(read more)

Jobs for out of work scooters

2008-11-12T19:42:30Z

If low gas prices have you back to driving your 4WD Dually to the office you should consider a career for your out of work scooter. Here's an idea from ace2heart. It's not real, mind you, but a concept called "Sweep-scooter" that he/she entered into the Worth1000 Dream Vehicles 5 contest. Just thought it could give you some ideas to keep your poor, lonely scooter active and engaged during these times of $2/gal gas. Don't worry Scooty! You'll be back to work before you can...(read more)

People STILL hating on scooters?!

2008-11-11T23:09:55Z

(what are people so frightened of? a little ol' scooter?! I wish I could remember the source of this image ) Hrm... this question still prevails. I remember asking something similar back in 2005 and just when I thought everything was cool and that scooters were finally being embraced by people (specifically Americans), I see signs showing otherwise. Personally, I'm sorta sheltered from scooter haters. I hang out with scooter people, I read scooter sites and magazines, most of my friends think...(read more)

PennDOT puts the brakes on Chinese Scoots!?

2008-11-11T22:13:43Z

(PennDOT says " zhè zú gòu le, xiè xiè " to Chinese scooters. source: flickr/ ironleg ) A recent article in the power sports industry trade mag, Dealer News, reports that Pennsylvania has put a hold on registering any scooter with a "L" VIN . It may be hard to imagine, but Pennsylvania may be just the first state to exercise a crackdown on Chinese bikes. Here's a snippet from the original story: Scooter sales are through the roof. But some dealers in Pennsylvania haven’t been...(read more)

Deal of the decade or dealer of death? The $315 scooter.

2008-11-10T17:19:35Z

I'm a fan of extremes (I was gonna say 'acrophiliac' but that's heights what the word for 'extreme lover'?) , so in reaching across the spectrum of scooter prices we've seen a vintage going for $25k, there's the modern Piaggio MP3-500 which will take you above the $10k mark once you get her out the door and on the other side of the spectrum is what you see here. I won't tell you the name since I got this in a spam last week, but I couldn't believe my eyes....(read more)

Ride it or trailer it? How Batman gets to the rally

2008-11-04T05:41:48Z

He trailers it. You wanna see something cool? It's not new, but check out the homemade Tumbler . Bob Dullam's got SKILLS!...(read more)

2009 Scooter Model Round-up - Malaguti

2008-11-04T05:17:48Z

Since we're expecting a slow news week... you know, no big announcements or anything ;), we'll be keeping an eye on EICMA #66. This will be the show where the remaining 2009 models are expected to shake out. What's new? What's exciting? What's expected? Stay tuned as we run through them this week. First let's start with a brand that's not going to make much of a difference to us because you can't get them in the USA, Malaguti. Malaguti has trumped Piaggio's MP3...(read more)

Lambretta, lovingly restored. Asking $25,000, firm.

2008-11-03T04:01:15Z

Years 1966-1968. Your choice of Metal/Chrome, Red/White, or Yellow/White. Yes, you're reading this correctly and no, I'm not on crack... I'm not so sure about Royal College of Art grad Grahame Fowler and his firm GGF Restoration who is really selling them on Vivre for twenty-five LARGE each. Grahame Fowler also makes a $1,725 aircraft-grade aluminum chess set also available at Vivre if you're interested. Nuff respect to Grahame. I appreciate his gumption and wish him much success...(read more)