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May 16, 2008
Some Background on the Tuner Scooter Scene
By Evan
NWSilverado
As we saw today with Ben’s post, building up little 50 cc scooters is big business in Japan. I guess that in a country of 127 million people, there isn’t a lot of space for cars. John wrote a little while ago about the CarDomain office manager’s new Honda Ruckus, and it looks like over in Germany they’re already modding them. In Japan, the kids are taking it one step further by building low-slung scooter machines decked out with bodywork, chrome, neon and LCDs! I just can’t believe these little machines would even clear a pebble, let alone a speed bump or a curb into a parking lot. But with the rising price of gas, I think we’ll be seeing more and more scooters popping up on local streets–and where there’s popularity, as with any vehicle, aftermarket options are sure to follow.
In my home town of Victoria, a company called Scooter Underground hasn’t been able to keep much stock in its store. People are apparently taken by these little commuter machines and are snapping them up as the price of gas climbs. One of the scooters they sell actually looks like a miniature motorbike. Now, all that’s left to do is come up with a cool buzzword for these tiny rides. Scooter-tuners?
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7urtle
May 18, 2008 at 6:37 am
im thinkin bout gettin one at least for work and school
GTwildfire
May 17, 2008 at 2:33 am
Weasel, My opinion was from my perspective which excludes city use, instead for suburban areas and 37 mile commutes each way. Smaller scooters are of course more city-friendly.
Mustswang
May 16, 2008 at 8:38 pm
You dont see how they have clearance?
My educated guess is that they use and air bag system or some lowering device to drop it when parked instead of a kickstand.
Weasel
May 16, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Well folks, GTwildfire is correct that 2 wheels are going to dominate out of necessity. Everyone will still love to look at their cars and trucks, but in the garage more I suspect. The eco2 movement is coming = Economically intelligent, Ecologically responsible–there’s no way around it.
What he discounted on the high-end scooters is two things: 1. you don’t have to go with a Honda, Yamaha, Vespa, etc in order to get a good working commuter in most cases. 2. You don’t frequently need 75mph through the city in stop-and-go traffic. Judge your needs and see what you can do with.
The scooter revolution is here. Jump on and ride.
Highspeedhijinks
May 16, 2008 at 2:19 pm
This might sound like blasphamy but I just purchased a motorcycle last week as my new daily commuter. I got a 2007 GS500F that guys around 65 mpg. I will be going from $50.00 dollars a week in gas to $20.00 and will be able to go 100 miles further in the bike per week than I can in my car.
~
Im not abandoning my cars… but Im being realistic about cutting back on my gas consumption.
GTwildfire
May 16, 2008 at 2:25 am
On a related note, WHEN gas goes to $4.50 or $5.00 a gallon, regardless of what my wife thinks (or even myself) about the danger… I will get on a motorcycle (most likely) again.
GTwildfire
May 16, 2008 at 2:23 am
I’ve looked at high-end scooters in the past, but the one I would have made the leap for was too expensive, the Honda Silver Wing. 50cc’s is too small, would have to be 250cc.
Scooters definitely will be making a greater showing on the streets. I paid $3.85 for gas this morning and only an idiot believes that price will go down and stay down.
Also, I feel it’s a kind of an insult to call a ride as shown above a “scooter”. It’s not a minimalist person-mover, that’s for sure and larger scooters are anything but small, comparing in size with motorcycles and all the amenities if not more than your average cycle.
Brian VanPelt
May 16, 2008 at 2:15 am
Scuners?