Rucksters!

OK, so this is not usually part of what us vintage riders call the "scooter scene", but it can't be avoided that the "younger" generation are not running out and buying and riding vintage Italian scooters. There are some exceptions, of coarse, but for the most part 20-somethings are usually absent from many vintage scooter rides.

So, I pose the question: Why is this? 20-somethings are definitely involved in the vintage car scene, as well as the vintage motorcycle scene. Just the other day, I was fueling up my Vespa Rally 200 and ran into a guy, who couldn't have been more than 25, riding a vintage Norton. He told me how there are a bunch of college-aged guys, who have formed some riding clubs, based around riding vintage british and euro motorcycles these days.

Enter this 50cc scooter subculture that I have stumbled upon, through some info from some Ruckus riders who have joined us on a couple of South Bay SC rides (big shout out to Manny Del Toro for a lot of the pointers to this info and rides). This much younger demographic has discovered and embraced customizing and racing out 50cc+ scooters. A large group of them have focused their efforts around the Honda Ruckus that most of us vintage riders usually consider as being, #1: too slow, and #2: too ugly. But these younger riders have totally embraced these "modern" scooters with the customization skills and energy that a lot of us older riders attacked the scooter scene with back in the 1980's. Granted, they don't have the historical affects and culture behind them that the 80's mods did, such as the history of the 60's mod culture, style of dress, music, etc., but they do have the new street-style culture and they are making it their own with regard to "their" scooter scene.

And, I've been told that they get some serious numbers at monthly and big rides that they put on. It certainly seems so from the few videos I've been able to check out. Take, for example, the following vid. They've got a really good number of scoots on this impromptu ride, and it seems they ride ALL DAY, even into the early evening. And, check out all the crazy mods on these scooters. Fat tire conversions, neon, expansion chambers, etc., etc. And they are done with some good workmanship, as well as showmanship (they are very professionally presented):

Here's another one, of a smaller ride, but it highlights some other nice mods:

And, talk about having an entrepreneurial spirit, some of them decided in the beginning of November to put together a Ruckus Scooter Girl calendar (back story here). They got on it and, wham, they've done it! Check out the behind the scenes video of a pretty professional set of photo shoots for the calendar (heck, it even looks like they had a make-up artist or stylist on staff during the shoots):

Pretty damn interesting... Of coarse, I love my vintage Italian scooters, and still feel that they are the best scooters ever made. I've always loved manual transmissions on anything I drive (I've owned a couple of trucks, several sedans, lots of convertibles, and some muscle cars, and they've ALL had manual trannys. My current car is STILL a manual.). SO, scooters with gears, I feel, are definitely more fun to drive. But, the energy of this younger set of scooter riders definitely reminds me of when I was their age, and younger. I just wish some more of them could get turned on to vintage Italian scoots. I could just imagine the crazy machines they would build. It would upset A LOT of purists, but it'd be very interesting to see... I'm sure the kandy color combos and modern accessories would boggle the mind, but it would be fun to see.

Coming back to my original question, though, of where the next generation of vintage aficionados will come from, how are these younger folks supposed to become vintage scooter lovers if they are treated with disdain and rejection by current vintage riders because of what they are riding now? Or are these specific young riders set to be the "Sports Motorcycle" riders and the vintage riders the "Harley-Davidson" riders of the scooter world? Bottom line is the younger vintage scooter riders will not have the mod/punk/ska scene/culture from the 80's to fuel part of their love for these scooters (cuz some of them were just being born in the 80's), so if us older riders don't nurture that in some way with them now, or in a few years, the scene is bound to die out for sure, perhaps resembling the Cushman scooter lovers who are all now in their 70's and 80's, riding them at Shriner's conventions as a novelty...

Meanwhile, I guess I'll just be another fat, old dude, on an even older scooter, and wave to these guys when I see 'em, or lead some of them again on another fun South Bay SC ride whenever they feel like it.

New Piaggio Scooters at the Motorcycle Shows

This PRESS RELEASE just in from Piaggio USA's PR company:

For Immediate Release:

Piaggio Group Showcases Newest Scooters and Motorcycles at Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows

Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Piaggio and Vespa Offer Enthusiasts a World of Reasons to Ride

December 2, 2008 – Fuel-efficient scooters, high-tech sport bikes, award winning three-wheelers and long-distance tourers are just some of the tempting options Italy’s Piaggio Group, manufacturer of Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Piaggio, and Vespa brands, will showcase at six stops on the 28th Annual Cycle World International Motorcycle Show® (IMS) tour. Visitors to
the IMS shows in Long Beach, CA., Seattle, WA., San Mateo, CA., New York, NY., Cleveland, OH., and Chicago, IL., will have a chance to evaluate at their leisure which ride is an ideal fit. In addition, demo rides will be available at the Long Beach, CA., show.

Visitors who are intrigued by the many real-world benefits of scooters should plan on touring the IMS show’s new Scooter Pavilion where Vespa, Piaggio and Aprilia scooters will be display at all 13 show locations.

Whether in the market for an easy to ride, eco-friendly scooter or a race-bred sport bike, the world of Piaggio products offers smart transportation choices for today’s diverse commuting and recreation needs. Among the 2009 models featured at the IMS shows are these new choices:

Aprilia Mana 850: Advanced technology is the key characteristics of the Mana 850. Aprilia’s racing pedigree led to the revolutionary transmission mapping system, which offers a choice of three “Autodrive” mappings, plus a manual, seven speed, sequential gearshift, giving riders revolutionary new tools for maximizing performance and fuel economy in any traffic condition.

Aprilia SportCity 50/125: Featuring aggressive styling, superior aerodynamics and precision handling, the SportCity is a leader in the sport scooter category. Race-inspired technology means no rider has to sacrifice safety and performance when choosing a smaller displacement
scooter.

Moto Guzzi V7 Classic: The V7 Classic has all the ‘naked’ sports bike beauty of the iconic original V7, a model that earned this legendary brand global acclaim in the 1960s and 70s. While styling invokes the spirit of its famous predecessor, there’s nothing retro about the 2009 V7’s technology. An abundance of low-down torque, superb ergonomics and the inimitable music of the Moto Guzzi transverse V-Twin make the V7 a unique choice.

Vespa GTS 250: As the fastest, most technically advanced Vespa to-date, the GTS 250 is the sporty ride of choice for commuters who want to get up and go the distance. Ideal for urban or highway miles, the GTS 250’s timeless Italian style blends beautifully with the modern four-stroke, four-valve engine technology. Like all Vespas, the GTS’s unique steel frame provides unparalleled structural integrity and the collection of premium components and materials adds to the scooters exceptionally high resale value.

Piaggio MP3 500: The award-winning MP3 500 is the perfect solution for riders who want aggressive good looks, sport bike like performance and all the ease, stability and convenience of a three-wheel scooter. The MP3 500’s innovative suspension technology means you lean into turns like a pro racer while enjoying glue-like traction and great fuel economy. In-town or cross-country, the MP3 500 goes the distance.

About The Piaggio Group:
Established in 1884 by Rinaldo Piaggio and based in Pontedera (Pisa, Italy), the Piaggio Group is one of the world’s top manufacturers of two-wheel motor vehicles. With over 7,000 employees, an annual production of more than 708,000 vehicles in 2007, 5 R&D centers, 7 production facilities in Europe and Asia, and operations in over 50 countries, the Piaggio Group has a consolidated leadership in the European two-wheeler market.

The company produces scooters, motorcycles and mopeds in the 50cc to 1,200cc displacement range, marketed under the Piaggio, Vespa, Gilera, Derbi, Aprilia, Scarabeo and Moto Guzzi brands. The Group also manufactures three- and four-wheel light transportation vehicles for the Ape, Porter and Quargo ranges.

Contact:
Anne Szczesny
Brandware PR for Piaggio Group Americas
770.649.0880 ext.303
aszczesny@brandwarepr.com

Swerve N Curve 9 wrap-up

Well, it came and went --- SWERVE N CURVE #9. And, it was better than ever!

The Friday night ride turned out to be a sweet, long, mini Swerve N Curve route, lead by All Day South Bay Doug. Everyone met at Killkenny's on the Redondo Beach Pier beforehand and Doug ended the ride at Hennessey's in Riviera Village afterwards.

And the South Bay's famous Swerve N Curve route on Saturday, often imitated or outright copied but NEVER done as well, was a blast once more, 80+ scooters strong, ending at the fun venue, Paddy-O's in Torrance. DeeJay-ed tunes were provided by "ON TARGET" DJ's, and a scooter buffet was set up for all the hungry riders.

"Swerve N Ska" on Saturday nite was happening, and Sunday's ride, led by Tank Top and others to Keegan's in Torrance, was a great capper to another SoCal classic rally, which was a huge success.

Shout outs to all who helped, especially Doug Ewer, Richard & Robin Wondra, Brian & Veronica Schade, Ken Salmacia, Marv Mack, Jesse "On Target" Trejo, Rich Stamper and others in both the South Bay and Westside scooter clubs.

Thanks also goes out to all of the Swerve N Curve sponsors. Without you, Swerve N Curve would not be possible: This Dog Jumps Design, Vespa Santa Barbara, Fullerton Vintage, Massimo's Vespa Shop, Route 66 Scooters (formerly SoCal Vespa), IDC Scooter Shop, Clauss Studios, SpeedoKing, Warrior Clothing, Glory Clothing.

For pics of the rally, click here and here, or check out the scoot.net gallery here. For a couple of videos by Doug Ewer, click here and here. Thanks to all of you who came out - you are the ones that continue to make this such a great rally, year after year! Be sure to save the date for next year's rally, which will be the Big "X" (Swerve N Curve #10), going down August 21-23, 2009!!!!

The Can-Am Spyder: Born to be mild

I was reading one of my favorite news & business website this morning and noticed a particularly interesting interactive article about a new "motorcycle".

It's called the Can-Am Spyder, made by Bombardier Recreational Products, and it looks almost like a Piaggio MP3 on steroids. Just like the MP3, it has two front wheels with independent, leaning suspension. It also has a borrowed Rotax 990 Aprilia engine, which we all know is made by Piaggio. But, it behaves more like a motorcycle in that it shifts using a clutch lever and a foot pedal (though you can supposedly add a clutchless thumbshift transmission for approx $1500). It has a five speed tranny with a reverse gear and a belt drive (read easy maintenance, here).

The thing is a lot heavier, though, than any Piaggio product. How about a dry weight of 697 pounds? Yikes. Definitely as heavy as a motorcycle, if not more so. The good thing is it doesn't seem like it will ever tip over --- not only for the fact that it has three wheels, but even while you are pushing it through any turn, it has a Bosch stability system that will apply the brakes and cut the engine if the Spyder starts to tip.

Check out the interactive article on Portfolio.com: click here.

Rat Rod Rally

OK, I'm pretty psyched about the pinstripe paint job my home boy, Malex, did on my Rat Rod Rally this past weekend. Came out tight, I think. Guy does great work, and extremely reasonably priced! Check out his website when you get a chance: http://www.pinheadlounge.com/malex

And here are the pics:

Gilera Fuoco 500 (MP3-style) coming to the USA

From the Blogspot called "The Scooter Scoop", comes this report about next year's version of the Piaggio MP3's:

Gilera Fuoco 500 to arrive in the USA as the Piaggio MP3 500 (CONFIRMED)

The Piaggio MP3-400 (In the current MP3 body style except with the extra power we've all been waiting for) will be arriving at dealerships as soon as January.

The Piaggio MP3-500 (A rebadged Gilera Fuoco 500) will arrive around March with an expected MSRP approaching the $10k mark. Well, what did you expect? Hotness has a price.

The elusive Vespa S (the cute one with the thin leg shields and rectangular headlight) is supposed to arrive before Q2, 2008 with a 150cc engine and an MSRP of about $4,000.

***UPDATE 9/19/07***
The Honky-Tonk Dragon is droppin' THESE numbers for MSRP:
"Per a reliable source on Modern Vespa"
The 250 will be $7199 next year (They are $6999 right now).
The 400 will be $8699 and the 500 will be $8899.
And the Vespa S 150 will be $4099

For the full blog, go to the ScooterScoop's blog about this.

SoCal Scooter Calendar

Here are the latest upcoming events, going all the way into 2008, even!!! Cheers - GRX

I. CURRENT EVENTS/RALLY INFORMATION:
------------------------------------------------

ENDLESS SUMMER – SEPTEMBER 21-23, 2007

Santa Barbara, CA

The Vesparados Scooter Club of Santa Barbara proudly presents the
Endless Summer Rally 7
September 21-23, 2007
Santa Barbara, CA

Friday 9/21:

Meet at 6:00 pm at the NEW Vespa Santa Barbara! --118 E. Ortega, just around the corner from the 'old place'. Buy your Rally Pack and Raffle Tickets (Lambretta TV175 and other good stuff!)
Night ride leaves at 8pm, a fantastic tour of SB from all vantage points.

Saturday 9/22:

9:30 am Meet at shop for donuts and coffee; Rally Pack/Raffle Ticket sales
Ride leaves at 12 pm. Cool new roads a la 'scoot-b'
Ride ends at Leadbetter Beach
1-2pm BBQ, Beer, Raffle ticket sales --remember that Lammy COULD be yours!
2 pm RAFFLE
2:30 pm Vintage Only ride ...get that oldie fired up and enjoy...BTW 'VINTAGE' is 1983 and older...

NITETIME....we're cutting you loose on the town...GO CRAZY!

Sunday 9/23:

Meet at 11:00 am, Vespa SB for a 12 noon ride up to Cold Springs Tavern.Cold Springs Tavern. Great tri-tip sandwiches in a great outdoor setting
Homeward bound, be safe, thanks for coming!
Note: All times/rides are subject to change--watch for updates!

SEE YOU THERE!
Info: http://www.vesparados.com/rally/index.html


THIS FROM MITCH:

FIRST OFF: RAIN CANCELS!!!
On Saturday the 22nd, meet at Cock & Bull Pub at like 8:15am ; we will leave for SB at 8:30am meet the Ventura guys at say 9:30-9:45am and then get to SB like 10:30 or 11am

Mitch; mitcho399@earthlink.net

Here is the Endless Summer itinerary for Saturday 9/22:

9:30 am Meet at shop for donuts and coffee
Rally Pack/Raffle Ticket sales
Ride leaves at 12 pm. Cool new roads a la 'scoot-b'
Ride ends at Leadbetter Beach
1-2pm BBQ, Beer, Raffle ticket sales --remember that Lammy COULD be yours!
2 pm RAFFLE
2:30 pm Vintage Only ride ...get that oldie fired up and enjoy...
BTW 'VINTAGE' is 1983 and older...



SOUTH BAY SCOOTER CLUB’s MONTHLY RIDE – OCTOBER 6, 2007

Torrance, CA

I know not having a monthly ride in September killed you, but fear not! - The October one will snap you outta your funk.

We will be doing the reverse Swerve N Curve route, going up the switchback twisty canyon road, then going around the PV Peninsula, cruising the South Bay beach cities and ending up at a cool eatery at the Manhattan Beach Pier, right on the water.

Same bat channel, same bat time:
Meet at 12:30pm at Claim Jumper restaurant in Torrance (corner of Lomita and Crenshaw Blvds); Ride leaves at 1pm-ish.

Come on out for the longest-running, regular ride in SoCal: the South Bay Scooter Club's Monthly Ride!

http://www.southbayscooterclub.com


FULLERTON VINTAGE OKTOBERFEST RIDE – OCTOBER 6, 2007

Fullerton, CA

This month, we are mixing it up. We will be riding to the Oktoberfest at Alpine Village in Torrance!

Meet at Fullerton Vintage Scooter Shop at 4pm; Ride leaves at 4:30pm. We will arrive at Alpine Village at 6pm, when they open!!

Fullerton Vintage is at 1020 S. Raymond Avenue, Unit #F, Fullerton CA 92831 – 714-449-9963
http://www.fullertonvintage.com


SKUTOBERFEST 11 – OCTOBER 6, 2007

San Diego, CA

Skutoberfest with Secret society Scooter Club SD!!

Saturday OKtober 6th. San Diego

Dust off the lederhosen, it’s that time again. Skutoberfest is 11 years old and we’re celebrating with a great day of riding, German beer, bratwurst and oom-pah pah music. Secret Society SC SD will lead a scenic route through our great city. We will do the loop up to Mt. Helix, and onward to El Cajon.
To top it off, the German American Society has extended a special invitation to the most authentic Oktoberfest in town. All riders and their passengers get in for free with monitored scoot parking right up front.

Details: Saturday Oktober 6th. Where: Gelato Vero Caffe (3753 India St San Diego 92103) Meet at 10am. We’re leaving at 11am. No Joke. No scooter time. It's a long ride so be gassed up (station is across the street).

Ride through SD with a stop on Mt. Helix to The Oktoberfest in El Cajon.

Afterwards shower off the bratwurst and strudel smell and meet back up for the night ride at Kensington coffee(4141 Adams Ave, San Diego 92116) at 7pm. If you can't make the ride at night, meet us at The Live Wire(2103 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92116).

http://www.secretsociety.org


2nd ANNUAL VCLA DISNEYLAND RIDE – OCTOBER 14, 2007

Anaheim, CA

Sponsored by the Vespa Club of Los Angeles

The Vespa Club of Los Angeles will once again be leading a ride down to the "Happiest Place on Earth", and spending the day inside the park once we get there. As it will be decorated for Halloween, be prepared for a Disney-spooky time, especially at the Haunted Mansion, which always gets a spooky makeover for "their" holiday.

Meet at 9:30am at the Starbucks at the intersection of Culver & Washington, in downtown Culver City.
Ride leaves at 10:30am.

MEET LOCATION SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Check here for all the updates: http://www.vespaclublosangeles.org/calendar.html



SOUTHBAYSCOOTOBERFEST – OCTOBER 20, 2007

Torrance, CA

It’s that time of year to do our annual ride to Oktoberfest at Alpine Village in our backyard of Torrance!!!

Beer, Om-Pa-Pa Bands direct from Germany, Chicken Dancing, Contests, oh, and MORE BEER!!

6pm: We’ll meet at Claim Jumper restaurant in Torrance (corner of Lomita and Crenshaw Blvds)
Ride will leave at 7pm-ish for Alpine Village!

Entrance is usually $5 but it is FREE if you go to this web page, print out the coupon and bring it for admission: http://www.alpinevillage.net/coupon.htm

KNOW YOUR LIMITS! You are all responsible adults (hopefully!) and responsible for your own actions. Don’t drink to excess, don’t make us take away your scooter keys, or worse, scrape you off the ground... Bring a cel phone to call either a friend, loved one, or taxi to pick your ass up if you get too drunk...!

http://www.southbayscooterclub.com


SOUTH BAY SCOOTER CLUB’s MONTHLY RIDE – NOV 3, 2007

Torrance, CA

Same bat channel, same bat time:
Meet at 12:30pm at Claim Jumper restaurant in Torrance (corner of Lomita and Crenshaw Blvds); Ride leaves at 1pm-ish.

Come on out for the longest-running, regular ride in SoCal: the South Bay Scooter Club's Monthly Ride!

http://www.southbayscooterclub.com


20th ANNIVERSARY TUCSON-NOGALES RALLY – NOV 9-11, 2007

Tucson, AZ / Nogales, AZ

Come be a part of scooter history and ride in one of the oldest scooter rallies in the South West U.S. The rally begins at the Hotel Congress in historic downtown Tucson. Come down on the 9th starting at 6pm for rally registration, mingling, music, drinks and, of course, scooters. The hotel fills up very quickly, so click on the link below to reserve your room NOW! FYI the hotel does supply secured scooter parking.

Saturday morning, the rally departs from the Hotel Congress for a 125-mile ride through the beautiful scenic landscape of southwestern Arizona. We will have a mid-way stop in the rustic town of Patagonia for gas, drinks and to stretch our legs. From Patagonia, we will continue on through Nogales, Arizona to our legendary, isolated, reserved, group campsite in the Coronado National Forest.

At the Calabasas campsite, we will be greeted by a catered BBQ, multiple kegs of beer, music and a bonfire. Several campsites, firepits, firewood and restroom are available. It can get cold at the campsite, so don't forget tents, sleeping bags and other camping gear.

Sunday, we will awaken from our hangovers for a Mexican breakfast of eggs, potatoes, coffee, chorizo, tortillas and menudo.

For more information: Contact Matthew or Megan Noli @ 520.591.6945 or tucsonrally@hotmail.com

Attention: Any scooter clubs, old or new, that have participated in this historic scooter rally in the past, please contact Matthew in order for your club to receive acknowledgement at this years rally.

For more info: http://www.tucsonscooterrally.com/


6th ANNUAL OAK GLENN APPLE RIDE – NOV 10, 2007

Riverside/Oak Glenn, CA

The Stingers SC in Riverside put on their 6th annual Oak Glen Apple Ride this year. Yeah, we"ve been doing this for six years now, and I know it"s the same weekend as Tucson/Nogales, but what the hell, if you can"t make that one, come out to Riverside for what is always a very cool ride full of twisties and fast roads. This is a vintage & modern friendly ride; it"s always been. The ride is usually about 100 miles round trip, most of which will be under 50mph. There is an elevation climb by the time we reach Oak Glen, so be prepared for a climb before getting to Oak Glen.

Like always, patches are always free.

Friday night:
Meet and greet at the Royal Falconer in Downtown Riverside at 7:00pm, ride leaves around but not exactly at 9:00pm.
4281 Main Street
Riverside, Ca
951-684-4281

Saturday:
Meet up at the parking lot across the corner from the Royal Falconer at 10:30am, ride leaves around but not exactly at 11:30am.
muscleman_coffeemesto@yahoo.com
for info contact: 714-553-3528


“CLASSIC NOT PLASTIC” – NOV 23-24, 2007

Long Beach, CA

The Long Beach Classic Scooter Club , Diablos Scooter Cult & Jackalopes SC have announced their first “Classic Not Plastic” Scooter Rally, scheduled for November 23rd – 24th, 2007. Obviously, this rally will be for Classic/Vintage scooters only.

ITINERARY:

Meet & Greet Friday Nov. 23rd at 8:00 PM @ The Puka Bar 710 W. Willow St. Long Beach, Ca. 90810 DJ's, Rally Packs, & Tropical drinks

Saturday Nov. 24th at 10:00AM Meet up @ Alex's bar 2913 E. Anaheim Long Beach, CA. Ride leaves @ 11:00 for a 1 & 1/2 hour coastal ride. and returns to Alex's for Barbeque, DJ's Scooter show, Raffle...

http://classicnotplastic.homestead.com/index.html


SOUTH BAY SCOOTER CLUB’s RIDE TO THE LONG BEACH MOTORCYCLE SHOW – DECEMBER 8, 2007

Torrance to Long Beach , CA

December's regular SOUTH BAY SCOOTER CLUB'S monthly ride will be postponed from December 1st to December 8th so that we can ride over to the International Motorcycle Show at the Long Beach Convention Center. Piaggio, as always, will have a booth at the show.

Meet at Claim Jumper in Torrance (corner of Crenshaw and Lomita Blvds) at 11am; Ride leaves at 11:30am for the show.

http://www.southbayscooterclub.com


SOUTH BAY SCOOTER CLUB’s 7th ANNUAL NEW YEAR RIDE TO THE BEACH – JAN 5, 2008

Torrance, CA

Come out for an annual South Bay tradition: riding our scoots to the beach, taking pictures and sending them to all our relatives shivering in the snow or rain, lol!

First Saturday of every new year!!!

Meet at 12:30pm at Claim Jumper restaurant in Torrance (corner of Lomita and Crenshaw Blvds); Ride leaves at 1pm-ish.

http://www.southbayscooterclub.com


LAS VEGAS HIGH ROLLERS WEEKEND – FEBRUARY 15-18, 2008

Las Vegas, NV

Put it on your Calendar. More details soon.
AllstonEP@yahoo.com
for info contact: 617-461-3979
http://www.HighRollersWeekend.com


HEDONISM (LAST ONE!!!!!) – APRIL 25-27, 2008

Bakersfield, CA

last call, LAST ONE, THIS IS IT!

More info to come as this will be Hedonisms last year.

for info contact: Brian - 559 709 4791

unforgivensc@comcast.net
for info contact: brian miller 1(559)709-4791
unforgivensc.net