Vespa News From Around the World

In today's edition of VNFAW, we have stories from India and South Africa.

BizCommunity.Com, a South African media and marketing news outlet has a story about a Vespa Art competition that's been put on by Vespa South Africa and Guerilla Marketing. The contest, invites art directors and designers to create designs that would work on existing Vespa models with the winner taking home their very own Vespa LX.

"The top three designs, judged by international designer Francesco Maffe from Piaggio, Italy, will be on display at the Design Indaba Expo from 23 February 2008. The winner will be announced on the 25th."

Click here for the news article or click here for the direct link to the Vespa South Africa site. A warning about the Vespa SA site: Upon entering the page, you'll be greeted by the craziest jingle ever! Just a warning if you have your speakers turned up an happen to be at work!

Our second set of worldly news comes from India. Apparently, Vespa is making a comeback in the land of Bhangra and Bollywood films, with the expectations to bring Moto Guzzi and Aprillia soon after. ETA is 2010 with 150000 units annually being the projected production number.

Piaggio used to be pretty big in Asia, and now wants to bring back those glory days with an investment of 100 million Euro to get things started. 60 million of that lump is for the India segment of business. "That investment will be to launch its second four wheeler, a sub-2-ton cargo carrier and to start manufacturing engines in partnership with Toyota Group company Daihatsu. Piaggio, which sold close to 155,000 vehicles in India last year is ramping up capacity to reach 200,000 vehicles by 2010, where hybrid vehicles may also be produced. and the Indian subsidiary is also scouting to have an assembly base abroad."

You can check out this story through a number of outlets:
MoneyControl.com
Ft.com (financial times)
DNAindia.com (Daily News Analysis India)
BusinessWireIndia.com
Reuters.com

Mad Totos and the St. Patrick's Day Parade

I know Valentine's Day hasn't even occured yet, but it's time to start thinking about St. Patty's!!

The Mad Totos scooter club has a slot reserved for the Brookside ST. Patrick's day parade again. If you're thinking of crashing, I'm giving you plenty of time to get your green gear on your scoot in preparation.

Check this link to the Mad Toto forum for more info!

New 2008 MP3s

Sorry for the lack of pictures, but as I'm typing this, Mike is in the shop, setting up a brand new 2008 Piaggio MP3 400. It's graphite black and for the most part, looks the same as the MP3 250. The noticible changes are the new skid plate and shroud, engine shroud, larger 14" rear wheel, exhaust, and some other tech stuff.

For those of you who weren't in the know, the MP3 family gets two new models for '08: the MP3 400 and 500. The MP3 400 looks identical to the 250, but the 500 is drastically different in its modeling. The new 400 motor has only been used in one vehicle before, the BV400 (Europe only) and puts out almost the same power as the previous 500 cc motors used in the BV and X9 Evo. The new '08 500 motor is still a fuel-injected and watercooled mill, but it's displacement has gone up from 460 cc to 493 cc! That's a bump in the power depot for only 1 hp, but that's measured at the wheel and with the machine governed down to 89 mph, it's not an accurate representation of the engines true power numbers.

Just in case you were wondering, the MP3 400ie is only 1 mph slower than the 500, but is 10% weaker in the torque department so expect the crazy lookin' 500 to out-accelerate it. And pretty much out-accelerate everything else.. Speaking of which, the MP3 400 should smoke the Suzuki Burgman 400, and definitely will handle better. The 500 is in a class all by itself so it's kinda hard to compare sheet numbers. Oh well. Both bikes a tid porky at 538lbs, but anyone who has ridden the 450lb MP3 250 will tell ya that you don't notice it unless you're trying to push it across the garage or something.

As soon as we get the 400 put together I'll get some pics up here and share.

Vespa News From Around the World: Monday Edition

As I said in the previous post, I'm gonna start posting stories that come in if they're somewhat scooter related, regardless of where they're from.

Today in Vespa News From Around the World, we have a story from the web-version of the Courier-Journal out of Louisville, Kentucky. It's a cute story about a bunch of folks, their scoots, and their club, the Vesparados.

I don't personally agree with everything that's said in the post, ie: ""Vespa is the Lexus of scooters; old, classy, cute as can be and easy to handle. You see a Harley -- too much testosterone," she said. "Vespas are nonthreatening."", but it's still an interesting read.
Check it out here.

Slow and quiet

Nothin' new to report to you scooter freaks... Unless you've never seen a scooter before. I've been getting a LOT of news in my inbox lately about how "scooters are a wonderfully new way to combat prices at the pump" and "scooters: the new word in fun!"

Yeah. We know.

For a while now, I've been reading through these posts and news articles, but never thinking to share them, but I've been getting so many lately that maybe I will start posting them to the blog, just so you can see what the news hungry media in other places think about scoots, scooter riders, and all that stuff that happens after the two meet.

On an unrelated note, its raining outside.

That was an FYI for those who didn't know. A just in case, if you will.

Scoot related webfinds:

Carson City Daily Record
Media Post Publications - NY motorcycle show
Vespinoy - 4 gear Vespa
Bomp bookshelf -Mod Related

Winter Reminders (again!)

Lady's and Gents!
Keith K here with another message from the folks at Vespa KC, AKA Vespa @ VanWall! It's cold. We've had snow. Heck, I've already hit my head and have gotten a face full of snow while boarding this season! What does this all mean???

That's right, it's Winter!

In the spirit of the season, and from a rider's perspective, I decided that it would be nice to share a few pointers with you and make sure that your scoot is tip-top when the ice thaws and a new season of riding comes peeking around the corner:

• Keep your fuel fresh! Either use fuel stabilizer or run your bike to operating temps on a regular basis
• Keep your battery fresh! Do the scoot warm-up trick and/or keep a battery tender attached to your machine to keep the battery level nice and charged. During the Spring, we sell out of batteries due to folks forgetting to keep 'em fresh. That's a $60 to $90 item that otherwise could've been a nice dinner and a movie!
• A clean scoot is a loved scoot! Don't let dust and dirt settle onto the paint. With your scoot tucked away into a corner in the garage, its easy to forget about it until the temps get warmer, and when it does, unless you take the time to clean off the machine thoroughly, you run the risk of damaging the paint by creating scratches and swirls, simply by handling it. A California Duster or similar tool can be found at most shops for cheapo dollars (Walmart sells them for $10) and will keep your scoot dust free and beautiful. If you don't have time to dust and clean, invest in a scooter cover. We sell the Nelson-Rigg brand, and they're a perfect fit at $40-$60!
• Watch those tires! It's bound to happen: Amidst all the cold and frigid days of Winter, we'll be blessed with an occassional 60 degree or warmer period. Your first thought it to warm up the scoot and join all the other motorcyclists and scooterists out on the road. NOT SO FAST! Remember that if you let your scoot sit for any extended amount of time, you're gonna lose air pressure in your tires. Not only does that mean a potentially soggy ride, it can lead to potentially life-threatening injuries! If you're not checking your tire pressures on a weekly basis, the Winter months may be a good time to start building on new habits.
  

There are plenty more tips for you, but I think these cover the issues most folks tend to overlook. If you need other pointers, just give me a ring or shoot me an email.

New Vespa Stuff

That's hot right?

I know it's been reported here before, but heck, it's worth writing about again! Inside Bike News apparently just caught wind of the new accessories that are instore for next year! As seen in the pic above, that includes sticker kits (which I can't wait for!!). Hopefully this pic will give you a taste of whats to come. Click here to read more about the story or click here to see our earlier post.

Sticker kits!

I just got this email from Piaggio, and let me tell ya, it's awesome! It's a list of part numbers for new accessories for the yet to be released Vespa S!


Amongst the different seat options and topboxes were the sticker kits! The kits range in price from $50 to *75 and also come with graphics for your helmet to match your scoot. How clever is that?

That kits for now are:

• Silver "Flowers"
• Red "Flowers
• "Flags" Italy
• "Flags" UK
• "Sport" Red
• "Sport" White

The "Sport" kits are pretty much racing stripes whereas the "Flags" kits aren't actually flags, but graphics in the flag of said nation's colors. The real nice thing about these kits are the fact that they look like they'll fit easy on LXs, maybe ETs and even GT/GTS bikes.

Sorry I don't have a pic to share with you at the moment, but if you're interested, send me a shout and I'll send you some pix or put in an order for you . The kits themselves aren't slated for release until Feb/March, but that's right around the corner, right?

Rally!!!!

Arrived at work this morning to find this in my inbox:

"There will be a Scooter Rally in Eureka Springs, Arkansas on September 17 - 20, 2008.
For more info: ScootingtheOzarks.com

Chet Johnson was kind enough to do the right thing and send the Rally info on early enough that if anyone wants to go, they'd have PLENTY of time to prepare for it. The rally itself is being held in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, a mecca of golden roads for anyone on two wheels. Not sure what I'm talking about? Well, where the West Coast guys get to cruise the PCH and the East Coasters get the Dragon, we get Northwestern Arkansas!

Check out the site for more forums and more info.

Vespa for your kitchen.. and bath.. and closets.. Licensing FTW!!

Apparently, 2008 will be the year of the Vespa! It seems that Piaggio is pushing to cross promote and advertise everyone's favorite scooter by widening the brand's recognition. A quote from the article posted in Brandweek last Monday:

""The equities of Vespa—Italian design, highly stylish, modern, colorful, free-spirited and environmentally sensitive—should translate well to a number of product categories," said Michael Stone, Beanstalk president and CEO. Stone said the company is focusing on apparel, accessories and kitchen appliances like possibly an espresso maker first. Products are expected to hit stores in late 2008 and will target mid-tier and higher-end retailers."

Interesting!

For years now, there have been a number of items I'd have loved to see with the Vespa twist applied to it. Howzabout you? If there's anything you like to see, let me know and later I'll post a big list on the blog. Who knows? Maybe someone at Piaggio might take a look-see...

For more on the licensing details, click here.

The Gap limited edition LX 50

It's called the crazy stripe...

And it is indeed that: crazy!

The Gap and Vespa have combined forces to create this limited edition LX50. It will be on display for all to see in New York, Chicago, San Fran, Las Vegas and of course, Los Angeles. No exact word on the number of bikes being produced but the real crazy part is the price: $6000!

You can check out more on this phenom, here.

The Hybrid is GO!

Motorcycle-USA.com posted an article on Wednesday about the Piaggio HyS scooters at the recent Tokyo Motorcycle Show. Sure, we have previously posted about the HyS scooters and the system operations, but it seems that Motorcycle-USA.com has reconfirmed that production is slated for production in 2008!! With the MP3 400 and MP3 500 joining the 250, by this time next year, there will be an MP3 in every flavor!

Read more by clicking here

Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween out there to you loyal readers and your families! Have fun tonight and stay safe! I hope we see some of you scootering candy tossers out tonight!



as for the picture, I was trying to find a scooter + halloween themed image, but couldn't find anything. this is the best I could come up with :D

Better late than never

Obviously, it's going to take some time for the rest of the U.S. to catch up to the existence of scootering as a viable alternate to driving a coffin.., er car. Take San Antonio's MySA.com for example. The writer of a scootering article posted this past Saturday discovers the many benefits of scootering that we already know. Nonetheless, it's still a pretty nice write-up, especially for the MP3.

Over the summer, there have been many articles like the one written for MySA.com as more and more cities are being introduced to Vespas, Kymcos, Suzukis and the like. I'm positive this latest one won't be the last, but it's still nice to see the scooter community expanding.

Check out the MySA.com post for a taste of how other parts of the country feel about scootering.

Vespa S confirmed

After this tasty prototype was unveiled at last years EICMA show, we're finally going to get to see the Vespa S for ourselves early next year as an 2008 production model! The Vespa S is pretty much a minimalist version of the Vespa LX. With a shelf instead of a glovebox, rectangular head and tail lights, a fender crest and an optional single-rider "sport seat," the S is definitely different enough to be considered a seperate model from the LX. Two brand new colors are introduced to go along with new machine: Shiny Black and Optic White with the immortal Dragon Red rounding out the three-color line-up.

Also, a first for modern automatic Vespas, the S will have a number of sticker kits available for the machine upon its introduction. Above is the "Floral Kit" with the "S stripe" shown below.

New Location Update: Part Two

As promised, here are some pics of our new setup for Vespa KC @ VanWall!

It's still a work in progress but it's starting to look good. Even though they are surrounded by ATVs and Victory cruisers, the scoots are definitely giving off a character of their own. If you get a chance, come by and check us out!

New location update

A little FYI for those not in the know, Vespa Kansas City, as previously posted, has moved! We're now located inside of VanWall (on the Eastern frontage road of I-35) at 800 N Rogers Rd in Olathe.

It is farther South, but only by 15 minutes. There are also plenty of ways to get here without taking the road most travelled, you know, if you're looking to scoot here for gear and supplies! When I get the chance, I'll post up some pics of the current setup as well as news about the 2008 models that I have the pleasure of looking at before they come in. Stay tuned!

Farewell Ride Out

Destination: Parkville
12:30 meet at Vespa Kansas City
1:15 leave for The Sweet Guy in Parkville, MO
3:30 Ride back to Vespa KC

The ride will be about an hour each way but, if you're not up for the ride, the doors will be open at Vespa KC for donuts, coffee & conversation. Hope to see a few of you there.

Seasons change...

We've enjoyed our run as Kansas City's sole Vespa boutique. Since opening our flagship store nearly five years ago, we've met the most diverse, nicest people that our metropolitan has to offfer & got on two-wheels. We can never fully express our gratitude for the opportunity to serve our customers.

Vespa Kansas City will be integrating in to the VanWall store in Olathe Kansas. VKC has been a member of the VanWall Group for the last two years. Since that acquisition, we have seen exponential improvement in the level of service we have been able to provide. At the Olathe location we plan to continue the personal service we pride ourselves on. We will be closing the doors at 9555 Nall Avenue @ 6pm on Saturday, October 20th.

We hope to see a few of you before then. Stop in for conversation, a discount on parts, or the Sunday ride.

Fall is here, wear proper gear

As the title says, it is getting colder outside and what that means to us scooter riders is that we have to dress accordingly. Whereas during the summer, one could get away with a t-shirt all day long, nowadays it is best to lenghten the sleeves and probably wear a jacket.

Here are some tips to help keep you comfortable during the autumn season:

• Because fall air can go from nice to frigid in seconds, layer your clothing for the best warmth.
• A full face helmet will not only give you the best in crash protection, it will keep your face and head warm.
• Your hands are extemely vulnerable to frigid air; buy gauntlet style gloves to keep your fingers toasty and to keep air from entering your sleeves and robbing you of warmth.

In addition to dressing to stay comfortable and thus, becoming a safer rider, keep in mind that with the changing of seasons comes some additonal hazards. Some advice:

• Be aware of traction. Cooler weather reduces available traction by making tire rubber harder. Braking and cornering are also affected by this change, so be cautious.
• Fallen leaves can be particularly dangerous. Wet and frost covered leaves can take away traction so avoid any large patches if possible.
• Motorcycles and scooters can be lost in vehicle drivers’ blind spots in the best driving conditions. But when vehicle windows are fogged or frosted, drivers are even more likely to miss seeing you on your motorcycle or scooter. You need to stay alert and drive defensively in the autumn.

Autumn arguably the best season for riding, but it does bring along a unique set of challenges. To stay safe, ride defensively and keep warm and comfortable to help with focus.

Ciao!

Rally this weekend!!!

Sorry about the late notice, but tomorrow, Saturday, and Sunday are rally days! Grab your friends and scootin' family and go have some fun (weather permitting)!

It all starts Friday at the Mercy Seat Tattoo parlor for meets and eats.

More info can be found here.

Scooters sales pick up — especially among women

For those of you who missed this Sunday's KC Star, I've linked out to an insightful article. Don't be mislead by the headline though; it's not as much about scooter sales as it is about the people who ride them.

Read it here

HyS? Confirmed!

We haven't put any new info on the blog for a while now; the shop has been pretty busy with customers and there really hasn't been any new news in the scooter world except for all of the varied media catching up on the existance of either:

• The Piaggio HyS hybrid-scooter prototypes or


• The existance of Vespas and other scooters in general

Well, today, new info about the HyS has finally come out that we think is worthy of sharing with you: The production date!

It seems that product-reviews.net has come across the information somewhow and is claiming that the three-stage hybrid motor will be put into use by the end of 2008. As to when us Yanks will see it is anybody's guess, but with this new rumor, those of us interested in perhaps trading up now have a date on the calender in which to start saving those pennies.

As far how many pennies, stay tuned. As soon as some concrete info is released in regards to that issue, we'll let you know.

Click here for the article.

The Italian Job... In Kansas City!

For all of you British Caper film fans!

Our friends at Baron MINI are throwing a "The Italian Job" theme-party tomorrow at the MINI dealership!! Festivities include a MINI meet, the appearance of a classic Italian MINI, Italian soundtrack, door prizes and a prize for the best Michael Caine impersonation!

It seems that quite a few gas-conscious Vespa owners also drive fuel-efficient MINIs so it only seemed natural to have a few Vespa scoots on hand for the party, one of which is on loan from your favorite scoot shop!

The fun starts at 6PM this Saturday (the 4th), so scoot on down, enjoy the hors d'oeuvres, the fine company, and the tasty machinery! For info about Baron MINI, check here.

More Hybrid Action

Picture, siphoned via TopSpeed.com

Gizmag.com posted a piece today about Piaggio's HyS hybrid system. It's a little easier to follow for those of us who enjoy the quick-read than say, the Piaggio press release regarding the engine.

For those who've missed it, Piaggio has announced the development (officially this time) of the HyS hybrid motor for implementation into the Vespa LX and the Piaggio MP3. The new 3-mode parallel hybrid motor is an electric and a combustion engine rolled into one, controlled by drive-by-wire technology (ala German cars and expensive Japanese sportbikes). By varying the use of electric and propulsion systems which simultaneously power the rear wheel, fuel mileage is expected upwards of 170MPG!

To read more, check here!

UPDATE!!

TopSpeed.com also has an article on this. I guess once again, Piaggio is the company to talk about. I wouldn't be surprised if this topic is on every automotive site before the end of the year!