No, it’s not a scooter. I try very hard to make this a site dedicated to motor scooters, microcars, mopeds and oddities… but given my relationship with Italjet, I wanted to give you an idea on how they are making strides to get back in the game.
I found this video preview of the Italjet Grifon 650 on the MCN site (title link). This will be the first that I’ve seen of the Grifon in motion. Now for the follow up question, “will we see the Grifon 650 in the USA?”. The answer to that is, “not in 2008″. No, unfortunately the weakened state of our dollar makes it difficult to import some products, like the Grifon.
There are lots of rumblings about how 2008 will be a difficult year for “powersports”, which is a word used to describe a broad range of equipment like dirt bikes, quad runners, utility vehicles, v-twin, metric twin, dune buggies, golf carts, sport bikes, mopeds and scooters. I believe it will actually be MORE difficult for some than others and I have a feeling that SCOOTERS and MOPEDS will be fortunate to not feel the same impact.
It’s the “recreational powersport” vehicles that will really feel the pinch. Sure scooters and mopeds are often someone’s “neighborhood romper”, but many Americans may begin considering them for their daily commuter once they see the savings this summer. Gas is expected to break $3.50 a gallon; a $52 fill up for your average car would be a $7 fill up for your average scooter. That makes scooters and mopeds a smart consideration for many, unlike Jetskis and Waverunners… unless you can boat to work, then they would be a completely AWESOME choice.
PS> At the beginning of the video he says “New owners have bought the name.”, what he should have said was Leopoldo Tartarini’s son, Mossimo, took over the name. Italjet has always been Leopoldo, Alessandro and Mossimo as far as I know.
13. February 2008 at 9:51 pm
That is a nice looking bike!
I like the spoked wheels. It’s too bad they’re using a Hyosung motor, though.
I would be much more interested in this bike if it came with a Japanese SV650 motor instead.
It will be interesting to see if they can stay keep the cost close the SV and under $6500.
14. February 2008 at 8:53 pm
How many more small motorcycle companies are going to rebrand the Hyosung GT650? It’s a nice looking bike, but come on… Hopefully It sells so Italjet can design their own motorcycle someday.
17. February 2008 at 9:39 am
$ 3.50 a gallon? In Europe one is likely to pay TWICE as much…i hope Americans realize that these are still the golden years…as long as it lasts.