Hey! Our friend Akisan sends news of Yamaha’s latest version of the 2009 Vino called the Molte Vino. The website (see title link) recalls the days of “going out shopping” in something “stylish and cool” in this, the sister of the Vino. I love the hilarious Google translation of the navbar on the left where they call it the “Fellows molar Beano”. I would ride a scooter call the “Beano”… but I digress.
She’s very similar to the 49cc Vino except for the new halogen fender light just below the cute little basket. The specs say she’s sportin’ a water-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC 3 valve engine like the Vino Classic but she outputs just a bit less power (3.1 kW instead of 3.8 kW) and costs about 600 yen more at ¥ 199,500 (price including recycling costs). No word on a potential arrival here on U.S. shores. THANKS AKI!
17. March 2009 at 12:11 am
That is so adorable. All they need is a beagle puppy peeking out of the basket!
17. March 2009 at 1:44 am
So, it’s the love-child of a Vino and a GTV. Very cute… although the basket is a little overkill.
17. March 2009 at 4:46 am
Nice scoop….good to hear about new soooters. I dunno about the headlight though. It appears they’re using the a similar overly cute/plasticy headlight like they’ve used on the C3 and Zuma. It looks like a childs toy….I guess that kinda goes with the basket though. The regular Zuma looks more classy.
17. March 2009 at 2:55 pm
I like the Jog Poche a little better. Same concept, just 80′s/90′s style.
17. March 2009 at 7:40 pm
Excellent shopping commuter imagine the gas savings. Unfortunately there will be a very tiny market for such a scooter here in the U.S.. With the price of petroleum – gasoline going way down per barrel- popularity of scooters may have gone to the way side. But still a good idea and approach for those on the fence needing a scooter for utilitarian needs.
17. March 2009 at 10:21 pm
Scooters were getting pretty popular back in ’03 – ’05 when gas was still cheap. Obviously higher gas prices help the scooter market but they aren’t going to go to the wayside because of $2/gal gas.
18. March 2009 at 1:08 pm
That basket is just awesome.
22. March 2009 at 7:20 pm
I love it! I looked at the vino when we started scooter shopping. If they had had that model at the time I was buying, it would have been a serious contender.