I assume everyone here knows who Italjet is? Used to make a bunch of sweet, small displacement motorcycles, dirt bikes, terrible ATVs and some legendary scooters (Example one, two, three). Well, one of their most famous scooters was the Italjet Velocifero (seen here:)
The cute, though slightly odd, little retro two-stroke 49cc scooter (5 HP) was produced from 1995-2000 and could be found sprawled out all over the pages of the popular fashion and business magazines of the time. Even Billy Joel bought a matching pair for he and his wife Christie Brinkley. Alas, Italjet USA is no more… twice over, but that’s not stopping the man behind the Italjet name, Massimo Tartarini, from giving it a go. He’s brought back a redesigned Italjet Velocifero, minus the set of peepers (now only one headlight) and plus a new, two person seat (the original was a single passenger with optional second saddle).
So, let’s get some feedback! What do you think of the update? Massimo says it’ll likely be available as a 4-stroke 50, 125, 150 and/or electric. The plan is to kick production off in January and I’m guessing the MSRP to be around the $2000 mark for the 50cc version. The Velocifero is the only model for now but there are others in the works, including a 3-wheeled delivery vehicle!
No word on the exact retail price of the new Velo, but the original sold for a whopping $3150. They still need a distributor who will need to run it through a bunch of painfully slow and expensive certification tests, but if it does come in an electric, that will take off some of the pressure. Sorry still no word on the return of the Dragster, but my sources say “never”. Oh, a bit of trivia for ya… Velocifero translates into “bringer of speed”. Nice, eh? Here’s one more shot:
28. September 2010 at 3:51 pm
If it is made in Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan or similar then no interest.
28. September 2010 at 4:13 pm
I’d like to see what they will come up with, but it’s a bad time to be introducing ANY new scooter. And Taiwan production is fine with me – they make the best scooters on the market!
28. September 2010 at 4:16 pm
Ahoy Cap’n! There’s no way it could come from Italy (for less than $5995). I think those places you listed would actually make it MORE lust worthy for me at least. You could add Thailand to the list too. The most likely origin would be a less-than-lust-worthy China. :(
28. September 2010 at 4:47 pm
Me likey!
I’ll take it if it’s not mainland Chinese.
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28. September 2010 at 8:50 pm
These are the same clowns that made alot of promises a few years ago. The market and economy is even worse now than it was then. They mislead everyone then, why would they deliver on promises now????
28. September 2010 at 9:36 pm
I’m with V-Man. This company screwed over its distributors, its dealers and its customers. And now it proposes to come back with something that sorta-kinda looks like a Vespa. Puh-leeze! The world has gotten along just fine without ItalJet for many years now, and will continue to do so if the company disappears from the scene. It’s not that no one will mourn its passing; no one will notice…
__Orin
Scootin’ Old Skool
29. September 2010 at 5:40 am
I personally think t lacks distinction made further worse bu eliminating the wonderfully distinctive dual headlights. It would be a plus if it is bigger than the Schwinn, /Lance & Keways similar offering.
China is fine with me provided it is not Roketta, Wildfire, Lance, Peacesport, VIP, peace, etc.. quality But more like that of Benelli, Hammerhead, or Keewau quality. Taiwan is of course offering the best there is available right now and would be a better choice..
China is constantly bringing us crap like my Lenovo computer, I-pod touch, and of course my Dewalt,Porter Cable, Makita,etc all come from China
29. September 2010 at 12:00 pm
China builds what the U.S. distributor wants, so when the distributor wants a 150cc scooter delivered to a dealer’s door for $500 in container quantity, you get what most people think of when they think “China scoot.” Apple isn’t asking China to build an iPhone for $40, delivered. If they were, no one would want iPhones, either.
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16. June 2011 at 3:55 pm
Hey need help. would you buy a velocifero 200? if it did not run
29. September 2010 at 10:34 am
I loved the old Italjet scoots but I am not impressed with this one. It looks like every other scooter on the road now.
Why not bring back the Dragster or Roller Craft? Something that offered the consumer something different?
29. September 2010 at 4:50 pm
Why should Italjet build their own scooter line anyways? Why not start with a solid but bland scooter such as a Kymco, strip the exterior, and re-skin it with some of the wild designs that made Italjet famous over ten years ago? Then they can pocket the difference between “Taiwan prices” and “Italian prices.” All the certification would be taken care of, they could create an entire model line in relatively little time, and they could use low production rates to generate exclusivity.
For once I’d like to see the owners of these respected brands doing something to build the brand image instead of trying to cash it in for higher volume.
29. September 2010 at 8:13 pm
Sounds like a plan, but do you have their ear?
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30. September 2010 at 6:21 pm
Of course not. I doubt even Steve can get their ear now, and he had some real connections a couple of years ago.
I miss Italjet scooters. The scooter store near my college sold them ten years ago. Outstanding engineering and design and solid construction, but they could never afford to establish themselves in the market the way Vespa did.
29. September 2010 at 11:45 pm
Italjet’s history of disappointment is such that I refuse to even post about them on 2strokebuzz (maybe Brooke will), but on top of that, the original Velocifero was bold for its time, with metal bodywork (was it the last metal scooter aside from the Vespa?) and the distinctive dual headlights. I admit, I didn’t like the headlights at the time, but they were the defining feature of the scooter. WIth one headlight and a plastic body, this might as well be a Vino, a late-90s approximation of an approximation of a Vespa, minus Yamaha’s credibility and quality.
4. October 2010 at 2:36 pm
I assume they will be using the Piaggio/Vespa 50cc engine. PiaggioCo: Vespa, Piaggio, Gillera, Aprilia, Derbi … and the French manufacturer Malaguti all use Piaggio engines. What’s unique or interesting about this new scooter? Certainly not the design or construction.
The headlight and gauge cluster look like it’s stolen from the Scarabeo 50. I don’t see the point really.
Buy Vespa or buy Genuine.
- Dudel
5. October 2010 at 8:57 pm
Terrible…another blemish on the previously mighty Italjet name. The Velocifero was a modern classic. The lines were perfect (especially with the 2nd seat). This just looks like an adult version of the Razor Pocket Mod. bleh.
http://www.amazon.com/Razor-Pocket-Miniature-Electric-Scooter/dp/B000WMHUOK
17. October 2010 at 8:47 pm
If it looked more like the original, with the dual headlights and mostly metal body, I’d be seriously interested. The way it’s currently pictured? Doesn’t look very finished as a design, honestly.
31. January 2011 at 6:43 am
I’m still riding around on the ole Velocifero, still runs like a champ. Every now and then someone comments on how they like they styling of it.
To me the new design lacks any nostalgia to old metal body scooter design. Looks like it’s heading to a modern take much like Vespa’s modern LX or ET4. A thicker fairing to allow for a glove box. Looks like the new Velocifero has a shorter seating position for shorter riders. Looks like this design was meant for the Chinese market and probably not for the American market. Probably why it looks like another Asian clone scooter.
Personally I’d like to see Italjet back in business. More scoots is always a good thing.
13. March 2011 at 7:20 am
I am riding around on two italjets in Budapest. A Velocifero and a Dragster 180. They both run really good and most of the spare parts are still available in Europe.
I can’t stop at a red light with the Velo without any nice comment about it! Seriously, people stop at the crossing and stare at it.
The Dragster is different. It is sooo fast, that people can’t even spot me :D
I’d love to see Italjet back on the track. I am sick of all these cheap useless Chinese scooters that flooded the market. Those fall apart at 3000kms.
16. June 2011 at 3:22 pm
i was wondering if I should buy this Velocifero it shows 380 miles . The story is the guy ran it down the street brought it back and it acted like it was out of gas. They pulled the plug drained the tank never attempted to get it to run. I lost my license and need to get around should i do it even if it may need a bunch of parts???????????HELP
16. June 2011 at 10:14 pm
Well i bought it. I got it to run but having jet problems. I think. Any help
30. June 2011 at 8:09 am
Need to service and/or sell my ’98 Velo in Westchester NY
Any thoughts?
25. December 2012 at 5:13 pm
pleas, bring back the original Velocifero! I am sure, there are many interested customers!