TheScooterScoop

The Scoot2TX Ride has begun and the riders are staying the night in Columbus Georgia tonight.  You can watch their progress LIVE right over HERE> and read about their adventures on the KYMCO Blog right HERE> and on GuidoEbert’s Blog over HERE>

Safe travels my friends!  We shall meet in Austin!

Friend of the site, Joseph A., splashed us in the face with some cold water this morning to tell us about a new addition to the Honda America Website, the 2011 Honda PCX 125!  (who’s not wishing it was a 200?)  This scoot was introduced in Thailand back in November and should actually hit US Dealers this year!  We’re awaiting confirmation on an exact date from Honda and hope to have that by the end of the day.

The PCX has a nice, sporty look about it and seems fairly roomy and comfortable (from what we hear, “exceptionally comfy”) for a 125cc scooter.  The PCX sports a liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 125cc engine, a Honda V-Matic automatic transmission and, from what we hear, tons of convenient storage everywhere.  Go HERE to see the fancy “innovations” page.

The PCX’s locking under seat storage is big enough for a full-face helmet and there’s a separate glove compartment up front.  She also comes standard with both a side stand and a center stand.  I’d like to see how Honda’s Programmed Fuel Injection system (PGM-FI) fairs on this 125cc sweetheart.  The Combined Braking System (CBS) may be frowned upon by some riding purists, but I think it will be more than adequate for your average day of street riding.  Take a peek at all the specs right over HERE.  The 2011 PCX will come in AWESOME White and Pretty cool Red.  I think it would be wicked in a matte black too, but you’ll have to do that yourself.

The PCX is not likely to have the stoplight shutdown feature as they do overseas; a fuel saving measure which causes the engine to cut off after 3 seconds of idling and cut back on upon acceleration.  Top speed is estimated to be 67 MPH and the MSRP is yet to be determined (but I’m wagering $3,799).

OH, there’s also an Orange and Black 49cc Ruckus back for 2011.  No one’s committed on a price yet and still no supercharger available.  :(

(The header image is not a Can-Am Spyder)

Joe Delmont, over at Dealer News, just released a story through their Dealer Alert that discusses a move by the Fed that could spell the end of the cheap clone scooter here in America.  Can you believe THAT?

Not a Honda Big Ruckus

(Not a Honda Big Ruckus)

Federal Agencies already gave the Chinese the smack down for child safety provisions, then they roughed ‘em up for EPA violations.  NOW, the U.S. International Trade Commission is investigating the effects of intellectual property rights infringement on the U.S. economy and U.S. jobs, as requested by the Senate Finance Committee.

Not a Honda Reflex

(Not a Honda Reflex)

I bet if a bunch of us scooter nerds went out for pints one Saturday night, we could come up with at least 25 examples of IPR infringement by Chinese companies.  What effect do these clones have on our jobs, sales and profits here in the USA?  That’s what Polaris, Harley, Arctic Cat, and U.S. operations of Japanese companies such as Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha, want to find out.

Speaking of “cloning”, I’d like to paste a little snippet of the story, so you can see what moves are being made to prevent these sorts of property theft.

“Depending upon how broadly the ITC wants to define U.S. companies, it could include most powersports companies doing business here, including OEMs such as BRP, KTM, Piaggio and Triumph, as well as aftermarket companies.

The report on types of IPR infringement is due by Nov. 19, 2010, and the second— on the impact of these infringements— is due May 2, 2011.

In requesting the investigation, Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) wrote that more than 80 percent of goods seized at U.S. ports for IPR infringements came from China. He also noted that intellectual property accounts for more than 40 percent of U.S. economic growth.

As part of the investigation, the USITC will hold a public hearing on June 15, 2010. Written comments also will be accepted. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be available for public inspection.

I’ve been hearing for years about how Chinese manufacturers steal designs and produce replicas of popular machines and PG&A items made by U.S., Japanese and other manufacturers. Now is your chance to step forward and describe how your products have been illegally copied and how you have been financially injured.

So, whaddua think?  Anyone wanna go out for pints this weekend?  OR, if anything comes to mine, why don’t you post it as a comment.  Manufacturer, model and what it clones.  Let’s see if we can hit 25.  :)

He wouldn’t ride some silly BMW. NO! He would ride a VESPA! The mythical Vespa Alpha, to be exact. Dick Smart 2007 is a low-budget spy film from 1967. It may not appeal to our adult sensibilities today, but you know that somewhere there’s an Italian guy who grew up with this film and longs for the day when he can build his own street shredding, rocket firing, bullet proof, gyro-copter, submarine, modified Vespa… and to that I raise my pint of Peroni and say “Salute!”

I was talking to a friend of mine about scooter gymkhana and he was saying how he won’t jump a Vespa.  Dirt bike?  Sure!  Vespa?  No way.  I wanted to prove to him it was no problem and then I ran into this video.  Maybe the Canadian Scooter Corporation has convinced me that I’m wrong… and if not, I still thought their video was pretty cool.

Don’t know how practical this design is, but you can’t deny that it’s eye catching!  Maybe something from Henry Dreyfuss‘ grandchild?  No, it’s a design from Smolyanov Michael as found on his Solifague Design blog.  He doesn’t supply a lot of details, but he DOES shovel out loads of eye candy!

Solif came up with a slightly more practical version as a trike as well: