#scooters

All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.

Scooters are big in European and other markets – around here, not so much. “Scooters and soccer,” Kymco PR rep Peter Jones tells us, “they’re just not a part of our culture.” Still, Kymco doggedly sticks to its guns, offering a full line of scooters where many OEMs have reduced or eliminated their scooter offerings.

We were snuggled into a conference room in the upscale Aloft hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, when PR man Peter Jones kicked off Kymco’s 2018 new-product launch by telling us that scooters in the U.S. market are “such a small thing, they’re not even really a thing… scooters and soccer, they’re just not a part of our culture.”

BMW revealed a new electric scooter concept illustrating the concepts of digital connectivity and future urban mobility. Dubbed the BMW Motorrad Concept Link, the concept scooter will be displayed at this weekend’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este at northern Italy’s Lake Como.

Dear MOby,

Like police chases? Of course you do. That’s why you should watch this chase between the ROCAM (the São Paulo police) and this exuberant scooter rider who thought he had the skills to evade the police.

Scooter fans looking for an alternative to the classic Vespa-style design have another option with the rebirth of a classic Czech brand as a British ex-pat is reviving the torpedo-shaped Čezeta.

Right off the bat, we should make it clear that MO does not condone illegal street races. However, you have to admit this modified scooter is pretty entertaining. It’s hard to tell what model it is since the video is shot at night, but it’s clearly highly modified – it has a wheelie bar fercryinoutloud! – and its pilot can’t wait to pounce on unsuspecting muscle cars. Watch below as the scooter gets the holeshot over a number of cars (and one Suzuki GSX-R600) before the five-oh breaks up the party. If you don’t at least let out a little giggle while watching this scooter immediately pop its front wheel in the air, then you’re no fun.

The Quail has announced details of its 2017 event, which you can read in its press release below. It reminded us of the time the MO crew was able to attend in 2012, and we were blown away by the incredible machinery spanning a century of Motorcycle evolution. We produced several videos that year, and you can see them in the link above. Since then, we’ve had great contributors provide us full reports of the 2014, 2015, and 2016 events. If you’re on the fence about going in 2017, we doubt you will be after checking out the past reports and the video below. Here’s the official press release: 

The maxi-scooter world is relatively large these days, with BMW, Kymco, Suzuki, and Yamaha all fielding players. In 2008, however, the players in this field were rather scarce. One name that’s been on the list the entire time has been Honda. For this week’s Church feature, we go back to 2008 and the review of that year’s Silver Wing ABS. Penning the review is our friends at TheScooterReview.com. Oh, and by the way, the Silver Wing ABS is still around today, available at your Honda dealer for a starting price of $9,270. For more pictures of the Silver Wing ABS, hop on over to the photo gallery. 

Here’s an oddball two-wheeler that no one had asked for yet many are liking, Honda’s X-ADV scooter. Using the 745cc parallel-Twin with a dual-clutch transmission from the NC700/750 series, the X combines scooter ease of use with splashes of adventure-bike ruggedness.

“The Vespa Elettrica will, first and foremost, be a true Vespa, bringing the very latest in electric technology to a vehicle that will retain all the features that have been vital to its success. The style, agility, ease of use and riding pleasure will be the same as the Vespa we have always known, with the addition of technological and innovative connectivity solutions. A perfect mix of excitement, technology, and environmental friendliness that only Vespa can create. Like it has always done in its first seventy years of history.”

Yamaha’s TMAX scooter hit Europe in 2001, and the OG “maxi-scooter” has been hard at work transporting people and their stuff ever since. The beat goes on for 2017, with three models: TMAX, TMAX SX and TMAX DX. The TMAX is described as  a ‘blank canvas,’ for customers who want to add their own parts and accessories.  Sporting special colors and ride modes, TMAX SX is designed for sports-oriented customers. Then there’s the top-line TMAX DX, complete with extensive electronic control technology including D-MODE and Cruise Control – also an adjustable screen and heated grips and seat.

The original Suzuki Burgman 400 was introduced in 1998 and the last major update came in 2006. With new Euro 4 regulations kicking in next year, Suzuki decided it was time to give the Burgman a full refresh with a slimmer, sportier look.

A year ago at EICMA, Honda debuted its intriguing City Adventure concept, combining an adventure-bike design with a scooter platform. Today, Honda officially presented the final production version in the 2017 X-ADV. At the moment, the X-ADV has only been announced for Europe and it’s not likely to be brought over to the U.S.