Scooter Epidemic?

[Cornbread Red]

..A budding traffic epidemic?
Scooters, zillions of them..

We knew it was coming, you're going to start seeing every kind of Chinese contraption zooming (..more or less) around the city.

It seems the dealers can't keep the 50cc steeds in stock fast enough to meet the demand. Ridden by newbie motorcyclists, down major streets at +/- 35mph, these things are going to be rolling roadblocks for most of the cagers in the very near future.

Will our streets become like those in Asia, where scooters, mopeds, and bicycles cluster in every foot of rideable space, mixing with larger traffic?

..Are we just now seeing the tottering steps of a new highway nightmare.. Or will this turn out to be a boon for personal transportation as opposed to being shuttled around like cattle on a bus or light rail?

Will the cheaply made Chinese machines all end up in the backyards and garages of America, broken and rusting? Or will there be a decent enough repair support for them..

Anyway, please watch out for these folks, they haven't got much to work with, speed-wise.

Chip (Also posted over at SWR, but I tossed it in here so Uberdoober and I can discuss it without being attacked by those 50cc Scoota Stuntazz:rolleyes:..

[ÜberDoober]

Chip (Also posted over at SWR, but I tossed it in here so Uberdoober and I can discuss it without being attacked by those 50cc Scoota Stuntazz:rolleyes:..
:uplaugh::uplaugh::uplaugh: You crack me up!

I doubt we're likely to see scooters clogging the street anytime soon although if gas hits $7 or $8, I might get one!

It does seem that in spite of how we read the mass hoardes are turning to two wheels, the numbers don't really seem to support it. Here's a couple of quotes and link to the full info and a chart.


2007 Not a Good Year for Motorcycle Sales
January 25, 2008 - The stuttering U.S. economy has apparently affected motorcycle sales, which decreased dramatically in December of 2007. Weak sales in the 4th quarter have dragged down the average for the year.


Comparing December 2007 to December 2006, sales of off-road bike were down 27.7%; street bikes were down 19.7%; scooters were down 21.1% and all motorcycle categories combined were down 23.2%. ATV sales were also off 28.3%


But, to reinforce your point, scooter sales in the 1st are going nuts :)


1Q 2008 Motorcycle Sales


Meanwhile, first quarter 2008 motorcycle sales are down an average of 10.9% to 173,922 from 195,092 compared to the first quarter of last year. Street bike sales were 116,316, down 11.2%; dual sport sales remain strong at 7,643, up 7.5%; off-road motorcycle sales were down 17.1% at 41,561 and scooter sales were very strong at 8,402, up 23.6%.
source: webbikeworld.com (http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-news/blog/)

I think a lot of people may buy one, ride it some and park it in their garage either when they realize 1) they're going to get killed, 2) it's hotter outside than a witch's teat in a brass bra, or 3) they've bought a cheap Chinese pressed beer can scooter with no repair parts available.

I know a chick with no riding experience that went out and bought a Burgman 650 scooter. She rode it for three months and it now sits in her garage with a dead battery. I think that unless some of these converts have some experience with what they're getting into, that many will try it and give up. Besides, who can go anywhere in this damn town without getting on a freeway.

[Cornbread Red]

Damn, the Burgman is actually a pretty good ride, as those things go..

Back in '77, I bought a brand new Puch ("pook") moped from of all things, Landis Bicycle Shop!

I had a ball with the 'ped. I would ride it all over the place, down every canal road (or canal no-road). I liked to hang out at a bar over at 44th st and Thomas, and I lived at 29th and Butler.. I would get pretty ferschnicken and proceed to wobble back home down said canals.. If a cop car was about, I'd quickly hit the kill switch and start peddling like mad.. Never got hassled, but saw a lot of cops laughing thier arses off..

Anyway, I found that you can get damn near anywhere in the Valley using side streets.. It's all in the knowing :cool:

You're right on about the progression from "Neat! cheap!" to "I'm gonna get squished!" to "Craigslist; Scooter for sale, sat for years, don't run"..

I rode, and still ride, all kinds of sub-250cc stuff around the city. My XT 225 Yammie is getting 95+mpg, and with the big ol' Rubbermaid box on back, can haul a suprising amount of groceries n' beer.:D

This is the bike after I rode it 300mi last Summer up to Alpine for a bike rally..

http://s130.photobucket.com/albums/p241/CornbreadRed_photos/th_225nontrinity07.jpg

Chip

[ÜberDoober]

Mmmmmm, beeeer!

I was chatting with fellow Doober Kelstr the other day about the whole gas thing. All his stuff has big V-8's including the huge Dura-Max diesel dually he pulls his 300' toy hauler with. I suggested he look for an old KLR 250 or 225 Yammie like you have to fix up for commuting.

Hell, with the price of gas, it costs like $30 to ride up to Payson and back. I filled up my empty Ninja last week and it cost me almost seventeen bucks and I about fell over. It does get 30 something MPG but takes ethyl so it costs more than my little 4-banger Doobermobile. :mad:

I'd happily ride a small bore around town but don't think I could put myself on a scooter. Did you know that MSRP on the standard Burgman is $7899 and the "exec" version is $8999? That's absurd but I doubt many of the convert, let's give it a try crowd will opt for more than the cheapest.

[Cornbread Red]

Yeah, I took the Girlfriend's Toyota Corolla up to Roosevelt last weekend, and the whole trip cost 24 bucks in gas.. I put 18 in the Guzzi, and the 225 will do it it for 10...:)

The XT225 will do an honest 65mph down the highway, with my 285# butt on it. I've ridden that bike to New Mexico and back from Phoenix, and while yes.. -need to stop every 60miles or so and stand up, shake the fanny for a minute or so to get the circulation back :rolleyes:.. It does cross-country pretty well. I've put just shy of 10k on it, and I've done a few simple mods I found on www.xt225.com (http://www.xt225.com) , like drilling out a restrictor plate in the exhaust and some careful jetting, bigger foot pegs for my size 13 feet, and a luggage rack and that big ol' box.

IIRC, the bike sells for about 4500.00 new, and I got mine used back when for under two grand. I see them all the time on Craigslist.

Of all the motorcycles I have, that little Yamaha get's used the most for running errands, and it's made the 130 mile trip to Phoenix and back more times than I can remember.. It IS just a touch too small to do the Phoenix freeways on, but I'm an arrogant cuss and do it anyway..

Simple engine, made for Third-World mechanics (Or lack of same),, fairly good stopping power, with a single disc on front, and has a wide enough gear range to also make a decent trail bike, too. Yeah, I really like the little sled.

Chip

[Cornbread Red]

Is there any way to copy that YouTube video posted on this subject over at SWR? Wow. That's what I think we'll see over here eventually.

Just.. amazing. I can't imagine having to ride thru that every day to work.

[ÜberDoober]

This one? All I can see is hundreds of lawsuits. :)

_45rxGEuI7w

It is really cool, though!

[Cornbread Red]

Gawd, Mutha Dawg...

Some Soccermom with a Hummer could RULE in that traffic!..