Motorcycle And Scooter News

[sc00ter]

I've always liked the 50cc Metropolitan. Its just a good looking scooter. This Honda Giorno is a larger Metro. I bet Honda could even cram their 160cc engine in one that comes in the PCX and ADV. I would love a flat floor again as well!

I still think it was weird that Honda has 2 mid-step scooters that their only difference is looks. The sales guy kept trying to push me towards the ADV version but I think its uglier than the PCX, plus the ADV seating felt weird compared to the PCX. I like my PCX, I don't love it. It just gets the job done with nothing fancy or exciting. I least I know its reliable being a Honda, and it looks a bit better than a ADV. If Honda brings the Giorno to the USA I'd trade my PCX in towards one quick!

Oh, and funny side note concerning the Keeway Sixties that I find so sexy. I've walked into all 3 dealers listed on their dealer finder and all 3 didn't know what I was talking about. What is a Keeway? Who said we sell them? Strange I tell ya!

[kz1000st]

Originally Posted by sc00ter

I've always liked the 50cc Metropolitan. Its just a good looking scooter. This Honda Giorno is a larger Metro. I bet Honda could even cram their 160cc engine in one that comes in the PCX and ADV. I would love a flat floor again as well!

I still think it was weird that Honda has 2 mid-step scooters that their only difference is looks. The sales guy kept trying to push me towards the ADV version but I think its uglier than the PCX, plus the ADV seating felt weird compared to the PCX. I like my PCX, I don't love it. It just gets the job done with nothing fancy or exciting. I least I know its reliable being a Honda, and it looks a bit better than a ADV. If Honda brings the Giorno to the USA I'd trade my PCX in towards one quick!

Oh, and funny side note concerning the Keeway Sixties that I find so sexy. I've walked into all 3 dealers listed on their dealer finder and all 3 didn't know what I was talking about. What is a Keeway? Who said we sell them? Strange I tell ya!

When QJ took the Benelli line away from SSR Motorsports it appeared to me that they just transposed the dealers that formerly sold Benelli as Keeway dealers. I spoke to a dealer in Connecticut and he was not pleased by it. He said that while the QJ Motors bikes that SSR sells now are built as well (since they're basically the same bikes) as Benelli they aren't moving because nobody ever heard of QJ Motors. In the meantime Benellis probably aren't selling because nobody knows who Keeway is.

But hey, CF Moto and Moto Morini will be at Americade in a month. No scooters though.

It's a strange testament to the scooter world that you find the Honda competent but unexciting. It does what a scooter should do, travel reliably forever, but boring and unlovable. When I say I find my Chinese scooters "Spirited" eyeballs roll. You are probably attracted to Genuine for just that reason. Like Vespa does for many Genuine stirs your soul. I'm betting the Piaggio did the same.

[sc00ter]

My PCX reminds me so much of my wife's old Honda Silverwing scooter its crazy. It's like someone zapped a Silverwing with a shrink ray gun to make a PCX. I felt the same way about the Silverwing. It was dead reliable and did everything I ever asked of it but it just lacked a bit of soul.

That whole Keeway sales strategy is just like SYM or even KYMCO. I saw a "Sales award" plaque at my local KYMCO dealer and I've only seen him sell maybe 2 a year max!? Guess if you set the sales goals low the sales award is easier to hand out?

I came so close to buying a Vespa GTS but a unseen force always thwarted the sale. The first time was going to the dealer and only seeing bland colors I didn't like. If I'm spending that kind of money it better be a color I want. Turns out all the cool colors where at a off site warehouse so the dealer could clear out the boring colors. No one even offered to take me to look at the "other" colors. The second time was when the dealer had a GTV but my wife couldn't reach the passenger pegs. There is a aftermarket company that sells passenger peg extenders that only take a few seconds to install. If your'e selling a Vespa GT series at least keep a set of those peg extenders on hand so a customers other half can see if they can reach the passenger pegs before spending that kind of money.

[kz1000st]

Originally Posted by sc00ter

That whole Keeway sales strategy is just like SYM or even KYMCO. I saw a "Sales award" plaque at my local KYMCO dealer and I've only seen him sell maybe 2 a year max!? Guess if you set the sales goals low the sales award is easier to hand out?

I don't think Keeway even has a strategy. There have been Keeeway scooters around for many years. How often do you see or hear of any? SSR is selling a great 150cc scooter, the LT-150. It's water cooled, fuel injected and, according to the SSR rep, is capable of 70 mph. It even has that "shut off at a stop" feature. If SSR starting selling a 300cc scooter I would probably inquire about that.

Another rant: A few online dealers are selling a pair of fairly advanced 300cc scooters with fuel injection and four valves in a single cylinder. The downside? They are close to $5k before tax and stuff. At that price I would hunt down a Kymco XTown for a few hundred dollars more. It would have dealer support and not be stuck while someone tried to find a sensor, fuel pump or ECU for an online scooter.

[kz1000st]

Cute but too damn much money.

https://www.motorcycle.com/new-model...da-adv350.html

[kz1000st]

Huge news! I've been buying from PFS for over ten years. They always deliver. I would have posted this to that "Other" forum but it would serve no purpose.

https://dealernews.com/Home/post/time-to-scoot-2/

[sc00ter]

I don't ever recall ordering anything from Parts For Scooters but know some people who have, and no one had anything bad to say. Now Scooterworks I probably put at least 2 employees kids thru college! I think the pairing will work out great! I'm on the hunt for a knurled and/or drilled clutch bell for my PCX. I'll check Scooterworks when I'm ready to order.

[kz1000st]

Originally Posted by sc00ter

I don't ever recall ordering anything from Parts For Scooters but know some people who have, and no one had anything bad to say. Now Scooterworks I probably put at least 2 employees kids thru college! I think the pairing will work out great! I'm on the hunt for a knurled and/or drilled clutch bell for my PCX. I'll check Scooterworks when I'm ready to order.

I have a long history with PFS. They got a clutch shaft to me for the Fashion in under 48 hours. Belts, tires and sundry other things too. I'm Facebook friends with the manager, Matt Maney, and we always have lively conversations. He is going to move to Chicago as part of the merger and will be a tremendous asset. It was why I always laughed when they say. "You can't get parts for those things." right along with "Nobody will work on them." I had an open circuit on the Fashion and ended up taking it a local non brand shop. They stripped off all the plastic and found a wire deep inside that was rubbed through by the engine pivoting up and down. Wire replaced and relocated, problem fixed.

[kz1000st]

When I worked at Grumman on Long Island they eventually set aside a part of the parking lots for motorcycles. Even better the spots were up front and close to the buildings.

https://www.rideapart.com/news/75961...e-parking-law/

[kz1000st]

A long but interesting story.

https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/n...b358-453343633

[sc00ter]

I know a few small business owners on a good friend level and get the ins and outs/behind the scenes info. I myself owned a small business many moons ago but shut it down because of a corrupt business partner. I truly admire someone crazy enough to take the burden on themselves and making it happen. That motorcycle shop in Chicago sounds like a nice place to visit and shop at!

[kz1000st]

Originally Posted by sc00ter

I know a few small business owners on a good friend level and get the ins and outs/behind the scenes info. I myself owned a small business many moons ago but shut it down because of a corrupt business partner. I truly admire someone crazy enough to take the burden on themselves and making it happen. That motorcycle shop in Chicago sounds like a nice place to visit and shop at!

I finally got to Demo ride a Vespa 310 at Americade. Meh. I absolutely couldn't get behind sitting bolt upright on the seat at all. It affected everything else about it for me. There was nothing exceptional about it except it made a decent amount of power.

BUT. I also rode two Triumph 400's and a pair of CF Moto 450's, one a cruiser and the other a crotch rocket. All for less than the price of a Vespa 150. I could ride them on the Interstates comfortably or run to the corner store if necessary.

Over $9k for a 310cc scooter....Pass.

[kz1000st]

Now this is a Vespa I could get behind.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/vespas...m_medium=email

[kz1000st]

This is too bad. They were selling e scoots at a bargain price. I guess we know why.

https://www.rideapart.com/news/76161...ancial-losses/

[sc00ter]

I'm still not 100% sold on electric scooters and cars. I looked at a Tesla (Before Elon went crazy) and passed. Now Slate, back by Amazons founder, is coming out with a etruck. Again, I'll pass for now. Ebikes are as far as I'll go into the "e" world for now.

Regarding Ola, I've heard of customers complaining about the lack of service as far as 1 and a half years back. So if they ever did make it to the USA I'd pass on their products. Customer support is very important to me. We have NIU in the US and I remember the owner of the dealership trashing their products. To slow, finicky electronics and lack of native storage. I guess Piaggio gave out better sales bonuses and kickbacks? If I wanted to throw my leg over a motorcycle I would have seriously considered a Zero.

Back to Ola, maybe Bajaj Auto will purchase them? Bajaj made the decision to save KTM. Restructure the company with people who know what they're doing and improve quality, since Ola already has a distribution network set-up.