 |
Move Over Segway, the Scooter's Back in Town
|
|
|
Top level
Scooter Related News
|
Zipping through town on a sleek machine that offers 70 miles per gallon may seem like a science fiction fantasy but for many scooter enthusiasts, it is a way of life.
|
Growing in popularity, in part because they offer such great gas mileage and also because they are compact, inexpensive and don't require a special license to operate, scooters are the latest what's-old-is-new-again fad to take hold in the United States. Already popular in places like the U.K. and Italy, where motor scooter sales are a billion dollar business, the trend has yet to fully take hold in New Hampshire but is popular in beach towns and warmer climates where scooter rentals are big business. Also popular for commuters in urban areas where parking is at a premium, (scooters can be parked in bike racks), the scooter industry is seeing the market take off.
Like motorcycles, scooter-cyclists attract other like-minded individuals through clubs. New Hampshire's only scooter club started online in July 2002 with the motto "Scoot free or Die" and only a handful of members. In just a few months, membership has grown to 32 official members but the website has a bigger story to tell; last month http://www.nh-scooters.com had 25,000 hits. The website offers a forum for enthusiasts to trade tips, sell their bikes and share information about events and scooter news. On April 26, the club is planning a Spring Fever Scooter Run, beginning at Nault's Honda in Manchester and riding out to the Hungry Mouse in Weare for lunch.
And New Hampshire offers a smaller but more assorted scooter population. In warmer climates, scooter culture is divided between those who like vintage models and those who ride the newer "Twist and Go" models, but here in the Granite State, there are only those who love to ride scooters. Brian Ducharme, who founded the New Hampshire Scooter Club says, "in other states, groups are more segregated but New Hampshire has a more diversified group of both collectors and also a younger generation." Members of the club include glassblower Jeff Lamy who rides a 1964 Vespa and a husband and wife from Milford who drive 1977 Lambrettas.
"It definitely attracts a younger crowd, but there are also people who remember riding a Vespa when they were young," he says. "People are looking for more economical ways to commute and besides, it's fun."
Nowadays, there are a lot of motor scooters to choose from. Italians, most well known for their fine automobiles and top-of-the-line scooters have a reputation for building the sleekest models, with Malaguti leading the pack. Manufacturers in Spain, France, China and Japan are making scooters too. Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki all carry a line of scooters with Honda replicating their Gold Wing Motorcycle into a smaller scooter version called the Silver Wing.
And just for the record, scooters are not mopeds. Most scooter enthusiasts wouldn't ride a moped, which have larger tires and pedals. Scooters feature an electric kick-start and smaller tires. And they are well known for their array of aftermarket parts, including modifications to make them go faster and look flashier.
With more and more celebrities taking an interest in scooters and companies like Target and Old Navy using them in advertising, scooter curiosity may have peaked. Maybe it is only a fad, but for now the scooter business is alive and well. And with summer coming, it's the perfect time to grab that dusty scooter from the garage and ride into the wind.
This article is published at newhampshire.com in the Outdoor recreation section.
|
Comment List
| Topic: |
Author: |
Time: |
|
|
Thomas Strome
|
05.08.2003 16:19
|
|
The Segway and the scooter are not competing for the same uses. Never were, never will. Each has its specific niche.
|
|
|
