more motorcycles!

[cphilip]

Originally posted by Heat
what about vespa? they go outta buisness? that's about all I saw in Itally 4 years ago

No they are still around but they are Piaggio. Vespa is the brand name for Piaggio. They started back importing to the US this year right after Bajaj did. Only two models of Vespa's though. A 125cc 2 stroke and a 150cc 4 stroke. Bajaj was making Vespa's for Piaggio for a long time and the two are almost interchangable in a lot of parts. Bajaj is also only bringing in two models but both are 145 cc 4 strokes. By the same token Stella also was making Vespa's for Piaggio and like Bajaj have parted ways but still make a very similar machine.

So Vespa's are alive and well but they cost twice as much as the others. However the name still carries a lot of weight with the Scooter crowd. Old Vespas are in great demand as collectors items. It remains to be seen if the product will hold it's own in the US against products that are as well made but produced in countries that can do them a lot cheaper. And since these are companies known to have produced them for Piaggio for a long time, people know the quality is as good if not better for half the price. I suspect the "snooty" crowd will still buy Vespa's. But the bargain crowd will opt for the Bajaj and Stella.

[Zumina]

Low on funds?

[rhetor22]

i'd like something that could conquer up hill too

cphil, you're a pro with this stuff!

Also with the 4-strokes, they've been making a lot of advancements getting a lot more high end power from small displacement four stroke engines now, to compete with the nasty little 2's. Look at that new YZ250F, thing is taking on the 125, and pretty damn well too!

[cphilip]

Well one thing I found out today that I didn't know is that BMW makes a scooter. Rather odd cool one at that...

[cphilip]

Of course I knew Harley Davidson used to make one but just found a picture of one of them... looks like an old Cushman and might be that they made them for HD?

[bornl33t]

yeah I knew BMW made scooters... I've seen quite a few of those. And I knew harley made scooters too... Actually HD never made them. It was acompany the aquired in the 60's called "Aeronatica-Macchi" They would eventually sell the company back and they continued building the scooters just without the HD name, until a new model was designed. HD has actually had their hands in ALOT of different stuff.

from 1973 to the mid 90's the built bomb cassings for the military.

in the early 1900's they build bicycles for a few years

more recnetly they have beem making 2 stage rockets for the military the "AQM-34 military target drone" is being produced in NY

And they are sharholders with the company Buell.

All this after the company almost went belly up twice in the 60's and 70's

hard to believe...

[cphilip]

Ah... interesting stuff realy. Ugly scooter though! I hear they would rather not people know there name was put on them.

I guess I gotta fix that one picture link...

[cphilip]

Ok try this another way. The 1960 Cezeta 501.

[bornl33t]

ok, now THAT is ugly

[cphilip]

Aint that the truth! But you can see late 50's early 60's style written all over it can't you? Gotta be a rare bird too. Can't figure there are many of those around. I can see Shriners Clowns riding that in the Christmas parade though.

[MiniMag84]

What do you guys think of the Kawasaki Ninja 250R? It's right in my price range and it would be my first bike. Well, my first automobile actually. Also, does anyone know what insurance would be like for a kid coming out of highschool? Hehe, one more question for cliff, how gas efficient is your zx-6r?

[cphilip]

Well give Progressive a call and ask em about an insurance policy for Motorcycle only coverage. If you plan to buy it outright and not finance you could carry liabilty only. They can give you a quote.

[MiniMag84]

Awesome. I do plan on just outright buying it. All that finance crap confuses me and I think this would be a better idea.

[Cliffio]

i get around 165 miles on a full tank (4.8g tank)


a 250 would be a GREAT starter bike, even if you dont plan on getting a bigger bike down the road, i cannot stress how good of a decision this is. may not seem like a big deal, but your chances of really hurting yourself are lower on this bike than a bike like an r6, but still these n00bs buy em. bad decision.

oh well, i would def. reccomend a 250 ninja.



Cliff

[-Carnifex-]

I want a motorcycle, but then again, I like my arms, legs, etc. intact.