Interesting News Video

[jperkins]

http://www.firstbusinessx.com/index.php ... Itemid=103

Found this on the Genuine site. If you haven't seen it its worth watching. What's of particular intrest is Genuine (Phil) gives sales numbers.

10,000 Scoots in 2008!

[ericalm]

This is great—thanks for posting it.

Some telling things: The banker browsing at Genuine scooters refers to them as "Vespas."
The newsanchor says that the cost of maintaining a scooter is $100/year. Uh, maybe if you put 10 miles on it a year...

[bjj4287]

ya i was wondering about both of those things eric.

[ericalm]

The first indicates that when you say "scooter," most folks still envision something vaguely Vespa-like in appearance.

Th second indicates that the reporters didn't bother fact checking anything.

[babblefish]

Yeah, I think "Vespa" is used like "Kleenex" and "Jello" is used.

[EP_scoot]

I would agree with the $100/year maintenance cost, though.

After your first service, which tends to be expensive, assuming two fluid changes/year, that would stay under $100/year at a shop, and even less if you did it yourself.

Now if you live in areas where you can ride year around, you might need more fluid changes and to replace the rear tire every year and there goes another $100+.

Am I missing something?

[BadBrains]

In the same vein, here's a news article featuring Genuine Scooters posted up at FARK.COM:

http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008 ... news01.txt

And of course, the best part about FARK.COM is the comment section:

http://forums.fark.com/cgi/fark/comment ... nk=3635249

For anyone new to FARK, it's a place where haters gather to hate on each other.

[DennisD]

This is great—thanks for posting it.

Some telling things: The banker browsing at Genuine scooters refers to them as "Vespas."
The newsanchor says that the cost of maintaining a scooter is $100/year. Uh, maybe if you put 10 miles on it a year...

It might be a stretch, but they say the AVERAGE cost of maintaining a scooter. Maybe.

But, the banker, he DID say "Jump on the Vespa"...

Dennis

[ericalm]

I would agree with the $100/year maintenance cost, though.

After your first service, which tends to be expensive, assuming two fluid changes/year, that would stay under $100/year at a shop, and even less if you did it yourself.

Now if you live in areas where you can ride year around, you might need more fluid changes and to replace the rear tire every year and there goes another $100+.

Am I missing something?

That first service itself can run as high as $100 or more, depending on your dealer. I wasn't considering that many have to put their scoots away for months at a time. Of course, a lot depends on mileage and what kind of riding you'll do. Each oil change will run around $20 or so for just oil and a filter.

[ericalm]

In the same vein, here's a news article featuring Genuine Scooters posted up at FARK.COM:

http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008 ... news01.txt

And of course, the best part about FARK.COM is the comment section:

http://forums.fark.com/cgi/fark/comment ... nk=3635249

For anyone new to FARK, it's a place where haters gather to hate on each other.

My favorite part of the story:

Initially, he said his girlfriend was concerned about the image of a man on a scooter. But, she's now a convert.

“If you don't watch yourself, the scooter has the tendency to put you in the posture of a prissy woman. It's very Euro,” he said. “I'm not out to break down any barriers, but vanity will only take you so far on the other side of $3.50 a gallon.”

[babblefish]

That first service itself can run as high as $100 or more, depending on your dealer. I wasn't considering that many have to put their scoots away for months at a time. Of course, a lot depends on mileage and what kind of riding you'll do. Each oil change will run around $20 or so for just oil and a filter.

I think I got ripped-off by my dealer - he charged me $23 for just an oil filter for my Blur... What are these suppose to cost?

[jmazza]

Good little piece there for Genuine!

About the "Vespa" thing, I think it is a lot like Xerox or Kleenex. Vespa is by far the name most people associate with these things we ride. Just today I was telling a friend that I rode a scooter and said Vespa to help him understand.

This news story about a Buddy in a wreck in Nashville today also calls it a Vespa as well as a motorcyle.

[ericalm]

That first service itself can run as high as $100 or more, depending on your dealer. I wasn't considering that many have to put their scoots away for months at a time. Of course, a lot depends on mileage and what kind of riding you'll do. Each oil change will run around $20 or so for just oil and a filter.

I think I got ripped-off by my dealer - he charged me $23 for just an oil filter for my Blur... What are these suppose to cost?

I'm not sure if the Blur filter is the same as the Buddys, which are $10-$25 depending on what kind of filter is used. The $25 is a red Malossi "performance" filter.

[babblefish]

The one I bought is black and saids "Paggio" on the side.

[ericalm]

The one I bought is black and saids "Paggio" on the side.

Here's one for $16.20.
Scooterworks sells it for $10.

Who is your dealer? I was reading a blog post somewhere about costs of ownership of a Vespa LX 150 in SF and the owner was getting hosed on parts prices. Maybe it's just your market?

[babblefish]

Well, I'm not really that upset about it because I'm all about supporting my local dealer and the cost of living is kind of high around this area. BTW - He advertises on this forum...