Vintage Scooters

2009-05-15T10:27:00.001-07:00

Motor Scooter Tire Maintenance

2008-10-27T18:44:00.000-07:00

Tire Maintenance

Only vary few top-of-the-line brands of scooter carry a spare tire and many tire stores will not touch scooter tires.

One quick and obvious solution to flats is the "Slime" flat deterrent. “Slime” has a long-standing reputation for being able to seal punctures up to 1/4 inch in diameter automatically and prophylactically. Note: Slime will not prevent nor repair side-wall tire damage. Scooter tires are not likely to last much more than 10,000 Km, so be prepared to replace them regularly.

Changing your Motor Scooter's Oil

2008-10-27T18:38:00.000-07:00

The Oil Change

The manual admonishes one with: "Please replace the oil and keep the usage too long" which probably means that frequent oil changes will improve the longevity of the engine and is not likely to be a suggestion that one run as long as possible between oil changes -- however much it might sound that way.

Your modern inexpensive scooter will be ready to drive if you go to a dealer, or, if shipped, may arrive assembled, or require some assembly. The assembly process takes a couple hours and at least two people.

Change the oil right away. The oil generally supplied with new scooters is often of low quality. On a scooter or motorcycle, your proximity with, and direct feel for, the state of the motor are far more poignant than they are in a car -- you can tell when it is running well or badly just by feel. Treat yourself and your vehicle by immediately replacing the oil with a high quality synthetic brand -- Synthetic 10/40 is good, but always use weight recommended by the manufacturer. Also, use high quality gas -- not just premium, but gas of a better brand. Shell or Chevron are best. BP has been fine in the past, but after its merger with ARCO (which is not) who knows? The slight difference in price is so insignificant when the tank holds only 1 1/2 gallons, and the performance differential is dramatic.

Change the oil frequently. Most motor scooters official instructions state: first oil change should be done after 300 Km and then every 1000 Km thereafter. Note: these are kilometers. Most American drivers are not used to changing oil every 625 miles but these are small engines and they run hot. It is worth the extra bother and expense.

The oil changing process is just a bit tricky. The drain plug underneath when unscrewed will release the stream of oil -- together with a spring and a filter screen that extends down into the helical spring from the top. Don't lose them, and put them back as they were.

The oil fill is on the right side of the engine and is not really accessible to be poured into without a funnel. It takes less than a quart -- measure with the dipstick periodically while when filling.

Starting your New Motor Scooter for the First Time!

2008-10-27T18:32:00.000-07:00

Many online scooter customers have problems getting the scooter started for the first time. This is due to a number of factors. Firstly, although most scooters are started and tested before shipping, fuel is not put into the tank. This is because a tank that has been used to hold fuel is not legally shippable. They use an external temporary fuel container connected directly to the carburetor. Secondly, there are a number of little things that must be done correctly before the scooter can be started. Here is a checklist:

1. Check the fuel line for connection problems and kinks. Because this is the one part of the system that has not actually been tested before shipping, it is the most likely place for problems and many have difficulties.

2. Fill the gas tank. Gasoline must get through the system for the first time. Apparently, a full tank helps a lot in this process.

3. When starting, the key must be in the start position, the shut-off switch must not be in the shut-off position, and the left brake handle must be depressed. Failure of a scooter to start is overwhelmingly due to one of these three things not being done.

4. If necessary, it is usually possible to use the kick starter.

If your scooter still doesn't start after doing all of the above, check them all again. Then check for presence of spark and fuel or resort to support from the dealer or local mechanic.

Scooter Battery Charging

2008-10-27T18:24:00.000-07:00

Battery Charging

Make sure the battery is fully charged. Most scooters use 12 volt batteries. Having a charger handy is advisable. Be sure to keep your motor scooter battery healthy!

The battery in a motor scooter is unlike the one in car. It has relatively little capacity, is constantly drained by alarms and headlights, and does not charge as readily as a car battery does.

The Problem:

A motor scooter battery may lose significant charge if the scooter has not been run for a week or two, and it usually takes more than a short run to charge it. One tends to see dead scooter batteries in winter when scooting is at a minimum. Also, Chinese scooter batteries are clearly inferior, but domestic ones are not much better. The always-on headlights, together with the on-by-default alarm systems on most scooters both contribute quickly to dead scooter batteries.

The Solution:

Keep your battery charge up, with a charger if necessary! Of course, it is usually possible to kick start your machine, but, particularly if the plug gets wet, it can take a good bit of fast cranking to get it going again and the kick starter can't seem to do the job (kick starting can also be painful, depending on the design. You have to ride them very consistently to keep the battery up, so a trickle charger is almost essential equipment for a scooterist who does not ride on a daily basis.

Watch Out, don't jump it!

If your scooter won't turn over with the electric starter, a jump-start is not necessarily advisable. Even with the car engine off, a jump from a car battery can overpower the scooter electrical system, blowing fuses or worse (I've done it…The headlight fuse blew!). Keeping a fully charged battery is a much better solution.

Having trouble calculating your Helmet size?

2008-10-27T17:43:00.000-07:00

It is an unfortunate fact that the freedom of helmet-less wind-blown hair as one tours the countryside has vanished in compliance with current helmet regulations in most countries; Italy having been one notable exception until safety regulations of the European Union became universally applied. One needn't however wear something that presents the image of a hog-rider or dirt-biker. Subdued elegance is more suitable on a motor scooter, or perhaps something very personal and idiosyncratic. Here is one simple suggestion:

To Save 65% on DOT German Scooter Helmet 115Matt Click Here

PRICE: $29.95

Sizing Chart:

Use a cloth tape to measure the circumference of your head one inch above the eyebrows, or at whatever point gives the maximum dimension. Some directions state: "If you find that your measurement falls between two sizes choose the smaller size," while others say "Choose the larger size”. It's not clear which is best. In ambiguous cases perhaps it is best to soak your head and measure again.

XS - 20 1/4 - 20 7/8" ( or 52-53 cms)
S - 21 - 21 5/8" ( or 54-55 cms)
M - 21 3/4 - 22 3/8" ( or 56-57 cms)
L - 22 1/2 - 23 1/8" ( or 58-59 cms)
XL - 23 1/4 - 24" ( or 60-61 cms)
XXL - 24 1/8 - 24 7/8" ( 62-63 cms)

Roadside Assitance with Motor Scooters

2008-10-27T17:24:00.000-07:00

SCOOTER BREAKDOWN?

Breakdowns on scooters can be a problem, particularly in view of the fact that roadside assistance for two-wheeled vehicles is not necessarily included in most club memberships and requires an extra fee. Some roadside assistance programs do, however, cater to scooter and motorcycle drivers. One service that does handle scooters, and, in fact, concentrates on smaller vehicles, is the GE Motor Club, whose prices are also very competitive.

From the GE Motor Club Manual: Whenever you, a secondary member of an associate member has a problem with any disabled car, motorcycle, or small truck or RV under one (1) ton capacity, help can be obtained through your Membership.

From the web application page: When you enroll online, you will be billed only $9.99 a month/$104 a year (save over $15 a year) for Premier membership $7.99 a month or $79 a year (save over $16 a year) for Standard membership; you may cancel at any time. If you cancel and you are being billed monthly, you will no longer be billed; if you are being billed annually, you will receive a prorated refund of any membership fees you paid for the period remaining in your membership.

Please Note: The GE Motor Club is not available in CA, MD, and WI.

Another roadside assistance service this does seem to be available in all states is Partspro Direct. At $85 for two years, it is fairly reasonable but their website is abysmally uninformative.

How to justify the purchase of a Motor Scooter to a Spouse or Parent...

2008-10-27T17:17:00.001-07:00

Here are a couple facts and quick calculations that will justify your Motor Scooter purchase:

The payback point at which the price of the scooter will have been matched in fuel savings comes remarkably soon with one of the more affordable scooters. Our Motor scooter Return On Investment calculations given below will tell you how much you will save per mile, per month and how long it will take for your scooter to pay for itself.

-After about 5000 miles it will have paid for itself

-There is a good argument that scooters are safer than motorcycles

-With the payback point being what it is, a scooter is one of the most justifiable investments any driver with significant local traveling to do can possibly make.

-Besides being a gas saver, it’s also so much fun!

Here's how to explain it to your spouse, parents (or children):

Each mile in an SUV costs in gas PPG/MPG where PPG is the price per gallon and MPG is the mileage of your vehicle. If the price per gallon is $3.00 and your vehicle gets 12 miles per gallon, 3/12 = a cost of $0.25 per mile.

Now calculate cost/mile for a scooter, guzzling gas by the teaspoon and getting 85 MPG (it has been calculated that both annata's bianca and alfeo 150ccs get apx. 90mpg): 3/85 = about $0.035 – about three and a half cents a mile.

With these figures, it is simple to see that each mile on a scooter costs $0.215 less than it would in an SUV.

Thus, you can see your savings on your scooter's odometer. When it reaches 5000 miles, you will have saved 5000 * $0.215 or $1075.00. It is clear that, if you have gotten a great deal on a scooter that before your scooter registers 10,000 miles, it will have paid for the cost of the scooter and insurance, and be keeping significant savings in your pocket – even if your car gets a good deal better than 12 MPG.

History of Motor Scooters

2008-10-23T12:04:00.001-07:00

The Beginning

The history of motor scooters dates back to the 1800s. Gottlieb Daimler’s Reitwagen of 1885 was one of the earliest scooter models but only served as an experimental application for the engine. It was not manufactured in a series or developed any further. The first well-documented and successful example of motor scooters that was available for purchase was the Hildebrand & Wolfmueller. This scooter was patented in Munich, Bavaria. The Hildebrand & Wolfmueller was one with a step-through hollow tube frame which used a twin cylinder water-cooled engine, both of which were well advanced for that day and age. The rear wheel was driven by pistons similar to those of a train, and used heavy rubber bands to provide a return impulse rather than rotational inertia. Only a few hundred of this model were ever built. This scooter though not a significant commercial success, did pave the way for power driven transportation. Apart from the high purchase price, there were some technical issues with the model such as absence of a clutch. This venture ended up as a financial failure for both Wolfmuller and Hildebrand, and no further improvements were made until post WWII.

The Vespa

Following our second world war when technological advancements and development were at an alltime low in Italy, financial support was granted by the Italian government to companies which were engaging in producing innovated vehicles. Ferdinado Innocenti of Milan brought forth the modern scooter. Along with the designer Corrandino D’ascanio, Piaggio’s engineer designed, constructed, and flew the first modern helicopter, and based on the earlier military motorcycles, the first blueprint designs were produced of a motor scooter resembling the one that we know today.

D'Ascanio couldn’t stand motorcycles, so he set out to design a simple, sturdy, and economical vehicle that was comfortable yet elegant. The first Vespa was produced in 1946, and had a 98cc engine and a top speed of 47mph. In 1948, the first 125cc Vespa was manufactured. Upon seeing the vehicle, Enrico Piaggio remarked "Sembra una Vespa!" ("It looks like a wasp!"), because it did not at all resemble an uncomfortable and noisy motorcycle. The steel frame's shape protected the rider from road dirt and debris and the shape was elegant. By 1949, 35,000 motor scooter units had been produced and a million by 1960. By that time they were also manufactured in Germany, Great Britain, France, Belgium, Spain, and of course, Italy.

Vespa has had several images. It was first the two-wheeler of the post war economic boom, then, during the anti-Vietnam war years, a symbol for revolutionary ideas and social alienation.

The Lambretta

Back to early scooter beginnings, Innocenti, in collaboration with Pierluigi Torre, went on to produce the Lambretta, which made its first appearance at the 1947 Paris Motor Show. When gasoline was strictly rationed, the new Lambretta was highly economical getting better than 160 mpg. With a 123cc engine and achieving a maximum speed of 45 mph, the new scooter was extremely successful.

Scooters in Asia

In Japan, Taiwan, Tailand, and much of the Orient, motor scooters rule the roads. Taiwan has a population of 23 million, of these 23 million 11 of them own registered motor scooters.

Scooters in America

Following Cushman in the 1950s, many manufacturers all over the world have come out with fascinating designs for the American scooter market. The Italian scooters Vespa, Lambretta, Benelli, Piaggio, Gilera, and Malaguti followed a grand tradition but were later joined by China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Spain, England, and Germany who produced such scooters as Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Phantom, Aprilia, Annata, Roketa, Peugeot, Tank Bandit, and many more.

What to Buy Now

The is a current battle between the revival of the classic motor scooters ; the somewhat cheaper established brands of Japan and Taiwan: Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Kycmo, with their dealers and worldwide support; and several inexpensive lines of Korean and Chinese scooters. Support with some imports can be irregular and sometimes non-existent, so it is essential for one to do business with a reputable dealer who will handle registration and other details. The Chinese models, Roadrunner, Tank, Phantom, Annata, Roketa, Rascal range in price from 1/3 to 1/2 those of equivalent Japanese models. Roadrunner, Tank, Annata, Roketa, Chaunl, and Phantom come from reputable companies.

Vintage Plans: How to build a gas scooter for just $75!

2008-10-16T12:25:00.000-07:00

SCOOTER PLANS:

These are two different plans for gas powered scooters you can build.

Build this gas powered scooter in your garage, and then take it for a spin! Check your local laws, based on equipment you may be able to drive your scooter on the street legally.

This scooter is a simple, sit down style. It's a lot of fun for keeping up with go karts, tooling around the neightborhood, and exploring. Though not intended for off road use, one could probably go trail riding because of the sturdy design.

Using a small 2.5 hp engine, this project could drive around for hours on one tank of gas.

Scooters are a great way to get your kids interested in motors and machinery. Just put them in charge of repairs, and they'll soon learn the ins and outs of small motors. Then give them a budget for custom work and watch them dream up cool accessories for the scooter.

But first, use our easy to build free plans and create that scooter!

Gas Scooter Plan #1

Gas Scooter Plan #2

This was a really fun article on I found on the web; one that actually takes you through the steps of constructing your own gas scooter! This information was taken from http://www.vintageprojects.com/mini-bike/gas-scooter.html.

Don't want to hassle with building a vintage scooter? Click Here to view affordable vintage scooters.

Vintage Annata Scooters

2008-10-09T15:37:00.000-07:00

scooters dell'annata LLP was developed in 2007 May; introducing the annata brand of motorized, gas-powered scooters. They specialize mainly in affordable student transportation. scooters dell'annata targets college students living on a budget, providing with them with an affordable yet stylish solution to the rising costs of gasoline. Not long ago, Teresa A. Phillips and Amy M. Taniguchi, JD; its cofounders were college students themselves and well aware of the demand for affordable style. These series of scooters have earned an outstanding reputation with clients both at home and abroad for their reliable quality, innovative design, and reasonable prices.

Although the annata brand of scooters was just recently introduced in 2007, its manufacturer has been around since 1998, and is engaged in the production, sales, and service of motorcycles, scooters, and engines. July 2007 both Teresa and Amy traveled to Asia to personally inspect several potential suppliers. The factory they settled on is based in the hills of Eastern China and has incorporated many impressive European and Japanese motorcycle technologies into their factory system. This factory is comprised of a paint workshop, dynamic force workshop, motorcycle/scooter workshop, sales subsidiaries and their foreign trade department. This Manufacturer currently employs 500+ employees, 25 of which are senior engineers. All annata scooters are EEC, DOT, and EPA approved for the European and US markets.

The annata line of scooters is currently comprised of 2 models; bianca and alfeo. Their names and model have an Italian influence.

Meet bianca, she has sleek lines with curves in all the right places. Bold color with distinctive silver detailing. With bianca as your ride, heads will turn wherever you go! bianca is currently available in hot magenta, chartreuse, and pearl white.

Meet alfeo, a scooter that combines vintage styling with modern detailing. With a broader frame, alfeo is reminiscent of 1950s Italy while a chopper-inspired instrument panel and throttle power power alfeo into the 21st century. alfeo is currently available in brick red,
champagne, onyx, and copper.

Here at scooters dell’annata we are constantly pursuing the best price, quality, and service for all our customers. If you are interested in any of our products, please contact us immediately with your inquiries. Every step of our mutual development and success cannot be achieved without your trust and comments.

SEE MORE DETAILS AT: http://vintageannatascooters.com/