Josh Ilott and his team at Ride Scooters are pleased to announce that we are moving our scooter machine shop to  Victoria. Expert tuner, Josh Ilott, is a well-known and respected name in the Canadian scooter industry for over 15 years. He and his team are trained and experienced in modern automatics to vintage classics and everything in between. Ride Scooters is the name behind countless show-winning restorations and currently holds the coveted title of ‘fastest scooter in Canada’ (0-100kmph in 5.88 seconds). Josh’s work is a staple in the private collections of serious Scooter enthusiasts.

Ride Scooters will be open for business on March 1^st, 2012. From mild to wild, Ride Scooters offers dependable, knowledgeable and personalized service in the BEST tooled scooter machine shop in Canada.

Services offered:

·      Regular service to all makes and models, automatic to classic

·      Economy tuning

·      Machine shop services (cylinder porting, nikasil re-plating, aluminum welding, boring, honing, crank building, etc.)

·      Super tuning  (nitrous conversions, reed conversions, component lightening and more)

·      Concours restorations and custom work

·      Quality parts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jBvaa7GlVo

Contact ridescooters@gmail.com for more information.

Corazzo realized that their Corazzo 5.0 was fast becoming the iconic scooter riders jacket – smartly, they did not venture too far from its design when they created the Corazzo Ventata.

Ventata is Italian for wind. With the new Corazzo Ventata armoured jacket, you can still have great protection like you get with our long-time favourite Corazzo 5.0 jacket and still stay cool on those hot summer rides.

Where the 5.0 jacket has heavy Cordura throughout, the Ventata has a lighter mesh for much of the body that allows for airflow. Strategically placed zippered vents also help with airflow management. The liberal 3M ScotchLite striping runs down the front and back of the jacket for great rider safety. The Ventata also retains the Knox®  armour pads in the elbows, shoulders, and a CE rated  back pad to protect those vital areas from road rash in the event of a mishap.

The material around the Ventata neck is softer and cut lower than we were used to on the Corazzo 5.0 which enchanced comfort.

Although the Ventata does not offer the same rain protection as the Corazzo 5.0, it is a simple matter to keep an inexpensive rain jacket under your seat that you can throw over your jacket in the event you get caught in a downpour.

Corazzo’s brief bio about the designer, Michael Fontasnarossa, says he has worked in design for Adidas, Nike, and Motorola – all no slouches in the design department. He is also an avid scooter and motorcycle rider which explains why his design integrates both form and functionality.

Summary

We love the Corazzo 5.0 jacket. If you can afford only one jacket and you ride in a variety of conditions, that is the jacket to get. The Corazzo Ventata is a superb warm weather jacket and can be supplemented with a sweater or hoody underneath for mor warmth when required or a rain coat over top is you get caught out in the rain.

Available in black or silver.

MSRP $179.00 US   or $209.00 CDN

Highly recommended.

We would love your comments and feedback if you have a Corazzo Ventata!

A recent study by the Seattle-based Sightline Institute shows that in 2009 British Columbia binged on fuel consumption. Per capita gas consumption rose by 10% – the highest year-over-year consumption increase in the last 30 years.

Rationalize this in any way you want, it just shows that British Columbians, by and large, just don’t seem to give a damn about the environment and conservation. The economy goes into a bit of a dive, gas prices get cheap, and we just give up on more fuel efficient means of transportation.

A couple of years ago, the economy was good and gas prices were high. Scooter and electric bike sales were skyrocketing. You would like to think this was due to a heightened awareness and caring for the environment but now, seeing the 2009 figures, there are serious doubts. We’re still just a bunch of gas guzzling idiots as long as the price is not too high.

Thankfully, the BC government had the foresight to introduce a carbon tax. Prices may be driven to the point where people will consider conservation. One hoped that people would act based on environmental consciousness and not just economics – but 2009 gas consumption statistics show otherwise.

In the days ahead, we hope federal, provincial, and municipal governments will look at innovative measures to encourage transportation modes such as scooters and electric bikes. These are important, and somewhat overlooked transportation modes that fall in between the bicycle and the automobile. Cheaper parking, purchase incentives, allowance in HOV lanes, etc. will all help to encourage more sustainable transportation modes. We also need to get more innovative in insurance and licensing requirements.

Licensing. Scooters up to 150cc should be able to be ridden with a standard driver’s license. Currently, motorists are restricted to 50cc scooters unless they have a motorcyclist license. By doing this, the scooter would be a much more viable commuting mode for  British Columbians who need the ability to commute at up to 80 kph. It is also safer to be able to drive a scooter that is able to keep up to the traffic flow. Many scooterists buy a 50cc scooter even if they are heavy, have hilly routes, or double ride – they cannot keep up to the traffic flow, The 50cc licensing rule causes them to buy a scooter that is not as safe as a larger one that is no more difficult to ride( and still no speed demon).

Since scooters are all automatic (no gears to shift), and the brakes are just like a bicycle, they are simple and safe to ride. BC’s own accident statistics bear out that scooters are a very safe mode of transportation.

Parking. Come on people..let’s get with it. Allow a scooter to pay a small annual fee for a parking decal that allow them to park in a number of designated areas, meter, and even some sidewalk areas. Cities like Toronto and Portland have done these things with great success. And for property developers – maybe the addition of scooter parking stalls may get you a variance on the number of expensive parking spaces you have to have in your project.

Insurance must get cheaper to allow multi-modal commuting. If you have a car, you should be able to pay a small additional insurance fee to also cover a scooter as long as it is not being used at the same time as the car. We need some innovative ideas to allow commuters to be multi-modal – choosing the best tool for the job on any given day.

So what can we do to get governments to push us in the right direction?  Clearly, if  left to our own means, we’ll just keep on being a bunch of gas guzzling idiots.

As always – we invite your comments.

Some of what you read here may be repetitive if you have already read Scooter Oil 101

Remember, there are two main types of motors is scooters – 2 stroke and 4 stroke. Almost all modern scooters above 50cc engine size are 4 stroke but many vintage scooters are 2 stroke even in the larger engine sizes.
Once your scooter is past the initial break-in period, it’s a good idea to pick one brand of quality oil and stick with it. This will avoid the potential screw-up of mixing and matching oils such as standard (dinosaur oil), synthetic, or semi-synthetic.

2 stroke scooter oil

2 strokes engines run on a mix of oil and gas and get lubrication from the oil which is mixed with the gas as combustion occurs in the cylinder. Most vintage 2 strokes and some modern high performance 2 strokes require the oil to manually be premixed with the gas (just like you would do for a chain saw or weed whacker).

Older 2 strokes such as the vintage Vespas were designed to burn large quantities of 2 stroke oil – in the range of 8 – 10 ounces per gallon. This made for quite a trail of blue smoke and a smelly machine that was not environmentally friendly. Newer 2 strokes have much more efficient designs and can burn as little as 1 ounce per gallon – not as environmentally friendly as a 4 stroke, but pretty darn good compared to the scooters of yesteryear.

Most modern 2 strokes simply require you to fill an oil reservoir in the scooter and the oil is mixed with the gas automatically. Since 2 stroke scooters burn the oil and you are always replenishing the reservoir, they do not require oil changes like a 4 stroke scooter. Check this oil reservoir every couple of fill ups and, if you can, carry a bottle of 2 stroke oil with you under the seat. We recommend wrapping it in a Ziploc bag as an extra precaution against spillage.

Today’s 2 stroke oils are very advanced and designed specifically for certain applications and uses. Make sure you use a 2 stoke oil that is specifically designed for a scooter, not oil that is meant to be used in chainsaws,  lawnmowers, and the like. (Even motorcycle 2 stroke oils may not be formulated to optimize the performance of a 2 stroke scooter engine).

Again – make sure you are not using motor oil designed for a 4 stroke in a 2 stroke. Pick a high quality oil and stay with it. Some of the better, scooter specific oils cost a little more but it is cheap insurance. Brands like AMSOIL,  IPONE, Golden Spectro, Motul, and  Repsol have several scooter-specific 2 stroke oil formulations. Most are low odour-low smoke and IPONE even makes a strawberry scented oil. Modern oils can actually bond to the metal to build up a lubricating film over time (a good thing). Constantly changing oils or brands may keep this from happening.

4 stroke scooter oil

Four stroke motors are lubricated by an oil bath covering all the motor’s moving parts. 4 stroke scooter engines require oil changes since they are constantly recirculating the same oil rather than burning it. During the break-in period, this is especially important. Most scooter brands recommend using a non-synthetic during the break-in period and then you can change after that. Do not mix and match oils. If you are topping up your oil, make sure you know what is in your scooter and stick with it. (Not only, standard, synthetic, synthetic blend, but also the same brand if possible.)

Follow your manufacturers recommendations closely for both the type of oil to use and the oil service intervals. Being a bit anal about regular oil changes is cheap insurance for your scooter.

Common Questions about Scooter Oil

Which type of oil should I use, synthetic, semi-synthetic (synthetic blend) or mineral?

This may sound like a cop out, but check your manufacturers recommendations and then go to the internet and do some research on what people are saying in the various groups about the best oil recommendations for your particular scooter model. Remember, if you have done performance modifications, that can affect your choice of lubricants and frequency of oil changes. Don’t mix and match, even though there are some forums out there that say this may be an OK thing to do.

There are so many types of synthetic scooter oil – What is the difference?

Synthetic oil can be made to match the specific requirements of certain applications. Some are made to pre-mix, some can be used in both injector of pre-mix situations, some are specifically for pre-mix, some are low smoke, low odour, some are even scented. Other synthetics are made specifically for the demands of racing and high performance engines.

I want to switch to a synthetic oil, what should I do?

2 strokes

When you switch to a synthetic oil you should drain your oil tank if you have a injector bike – run your bike low on fuel if you are pre-mix – then start using the new oil. Be light on the throttle for the first tank so you can build up a film, but remember to stay with the same brand after you make the switch.

4 strokes

Warm up your scooter by riding around for 10 minutes or so. Remove the drain plug to drain all oil and also replace the oil filter. Fill up with the new oil and carefully check the level. Gently ride for a few minutes and then recheck the levels and look for any leaks around the filter or drain plug.

Your comments are welcomed and encouraged.

We will be conducting hands-on reviews soon so stay tuned.

Some early specs:

SYM SYMBA SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: Air-cooled 4-stroke Single cylinder
Displacement: 101.4cc (will require a motorcycle license in most Canadian jurisdictions)
Transmission: 4-speed Semi Automatic (no clutch to operate – very simple to change gears)
Fueling: Carburetor
Front Suspension: Telescopic Fork
Rear Suspension: Swingarm, with adjustable shock
Front Brake: 130mm drum
Rear Brake: 110mm drum
Tires: 17 x 2.5 front/rear
Seat Height: 29.9 inches
MSRP: $3,195

AVAILABLE COLORS
Black / White
Blue / White
Red / White

See what SYM Canada has to say

Yike Bike Electric Bicycle - The Wheel Reinvented

At Scooter Underground, we are always on the lookout for cool new urban transportation products and there is really nothing newer or cooler than the YikeBike www.yikebike.com

The brainchild of Kiwi entrepreneur and inventor, Grant Ryan together with friend and co-founder Peter Higgins, the Yikebike is a very interesting and, in our opinion, a very misunderstood product.

So, when is it coming to Canada, and what do we think of it?

We have spoken to the people at YikeBike and Canada is not on the radar at the moment and that is probably a wise decision. They want to pick the worldwide markets where it has the most potential and focus their sales and customer service efforts there without diluting them with a shotgun approach. All we can say, is that if and when it comes to Canada, Scooter Underground will be the place to find out about it.

What do we think about it?

We hate reviewing products that we have yet to see or touch but with regard to the Yikebike, we have done a lot of homework and we feel that we understand the market niche this product will fill.

You can go to their excellent website for a lot of the detailed stats, YouTube videos, and FAQ’s, but here is the meat and potatos:

Weight: 9.8 kg (21 lbs)
Speed: 20 km/hr
Range: 9-10 km per charge
Recharge time: 30 minutes
Carrying capacity: 100 kg (220 lbs) rider and cargo
Price: 3,500-3,900 Euros ( $5,200 – $5,800 CDN) est.

Grant Ryan admits that one of the inspirations for the Yikebike was the Segway (yikes). The Segway was a very cool product that was announced to a lot of fanfare and turned out to be a huge marketing flop. Now, I don’t know Grant Ryan, but based on his past accomplishments I am assuming he’s no dummy and he has learned a lot from studying the Segway. Both the Yikebike and the Segway are  very cool, relatively safe transportation products.

However, due to some great engineering and the use of high tech materials, the YikeBike weighs 9.8 kg (21 lbs) – about 4 times less that the weight of a Segway. It also folds to a fraction of the size of a Segway or most folding bikes and is so nice and neat in its folded design that there are no bits and pieces sticking out to scratch and snag things.

Who is it for?

Let’s start with the estimated market price. Currently the Yikebike is priced at $3500-$3900 Euro (that’s about $5,200 – $5,800 CDN). At those kinds of prices, this is going to be a real niche player initially. The folks at Yikebike admit that out of the gate they are targeting to be “Porche and not Toyota”. Their design and materials are all first rate. Most of the frame is black carbon fibre (initially the only color available). They have also chosen state-of-the-art  LiFePO4 fast-charge battery technology but opted for a relatively small battery size to keep the weight down.

The Yikebike is really not an urban transportation product like an electric bicycle or a scooter – rather, it is an elegant and uber cool solution to “the last mile problem”. In large cities, there are thousands of commuters who ride trains, subways, busses, or even cars but they still have a bit of a jaunt to get to their final destination point. The Yikebike, due to its, slick design, light weight, and portability allows it to link in with these other modes of transportation to get the commuter to where they want to go and not have all sorts of storage and security problems when they get there. Even if you take a car to work, you may want the freedom to run errands at lunch without the drudgery of fighting traffic and finding parking spaces – the Yikebike could liberate this type of urban commuter.

Many readers looking at the Yikebike balk at its lack of range( 9-10 km). The trade-off was made between battery size and weight and the range should be adequate for most purposes. That’s about a half hour of riding before you need to spend another half hour charging – this bike is not meant for those who are commuting 10-20 km to work each way. A more traditional electric bike like the eZee bike is better suited to that purpose. Just like a carpenter has many tools and chooses the best one for the job, the urban commuter has to look at the task they have at hand and choose the right product – for many of them the Yikebike may be just right.

The Yikebike would be an ideal way to get around a large campus but at the current prices, only the people on the Microsoft or Google campuses will be able to afford them.

Summary

What’s hot

• Super cool and innovative design
• Top quality materials and built like a Porche
• Light weight
• Elegantly folds into a small package in about 20 seconds
• Take it with you – no parking or theft worries
• Fits a wide range of rider sizes

What’s not

• Like the Segway, the Yibebike does not offer the rider any exercise – you stand on a Segway; you sit on a YikeBike – no pedaling
• 100 kg capacity may limit it for many North American sized males who want to carry books and a laptop
• Hill climbing capability may be limited compared to an electric bike due to small battery and no pedals
• In a regulatory “no man’s land” – where will you be able to ride it is uncertain – like the Segway
• Price is sky high initially but that is sure to change. The initial models are like luxury prototypes. I am sure that if the concept catches on, they will be able to use a high quality production facility somewhere like Taiwan where they are still obsessed with quality but have lower production costs than New Zealand.

Corazzo Armored Jackets at Scooter Underground's Store

Corazzo 5.0 Riding Jackets at Scooter Underground

Originally uploaded by Scooter Underground

Scooter and Motorcycle Safety Gear does not have to look goofy. The Corazzo line of scooter riding jackets are padded in the elbows, shoulders, and back. Most models are made with a super-strong Cordura nylon shells that have liberal amounts of 3M Scotch Lite reflective material.

Safety and style can go hand in hand.
Although the Corazzo company based in Portland Oregon makes many great scooter jackets, the Corazzo 5.0 has consistently been the top seller in Western Canada.

By the way, these Corazzo jackets are made in Canada – what’s made in Canada anymore?

We will be posting many detailed reviews of safety gear, including these jackets in the months ahead.

Sanyo Eneloop Electric Bicycle at Scooter Underground

We are pleased to announce that the folks at the Scooter Underground will soon have a couple of Sanyo eneloop bicycles for testing. As soon as we get them, we are getting to work to put them through their paces. We will report back to you to tell you how they perform in real world Canadian conditions.

We”ll have “plump” people riding them on cold rainy days…. up hills! All  sorts of stuff that has been the demise of many electric bikes we have tested in the past. What is the real battery life? How long does it really take to charge? How smooth is the direct drive motor? We need lots of answers and soon we will have them.

So far, the homework we have done on the Sanyo eneloop looks really good, but we have to see for ourselves. We did the same thing with the eZee bikes before giving them our stamp of approval.

Stay tuned. We will have lots of new photos and some YouTube videos. The bikes should be here by mid-Feb and we will have a comprehensive early report shortly afterword. We will also publish long-term evaluations of the Sanyo eneloop.

Here are what some other blogs are saying about the eneloop electric bikes and electric bikes in general – the time has come!:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/17/business/17ping.html

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/eneloop/
CNN :
http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/tech/2010/01/11/ces.hln.electric.bikes.cnn

Treehugger.com:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/01/ces-2010-sanyos-eneloop-bike-may-be-a-bike-world-game-changer.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqhp6jNaLmo&feature=related

A dealer in Chicago riding eneloop bike in the snow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDoKR7h-17I

If you knew you were going to be pushed out of a pickup truck at 80 km/h, (or 60 or 50…) what would you wear? Short sleeved shirt, surfer shorts or spandex? Not likely, yet every day you see people out there dicing through traffic with nothing between them and the pavement but thin fabric.

Assuming you collide with nothing during your spill, the minimum you need is a full face helmet, heavy jacket, pants, boots that protect the ankles, and gloves that protect the wrists.  Remember, your head will be falling from a height of four feet, so a beanie-type helmet will not offer you much protection.

In a slide, denim will protect you for approximately two feet, or sixty centimetres. After that, it’s all skin.

If your ankle gets caught under your scooter, running shoes will not protect you enough.

Your hands are often the first things to hit the pavement. Don’t ride barehanded.

Some people avoid buying proper protective gear because of the cost. However, when you look at the cost in time and pain to you while your skin grows back, your bones heal, or you fight your way back from a head injury, the cost becomes quite reasonable.

Protective gear companies have done a lot of work developing their products.

Do your research and don’t go into battle without your armour.

We’ve had it. No longer will we publish the horsepower ratings for scooters. They’re confusing and pretty much meaningless. The only reason we wanted to publish horsepower was so that a rider could do an apples to apples comparison between scooters and get some idea about which one had more poop – you know, giddy up. That’s what horsepower is all about isn’t it?

Well, after doing a lot of research, and trying to figure out why many scooters with more horsepower did not perform as well as scooters with lower published horsepower, we’ve come to the realization that, due to a lack of standards, confusion abounds. Published horsepower is next to meaningless.

Horsepower can be measured in many different ways in addition to the SAE and metric differences. Different manufacturers will publish different horsepower and different rpm. We found we were looking at web sites and owner’s manuals and often trying to compare the incomparable. (If you want to know more about horsepower we strongly recommend looking it up in wikipedia for some excellent information.)

Until there is a better standard, horsepower rating comparisons are bullshit. Get on the scooter and take it for a test ride. See how it performs off the line. What about at the top end when you wind it out? How is it going up hills? How is performance with heavier or lighter riders or when doubling? These are the things you want to know. Depending on the power of the engine and how the scooter is set up will make a lot of difference.

Let the test drive guide your decision and not the stat sheet.