Wheels 2009 - The Photos

This past weekend was the annual Wheels show in downtown Lancaster. I was wondering if there would be any scooter presence this year, but just as I arrived, I saw Ryan and Lauren pulling in with their friend Mike. All three were riding Hondas. A new aquaintence, Vinny, was also there with a red Stella. I pulled my new white Vespa up next to them to make a respectable representation for scooters.

Ryan and Mike showed their Honda Ruckuses, both of which have been heavily modified. Ryan's midnight blue one was sporting a new set of handlebars since I last saw it, but looking pretty finished. Mike's is still a work in progress, looking for that balance of customization vs. complying with PennDOT's arcane rule book.

You really need to know the configuration of a stock Ruckus to appreciate how much work has gone into these. Mike's guages and lights have all been fabricated into the box under the handlebars. And that box has been given a custom airbrucsh/spray paint job by Derek Cochran. Photos cannot capture the eye-assaulting shade of pink on the rims. But it works well with the white, and it's echoed in the outline of the graffiti.

Compared to the boys, Lauren's Metropolitan is the essence of classic style. But don't be fooled; a lot of work went into this also. Honda doesn't make them look like turquoise '57 Chevys. That's a custom paint job on an '02 (which is where the brown seat, floor and grips come from). Note the paint on the swing arm and exhaust covers, for an extra splash of color. A cavernous wicker basket has been added to the back and the wire basket in the leg shield has been wrapped in that same wicker. On top of the new paint has been added brand new chrome badges from '09. The result is a tastefully refurbished Metro that could be confused for factory new.

The scooters attracted the attention of Mayor Gray and his wife, who stopped to talk to Mike, Lauren and Ryan about their own scooters. The Mayor also mentioned the free scooter parking around the ramp of the Prince Street Garage. He hinted that maybe the rule about registering before using isn't being so closely watched... but you didn't hear it from me ;-). He did say that he hopes to create more official scooter parking around town, but can only do so if he can show the existing spaces are being used: so get to the Prince Street Garage! And remember that the scooterist's friend in City Hall is up for re-election this year, so register to vote.

To wrap up, here are some more photos taken around the festival. Remember, you can click on any of the photos above or below to view them larger.

Ruckus Café Racer

It figures that when I'm out without my good camera I would run into this. A Honda Ruckus doing its best imitation of a café racer. At a café, no less. Cell phone photos will have to suffice.

This pair of scoots belongs to Ryan and Lauren, whom I met at Marion Court. Ryan says that bought this 50cc Honda Ruckus new in November, and has put a lot of work and many miles on it since.

Why do I call it a café racer? Well, the handlebars are upside down in a clubman style. It appears stripped down (although a Ruckus is pretty bare to start; he probably added more parts than he took off). And the bar-end mirror. The only things forgivably out of place are the highway pegs. Let's face it: the Ruckus is too small for a traditional café racer riding position. Scooters are cruisers, and these pegs are a nod to that, as well as they get the feet out away from the guage on the floorboard. (Don't forget to click on the pictures to expand them.)

Ryan said that he and his friends all bought scooters around the same time. Four or five Ruckuses (Ruckii?). He said they have a lot of fun riding them around the City. I agree: riding a small cc scoot in Lancaster is a blast. But something tells me that Ryan is having more fun than usual.

7th Annual Carlisle Bike Fest

This weekend was the 7th Annual Bike Fest in Carlisle. It was the first one I attended, and it was the best show I've been to so far. The things that set it apart were the stunt demos, more than ample food vendors, actual test rides from Star Motorcycles, and the sheer size of it. Oh, and the fairly organized parking coordination.

There were demos by FMX and the StarBoryz. The StarBoyz are a street bike stunt group. They did all the usual stunts you see on Super Bikes and plenty of burnouts. The finale was that they let a Buell burnout until it blew the tire like a gunshot and threw rubber up into the air.

There were some scooters in the crowd. Yes, Harley used to make a scooter. Here's a Harley Topper that hasn't seen any love for a long time. It's funny... there were a couple old, small Harley products there. But now that scooters and small bikes are flying out of showrooms, Harley Davidson doesn't make anything smaller than the 883 Sportster. And they are laying people off. Go figure.

Steve Horst of Country Road Cycles was there, promoting his scooter and motorcycle rental business. It's a great way to tour Lancaster. Also representing Lancaster County was 929 Customs.

This Honda Metro was covered with stickers and accessories, including cane and cup holders.

But what if you like the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) of a scooter, but want the look of a cruiser or chopper? Then you need a Ridley. Yes, this is an automatic.

2009 Honda Metropolitans

You may have seen stories lately that scooter dealers are out of inventory. Well, Honda is trying to react to that: the rumor is that 2009 Honda Metropolitans will hit stores later this month. They are already shown on Honda's website. New colors for this year include "Ghost", an all white version. I guess that is the opposite of last year's "Gothic", this year renamed a more consumer-friendly "Graphite".

Reader Request

Fedor writes:
“Just curious what your advice would be. I'm interested in buying a scooter within the next three months or so. I wanted to know (in your opinion) what the best choice (price wise, and style) would be for a newbie. I like the look of Vespas, but they are rather expensive, and hard to find repairs and parts for (or so I've been led to believe). I plan on taking the safety course, so as to get my license right away. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.”

Dear Fedor,

It’s true that Vespas are expensive. But keep in mind that they are all metal, not plastic. That has an up-side and a down-side. The upside is of course strength and durability. But the other side is that if you do crash and bend it, because of the moncoque construction, it’s pretty much totaled. Insurance is your friend in that case.

Service is a problem if you aren’t going to fix it yourself; the nearest dealer is in Mechanicsburg. But parts aren’t too hard to find, even for classic versions. There are places that specialize in Vespa parts, like the Scooterworks. Once you’re in the Vespa scene, you’ll develop a network of contacts. I have also heard the rumor that dealers have a hard time getting parts in a timely manner from Italy, but I can’t say whether that is true or not. I know these things can get blown out of proportion by a few bad anecdotes. My advice? Be patient and don’t sell your car. To really get the scoop, read http://www.modernvespa.com/ while your making up your mind.

And if you are interested in fixing a Vespa yourself, there is a local club that might be able to help you learn. They meet regularly to wrench together. I’ve met them and they are a laid back, friendly group. I didn’t ask permission to post their contact information here, put if one of you is reading this, leave a comment.

If you like the look of a Vespa but just don’t want to pay for a Vespa, there are alternatives. The Honda Metro and the Yamaha Vino are 50cc scooters styled after a Vespa. Both companies are well known for their quality and are backed by extensive dealer networks, with locations in Lancaster County. The Yamaha Vino also comes in a 150cc model that will do almost 60mph when broken in. If you are going to get your license right away, I would hold off buying until you do, and look hard at the Vino 150 at B&B Yamaha.

There is also the Genuine Buddy 150. It has the same problem as a Vespa of having no local dealer, but going to a dealer in Sellersville or Philly might be worth it. There are plenty of satisfied owners out there and it has a cool retro look, especially if you get the whitewalls.

Vespas are synonymous with scooters. Therefore, many companies make look-a-likes. You should have no problem finding something to satisfy you. Check out the Scooter Links on the right side of this page for forums that will have plenty of stories about Vespas, Buddys, Metros and Vinos.

P.S. You don't need a bike to take the MSF course. It helps to have one to practice on between lessons, but you don't have to have one. I didn't, and passed easily. Having that lisence will make it easier to get a test ride before purchase.

2008 Hondas

Honda appears to be the most popular, in Lancaster, of what I consider the major brands of scooters. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that we have 2 Honda dealers in town: Ephrata Cycle and Sports and Lancaster Honda. Honda makes few changes for America in 2008.

Their base model, and the scooter I see most around town remains the Metropolitan. A 50cc model with some storage and styling reminiscent of a Vespa (but in plastic intead of metal), this is the perfect scooter for getting around town. High mileage and low cost are its strengths. For 2008, Honda offers some new colors, including a Gothic (black and gray) and Monza (red on red).

If you like the low displacement, but plan to get out into the country or just want something more masculine, check out the Ruckus. It almost looks like a mini-bike. There is no lockable storage, but there are some interesting hop-up accessories available.

It appears as if Honda has dropped the Elite 80 (80cc) and the Helix (244cc) for 2008. These scooters sport a look like what designers in the 1980’s thought the year 2000 would look like. Also gone: the Reflex. Maybe you can find a good deal on an older model of one of these bikes.

That leaves a huge gap in engine sizes until you get all the way up to the Silver Wing at 582cc. This is a maxi-scooter. At over $8,000, it’s competition is the Suzuki Burgman and motorcycles. Power and luxury are what you are paying for. This is not a grocery-getter. This thing’s big enough for touring.

The reasons to buy a Honda are their reliability, value, and the convenience of 2 local dealers. For value and “green-ness” the Metropolitan is the stand-out model.