TheScooterScoop » Custom

Epic movie inspires epic scooter

Steve Guzman — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:00:04 +0000

If you don’t keep up with the UK scootering culture, you may not know about “the theme scooter”. We rarely see them here in the USA (luckily) but it’s been a favorite past-time of many Brits since the Mod Revival and gets a regular feature in Scootering Magazine. Most of the Motown and Northern Soul themes are lost on me but this one, scooped by “Q”, really spoke to me. Check out the Star Wars theme custom scooter captured in Leeds, England (source).

Wanna make your MadAss sound the part?

Steve Guzman — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:56:51 +0000

OMG! I just installed new pipe on our shop MadAss 125. It’s the AssPipe from Moto-Scoot. We haven’t done anything else to it yet, so we aren’t getting all of the benefits… but we ARE getting something. Watch the video to find out what. Shout outs to Austin Armstrong for the assistance today.

Tiny post: The Stretch Motocompo

Steve Guzman — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:21:21 +0000

This one is a bit unusual. You might not catch it the first time you look, but once you get past the obvious stuff like the top case and wind deflector, then you start to notice that this thing’s got two seats! And two sets of foot pegs! (and two pipes, I don’t know what’s going on there.) But, this is the first two passenger / stretch Motocompo I’ve seen. I wish I knew more about this contraption. Thanks to Akisan for the scoop!

Wait! It looks like… It’s got TWO engines! The original two stroke with custom pipe and a bolt-on 50cc 4-stroke? Whoa… I’m feeling woozy. I need to sit down and let my eyes adjust.

How to make a Hummer more efficient than a scooter

Steve Guzman — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 04:26:05 +0000

On Sunday March 8th 2010 Jeremy Dean took his totally pimped out Hummer, entitled Futurama, out for a spin. Dean has pimped it out with silver chrome, working LED lights and a booming audio and video system. Even though the modded Hummer only gains 2 HP of forward momentum, it’s still tons better than the civilian mall-runner, tax right-offs usually driven by CEO wives. I like to see how it runs with the 8 HP upgrade! The Hummer is DEAD! LONG LIVE THE HUMMER!

Shouts to our homeboys in Korea, Furange, for the scoop!

Huffington Post – When It Comes to Innovation, Is America Becoming a Third World Country?

Steve Guzman — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 07:15:29 +0000

Here’s a bit of an extremely important question recently raised at the Huffington Post.

Is America turning into a third world country? That was the provocative topic of a panel I took part in last week at a conference sponsored by The Economist entitled “Innovation: Fresh Thinking For The Ideas Economy.”

Once upon a time, the United States was the world’s dominant innovator — partly because we didn’t have much competition. As a result of the destruction wreaked by WWII, the massive migration of brainpower to the U.S. caused by the war, and huge amounts of government spending, America had the innovation playing field largely to itself. None of these factors exist as we enter the second decade of the 21st century.

America now has plenty of countries it’s competing with — many of which are much more serious about innovation than we are. Just look at the numbers:

A report by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation looked at the progress made over the last decade in the area of innovation. Out of the 40 countries and regions it examined, the U.S. ranked dead last.

If you get a chance please take the time to read the whole story. This is of critical importance! We’re a bunch of innovative people here; let’s SHOW IT! Support the Maker movement, the DIY movement, the garage inventors and local Fab Labs, the artisans and grease monkeys. The consumption era is over! Let the second industrial revolution BEGIN!

Shop spotlight – Bowls LA

Steve Guzman — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:16:05 +0000

I’ve been thinking about the Honda Ruckus lately. You may have already figured out that Honda will not introduce a 2010 model, deciding instead to clear out their remaining 2009 models this year. This move is not unusual for Honda, it’s only unusual in America. In Japan model year isn’t such a big deal. Today you might find a shop in Japan selling new bikes from 2008 and 2009 without anyone thinking much about it. To make up for it, Honda USA is offering $200 in bonus bucks with the purchase of a new (old) 2009 Ruckus. So what does that have to do with a little boutique shop in LA? Well, Bowls LA isn’t just a boutique shop that will help you customize your wardrobe but they will also help you customize your Honda Ruckus (they do other custom stuff too)! I watched one of their promo videos (below) and really, for me? If they sold groceries they could be my one stop shop. I loved everything about the video. The music? Steve Miller. The toys? Star Wars and sweet custom skate decks. The ride? Custom Ruckus’. They had Angel Jam Master Jay shirts and rare kicks (shoes). I will make it a point to stop by their shop in San Marino the next time I’m out that way… preferably with a fist full of cash.

Anyway, here’s that video I was talking about:

You can follow them on Twitter and see more Bowls LA videos here.

Helmet carved from solid block of aluminum only outdone by the 5 axis machine that made it

Steve Guzman — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:56:47 +0000

When I saw this helmet the first time, it blew my mind! It’s more of a conversation piece than most people’s scooters… the perfect amalgamation of high strength A7n01-T6 aluminum alloy, kick ass CNC machining technology and “beat THAT!” badassmanship. Though, after running this through the mental physics engine a few times, the practicality seems to have fallen out the window on this one. It’s really just a show piece from Japan’s powerhouse prototyping company, Daishin Seiki, to celebrate their 50th Anniversary. The aluminum cheek pads were the first giveaway that this was not intended for actual road use… that and the thought of the heat transfer you’d get from this baby sliding down the pavement. I imagine that your standard, spontaneous highway dismount would result in a fracture that would split the helmet into a 3 or 4 pieces as it unraveled from your delicate skull. Still… a BEAUTIFUL piece of machine work! Bravo Daishin Seiki Corporation!

NOW then, do you wanna see the “beat THIS!” badassmanship in action? Of course, we don’t have video of the COUNTLESS hours spent rendering this bad boy, but we DO have video of the hyperMILL app controlling a Gildemeister DMU60 Duoblock machine as it puts the tool to it! (Casey… wipe the drool off yer chin) Did you know that JUST a CAD mock-up of the DMU60 costs $1,500! I can’t imagine how much the actual machine costs. (anybody?)

Fuelcell cargo scooter concept

Steve Guzman — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:30:00 +0000

(click to enlarge)
Designer Chengli Hung’s cargo bike concept is a two-wheeled attempt at “all things to all people”. It’s a cargo hauling scooter that can transform into a sort of sport bike by simply swapping or adding components. The bike is describe by the designer as:

…a small scooter but have a large integrated storage area and an optional storage compartment in the mid-section of the scooter. The flexible steering handlebar allows the scooter to transform into a more potent motorbike for higher speeds which improves the aerodynamics of this vehicle and brings more pleasure of riding.

Interesting idea! I’ve always liked the cargo scooter and in fact, this isn’t the first one to show up on Tuvie. I’m also a big fan of the cargo Microcar. I have to wonder if Aprilia ever sold any of their Cargobikes, which was really nothing more than a SportCity with a large storage compartment where the step-through once was. Not taking anything away from it! I’d like to see that kit available here in the USA! *writes email to Cargobike*

Oh, and… it’s really too bad we won’t ever see any Honda Cargo Gyro’s or new Bajaj Vans here. Well, not so much “too bad” as “it really pisses me off”. *climbs on soapbox* STOP the auto lobbyists from blocking the acceptance of micro work vehicles on American roads! *steps off soapbox* At least I think (hope) you can still get Peirspeed’s Pizza scooter.

Following Japanese Kustoms

Steve Guzman — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:13:00 +0000

Images of Austin, Texas come to mind when I think about the words “Hot Rods” and “Customs”. The 9th Annual “Lonestar Rod and Kustom Round Up” is a huge convergence of classic Americana parading up and down Congress Street… The only rules? No imports and nothing newer than 1963. I can’t say those rules apply to the Yokohama Hot Rod & Custom Show, but the show is still quite impressive. Here’s a couple of shots from our friend Kuroneko as shared from his Flickr account.

Can you believe they were mild mannered Honda Cubs at one time?

Easy Rider as played by a Trail 70

Steve Guzman — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:15:00 +0000

I was just doing a little research on the old Honda Trail 70 (Dax everywhere else) and found this sexy specimen. That’s it… just wanted to share. I found it over on the Dax-Net site in Japan.

I was impressed! But, my jaw hit the floor when I saw THIS custom Dax.

And let me tell you what… you might not want to visit se-5’s Bodyline Custom Motorcycle flickr stream. That’s one rabbit hole that will put a swift and decisive ending to the rest of your productive work day. Don’t say I didn’t waaaaaarn yooooou.

PS> Bodyline Customs (in Japan) may not be the most web savvy crew (no website), but what they can do their hands is awe inspiring! I would gladly be their web monkey in exchange for one of their mind-melting customs!