TheScooterScoop

From Reuters:
With 2010 demand showing the biggest gains since 2004 and expectations of a modest increase in 2011, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries could be pressured to open the taps next year, another Reuters poll showed.

The poll of 12 top oil-tracking analysts showed that oil demand this year had recovered far faster than anyone predicted earlier in 2010, and while growth is expected to slow in 2011 it will still reach a new all-time high.

This year “turned out to be a year of recovery, with economic and oil demand growth clearly beating expectations”, David Wech at JBC Energy in Vienna said.

With non-OPEC supply expected to rise by only 200,000 barrels per day next year, OPEC could have to increase output by 800,000 bpd to keep pace with demand, the poll showed.

Ministers from the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), which includes OPEC members such as Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Kuwait, will meet for two days starting on Friday to see how they need to fix prices to get their 2011 diamond studded Benzes before Springtime.

Like a magical, mystical electric unicycle with a training wheel, the YikeBike that me mentioned back in March, is ready to make its under-tree debut this year.  The good news?  It’s only $3595 (down from the originally estimated $4500 and if you order it with accessories like carrying case, extra charger and US standard plug the total will run you $3768 + Shipping.), the bad news?  It probably won’t make it here from New Zealand by Christmas.  :(

Still not convinced that mom / dad/ wife / Santa will get wrap one up for ya?  Show ‘em these videos!  (be sure to jump up and down with excitement and “Oh my GOSH!  THIS IS IT!  I WANT IT!  I WANT IT!” while they watch).

Ok, sure I’m feeling a little sick with jealousy over Brad Hasemeyer’s trip to Tokyo to chat with the locals about custom rides but that’s not gonna stop me from sharing the experience with you. Check out Translogic 8.3 from AOL (and the Chevy Volt) where Bradley tries to do the Japanese scooter scene some justice in less than 2 minutes. My favorite quote? “Why can’t these guys just leave this stuff aLONE!?”. *sigh*
Shouts to Drew Sawyer for the scoop! :)

The title of this post may not trigger the visuals I intended, unless you has seens the DirectTVs commercial, but never the less, of all the helmets I’ve seen it is the Ruby’s of Paris lids that appear to be the most opulent.

Ruby pulls their helmet materials from the top shelf!  They describe their high class helmets thusly:

All ruby® helmets are made using carbon fibres, a technology inherited from the aerospace industry guaranteeing maximum solidity combined with a feather-light weight.
The pavillon subtly asserts its personality through a number of details:

Its backbone is inspired by knights’ helmets, the chrome-plated strip which runs around the edge of the helmet, its steel coat of arms and its claret interior made of nappa lambskin reminiscent of the aesthetics of vintage luxury cars, the attention to detail given to the design and working of each part, without overlooking its red case which would be worthy of even the finest jewel..
With the ruby pavillon, the helmet is now an object of desire.

We hope you will get the chance to take a close look at one of our helmets, so that you can appreciate the wealth of details, the quality of the finish, the feel of the materials, the professionalism of the technological choices and its incomparable level of comfort.

Made using the carbon fibres?!  Just GREAT!  Now I want to touch one.  Maybe the next time I’m at one of the more exclusive Vespa shops, I get the chance to feels the opulence.  But WAIT!  We’re not done.  If you’re gonna get a Ruby, you might as well get it custom built, eh?  Well, you’re in luck if you’ve got between $965 and $1045 (plus the shippinks) set aside, you can visit the online Ruby Boutique and hand pick a size, paint job, design, trim and even if you want face shield snaps or not.  Just pay a visit to Ruby’s “à la carte” Configurator and get creative!

Now, if you’re the crafty type and you’re a budget you could probably make a pretty snazzy lid out of a $55 Daytona 3/4 shell with enough patience and skill… but if you’re going through the trouble to line it with nappa lambskin, you might want to consider sticking with your dirty, old helmet and saving up a hundred bucks a month until you can order a Ruby.  :)

Think of all the times you were on your scooter and thought, “Man!  I wish I had room for TWO cases of beer.”  Well, SYM (in Taiwan) has a solution for that persistent perplexity and it’s called the Gold Rich!  Well, it’s actually called the 金發財, but I don’t know my 金發財 from my 鞋油.

So, now you’re probably thinking, “So what?!  It’s not like we’re going to ever see it here.”  Well, maaaaaybe.  BUT, crazier things have happened.  With that in mind, I’d like to know what YOU think about the Gold Rich.  It’s a ceramic coated cylinder, 125cc 4-stroke, with heavy suspension, a flip up passenger seat, a 16″ long footwell, comes in seven colors, has a parking brake, and actually has a choice of disc or drum brakes.

Give SYM a hand!  Taiwan doesn’t know what American’s want… neither did their initial distributor, I suppose, and sometimes I wonder if ANY of the majors know.  I can’t expect them to be America’s darling, Genuine, but I still think they have the capability to offer a unique, quality product to the North American market.  You?

The EICMA 2010 show has pulled down the streamers and swept up the confetti and there were actually a  few surprises this year.  For one, BMW is flirting with jumping back into the scooter game with their new sport commuter concept with plans for much “Joy In The City“.  Perhaps they wish to conjure up images of a more family friendly version of Sex In The City with that marketing theme, but frankly it sounds about as good (see: Bad) as Microsoft’s, “Always delightful and wonderfully mine.” theme for their newish Window Phone 7.

Piaggio, on the other hand, is looking to a future with products in step with the meager demands of a broke-ass economy.  The Piaggio NT3 is being called the new Ape (reminder to pronounce AH-peh) and is intended to compete, in India, with the Tatas… er Tata Nano, specifically.  You do remember the Tata Nano, right?  The $2500 car?  Well, if the NT3 does indeed hit production, it is expected to show up to go head-to-head against the Nano by 2012 (being manufactured by Piaggio’s Baramati manufacturing plant) and maybe even make an appearance on European streets around 2013 or 2014.  Nissan is also vying for the Tata market with their New Mobility Concept EV.  Ahhhh, Tata… I just want a shirt that shows off the 2011 line up and says “Tatas!” on the front.

Here’s a rundown of the specs.

Tata Nano EV – Range 99 miles Maximum speed 37mph
Nissan NMC EV – Range 62 miles Maximum speed 47mph
Piaggio NT3 Electric – Range (full electric) “It’s over 9,000!”  (Nah, who knows… they’re makin’ all this crap up anyway)  Maximum speed 18 mph
Piaggio NT3 hybrid – Who knows… something about “either a 200cc or 300cc motorcycle engine and later Piaggio’s hybrid HyS technology will be optional on 300cc-equipped NT3s and all models are expected to achieve more than 70 miles per gallon”.  They could also be considering a model with a 3,000cc rainbow powered engine that produces 700 Brake Unicorn Power (BUP) and burns so cleanly that it leaves only water-soluble sparkle dust as it’s exhaust.  Wheeee!