The 49 cc scooter evolved

Lawrence · May 13th, 2006, 05:29 PM

What the kids are driving elsewhere in the world:

http://www.vtl.piaggio.com/web.htm

http://www.vtl.piaggio.com/cross.htm

D

Rob · May 13th, 2006, 06:09 PM

Wow! that would sell here too.

Check out this version Shaggin' Wagon

Lawrence · May 13th, 2006, 06:32 PM

They'd probably never allow us to have them in Canada...
They aren't dangerous enough.
When I lived in Italy back in the 70's the Ape was a commonplace vehicle of choice,
It sure would be fun driving one here. *Sigh*

D

Max · May 13th, 2006, 06:47 PM

Those are pretty cool little vehicles. Saw a few of those "shaggin' wagons' in Cuba, hauling produce and people. Not terribly powerful or fast but good little beasts of burden in the city. Small footprint, too. They're actually kind of cute. I wonder how clean they burn. Santiago had pretty bad air, thanks to thousands of dilapidated old American cars, lots of heavy Soviet-era trucks belching black smoke and tons of dirty-burning motorcycles and scooters too.

MacDoc · May 13th, 2006, 10:46 PM

I think we will see an explosion of electric versions of these BUT Toronto and Ontario needs to get it's laws and urban planning worked out to encourage their use and also get the insurance issues sorted out.
For alternatives we need flexibility and not car dominance of the transport system.

Lawrence · May 14th, 2006, 08:10 AM

They sell these in California without doors:
http://www.burbankkawasaki.com/backup/rikshaw.html

You'd think you could get the ones with doors in Canada...Oh well...Someday...Someday.

D

scootsandludes · May 14th, 2006, 12:47 PM

If you want an Ape (pronounced ah-pay), go down to Scooters On Front (500 Front St). Might not have anything right now, or they might. But I'm friends with the owner, and a few years ago, I was over at his importers house, and he was showing us what they had, and he had about 5 Apes.

People who buy these things, usually don't drive around in them, they just used them for promotional gimmicks. But some people do drive them, but it's usually at a rally, and not used for a everyday vehicle. Can't really keep up with everyday traffic, cruising speeds are generally about 35-40 km/h, with a top speed of about 55 km/h, which happens if your driving down a hill with the wind behind you. But they are a blast to ride, had a smile from ear to ear afterwards.

Piaggio has been making these things for as long as they've been making Vespas, so not hard to get one that fits in the 15 y/o import rule.

Translation time: Everybody knows that Vespa means wasp. But Ape means Bee.

vince

Loafer · May 15th, 2006, 02:58 PM

check this out then.....

http://www.mp3.piaggio.com/