Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Watch Japanese postal workers celebrate the new year in style]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/06/watch-japanese-postal-workers-celebrate-the-new-year-in-style/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/06/watch-japanese-postal-workers-celebrate-the-new-year-in-style/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/06/watch-japanese-postal-workers-celebrate-the-new-year-in-style/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Japan Postal Scooters video

It would seem mail gets to its destination a little differently in Japan. While the US Postal Service relies on the world's largest fleet of trucks, Japan gets its letters to doorsteps all over the country via an endearing fleet of scooters. Each year, postal workers in Hakata celebrate the new year by taking to the streets en masse. It's a freakish display of small-displacement, two-wheeled insanity, and we absolutely love it. Of course, it's even more fun when set to Wagner's Flight of the Valkyries. You'll need to mute the first video for the full effect.

Check out the display in the video below, but don't blame us if you want to drop everything and pick up a scooter of your very own.

Continue reading Watch Japanese postal workers celebrate the new year in style

Watch Japanese postal workers celebrate the new year in style originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>japanjapanese postal service scooter videopostal servicescooter videoscootersvideoWed, 06 Feb 2013 20:03:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20449508/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/06/watch-japanese-postal-workers-celebrate-the-new-year-in-style/20449508/article-detail.xml 20449508 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/japan-postal-scooters-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/japan-postal-scooters-628.jpg <![CDATA[Bob Lutz joins electric scooter maker Current Motor]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/19/bob-lutz-joins-electric-scooter-maker-current-motor/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/19/bob-lutz-joins-electric-scooter-maker-current-motor/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/19/bob-lutz-joins-electric-scooter-maker-current-motor/#commentsFiled under: ,

Bob Lutz Current Motors

Bob Lutz rides again. And again. Everyone's favorite former auto executive has saddled up with a new electric scooter company, investing a sizeable chunk of change into Current Motor and taking a spot on the company's advisory council.

As of right now, the scooter maker offers a total of three different two-wheeled rides with varying top speeds. The base model, the Economy C124E, carries an MSRP of $6,499, maxes out at 55 mph with a range of around 30 miles, and supposedly charges in just four hours from a standard 110-watt home outlet. The lineup tops out with the Deluxe 130 which goes for a shave under $8,000, though its top speed of 65 mph and range of 50 miles makes it a slightly more appealing option.

Lutz says his work with Current Motors makes perfect sense given his dedication to bringing an EV to market throughout his career. He's already championing a pilot program that will offer buyers $2,000 off the sticker price if they commit to providing feedback about their machines via Twitter and Facebook. Hit the jump for the full press blast.

[Sources: Motorcycle, Current Motor | Image: @JeffreyNRoss]

Continue reading Bob Lutz joins electric scooter maker Current Motor

Bob Lutz joins electric scooter maker Current Motor originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bob lutzcurrent motor companycurrent motor scooterselectric scooterev scooterscootersWed, 19 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19805063/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/01/19/bob-lutz-joins-electric-scooter-maker-current-motor/19805063/article-detail.xml 19805063 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/lutz-current-motors-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/lutz-current-motors-630.jpg <![CDATA[Motorcycles at the 2010 Greenwich Concours]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/13/motorcycles-at-the-2010-greenwich-concours/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/13/motorcycles-at-the-2010-greenwich-concours/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/13/motorcycles-at-the-2010-greenwich-concours/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Bikes at the Greenwich Concours
Motorcycles at the 2010 Greenwich Concours - Click above for high-res image gallery

One thing the organizers of the Greenwich Concours do well is ensure that motorcycle aficionados don't feel left out. This year was no different, as Sunday featured row of bikes diverse in both chronology and purpose. No matter your interest, if two wheels were your thing, you were covered by a range of offerings that included everything from rarities like the Honda NR750 to a 1917 Harley-Davidson that pretty much embodied the definition of "patina."

It was obvious that the majority of these bikes weren't babied garage queens. Most appeared to see regular action, and their owners were eager to share them with the crowd. "C'mon, take a closer look!" was a common phrase uttered to anyone pausing to show interest in a particular bike. It's that kind of camaraderie that makes Greenwich feel as accessible as any local enthusiasts' gathering, even though it's a serious Big Deal concours with million-dollar vehicles littering the grounds. Hit the gallery below for a look at the motorcycles and scooters that were on hand this year.


Gallery: Motorcycles at the 2010 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance

The row of motorcycles at the 2010 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance1970 Honda CT 701991 Honda NR750 (foreground)1971 Norton Commando1971 Norton Commando

Photos by Alex Núñez / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Motorcycles at the 2010 Greenwich Concours originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Jun 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bsaducatigreenwich concoursgreenwich concours deleganceGreenwichConcoursGreenwichConcoursDeleganceharley davidsonHarley-DavidsonHarleyDavidsonhondamoto guzziMotoGuzzimotorcyclesnortonscooterssuzukiSun, 13 Jun 2010 14:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19514303/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/06/13/motorcycles-at-the-2010-greenwich-concours/19514303/article-detail.xml 19514303 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/greenwichbikeslead630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/greenwichbikeslead630.jpg <![CDATA[Video: Celebrating 60 years with the women of Vespa]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/06/video-celebrating-60-years-with-the-women-of-vespa/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/06/video-celebrating-60-years-with-the-women-of-vespa/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/06/video-celebrating-60-years-with-the-women-of-vespa/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


"Hello, would you like cake with your Vespa?"- Click above to watch the video after the jump

When you hear the term biker babes, the images that fill your mind may include bleach blond hair and the scant use of finely crafted leather bikinis. So you probably haven't stopped to consider the sexier side of the scooter industry, right? Don't feel bad - we needed a little encouragement too.

Usually when talking Vespa, we may be covering a new model release, maybe explaining how practical the "wasps" could be for your urban commute or that Sunday trip to the beach. Who knew beyond their cool, iconic exterior that Vespa has had so many run-ins with the fairer sex over the years? When we stumbled across this video history of the women of Vespa, it seemed the right thing to do was pass it along. Sexy, cool classic - Vespa knows just how to get our attention. Click past the break to see for yourself.

[Source: SoloMotoTreinta via Twowheelsblog]

Continue reading Video: Celebrating 60 years with the women of Vespa

Video: Celebrating 60 years with the women of Vespa originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biker babesbiker chickbiker chicksBikerBabesBikerChickBikerChickscalendar babesCalendarBabesitalianItalian womanItalianWomanitalypiaggioscooterscooter girlscooter girlsScooterGirlScooterGirlsscooterssexy calendarssexy girlsexy girlsSexyCalendarsSexyGirlSexyGirlsvespavespa girlvespa girlsvespa scootervespa scootersVespaGirlVespaGirlsVespaScooterVespaScootersTue, 06 Apr 2010 16:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19427606/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/06/video-celebrating-60-years-with-the-women-of-vespa/19427606/article-detail.xml 19427606 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/vespa-women-_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/vespa-women-.jpg <![CDATA[<i>Consumer Reports</i> tests motorcycles, scooters for first time since 1981]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/04/i-consumer-reports-i-tests-motorcycles-scooters-for-first-ti/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/04/i-consumer-reports-i-tests-motorcycles-scooters-for-first-ti/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/04/i-consumer-reports-i-tests-motorcycles-scooters-for-first-ti/#commentsFiled under:



As gas prices shot for the moon last summer, the tide of scooters and small-bore motorcycles began rising right alongside as commuters did all they could to save a buck or two on fuel bills. The folks at Consumer Reports took it upon themselves to reintroduce motorcycle testing to the popular magazine for the first time since 1981 in order to help their readership make informed purchasing decisions.

Safety is of paramount concern when riders first take up the switch from four to two wheels, and this fact is hammered home by the rag's editors who designed a new 5.2-mile course that tests each motorcycle's handling characteristics, acceleration and braking capabilities. So, uh, how'd it go?

The big winner was Vespa who's LX scooter managed to take top honors in the smallest 50cc class and also performed well against the slightly larger 150cc competitors where it tied with the Kymco People for the win. CR's first series of tests stopped at the 250cc class, where the Kawasaki Ninja handily dispatched the Honda Rebel to earn the recommendation. Full results are now available online to subscribers, who will also get to read the results in the March 2009 issue of Consumer Reports.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Continue reading Consumer Reports tests motorcycles, scooters for first time since 1981

Consumer Reports tests motorcycles, scooters for first time since 1981 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consumer reportsConsumerReportskawasaki ninja 250KawasakiNinja250kymco peoplekymco people 150KymcoPeopleKymcoPeople150motorcycle salesmotorcyclesMotorcycleSalesscooter salesscootersScooterSalesvespa lxvespa lx 150vespa lx 50VespaLxVespaLx150VespaLx50Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1448388/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/02/04/i-consumer-reports-i-tests-motorcycles-scooters-for-first-ti/1448388/article-detail.xml 1448388 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/02/ninja_250_580_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/02/ninja_250_580.jpg <![CDATA[Gas prices rise along with interest in motorcycles]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/01/gas-prices-rise-along-with-interest-in-motorcycles/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/01/gas-prices-rise-along-with-interest-in-motorcycles/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/01/gas-prices-rise-along-with-interest-in-motorcycles/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click on the image for more high-res shots of the Night Rod Special

As you may have noticed, we've been featuring more two-wheeled content lately as interest in motorcycles and scooters has risen rather dramatically along with the increase in fuel prices. While we can appreciate the reduced cost of operation that sometimes goes along with choosing a motorcycle over four-wheeled transport, the enjoyment some of us get from bikes easily eclipses our desire to save at the pump. After all, this particular blogger has been riding since the days of buck-a-gallon gas. Still, the growing trend of drivers dropping half their wheels in the name of gas conservation deserves close examination and has even caught the attention of Consumer Reports. In fact, a recent survey conducted by the group has found that a staggering 26-percent of respondents have considered downsizing from four wheels to two. According to CR, their team is intently studying this two-wheeled phenomenon in an effort to become acquainted with the products on the market, how often they are ridden and the newly-found fuel savings of their riders.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Gas prices rise along with interest in motorcycles originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>motorcyclemotorcycle salesmotorcyclesMotorcycleSalesscooterscooter salesscootersScooterSalesTue, 01 Jul 2008 16:19:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1242434/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/07/01/gas-prices-rise-along-with-interest-in-motorcycles/1242434/article-detail.xml 1242434 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/05/004_hdvrod_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/05/004_hdvrod_opt.jpg <![CDATA[What to do when high gas prices turn your Dream Cruise into a nightmare]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/22/what-to-do-when-high-gas-prices-turn-your-dream-cruise-into-a-ni/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/22/what-to-do-when-high-gas-prices-turn-your-dream-cruise-into-a-ni/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/22/what-to-do-when-high-gas-prices-turn-your-dream-cruise-into-a-ni/#commentsFiled under: , ,

To some, the Woodward Dream Cruise is a heavenly celebration of America's love affair with the automobile. Just driving down Woodward these last few days has made people feel like the cars they're driving are a little bit cooler, the music they're cranking is a little bit better and the style they're sporting is a little more kickin'. For others, however, the Cruise and the gasoline consumption inherent therein is a wanton abuse of natural resources and a gluttonous disrespect for the atmosphere.

Could it be that Dream Cruising and Green Living are mutually-exclusive? Read on after the jump to find out.

Continue reading What to do when high gas prices turn your Dream Cruise into a nightmare

What to do when high gas prices turn your Dream Cruise into a nightmare originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Aug 2006 12:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>greenmopedmopedsmotorcyclesscooterscootersvespawoodward dream cruiseWoodwardDreamCruiseTue, 22 Aug 2006 12:26:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/656460/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/08/22/what-to-do-when-high-gas-prices-turn-your-dream-cruise-into-a-ni/656460/article-detail.xml 656460 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/08/vespa_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/08/vespa.jpg <![CDATA[Scooter sales hit the fast lane]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/15/scooter-sales-hit-the-fast-lane/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/15/scooter-sales-hit-the-fast-lane/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/15/scooter-sales-hit-the-fast-lane/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Scooters have shot up in popularity alongside motorcycle sales as gas prices continue to hover around $3 a gallon. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, sales went from 12,000 in 1997 to 113,000 in 2005 as people discovered the scooter's fuel-sipping100  mpg and its ability to zip through traffic snarls.

So-called 'blue-collar' buyers, who never before considered the scooter as a serious transportation alternative, are visiting scooter dealerships in greater numbers, especially after shelling out $100 to fill up their SUVs. And just like their motorcycle brethren, scooter riders are joining clubs, Internet forums, and organizing weekend rides.

Related:
Vespa: Making a Good Thing Better
Two motorcycles that joined the alternative power movement

[Source: Associate Press via Happy News.com]

Scooter sales hit the fast lane originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 May 2006 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clubshigh gas pricesscootersMon, 15 May 2006 18:35:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/618356/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/05/15/scooter-sales-hit-the-fast-lane/618356/article-detail.xml 618356 http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/05/scooter-caravan_thumbnail.jpg http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/05/scooter-caravan.jpg -1 2