Lets face it, Scooter people are a little weird. I don’t mean that in a negative way. Maybe I should re-phrase that to say, Scooter people are a little "quirky" Yeah that’s better. They belong to a sub-culture of moto enthusiasts that also includes Moped people. Moped people are even stranger, but are fewer in numbers outside tourist areas of the country. Scooter people don’t follow the normal mode of motorcyclists thinking. They see their choice of transportation as perfectly logical for their budget, their type of riding and the statement they want to make to the rest of the world. They are more geek then gear head. This is the reason they sometimes clash with most main stream Bikers and Motorcyclists intellectually and philosophically. Bikers tend to look upon Scooter pilots as squids. Bikers are not the most tolerant bunch out there, or the smartest.
Just like with everything and everyone else out there, this world has plenty of room for everyone if we would just mind our own business and play nice.
I started to think about this whole Scooter jazz because of a story I saw today about the Vectrix Scooter Company that was started here in New England and just recently filed for bankruptcy. They had offices and Massachusetts and Rhode Island. In concept it was a great idea. An electric scooter that had the performance of a gasoline powered scooter. Sounds wonderful until I saw the MSRP was TEN THOUSAND BUCKS!!!! Holy freaking Mother of God!! I remember saying to myself. What dumb ass, super geek ever thought they had a snow balls chance in Hell of selling them to anyone other then Segway owners!
This is a perfect example of how two different world can clash. I’m sure in the Scooter geeks mind a ten thousand dollar super scooter was no big deal. They are the type that must have the latest and greatest micro chip the moment its released on the market no matter what the cost. And what’s the big deal, Harley Davidson sells motorcycles that cost three times that much. Most Bikers looked at that and like me, thought it was the dumbest thing on the planet at this time and for that price.
Some day electric scooters and motorcycles will be a great idea. The jury is still out on weather or not hybrid cars are really all that green. I doubt very much anyone will develop much of a relationship with an electric motorcycle. Electric anythings don’t have the same type of soul that an old bike has. When was the last time you heard of anyone giving their phone, or computer or toaster a nickname? Except for calling it a piece of shit when its infected by some virus or mysterious gremlin. When that happens we shit can the thing and get a new one. Electronic gadgets are disposable. Motorcycles touch our lives in a special way that sterile electric gadgets never will. Gas powered motorcycles stimulate a very ancient place in our brains. Man was not meant to evolve to far from his beginnings. I think that is why Harley Davidson motorcycle have survived. Lord knows it’s not because they have evolved a whole lot! It’s the same reason the Indian brand won’t RIP.
4 comments:
Yo my niggah!....waddup? ;-)
(jeez, I'm startin' to talk just like 'em....I've REALLY gotta get outta these goshdarn Bowels).
Good to see ya back, bro. I missed ya!
I'm with you on all counts there, Crusty. I've ventured well into the scooter world because of my wife's interest and it's absolutely true that scooter riders are a different group than motorcycle people. Not better or worse, just different.
I can enjoy riding a scooter but it's no replacement for a bike no matter how cool the scooter is. I will admit though that I'm drawn to the Piaggio MP3 500 three wheelers though. Must be something perverse in my subconscious.
About the Vectrix: I was at a motorcycle dealership not long ago right after the Vectrix bankruptcy announcement. I'm guessing those two electric wonder-scooters are going to be even harder to sell now.
I'd bet if you dug through a lot of those "revolutionary" green inventions you'd find a few people getting rich and they are not the investors.
Doug
Fagizzel, my Nizzel! Yo! Yo! Dog! You hittin' it, dog. Except that shit can should be shitcan or shit-can (a noun) and "to far to" is really "to far too" (because 'too' means exessive extent or degree).
But Dog.. Yo.. Yo.. Listen.. Dog.. You rockin it, Bro. You puttin' it out there an I'm takin' it in, Bro. I'm lovin' it and I'm lovin' you fo' keepin' it real. Seriously.
Brother Fatboy, were you posting after emptying your flask again? I've seen you drink but never heard you gangsta' before. No offense, but I don't think I'd care for a live demonstration next time I see you on the road!
Crusty, I can't speak for shit about the scooter people because I don't know any of them. I will say that I've seen some on the bigger open rides like the MDA run out of Seekonk Speedway, and just the whole look is enough different for me.
I think I'm a decent guy and fairly tolerant. I support the let's all play nice mantra. In reality, I am a bit of a hardass in terms of favoring Milwaukee iron. I have never and will never ride a scooter, but it's not like I'd tip over one if I saw it parked outside my bar.
I like what I like, and that's a gas powered Harley-Davidson. I will never ride anything else, but that's just me. If that's not others, that's just fine by me. I can live with it.
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