Enter the Electric

My biggest problem with electric cars and bikes is that the range is appalling but things are changing fast in terms of the electric motorbike since I sometime ago I posted about the Vespa Elettrica and the BMW CEvolution, and now this…

The Harley Davidson LiveWire

Electrifying isn’t it

Okay let’s start at the baseline the Vespa Elettrica, it has the style but I am not convinced at the performance.

Max Range: 100km (oh and then there is 200km Hybrid version, the Vespa Elettrica X)
Power: 4kW
Top Speed: 45kph
Note: Should be available in South Africa 2019. Piaggio did produce the 3 wheeler in a hybrid form in 2010 but it was not successful. Will the Elettrica make a difference or will it be too expensive?

Govecs GO! S1.2

Max Range: 70km
Power: 3kW
Top Speed: 45kph
Note: A protagonist German brand that is making waves in Europe

Gogoro 2 Delight

Max Range: 109km
Power: 6.4kW
Top Speed: 88kph
Note: With the tons of Chinese scoots already here in South Africa, I am sure this Taiwanese will land shortly although I am not sure about the style

Honda PCX Electric

Max Range: ??km
Power: ??kW
Top Speed: 96kph
Note: Exports from Japan started 2018 but will South Africa be on the list

BMW C Evolution

Max Range: 160km
Power: 35kW
Top Speed: 128kph
Note: I’m praying that the C Evolution will come to South Africa as I want one, pretty please.

Johammer J1 200

Max Range: 200km
Power: 16kW
Top Speed: 120kph
Note: Very odd indeed 

And now to leave the scoots behind and move into the realm of the electric beasts. 

RMK E2

Max Range: 200-300km
Power: 50kW
Top Speed: 160kph
Note: Like the movie this Finnish version of the Tron speedster not my on any of my favourite lists

Energica Ego

Max Range: 149km
Power: 107kW
Top Speed:  240kph
Note: What all Vespa's dream of - the Italian electric gigolo.

Evoke Urban S

Max Range: 200km
Power: 19kW
Top Speed: 130kph
Note: The Chinese super electric contender

Zero SR

Max Range: 359km
Power: 52kW
Top Speed: 164kph
Note: The current king of the hill in terms of range

Lightning LS-218

Max Range: 160km
Power: 149kW
Top Speed: 350kph
Note: Performance of note as the Lightning is the fastest production electric bike

Victory Empulse TT

Max Range: 225km
Power: 40kW
Top Speed: 160kph
Note: The Hog Ruler contender

Lito Sora

Max Range: 193km
Power: ??kW
Top Speed: 193kph
Note: Café racer meets electric avenue

Harley Davidson Livewire

Max Range: 100km
Power: 55kW
Top Speed: 152kph
Note: Still to go on sale in the States but will be an interesting ride pity about the sound (see video above)

Holistic Medicine

Being Happy

Okay bite me, but this photograph above to me is what Vespa love means. Being happy doesn't mean you have it all. It means being thankful to the Lord for all you have. 

Vespa Elettrica

Wow, my first post of 2017 and sadly no posts during 2016. Well I have been very busy last year and I think it is about time I rejuvenate this little blog of ours again. I have been following with interest the evolution of the electric scooter for some time now and even wrote the article BMW C Evolution 2016 way back in 2015. Sadly as far as I know it has not reach the sunny shores of South Africa yet.

At the Eicma motocycle show in Milan in November 2016, Piaggio unveiled their electric scooter project, the Vespa Elettrica. Not much is known about this e-Vespa, but it is expected to be available in Europe about the middle of 2017.

So watch this space, as I bring you more on scooters in Africa and don’t hold your breath for an electric scooter here any time soon.

The Spirit of 69

I wish, I wish

Ah, Christmas time is nearly upon us once again. The shopping malls are starting to play Boney M and decorations are being strung up. So are you on the naughty or good Santa lists this year. So with Christmas just around the corner we can start trying to bend Santa's ear to what we would like to find under the tree or inside a pair of stockings.

Scooter Bungee Jump

Yes here it is, the world's first scooter bungee jump. Social Sym, a local Sym scooter, became the first scooter to take this leap of faith off the Orlando Towers in Soweto, Johannesburg.

Super Maxi Scooters 2016

2016, Scooters have come a long way since the Motoped chugged onto the motorcycle scene in 1915. After the Second World War Piaggio set the standard for scooters with their Vespa which it held for over 40 years. In 1986 Honda raised the bar when they introduced the first touring scooter, the Honda CN250 Helix, Fusion, or Spazio was the first of the maxi scooters and the world hasn’t looked back since.

My posts Vespa 2014, Affordable Scooters 2013, and Vespa 2012 have been immensely popular so in keeping with the trend, in this post we are going to look at the super maxi scooters that are currently available and or are going to be in 2016 as a buyer’s guide. I have been riding the Piaggio Vespa GTS300 Super for just under 2 years so I am going to use it as my baseline. In 2016 the Vespa has many formidable contenders to its throne as more and more good maxi scooters are released onto the South African market. Yes I still would love to test ride most of the contenders and write review articles about them but for now, let the Game of Thrones begin.

(Please note prices are subject to change due to the exchange rate and are in ZAR. Fuel consumption are deduced from real life usesage and not in test conditions. See www.fuelly.com )

Gomoto C5 300
Retail Price: R 20,999
Engine: 300 cc
Dry Weight: 119 kg
Max Power: 12 kw
Top Speed: 125 km/h
Fuel Capacity: 9 l
Ave Fuel Cons.: 19 km/l

Big Boy Powerflite 300
Retail Price: R 21,950
Engine: 276 cc
Dry Weight: 157 kg
Max Power: 12 kw
Top Speed: 125 km/h
Fuel Capacity: 9 l
Ave Fuel Cons.: 19 km/l





Both the C5 and Powerflite are very similar and does not quite fit into the maxi scooter category if it wasn’t for their engine size as they are not quite in the league of touring scooters. Although I have never ridden any of the two, I have read some damming reviews on their build quality but I am adding them into this article as their price makes them very competitive. I just wish I can compare the numbers that have been sold to date.

Sym Citycom 300i
Retail Price: R 39,995
Engine: 278 cc
Dry Weight: 167 kg
Max Power: 20 kw
Top Speed: 134 km/h
Fuel Capacity: 10 l
Ave Fuel Cons.: 25 km/l

Kynco People GTi
Retail Price: R 48,500
Engine: 298 cc;
Dry Weight: 165 kg
Max Power: 21 kw
Top Speed: 136 km/h
Fuel Capacity: 9 l
Ave Fuel Cons.: 25 km/l

Sym GTS Evo 300i
Retail Price: R 49,995
Engine: 263 cc
Dry Weight: 190 kg
Max Power: 17 kw
Top Speed: 128 km/h
Fuel Capacity: 12 l
Ave Fuel Cons.: 27 km/l

Kynco Downtown 300i
Retail Price: R 53,500
Engine: 298 cc
Dry Weight: 166 kg
Max Power: 22 kw
Top Speed: 144 km/h
Fuel Capacity: 12 l
Ave Fuel Cons.: 23 km/l





Comparing to the Chinese scooters, the Taiwanese built Syms and Kyncos are competent, utilitarian entry level maxi scooters although also not quite in the maxi scooter class.

Now we get into the real super maxi scooters.

Kymco Xciting 500Ri ABS
Retail Price: R 67,500
Engine: 498 cc
Dry Weight: 200 kg
Max Power: 28 kw
Top Speed: 152 km/h
Fuel Capacity: 12 l
Ave Fuel Cons.: 24 km/l

Honda NC750D Integrat
Retail Price: R 84,990
Engine: 745 cc
Dry Weight: 219 kg
Max Power: 40 kw
Top Speed: 166 km/h
Fuel Capacity: 14 l
Ave Fuel Cons.: 28 km/l







The Honda is an interesting hybrid motorcycle / scooter, one that I am keen on test riding in the near future.

Sym MaxSym 600i ABS
Retail Price: R 84,995
Engine: 565 cc
Dry Weight: 237 kg
Max Power: 30 kw
Top Speed: 160 km/h
Fuel Capacity: 14 l
Ave Fuel Cons.: 19 km/l

Vespa GTS 300 Super and Super Sport
Retail Price: R 99,950 and R 109,950
Engine: 278 cc
Dry Weight: 148 kg
Max Power: 38 kw
Top Speed: 140 km/h
Fuel Capacity: 9 l
Ave Fuel Cons.: 26 km/l

Yamaha TMax 530 ABS
Retail Price: R 105,000
Engine: 530 cc
Dry Weight: 210 kg
Max Power: 34 kw
Top Speed: 177 km/h
Fuel Capacity: 15 l
Ave Fuel Cons.: 24 km/l



The TMax is on top of many lists and is a strong contender to the throne running a close second to the much more pricier BMWs.

Gilera Fuco 500 LT ABS
Retail Price: R 119,000
Engine: 492 cc
Dry Weight: 216 kg
Max Power: 40 kw
Top Speed: 145 km/h
Fuel Capacity: 12 l
Ave Fuel Consumption: 21 km/l

Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive ABS
Retail Price: R 122,000
Engine: 638 cc
Dry Weight: 238 kg
Max Power: 40 kw
Top Speed:  km/h
Fuel Capacity: 15 l
Ave Fuel Cons.:  km/l





Underrated, the Bergman has been with us for a long time as Maxi Scooters go. I have been told that I must forget all preconceptions when it comes to the Bergman as it runs with the best. Well I need that test ride then.

BMW C600 Sport and C650 GT
Retail Price: R 125,000 and R 135,000
Engine: 647 cc
Dry Weight: 237 kg
Max Power: 44 kw
Top Speed: 175 km/h
Fuel Capacity: 15 l
Ave Fuel Cons.: 21 km/l





In my books the BMW C650 GT is currently the leading contender for sitting on the Throne of Super Maxi Scooters although the price is a little too steep. It is slightly heavier than the TMax, its closest competitor to the Throne.

Gilera GP800
Retail Price: R 130,000
Engine: 839 cc
Dry Weight: 235 kg
Max Power: kw
Top Speed: 210 km/h
Fuel Capacity: ?l
Ave Fuel Cons.: ?km/l







The last super maxi scooter on my 2016 list is the GP800, still the fastest of scooters with its classic Italian styling.

BMW C Evolution 2016

The big question will the BMW C Evolution electric scooter ever join its stable mates the BMW C600 Sport and the C650 GT here on the South African showroom floor in 2016?

When we think about BMW scooters, the first thing that comes to mind to the BMW C1, yes the one with the roof, which was introduced to the market in 2000 but didn’t sell very well. With so much safety features going for the C1, why did it fail? I personally know a Vespa rider who used to have a BMW C1 and sold it for the Vespa. He stated that it was underpowered, overweight, top heavy, and it was like a big sail in the wind which he had to constantly fight. A big plus is that they held their re-sale values well.

Ten years later BMW brought us the awesome BMW C600 Sport and the BMW C650 GT scooters but at a premium price over R100,000; too much of deterrent to everyday scooterists. So where would this electric scooter fit in? Certainly it will cheaper to run but will it be affordable to buy and maintain?

About the same time as the bigger BMW scooters were launched, BMW showed the world it C1 electrification concept, the BMW C1-E which later paved the way for the BMW C Evolution which is based on the C600 chassis.

With only a top speed of 120km/h and a range of 100 kilometres, the quiet BMW C Evolution is made for the urban commute but not the open road. With better battery technology, in the near future, hopefully the range will increase to allow it to be taken on the open roads. On the plus side, it takes only 3 hours to get the batteries fully charged up.

Electric scooters are the way forward with organic fuel costs sky rocketing, that even scooter riders are starting to feel the pinch.

Warning!

Wow, half the year is gone already and I haven't even posted anything. Oh better start rectifying this. Anyway this post below is from our embedded Poser in Mozambique.

Forget to let you guys on this stickers that I found deep down in the engine bay of my beloved Vespa. Was drying things after a good wash, and came across this sticker. Mmmm…interesting.

Warning!

Floor mats will scratch your floor. Top cases are huge and offensive but you might want them anyway. Don’t expect Harley riders to return a wave. Don’t ride with flip flops or sandals on your feet. But riding with flip flops or sandals on your feet is still safer than riding with flip flops or sandals on your feet combined with white socks. Stop asking what oil to use. It is in the manual. You may mentioned something about the Wooden Vespa as soon as Justin Bieber enters puberty. Which is to say never. Read the original post before you add your own post. And before you post, consider just walking away.

Euroyeyé XX and the Scooter Cruzada

Every first weekend of August in Gijó, Spain, for the last 20 years in scooter enthusiasts get together for Euroyeyé, a weekend of live bands playing mod and 60s music, 60s cult movies, and as you guessed it the Scooter Cruzada, one of the most iconic classic scooter rallies in Europe.

Dakar Vespa Challenge

While doing research on the 1980 Paris-Dakar Rally, I came across the Vespa Dakar Challenge and it instantly went onto my wish list as it reminded me of our own Poser adventures of the Breedsneck Pass Bootcamp in the mud, the Sani Pass Adventure in the snow, and the Baviaanskloof Expedition in the wilderness, that I want more.

This group our adventurers did the Vespa Dakar Challenge in 2012 and will be doing it again this month, 30 Vespas are leaving Barcelona on the 21 September 2014, so please follow their 20 day adventure, 4000km to Dakar across Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal. In the shadow of the high peaks of the Atlas Mountains, through royal cities, from to oasis to oasis through the Mauritanian desert dunes, to finally arriving at the legendary sub Saharan city of Dakar. These adventurers are not professional factory riders, Paris-Dakar racers, nor freaks, but ordinary people who have one thing in common, a passion for Vespa and adventure in the purest form. I agree, like our poser adventures of the past this what it is all about, now I want in.

The Dakar Rally by Vespa

The Dakar Rally is probably one of the most punishing off road motor races of all time if not the most dangerous. It started way back in 1979 from Paris to Dakar then later in 2009 the continent was changed from Europe-Africa to South America because of terrorist intimidations. In the motorcycle category, most people are aware of the dominance of the KTM off road bikes but few even know that this race had already being conquered by the Vespa.

Way back in 1980, 4 Vespa PX200 entered the 2nd Paris-Dakar Rally, although only 2 reached the finish line. Okay that was before the KTM came to power but that was a 2 out of 4 finish which was a 50% compare that to the overall stats 79 out of 211 vehicles crossed the finished line making that only 37%. Yes mad but reliable so there you go to all those BMW and KTM riders out there.

 

Antur Fawr Cymraeg

Yes the adventure bug bites again, this time it is the Antur Fawr Cymraeg or the Great Welsh Adventure. Thanks to Tim Fielding making this video about their adventure in Wales this past May with Jaques Renault's Pianos on the Beach as backing music.

Sani Epilogue

Jerome - We woke up at the end of a epic week at Camelroc Guest Farm after crossing over Lesotho the day before as if the last few days were just a dream. But we were sore and tired.

Magda -  Although I had slept extremely well every night during and after the trip, colleagues commented that I simply looked exhausted. Mentally I also strangely felt a bit like a deflated party balloon. I wondered if this was being experienced only by me and decided to phone Charlie to hear her whole family was quite ill and recovering in bed post the Sani-expedition. Marlene was living it up in the Cape with her sister with good helpings of pasta and red wine. Jerome was as usual blogging with fervour and disseminating the trip information he had gathered into various facebook, photobucket , twitter and e-mail accounts. 

Life had moved on and away from Sani. As the days post Sani lengthened I felt my energy levels soar and return back to normal. Only then did I start registering what we actually had accomplished. Vespa , friends, family and colleagues all wanted to hear about the great adventure. E-mails from far and wide started coming in saying well done. I realized we had done something quite unique and admirable.

Jerome - Now who do you call the Posers and who has the bigger balls...

Magda - Ag how wonderful, now we have done the impossible! What a feeling!  Must say us three chicks had the biggest balls , Jerome naturally has balls already so it his doesn't count! 

Ha-Ha!!! Charlie's was made of titanium for sure! Marlene thank you for a wonderful trip-you are the greatest! I take my hat off to Charlie who refused to give up and after falling not once, not twice, but three times she was still ready to try again, unfortunately her bike's ratkas  had taken on some damage from some previous flying activities. Charlie by the way wore wings, which you will see when Marlene posts the pics. Hell if that 300 of mine wasn't so heavy i would have made it all the way, she was just to heavy at 151kg for me to control on ice.

Just wanted to recommend to all that the Duro HF03 tire, it is a 60% road and 40% off road tire. What an awesome tire, I was tearing up the top of Lesotho with it. What fun!!!!! Can't wait to do it again.

Special thanks to Marlene's husband who was so supportive and loaded and off loaded and strapped and unstrapped and has amazing 4x4 skills + also to Gys -what a great bunch!

After we did Sani the big ball story stuck and Paulo phoned me up one day telling me he is going to buy me those blue balls that the Bulls supporters favour so much and which they tend to suspend form towing hooks. Paulo made me promise if he buys me a pair then I have to hook it uder the seat of my Vespa. LOL! I think i'll be embarrassed to open my seat and there they dangle!!!! A promise is a promise and I am still waiting for my balls. If I ever get them, I will post you guys a pic! Paulo recently said he has seen a pair of miniature blue balls which he might get. 

The Great Sani Pass Adventure made it into the Woema, SA Bike, and the Offroad Adventure magazines in the months that followed.