Most modern scooters run a disc brake on the front wheel and a drum-brake on the back. A drum brake is cable operated. Pulling the brake lever pulls the cable which pivots an arm that pushes the brake shoes against the inside of the wheel (or drum.) Cable stretch and brake shoe wear require occasional tightening.

If your rear brakes are feeling spongy, check out her video below. Them’s some clean rims. Wish I rode daily in Florida. A polite suggestion Maureen – work on your torque wrenching technique:

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Photograph courtesy of MyLittleO.com

It’s with sadness that I learned that while I was out of the county fellow scooterist, and for that matter, fellow British ex-pat, Aileen McKay-Dalton was struck and killed while riding her Vespa LX in Fort Greene on Thursday July 8th.

Aileen, 40 and a mother of three, was riding on Clinton Avenue through the Dekalb Avenue intersection when an apparently speeding Ford Explorer SUV allegedly ran the red light and hit her. She was pronounced dead at Woodhull hospital shortly thereafter.

Rumors abound surrounding the activity of the driver of the SUV but it’s believed that the driver is either a federal employee or federal law enforcement officer. At this point no charges have been pressed by the NYPD. Neighborhood representatives are currently pressuring the local DA to investigate.

Further rumors suggest that Aileen may have been wearing iPod earphones while riding and didn’t hear pedestrians who attempted to warn her of the incoming vehicle.

Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, it is always sad to hear about the injury or passing of a fellow rider. While the reports of Aileen wearing earphones are unconfirmed, please do not even consider riding with earphones. Driving any vehicle, even a bicycle, and listening to earphones don’t mix.

Ride safe out there.

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We’ve heard rumblings of a fuel-injected upgrade to the various flavors of Vespa’s current 150cc line for some time, but this month Piaggio made the announcement official.

Piaggio’s use of the word “upgrade” means that the 2011 “i.e” models will replace the current line-up with the MSRP indicating a slight price-hike of $200 on dollars on the S150. Expect a similar price bump on the rest of the line-up. The models should be available at local dealers this spring.

For now, vespausa.com has not been updated with the new models but photos of the new models can be seen at the brand’s facebook page. Here’s hoping the delicious Taormina orange LX150 is coming stateside.

Here’s the full press release:

NEW YORK, April 1, 2010 – Italian manufacturer Piaggio, recognized for ground-breaking technology and legendary style, has equipped its 2011 Vespa S 150, LX 150 and LXV 150 models with new 150cc electronic fuel-injected engines that are even more miserly at the gas pump than the previous generation. Consuming 15 percent less fuel than its predecessor, the new powerplant wrings up to 85 miles out of each gallon of gas, all the while delivering an endless supply of fun and riding thrills. In addition, the new engine design also provides stronger, smoother acceleration in stop-and-go traffic, an especially important performance trait for metro commuters.

Green Isn’t a Trend – It’s a Commitment
While fuel price peaks and valleys have introduced thousands of consumers to the benefits of scooter ownership, choosing to swap some driving miles for riding miles isn’t just a trend when gas costs spike. For environmentally conscious consumers, it’s a lifelong commitment. The addition of the new 150cc injected engine family within the popular mid-range category adds even more reasons for consumers devoted to reducing fuel consumption, carbon emissions and congestion to make the switch to two wheels.

The electronic fuel injection system on the new 150cc injected engine ensures the air and fuel mixture in the combustion chamber is optimized at all times and allows the single cylinder unit to pick up more smoothly and progressively from lower engine speeds. As a result, riders enjoy strong and smooth power delivery, especially in the relentless stop-start conditions of urban riding. The benefits of the new engines can also be appreciated on longer journeys where extended stretches of roadway come into play. And, owners who want a fast getaway will notice improved cold-starts, thanks to fuel injection.

Strong, clean and well-mannered at any speed, the 150cc i.e. equipped Vespa models are capable of zooming up to 60 mph. The unique, steel unibody Vespa frame provides greater rigidity and a more stable ride, while the superior trailing link suspension is designed to better handle potholes and other hazardous conditions. The front-disc braking system allows riders to safely make sudden stops on a dime, which is great for cities where traffic rules the road.

“Vespas are one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to contribute toward a cleaner, greener transportation landscape, and our new fuel-injected 150cc engine range makes it even simpler,” said Paolo Timoni, CEO of Piaggio USA. “Mid-scooters like the Vespa S 150 i.e., LX 150 i.e. and LXV 150 i.e. are tailor-made for confident urban commuting, and a 15 percent increase in fuel-efficiency is yet another great reason to add a scooter to your garage this Spring.”

Vespa has been and continues to be synonymous with fuel-efficiency and performance in North America and Europe. The new 150cc i.e. family upgrades the most popular models into a powerful league of their own, without compromising the long list of premium features. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for Vespa 150 i.e. models starts at $4,399 for the 2011 Vespa S 150 i.e. For more information, visit www.vespausa.com.

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In this video, Maureen shows us every step of the conversion which should take about an hour. The conversion kit itself is available for $59.00 direct from Motorsport Scooters. The kit allows US contemporary Vespa owners to remove the black plastic turn-signal pods that have been added as an afterthought to the scooter design to meet US road requirements.

And if you haven’t done so already, don’t forget to check out Maureen’s excellent LX/S maintenance videos here.

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Learn more about the program here, or head on directly over to the auction page. The auction is live now and runs until October 15th.

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Well, thanks to YouTube user peterscooterlife, if you missed the chance to see the show on air, you can now see it on the web. It’s nice to see how much is still done by hand, including the paintwork, if you can stand the back-ground music:

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While for our money – a little hair-raising on the means streets of Manhattan given its low profile – Honda Ruckus fans should be proud to hear that their scoot is currently sitting comfortably at the top of the heap of Motorcycle.com‘s 2009 highest user ratings.

Honda’s fantastic scoot sits atop an eye-opening top ten that really should be a go-to list for anyone considering their first (or next) set of wheels.

While the Ruckus neatly sits at #1, Chicago’s Genuine Scooters’ Buddy really is the force to be reckoned with here, occupying slots #2 and #3 in its stock and Black Jack forms and #5 in its International Italia form. A staggering 3 out of the top 10 2009 scooters.

Yamaha follows up with two contenders in the top ten. The Vino 125 at #6 and the Zuma 125 at #8.

250cc bikes are amply represented by Asian favorite scooters Sym RV250, Kymco Xciting 250 Ri occupying slots #4 and #10 respectively.

Finally Piaggio rounds out the bunch with its flagship scoot, the Vespa LX150 sitting at a respectable but lack-luster #7 and the GTS 250 at #9.

Motorcycle’s star and user-ratings are a little arcane – glance at the top ten shows a higher rating for the Buddy at #2 than the Ruckus at #1 for example – but we’ll put our trust in the MC staff and go along.

For the full-access list, click here.

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Piaggio has just announced a partnership with Lifetime Networks to help selected non-profit groups support breast cancer awareness later this Fall.

Thanks to Vespa USA’s donation, over a dozen of these groups will be adding a limited edition pink Vespa LX50 to their fund-raising temptations as part of the 15th annual National Breast Cancer Awareness Month this coming October, “Stop Breast Cancer for Life: The Power of 15.”

Vespa’s donation is aimed at inviting current and future scooter fans to actively participate in one or all of the programs taking part during the month by highlighting the recognizable color of the pink ribbon. In addition, over 1000 limited-edition pink Vespas are making their way to US dealers over the next few weeks prior to October.

For NYC scooter fans, there will be several opportunities during October to get your hands on one of these unique Vespas, while helping raise breast cancer awareness in the process. Here are the local events planned so far:

• The Greater New York City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure will offer the Vespa as a reward incentive to fundraisers who exceed their Komen NYC Race for the Cure pledge goals between September 14 and October 31;

• SHARE’s sixth annual “A Second Helping of Life” tasting and live auction event features leading female chefs and chance to bid on the pink Vespa LX 50. The event is scheduled for September 21, 2009 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Chelsea Piers. Tickets can be purchased by calling (212) 719-0364, ext. 239.

In addition, there will be several online opportunities, including:

• Young Survival Coalition.  Through November 16, become a “fan” on the Young Survival Coalition’s Facebook page and you can have a chance to win the pink Vespa LX 50.

Further details will come mid-September, so stay tuned.

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Maureen (who’s adorable by the way) has two great videos on YouTube covering the basics:

Part One. Removing the back tire, replacing the oil, oil filter, hub oil:

Part Two. Choosing and replacing the back tire:

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I love my S150, I really do, but a month in, I’m starting to see some of the shortcomings of style over function compared to the LX models. If you’re out there trying to toss up the difference between the two, consider the following:

I’ve been missing the glove-box since day one frankly. Having the extra leg-room (I’m 6’3″) is a bonus, but storing insurance papers, documentation and other bits and pieces in the under-seat storage alongside wet rain gear, scooter cover, chain lock and everything else is getting old fast. I’ve made myself a paper-work “pocket” that I’ve taped to the under-side of the seat to keep it away from the wet gear, but I’d love to have a dedicated space for this kind of thing.

The front pockets on the S are pretty much useless outside of sun-glasses storage. And of course, you can’t leave anything in there permanently unless you want to risk getting it stolen. I’ve also had a couple of items jump out on to the running board during transit so be warned. I haven’t trusted my iPhone to that spot yet and I don’t recommend you do either.

Second, I took the bike out for it’s first two-up ride last night (thanks to my brave girlfriend). I bought the Vespa rear-rack last week so at least she had some extra back stability and a space to store her helmet, but it’s clear that the S sport seat is not intended for two riders – no way, no how. I was pushed way too far forward on the seat and had to put some serious muscle behind the handle bars to stop the two of us sliding forward on the brakes, meanwhile she was tipped back off the seat’s angle. I guess a trip to the store for the touring seat is my next purchase, but that’s a $350 or so additional cost – around the price difference between the S and the slightly more expensive LX.

Also the LX comes with passenger grab rails, whereas with the S they don’t come as standard, but instead as part of the optional rear-rack – again a $300 or so purchase. In short, the LX is a 2 person machine right out of the gate (under the hood is a different question altogether.)

Finally, the S doesn’t come with an anti-theft ignition immobilizer – presumably a cost-cutting measure on the part of Piaggio. Being an NYC rider I’m already using a hefty chain to the chassis whenever possible and disc-break lock always so it’s not a deal breaker but, of course, any additional security would be welcome.

Conclusions? Well, my beefs are clearly above but let’s not forget why I got back into the scootering scene after all these years. Aesthetics. The S was the first modern Vespa since the launch of the ET models in the U.S. that finally peaked my interest. Actually, that’s putting it too simply – I fell in love with the S the first time I saw it. I’m just not a fan of the looks of the LX although it’s clearly a huge improvement over the ETs. The ultra thin leg shield, lack of passenger grab bars and sport seat of the S all trim off the excess fat of the LXs and man, that square headlamp and wing-mirror combination sealed the deal.

‘Till next time.

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