Easy Riding
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday September 27, 2007
Simon Tsang test-drives the hottest motor scooters and accessories.
1. Leader of the packVespa GTV250, $10,999. www.scooteria.com.au. Puma Bonneville mid-cut boots, $360. www.deus.com.au.Whether it's the promise of carefree cruising, the environmental appeal or just high petrol prices and lack of car parking, scooters are taking off in a big way - and the iconic Vespa still stands as a beacon of urban style and Italian design flair. The GTV250 (pictured in Avio Grey with optional top box) celebrates Vespa's 60-year history and borrows from the earliest models for elements such as the stitched leather saddle split between rider and passenger. As for the Puma riding boots, OK, they might be overkill for a scooter but they look so cool. You can always tell people your motorcycle is in the workshop.2. The wild one Schott AndesTouring motorcycle jacket, $449. www.deus.com.au.Schott NYC has been making jackets for more than 90 years and is perhaps best known for its biker jackets - worn by the likes of Marlon Brando, James Dean and Steve McQueen. The AndesTouring jacket (pictured is the women's version) comes with pretty good credentials and is ideal for scooter riders or beginner motorcyclists. The zip-out inner lining means it's good for both summer and winter and it has a Teflon-coated and waterproof outer shell and a Neoprene-lined collar for comfort. Reflective piping adds visibility.3. Motorcycle boy Nannini Rider goggles, $189. www.deus.com.au. Harolds Gear Wipe gloves, $155. www.deus.com.au. TomTom Rider GPS, $999. www.tomtom.com. A blast from the past. For the boy racer trapped inside the middle-aged maniac, these Nannini goggles will have you daydreaming about leaving your cares behind and taking to the open road on two wheels. The Japanese-made suede gloves also hark back to an earlier era and will appeal to those who prefer a classic look - very comfy, too. And you won't have to take your gloves off to use TomTom's Rider GPS navigation system - "developed for bikers by bikers" - because the touch-screen menu has icons large enough even for leather-clad digits to operate. The Rider is like a waterproof version of in-car GPS systems. The universal mount supplied in the box is designed to fit just about any bike and there's even a wireless Bluetooth headset so you can hear the spoken instructions inside your helmet. What's more, you can easily transfer it to the car when you're not out being a lone wolf.4. On the FlyPiaggio Fly 125, $2990 ($3690 on road). www.scooteria.com.au. Shoei Multitec helmet, $799. www.deus.com.au.Piaggio invented the Vespa and also has a "high-performance" scooter range under the Gilera brand. A few models at the more affordable end of the scale offer a contemporary and pragmatic take on the retro Vespa. One is the Fly 125, so called for its 125cc single-cylinder air-cooled four-stroke engine. Simple design and touted reliability are its key strengths and it features a constant variable automatic transmission, lockable under-seat storage compartment and two-year warranty. When it comes to the most important item of safety gear, many scooter riders forego the protection of a full-face design for the convenience of an open-face helmet. For those who want a bet each way, there's the flip-up helmet - so when you pull over to talk to a friend or grab a coffee, you don't need to take it off. The best flip-up on the market is Shoei's Multitec, which features a sporty aerodynamic shape and excellent ventilation. The maker has gone to great lengths to reduce turbulence (ie, noise) for this latest model.
© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald