how about the electric scooter - 55 miles on a charge and suitable for commuting

[msongs]

now on view at the LA motorcycle show, an electric 'scooter' that plugs into any 3 prong outlet, charges in about 3-5 hours and gets up to 55 miles on a charge:

http://www.vectrix.com/

reviews and other articles available by searching google for vectrix vx 1 electric scooter

kinda like a vespa motorcycle cross breed. sounds like fun for only... $10K

Msongs

[ogneopasno]

1. Hard to find a place to put a baby seat on it, though...

...and no place to stash the two hockey bags, either. But it could work for some.

[tridim]

2. That's pretty nifty!

I just bought a small motorcycle that gets about 70mpg. Certainly a step in the right direction.

[Kalyke]

3. Unless you're female and professional....

Yeah... I'm gonna ride a scooter in a dress, high heels and hose - not to mention what a helmet does to your hair.

Sorry, this will not work for working women unless their job is in jeans and ponytails.

(And, yes, I could change, but that won't help my hair - most business bathrooms don't come equipped with hair dryers and the time necessary for those of us with super thick and curly hair).

[Speck Tater]

4. Start a new fad: The utilitarian female buzz cut. nt

[Kalyke]

17. Ugh, no.

I have a wide jaw line. I'd look like a tiny linebacker. No thanks.

[anigbrowl]

7. Oh no, it might mess up my hair...

And you might have to change your shoes. Unless you're in the fashion business, nobody cares about your hairstyle. I nominate the above for asinine post of the day.

[Kalyke]

16. And I nominate you for the most unrealistic outlook in history.

I'm in marketing, you dweeb.

If you think I'm supposed to look like a fucking schlub and actually sell my company, then you're a fucking freak who lives in a commune.

P.S. I see you live in California. The rest of the country isn't, thankfully, as off the boat as you guys are. Hypocrites.

[taterguy]

30. If you're that physically attractive you have to post a pic

It's in the rule book.

Look it up!

[enlightenment]

20. ooh, fun -

:popcorn:

[muriel_volestrangler]

24. You need a step-through scooter

which can be ridden in a dress. And you - shock, horror! - put on a proper pair of shoes to ride it.

Scooters were popular with mods precisely because they could ride them in suits - and any business dress would do fine too.

My sister-in-law, a hospital consultant (and you don't get more 'professional' than that), does fine on a motorbike without a ponytail. Medium length hair, fairly thick. I suspect she takes a brush or comb with her.

[madinmaryland]

32. You post is worthless without pictures!

:evilgrin:

[Breeze54]

5. I discouraged my son from getting one... it's a death trap waiting to happen,

especially in a state with 7 months of winter and ice and snow.

[anigbrowl]

8. Well, motorcycles and sub-zero temperatures are never a good combo.

This would be great in milder climes where it doesn't freeze, though.

[Breeze54]

11. Yeah but he has "attention" issues, so I really don't need the grief.

;)

[IDemo]

14. Rode mine to work this morning in 26 degree temps

And have ridden in 15 degree temps, but that was two decades ago. I will probably park it if it gets much colder. :-)

[madokie]

34. I love you guys and gals who can ride bikes and or scooters

myself I always wind up in a heap somewhere with road rash covering too much of my bod ie. But seriously when I was a kid I had a cushman and rode it everywhere with only a couple small mishaps but for some reason when I get on a real motorcycle I wind up with that thing, me and the road in way too intimate of a relationship for my liking. :hi:

[Donnachaidh]

6. vespas are cheaper

If you've got 10K to spend you'd be better off with a motorcycle. Ten Grand for a SCOOTER? :eyes:

[anigbrowl]

10. Hey, new technology always costs more when its introduced

Enough sales and you could be seeing these for half the price in a few years. Lower maintenance too, I'd guess.

[LSK]

9. me glances out the window at the 12 degrees and snow storm

Suitable huh???????

[RC]

12. I can find absolutely nothing on top speed.

Is this another one of traffic hazards with a top speed of 30 MPH? It so it should be outlawed the same as those glorified golf carts. It needs a minimum of 50 MPH just to be allowed on the streets.

On edit: Found it - 62 MPH. I had to hunt for it. It should be up front as a selling point to differentiate it from those 30MPH scooters.

[IDemo]

15. 62 mph ->

http://www.vectrix.com/products

[muriel_volestrangler]

26. What - even in cities with a maximum speed of 30 mph, or 35mph?

You want to outlaw things for not breaking the law?

[CatholicEdHead]

13. How does it handle in the snow?

[RC]

18. It looks as if there is plenty of room on the 13 inch rear tire for chains.

:P

[SmileyRose]

19. great for inner city commutes, not great for large secondary roads and freeways

there's a reason medical professionals call motorcyclists "organ donors".

[MannyGoldstein]

21. That's Very Expensive

I'd love to have something like that, but it won't replace a car in inclement weather. So I'd be spending $10k for something additional - not an easy buy.

[Warpy]

22. Mine's got a range of 20-25 miles

but that's just fine for inner city errands. Two collapsible wire baskets on the back hold 2 full canvas grocery bags and are even the right size for the clamshell tray from the Chinese takeout place. I've also carried 2 cases of soda on the foot rest, but I don't recommend it.

I'd bike if my health permitted it, but it doesn't. The scooter is a great alternative and allows me to arrive refreshed instead of sweaty.

http://www.egovehicles.com

They're certainly a good value.

[blogslut]

28. Those are really sweet

If I could afford one, I would get one. I have one of those original model XTreme scooters:



I really like it but I bent the rim on the back tire and am too lazy to have it repaired/replaced. It got bent because I was an idiot and messed things up when I changed the back tire after the inner tube blew out. Long story short - I went back to walking.

Just the same, If I could afford one of those egovehicles, I would get one. Those are nice.

[Warpy]

31. A new rim shouldn't be prohibitively expensive

Look into it.

It beats walking.

[msongs]

23. one of many viable alternatives to an overpriced gas guzzler :-) nt

[SeattleGirl]

25. Pretty damned cool, but it wouldn't work for me for a big chunk

of the year.

Like now, when it's rainy and cold.

I'm all for improving things on Planet Earth, but for some of us, some of the solutions don't work.

[DainBramaged]

27. Will it go 75 mph on my 15 mile commute everyday with 18 wheelers

and all of the usual traffic I can expect on RT 80 Eastbound, or RT 46 or RT 10 Eastbound, the ONLY ways to my job, on major highways? And what about like this morning when it was 26 degrees when I walked out the door? And I weigh 220 lbs and am blind in one eye, should I wear an orange jumpsuit so the trucks can see me puttering along in the breakdown lane?

A cute means of transportation for kids around the neighborhood, but not very practical for adults in the real world.

[stlsaxman]

29. it'll be awesome in 8 years when it's affordable.

10k is too much, now. thought the "spoiled brat american impulse buyer" in me says-

"I have to have that- NOW!!!!"

[rucky]

33. Which brings us to the issue of healthcare.