What is Digg?68 Comments
- willcode4beer, on 10/12/2007, -2/+21Why would your vehicle affect your "manliness" ?
Its just a vehicle, point A to point B.
Your state of manhood is in your head and betwenn your ... oh, wait, I get it - zoto, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11But will it run linux...
- Rhinobird, on 10/12/2007, -6/+13No, but you CAN feel like a trained circus bear. It's almost the same thing.
- wulfflower, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I may be a girl but who cares about manliness when I'm only spending $2 a week on gas. :D
- Vankalker, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Once Kevin diggs a story it has a 75% chance (or more) of making it to the front page. People add him as a friend and then digg his dugg stories.
- EBFoxbat, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7I'd have no problem with my man-hood for driving one. Once my truck is paid off, i'm pretty sure i'll be getting one. I don't know what is required to use one on the road in the US.
- SpannerX, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Vespa makes a good scooter, and they have a tendency to actually hold their value. I'd really like to see them release this in the near future.
- felchdonkey, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I love the people who think Vespas are uncool, or are going to keep you from getting a date.
I guess you have no idea about Oi culture, mods, or the hundreds of scooter clubs around the world. Where do you think you're going to have more fun - at a LAN party with a bunch of acne-scarred sundodgers, or at a rally with hundreds of Vespas, Lambrettas, and cute Britpop girls? - antidukkha, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I would totally consider getting one--but not in the US. IMO, there's just too much risk of getting squashed by a SUV-driving, cell-phone-talking soccer mom.
- heysuburbia, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6A man? That's laughable. Should I drive a pickup around the city? Maybe have some steak sitting next to me...
Are you serious? The Vespa crew in philly is a bunch of punks/mods/and bikers that would love to hear you say that. - axecore, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4i drive a scooter , i spect i will do for a while there uber cheap to run , and they would be very easy to look after
- mrgreen4242, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3That's a good question (not sure why you got a - digg)... here's my guess: You get much better mileage plugging it in than if you let the motor charge the batteries. I bet that it still gets better mileage without plugging it, though, as the battery can be charged with "spare" power while cruising. Accelerating is really energy intensive, so rather than revving up the motor and getting power by making the engine less efficient, you can run a more consistant RPM, letting the engine make the most amount of usefull power, and then draw on that stored up power later when you need it.
Hope that made sense, I don't think I explained it very well. - SteaminTmann, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Just when I thought you couldn't do anything dumber, you do something like this... and completely redeem yourself!
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Would you rather be a dumb ass...or...a dumb ass?
- ockabewis, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Vespas are great in most major European cities. In Rome these things are everywhere. If I were to live there I would definitely have to get one! And with the cost of fuel here in Europe, any additional savings in that department is welcome.
- richardtallent, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I LOVE my Vespa LX150, bought it after Hurricane Rita took out my Camry.
I feel safer on this bike than I would on a bicycle or walking. It gets up to 65 when I need it, but I mostly ride it back and forth to work and around town.
And at 60MPG, I can afford to fart out a little Smug and smell it every time I pull up next to a ExepeAircraftCarrier. Screw 'em, I'll pay about $3 total for gas every month. - felchdonkey, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3There must be some formula to express the probability, as any thread about Vespas, Smart cars, etc., progresses, that someone will make the obligatory "I don't want to get crushed by an SUV" comment.
Have you ever even ridden a Vespa? Think about it - you have super maneuverability, 360 degrees of vision, 75mph top speed, and a horsepower to weight ratio that matches the Mazda MX-5. How much trouble do you really think you're going to get into? - mrgreen4242, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"Have you ever even ridden a Vespa? Think about it - you have super maneuverability, 360 degrees of vision, 75mph top speed, and a horsepower to weight ratio that matches the Mazda MX-5. How much trouble do you really think you're going to get into?"
I'm not going to disagree or agree about the safetly, never ridden one, don't really know. But, your average Vespa with a 170 driver doesn't have near the hp:weight ratio of an MX5 with the same 170 driver. Empty, sure, the Vespa makes more power per pound. But the driver ad 30-40% of the weight of a scooter, and about 5% to car. - Zippo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Man or not, Vespas are cool.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get my Rickenbacker bass guitar model 4003 and a pillows CD. - alf86, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3GM doesn't produce hybrid SUVs. They do produce hybrid buses that get about 50 mpg. Those rat-bastards.
- JessePittsley, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Could anybody here estimate the gas mileage for a hybrid version of one of these? Any ideas 90MPG? 100MPG?
- wheremyarm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I know in Minnesota anything above 49cc or that has the ability to go faster than 30mph requires a motorcycle license.
60's Vespas are still way more badass. - TokenUser, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2If you check out the article, Piaggio are creating these as a Vespa LX 50 (50cc gas & 1000W electric hybrid), as well as the larger Piaggio X8 125 (125cc gas & 2500W electic hybrid).
I'll take the Piaggio. - rehdon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Of course it's Piaggio making those, "Vespa" is the name of a specific Piaggio scooter.
- TokenUser, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2For the "Why would I ride a scooter" folk out there - we have two vehicles. A regular sedan, and a 2004 ET4 Vespa - which was a bitch to insure, because it came up as a scooter for insurance, yet has a 150cc 4 stroke engine, and is freeway legal (yes, had it up to 80mph). It really is a motorbike with a step through frame than a scooter. One of the advantages of these things is that they have a low centre of gravity, and relatively good power/weight ratio. Adding batteries will increase the weight of these things, and being that the batteres are under the seat, it will raise the CoG. Still - it is a very interesting idea ...
- SpannerX, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2That all depends on the displacement of the engine and what state you are in. Some places let you drive a 49cc scooter with out a licence, helmet, or insurance.
- flanders, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2You can all do what you will but my Vespa tools around town like nobody's business and when I fill up it's 5 bucks (and that's at the current $3 per gallon) for around 80mpg and up.
- abbott75, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6*cough* Kevin *cough*
One of my stories made it to the homepage 1 day, 2 hours after I posted it because Kevin dugg and the masses followed. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Also, being a girl, I think it's great if a guy has a scooter b/c then you get to ride all close and such...tee hee
- gohepcat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The style just isn't for me. Now give me an old Vespa VBB, or a new Stella...that's the good stuff. Classic Italian steel body 2 stroke...good times.
- mrgreen4242, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Well, they are adding 2 (or 3 depending on the model) 12V 26A batteries. They are going in the underseat storage compartment, and it will leave room for a helmet in there as well. How big could these be? 20 pounds? Here's a though as well... a good part of the weight of a scooter is the driver. The drivers weight is all on top of the machine. By making the bike heavier, and putting that weight below the driver, wouldn't you actually be shifting the CoB DOWN?
Anyways, I think it's a cool little machine. The plug in aspect is brilliant, and the EV mode could be awesome as well, depending on the top speed and range in EV mode (if it's - mrgreen4242, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3"Hybrids of any type based on batteries will NEVER hold their value."
You have clearly never tried to buy a used hybrid car have you? Go ahead and look around for one, and at the prices they are fetching, then come back and apologize to everyone for opening your mouth about something you know nothing about. - chromo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2i for one love the vespas. than i can laugh at people with all their gas guzzling cars and trucks.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@jubaju
Don't admit you're a girl here. 90% of the Digg geeks will ask you out. They haven't had a conversation with a girl, cyber or otherwise, in.......
well, ever. - Nitro2985, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I'm a bit confused. It charges it's batteries with the gas motor, rather than using breaking to reclaim energy. Does this mean that to get the extra millage, you have to plug it in for three hours? Otherwise the gas engine just ends up working harder and burning more gas to charge the motor than it would at cruising speeds with just a gas motor.
- theprodigy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2As far as I can tell, the higher displacement engines often require motorcycle licenses.
- dilg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'm thinking of getting one in the near future, only because my commute involves 35MPH surface streets and a school zone. But I hear ya, those Yukon and Suburban "mommy taxis" are scary!
If you buy an old Vespa, replacement parts and upgrades are incredibly cheap:
http://www.scomo.net/index.php/cPath/50 - macewan, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2i'd still go with an older vespa over this -
- Jozer99, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3A vespa with better mileage? Don't we call this a "Honda"? Is it just me, or do scooters already get like 13253 MPG (although they have like a 2ml tank, so you still have to fill up often) (yes, I'm exagerating, but you get the point). What we really need is for GM to stop passing off SUVs with a couple of D-Cell batteries in the trunk as super-clean hybrids.
- videomeister, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1dugg for the south park reference
- jamesey, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'll drive my regular car to work, but having one of these to scoot around town would be very convienent and efficient
- byrons, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I hate traffic, I love Vespa! Simple as.
Sexy, comfortable and speedy, even my little unrestricted 2003 50cc ET2.
In the UK, if you don't ride a bike you sit in traffic. No thanks. - mrgreen4242, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Haha, I think it really shows how different people carry weight different. When I was 175 I was really thin (muscular, but thin), and people were worried about me when I went home. At 245 even I don't look FAT. Most people are surpised that I weigh that much when I tell them. I look BIG but not like OMG look at the giant whale man...
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I love mine, I spend $12 a month on gas AT MOST and can still keep up with cars cruising along at 65mph.
- mrgreen4242, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"At 6'2", 235lbs, you might not be the target market for a Vespa. I'm 6'2", 165lbs, and my 1974 Rally 200 flies for me - but if I put on another 70lbs, I might switch to a motorcycle."
Exactly, I am not the market audience for a 50cc scooter. Put an electric assist on there and it all of sudden might work for me.
BTW 6'2" at 165lbs makes you skin and bones, man! When I was in the Army I was 175lbs and was pretty gaunt in the face, another 10 pounds and I would have been sickly looking!
EDIT: Bah. Why does the reply button not work sometimes? Usually it's fine, but sometime it fails to attach to the original message (like this) or it will link to it, but doesn't direct me to the bottom of the page area where I can start typing. - felchdonkey, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1At 6'2", 235lbs, you might not be the target market for a Vespa. I'm 6'2", 165lbs, and my 1974 Rally 200 flies for me - but if I put on another 70lbs, I might switch to a motorcycle.
- Dgen_X, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1you could keep it in the bed of your truck just incase you get a flat, or break down!
I'd prefer having a smart car in the bed of my truck, but a hybrid vespa would be just as good - felchdonkey, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Haha, I was about to say that 235 lbs makes you Andre the Giant. I got lazy one winter and went up to 180lbs, and thought I looked like Shamu the whale. Just goes to show how everyone's perspective is different.
Oh, but back on-topic - most Vespas are not 50cc. I would never ride one of those. 200cc is where you want to be. - SpannerX, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1True, Vespa has been made by them for years, but they are still excellent machines, and hold their value.
- mrgreen4242, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The only thing that might do it is the improved acceleration. If you can get 25% better acceleration on a scooter than is 20% BETTER on gas it might be worth while (as opposed to buying a more expensive, less fuel efficient model). Or, as a bigger person (I'm 6'2" 235lbs - the "typical rider" these things are advertised for are 160lbs, so acceleration, gas mileage, and top speeds will be less for me than the quoted specs) the hybrid may offer the needed performance to get you onto the thing in the first place.
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