The Motorscooter, as we know it, is the product of postwar Italian design, and the desire to fulfill a niche for inexpensive transportation for war-ravaged Italians. Though open to some debate, Piaggio, a manufacturer of airplanes and boats before and during the war, is the primary inspiration for all motorscooters. The name "Vespa" is Italian for "wasp", as the dimunitive scooter s resembled the insect in shape and sound! The name "Vespa" became a euphemism for all scooters. Except amongst Vespaphiles, who agree that "Nothing but a Vespa is a Vespa! "
Scooters, by all accounts have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity unlike any other time in american modern history. Eclipsing the scooter rage of the late 1970's- to mid 1980's, the scooter boom currently touching all walks of life is partly being "fueled" by all-time, record-breaking U.S. gasoline prices, partly by an interest in enjoying the world of 2 wheeled motoring by people who may not want to ride a conventional motorcycle, for any number of reasons.
Despite the reason, the selection of modern, reliable, fuel efficient modern scooters is larger than ever, with the world's favorite make, (and mine) the italian iconic Vespa still leads the scooter world into it's 61st year of production. I concentrate on Vespa, and to a much lesser degree other high quality modern scooters of European origin. The 3-wheeled scooters are a popular and viable evolution of the species making more "converts" to the pleasures of 2, er... 3 wheeled motoring.
There are of course other attractive and viable scooter makes from elsewhere that are quite worth too, and we will touch on some of them as well. So, now that we're on the same page, click the above links, to continue.
