Frequent commenter RB pointed out this article on Wired.com about “scooter trends” which turned out to have almost nothing to do with scooters at all. What’s more it appears to be a fumbled rehash of this interview for Taiwan Economic News. I expect more from Wired and am annoyed at the consistent misconception Americans and American journalists have of scooters, scooterists, and scooting.
The Wired article almost completely misses what Mr. Andreani was actually saying. He isn’t describing a trend within scooters at all. He’s describing a trend toward motorcycle riders wanting automatic transmissions and ending up with a couple more scooter-like machines from the big manufacturers. The only people who would ever really refer to the Burgman or the TMax as scooters are motorcycle riders. Scooterists at their most generous would call them “maxi-scooters.” What’s more, that segment of big scooters is hardly exploding amongst scooter riders — at least here in the US. The TMax is the first new offering in a long while and it’s a net of nothing since Yamaha no longer offers the Majesty.
Mr. Andreani spends just a moment talking about how smaller scooters have trended toward larger wheels, but that’s hardly breaking news. I also take issue with his description of scooters being classified only has “cheap” and “big.” Of course he’s only actually talking about the European market — which is vastly different than the US scooter market — but all the same, it’s a gross oversimplification. The difference between the US market and the rest of the world is a distinction that seems lost on the fine folks at Wired as well. Bigger wheeled scooters are indeed much more popular in Europe, but the overall style here in the US is still geared more toward something with classic Vespa cuteness. That’s what sells here in vast numbers. That’s still the trend. Genuine Scooter Company sells Buddy 125s faster than PGO can make them. Europe and Asia tend toward more modern, sport-styled scooters like PGO’s GMax or most of the Kymco and Piaggio-branded offerings. But the States are still all about cute.
More than anything, his comments don’t relate to any actual trends within scooters and Mr. Borroz completely misses Mr. Andreani’s assessment of the TMax. The TMax is not a city scooter by any sensible assessment, and Mr. Andreani doesn’t actually make that assertion. What he is actually talking about is the scooter-ization of a certain segment of the motorcycle market, which is a completely separate subject all together, and actually very interesting. Bad form, Wired.
Oops.. I never read it only saw the words “scooter” sorry.
No need for you to apologize. It’s Wired that wasn’t paying attention.
Hi Nathaniel,
As scooters go, the TMAX has the most accessories of all the Yamaha scooters. Here are some highlights. Luggage options run from the carry along console bag to rear hardcase lockable luggage; for rechargeables like your phone ther’s a DC outlet plug and for 2-up riding there’s a passenger backrest. (link removed) Motorcycle riders demand conveniences like these and they’re there on the “maxi-scooter”.
Eilish,
The TMAX looks like a fine bike, but you’ve illustrated my point perfectly. What’s offered on maxi-scooters like the TMAX is there to meet the demands of motorcycle riders, not your typical urban commute scooterist. But beyond that, even though the TMAX may have more accessories than the rest of the Yamaha line, (and I don’t mean this in a bad way) that really says more about how few accessories are available for the rest of Yamaha’s scooters — which until this year have pretty obviously been an afterthought on Yamaha’s part. Their motorcycle line is a bigger seller, so I don’t really blame them, though. They make a fine bike. However, that lack of accessories was a contributing factor to why my wife and I bought a Genuine Buddy 125 over the Vino last year. Everything you’ve listed for the TMAX is available for my Vespa GT. Those items, plus three or four sizes of windshield, three or four seat options, crash bars, various chrome add-ons, and the same goes for the Genuine scooters. In fact Prima, Genuine’s sister company now makes just as many if not more accessories and upgrade parts for the Vino than Yamaha does. So accessories do not a trend make. Rather, Yamaha is finally catching up.
I’ve got no hate for maxis, and were I in the market, the TMAX would probably be on the top of my list. It’s just that I and a lot of other scooterists just don’t really consider them scooters. They’re automatic motorcycles in a vaguely scooterish configuration. And though Yamaha may indeed be patting itself on the back for adding some nice creature comforts to the TMAX, they’re not really breaking new ground in the scooter world — a place where accessories already abound.
…and p.s.
Eilish, I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt that you actually wanted to participate in a discussion about scooters, and not trying to drive traffic to your site about Yamaha accessories. Please refer to the Comment Posting Guidelines below if you need further clarification.
While in Rome a few years back I was amazed at the amount of “Motorini” I saw. They drove on the sidewalks acted like every traffic signal was a 1/4 mile drag race, cut car drivers off and generally owned the roads and sidewalks. My daughter lived there and had a friend who wanted to loan me one of his but there wasn’t the time on our schedule. At one intersection near the coliseum there must have 100+ in a large group.
I went back and read both articles and I’m not sure I understand the differences you seem upset about???