Comments on: Wired misses the point on scooter trends

By: RB

RB — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:00:56 +0000

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???

By: Nathaniel Salzman

Nathaniel Salzman — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:09:59 +0000

…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.

By: Nathaniel Salzman

Nathaniel Salzman — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:02:23 +0000

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.

By: Eilish

Eilish — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:46:39 +0000

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”.

By: Nathaniel Salzman

Nathaniel Salzman — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:43:45 +0000

No need for you to apologize. It’s Wired that wasn’t paying attention.

By: RB

RB — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:14 +0000

Oops.. I never read it only saw the words “scooter” sorry.