These days, Ducati scooters aren’t what you’d call the company’s bread-and-butter product. But there was a time when these little rockets were pretty popular in the market, and one that stood out was the Ducati Brio.
In an attempt to expand its market reach back in the 60’s, Ducati decided to dive into budget two-strokes with the intention of creating as many variants of this line as possible.
One model that was born in this era was the Ducati Brio. First released in 1963 with the 48 Brio, the 100 Brio followed a year later in 1964. The latter enjoyed tremendous success in its time, thanks to its 100 cc single-cylinder two-stroke, fan-cooled engine that was mated to a three-speed transmission.
The model that was sold at the 2012 RM Auctions in Monaco is as rare a Brio 100 as you can find. It’s in good condition considering that it’s unrestored and it was sold for €1,755 ($2,200), which is a tad below the expected auction price of €2,000 - €3,000, around $2,500 - $3,800 based on current exchange rates.
India is a country that has no shortage of scooters. So in market with plenty of choices, the Honda Activa stands out because it provides everything a rider wants in a scooter.
The Activa can be called a ’comfort scooter’ because it has many features that offer us the comfortable riding we all yearn, including a tuff-up tube, storage space, seat arrangement, a CLIC mechanism, and a 109cc 4-stroke, single cylinder, air-cooled OHC engine.
Aesthetically, the Activa offers plenty of interesting color options that riders can go nuts choosing from. There’s Wild Purple Metallic, Black, Candid Lucid Red, Force Silver Metallic, Pearl Sunbeam White, and Geny Grey Metallic.
A combination of dashing good looks, superb handling, and all-around versatility has made the Activa one of the most popular scooters in India. Hardly surprising that for all of the choices, customers always seem to gravitate towards the Activa.
And really, why shouldn’t they?
Find out more about the Honda Activa after the jump.
Trying to pick the right kind of scooter you want in a market that offers plenty of choices is a daunting task. But the Yamaha Neo’s 4 is no ordinary scooter; it’s one specially built to become a rider’s best friend, capable of taking you out on the ride with a careful mix of style and performance.
The Neo’s 4 comes with a elegant bodywork and a smart and stylish design that makes you feel comfortable when you’re riding it. A lightweight design and a low seat height, combined with big 12" wheels, a 190 mm front disc brake, and the company’s Unified Braking System makes for a bike that’s well-equipped to handle the rigors of the road.
The stylish touch is also added here, from the impressive blue-lit LCD display to the great alloy wheels. In addition to the room for a passenger, there’s plenty of storage space under the seat. This Yamaha Neo’s 4 is really a scooter that turns heads, whenever and wherever it goes.
At the heart of the Yamaha Neo’s 4 is a 50cc 4-stroke engine that’s clean, quiet, and reliable. With a scooter like the Neo’s 4, the purpose of your riding is to combine style with practicality, engineering excellence, and environmental responsibility.
Find out more about the Yamaha Neo’s 4 after the jump.
A scooter can be many things, but it should always be pleasurable. With the Yamaha Slider Naked, you have a raw, street-ready design that comes blended with a strong, reliable engine and easy twist-and-go transmission.
The Yamaha Slider Naked comes with a minimalist design, a back-to-basics style that can handle the demands of city living, making the streets to be your playground. The bike’s lightweight structure provides great handling and gives you real feel for the road while the naked streetfighter-style handlebar responds to your every move. Under your feet, the flat footboard provides the maximum liveliness. The Slider Naked is built for hard, tough riding in the addition to the tricks. The unique side protectors help in avoiding the bumps and scrapes. Long suspension, powerful disc and drum brakes, plus big 13inch wheels add to its streetfighter style. With this Yamaha Slider, you will get all of the pleasure and a different riding experience.
Add in a 50cc single cylinder, air-cooled, 2-stroke engine and you get a scooter that’s built to give its owners a pleasurable ride.
Find out more about the Yamaha Slider Naked after the jump.
The TVS Scooty Wego will go where you go. Play on words notwithstanding, TVS’ latest scooter matic is set to launch in the Indian market with the hopes of competing against heavyweights, Honda and Yamaha.
So does the TVS Scooty Wego have what it takes to be a contender in the market? To answer that, you need to understand what this scooter has to offer.
In terms of styling, the Scooty Wego offers the kind of look that makes it a worthy contender to the joint title of Honda and Yamaha. It comes with a Balance Technology Body that not only offers unique styling, but also makes for better riding, handling, and maneuverability. The lighting configuration of the Wego features a multi-reflector halogen headlamp and an LED set-up on the rear. Moreover, aluminum materials were also used on the engine while the Wego’s 12" velg matches up well with its Japanese rivals, which uses 14-16" velg.
At the heart of the Scotty Wego is a 100cc, one-cylinder OHC engine that produces a respectable 8 horsepower at 8,000 RPM and 8Nm of peak torque at 5,500 RPM. This engine is mated to a Vmatic transmission.
For all intents and purposes, the TVS Scooty Wego will not have the same recognition as its counterparts from Honda and Yamaha. But when it comes to straight up value, the Indian scooter is as good an option as you can have.
Find out more about the TVS Scooty Wego after the jump
Hero Honda Motors Ltd comes up with some pretty amusing names for their new line of scooters. None more so than the Hero Honda Pleasure.
We’re not quite sure what the name implies, but we’re not about to argue with these guys. According to Honda, the Hero Pleasure is a bike that has been especially designed for young ladies, with the design of the bike reinforcing that idea.
For instance, the Pleasure has been adorned with exciting body graphics, as well as body colored rear view mirrors, a rear grip, a stunning tail-light and a multi-reflector headlight, and a stylish meter console. What’s more, the scooter also has a large under-seat box, a wider seat, an inner rack, a luggage hook, and extra leg room that will ensure the rider never runs out of space.
On top of its stylistic appeal, the Hero Honda Pleasure also boasts of a 100 cc air-cooled, 4-stroke single cylinder OHC engine that produces around 6 horsepower at 7,000 RPM and 7.85 Nm of peak torque at 5,000 RPM and mated to a gearless transmission.
The Hero Honda Pleasure is loaded with a host of attractive features. It’s not claiming to be a powerful scooter, but where it lacks in ponies, it certainly makes up for in style, something a lot of young ladies won’t have any problems compensating for.
Find out more about the Hero Honda Pleasure after the jump.
The Aprilia SR 50 R is a legend in the scooter world, having been the first scooter to offer a variety of things, including a direct injection engine, liquid cooling, a double disc braking system, and 13" wheels.
For the 2012 model, the legend of the SR 50 R rides on, and it returns bigger and better than ever. The “sports scooter” category was invented specially for the SR 50 R and the 2012 model continues to live up to the lofty standards it once set. The scooter comes with an aggressive new design that was inspired by the RSV 1000 R Factory. The uncompromising sporty look of the SR 50 R comes with a completely new steel frame for improved rigidity and unrivaled agility. On top of that, the SR 50 R also features superior multi-functional digital instruments panel, twin halogen headlights, and even a motorcycle-style switchgear.
But there’s more to this scooter than just being a style savant, the SR 50 R also incorporates numerous technical solutions derived directly from Aprilia’s world-beating maxi, highlighted by a 49cc liquid cooled horizontal single cylinder two stroke engine.
Ever since it was first introduced, the SR line has been the preferred scooter of the Aprilia Racing Team, and is used extensively at trials and race meetings to get quickly between pit lane and the paddock. Aprilia’s top riders attest to the qualities of the SR 50 R, something prospective buyers would be wise to listen to.
Find out more about the Aprilia SR 50 R after the jump.
Sometimes, all you really need is a little ounce of love. In the sports scooter market, it’s no secret that Aprilia’s SR 50 Street scooter has been a trailblazer on two wheels.
And now that we’re rolling along in 2012, that’s not going to change, especially when you consider that Aprilia went to great lengths to design a scooter that features an aggressive new profile inspired by the company’s flagship bike, the RSV 1000 R Factory. More than just the new styling quirks, the SR 50 incorporates numerous technical solutions derived directly from Aprilia’s world-beating maxi, bringing you the best in equipment and the highest level of active safety you can get.
The bike’s 49cc liquid cooled horizontal single cylinder two stroke engine exudes plenty of confidence in such a small frame. Add that to the fact that the scooter has an excellent combination of sports performance and urban intelligence, and you have a scooter that’s ready to become your everyday companion out on the road.
While not a racing scooter per se, the SR 50 Street has become the preferred scooter of the Aprilia Racing Team and is used extensively at trials and race meetings to get quickly between pit lane and the paddock. If you need people to vouch for these bikes, you only need to talk to Aprilia’s top riders to get all the encouragement you need.
Find out more about the Aprilia SR 50 Street after the jump.
The Aprilia SR 50 is one of the legendary scooters of our time, and just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, 2012 rolls along and you now have a scooter that is redefining the "sports scooter" market.
For the 2012 model, the Aprilia SR 50 Factory comes with an aggressive new design that was inspired by the RSV 1000 R Factory. On top of that, the RS 50 incorporates numerous technical solutions derived directly from Aprilia’s world-beating maxi, bringing you exceptional levels in equipment and the highest level of active safety you can get. With advanced technology, a legendary name, and guaranteed performance, the new SR 50 is being prepared as a scooter that follows in the long history of its name and does its predecessors proud.
Ever since it was first introduced, the SR has been one of the best sports scooters money can buy. This model is no different, which is why when you’re in the market for a tried-and-tested scooter name, the model that should be on top of your list is the Aprilia SR 50 Factory.
Find out more about the Aprilia SR 50 Factory after the jump.
We find it extremely difficult to pick a scooter without taking second or third glaces at the Suzuki Burgman 400 because there’s something about this scooter that just draws us in.
Maybe it’s the aesthetic design, which we’re really high on because it looks smooth and futuristic. And that’s not even taking into account all the notable design qualities it has, including the new pinstripe decals on the front and rear wheels; the front bodywork that contains three covered storage compartments, including a large 10-liter compartment and two smaller compartments above it; a convenient DC power outlet that allows you to charge electric devices while on the move; abundant luggage space that features a huge storage bay large enough for two full-face helmets and a smaller compartment for personal items; a comfortable well-padded seat with a backrest that’s adjustable in five 10mm increments at the press of a lever; and finally an easy-to-read instrumentation includes a speedometer, tachometer, odometer, twin trip-meters, clock, indicators for the ambient temperature, average fuel consumption, fuel level and coolant temperature.
Then there’s the matter of the powertrain. The Burgman 400 carries a 400cc, 4-stroke, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC, fuel-injected engine that was designed to produce broad, useable power with quiet operation and low maintenance. It is matched up to a CVT transmission that helps in carrying instantaneous punch while going off the block. Suzuki also added an electronic Idle Speed Control (ISC) that helps improve cold starting, reduces cold-start emissions, and stabilizes engine idle under varying conditions.
All told, the Suzuki Burgman 400 ABS provides an ample amount of power, handling, mileage, and, strangely enough, storage space that makes it increasingly difficult to pick another scooter over this one.
Find out more about the Suzuki Burgman 400 ABS after the jump.
