Tag Archives: Piaggio

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One e-scooter marks new youth EV focus for Piaggio

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Piaggio One

The Piaggio One marks the arrival of a new generation of e-scooters which the Italian brand describes as light and easy to ride while still delivering the traditional content of Piaggio scooters – quality, reliability and a robust chassis. It has just been launched in Beijing on Tik Tok, targeting younger riders.

Piaggio One e-scooter
Piaggio One e-scooter

The Piaggio One features technology such as a digital colour instrument panel with a sensor to adapt the background and luminosity to ambient conditions, full LED lights, a keyless start system, two motor maps.

Piaggio promise a comfortable riding position, a low seat, a flat roomy footplate, plus practical and robust pull-out footpegs for the passenger.

The Piaggio One is also the only e-scooter in its category to provide a capacious compartment below the seat. The Piaggio ONE will be available in several versions offering different powers (moped and motorcycle) and different ranges, all powered by an electric motor whose lithium ion batteries can be easily extracted for recharging at home or in the office.

Piaggio One e-scooter
Piaggio One e-scooter

We’re still waiting for more details, but the Piaggio One looks as though it could be a popular entry level option for younger riders.  It looks pretty good, and that’s a great start, particularly for the youth market it is aimed at.  We will wait and see how likely it is that the machine will be offered in Australia.

Source: MCNews.com.au

Motorcycle News, News

Piaggio Beverly Scooters Get Euro 5 and Visual Updates

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End of the 350

Piaggio’s Beverly line up of scooters gets some styling updates to go along with the Euro 5 updates for the 2021 model year.

The Beverly 300 and 400 (previously 350) will be seeing a pleasant facelift with the addition of more aggressive styling for both standard and S versions. The S version will also include a windscreen and a few more accessories to make it look “sportier”.

The biggest difference between this and last year will be Piaggio’s decision to drop the 350cc model altogether and opt for a 400cc variant to top the list instead. Who’s to say if the loss in power from the Euro 5 updates lead to this bump in displacement, but it still makes more sense for the lineup to contain a 300 and 400 instead of a 300 and 350 anyways.

Both 300 and 400 will come with a 5.5″ fully digitalized dash (with Bluetooth connectivity), LED lighting all around, and a keyless ignition system to keep this commuter ready for quick trips around town. Both scooters will also get Showa suspension with the inclusion of 35mm non-adjustable front fork and twin shocks in the rear (with adjustable preload).

Currently, we have no information regarding pricing for these models as well as dates for USA availability. We do know that these are 2021 models, so of course, you will be seeing them at some point in early 2021.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Piaggio Trademark of ESR1 Could Hint at Aprilia Electric Scooter

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Built on the Vespa Elettrica Platform?

Piaggio Group owns a whole lot of companies, and electrification is certainly on the horizon for many of them. Recently, Piaggio trademarked the name eSR1 and that has me thinking an electric Aprilia SR scooter could be coming soon.

According to Motorcycle.com, the European Union Intellectual Property Office published a trademark application today that showed the logo eSR1 in a stylized font. The publication did note that the owner of the application was not revealed, but that it’s sure it’s Piaggio.

eSR1

The reason? The SR in the logo looks identical to the SR in the SR-GP Replica scooter that was released last year. There’s also the fact that the application was filed by Jacobacci & Partners S.P.A., which is an Italian law firm that handles Piaggio’s stuff regularly.

There are various SR scooter models from Aprilia at this point in various markets. Aprilia offers the scooter in displacements ranging from 50cc all the way up to 160cc. The speculation is that this new scooter would be a new SR based on the Vespa Elettrica platform. 

That would make sense, but Piaggio Group might have something special up its sleeve and have this new scooter offer better range or performance than the Vespa. Time will tell.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News, Uncategorized

Piaggio Group Is Delivering Their Italian Motorcycles and Scooters Straight to Your Door

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Order an Aprilia RSV4 Straight to Your Doorstep

Knock knock – Who’s there? It’s the second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak. The world has been seeing a steady rise in new cases across the board. My hometown didn’t have a terrible initial outbreak, but the news is showing cases skyrocketing due to cold weather and Halloween parties.

Italy had one of the first initial waves on earth, and are taking every possible opportunity to make sure that doesn’t happen this second time around. Ten days ago, the government imposed curfews and the country just divided itself into areas based on COVID cases with a colour assigned to indicate risk levels. Motorcycle dealerships and gear stores remain open, even in the highest risk areas.

If you don’t fancy braving the outside world to go pick up your new bike to help burn some free time during a second lockdown, the Piaggio Group has you covered. If you buy a new bike or scooter on their website they now offer an additional service that gives you the option to have your new vehicle delivered right to your doorstep. 

Piaggio, Vespa, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi’s websites will all have the option to have your new purchase delivered. Although you might initially think that keeping dealerships open in the ‘red zones’ is a bad idea, keep in mind much of Italy’s residents fully commute by motorcycle or moped, so it is important for the brands to keep their servicing centers open in the event a customer needs a tune-up or major repair to keep them mobile during the pandemic. 

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Harley-Davidson & Piaggio take out loans

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Harley-Davidson and the Piaggio Group of motorcycle and scooter companies have announced massive loans to get back on their feet after the pandemic.

In June, Harley-Davidson announced it had access to a loan of up to $US350 million (about $A500 million) over the next year.

While it has not committed to the entire amount of the loan, it is committed to draw at least $US150m (about $A215m).

The company believes the loan is consistent with its intentions regarding liquidity.

Piaggio Group loansmoto guzzi factory museum V85

Now the Italian Piaggio Group which produces Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and Vespa has secured a loan for €60 million (about $A97m, $US67m).

That’s 20% more than their annual net income.

The money will be put towards restarting after the COVID lockdown, as well as research and development.

Piaggio says they will focus their R&D efforts on reducing fuel consumption and emissions and increasing the number of new models.

Comment on loans

The world seems to be going into debt over the pandemic crisis and motorcycle companies are not immune.

It’s good news when they direct loans into R&D.

However, it’s a concern when businesses go into debt to help them survive a crisis.

In the wake of the COVID lockdown, many motorcycle companies are now reporting a huge bounce in sales in June.

In fact, the KTM Group, which includes Husqvarna and Gas Gas, has reports its biggest June in history.

KTM Group Australia/New Zealand MD Brad Hagi says there is “still a long way to go before this crisis is over”.

“This recent sales spike has not only seen existing and former riders return to riding, it has also seen new riders enter our sport, to experience the unique freedom it offers, and that is a real positive for the industry long term,” he says.

Australia is yet to announce official motorcycle sales figures for the second quarter, but they are expected to be flat or slightly up.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries has reported that the dive in car sales has now slowed thanks to the easing of restrictions.

FCAI chief executive Tony Weber attributes the slight recovery to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, end-of-financial-year sales and government incentives.

In fact, some dealers tell us buyers have been accessing their superannuation to buy their dream bike!

Similar incentives exist in other countries around the world which are reporting similar strong sales results.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Piaggio plans first reverse leaning trike

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Piaggio has filed a patent for the world’s first reverse leaning three-wheeler with the two wheels at the back rather than the front.

Traditional three-wheelers or trikes have the wheels at the back, but they don’t lean.

In 2006, the Italian company introduced the MP3 scooter which was the world’s first leaning three-wheeler.

It had the wheels at the front and their revolutionary configuration has since been followed by Yamaha with its TriCity scooter and Niken motorcycle.

Yamaha Niken neowing leaningNiken (Image: Yamaha)

AKO also plans a similar electric-powered leaning trike and other companies such as Honda and Kawasaki have filed for similar patents.

AKO leaning electric itrikeAKO leaning electric trike

Advantages

I’ve ridden several leaning three-wheelers and found them much more stable at high speeds than a conventional trike.

The double front tyre contact patch also makes them much safer on entering a corner where low friction from gravel or oil could cause a low-side crash.

Tricity scooterTricity

This configuration provides much greater rider confidence pushing into corners.

However, we wonder if this conventional trike layout with two wheels at the back but also leaning might actually decrease front tyre friction and therefore rider confidence.

Piaggio design

The Piaggio design actually only allows the front end to lean while the rear axle remains parallel to the ground via a car-like Constant Velocity joint.

It would certainly improved traction under power coming out of a corner.

The patent drawing seems to suggest a scooter with the engine in the rear like a Porsche 911.

And like the German Porker, it might be a hoot to ride — or drift — with its pendulum-like handling.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Piaggio wins Chinese copycat case

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Last year Italian motorcycle and scooter company Piaggio lost a landmark case against a Chinese company over a copycat scooter, but now it has won a similar case.

The first case against Zhejiang Zhongneng began in 2014 over a copy of their Vespa LX scooter which has been around since the end of World War II. 

But it wasn’t China that made the decision.

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) ruled that the designs were significantly different and Zhejiang had not stolen any intellectual property.

Click here to read the ruling. 

Piaggio loses Chinese copycat casePiaggio left and Chinese copy right

Second copycat case

This time the EUIPO has ruled against Chinese scooter companies Motolux and Dayi Motor for their copycat design of the Vespa Primavera, registered in 2013.

The ruling says the EUIPO was “unable to elicit a general impression different from the registered design” of the Primavera. 

2018 Vespa Primavera 50 4T moped mopedsVespa Primavera

It’s a strategically important case, given the current trade wars with both the USA and Australia and political rhetoric over China.

The Communist Party of China has imposed hefty tariffs and threatened other measures on some Australian exports after Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an independent inquiry into the origin of the coronavirus outbreak.

Other Chinese copycats

There are many other cases where the Chinese have quite blatantly ripped off the designs of other models.

Check out some of our articles on this topic at the end of this article.

As an example, how about this BMW G 310 GS knockoff from Chinese company Everest.

Everest Kaiyue 400X knockoffEverest Kaiyue 400X

The Vietnamese are also in on the knockoff act with “Ducati” Monsters made by Quang Phuong Motor.

Trademark action

We are surprised that companies such as BMW and Ducati have not filed intellectual copyright breaches.

Honda and Yamaha have tried to fight Chinese manufacturers in the courts over breach of copyright.

However, it is a long process as there are hundreds of knockoff manufacturers.

Italian company Lambretta has also taken “strict” action against several companies for “free riding on the repute of Lambretta”.

They claim the global market is flooded with replicas of their classic scooters from China, India and Thailand.

The Chinese seem immune to international trade laws that bind other countries and their latest blatant ripoff is an electric Honda Goldwing.

We all know the Chinese make cheap copies of well-known brands and many of us probably have a Gucci belt made of plastic in a sweatshop in China.

However, they have also made a lot of copies of bigger and more expensive products such as cars.

Some of the cars these manufacturers have copied include the Range Rover Evoque, Smart ForTwo, Hummer, Porsche Cayman, Audi A6, Jeep Cherokee, BMW X1, Rolls-Royce Phantom and MINI Cooper.

Land Wind knockoff of the land Rover EvoqueLand Wind knockoff of the land Rover Evoque

Some car manufacturers tried to stop them copying their cars, but failed in an obstructive and partisan legal system, so they formed alliances with Chinese companies to make their products for the local market.

Like the car makers, Honda has formed an allegiance with one of the knockoff companies in China to make their bikes for the local market.

The pandemic has caused a severe setback to globalised manufacturers because of the al-pervasive Chinese element in their supply chain.

We wonder how many manufacturers will now source components from other countries other than China.

Japan is even given tax breaks to companies that remove Chinese components from their supply chain.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Are motorbike winglets just a gimmick?

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Winglets have been used on MotoGP bikes for a few years now to improved high-speed handling, but are they just a gimmick on street-registered motorcycles?

It’s not just MotoGP bikes that have them, but also Ducati’s Panigale V4, Aprilia’s RSV4 and their upcoming RS660 (pictured).

These all have fixed winglets, but not it seems there is a move to active winglets that automatically deploy at certain speeds like the rear spoilers on some exotic cars that deploy at certain speeds.

Last year Honda applied for a patent for an active aero system that features winglets with servo motors that deploy the winglet at certain speeds to increase downforce.

Honda patents active aero directActive winglets patent

Last month Honda also applied for a patent for an active rear spoiler.

Piaggio gimmick?

Now Piaggio has applied for a patent for active fairing winglets activated by the rider.

The filing drawing features a Piaggio MP3 three-wheeled leaning scooter!

Now surely that’s got to be a gimmick.

GimmickWinglets on a Piaggio MP3 three-wheeled scooter

Or at least it is designed in a vain attempt to disguise their intent to use it on Aprilia MotoGP bikes or production sportsbikes.

After all, the idea is to improve handling at high — and surely illegal — speeds.

However, motorsport technician Jeromy Moore says aerodynamics can have an effect “at any speed depending on the design”.

“You will already feel the drag effect on your body at 60km/h when upright so you can imagine using some of that energy to produce downforce is possible,” he says.

“It’s a small effect at lower speeds but can be quite powerful.

“By having it active you could have a very aggressive winglet that flakes off at higher speed so you can get a benefit at lower speeds.”

So maybe it’s not a gimmick after all, although we don’t see Piaggio using it on a scooter!

But we’re not sure the extra weight of the servo motors and cabling would cancel out the added efficiency of the winglets.

And then there’s the extra expense …

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Covid-19 could impact bike manufacture

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Ducati and Piaggio (Aprilia, Vespa, Moto Guzzi) have closed their museums due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus (coronavirus) in Italy, but their factories are still operating.

Chinese motorcycle factories were closed for a prolonged period over the Chinese Lunar New Year, but many, including Honda and CFMoto, have now restarted.

In the case of CFMoto, the factory is at around 80% due to workers still returning from extended new year celebrations with 100% production capacity expected over the next two weeks.

CFmoto factory coronavirusCFMoto factory

Supply chain

However, many component factories that supply automakers around the world have not reopened.

And now the virus has moved from a Chinese emergency to one that involves South Korea, Japan and Italy, three major manufacturers of motorcycles, cars and automotive parts.

The impact on motorcycle manufacture and supply of components could now be affected with Fiat-Chrysler the first to warn it could halt production at a European plant in weeks.

Data and analytics company GlobalData automotive editor David Leggett says this is an “inevitable consequence” on the automotive supply chain.

“Many factories in the Wuhan and Hubei province have been on lockdown since the start of the Chinese New Year holidays,” he says.

“The emerging problems for FCA outside of China are likely to be mirrored by other vehicle manufacturers and reflect both the long-run internationalisation of parts supply-chains and the predominance of ‘just-in-time’ lean manufacturing processes that keep inventory low.

“The next few weeks will be critical for automakers. The typical car is made up of 20,000 parts, and there is an elongated supply-chain of parts and sub-assemblies put together in complex sequence to create the finished vehicle.

“Korean manufacturers were the first to show up as impacted by China supply-chain disruption reflecting shorter shipment distances between China and Korea, but the FCA news indicates that impacts across the world are now coming over the horizon on shipment transit schedules.”

Museums close

moto guzzi factory museum V85Moto Guzzi museum’s big red doors will remain closed

As of yesterday, Italy had 374 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 12 deaths.

The epicentres of Covid-19 contagion in Italy are in Lombardy and Veneto regions where most of the auto factories are located.

Ducati’s factory in Bologna is just outside these central regions.

Public institutions and venues in these regions have been closed and mass meetings cancelled, including Ducati and Piaggio museum and factory tours.

The companies have notified the public that they have closed their museums for several weeks, but both confirm their factories are still operating.

We have not heard from MV Agusta which is near Milan in Lombardy, but their Facebook page has no reference to any closures.

Meanwhile, the organisers of the Geneva Motor Show, one of Europe’s premier motoring events, have confirmed the event is still due to take place as scheduled next week despite the first case of coronavirus in Switzerland.

The Covid-19 virus has already had some impact on Australian consumer confidence and our January motorcycle sales.

Now it could have a longer-term impact on motorcycle production and the supply of parts.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Piaggio loses Chinese copycat case

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Italian motorcycle and scooter company Piaggio has lost a landmark battle with Chinese scooter manufacturer Zhejiang Zhongneng over copycat designs.

The case began in 2014 and has just been concluded with Piaggio over their Vespa LX scooter which has been around since the end of World War II.

China didn’t decided the winner, either. It was the European Union Intellectual Property Office.

They ruled that the designs were significantly different and Zhejiang had not stolen any intellectual property.

Click here to read the ruling. 

It’s a strategically important case to have lost, given the current trade wars and political rhetoric over China.

Piaggio loses Chinese copycat case
Piaggio (left) and Zhejiang (right)

Other Chinese copycats

Perhaps Piaggio didn’t have a case with this model. There are probably many others they could have pursued with more success.

But there have been many other examples of blatant copycat ripoffs such as this BMW G 310 GS knockoff from Chinese company Everest.

Everest Kaiyue 400X knockoff
Everest Kaiyue 400X

The Vietnamese are also in on the knockoff act with “Ducati” Monsters made by Quang Phuong Motor.

Trademark action

We are surprised that companies such as BMW and Ducati have not filed intellectual copyright breaches.

Honda and Yamaha have tried to fight Chinese manufacturers in the courts over breach of copyright.

However, it is a long process as there are hundreds of knockoff manufacturers.

Italian company Lambretta has also taken “strict” action against several companies for “free riding on the repute of Lambretta”.

They claim the global market is flooded with replicas of their classic scooters from China, India and Thailand.

The Chinese seem immune to international trade laws that bind other countries and their latest blatant ripoff is an electric Honda Goldwing.

We all know the Chinese make cheap copies of well-known brands and many of us probably have a Gucci belt made of plastic in a sweatshop in China.

However, they have also made a lot of copies of bigger and more expensive products such as cars.

Some of the cars these manufacturers have copied include the Range Rover Evoque, Smart ForTwo, Hummer, Porsche Cayman, Audi A6, Jeep Cherokee, BMW X1, Rolls-Royce Phantom and MINI Cooper.

Land Wind knockoff of the land Rover Evoque
Land Wind knockoff of the land Rover Evoque

Some car manufacturers tried to stop them copying their cars, but failed in an obstructive and partisan legal system, so they formed alliances with Chinese companies to make their products for the local market.

Like the car makers, Honda has formed an allegiance with one of the knockoff companies in China to make their bikes for the local market.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com