Archive for September, 2009

Tire Pressure – It's That Important.

Monday, September 7th, 2009

Chicken StripsSome of you are getting after it, you know it and I know it. I can tell from your tires. Your narrow chicken strips tell me you are spending as much time on the fat part of the tire side as you are on the bottom.Chicken Strips

So, when was the last time you checked the air pressure?

We’re seeing a number of bikes that are under and overinflated. Basically, they are wrongly inflated.

Bike riding is an art and you need to have the equipment in tip top shape to do your best out there.

Come on by and we will show you how to check your tire pressure!

  • Share/Bookmark

Posted in Maintenance | No Comments »

Non-Profits, Community Organizations, Schools We Need Your Help to Help!

Monday, September 7th, 2009

One of the activities we really like to push at this time of year is to help out worthy non-profit, private schools, clubs and organizations in the Greater Philadelphia area with scooters (usually) where we cut our margins to the bone. This lets the group make maximum money from an auction to support their work while really increasing awareness of bikes and riders in the area – that always helps every rider!

In the case of a 50cc scooter, they can auction or raffle a vehicle driveable by anyone with just a PA Drivers License. Last year, the Upper Bucks SERTOMA Club made over $2900 for the American Cancer Society and we got a terrific new customer who received a Buddy Italia!

Here’s where we need help. We know some groups but we don’t know most of them. Plus, we only have time to reach out to some of these organizations – usually through email. If you know of a group (or better, a person in that group) that we should reach out to, please give us a call and let us know. Thanks!

  • Share/Bookmark

Posted in MPG Motors | No Comments »

NEV's – Write your PA Representative – Please

Monday, September 7th, 2009

GEM NEVNo, I don’t think they would be as much fun as a Hyosung GT650R, or a Stella, or a SYMBA. But they have wheels and a motor so I feel I am genetically bound to support NEV’s (neighborhood electric vehicles) and they are legal in Florida, California, Texas, Arizona, New Jersey BUT NOT IN PENNSYLVANIA! Pennsylvania is behind and this map shows it.

PA State Senator Stewart Greenleaf has NEV’s approved again in SB152 but the bill is not funded. Contact your rep, mention that another tool in the transporation toolbox might be useful going forward and that it is finally get this done.

Then we can ask again about electric bicycles…which are still illegal too.

  • Share/Bookmark

Posted in Government | No Comments »

Philadelphia Parking Authority Pilot Program

Monday, September 7th, 2009

Live in Center City? – Now We’re Getting Somewhere! PPA starts scooter parking pilot program. Read it here!

Escalating gas prices and environmental concerns have led to an increased number of people using motorcycles and scooters for transportation. In order to accommodate two-wheeled motor vehicles, we will lauch a pilot program of designated motorcycle/scooter parking areas.

In this pilot, the PPA will make several paid parking spots out of a single normal spot at particular locations in Philadelphia. These spots, designed for scooters and motorcycles, will cost less than automobile parking.

This is the type of program that cements motorcycles and scooters as mainstream transportation alternatives!

  • Share/Bookmark

Posted in Government, Riding | No Comments »

Jan Wieck – What A Scooter Can Do!

Monday, September 7th, 2009

Jan Wieck has been a long-time friend and customer of MPG Motors. Jan rides his scooter … a lot. Jan shows us all what a scooter can do. Jan put 200 miles on his TN’G scooter from MPG Motors the first day he owned it. That scooter which is now owned by last month’s newletter mention, Gil Coale, has upwards of 15,000 miles on it. When you consider the average trip length that you generally drive on your scooter, that is a lot of driving!

Jan and I were talking recently about the number of bikes in the USA. Relatively speaking, the bike per person ratio is quite small here in the US versus the rest of the world. This picture highlights the bike density across the world. Jan and I both look to see how many cars he see when riding that only have one person in them. If you look yourself, the low per seat use in vehicles is stunning.

On a nice day, Jan notes, “They could all be riding!”.
World Map Scooter-Motorcycle Use

Jan’s family did have two cars and a new scooter, a 250cc Grand Vista (Kymco). Now they have downsized their fleet to one car/one scoot. Jan rides year-round. He truly “Rides When He Can and Drives When He Has To!”. So, where has Jan ridden a scooter to recently?? Besides, local trips, he has done the following trips:

3 trips to Ottawa (800 mile round trip)
5 trips to Toronto (970 mile round trip)

Yeah, Jan Wieck is a rider!

  • Share/Bookmark

Posted in Riding | No Comments »