HIGH-TECH SCOOTER: Monette Hansen shows off her Velux
scooter, which features a retractable top, windshield wipers,
stereo, automatic transmission and a security system.
scooter, which features a retractable top, windshield wipers,
stereo, automatic transmission and a security system.
| A glimpse into the future |
| (October, 2005) |
By Robert Shearon
I think I may have glimpsed the future of motorcycling the other
day when I got a chance to visit with Monette Hansen of Little Rock,
Ark.
I got the privilege of coaching Monette through a Motorcycle
Safety Foundation class, which she took on her scooter.
Her scooter is a Chinese-made Velux, and it sports a roof,
windshield, windshield wipers, radio/cd player, a cigarette-lighter type
of power source, and a built in security system. She said GPS is
available as an option.
The price for the 150cc wonder? Try $3,400.
She plans to use the scooter as a commuter vehicle.
She said she bought it for herself a few weeks ago as a 56th birthday
present.
She got the idea for the scooter last year when she visited
Europe and saw similarly equipped scooters in wide use over there. “I
thought that was a really neat idea,” she said.
As her birthday approached she started searching the internet
for a scooter and found the Velux, which is offered for sale by
Triumph Arkansas in Little Rock.
This is not Monette’s first scooter. “Over 20 years ago I had a
small little scooter - a Moped type of thing.” Raising a family kept her
from riding. “I didn’t have a chance,” she said.
I didn’t drive her scooter, but from the way Monette handled the
MSF exercises it seemed to handle well and cornered sharply.
The scooter addresses one of the major drawbacks the public
perceives in motorcycles - weather protection. Certainly you would
get wet in a driving thunderstorm, but for most light-rain riding the
little retractable roof and windshield wipers would provide a lot of
relief.
A drawback of the scooter is it’s power. She said the scooter’s top
speed is advertised as 65 miles per hour, not really enough to get
out and play with the big rigs on the interstate.
But, for around town, that’s plenty of juice. I’ve got a feeling as
gas starts edging up again, we’ll see more of this type of scooter on
the street. She said the advertised gas mileage is 75 to 80 miles per
gallon.
I think I may have glimpsed the future of motorcycling the other
day when I got a chance to visit with Monette Hansen of Little Rock,
Ark.
I got the privilege of coaching Monette through a Motorcycle
Safety Foundation class, which she took on her scooter.
Her scooter is a Chinese-made Velux, and it sports a roof,
windshield, windshield wipers, radio/cd player, a cigarette-lighter type
of power source, and a built in security system. She said GPS is
available as an option.
The price for the 150cc wonder? Try $3,400.
She plans to use the scooter as a commuter vehicle.
She said she bought it for herself a few weeks ago as a 56th birthday
present.
She got the idea for the scooter last year when she visited
Europe and saw similarly equipped scooters in wide use over there. “I
thought that was a really neat idea,” she said.
As her birthday approached she started searching the internet
for a scooter and found the Velux, which is offered for sale by
Triumph Arkansas in Little Rock.
This is not Monette’s first scooter. “Over 20 years ago I had a
small little scooter - a Moped type of thing.” Raising a family kept her
from riding. “I didn’t have a chance,” she said.
I didn’t drive her scooter, but from the way Monette handled the
MSF exercises it seemed to handle well and cornered sharply.
The scooter addresses one of the major drawbacks the public
perceives in motorcycles - weather protection. Certainly you would
get wet in a driving thunderstorm, but for most light-rain riding the
little retractable roof and windshield wipers would provide a lot of
relief.
A drawback of the scooter is it’s power. She said the scooter’s top
speed is advertised as 65 miles per hour, not really enough to get
out and play with the big rigs on the interstate.
But, for around town, that’s plenty of juice. I’ve got a feeling as
gas starts edging up again, we’ll see more of this type of scooter on
the street. She said the advertised gas mileage is 75 to 80 miles per
gallon.