Why didn’t they do this in the first place?

Yeah, it’s plastic, but at least it looks like a Lambretta (Motoblog.it photo)

Here’s the real EICMA bombshell: a “new” Lambretta. But this one looks like a Lambretta.

Now here’s something you’ll really like

LML introduced its new 4-stroke Star (aka Genunie Stella) at EICMA Friday (Motoblog.it photo)

It’s official. LML introduced its much-anticipated 4-stroke Star at EICMA Friday. The company claims fuel consumption of 60km/liter (which according to my precise calculations translates to 142 mpg) from its fuel-injected single cylinder engine.

Not for U.S. sale

Aprilia Atlantic gets the Vespa GTS 300’s engine (Aprilia photo)

Most of what’s rolling out at EICMA won’t be available outside Europe, but a few noteworthy items have emerged.

A 2-wheeled scooter concept

Piaggio’s USB concept scooter was unveiled at EICMA (Motoblog.it photo)

At last, a 2-wheeled scooter concept!

A brave new scooter world

Honda’s new PCX 125 plays in the scooter mainstream, worldwide (Honda photo)

You may have seen this scooter elsewhere, but Honda’s intro of its PCX 125 at EICMA is a coming out of sorts. The PCX 125, which is made in Thailand and will arrive in the U.S. sometime in 2010, advances the state of the scooter art with liquid cooling and electronic fuel injection, jumping right into the thick of the world’s biggest scooter market segment.

We ♥ theme-park Italy

New for 2010 is the Vespa LX Touring (Piaggio photo)

EICMA, the big motorcycle show in Milan, Italy, kicks off this week, and while I tell myself I really need to get over there one of these years, at the moment I have all kinds of time to monitor the Interwebs and bring you the latest scooter news emanating from northern Italy.

I hope I can still dream

I loves me a Honda NT700V (American Honda Motor Co.)

For me, the scooter thing started as a path leading to an R-series BMW.

This scooter thing still gonna be big?

This is the 7-Eleven at California and Charlestown. It’s not the cheapest gas in Seattle, either—lots of gas stations have regular for $2.999. Or less.

Have you ever heard the term “demand destruction?” Jerry Garrett muses on it in this New York Times article. “Could the oil industry finally have killed the goose that laid the golden eggs?” he asks.

The news this year has been filled with stories of people making serious changes in their lives as a result of the skyrocketing price of a tank of gas. Moving closer to their jobs. Bicycling. Trading gas-guzzling vehicles for gas-sippers. Like, well, scooters.