Her recovery has been nothing short of miraculous, as you’ll see in the video (she was shot in the head at more or less point-blank range). She is resigning to devote her full attention to continuing her recovery.

Ms. Giffords is a fellow scooterist, and was a member of the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus. She hasn’t said whether she plans to resume her political career. Or riding.

The Fourth Estate was my primary means of transport this week (Orin O'Neill photo)

“A winter wonderland,” said NPR. The Weather Channel sent Jim Cantore to Seattle (“It’s never a good thing when they send people to your town,” observed one wag) to stand out in the record snowfall, which ended up falling between Olympia and Portland. We’re famous; Bellingham was colder than Anchorage, for a short while.

By the weekend, normal Western Washington weather—45°F and rain—is supposed to return. Good.

Thing is, on Monday I probably could’ve taken the GTS for a short ride. The city of Bellingham anticipated well, spraying de-icing compound on the main streets early Monday morning. The pavement remained bare and wet, and while getting out of the foothill villa’s parking lot can be a challenge, the maintenance guys even plowed and salted the little uphill leading out to the street.

But I didn’t want to tempt fate. And the Fourth Estate has a good heater.

In fact, the car got around rather well, without snow tires or chains. If the local climate were drier, I’d consider riding in below-freezing temps as Steve Williams does. You can be quite comfortable if you dress properly.

So, with actual winter behind us (said he, hopefully), thoughts turn to spring, and better riding weather. Maybe a new scooter is in your plans?

Piaggio MP3: outta here

If you’re thinking about a Piaggio MP3, you might want to move sooner rather than later: 2strokebuzz reports that as of Q2 2012, MP3s are no longer available for dealer order. None of them.

In fact, Piaggio has done a slash and burn of its 2012 model lineup, leaving only the Fly 50/150, Typhoon 125 and the recenly-introduced BV SportTouring 350.

2012 Vespas won’t be available in red, orange or 2-tone colors. No RED? That’s right. Black and titanium, and silver, but no red.

As Bryan points out, none of this should come as a surprise. Dealers have been falling like bowling pins, and the ones that remain are up to their eyeballs in ’11, ’10 and even ’09 models. And it’s not just Piaggio; Honda and Yamaha only list a few offerings as 2012s.

As I’ve said, scooter dealers are dealin’. Be not afraid of a brand-new ’09 model, especially if the dealer’s taking a couple grand off the price. Where I live, you can get an actual Yamaha Vino 50 for less than an off-brand Vino knockoff.

If you have to wait for the snow to melt, well, it’s one more reason to look forward to spring.

Nice, eh? Some thief certainly thought so. (Scootering Magazine)

I’ll bet you’re thinking, that’s a sweet group of scooters. Well, every single one of them was STOLEN.

The picture has been circulating on the Interwebs for a short while now. The U.K. magazine Scootering broke the story, and here are the details:

We’ve just received the horrible news that a lad has had all four of his scooters stolen from his garage in Hampshire… 11 January (2012).The garage is in Hartley Wintney, Hants (between Basingstoke and Camberley) and the scooters stolen (pictured) are as follows:

Lambretta LiS S3, 1966: Gold, Pathfinder spots and a Mugello 225 (only just re-lined and new piston!).

Vespa GS 1964: White, North American non-Battery model (no ignition in headset is an easy spot).

Vespa GS 1964: Black, with a PX200 engine.

Vespa Sprint 1967: Pastel green, with a PX166 Malossi, registered as a Sprint, trapezoid headlight, it has no toolbox space in panel (as per the SS180, and Motovespas).

If you hear anything that could help Darren recover his scooters, please call him on +44 07917 244472 (omit the zero if not calling in the U.K.) or contact local police.

Obviously, the perp or perps seemed to know what they were looking at. And the small form factor we all know and love not only makes a scooter easy to hide, they’re easy to transport, too. There’s no telling where they might be at the moment.

About all we can do is be on the lookout as we peruse Craigslist or otherwise spot scooters for sale. Let’s hope Darren gets his bikes back.

The Washington State Capitol in Olympia (Brianhe, via Wikimedia Commons)

The legislature’s in session in the State of Washington, and among many (many) other things, a bill is in the hopper that would be of particular interest to anyone who rides a scooter or motorcycle.

Have you ever pulled up to a traffic signal and discovered your bike won’t trip the pavement sensor? House Bill 1527 (8 KB pdf) would permit you, after one cycle of the signal, to proceed cautiously, even though the light is red. One of the bill’s sponsors is Seattle Rep. Reuven Carlyle (D-36th District), who is a motorcycle rider.

I’ve done that many a time, first checking carefully to make sure a police officer is not watching. It would be nice not to have to be paranoid. Or to stop over the markings that are supposed to be the best place for the sensor to read your bike (indicated by a ‘T’ in Seattle, a bicycle icon in Portland, and nothing in Bellingham), only to sit through a cycle anyway.

You can follow the bill’s progress here. Illinois has a similar law, which applies to motorcycles, scooters and bicycles; Idaho has one for bicycles only, which also allows cyclists to treat stop signs as “Yield” signs (even though most bicyclists just blow through stop signs and red lights without even a hint of slowing).

HB 1527 doesn’t address what happens if the intersection you’re trying to proceed through has red-light cameras, but a few other bills may make that a moot point. Red-light cameras, especially ones that are outsourced to companies that are receiving a large chunk of the fine revenue to operate them, are not popular in Washington State at the moment.

Let your elected representatives know how you feel. If you live in Washington State and you’re not sure who your representatives are, the Legislature’s Web page can help you find out. Other states have similar resources. Let your voice be heard.

Way to park, Mr./Ms. Lexus SUV! (Orin O'Neill photos)

Oh, joy. There’s a chance of snow on Sunday. And for once the GTS’ ambient temp readout agreed with the credit union sign on Holly Street: 35°F.

It felt more like minus 35 degrees. Western Washingon is rather more humid than the other side, which means cold feels that much colder.

But it’s been so long since any kind of precipitation fell that there’s an air stagnation advisory. The streets, therefore, are quite dry. Yes, a B’ham motorcycle cop dumped his police Beemer, but he hit a patch of oil, not ice. The GTS needs as much exercise as possible before the snow arrives.

Once again, I am reminded how much protection from the cold the mid-height windscreen provides. The shape of the screen (mostly) keeps the cold off the handgrips, so the snowboarding gloves are plenty warm enough. I just don’t like the idea of garments with hot electric wires running through them being anywhere near my skin. As people will tell you (and tell you) in this part of the world, dressing in layers will do the trick. No electricity required.

While the ability to park a vehicle between painted lines is apparently not universal here, for some reason today it was particularly so.

The lead pic was taken at the Meridian Haggen, which has two spaces next to the cart corral that are wide enough for a scooter or motorcycle. Unless, of course, some entitled twit in a luxury SUV is deathly afraid of being door-dinged by, horrors, a lowly Ford Focus. In most parts of the world, drivers of such vehicles are likely to be much more worried about roadside bombs, which, one would hope, might make them a bit more… courteous?

The Prius illustrates another curious trait of the Bellingham parker, the surprisingly common practice of backing into parking-lot spaces. Invariably, people most likely to do this are driving vehicles affording the worst rear visibility.

No worries, the Prius was there first, and the triangle is quite large. Still, it would be nice if these and other spaces were specifically set aside as scooter/motorcycle parking. I’d happily volunteer to paint such markings, if the property owners were to provide the paint.

Upon my return to the foothill villa, the clouds parted and the sun came out. There’s no chance of moisture falling from the skies until Saturday. The best way to keep gas from going bad is to burn it. I have plenty of layers.

A scooter for a garden gnome..? (Orin O'Neill photo)

If you live in the United States or Canada and get around primarily on a scooter or motorcycle, you are partaking in alternative transportation. You’re a trendsetter, you’re a rebel. Or something like that.

In spite of this, there is no shortage of visionaries (or “visionaries”, your choice) who proffer alternatives to the alternative.

Lit Motors illustration

Behold the Lit C-1, the latest in a long line of enclosed scooter/motorcycle concepts. It’s rather attractive, offering the enclosed comfort of a car with the 2-wheeled je ne sais quoi of a motorcycle.

Lit Motors produced a video showing how the C-1 might work in everyday use.

 
Gizmag.com recently ran a story about the C-1 that offers considerable detail about it. Conceptual, mind, but detail nonetheless.

Its designer had this to say:

“We’re creating a safe motorcycle, and that’s never been done in the way that we’re doing it, where it’s also incredibly efficient” said (Lit C-1 designer Daniel) Kim. “We’re trying to open up safety to a huge market of 200 million motorcyclists, daily in the world. We have a huge market, and I think we could have a lot of impact.”

Oh, lordy.

Let’s set the 200 million-motorcyclist figure aside for the moment and consider why Americans ride motorcycles. Just about all of them would tell you its because you’re out in the very elements which the C-1 so completely seals off from its driver (you sure don’t “ride” the thing).

In fact, some riders rather like the element of danger. Others in other parts of the world don’t seem to give safety much thought, the places they live lacking a “safety” establishment that constantly beats the drum about how DANGEROUS motorcycles are!!!!

The C-1 is described as a having a gyroscope to keep it upright. This would make unnecessary the retractable feet most similar concept vehicles employ to make up for the fact one can’t put one’s feet down. This is also touted as a safety feature in the event of a crash.

However, watching the part of the video where the C-1 gets t-boned by a Nissan LEAF(!) is troubling because the result of the impact is to radically alter the C-1′s trajectory, which even the most skilled drivers might not be able to react to in time to prevent a collision with, say, a bus approaching from the opposite direction.

Never mind how the heck you’re supposed to turn the thing. A motorcycle (or a scooter, or a bicycle) turns by leaning into the corner. The video shows how fiercely the test mule resists doing that.

Most entertaining are the claimed speed/range figures quoted in the Gizmag article: at least 120 mph (193 km/h), with range for the higher-end model expected around 150 to 220 miles (241 to 354 km) per charge (emphasis mine). Really? Where are these people buying their batteries? A LEAF has 46 batteries and can only manage 50-100 miles/charge. Most electric scooters can barely go 20 miles.

You can learn more about Lit Motors by clicking here. The company claims to have taken twenty-five $250 deposits, “mostly from Europe.” However, at this point it appears there’s a gyroscope test device, a nice non-running mockup, and a lot of CGI. But no actual vehicle.

My advice, as always: Spend your $250 on a Basic Rider Course and some foul-weather gear. This is a great time to buy a scooter, the dealers are dealing.

Stone Pot is exactly what it says on the tin (Orin O'Neill photos)

These days, Korea’s on everyone’s mind. The coolest electronic gizmos are made by Samsung and LG. Kia and Hyundai are getting all the attention from car buyers. South Korea, already the most wired nation on Earth, is upgrading every home to high-speed Internet that will be 10 times faster than anything available in the U.S.

That Korean food is becoming the new Thai is, therefore, no surprise.

Stone Pot Korean Restaurant recently moved from a strip mall on Northwest Avenue to a spot on Magnolia Street next to Everyday Music in downtown Bellingham.

The place got rave reviews in its former location, and the move seems not to have changed anything about their food. I wouldn’t know—aside from a small sample of kimchi a long time ago, I’ve never had Korean food.

I think the array of small plates above is called banchan. You’ll notice sprouts, broccoli, kimchi and other things, all pickled. It arrived first.

Their signature dish is the Stone Pot bibimbap, a couple bucks more than the plain one because it includes your choice of chicken, beef, pork or tofu. It arrives in a large stone pot (natch), sizzling very loudly.

My waitress explained that in Korea, people eat rice dishes (bibimbap is mostly sticky white rice) with the long-handled spoon supplied with the place setting. She then showed me how to smoosh everything together to mix the various flavors.

She also left a squeeze bottle of dark red sauce. Experience has taught me to be extremely cautious of such things; my mom cooked straight outta the Betty Crocker Cookbook, so “spicy” was a concept I didn’t fully grasp until many years after I left home (and something my digestive tract does not play well with, still). While the sauce was nowhere near as hot as, say, Sriracha, it had a delayed hot action that cleared my sinuses and made my nose run. Tasty in small quantities, for sure.

As you can see, I enjoyed it. The pot stays hot for quite a long time, so the rice closest to it gets a bit crunchy. The fried egg’s gooeyness permeates the other ingredients, making for a filling, warming dish. Just the thing for the chill of January.

Back in the early 1990s, Thai restaurants sprouted like mushrooms in Seattle. The Seattle Times’ restaurant critic at the time, John Hinterberger, advised readers with little-used extra rooms in their home to check to see if a Thai restaurant had opened while they weren’t looking. He was only half-joking.

These days, Thai food has become mainstream, just like Chinese, Mexican and other ethnic cuisines. Korean restaurants are not spreading as rapidly as the Thai places of yore (Stone Pot is the only game in Bellingham, so far), and it being fairly new to most Americans I’m going to guess it remains closer to its origins than, say, Chinese (Try ordering Chop Suey in Beijing and see what kind of reaction you get!), for now anyway.

As with other Asian cuisines, Korean food is “healthy,” i.e., cooked quickly in small amounts of oil, with lots of fresh ingredients.

Stone Pot has vegetarian and vegan offerings, and they’re open for lunch and dinner Monday thru Saturday. They take credit/debit cards, and you can make reservations if you wish.

I plan to go back to try the bulgogi.

Indian-made Vespa LX 125 is for the Indian market only (Piaggio Group photos)

Piaggio has reintroduced the Vespa name to the Indian scooter market. The company announced at India’s Auto Expo 2012 that a localized version of its LX 125 scooter will go on sale in India’s 35 largest markets in April, 2012.

Piaggio India's Ravi Chopra introduces the LX 125 at New Delhi's Auto Expo 2012

You’ll notice the Indian LX has different wheels than those found on North American and European versions (not to mention same-size tires on both ends). The major differences between the Indian LX and those produced in Europe and Vietnam are intended to make maintenance easier for owners (I wouldn’t mind if Piaggio did likewise for the rest of us. —Ed.).

Piaggio’s Baramati factory has the capacity to produce 150,000 LXs annually; the company expects to double that figure within a year.

At the intro, Piaggio Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. Chairman and Managing Director Ravi Chopra said: “The Piaggio Group’s entry into the 2-wheeler business in India opens up a completely new premium product segment, addressing customers looking for a vehicle that offers unique style and personality.”

So far, there’s no word on pricing. Oncars India has several pictures from the intro.