New Vespa dealer in Florida!

About three weeks ago, a new store in the Scooter Superstore chain opened in Gainesville, Florida! That means I can have dealer service done right where I live! Hooray!

Address: 203 NE 39th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32609

Phone: (352) 373-3436

Look for the blue sign that says Vespa Piaggio. I stopped in yesterday and met Todd and Robert, the manager and (so far) sole employee. Both were very nice and enthusiastic about scooters. Their Web site is not so great, but the store is one of the nicest I have seen anywhere. (No, they are not paying me to say this! But they did give me a free T-shirt.)

I'd also like to give a shout out to Freedom Power Sports in Kennesaw, Georgia. They did a "second first service" on my scooter on July 22, after I had put 500-plus miles on her in three days. Chip was my mechanic, and I really liked the style and customer care there. They didn't give me any freebies (except a cold bottle of water, which I really appreciated), so this is just a customer recommendation.

I've seen mechanics' bays in several different motorcycle shops, and theirs was rather awe-inspiring. Clean, well-lighted, lots of big power lifts, and happy mechanics. Happy customers too, from what I could see.

Another Nice Blog About Scooter Life

I often visit the scooter blog Girlbike.com -- naturally it has a lot of items that interest a female rider, but plenty of the information applies to ANY rider. Guys -- don't be put off by the pink bits! Check out these posts:

• Best 49 cents I’ve spent all year: Read about a 10-day scooter trip in Vietnam.


• Winterizing and winter riding: Waterproof covers, battery chargers, and more cold-weather tips.


• Fall riding hazards: What to watch for: Still relevant for those of us who live in the southern states -- some wet leaves on the road can really ruin your day!


• Book review: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Motor Scooters. Blogger Crystal Waters says it would make a nice gift for a friend who doesn't ride yet!

All that aside, there are some serious "girl" topics in the blog -- like the periodic links to cool pink helmets!

Geely Scooters

I was trying to do a little research on the Geely brand, which comes from China. These are some very low-cost scooters that you can order by mail (although I'm sure you can find some way to buy them in person too). The company has been making scooters since 1992, according to their corporate info.

I came across one very informative post at Yahoo! Groups. Apparently you must be good with a socket wrench to get these puppies running smoothly -- but if you're handy with tools, then a Geely scooter might be a good deal.

Not being very mechanically inclined, I think this is not the right choice for me!