Scooter history thesis project By turtle8 (Read 1,205 times)

[turtle8]

Hello All,

I have chosen to do a scooter history site for my MFA thesis in Web Design and New Media at the Academy of Art University. My question for you, is what would you like to see in such a website? This project could be pretty large as I have most of a year to complete it. Thanks for your input.

-Michael

[jct842]

If you go all the way back you will find the scooters predate the fairings on motorcycles by a whole lot. today there are a lot of bikers who think the scooters are copying the fairings on motorcycles. I would love to see all of the scooters period. I particularly like the "art-deco styles" some of which made it to the 50's/ I had a new "twist and go" scooter that was made in 1958 when I was 16. It was my first and that transmission wasn't brand new even then. Even though I have a majesty I still hate the hump in the floor boards, a real scooter has a flat floor board! john

edit: it is reputed that Leonardo da Vinci, in 1490, conceptualized a stepless continuously variable transmission. The transmission our scooters use could be a subject all by itself for a paper!

[Bashan]

I think that's a fantastic project and I wish you well in your endeavors. I would love to see you penetrate the veiled wall of secrecy that the Chinese government keeps over the present and past workings of the Sino-scooter industry. I tried to do a write up on that at one time as far as contacting the Chinese embassy. I got a cryptic, polite, non-statement about the Chinese scooter industry. I think you might have a little better luck now that the Chinese government is trying to do business with the rest of the world. I'd like to know who the major factories are inside China, who are their suppliers, who exports, and how much of the goods are actually assembled over here in the USA or just stuck with a badge. It's a murky industry and one that could certainly provide boundless fodder for a thesis. Rich

[kz1000st]

If you go all the way back you will find the scooters predate the fairings on motorcycles by a whole lot



Not a whole lot, if at all. Racing motorcycles in the 1950's had what was called "Dustbin" fairings that were outlawed by the end if the decade. The most famous of all was the Moto Guzzi V-8. Triumph went and put fenders on the sides of the Thunderbird in the early 60s but it was a flop. "Too scooter-like" most bikers said.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moto_Guzzi_V8

classic-motorbikes.net/images/gallery/7920.jpg

motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bikes/triumph_3ta.jpg

[kz1000st]

So I'll raise you one.

So I'm going to start with the Triumph bathtubs. There were three models: The unit 350cc 3TA Twenty-One (1957-1962), Triumph's first all unit twin (transmission and motor in one casing), the unit 500cc 5TA Speedtwin (1958-1962), and the pre-unit 650cc 6T Thunderbird (1960-1961). Meant for cruising around England's back country roads rather than bombing down the highway at 100mph, they the last of an era. In 1959 the Triumph Bonneville came onto the scene and literally changed everyone's perception of the motorcycle: fast, sleek, modern. What young man would want a Speedtwin or Thunderbird when he could now have the 46bhp 650cc T120 Bonneville twin? Also in 1961 the Austin Mini debuted. There wasn't a need for a gentleman's motorcycle any longer, now they could drive and stay out of the elements.

The 3TA, 5TA, and 6T were now outdated machines. In 1963 all Triumph motorcycle were now unit construction, more more separate transmissions and motors. To make matters worse, they were trying to compete with the rising scooter companies, which explains the enclosed rear section or "bathtub." Most of these bathtubs were removed to give the bike a more sleek appearance. And the headlight nacelles (enclosures) were removed and replaced with a more modern looking single chrome headlight, similar to the new Bonneville. Which, ironically, are all now reasons why I love this motorcycle so much. Oh how times change. These bikes are rare but not ridiculously unobtainable yet. You can find a 3TA or 5TA in England for around $5000 American.

1960 5TA Speedtwin

You're showing me a 1946 scooter and I'm showing you bikes built in mass production from 1957 to 1962

Not exactly scooters predate the fairings on motorcycles by a whole lot.


Unless 11 years is a whole lot. The second picture of the blue bike is the 350cc unit.
motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bikes/triumph_3ta.jpg

It took a long time for motorcyclists to accept fully enclosed, plastic covered bikes. It wasn't until the magazines convinced riders that they should love to emulate Kenny Roberts that the modern plastic covered monstrosity was accepted. I, for one will never own a bike I can't see through.