Vespa Owners
Metro Scooters repairs all age and model Vespa scooters. We offer full service tuneups and upgrades using original Vespa parts.
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GAS PRICES: Gasoline and crude oil reach highest prices in six months
STAFF REPORT • MAY 11, 2009
After several weeks of virtually unchanged prices at the pump, this week gas prices jumped 12 cents (6 percent) over last week. The average U.S. retail price for regular grade gasoline reached $2.17 on Friday, marking the sixth consecutive week and the sixth time since November 17 gasoline has been above $2.00 per gallon. Although this is a significant one-week increase, the price is still 47 percent below the record price of $4.114 set on July 11, 2008.
After remaining relatively stable for several weeks, crude oil saw significant increases in trading this week as prices flirted with $60 per barrel, trading as high as $58.57 a barrel Thursday. Crude oil settled at $58.63 at the close of trading Friday, the highest settlement since November 14, yet still nearly 50 percent below a year ago. Oil prices have risen more than 10 percent in two weeks and more than 70 percent, due in part to evidence that the global recession is easing, which would lead to a rebound in world oil consumption. Crude oil has gained more than 70 percent since hitting $33.55 in February.
Supply continues to outpace demand. This week the Department of Energy (DOE) reported that U.S. oil inventories grew less than expected, 600,000 barrels rather than the expected 2.2 million barrels, suggesting crude oil demand may be stabilizing. U.S. inventories are at 19-year high of 375.3 million barrels.
quoted from Del Marva Media Group
Check out this article:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Save-gas-save-parking-charges-and-have-fun-on-a-/
I’ve reprinted part of it here:
One of the most fun things you can do to reduce your fuel consumption is ride a scooter instead of taking a car.
Motorcycles are also great, but harder to learn to ride, and less maneuverable in congested urban areas. (Motorcycles typically are standard, so you have to shift gears, whereas most scooters have continuous variable transmission i.e. automatic)
Consider:
Most new scooters have very high mileage — 100 MPG is not uncommon, and some are even better. I found a link here to a source of more detailed data: http://www.greenconsumerguide.com/scoot.php
In some cities (like mine, Toronto), scooters park free on city street parking. Even the cheapest vehicle parking costs me about $15 just to get in and out of one client meeting; if I park underground, it quickly rises to $25. There are lots of convenient places to park the scoot. Last summer I estimated that I saved about $300 on parking, which is a pretty good rate of return on the investment, considering I only ride it 6 months of the year.
Newer scooters have low emissions. Those built to European standards are very low, as they only permit 4-stroke engines. A newspaper here reported this startling statistic:
If Americans used scooters for just 35 per cent of their weekly driving, they could, in aggregate, reduce fuel consumption by 53 million litres a day, ICR found, citing U.S. Department of Energy data. They could also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 147.2 million kg a day.
Plus it’s fun to scoot, you meet a lot of nice people, and if you want, you can join a scooter group and attend rallies and go on group rides.
This is really barely an instructable, but I wanted to add this perspective to the green contest.
Internet scooters may seem inexpensive and attractive, but the idea that they can be taken out of the box and be ready to go is just not true. There is a considerable amount of set up to be done if you expect to enjoy the long life and desired performance that you anticipated when you purchased your scooter.
The fact is that many scooters made in China (or any other place for that matter) are never tested at the factory resulting in a scooter that is potentially unsafe and not road worthy. With Internet scooters, proper adjustment and fine-tuning are a performance and safety concern that must not be ignored. To do these adjustments and preparations correctly takes a considerable amount of mechanical ability and experience.
Here’s the NOW WHAT:
• All the fluids including gas, engine oil, gear oil and if present, coolant must be removed and replaced with high quality products. The factory uses fluids that are intended only for shipping, to prevent the engine and various parts from rusting on their long ocean voyage. These shipping fluids will not lubricate the engine properly and if used even a short amount of time after the scooter is uncrated can cause irreparable damage or at the minimum poor performance and a shortened engine lifespan.
• The gas filter must be replaced and the lines and tank flushed since they have been exposed to the inferior gas from the factory.
• The spark plug must be replaced and gapped properly.
• The valves must be adjusted. This is a complex procedure that requires removing the head cover and making some delicate adjustments. Proper adjustment is necessary for easy starting and maximum fuel efficiency and power.
• Changing the gear oil in the transmission will prevent premature failure.
• The scooters brakes must be bled and adjusted.
• The air filter must be inspected.
• The tires must be inspected and the pressure adjusted.
• Than all of the nuts, bolts and screws must be checked and properly tightened using a torque wrench where necessary. Missing parts must be replaced. We have had customers bring us scooters with loose front axel bolts. You would not want the front wheel of your new scooter coming off while you are enjoying the rush of the wind in your face and the exhilaration of your first ride.
If you are not a competent mechanic yourself with all the proper tools then Metro Scooters full service preparation and regular service plan will give you the confidence you need for years of scootering.
We do all of the things I mentioned above to every scooter we sell. It’s included in the price so you can ride with confidence. However, if you bought a scooter on-line or used Metro Scooters can help. We perform all of the steps outlined here for the very reasonable price of $149.95.
So what are you waiting for, summer is approaching FAST and you have a Sooter worth riding!
Call today to schedule an appointment 404-816-7433 or email tom@metroscootersusa.com
*Does not cover damaged or missing parts. Some restrictions may apply.
Ah, Atlanta, no city is quite like it, the culture, the food, the people, it’s a unique and beautiful place. Atlanta, Georgia combines the verdant openness of the South with Metropolitan flavor of mega cities like NY and LA. In other words, Atlanta is the perfect town for motor scooters.
When I come zipping around the the corner of Piedmont and 10th Street, and I see Continue reading ‘Atlanta Motor Scooters: The hook-up for motor scooter shoppers and riders in Atlanta, Georgia’
Metro Scooters is now an Authorized Baja Motorsports repair shop. We handle warranty and all repairs.
Welcome to Atlanta’s Motor Scooter Store, MetroScooters. Located at 3185 Roswell Rd NW Atlanta, GA 30305, we provide motor scooter sales and service and unbeatable prices. You’re viewing our New Blog Feature. Check back soon for scooter news, discussion and events. In the meantime, please explore the rest of our site. Visit our Products Page to see our inventory, or the Contact Page to drop us a line. Thanks!
TUNE UP SPECIALS (150cc and under)
CHANGE OIL (4 stroke)
REPLACE GAS FILTER
REPLACE SPARK PLUG
CHECK BATTERY (charge if necessary)
CLEAN AIR FILTER
CHECK GEAR OIL
CHECK FUEL LINE
CHECK BRAKES
–$125.99 4 strokes
–$109.99 2 strokes
Scooter not running? We have a pickup service! $40.00 inside perimeter. Must be paid by time of pickup.
(outside perimeter quote)
