Popularity of Scooters

Article from the LA times:

Sales of Vespa scooters and other brands rise with gas prices

October 23, 2011 |  9:00 am 

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/10/vespa-scooters-gas-prices.html

"In the first half of this year, the major brands including Vespa, Piaggio, Honda and Yamaha -– sold 18,198 scooters, up 28.9% from the same period last year. The increase was greater than any other category of motorcycle, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council.."
“People in America are starting to see scooters as a way to save money and get places faster,”

Vespa LX 150 Best Seller
$6000+ New

The main aspects which the article outlines as to why Scooters are becoming more popular than Motorbikes are:

-Smaller
-More Affordable
-Easier to maneuver 
-Efficient and 'Stylish'*






*Debatable... in my opinion the current form of scooters are quite unattractive, especially for the target market of 16-22.
They are undoubtedly conveinient for commuting 
Although some individuals may disagree and swear by the look of a scooter, personally I just don't think they're cool.

Gilera GP 800


-Larger in size, but much sleeker form
-Rider would sit in a more relaxed position, as opposed to vertical upright back and I feel as though this would be more appealing to the 16-22 target market
-Feels a bit forward heavy in weight

-Triangular structure comparison shows that the GP 800 is smaller in terms of height but a bit longer in the length, thus squishing its triangle in comparison with the Vespa scooter.