Kymco 300i - new scooter for 2011

Kymco Canada has introduced a couple of new scooters for the 2011 model line-up.

The Super 8 150 is a four-stroke powered 150 cc scooter with fully automatic transmission and enough power to serve as a commuter in comfort, yet it offers exceptional fuel mileage, according to the company.

It retails for a suggested $3,695.

For those who prefer more power in their scooters, Kymco introduces the Downtown 300i. No, it’s not a luxury German car, but a luxury Korean scooter.

The 300i has enough power to handle city streets and rural highways with aplomb. It’s powered by a new four-valve engine with EFI and retails for a suggested $5,995

BMW moves into the scooter market

While the European motorcycle industry is in crisis due to dramatically falling sales, BMW is moving in the opposite direction thanks to its loftier perspective of the mobility (as opposed to motorcycle) industry. After years concentrating on larger capacity two wheelers, it is moving into the scooter field. Having already shown an electric version of its ultra-safe C1 scooter, plus several MINI scooter concepts in recent weeks, BMW Motorrad yesterday unveiled a maxi scooter concept. Two premium scooters will be derived from the concept vehicle in the near future and there’s also an electric version being investigated.

For many years, scooter segment riders were looked down upon by regular motorcyclists, and it was only when Suzuki kicked off the maxiscooter craze with a lively 400cc engine just over a decade ago that the scooter form factor got some respect.