Zundapp was able to sell about 130,000 examples of the Bella scooter between 1953 and 1964. Engine options were a 150 (146) or 200 (198) – here’s an example of the latter.
No Reserve Project – 1966 Fuji Rabbit Superflow S601
I don’t feature scooters much, but the Fuji Rabbit Superflow is definitely worth a look. An impressive 75,000 units left the Fuji Heavy Industries factory, but it’s very hard to find any now. Why is this scoot so interesting? Well, at the time, it was as luxurious as you could get with a scooter.
2002 BMW C1 200
Post Listing Update: This C1 did not meet reserve with 24 bids up to $6,124 on eBay. At the turn of the century, BMW thought they could get more people on scooters by eliminating some of the weather and safety concerns. Their idea was the C1, a scooter with a roof and seat belts. With sufficient crash testing, BMW was …
Art Deco Custom – 2007 Vectrix VX-1 Electric Scooter
I normally wouldn’t have much interest in a 16-year-old electric scooter but someone clever has used this Vectrix VX-1 as the base for a wood-bodied Art Deco-inspired custom.
2023 Honda Motocompacto
Well, I think I just found my next pit bike! Honda’s just announced a spiritual successor to the Motocompo – meet the all-electric Motocompacto. It doesn’t roll off the tongue the same way, but it’ll be a lot easier to find in the US!
1990 Honda Zook
Sold only in Japan (and only in 1990), the Zook is a rare 50cc scoot from Honda. Per this press release, Honda planned on selling 40,000 Zooks to young people “as a trendy new model” for urban transportation. They called it “fun to ride” and “fun to look at”. It features a two-stroke, 49ccm motor that produces 3 horsepower.
NOS – Garelli Urka 50
Founded in 1919, Garelli is now solely electric but they have a long history with small displacement motorcycles – they even won the 125cc Grand Prix championship every year between 1982 and 1987. Here’s an oddball scooter that I’ve never heard of before, and it’s still “new”!
1953 Moto Guzzi Galletto
Carlo Guzzi was one of Moto Guzzi’s three co-founders back in 1921, and he was the brainchild behind a scooter/motorcycle hybrid called the Galletto (cockerel in Italian). Over approximately 15 years of production, 75,000 units were sold.
No Reserve – 1976 Honda GOGO 7 (Kick ‘N Go Senior)
Back in 2019, Honda invited me to their campus/museum in Torrance, California (which is being moved to Georgia right now) for the launch of the Honda Super Cub. While walking around the museum, I couldn’t help but notice a three-wheeled scooter that was on display. That’s how I learned about the Kick ‘N’ Go! I found one a few months …
Mid-Century Last-Miler: 1964 Centaur Folding Scooter
Right now, it’s all things minibike over at Iconic, so I’ll admit that my tastes have been trending towards small. As cool as it was to see my first Motocompo in person, though, this Centaur is truly a quaint piece of midcentury Americana.
1969 Tarbo TR350
The seller of this Italian scooter says he’s never seen a Tarbo Sport 50 before. Hell – I’ve never even HEARD of it before, which is why I’m so glad to share it with you.
No Reserve – 1955 Moto Guzzi Galletto
Carlo Guzzi was one of Moto Guzzi’s three co-founders back in 1921, and he was the brainchild behind a scooter/motorcycle hybrid called the Galletto (cockerel in Italian). Over approximately 15 years of production, 75,000 units were sold.
Pre-Motocompo Folder – 1970 Carnielli Motorcycles Moto Graziella
3/19/22 Update: Four years later, this Moto Graziella is back up for sale. Find it for $3,500 or best offer in West Palm Beach, Florida here on Facebook Marketplace. When the subject of “folding scooters” comes up, most people’s minds will wander to Honda’s Motocompo, but there are a number of other collapsible, small-wheeled scoots that predate the Honda by …
No Reserve – 1950 Indian Papoose
Post Sale Update: This Papoose sold for $4,800 on eBay. The Indian Papoose was a rebadged Brockhouse Corgi, itself a civilian version of the Excelsior Villiers Welbike – a single seat scooter designed to be dropped into combat situations via parachute-equipped containers, then unpacked and be ready to ride in less than 11 seconds.
Original Owner – 1964 Fuji Rabbit 90 S-202
Japan’s first scooter was built in 1946 by Fuji. Called the Rabbit S-1, it was released six months before Vespa’s first model. The Rabbit was the name given to Fuji’s scooter lineup, and it ranged from the top-of-the-line Superflow down to the S-202 which was later introduced as an entry-level offering for those who just needed cheap transportation.