Question for you scooter enthusiasts

Does anyone know exactly why the Stella scooter from the Genuine Scooter Co. isn't available in California, and what the likelyhood is of it being available in the future? My best guess that it's an emissions issue, but I haven't been able to find any confirmation of that online. There are orange ones starting to show up here in Seattle, and I'm falling in love. When I finally see one in mint green, I'll be a goner for sure.

My apologies in advance if any Scooter the Muppet enthusiasts clicked on this post and are disappointed.

Perhaps it's a two-stroke engine - I think they've been banned from Cal because they pollute. Just a guess.

According to genuinescooters.com: "Continental Zippy tires are standard, and the scooter is catalyzed to meet Federal emissions standards in 49 states, California excluded." ... and it does have a 2 stroke engine.

Are you atheist, agnostic, deist, pantheist, transcendentalist... Meet people who share your interest in rational religion in your town.
http://universist.meetup.com

[ Edited by: kahukini on 2003-09-11 23:42 ]

Here's a cool photo of Stella.

http://www.provoscooter.com/shop/images/stella.jpg

Well HumuHumu if you're afraid to get a classic cuz of the maintenance and insist on a new "reliable" scooter, then the only other major brand of new scooter modeled after the P series vespa (like the Stella is) is the Bajaj Chetak. http://www.bajajusa.com/scooters.htm
4 stroke and legal in CA. $2 grand for a 2002. Just take off the dorky mickey mouse ear mirrors and add some chrome and you're set. I've got a buddy in town with one which he's done some racing mods on and it's as loud as anything and shoots flames.

Could be you, HumuHumu.

What the...?
Did these Bajaj guys buy up all of the old P-Series frames or something? Man, they even tried to pinch the Piaggio logo.
I know there's a lot to be said for a new, reliable machine... but if you're lookin' to scoot, get real Italian scooter. The P200's were great bikes and quite reliable too.
Just my 2-stroke worth...
Aloha,
:tiki:

[ Edited by: Tiki Royale on 2003-12-04 23:04 ]

Bajaj was Piaggio's India distributor. Rather than building them in Italy and shipping them to India they set up manufacturing in India using some sub-standard cheaper parts (epecially the ignition system). Bajaj still owns the frame and body stampings and continues to make, sell, and export their variant of the P-series Vespa. The Stella scooters are awsome!!! They are 2 stroke and yes, they do have a catalytic converter(to my knowledge the only 2 stroke road legal machine over 50cc with a cat.) I haven't been involved in the scooter scene for a few years but from my memory in California, any 2 stroke over 50cc is banned from road use-period. So unless a law is changed or you get a 4 stroke scooter, your out of luck. As I said, I'm not up to date in scooter reading and research but that was the way it was 3-4 years ago.
http://www.vespasupershop.com
http://www.lambretta.net
http://www.scootrs.com
as well as Genuine Scooters are all good places to get vintage scooters that are legal in California. http://www.scootrs.com will even build you one with disk brakes and electric start just like the Stella.
Scotty

Thanks for the info Scotty.
I don't think that a 2-strokes are banned period. I've got friends that are still building and riding their 2-stroke bikes...
Of course I haven't been to the DMV to try to register my Lammy in quite a while so thinks might have changed.
Aloha,
:tiki:

Tiki Royale,

You are right. Let me correct myself....."any 'new' 2 stroke over 50cc is banned". Older 2 strokes, from before the smog ban(probably 1981), regardless of displacement are still legal.

Scotty