South Africa is big-bike territory. For whatever reasons, local bikers seem to equate engine capacity with riding abilities (and by extension, manliness).

Midsize bikes, it would seem, are for wimps, scooters for women. If my assessment is true, it’s a sad state of affairs because it means many riders miss out on the practicality and fun of a scooters simply because they seem to feel it is “beneath them”.

EXCELLENT QUALITY

Part of the reason, I think, is because the word “scooter” evokes mental images of woefully underpowered 125cc machines of questionable quality. True, Yamaha, Suzuki and Honda have powerful, well-made maxi scooters in their line-ups, but they cost almost the same as (and in some cases, more than) conventional midsize bikes.  ….read the full post on Wheels24

The rows of scooters outside the Scoot Dr store on 201 Bree Street glisten in shades of peppermint green, lemon-sherbet yellow and, of course, bright Vespa red. Here, eye-catching Vespas, Lambreattas, Bajajs and 2-stroke LMLs are lovingly restored, maintained, rented and sold.

Owned and run by Pete Milne and Neil Felgate, Scoot Dr has been saddling Capetonians and tourists up onto beautifully restored scooters for the past four years. The business was started through Neil’s passion for vintage bikes and the partners have been growing the trend in the Mother City ever since.

According to the duo, Cape Town is the perfect city in which to own or rent a scooter, which probably explains why the business is still on the up. Not only do local scooter riders own the retro-cool look, choosing two wheels over four is also economical. Scooters zoom past climbing fuel prices and parking fares, and traffic is also easily avoidable. And although you can’t reach speeds above 90km/h, you’re able to squeeze through the cars queuing during rush hours.
read the fill post on Visi…

Two Cape-based entrepreneurs are breathing new life into vintage Vespas. In adding a rental division, Scoot Doctor owners, Neil Felgate and Pete Milne will not only expand their ingenious business model but are, at the very least, set to welcome a few more members into the Vespa-loving, “free riders’ club”.

Nestled among towering office blocks in the centre of the Mother City’s CBD are a variety of off-beat establishments, profiting from icons of yester-year. From vinyl records to retro furnishings, owners of thrift or antique and collectables stores survive on our love of high-quality classics.

Through the doors of 201 Bree Street, you’ll find a business attracting collectors of a somewhat different kind – those who wouldn’t blink at spending R89 000 on an Italian-designed classic scooter.

For the last two years, Neil Felgate has customised, refurbished and serviced bikes for Vespa owners living in and around Cape Town, with his first custom build commissioned by local musician, Jeremy Tolly of the band, the Dirty Skirts.

“The idea behind the store is the holistic servicing, repair, rental, maintenance and sales of classic scooters,” explains partner, Pete Milne, who came on board earlier this year to help expand the business and launch a rental division. “Born from Neil’s love of tinkering with engines, it’s the one-stop-shop for all your classic and retro scooter needs,” he adds.
…read the full post on SABizOps.co.za