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These bikes generate real buzz

As scooters catch on around here, buyers find themselves laughing all the way to the tank.

By ROBBYN MITCHELL
Published June 18, 2006

With gas mileage ranging from 50 to 100 miles per gallon, it's easy to see why sales and rental locations are springing up everywhere. Scooter sales have doubled since 2001, reaching an estimated 113,000 in 2005.

In the past two years, several stores have opened in or near downtown St. Petersburg, and more may be on their way.

St. Petersburg's demographics seem to be fueling the trend here. While scooters used to be considered a younger person's ride, that's not so anymore, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council's Owner Survey. The median age of a scooter owner was 46 in 2003, compared to 26 in 1990. Recent buyers also were more likely to be married and college educated.

Consider then that the median age here is 40.8, nearly 40 percent of residents are married and 54 percent attended college, according to the most recent census estimates.

Tyler Sanders knows firsthand about the benefits of riding a scooter and its surge in popularity.

He and his co-workers at Scooter Escapes, 1450 First Ave. N, are required to ride to work every day on their scooters.

"It's one of the policies of the store but no one minds it because it saves money," Sanders said.

He rides his black Malaguti 50cc from Gandy Boulevard to work, where he manages the business.

Large gray tiles cover the showroom that looks more like an auto dealership than a scooter store. The dimly lit room is sprinkled with TGB, Adley and Zongshen scooters in hot reds, yellows and an array of other colors. Scooters start at about $1,200 and can cost as much as $7,000.

The back of the store serves as a repair shop, and it's busy. Vehicles are lined up out the door.

"Scooters need to be serviced every 1,000 miles, so we get a lot of customers in for that," Sanders said.

For Jean and Cleo Cherubin, their love affair with scooters started with a tropical getaway to Key West, where they rented the bikes.

After returning home, Cleo talked her husband into buying a couple of scooters so they could whiz around St. Petersburg. Having a ball, they took it a step further: They opened Scoot-It, a rental and retail shop, in November.

Jean Cherubin said the store sells about five vehicles a month. They hope to do even better in the summer.

They also try to capture a slice of the tourist market by working with local bed-and-breakfasts. Scoot-It will deliver the scooters to guests and give them a quick lesson before they head out.

Scoot-It is at 2327 Central Ave., in the Grand Central business district. The current competition, Scooter Escapes, was at 3948 Central Ave. but has since moved closer to downtown.

"We moved mostly because we needed a bigger store," Sanders said. "The owner found this place that was an old Laundromat and it was perfect."

Cherubin worries that he will lose rental customers because of Scooter Escapes' relocation, but says it hasn't affected business so far.

Escapes deals mostly in repair, servicing and parts replacement, though it does have a competitively priced retail and rental component.

"People come in and need their cheap Chinese scooters fixed," Sanders said. "Luckily for us, most of the brands we sell are good and we don't have those in for major work."

Several other entrepreneurs have plans to open stores in the area.

The only thing keeping Derrick Calandra from opening St. Pete Scooter is licensing from the state.

On a recent day, he sat in his shop opening packages. He ripped open a small brown box and cheered as Bajaj scooter catalogs, pins and brochures toppled out.

"This is the kind of scooter we want to get everyone riding," Calandra said, gesturing to the sleek black model behind him.

When he's not on his motorcycle or with his son driving his 1995 Ford Escort, Calandra jets around town on his 1976 Honda CB560, which he says gets 50 to 60 miles to the gallon.

In his first stab at building his own business, the self-described alternative transportation enthusiast has entered into a joint venture with Reno Beach Surf Shop owner Jon La Budde.

La Budde's shop, which sits across from the 1029 Fourth St. N location of the potential St. Pete Scooter shop, has been in business for 12 years.

Calandra said he came to La Budde for his experience in operating a store and wanted to have his guidance in the endeavor.

But Calandra has already checked out the competition and come up with what he thinks is a unique angle.

The Fourth Street location lends itself to urban customers, he said. He wants to sell messenger bags and coffee for city dwellers who want to buy scooters. He hopes to get his business off the ground by late June or early July.

The vendor of the most popular name in scooters, Vespa of Tampa, is searching for a new home and looking seriously at the St. Petersburg area.

Michael Wolf, the store's proprietor, expects to make a decision within the next year.

Wolf said Vespas are great because they have all-steel bodies and one of the best engines. He rides a GTS 250cc Vespa to work three times a week and praises the mode of transport.

Besides saving gas, Wolf said the ride reduces stress and teaches drivers to be much more defensive.

If Vespa moves to the area in the coming year, it will give local drivers one more reason to join the many who are leaving the car at home.

[Last modified June 18, 2006, 07:47:20]