I know it’s been a long long long time since I’ve posted. A lot of things have been happening so I have not had time to blog. I hope to be back blogging regularly soon.

Here are some updates since my last post.

- 2211 Works brings in the Vespa GTS, MP3 400 the brand spanking new Gilera Runner ST, and the Piaggio X8. Envy starts creeping in just about now.

- We’ve successfully fended away the LTO’s (Land Transport Office) latest attempt at regulating the MC community. This is something I am personally happy to have been a part of.

- I finally got to go on a ride. Can’t believe that there’s a place that cold in the Philippines.

- Eurosocot will be holding their elections this weekend.

- Vespa Attack 4 is just around the corner!

- I turned 40. :S

Received this note this morning from my son Dino. It was neatly tucked underneath a tray of a breakfast of Hotdogs and Eggs he had made for me and Des. How this to make you forget about bronchitis (yup I’ve been battling with it since early this week). Thanks Dino and Marco, Daddy loves you very much!!

Happy Father’s Day to all!! Happy Father’s Day Dad!!!! I know you’re eating lechon right now!

Before we start dancing on the streets, this is still limited to bikes 400cc and up, which still basically excludes the majority of the riding population.

From GMA News TV

Motorcycles with engine displacement of at least 400 cubic centimeters (CC) can now use expressways but owners must strictly comply with toll way rules and regulation, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said Friday.

In the latest department order signed by DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza, dated October 4, 2007, 400 cc motorcycles will be allowed access in all expressways but they must comply with all the provision stated in Republic Act 4136 known as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code of the Philippines.

The order will replace the March 23, 2007 order of the DOTC No 2007-15 that declared all expressways as Limited Access Facilities and restricts all types of motorcycle from entering toll ways.

Based on the new order, motorcycles drivers should religiously observe roadworthiness, safety standards issued by competent authorities and licensing requirements.

Motorcycles must follow speed limits prescribed by law and toll way operators, must not lane-split and overtake in between lanes and must not use lanes normally used by other vehicles in accordance with safe motoring and practice.

The department order added that motorcycles must also travel with their headlights on at all times to improve and enhance their visibility to other toll way users and must ensure that their tail lights and turn-signal lights are working at all times.

Motorcycle owners, at the same time, will be allowed only one back rider and must each use protective gears particularly helmets.

They will also not be allowed to load extra cargo except for normally accepted saddlebags and for luggage carriers specifically designed for motorcycles.

Motorcycle users shall also pay a toll rate prescribed by a current class I vehicles and encouraged to use electronic toll collection equipment (E-pass or EC-Tag).

I will be on vacation until Easter Sunday.
Regular blogging will resume Monday after Easter or Tuesday…or….a basta.

Bon Voyage!!

This got me tickled pink! Vespinoy has made it to the short list of finalists in the Philippine Blog Awards 2007. We fall under the Sports and Recreation category, they probably got it right since I wouldn’t know where to place my own blog.

We are joined by the following blogs.

Sports & Recreation:

• Be@rbrick Love
• ChiyoDad Learns Go
• Sporting Break
• Who rides a Vespa?

Read more…  

Nominated by the public, voted upon by the public, moderated and organized by MBI!

Motorcycle Bloggers International (MBI), announced the winners of the 2007 Riders Choice Awards. The awards, voted by thousands of riders in 88 countries, recognize significant achievements and serious lapses in judgment during 2006 by motorcycle and related product manufacturers, persons and organizations. This years winners are:

MBI Riders Choice – Star Awards

• A rider’s dream — To ride the Silk Route, from Istanbul Turkey to Xian, China
• Best concept motorcycle or scooter — Ducati Desmosidici RR
• Best exhibition of 2006 — Intermot
• Best looking new in 2006 motorcycle — Triumph Daytona 675
• Best manufacturer’s website — BMW Motorrad
• Best motorcycle or scooter blog — Scooter in the Sticks
• Best new in 2006 every day motorcycle — BMW F800S
• Best new in 2006 motor scooter — Piaggio MP3
• Best new in 2006 motorcycle — BMW F800ST
• Object of lust — Ducati Desmosedici RR
• Wish we’d thought of that — Piaggio MP3
• Women riders booster of the year — Ardys Kellerman
• Standing ovation — Ardys Kellerman

MBI Riders Choice – Fallen Star Awards

• Thumbs down — Billy Lane
• What were they thinking — Speed TV Superbikes
• Worst manufacturer’s website — Icon Motorcycle Gear

The Riders Choice Awards are unique in that the nominees and winners are chosen by every day riders around the world. The awards reflect the judgment of the motorcycle buying public, not motorcycle industry insiders. Anyone could vote, there was no restriction on age, gender or country. Even non-riders could vote. No registration, nor email addresses were required. However, a system of storing and analyzing IP addresses was put in place to minimize duplicate voting.

After the success the first Awards had last year, membership in MBI skyrocketed from 12 to 96. Millions of readers worldwide read about the 2006 Awards.

About MBI
MBI (whose motto is “Riding and writing is what we do”) is a group of 96 international motorcycle weblog authors from China to Chile. Membership is open to any motorcycle rider who maintains an active motorcycle-related Internet weblog or news web site with original commentary. With a combined readership over 2 million readers per month, the awards represent a true feeling what lives amongst the biker communities. The awards are not given by professional journalists, commercial publications or companies, but by the public.

More information about MBI, its members and the complete list of nominees will be found at the MBI web site http://www.mbiweb.org/ .

MBI Website: Http://www.mbiweb.org/
MBI Awards 2007: http://www.mbiweb.org/2007/

Interview Contact: Mike Werner
Telephone: +33-2-35297230

A comprehensive review of Piaggio’s newest addition to it’s lineup, the Piaggio Fly.
Review and photos by Gerdie Francisco.

Three weeks after I looked at the Piaggio Fly 125 at 2211 Works, I was ready to take it home. I felt like bringing a new born baby to its new home. Well of course, I don’t know what that feels like but taking home “Firebird” seemed to feel that way. Oh yes, my new red scooter’s name is Firebird. I named it after Igor Stravinsky’s opera.

Before taking it home, I had a taste of test-driving the unit just so I’d be familiar with the controls. It has been seven months since I’ve driven a scooter and so I wanted to make sure that I could still ride and control one.

Read more…  

Vespinoy has been experiencing a lot of downtime lately and I guess it’s because we’ve been getting a lot of traffic that it’s bogging our current server down. As mentioned to me by my Web Host Abe, Vespinoy has been responsible for crashing the server several times already.

Well, I think it’s time to shift to a bigger server, not dedicated yet since we definitely cannot afford it, just a bigger plan.

I’m looking around for a new server for Vespinoy. Maybe someday the site will pay for itself and we can afford our own server. I can dream can’t I?

Imagine my surprise when I got a text from my sister inviting us to watch her show.

Come and join us for an evening of good music with Agot’s Back to Basics concert on Feb. 7 and 8 at the Music Museum.

Show starts at 8:30p.m. Tickets are available at UMPI office.
Just call Ronald at 412-3403 or 415-8085.
Tickets priced at P1,200.00 orchestra center, P1,000.00 orchestra side and P800.00 balcony. Thanks so much for your support!!! See you there!!!!

So there…..Des and I are gonna watch the Feb 7 show along with a couple of other friends, do let us know if you want to join us. You know where to reach me.

Cool!! Check out BBC America’s cool new site too.

Also, check out BBC America’s new station ID featuring a Vespa P200E.

Hat tip to 2StrokeBuzz for the info.