Frog Toggs Availabe at Scooter Barn!

As you've probably all noticed, it's been raining lately. A lot. In yet another effort to extend your riding season and keep you dry and warm, Scooter Barn is now carrying Frog Toggs rain gear.

Frog Toggs are 100% waterproof. The jacket features a storm flap over the full-length zipper that keeps rain and wind completely out. They're also super light weight and easily packable.  At only $59.99 for a Jacket and Pant 2-piece suit they're a great deal!

The Coocase Top Box: Not a Milk Crate.

The Scooter Barn is now pleased to carry the Coocase top box, and it makes other top boxes look more like the milk crate you’ve got bungee corded to the back of your ’86 Honda Spree. This box has some seriously high-end features.

The Coocase features a durable, ultra light-weight outer shell with a full neoprene liner and a lid that actually stays open for easy loading and un-loading. The 28 liter version easily fits a Nolan N30 ¾ face helmet, though with little room to spare. The liner however, does a great job of protecting your helmet from scratches and dings.

The built-in LED brake light provides added visibility and comes with a full wiring kit, something that has only been available in top cases as an additional cost, or from another aftermarket vendor. It also has a remote keyless entry with an audible alarm! A little overkill? You bet, but at least if your key fob battery wears out, the supplied key allows you to open the box manually, which also gives you the option to not use the alarm at all.

The case offers a single push button for both case opening and rack release and comes with a universal mounting plate. The single button closure and release is AWESOME! No more fidgeting with the latch for 10 minutes, as it’s both simple and secure.

The Coocase is available in black or silver in the 28 liter “Fusion” for $199.99 or the 36 liter “Wizard” for $249. Will GIVI and SHAD catch on and supply a box with equal features at a competitive price? If they do, you can bet we will be doing a full side by side comparison, but for now the new Coocase top box takes the cake (or rather holds it securely atop your scooter’s rear rack).

2010 Elite 110 – A New Best in Commuting Scooters?

The Honda Elite’s unique style had been a part of Honda’s model line for more than 20 years by the time it was discontinued. Though the style has changed, the name is back with the new Elite 110. Known as the “Lead” in the UK, Honda’s new entry for the US commuter market packages smooth performance and unparalleled quality, though in a somewhat generic wrapping.

Powered by an 108cc fuel injected and liquid cooled single cylinder, the Elite has incredibly smooth power delivery and the throttle response is much quicker than similar carbureted competitors. Is it a rocket ship off the line? No. But it accelerates steadily from a stop, easily up past 50 mph before we start to see the limitations of gearing.

Braking and handling are, well, Honda. The front disk brake works as expected, and when using the rear linked brake system the Elite decelerates quickly, providing safe stopping distances. The suspension

and wheel/tire combo perform well and during our test, absorbed the typical cracks and potholes very well at speed. The handling provides that "scooter feel” of being quick and nimble around town, yet steady when cruising at 45+mph.

Under seat storage is easily twice that of any comparable scooter on the road, and easily fits two helmets. That’s right! It holds a full-face and 3/4 helmet with room for gloves or other small items to spare. This space is achieved by moving the fuel tank under the floor board, thus creating more storage and lowering the scooters center of gravity. An additional glove box has room for a tool kit, cell phone and any other trinkets you may carry with you. For even more storage, the factory rear rack can easily accommodate any common top box, so bust out that GIVI and get to shopping.

Equally important in making this the choice for a commuting scooterist, are the details of the Elite’s ergonomics. Seat height is low at 29 inches and feels even lower due to the shape of the seat itself. At 5’7” I not only have both feet flat on the ground, but have a slight bend in the knee as well. Large flip-out passenger pegs and a large passenger pillion make for a comfortable two-up experience. The space between the rider and leg shield should allow for riders upwards of 6 feet tall to ride comfortably, even in tight, slow speed turns.

With the combination of storage, fuel injection and liquid cooling, all backed by the Honda name, the new Elite 110 can be considered a bargain with its $2,999 MSRP. So the question remains, is the new Elite the best commuting scooter option in the US? With carbureted air cooled competitors offering half the storage in the same price range and quality ranging from poor to average, we think the Elite is on track to regain its old glory as America’s choice in scooter commuting.

Review: ISS Classic Messenger Bag

Similar in shape and style to some of the more popular brands such as Chrome and Timbuk2, this bag is feature-packed at a fraction of the price. Made of ballistic weave nylon, this stylish messenger bag from ISS is also accented with Scotchlite reflective material for visibility.

For you year round riders and commuters, it includes a built-in rain cover. The water poof rain cover completely encloses the bag and still has Scotchlite so you don’t lose any visibility on dark dreary days. But the best part of the rain cover is that it fully detaches from the rest of the bag! Once you get to the office, simply unclip the cover and hang it up to dry out. You don’t have to stuff a damp cover back in the bag, so no more mildew or “wet-messenger-bag smell.”

The neoprene padded shoulder strap is super comfortable and doesn’t dig into your collarbone. It features a quick-release seat belt style buckle across the front, which any messenger bag connoisseur knows is a hot look. Adjustable nylon straps take only seconds to adjust and elastic loops keep the tail end of the strap from flapping around while you ride.

No one wants the contents of their messenger bag strewn across the highway, so the bag has heavy-duty YKK zippers throughout. The d-shaped opening to the main compartment makes packing quick and easy. We’ve found you can easily fit an armored riding jacket and gloves in this bag with room to spare.

Inside you’ll find a padded laptop pocket that is actually large enough to fit a 17” laptop. The laptop pocket has a secure Velcro closure and a pocket for your power cord. The bag also has an exterior organizer pocket for pens and business cards.

While the ISS Classic Messenger bag is only available in one color option ­–black and grey– with all the features it boasts, this bag is a serious deal at only $39.99!

Oyster Run Breakfast

Oyster Run FREE BREAKFAST at Cycle Barn this Sunday from 7am-9:30am!

GEAR SEMINAR!

Stop by our Gear Seminar, Saturday October 3rd from 10am-4pm! Reps from all your favorite brands will be here to show off their gear, answer your questions and teach you what you need to know to ride comfortably all year!
Best of all, Corazzo will be here with their brand new line of riding gear!

Cash for Clunkers