How did you get into Scooters? Story of Malaguti USA

[ilianbumer]

where can i get the picture from 03:00 ?? Please who have it to give me i want it very much !!

[Dano853]

I bought a 2005 F10 a few weeks back. It has 7000 miles on it, which some Asian scooters wont ever see before they die. Plain white.. nothing fancy. But its confortable, quick, and dependable. I just hope it doesnt need parts anytime soon. Until i saw it on craig's list i had never even heard of them, but when i went to their website i was impressed.

[MartinRacingPerf]

@Dano853 we have all the parts in stock for the F10

[Dano853]

@MartinRacingPerf can I buy direct from you or do I have to go through a 3rd party? i called MRP and the guy said you were wholesale only. BTW Loving the F10. I put almost 200 miles a week on it.

[MartinRacingPerf]

@Dano853 Click on places to buy, then web stores, all the F10 repair manuals are on the website in PDF. The F-10 parts are all in stock, make sure to look on Google or one of the sites using the exact numbers from the PDF manual for the F10. Use those numbers and we will drop ship it , you will get it directly to your house.

[MartinRacingPerf]

@Dano853 F10 is still one of the fastest bikes for Racing. The F12 and F10 are now collectors items in Italy with many professional racers using them in Germany on the track because they are getting harder to find in Germany since Sachs stopped distributing them. I also got an email recently from an Italian rider who put a GY6 engine in his F12 which is extremely illegal but the cops in Italy dont know any better.

[poisedonis]

Yes ,, you really did a good job in this video,, it explains alot,, keep up the good work.

[MartinRacingPerf]

@poisedonis Thank you sir, appreciate the comment.

[sailorick]

Wow, I was begining to think I was the only person in America that owns a Malaguti Phantom F12!!! Bought mine new in 2005 from a small shop here in Sacramento. Great video!!

[london1817]

Wow awesome story! I am sorry the economy slowed down!

I hope it bounces back and you sell these great bikes stronger and faster in the near future. Thanks .

[MartinRacingPerf]

The Italians have adapted by making scooters in Asia. Piaggios largest factory in the world is now in Vietnam.

All new Piaggio - Vespas that are coming to the USA except for the 250cc and 500cc come from China. The plan is for all the units to eventually be made there except for the high tech ones like the MP3. Mark my words.

Aprilia is made now by Jincheng, All US models except for the 500cc including the 250 come from China.

Benelli is QJ China, Italjet is now CF MOTO,

[Scootertuner1000]

That's funny, my 2009 Italjet 250 says made in Italy on every part of it.

[MartinRacingPerf]

@Scootertuner1000 2009 - Not made in Italy. Its CF MOTO or Znen. Anything after 2003 was made in China. It's a sad state of events. Malaguti has stopped making units in Italy, Italjet is all Asian made, Benelli is all Chinese, and so is Garelli. Only Piaggio Group now makes anything in Italy as of 2011 and that is in doubt for the future. Aprilia / Piaggio production is being made in Asia, even Derbi is set to close soon. Most Derbi / Gillera models will be Aprilia for export.

[politirel]

Nice video, the huge number of Chinese scooter makers must be killing off the Italian makers now I would imagine.

[MartinRacingPerf]

When it comes to America this is a good media outlet Honestly, Playboy is still one of the best magazines in this country. I also can't complain thanks to Playboy I've had the chance to meet legends from Hef to talking to Gene Simmons from Kiss for 2 hours, met many celebrities and Playmates who are amazing women. You have everyting from attorneys to biologists so it opens your eyes to the world. Playboy has help launch many products from cars to lighters so its a good venue for any new product.

[vespaet4]

I liked the playboy idea but can not see how this would have really pushed awareness to the masses on scooters. It appears that it would have over shadowed the idea on the scooter maybe even cheapend it.True to a point sex sells but not everything. The other thing working against the product would have been the fact that not to many people would know Malaguti unlike Vespa, Honda, Yamaha etc, which are well known. Thank you for sharing your story. I hope that Malaguti makesa come back

[MartinRacingPerf]

@vespaet4 We were in Maxxim, Playboy, we did events in the USA with Ferrari and Ducati North America. We did sponsor Playboy Spring Break 2001, 2002, 2003 working with several dot.coms that were buying and giving away scooters at the time. Barilla pasta, Peroni beer, we worked with the hip hop community we did it all, but you cannot fight the global economy. Italjet went under, Derbi got sold, Benelli went under. The Chinese sunk the Italian market itself.

[ChicagoScooterClub]

Great video!

[giuseppe0gt]

However the most beautiful motorbike that the Malaguti has done is the PHANTOM F12 without shade of doubt! if then you want a test you write on YOU Tube "PHANTOM F12 Malossi" or "PHANTOM F12 Polini" it is you will see the elaborations that are done in ITALY

[leovinceusa]

Well told story. LeoVince still makes performance exhausts for Malaguti scooters. Like to see them back in the USA. The market position for a "premium" scooter has yet to evolve fully in the USA...but it must.

[PalmTwister]

Great promotions, but stay away from the beer! Drunks on scooters is NOT a good selling point. (That is a majority of the cycle accidents. Stick with HOT, WOW, SMART, CHOICE, and CUSTOM.)

Love watching all these videos.

[MartinRacingPerf]

@PalmTwister thanks appreciate it. just read this a little late but appreciate it.

[MartinRacingPerf]

@PalmTwister Thank you for the kind comment.

[ylonkamop]

gilera for life

[walker2508]

wow, that was a very interesting story.

thank you for sharing it with us

[KRAZYSCOOTER]

Awesome Video keep it up, I LUV ALL UR VIDEOS, u guys make the scene kewl

[MartinRacingPerf]

@KRAZYSCOOTER thanks man

[MartinRacingPerf]

The motorcycle industry is a place where you can make a lot of money or loose a lot of money. Anyone remember MZ in America? It is now global in nature a Malaysian company can come and buy you out and close the US warehouse. It is a business mostly driven by passion and sometimes not by financials.

[MartinRacingPerf]

You will meet lots of characters of all backgrounds the MBA will mean nothing to them just remember that. Many of them built themselves up purely on experience or hardwork, small shop owners take great pride in this. You will also meet people who get in that are D]doctors, lawyers, investors, who want something different. You never know...

You can't take anything with you in life, but you can live the adventure. Make sure you have good times and add something to the world.

[MartinRacingPerf]

hmmm....

Advice for anyone looking at getting into the industry? Have fun, there is no such thing as a scooter emergency. That applies at all levels retail, design, distribution.

[tpattersontx]

This is how to build an empire, I'm studying for my MBA in Scooter Business Studies, and we should talk, you seem like the expert amigo!

[MartinRacingPerf]

@tpattersontx Thanks hope you got that MBA

[tweelee]

awesome video joel! very informative. you guys kicked ass promoting the hell out of malaguti. all you boys look so anorexic back then...hehehe. nice work putting this together ;)

[thescooterscoop]

Awesome! You guys really hustled those scoots. Thanks for the backstory!

[MartinRacingPerf]

Its a great brand we hope someday if the dollar makes a rebound or if they outsource to Asia they can re-enter the market. Even if they dont it was a fun ride and an MBA in world business. We traveled, we met passionate riders, cool people, amazing memories you can't buy, we partied, and we rode cool scooters. The best and made in Italy which is what we wanted. Anyone that owns a Malaguti knows the difference.

Joel@MRP

[jkramm102]

Props to Joel Martin, the Scooter Maven! This is great