Gizmag: Honda's bonsai two-wheeled concepts: Scooterdom is about to be pimped

The Zoomer X California Style is designed by Honda's R&D in Thailand to 'combine the Californian culture and the hiphop style'

By Mike Hanlon of www.gizmag.com

The Honda Zoomer X California Style is a scooter with the design features of a chopper – it is based on a lowered Zoomer X with a fat rear tire and steeply raked chrome front fork and a faux shotgun exhaust. It was introduced to rapturous applause and a media frenzy – all in the name of a product AP Honda President Chiaki Kato (that's him on the chopper) says has been built with the "concept of Western culture."

I can just imagine the response to Honda attempting to get some product placement for the Zoomer X California Style in the Sons of Anarchy TV series, or a bro rolling up on one at the local biker bar anywhere in the United States. In the United States, Europe, South Africa and Australia, the Zoomer X California Style would probably never make it out of novelty status. In Asia, with such large numbers at play, it would probably succeed. Custom scooters are commonplace, just as custom cars and motorcycles are in other countries. Local tastes in Asia though, are very different to those in other countries.

Fresh from Honda's presentation, I wandered around the corner only to find Suzuki also had a range of custom scooter concepts on display. Clearly scooterdom is about to be pimped – the bikes below were just some of the concept bikes on show from Suzuki.

The second of Honda's concept machines resonated in perfect pitch with my love of two wheelers.

Source (with more scooter pix and info);
http://www.gizmag.com/honda-test-scooter-chopper-retro-concepts/26829/