Only scooter made in USA

[Kansas kymco]

CUSHMAN 2 made Gardenia California is the only scooter made in the USA. Old design with modern technology is what's on their Web site. 3 models with a 14hp engine.  Not my cup of tea but interesting none the less.

The original Cushman  started building scooters in 1903 in Lincoln Nebraska until 1966 when they quit producing scooters. (They produced other products after 1966).

[pa-outdoorsman]

I'd say those things are ugly! Just my opinion of course.

[Kansas kymco]

I don't care for the retro styling as well. There are lots of Cushman clubs all over the USA though.

I don't care for the looks of Vespas or copied Yamaha Vino  either and look how popular they are and how many Vespa clubs there are.

The closest thing to the Cushman styling is the Yamaha C-3 scooter, very utilitarian.

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Then you have motorcyclist that hate scooters in general regardless of styling or models.

[Stig / Major Tom]

I was 4 or 5yrs old  for my first scooter ride - standing one night in my father's red Cushman as he rode through the flooded streets of an Airforce base in Puerto Rico. Even at that age I was impressed with how dim his headlight was.

For many years my father took his B4 bag and his scooter with him on his plane whenever he was TDY for any length of time.(Greenland, Alaska, Germany, Lakenheath U.K., etc.) He used it as handy ground transport at these bases during these temporary assignments. Thus, my mom thinks my scooter riding is nothing strange.

She tells of the time my late father set fire to his package of uniforms which he'd picked up from the base laundry. A passerby flagged down my dad on his scooter and pointed to the smoldering bundle of freshly starched and pressed uniforms tied behind him.

He died of dementia at the Wright-Patterson AFB hosp before I stated riding scooters.....or he would have been test riding them!

Stig

[Kansas kymco]

Stig when did your father pass, mine passed in 1993 from a massive heart attack.  Indirectly dad got me into motorcycles.  He found a (bargin) at a garage sale. A 50cc Harley Legaro that you shifted with your left hand 3 speed Italian built bike . It did not have enough power to hit 3rd unless you were riding downhill with the wind at you back.  During WW2 Dad was stationed up North  guarding the Soo locks. Then went to work for Pratt Whitney building large radial aircraft engines .   

[Stig / Major Tom]

 
[/quote]

Stig when did your father pass, mine passed in 1993 from a massive heart attack.  Indirectly dad got me into motorcycles.  He found a (bargin) at a garage sale. A 50cc Harley Legaro that you shifted with your left hand 3 speed Italian built bike . It did not have enough power to hit 3rd unless you were riding downhill with the wind at you back.  During WW2 Dad was stationed up North  guarding the Soo locks. Then went to work for Pratt Whitney building large radial aircraft engines .   

My father passed away 10 yrs ago next month. He enlisted in 1943, and retired in '73 at the age of 49! He was a navigator during the war in Europe.....and eventually a wing Commander at a base in Mass. after we returned from 3.5 yrs stationed in Paris. NO idea why we were there - but loved it! As part of the occupational forces - my brother and I were born in Germany after the war. Mom is from Tenn.
Most of his career was a mystery to us kids - perhaps my mother knew the details.
I know he flew the B-50 Superfortress when I was a kid - he took us onto the (parked) plane at a base in Florida just one time.
He also flew mapping and reconnaissance flights (including Vietnam) - remaining an aircrew member all of his 30 yrs - getting the required flight hours per month - and passing the yearly flight physicals. He named his sail boat "Flight Pay".
Graduated from Ohio State while in the AirForce in the 60's.

He was somewhat embarrassed by my successful application to become a conscientious objector in the Vietnam war - I think it might have even damaged his career - but after I served a tour as a combat medic in Vietnam our relationship improved.

I'm glad he, "the Colonel",  was around long enough to meet all 6 of my children.

Stig