Need help with getting a scooter club together.

[Mscmkr]

Hey everyone, I am looking into starting my own scooter group on my side of town and would love some insight into getting one up and running. There are two great clubs in the valley but they are a very long way from where I live. Most of there rides are over where they are so it looks like I will need to trailer my bike there, or just miss them all together.
     I'm looking into getting my own club together and would love some tips and info from anyone who has either done it or is in one. I ordered some cards with some info on it asking people to join the club and thought I would start leaving them on any scooters I see. I put my email address on them so the people can reach me. I hope this sounds like a good idea. I may put a page up on meetup.com but there's a monthly fee for that.
    If anyone has any other suggestion or any information they can throw out I would very much appreciate it. 

     Thanks and ride safe, mscmkr

[kingkymco125]

Putting a scooter club can be difficult. I have involved with the Nevada Scooter Brigade here in Vegas for over four years. Everyone has different schedules for work and other obligations such as family. We do have the monthly In and Out Meetup which is great. When I first went we were getting at least ten scooterists to show up. Now this number is less than ten. You start or join a scooter club to share your love of riding with other riders. Going on rides by oneself is okay, but after awhile you realize you want to ride with other riders since it is more fun. 

Our group is on Meetup.com and we do have a facebook page to help promote the group. We have less than 25 active members who actually go to events.  Not everyone in your group will have a quality bike. Due to economics they only be able to the Chinese scooters. The group might at first be made of people who have 50cc bikes since they do want the hassle of having to register and insure the bike. For them a 50cc works just fine. There are others who have had 50ccs, but realized they wanted a bigger bike. They upgrade to the 125cc class and higher. This met their needs.

Remember you cannot do everything. It is good to have co-organizers that help with events and rides. Through my local scooter club I made some good friendships from people I would have otherwise met. Because of the group I have been able to go to the annual Vegas HighRollers Scooter Rallies. They have been some of the best time I have ever had from being involved in the scooter community.

I will add you to the Nevada Scooter Brigade facebook page. Ask to join. I know the L.A. Scooter Club is huge. I have checked their facebook page and their rides were averaging at least 50 or more riders which is impressive.  As the summer comes. you will probably not be many day rides. Your night rides will be your best because of the climate.

I hope this gives you some ideas, or help in achieving your task. Good luck my scooter brother. Peace be with you.

[Vivo]

Agree with kingkymco125...  A scooter club starts with some individuals with a shared purpose.... additional members sharing the same purpose follow...   There are clubs that focus on mods and racing... there are clubs that focus on charity rides and other similar events.... there are clubs that prefer long rides and outdoor adventure... there are clubs that focus on just showing off their rides... There are clubs for specific models only and there are the mixed ones... There are lots of scooter clubs here in my country and one doesn't really need to join one to enjoy... I just gather my friends for a ride and enjoy!

[Mscmkr]

Hey guys, thanks so much for the info, you are fantastic. I would love to put together a club that is just for the fun of riding. I love my scoot and love to ride it, but I would love to have some people I can go out with maybe a couple times a month and just ride. I would also like to just meet up with our scooters and have lunch and trade stories or just chat.
    I'm just looking for a club that would be pretty casual and relaxed. I don't need to get into the mods and all of that. Of course, I'm not against including things like that. I'm about to redo my Like seat soon and just might do it myself. So the mod thing is not a bad idea.
    I will keep everyone updated with the progress. I'm going to start leaving the cards on people's scooters in the next few days. I do see a descent amount of them around my area so I hope I can get a few to sign up.

    Thanks again and ride safe, mscmkr

[paper]

If it were me, I'd talk to some diner or restaurant and see if they'd let you get a group together as a party/meeting once a month, and then put flyers up at dealerships and other places where you know scooters gather.

And don't get bummed out when 3 people show up..

It takes time and you have to remember, if everyone wanted to have a scooter club, there'd already be one.

Also remember that seldom do you get a group that rides the same. I ride with a group of 3 friends, and even though they're like brothers to me, I get frustrated when someone rides super slow... I got together with a group of Goldwing riders years ago, and halfway through the ride, I politely excused myself as we were riding 10mph below the speed limit. Cars were passing us.. I don't ride fast, but I do normally ride at least the speed limit or up to 10 or so above.

Anyway, I'd start a gathering and after the gathering have a ride to another spot as a gathering.

In my area, we have the Slimey Crud Run..  Twice a year a bunch of people on all shapes and forms of bikes (and scooters) gather, BS, kick tires, and then ride to another spot to do the same.
Just remember, it has to start somewhere..

[wkreps]

Even though I have not been involved in a scooter club, I have been involved in organizations and one thing that gets members to show besides a ride would be to learn something. Organizing an inside tour of a dealership, dealer demo day, other members coming in to talk about a mod done on their scoot and how you can do it too. Helping non profit organizations with club fundraisers. Gets you good publicity went you send something to the local radio station to tell them how your club is doing something to help Easter Seals, United Way or (insert charity of choice). Good for the charity and good exposure for the club.

I also stress that you cannot do it all yourself (unless you keep it simple like rides only). Remember to start small and expand when you have the people who want to help you expand.

[alphaBETAdog]

Hey everyone, I am looking into starting my own scooter group on my side of town and would love some insight into getting one up and running. There are two great clubs in the valley but they are a very long way from where I live.

I'd be a lot more active with Glen's group, but since I'm in north Scottsdale it's a long way for me too. He centers his getogethers mostly around Gilbert, Mesa, and central Phoenix. Occasionally he has rides up to Cave Creek and Bartlette Lake. I'm a member of the Phx area Moto Guzzi club and we have informal breakfast meetings the 1st Sunday of the month at the Denny's on Bell Rd just west of I-17. They have a nice banquet room we use and there must be some sort of standing agreement since we always have it to ourselves and this has  been going on for many years. We all pay our individual meal tabs, so that is never an issue.

[wkreps]

Speaking of Scooter Clubs, maybe there should be a topic for them so that people can post info on clubs. It would would really need sub-topics for countries, like such:

KymcoForum.com - General -General Discussion - Scooter Clubs - USA
KymcoForum.com - General -General Discussion - Scooter Clubs - UK
KymcoForum.com - General -General Discussion - Scooter Clubs - Philippines
KymcoForum.com - General -General Discussion - Scooter Clubs - Etc


OR . . if you already know of a comprehensive site that lists them, then post below.

Thanks

[blue]

Back in 07  are club started off on craigslist. Then went to meet-up. and know we have are own web page. we meet at the same place every thursday night if weather is good and sometimes we will do sunday rides. ITs hard to please everyone and there are all kinds of peolpe that join in. So just rember to set rules and safty guide lines. ITs all so good to have a spoke person thats not affrait to speak up and tell others how it is. make it safe and funn. No one is in charge of are club we are just a bunch of scooter guys and girls that love to ride.We try to make are trips so we can stop for ice cream or a fast place to eat but it dont always work out that way. Be careing for others when rideing and for those that cant keep a level head needs to go.If ya cant ride safe you need to go. Its not a race when rideing in a club.we all need to keep up and ride safe. you can check out are web site at.    grscooterclub.com

[kingkymco125]

I know here in Vegas the Nevada Scooter Brigade is expecting a visit from the Sky Island Riders Scooter Club out of Tucson, AZ on May 5th. They will be spending the night in Henderson on their way up to Southern Utah- Zion National Park, St. George area.  This should be a good time by my group. I look forward to meeting some fellow scooterists outside of Vegas. Having a club such as this is always good. We know these riders love to ride as much as we do. 

Because of having this club, we have been able to do long rides such as the Pioneer Saloon in Good Springs, NV which is about 40 miles south of Las Vegas. Some members of my club did the Lake Mead to Overton ride which is 55miles each way from the Henderson area of the Lake Mead area. That was some serious scootering and a fun ride. These are some of the benefits of having a riding club.

[wkreps]

I was thinking about starting a club too but that may be a little too ambitious beings this is my first summer of riding. There is a club about 45 miles away. That's longer than I've riden to this point just to get there. They ride every Sunday. It just seems like a long way to go (for me) at this time. How far do you guys travel to meet up with club members and how long is the ride? Looking for some sort time time commitment for a ride. Are you normally spending 3-4 hours time getting there, riding and then getting home?

[ts1]

Up to 400km approach if I want to meet a special friend.

Otherwise it's just a matter of time and if and with which club I want to ride/what ride they intend to do.
We (Europeans) have several scooter clubs (brand and/or displacement specific or universal) in every town.
Many clubs come and go, some are more or less persistent. The local Vespa club was founded 1952...

Make your club popular with homepage, small ads in scooter/motorcycle/accessory shops and booklets.
Maybe I am too reserved, but I think calling cards are a little bit invasive (for those not interested). We are not allowed to just throw garbage away (on the street), we have to drop them in a litter bin.

[boo]

I would make up some simple fliers and advertise an informal get together at a central location in ones area.

ALL SCOOTER LOVERS WELCOME

A public park would be a good place to meet.
Ideas and friendships can evolve. As more people hear about the "get to gathers", likely more will show as time goes along.

ps: I would not start out with fees and a lot of rules.

[blue]

I would make up some simple fliers and advertise an informal get together at a central location in ones area.

ALL SCOOTER LOVERS WELCOME

A public park would be a good place to meet.
Ideas and friendships can evolve. As more people hear about the "get to gathers", likely more will show as time goes along.

ps: I would not start out with fees and a lot of rules.

x2 just go for it post a get together on craigslist and just meet a greet. we did 2 ads one the event part and one in the  motorcycles and scoots for sale part the frist day we had like 20 scoots show up it was fun...........

[wkreps]

x2 just go for it post a get together on craigslist and just meet a greet. we did 2 ads one the event part and one in the  motorcycles and scoots for sale part the frist day we had like 20 scoots show up it was fun...........

WOW! Nice turnout for such a couple simple posts