Motorcycles, cars and bicycles. Fresh or Vintage to Ride?
-Part I: Fresh Rides

Many of you may be thinking of the latest cars, then EVs (electric vehicles), and then "Tesla.　While Tesla stands out from the rest, Mr. MOMIOKA chose the "Model Y." Since taking delivery of his car in February 2022, he has been driving it about 2,000 km per month on average, mainly between Tokyo and Tateyama, Chiba, where he has two bases of operations.

I have had many cars in my life, but I have only bought one new car, and it was my first EV. I was interested in Tesla not because I wanted to drive an EV in the first place, but simply because I liked the visual appeal of the car, and I decided to purchase one on the spot at the showroom. Incidentally, the fact that Tesla is available for purchase from a smartphone also overturned the conventional wisdom of buying in person at a dealership.

I thought, "If I had to drive a Tesla next, I would have to go with ". I thought the visual appeal of Tesla was so different from other cars that it was cool. I have an Astro and a Blazer, but I only drive Teslas because they are easy and fun to drive... (laughs). (Laughs) . Everything from purchasing to daily operations can be completed with a single smartphone, so it's very convenient. (Laughs.) It's convenient because everything from purchasing to daily operations can be done with just one phone. If you are not good with a phone, it may be a little difficult until you get used to it.

What struck me as I listened to Mr. Konooka's story was his unique perspective, as he has owned many cars over the years and still owns two American cars and three Harley-Davidsons.

The lines of the Tesla from the rear and the way it feels when you sit in the seat give it a very rugged look. It's not perfect, but it has a little bit of an openness to it, and that's something that you don't see in European cars, and that's what makes them so cool, which is typical of American cars.

As he says, while many other manufacturers have converted their gasoline-powered models into EVs, Tesla has inherited the American car philosophy, but with a fresh look. The car can make two round-trips between Tokyo and Chiba, a distance of 100 km each way, which is where he usually drives, and he has a quick charger installed at his home, so he has solved the problem of charging, which is one of the challenges of EVs.

Another major factor in my decision to purchase the car was the existence of Tesla's unique "dog mode," which was unthinkable in previous cars. If you leave your dog temporarily in the car, the air conditioning will be kept on and a message will be displayed on the monitor to let you know that your dog is in the car.

I always stay with my flat-coated retriever Noah (a female who will be six years old on July 28 of this year), so I chose to add an optional pet seat cover for the back seat. I don't think he (Noah, my dog) really understands it (laughs), but the dog mode is a very generous service. I'm not interested in cars other than Tesla at the moment, so I hope I can continue to enjoy driving other cars and motorcycles as well.

Kazuho and Tsukasa are fresh in our minds after winning the "Tokyo Fashion Award Kazuho and Tsukasa are fresh in our minds after winning the "Tokyo Fashion Award 2024. When we asked these young designers to show us their favorite bicycles, they appeared on stage riding their recently acquired "Cannondale" bicycles.

Founded in the United States in 1971, Cannondale is a long-established manufacturer that is also known as one of the three major sport bike brands in North America. The company offers a wide range of models, from full-fledged race bikes to cross bikes and e-bikes suitable for city riding, as well as gravel bikes and mountain bikes for riding over rough surfaces.

So, out of all the bicycle manufacturers, why did you both choose "Cannondale"?

Bobby from YOUTHQUAKE was riding an old custom-built "Cannondale. Ever since I saw that, I've had an image of this cool brand, and I've always wanted to get one someday.

"I used to do PR for Cannondale. Kei of YOUTHQUAKE was the PR person for Cannondale until then. I was under the impression that they had a lot of classic designs, but when he recommended me to take a look at the current models, I found that I liked them, including the shapes. Among them, this mountain bike caught my eye.

Yes, the deciding factor was the influence of the members of YOUTHQUAKE, who were close to us.

As mentioned earlier, the "Cannondale" lineup is diverse. From there, Mr. Tsukasa chose the "Treadwell 3," a cross bike with a bright red frame. 3" cross bike with a bright red frame. I used to ride a Linus pisto bike. He says that he wanted a change of pace from the low-tech design of his previous bike, and switched to a sporty, high-tech bike. The Treadwell 3" is put to good use when he commutes from his home to his office in Shibuya.

. the ride is nimble, and the bumps and bumps are not a burden. . The bike makes my 40-minute commute to work enjoyable. . As for the design, I love the red frame. At first I thought it was too flashy, but the more I rode it, the more I liked it (laughs).

Kazuho, on the other hand, is also a motorcycle enthusiast. Since moving to Tokyo after graduating from high school, he has been riding Kawasaki's off-road KLX, but he chose Cannondale as a more convenient means of transportation. He said, "I prefer active and sturdy motorcycles," and the "Trail 5" mountain bike met that ideal. 5" mountain bike.

As for riding comfort, he said, "While it has front suspension, large tires, and other details typical of a mountain bike, the bike itself is actually very light. . The specs are more than sufficient for a comfortable ride in town. . He uses his bike to visit several spots in a day, and his bicycle when he just travels from his home to the office.

Although the two bikes have different personalities, they have in common a high level of functionality and a design that is a cross between a sport bike and a street bike. The "Cannondale" has captured the hearts of these discerning riders in less than a month since they started riding it.

Vespa's PX200 When we met Mr. Tanaka, a long-time "FL2" rider, at a trade show or somewhere else, he told us that he had bought a new "Vespa. Owning two Vespas, one new and one old, is a luxury in a sense, but I am very curious as to why he bought the new model as well.

. This is a Primavera 125, and I bought it new in October 2023. When I went to the motorcycle shop to pick up the liability insurance for my old Vespa, I said, "It's starting to get cold, so I was wondering if you had a good one with wind protection and a box to carry my luggage. I told him, "It's starting to get cold, so I was wondering if there was a good one with wind protection and a box to carry my luggage. (Laughs.) Before I bought the car, I considered domestic cars, but I decided that I wanted a "Vespa.

Since the first Primavera model was introduced in 1968, the Primavera series has been a symbol of Vespa's small body range. The "Primavera 125" owned by Mr. Tanaka has undergone a series of model changes, and is now equipped with ABS as standard equipment and LED headlights. The "PX," by the way, is a large-body model, and although they are the same "Vespa," they are of course different in age and style.

After a fateful encounter with "Primavera 125," it has been about half a year since I took delivery of the vehicle, a "PX200" from more than 25 years ago . Comparing the "FL2" with the latest "Primavera 125," it was natural to notice the evolution in many respects, such as the change from a two-stroke to a four-stroke engine and the change from analog to digital meters.

PX200 FL2" has a manual transmission, but "Primavera 125" has an automatic transmission, which is easier and faster. . It was hard to get used to the fact that the rear brake was changed from my foot to my hand at first. （It's not a mixture (of gasoline), so it gets good gas mileage, and in Tokyo, it's faster and more convenient than a car (regardless of traffic jams). The windshield makes a big difference when it rains, and of course in the cold of winter.

By the way, when skaters think of Vespas, Matt Hensley and Rick Howard come to mind, and now the market value of older models is only going up and up. Many people give up their older models when they buy a new car, and even if they don't, owning two cars is not easy as a practical matter due to parking space and financial considerations.

. I don't plan to give up either of them, since I have my own parking space. . Of course, old things have their own merits, and new things have their own merits. Having ridden the Primavera 125, I have recently become interested in a newer model, the GTS300, and riding the PX200 FL2 for the first time in a while has been very interesting. FL2" has a different feel to it, and I would like to continue to ride both of them with care.