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Philip McCaleb, founder and president of Chicago-based Genuine Scooter Company, says the company is preparing a Cali-legal four-stroke 150cc Stella for 2010. The 49-state-legal two-stroke Stella retails for $3,599.
After doing business during the past five years at an annual average growth rate of 46 percent, Genuine’s sales in 2008 skyrocketed 178 percent compared to 2007 on the back of a consumer base seeking to downsize their vehicles and a dealer network successfully marketing scooters not as toys but as a credible transportation alternative.
ScooterWorks Direct, a subsidiary of Genuine Scooter Company, plans to release a 260-page parts, garments and accessories catalog later this month. Visit GenuineScooters.com.
Reader Comments:
I think it's a pretty good idea. It's time we cleaned up our act, pollution wise. There are plenty of old Baja scooters running around here, doing just fine, and I think Stella will sell more scooters now.
Scooterchick
St. Pete, FL
12/30/2009
I have a beautiful 2005 Tangerine Stella 2T with a matching cozy sidecar. This machine has run flawlessly since I bought it new in 2005. I would really enjoy adding another Tangerine Stella to my collection, that being a new 4T.
I put all the goodies on it that I could get my hands on. This machine is a load of fun. It actually gets ridden more than my Honda Silver Wing, which is a nice scooter too. Everybody who sees this beautiful Stella has to come over and talk to me about it. A couple years ago, it was even featured in a print-add for the "Rags and Hogs" rally which is a fundraiser around here yearly. They loved the "rag-top" part of the sidecar, and that it was a cycle of sorts too.
Someday, when I wear out this 2T engine, I will rebuild/replace the engine with a 200 or 250 engine, but until then, I'm enjoying Stella immensely.
Needless to say, I'm a fan of Stella and Genuine Scooter Company / Scooterworks. I bought my sidecar and a ton of my accessories from them (Scooterworks), and was treated fantastically. I had everything shipped to me here in Fayetteville, NC. where I put it all together. I had some fun in my garage with some grinding here, bending there, and adjusting this and that. It all went fine though, and I'm extremely happy with the outcome.
I wish Genuine and Stella a long and happy future, and I hope that many other people will get as much joy from their Stella as I have gotten from mine.
StellaRider
Fayetteville, NC
8/21/2009
All jokes about the Bajaj scooter aside (let's face it, that Bajaj was *slow*), a 4-stroke Stella is not only a great idea, but completely necessary in today's world!
While the 2T Stella is applauded for its power and style, it's not entirely eco-friendly. =Yes, all three of my Stellas (I said 3!) get between 75 and 100 mpg (depending on performance mods, mind you), but let's remember that good gas mileage doesn't always equate to something being "green." Exactly how green can something be when it's puffing blue smoke out its tailpipe?
The 4-stroke Stella - especially if it can bring the same performance as the 2-stroke version - will combine the best of everything we like about these scooters: manual shifting, performance, style, and an earth-friendly engine.
To my friends at Genuine Scooters: I hope you're making a lot of these, because you're going to sell about a billion of 'em.
And for any of those naysayers out there, just remember: you can always slap a turbo on it.
Craig
Tucson, AZ
7/16/2009
In spite of Mr. Moores' toxic comments below (posted 4/27/09), I applaud what Genuine Scooter has attempted to do to keep a geared metal bodied classic scooter on the market. Unfortunately the 2T's days are likely numbered (which is why I bought a 2008 Stella new) but from what I am seeing of this 4T version, it's as good as it gets. I believe this may even put Piaggio on notice that there is a market (albeit not large) for geared scooters.
BTW, my Stella is very well built and runs totally flawlessly, time and time again. Not bad, for a "bad idea."
Dave Levy
Seattle, WA
6/7/2009
I had a 2007 Stella PINK which I dearly loved, but I only had it for four months (407 miles) before I lost it in a carport fire. I have postponed a repurchase, but currently I have been perusing scooter sites once again. I would love to replace it with another PINK Stella, manual transmission with 4-stroke engine.
Mary Herman
Eugene, OR
5/16/2009
With the introduction of a four stroke to the American market, I hope that the following will hold true:
First, I would like to see Genuine continue to produce a standard transmission. Even if a CVT is optional, let those who choose not to go with that option continue to do so.
Second, I'm hoping that a two-stroke will still be available for those who, once again, prefer that option as well. If possible, price the two-stroke at least $100 less than the price of the four-stroke. If absolutely necessary, have the two-stroke available with only two or three colors (black, orange and red would be ideal).
A question I have is since the re-introduction of the Stella, has the quality gotten better? I've heard that they weren't built quite that well before the "hiatus" but that things improved this time around.
Tony
Laurel, MD
5/2/2009
The Genuine product is not as innovative and great as they appear. The Piaggio Vespa PX was a much better scooter hands down and now Geniune wants to produce a 150 4T. Hmm, can someone remember the horrible Baja that flopped and so will this. Bad idea.
John Moore
LA, CA
4/27/2009
The rumors are true. I knew it would take a little bit more r&d. Lets just hope it isn't a robbing "Peter to pay Paul" situation. Honestly a 200-250cc would be much more fitting. And hoping to keep m/t and not going to CVT.
Nathan
San diego, CA
3/30/2009
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