They're cute and they scoot.

Byline: Joe Mosley The Register-Guard

A convergence of funky style and fuel efficiency is causing a nostalgic buzz among commuters in Eugene and around the country: scooters zipping off the pages of motor vehicle history books and onto local streets.

Hondas and Yamahas from Japan, Kymcos from Taiwan and the granddaddy of all floorboarded two-wheelers - Italian-made Vespas - are seeing a resurgence in popularity as motorists look for alternatives to gas-hungry cars.

And maybe even a little wind-in-your-face fun.

"One of the things I really like about what I'm seeing currently is that the age group is really expanded," says Bill Cole, owner of Eugene's Wheelworks bike shop, which added Vespas to its line of scooters this spring.

"It's everything from young people to old people," Cole says. "I actually had a guy in his 80s who came in and bought a scooter. He said it was his way to revolt against the high gas prices."

Wheelworks, at 407 W. 11th Ave., carries Vespa, Piaggio and Aprilia scooters that range in price from $2,650 to $7,900, in engine size from 50 cc to 500 cc and in top speed from 30 mph to over 100 mph.

Gas mileage ranges upward of 100 mpg.

But don't mistake these for motorcycles.

"The basic difference between a scooter and motorcycle is the scooter has floorboards that you actually put your feet on," Cole says. "And a scooter will always have some kind of leg shield in front of you to protect you from the wind.

"If you can ride a bicycle, you can ride a scooter," he says, pointing out that licensing and insurance are mandatory. "There are two hand brakes, and the only other item is a throttle."

Michael Pierce of Cycle Parts, a Triumph motorcycle dealership at 1110 Ocean St., says the shop's line of Kymco scooters is developing a strong following.

"There's almost an underground scooter world," Pierce says. `They tend to be pretty attractive to the `arts set,' and there's a surprising number of seniors using them. They like the simplicity of scooters - you turn the grip and go."

Vespas (Italian for "wasp") were introduced in 1946 by Italian military aircraft manufacturer Piaggio, seeking to develop a cheap means of transportation for postwar Europe.

The machines have become commonplace throughout Italy, France and Great Britain, and were developing a market in the United States until California - at the time the country's top Vespa market - changed its emissions standards in the mid-1980s and made the scooters' two-stroke engines illegal.

But first the Asian manufacturers and then the Italian companies developed four-stroke engines and new scooter models, and their popularity has been on the upswing in most major U.S. cities since Vespas were reintroduced in 2000, according to various reports in national publications.

"We've probably sold more scooters this year than in previous years, but it's not like sales have doubled or anything like that," says sales manager Stan Karotko at Ramsey-Waite Co., 4258 Franklin Blvd. "But motorcycle sales in general are really good."

Ramsey-Waite carries Suzuki, Yamaha and Schwinn motor scooters, while Cycle Sports of Eugene at 555 River Road carries Honda scooter models.

At Wheelworks, Piaggio and Aprilia scooters have been available since the shop opened in 2001.

But Cole says 2006 has been the year of the scooter - particularly since the Vespa line came on board this spring.

"This year it's taken off a lot more than any year previously," Cole says. "We didn't sell that many scooters from 2001 to 2005. This year already - just in the first three months - we sold more than we did last year."

"And I don't think it's going to be a trendy thing," he said. "As commuting becomes more of an issue with the car, and gas prices continue to climb, it makes a lot of sense to do scooters."

Retail Notebook runs on Fridays. Joe Mosley can be reached at 338-2384 or jmosley@guard net.com.