Sunday, January 13, 2008

Scooter or car?


It's been a while since I've wanted to show you this strange scooter called a C1 and manufactured by BMW. It was sold in Europe between 2000 and 2003 and you can still see many in Paris. Businessmen and women like it because it's got the "form factor" of a scooter but does not require to wear a helmet nor to wear a raincoat (it's equipped with a seat belt and a sort of roof). Dangerous? Not that much, if you believe what crash tests show.

19 comments:

  1. I wonder if the man realized he was photographed (and also if he will see the result here) but I bet he didn't !
    The C1 may be cool for scooter's users : less dangerous, best protection against rain, ... but what about its price ?

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  2. Hmm well i suppose it's a compromise isn't it and possibly a bit more visible by cars therefore a bit safer. Ok it's a softly spoken yes from me. He looks quite cool that chap. Would there be room for me to sit next to him by any chance? ;)

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  3. Looks like something batman would drive.

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  4. What a great city shot! When you zoom the photo, it looks like he's about to be run over by the truck in the background - seatbelt would not help!

    Even more interesting to me is the fruit stand in the background - looks tres yummy!

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  5. Lynn,

    That's one of the bad points of this C1 :one seat only!!
    There is a possibility for a passenger, but that's at the back, instead of the case ;-(
    I'm not sure you would appreciate...

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  6. I agree with Lynn and Pont Girl, the guy looks pretty cool and the details in this shot makes one feel like we're right there in the middle of this parisian street scene.

    I can easily picture you riding one of these Eric!

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  7. ...sometimes I wonder how come checking out PDP became such a daily habit of mine... I mean it's early sunday morning, not sunny enough to go to the beach, so after having breakfast all I wanted to do is run to the computer to see what Eric had brought us today...

    man that's crazy!

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  8. Tres chic, but I'd still wear a helmet! JP/deb

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  9. That guy actually looks a little like my cousin, but way cooler. :) My cousin wouldn't be in Paris anyway, but 15 years ago today I began my semester in Paris on my twenty-first birthday! *sigh* Paris me manque....

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  10. Monica, that's not crazy. Some of us are dying to get back to Paris. This is the next best thing.

    I wonder if Eric has seen the great Piaggio MP3 ?
    And, M, have a great day at the beach !

    Eric, thanks for pointing out that my photo had not loaded. I think it happens, when one finishes a posting and then edits it. Blogger sometimes gets a bit confused.

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  11. It must be the collective unconcious , Monica! I just woke up and this is the first thing I did this morning! Haven't even checked email, as PDP has proven to be a delicious addiction.

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  12. http://eliane888.blogspot.com/

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  13. Thib thanks, that's disappointing, though being behind him would mean i had to hold on tightly round him he he...

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  14. M.Benaut and PHX-CDG, glad to know I'm not the only one addicted!

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  15. It looks a trifle cumbersome to me, but if it's safer...!

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  16. I think the price was in the region of 6 000 €

    Lynn, there is no room for another person on this scooter! (See what Thib answered)

    Thanks Pont Girl ;)

    Monica, I actually prefer "real" motorbikes not "toys"!!

    Marcia, maybe your brother lookalike!


    Mr Benaut. Yes I saw the MP3, it's very very popular here. About your photo, it's probably a bug with Picasa. I experience the same thing sometimes.

    PHX-CDG. Sorry, I have no cure for that addiction ;) (that reminds me of Diana Ross' song "If there is a cure for this, I don't want it, don't want it...")

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  17. That is an interesting scooter. Fun photo!

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  18. Yeah, it's really weird that these things were discontinued, because judging by the number of them you see around you'd think they were a roaring success.

    Actually, the enclosed cockpit gives the photo a rather nice completeness to it - I'll have to look out for one to do my thing with it - thanks for the idea.

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  19. This is very fine. I have seen theese bikes in Paris some years ago.
    Thanks Eric for these pictures. I like them. I am comeing to Paris next spring (the 5th visit) and I like to read and see Paris Daily Photo so often as possible.
    Greetings from Finland.
    Marja-Liisa

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