Media Release Best in show Voted "best scooter" presented at this years Brisbane Motorcycle and Scooter Expo, the insane Mobile Audio Solutions Yamaha Aerox.
Allen Drysdale
Presented by Steve Hutchinson, Managing Director of Mobile Audio Solutions, the Yamaha Aerox amazed all those that looked over to see that yes it was the scooter belting out that tune. We asked Steve to give us his story on how he came about building such a creation. Following is his story;
The Mobile Audio Solutions Aerox 50 Scooter project
Why? This is the question I have been asked many times. Why not I invariably reply?
Built as a way of promoting the car audio products imported and distributed by my company, Mobile Audio Solutions, the Aerox has turned into a far more than I could ever have hoped. I first struck on the idea after a few cool ales at the end of a long day, and at the time it seemed a relatively affordable and unusual way to promote some of our new products. The idea lay forgotten for some months until one day while driving past Moorooka Yamaha in Brisbane I spotted a row of Aerox scooters. Quickly parking and hurrying inside I enquired as to how much I would pay for one of these sharp looking bikes. I outlined my plan to turn the scooter into a rolling stereo complete with subwoofers and amplifiers to the young salesman. He looked at me like I was some kind of lunatic but was happy to continue the discussion once my AMEX card was produced and waved about. After quickly negotiating a price and doing the paperwork the Aerox was moved to Northfield Moorooka, located just a few hundred metres up the road, where I intended to carry out the installation over the following months.
Like many plans conceived at the end of a long evening, this one took some time to get rolling, but get rolling it did and within a month I had made what I considered to be a reasonably good start and the scooter was beginning to take shape. However, other work commitments got in the way of any further work and quite a few months passed with nothing more than dust gathering on the now forgotten project. While visiting Super Audio Installations, one of my dealers in Canberra, I happened to mention the scooter project and how it come to something of a standstill. Pat and Petros told me to send it to them and they would be happy to do the job. I didn't take their suggestion to heart until my following visit several months later, when they mentioned it again and this time upon my return to Brisbane, I crated up the Aerox and sent it down to Canberra. Just over one year after I purchased the bike, and only six weeks after its arrival at Super Audio Installations, it was completed.
Petros and Pat had taken the equipment I sent them and fabricated some of the most beautifully sculpted panels and speaker enclosures I have seen. They followed and enhanced the lines of the factory bodywork beautifully and the quality of the finish and the paint is first rate. Now painted in a Crystal effect bright orange paint scheme with black plastics, it takes a few looks to work out what type of scooter it is. The stereo system starts with the front speakers, Dynaudios brand new System 222, a 5 1/2” 2-way component speaker with 28mm soft dome tweeters and midbass drivers that use 3” voice coils (which is like putting a V12 in a mini!). These Danish made speakers are hand made in Denmark to exacting standards and are arguably one of the worlds best automotive speakers, as one listen to this scooter will attest. Producing the low frequencies are two Image Dynamics ID8 dual voice coil 8” subwoofers produced by the well known, in car audio circles, US company that is responsible for more IASCA sound off winning cars than any other subwoofer manufacturer. Motivating these speakers and subs in a TRU Technology Billet B-475 four channel amplifier producing 4 x 75 watts RMS. These amps are the latest release from the only four year old company that is quickly becoming renowned as the maker of the worlds best amplifiers. Completely hand assembled in the US with the highest US parts content of any amp available, these are truly a work of art, with sound quality that is second to none. Providing a sound track is a JVC DVD/Tuner, mounted in the aftermarket pannier, and a Directed Electronics 7” LCD screen, mounted where you would expect to find the speedo, displays the pictures. Powering the system is an Oddassy 500 CCA battery mounted in a custom enclosure under the seat. Get down on your hands and knees and look underneath the bike and you will find a craftily mounted Andersen connector which allows an external power supply to be connected at shows, letting the scooter belt out the tunes all day long.
How does it sound? In a word, awesome, I can hardly believe the quantity and quality of bass produced by these two small subs in an open enviroment, and the sound front speakers are equally impressive, with strong midbass and, as you would expect, perfect imaging.
How is it to ride? After a brief tour of the Willowbank grounds at Jamboree, I can say that once on the move, it handles nicely, disguising its weight and slight top heaviness. Now fitted with a Leo Vince aftermarket exhaust it steps of the line smartly and pulls pretty well for a 50cc scooter and with a few non road legal clutch modifications now pulls nicely up to what I would guess at around 70k an hour. Needless to say, the highlight of the riding experience is the sound system and the looks you get from passerbys. The scooter will be shown at the upcoming Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane motorcycle shows and will also be seen at Brisbane Autosalon, and with luck, Sydney Autosalon final battle.
For more information contact Steve at shut2616@bigpond.net.au or call on 0408 790 313
published 5/11/2006 |