So anyone go for a ride this weekend?

[Houndguy]

I did. :)>D:nod:

http://2smallerwheels.blogspot.com/2014/08/18-months-and-exploring-plant-city.html

[kz1000st]

I just came back from work on the CF Moto. I have to work on Sunday mornings and a scooter commute is a good way to start the day. It's 35 miles round trip but it's where most of my miles come from.

[Houndguy]

I just came back from work on the CF Moto. I have to work on Sunday mornings and a scooter commute is a good way to start the day. It's 35 miles round trip but it's where most of my miles come from.

I ride my bike like that as well. About a 35 mile commute, mostly at highway speeds, although hopefully that will change soon. I feel pretty good about a new position that is 21 miles away on a nice twisty 2 lane road. :) So it was nice to get out and do something different for a change. :hehe:

Crossing my fingers. :)

[bandito2]

Yeah, I did. Rode about 230 miles up to a motorcycle campground here in the northern lower peninsula of Michigan. Met a member from another forum on the way up. Had lunch and talked. Turns out he lived in the same Township and went to the same high school. (though 18 years apart) Had a great time and the weather was absolutely gorgeous for the 3 days I was up there. Didn't go to the tunnel of trees or the Sleeping Bear Dunes since I have been there a few times already. So I just tooled around randomly after having visited a few old haunts. I also wasted a little bit of time (and $$) at Turtle Creek Casino. It's OK, didn't loose much. Packed up and left about noon today heading the 230 miles home since there was a chance of rain forecast for later tonight and on Monday. (I don't like packing up when everything is wet)

Going back up there again later this month to camp with folks from another motocamping group. (ADVenture Riders) Hope the weather is good then too.

AHH!! just noticed it's raining here now! Good call to leave camp when I did.

[seamus26]

Sure did.

Speaking of rides, here are a few pics from the 2nd Annual BBQ Cookoff at Grand Rapids Scooter Sunday.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/60894190/Scooter%20Show/DSC_0232.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/60894190/Scooter%20Show/DSC_0237.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/60894190/Scooter%20Show/DSC_0243.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/60894190/Scooter%20Show/DSC_0245.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/60894190/Scooter%20Show/DSC_0249.jpg

That last pic is Jason, owner at GR Scooter. Great guy, great business, great event.

Does the forum here use [image=###] tags to resize images for posting? I can't seem to make them work and I hate annoying folks with huge pics.

[kz1000st]

Nice looking event Seamus but I think the storm you stirred up at Modern Vespa was better. I laughed for hours at their outrage.

http://modernvespa.com/forum/topic131361

[blueboy5000]

hahahah! Seamus your thread on the Vespa forum is hilarious.

Vespa owners can be so stuck up, which is odd, as they are very slow compared to our gy6 bikes, and they cost a ton to work on.

Over the years, I have ridden many Vespas, Cushmans, Lambrettas, Honads, Suzukis, and even a Subaru scooter. Vespas are nothing special. I wish they were, but they aren't.

I can definitively say riding a Vespa will not convert you to owning one.

[seamus26]

That's good to know. All in all, though, those guys have been really helpful over there. There are always exceptions, but there are several who have ridden all sorts of bikes and have the opinion, "ride what you love".

I've always known I'll never own the "best" of everything, but I take care of what I own like it is the best. That's why my daily driver is a 25 year old Volvo, and it still looks great.

The section I really appreciate over there is the NSM category. Those guys are hard core gear heads. I like that. It's a whole different philosophy on riding; they aren't afraid to get their hands dirty.

I still may test drive a Vespa. Just sitting on it, it felt rock solid and stable compared to my ZNEN. We'll see.

I'll keep you all posted.

[seamus26]

Nice looking event Seamus but I think the storm you stirred up at Modern Vespa was better. I laughed for hours at their outrage.

http://modernvespa.com/forum/topic131361

I made sure when I started that thread I was wearing my helmet. >D

[rks]

Hey Seamus....is that two-tone with red pin stripes, in pic #1, your ride?....It sure is an attractive color scheme on that classic style scooter.....I really likey....

[seamus26]

Hey Seamus....is that two-tone with red pin stripes, in pic #1, your ride?....It sure is an attractive color scheme on that classic style scooter.....I really likey....

Yeah, that is. My wife actually picked it out. The plan is/was to buy it and break it in. Then it would become hers. Then we'd buy a second one and it would become mine.

Haven't quite gotten to that point yet.

Oh, and thanks! It gets a lot of looks. I had a nice conversation at the store this morning with a perfect stranger about Vespas out in California. >D

[kz1000st]

As I stated in my post, basically it's not the size of the dog in the fight that counts, it's the size of the fight in the dog. I love hearing snobs calling our scooters sh*t and then saying,"Look, six years old and 8,000 miles". I'm sure those lofty Vespas with 30,000 miles have had a lot of wrenches in the vicinity.

[seamus26]

As I stated in my post, basically it's not the size of the dog in the fight that counts, it's the size of the fight in the dog. I love hearing snobs calling our scooters sh*t and then saying,"Look, six years old and 8,000 miles". I'm sure those lofty Vespas with 30,000 miles have had a lot of wrenches in the vicinity.

I just broke 1900 miles on mine with less than a full year (in Michigan) on her. And there's lots of riding left this year. :tup:

[kz1000st]

My point exactly. I split my time up on the three China bikes and I've gone about 3,000 miles this year. The notions they cling to are so out of date. China bikes have come a long ways since 2008 and some are incredible.

A GY6 in a Lance with SYM technology is a viable alternative to a much pricier scooter. The owner of Lance has publicly stated that when he started selling scooters they were toys for people. When it became apparent that his scooters were becoming commuter vehicles to counter rising gas prices he sought out a better supplier to satisfy his customer base's needs. The alliance with SYM followed. Built in China with some Taiwanese made parts Lance scooters are noted for excellent performance and reliability. Their line of 150cc scooters are half the price of a comparable sized Vespa, have a dealer backup, warranties and ongoing improvements.

[wheelbender6]

We based our ride in the town of Fayetteville, TX, this week. The FM road to Friesburg had a rather high speed limit (for a 125cc) of 60mph, but the tight curves kept the cager speeds down.
At Friesburg, we turned north on Stokes road and scooted another 11 curvy, scenic miles, almost to Industry. Speed limit was 50mph, surface was better than average for a county road and we saw very few cars. I think this road would be safe for 50cc scooting as well. Just watch for gravel on the curves.
It was brutally hot, so we really appreaciated the lack of stop lights and stop signs during our ride.
Fayetteville is a charming little town, with a scenic town square and plenty of well preserved vintage homes. We had a great lunch at Orsaks Cafe on the square. We made a return visit after our ride for lemonade and dessert.
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh31/wheelbender/20140809_134148_zpsc8742253.jpg (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/wheelbender/media/20140809_134148_zpsc8742253.jpg.html)
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh31/wheelbender/20140809_122921_zps6060706c.jpg (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/wheelbender/media/20140809_122921_zps6060706c.jpg.html)
]

[kz1000st]

You gotta love the 50cc GY6 scooters. I keep hearing and seeing evidence that those scooters are doing solid work. I expect to hear a 50,000 mile story on one some day in the future.

[cheapeto]

[ I expect to hear a 50,000 mile story on one some day in the future.]

A bunch of the china scooter sellers should form or start a Cannonball like endurance ride to show that these scooters are now ready to roll a couple of thousand miles in a hard assed run.

Anyone get an IronButt award on a chinese scooter yet? I honestly dont know myself, but untill the china scoots show the world they are NOT 1999-2008 crappy crates, and are made so much better now.

I thought the MV folks were very open and giving good advice, for the most part.
Heck the the winner of this years SCB2014 (dabinche) even chimed in on the topic.

[kz1000st]

Doing the Scooter Cannonball is an exercise in futility as far as I'm concerned. No scooter from what I read has a trouble free run. Broken belts abound and other maladies occur. Ask yourself what would happen if one person competed in the Cannonball on a 250 Ninja or Honda Rebel?

As I said in that thread on MV. Quality is a nebulous term. A good rider/owner is 85% of the equation. I would take my Chinese scooters anywhere appropriate. All three have done 80+ mile trips easily, the 250 Fashion was bought/picked up and ridden home from 200 miles away. Yet no one replied to my post or asked me a question. The greatest insult is to be ignored.

Arrogant slurs have no place anywhere in my world. "Chinese Sh*t"? Really??

[cheapeto]

I'd never let a slur ruin my day, or what I read. Slurs are everywhere.
One persons opinon on a subject is just thiers.
I could not care less myself, how anyone else feels about what I do or enjoy.
I learned more about Vespas then I knew, so it's a great read for me.
Thanks for starting it seamus!!

[kz1000st]

I could not care less myself, how anyone else feels about what I do or enjoy.


Me neither. Riding is about how you feel, not what you own.

[rks]

It's a different weekend now...but I took two rides today. 28 miles on 'Pokey' the scoot this AM....and 62 miles on 'Schultz' the B-mer, with wifey on the back, this PM. Absolutey beautiful weather for the two wheelers....70* - 72*, sun with just the right mix of fair weather clouds, and very low humidity. Probably one of the top ten days of this year....we really enjoyed it....Bob

[kz1000st]

I took the 250cc to work twice this weekend, 35 miles each day. I also took the 150cc on a 79 mile ride the other day to get Burritos. One of the best parts of the ride was hanging with the cars in Binghamton. Out here in the sticks I get passed all the time but in the city I can run with the big dogs.

Pictures and the whole story here.
www.twowheeler.yolasite.com/

[seamus26]

I also took the 150cc on a 79 mile ride the other day to get Burritos.

They must have great burritos.

[kz1000st]

There's also something ironic about getting Mexican take-out on a Chinese scooter. I just haven't figured out what yet.