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#136 |
![]() Join Date: May 2017
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 593
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My helmet story. When I was 14 I had a moped. A pedal start 49cc. A bunch of us moped owners used to meet up and do death races thru neighborhoods at night, with check points and pre-mapped routes. These mopeds only hit around 35mph max but that was plenty fast. Best part? Helmets on mopeds were not required. No plates/tags either. So my helmet story:
Five of us are blasting thru this 'hood at night and go screaming into a blind turn. One friend hit a patch of pine needles and went down. I see sparks as his moped slides down the road while the rest of us are trying to avoid it. I turn back to find Stinky (his street name) and he's out cold with blood on his head. This was well before cell phones but we banged on a random door and the homeowner called the paramedics. Stinky was in the hospital for a month with brain swelling! I bought a used glitter blue open face at a yard sale the next day on the way home from school. That was our wake-up call for helmet use. And yes, Stinky made a full recovery. |
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#137 |
![]() Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Hyde Park, NY
Posts: 1,122
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I have always worn a helmet when I ride. My Dad always did and he impressed it on us. I raced dirt bikes in my youth and was glad several times I had one on. I get the personal choice mantra but I won't ride anywhere without one.
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2008 Eagle Milano 150- 9,679 miles 2009 Honda Rebel 250- 10,434 miles 2009 CF Moto Fashion- 16,023 miles 2009 MC-114 50cc Cub Clone- 4,317 miles twowheeler.yolasite.com/ That's 30,049 China Scootin miles and Counting. |
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#138 |
![]() Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Hyde Park, NY
Posts: 1,122
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__________________
2008 Eagle Milano 150- 9,679 miles 2009 Honda Rebel 250- 10,434 miles 2009 CF Moto Fashion- 16,023 miles 2009 MC-114 50cc Cub Clone- 4,317 miles twowheeler.yolasite.com/ That's 30,049 China Scootin miles and Counting. |
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#139 |
![]() Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Hyde Park, NY
Posts: 1,122
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Interesting article but there are other considerations. What you want to do with it for one.
https://www.motorcycle.com/features/...pros-cons.html Consider this. "I do 95% of my riding WOT. My commute is over a mountain highway (okay downhill throttle is only open enough to keep oil flowing) and other than that it's mostly big chunks of I5. I love getting to places and having people go "wait you drove that from WHERE?" but it's also hard on the poor thing. I wear through the 'consumables' fast. Not helped by being a heavier rider. Spending so much time on the interstate I am starting to look at 600-800cc rides longingly." https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic190428 Years ago I commuted heavily on a 1000cc motorcycle on a parkway on Long Island. The motorcycle went though "consumables" regularly but wasn't straining doing it. It was used more like a car than a motorcycle in that way. I had big saddlebags and big diameter tires but things wore through that surprised me. It lasted 125,000 miles for me with oil changes and some maintenance but I wasn't overly zealous about it. Compare that to my 250cc scooter. I used that for a while pretty heavily but mostly on State Highways. Rear tires almost annually and, since it only holds a quart of oil, changes every 1,000 miles. Not to mention belt changes every 9k miles. Side by side with my late Wife's Honda Rebel the scooter was a maintenance headache. If I had the need or the option which to use as a heavy commuter the Rebel would have been the winner. Around town or for less serious use the scooter was a Champ.
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2008 Eagle Milano 150- 9,679 miles 2009 Honda Rebel 250- 10,434 miles 2009 CF Moto Fashion- 16,023 miles 2009 MC-114 50cc Cub Clone- 4,317 miles twowheeler.yolasite.com/ That's 30,049 China Scootin miles and Counting. |
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#140 |
![]() Join Date: May 2017
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 593
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I feel vehicle blessed to have a scooter that fits my needs so well. Yeah, it has a few faults like a crappy rear rack and a tight floorboard, but everything else is perfect for what I use it for. Added bonus is I can fully service it myself. Sometimes I think about picking up a motorcycle again but I know in my heart that I wont use it enough to validate the purchase. This includes new and vintage era motorcycles as if I like it I'll buy it, price isn't a issue to me.
I also have another reason for not owning more than one powered 2 wheeler. Garage space is a issue. My garage is on the smaller side and it always seems to be bursting at the seams. 2 analog bicycles, 2 ebikes, yard equipment and 2 big tool boxes. Oh, and around 3000 CD's on racks, as in compact disc. I can squeeze a car in if needed and be able to shut the door but movement in the garage gets extra tight! |
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