|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 10, 2017 20:44:18 GMT -5
Back on August 19th, my B&M dealer, Moxie Scooters sponsored a group fun-ride. It's been at least 40 years since I rode "in a pack"... LOL! Still lots of fun and comradery...        Above, John Raimondi (store owner) shows the Genuine Buddy line to a lady who dropped in to see what was going on. I do believe a LOT of scoots found homes that day!
Moxie did a great job of making it a full Saturday of fun, food, music and riding... Including the BEST hotdogs I ever consumed... We had a great variety of scoots including a really retro Stella, a few large-displacement Kymco and Yamaha rides, and one full-custom ruckus with a hot-rodded 150 with the loudest straight-pipe I've heard on such a small motor... LOL! There was a good number of riders, and a LARGE group of folks visiting because of the festive activities and LOUD music you couldn't ignore even in a car on the street with windows up and AC on... After-ride activities included rider tire-toss, "slow race" and other field events. Sorry, no pix, as my 70 years really were dragging me down and I spent that time inside the showroom cooling off and inhaling hotdogs...
If you ever find yourself in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, it's worth a trip to visit Moxie... John is one of the nicest folks to work with you'll ever meet and has a fabulous lineup of scoots from Kymco, SYM, Stella and Buddy. It's so nice to meet a dealer who is as much about being helpful as he is in selling product!
Just a good, wholesome gathering of riders and customers of all ages. If you get a chance to join one of these fun-rides, I encourage you to do so. You'll meet some nice "saddle pals" and have a great time! Ride safe,Leo in Texas
|
|
|
|
Post by cyborg55 on Sept 10, 2017 21:09:39 GMT -5
Nice!!!!! Any day ridin is a great day!
|
|
|
|
Post by wheelbender6 on Sept 10, 2017 22:12:27 GMT -5
I look forward to some group rides, now that the weather is a bit cooler. Difficult to wait at those traffic lights during the heat of the summer.
|
|
|
|
Post by SylvreKat on Sept 11, 2017 7:32:02 GMT -5
Is that really a bullet-nosed sidecar in the "after the ride" pic?
I've wanted to do a group ride, but the ones I've found all started from KC proper. Too far for this wet-ears to go.
>'Kat
|
|
|
|
Post by cyborg55 on Sept 11, 2017 8:12:23 GMT -5
Looks like an old timie stuab stuck on a Stella,,,but there's so many knock offs it may not be one,,,but gad zooms there's a Morpheus in the row too!!!! Geez what a tank those things are/were
|
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 11, 2017 8:45:51 GMT -5
Looks like an old timie stuab stuck on a Stella,,,but there's so many knock offs it may not be one,,,but gad zooms there's a Morpheus in the row too!!!! Geez what a tank those things are/were
That was indeed a vintage Stella, 2-stroke, clutch n' gears. The fellow said the sidecar was on it when he bought it used, many years back. It's not a Staub, but one made in India. Probably came with the scooter as it's painted to match, and the paint looks aged and original. Neat little ride though... "ring-a-ding-ding". I made friends with the rider of the only other Stella there. A 19-year-old who got a kick outta the old geezer's 1960' chopper stories. It was actually a "modern" 4-stroke with CVT tranny, but absolutely looked like a WWII survivor... LOL! Rust, peeling paint, dents, covered with European travel stickers and petrol decals with some checkerboard duct-tape thrown in. Said he bought it years ago from a guy who bought it well-used in Europe, rode the wheels off it, and brought it back. Talk about a "rat-bike"... It was SO shabby that it was actually "Euro-cool"... But it ran like a champ!There were actually TWO Morphous (Morphouses?) in the ride. One with the lady ride-leader and another full-custom bathtub on wheels that looked like the "mother of Darth Vader's helmet"... Very well-done though, in "ghost-skulls" over metal-flake candy purple no less. H-U-G-E... Those scoots always remind me of a 1950's Nash... Cool in their own way, but you have to develop a taste for them.
This group ride was fun in some ways I never expected. Mainly talking with other riders as to why they chose scooters. Motorcycle jockeys tend to ride because the "like motorcycles"... Duh.. no-brainer there. But, scooteristas seem to have a never-ending "plethora" of reasons... Seriously... from gas-mileage to "green footprint" which scooters definitely do NOT have... LOLOLOL! To affordability, no gears, nimble handling... "no bad-boy biker" image... EEWWW... THAT one hurts this old Hog guy... LOL!
Ask 10 scooter jockeys why they ride scoots, and you'll likely get at least 7 different answers! Also, you'll find on scooters, ALL ages from 16 to  , and both men, women, boys and girls. The old 60's Honda ads said "You meet the nicest people on a HONDA". I think we can pirate that sentiment and say "You meet the nicest people on a SCOOTER!"
Oh well... ride safe, and ride with friends when you can!Leo in Texas |
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 13, 2017 9:19:13 GMT -5
Is that really a bullet-nosed sidecar in the "after the ride" pic? I've wanted to do a group ride, but the ones I've found all started from KC proper. Too far for this wet-ears to go. >'Kat At my age, I'm finding I don't have the stamina to do a LOT of things I'd like to. (cheesh, I even missed the slow-drag race and rider tire-toss while recuperating in the air-conditioned showroom...) You have the stamina, but if attending a group ride is too far, it "is what it is"... LOL! If a the ride is a dealer "event" like mine was, with festivities, it's worth attending in the family car just for the fellowship (and of course, the food and fun)!
My last group ride with buddies must have been back about 1968... on "Old Blue" surrounded by a hundred or so saddle pals. Nothing sounds quite like a herd of classic choppers, high-compression, hot cams, straight-pipes... popping and cackling, grinding down through the gears as the tribe of steel ponies grumbles into a freeway oasis to gas up... every 20 miles to top off their peanut tanks... LOL!
Those are fabulous half-century-old memories I'll never forget, but while SO different, this short ride from Moxie Scooters is just as memorable. All attending riders were pretty much "born to be mild"... LOL! And such nice folks. I guess I was the oldest rider, with that teen on the funky Stella the youngest. The second most "senior" was a lady on a brand-new Kymco 500 from Moxie... She was GAME! Too short to touch ground with both feet... more than a little wobbly, and pretty much intimidated by more than half-throttle... But by the end of the ride, she was doing fine. A gentle ride tailored to ensure the youngsters, soccer-moms and new-riders on less-than-frisky 150's could keep up... I sunburned the tops of my wrists something awful! Then, after a completely safe ride, walked into the house, tripped over a pair of boots and tore my left rotator-cuff and split a bone in my left arm... Duh! Today is the first day I've been able to wrestle "Minnie Mouse" off her center-stand.
I must admit, even in my prime, I'd have been uncomfortable on a bike I couldn't plant both feet down on... I'm betting that stalwart granny visits that upholstery shop next to Moxie and has the stuffing "exorcized" from that 500, to plant her geriatric butt on the frame and get an extra 4" closer to the tarmac! A REALLY swell scoot though! Fifty years after my chopper days, a ride with friends is a much more sedate experience... No flying club colors... No "dragging for beers"... No seeing whose pipes could actually break windows... No youthful macho... But the scooter crowd is a mighty fine bunch to run with. Choppers, crotch-rockets, baggers, scooters... They're ALL fine rides... As we say in Texas "Ya dance with the one what brung ya". It's all good knuckles in the wind fun... And, the older I get, the "gooder" scooters seem to me. Getting old I guess.Ride safe!Leo in Texas |
|
|
|
Post by spandi on Sept 13, 2017 9:32:32 GMT -5
Leo, you went riding in 118 degree heat? (Hope you had on one of those ice-pack vests!)  |
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 13, 2017 14:29:28 GMT -5
Leo, you went riding in 118 degree heat? (Hope you had on one of those ice-pack vests!) Woo-HOO! Yeah, it was plenty hot... over 120 in the sun! No ice vest... I sunburned the tops of my hands REALLY bad... I guess I've been in Texas long enough to get (sorta) used to 100+ Even water-cooled scoots like "Minnie Mouse" need to be shut down while waiting for a train to cross, or at a long red-light/traffic jam, etc. Fortunately she fires right up at the touch of the starter-button. And, has a working temp gauge! At my age, I am having to slow down some. Don't need a heat-stroke. I was happy to see no air-cooled scoots having any trouble... Amazing rides these scooters! Ride safe, stay cool! Leo |
|
|
|
Post by Jarlaxle on Sept 13, 2017 16:53:43 GMT -5
Check your cooling system and fan!
|
|
|
|
Post by lostforawhile on Sept 13, 2017 19:18:36 GMT -5
they make high performance fans to replace the stock ones, they take a little more power, but so does a hot engine
|
|
|
|
Post by lostforawhile on Sept 13, 2017 19:25:00 GMT -5
Is that really a bullet-nosed sidecar in the "after the ride" pic? I've wanted to do a group ride, but the ones I've found all started from KC proper. Too far for this wet-ears to go. >'Kat At my age, I'm finding I don't have the stamina to do a LOT of things I'd like to. (cheesh, I even missed the slow-drag race and rider tire-toss while recuperating in the air-conditioned showroom...) You have the stamina, but if attending a group ride is too far, it "is what it is"... LOL! If a the ride is a dealer "event" like mine was, with festivities, it's worth attending in the family car just for the fellowship (and of course, the food and fun)!
My last group ride with buddies must have been back about 1968... on "Old Blue" surrounded by a hundred or so saddle pals. Nothing sounds quite like a herd of classic choppers, high-compression, hot cams, straight-pipes... popping and cackling, grinding down through the gears as the tribe of steel ponies grumbles into a freeway oasis to gas up... every 20 miles to top off their peanut tanks... LOL!
Those are fabulous half-century-old memories I'll never forget, but while SO different, this short ride from Moxie Scooters is just as memorable. All attending riders were pretty much "born to be mild"... LOL! And such nice folks. I guess I was the oldest rider, with that teen on the funky Stella the youngest. The second most "senior" was a lady on a brand-new Kymco 500 from Moxie... She was GAME! Too short to touch ground with both feet... more than a little wobbly, and pretty much intimidated by more than half-throttle... But by the end of the ride, she was doing fine. A gentle ride tailored to ensure the youngsters, soccer-moms and new-riders on less-than-frisky 150's could keep up... I sunburned the tops of my wrists something awful! Then, after a completely safe ride, walked into the house, tripped over a pair of boots and tore my left rotator-cuff and split a bone in my left arm... Duh! Today is the first day I've been able to wrestle "Minnie Mouse" off her center-stand.
I must admit, even in my prime, I'd have been uncomfortable on a bike I couldn't plant both feet down on... I'm betting that stalwart granny visits that upholstery shop next to Moxie and has the stuffing "exorcized" from that 500, to plant her geriatric butt on the frame and get an extra 4" closer to the tarmac! A REALLY swell scoot though! Fifty years after my chopper days, a ride with friends is a much more sedate experience... No flying club colors... No "dragging for beers"... No seeing whose pipes could actually break windows... No youthful macho... But the scooter crowd is a mighty fine bunch to run with. Choppers, crotch-rockets, baggers, scooters... They're ALL fine rides... As we say in Texas "Ya dance with the one what brung ya". It's all good knuckles in the wind fun... And, the older I get, the "gooder" scooters seem to me. Getting old I guess.Ride safe!Leo in Texas the reason I ride this little one, is my dad is too old to ride anymore,and on blood thinners, not a good combination, he always rode bikes as long as I can remember , but he brought it down, and now it's mine. I plan on getting a 650 Burgie eventually, I was hit head on by a car about five years ago, while on a bike, and I can't throw my leg over a full size bike, as I broke my back. so scooters for me. The Chinese 50cc are a mechanical challenge to put a lot of miles on them, and keep them running, so it makes them interesting |
|
|
|
Post by SylvreKat on Sept 13, 2017 23:23:19 GMT -5
TWO Morphouseses? Morphii?? Whatever. I'm jelly. Had I known about the Morf, I would've hunted craig's list for one. That super-low seat really appeals to me, since mine is just this side of low enough. At least I can put both feet down, although it's not flat-footing but the front halves.
As for the distance, it's not the stamina, it really is the distance itself. I'm not going the interstate for sure (semi's passing me at 75+? shudder!). And back roads would likely take over an hour to get there. And then it's not a "gentle ride" but a pretty hardcore ride. Followed by having to drive that hour+ home again. Maybe 'cause it's not a dealer but a club.
Hopefully someday there'll be something closer to home, with an easier ride, and fun'n'games after.
>'Kat
|
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 13, 2017 23:41:20 GMT -5
Check your cooling system and fan! The cooling system is in top shape... I change out the anti-freeze every other season, and the fan is good. This is an OLD scoot... very small radiator. The shop manual specifies shutting down the motor when the temp "gauge" (LCD bar-graph) gets past the second highest bar. It's just standard operating procedure on the old Grandvista and Bet-n'-Win 250's. I seldom need to do that, but when outside air is over 115, after idling more than 5 minutes the gauge does start to creep up to that 2nd highest bar. If it stays there more than a minute, or goes to the hottest bar, I just shut down. Restarting is instantaneous, and it's really no inconvenience. Once moving at any speed, it cools right down. I'm sure newer Kymco scoots have bigger cooling systems, but this oldie was Kymco's first "touring" scoot. It was not exactly state-of-the-art... LOL! Since the shop manual recommends shut-down at extreme indicated temps, I just follow the instructions. The entire ride, the gauge stayed in the middle. It only gets hot after considerable idling in the sun.I'm probably a little over-cautious, but she's an old lady... I treat her gently... In seven years, she's never used a drop of coolant or oil... That's good enough for me. Leo (getting "well-done" in the Texas sun) in Texas |
|
|
|
Post by Jarlaxle on Sept 14, 2017 10:29:27 GMT -5
I'm surprised...my Burg and my wife's Honda will idle all day in 100-degree heat with no trouble.
|
|
, and both men, women, boys and girls. The old 60's Honda ads said "You meet the nicest people on a HONDA". I think we can pirate that sentiment and say "You meet the nicest people on a SCOOTER!"
