ride across the desert on a horse with no name  By  shalomrider (Read 3,084 times)

trying to post pic of lake side of dam

howdy-so a bit discombovulated but you see the pic's anyhow

lotsa miles and smiles to ya

howdy spandi, that's the song i was referencing in my thread title--thanks for posting that vid

lotsa miles and smiles to ya
ken

You're quite welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.

howdy and thanks for the inquiry. the scoot did make it back to portland with me but the check engine light came on occasionally and came on at 70 mph once near pendleton. when i got it to the dealer, the code indicated a problem with the plug wire which he replaced and so far it is running better with no check engine light since. it has more power and upped fuel mileage also so i guess it was a problem.
as to the return ride, i have no pictures but i left meridian idaho saturday morning and went to caldwell where i attended a church service then rode 80 miles or so to baker city and attended another church service. these are small churches so they really enjoy visitors. there was a potluck after the second one which put me late in the afternoon. i rode on then another 45 miles or so to la grande oregon where i fueled just after sundown and rode the high pass at over 4500 feet through the mountains. i stopped for the night in pendleton oregon at a motel with denneys restaurant next door. after coffee the next morning i rode the long hill westbound from pendleton and just after the top was where the check engine light came on at speed for the first time. i let up briefly and it went off when i came back on throttle. i fueled in boardman at the same time as a fellow on a crotch rocket who didn't seem friendly and then rode to biggs junction which was a further 60 miles or so and had some breakfast then on to hood river where i fueled. there are several dams on the columbia river which are awe inspiring watching a river a mile wide going through spillways and around fish ladders. they used to take tours through and the generators are simply amazing in size. i was through several 50 years or so ago and the water was drinking water clean and it looked like you could reach out and touch the fish swimming through the viewing area. lately , to my sadness, the water is filthy and the fish sickly. still , as i said the size of these dams i simply unimaginable if you have never seen them. they provide not only electrical power but possibility and capacity of irrigation water to these desert farms. those reccomending the removal of these dams have no idea how this productive farmland would revert to desolate desert and endless duststorms like were the norm when i was young and living there. nearly every morning when we awoke there were sand dunes on the inside window ledge and there was farming only along the river above high flood line. the roads to the next towns were under water from the spring floods on the river. the columbia is rightly called "the amazon of the northwast".

anyway the trip was 960 miles roundtrip and the weather hot most of the way. the only place i got cold was in the high mountains late in the evening between la grand and pendleton and i was cold only because i refused to stop and put on something heavier than my riding jacket which is perferated for coolness in the summer riding. i hav an onboard thermometer and the temp inched down to about 50 degrees so it wasn't exceptionally cold but as all of you know that's cool if you're not dressed for it.

the trip was a great adventure and along a route i had not ridden before on a scooter and i'm glad i went. it amazes those who think of a scooter as only good for in-town riding and not suitable for cross country at all. i was able to travel as fast as i wanted and got better than 60 mpg for the trip. most of my gear went in the tail trunk and under the seat with no need for a back-pack as i see so many bare motorcycle riders sporting.

i am sorry i have not pictures on the trip back and it probably seems boring but i enjoy reading about other peoples trips so write a better one!

lotsa miles and smiles to ya
ken

Farthest I've ever done was riding a 220 mile trip through the everglades on a 50cc scooter.
Crazy, took me 6 full hours to do that.
Next to that, to Lake Okeechobee, and another tour just up north of a town called Jupiter FL. Each is about a 200 mile ride, to and back, from where I live. The 127 cc held up like a champ.
But in order to not overheat, it's better to run it at least 10MPH below top speed.
In my case I was riding 20MPH below the top speed, and the bike handled it like a lawnmower handles cutting grass!
Probably same engine too.



I've bought a 250cc, which I think is plenty for touring. The 127 got 1000km's in just 2 weeks, and I thought of reducing that a bit. A 250 should handle this much better!
My next goals are Orlando, Daytona, and perhaps I'll even go as far as Jackson ville, or the North border of FL, which is a crazy 8 hours ride, 8 hours back!

There's really no reason why a 150cc won't be able to make a cross country ride, just as long as you stay off of interstates and highways, limit speed to about 45-50MPH, and are not going through the rocky mountains, or some dense forest, there's no reason why not.
Just keep up with the oilchanges.
Most 150cc's do 15-20k miles without changing the engine, it doesn't matter if you do it in several pieces, or in one go after the engine is broken in.
And for $1000 per chinese scoot, it's almost better than renting a car!