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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 23, 2015 12:58:17 GMT -5
It's just plain enjoyable when a ride goes great! At least, on a scooter...
We've ALL had those days when you have a tank of gas that's not really all that flammable. And the freeway has an unnoticed slight "uphill" grade, and you have a nice 30 mph headwind... And your normally 70 mph scoot STRUGGLES to maintain 60, while you do your white-knuckled-best to avoid becoming a speed-bump...
But then, just once in a while, it all goes the other way... Woo-HOO!
Yesterday I had to run errands some miles down the road, and the weather was just right to break out old "Minnie Mouse" from under her winter tarps, move my feral cat friends off her floorboards and leave the family car parked...
I checked the water and oil, aired up the tires, filled her tank with premium and pointed her rodent-nose south on HWY 121, speed-limit 70 mph. What a day! Bright sun, a cool, damp 60 degrees (oh, how carbureted oldies LOVE that weather) and I entered the freeway from my FAVORITE entrance ramp... An OLD one, angled DOWNHILL at a steep angle, left over from the days of those sluggish first-generation emission-controlled cars. Plenty of "help" to get moving...
Merging with traffic, I noticed the old 250 was friskier than usual... Definitely got an extra-good batch of gas along with that ideal air! I had a slight "tailwind" and that stretch of road has a teensy-bit of downhill to it. THE perfect combination!
The ride was going so sweet, I pulled it over to the fast lane, and soon realized I was keeping up with everybody... Something I can't usually do. Once settled into the herd, I checked the speedo.  mph! I closed the wide-open throttle just enough to slack the cable and let the variator finish its squeeze on the belt... 89,  ... 92 mph and THAT was all she wrote. WILD! That was an actual -89 mph. Just enough to stay with (most, anyway) of the left-lane soccer-moms, semis and jacked-up 4 x 4's!
OK, now, I know what it's like to ride an Italian scoot... LOL! That marvelous "perfect storm" of extra-good running, a little tailwind and slight downhill road gave the tired old 19 hp Kymco the equivalent of an extra 9 or 10 ponies. Never happened before, probably never will again!
The old mouse is truly a 70 mph cruiser at best, topping out just over 80 on a good day, on a flat road with no wind, and most definitely NOT "left-lane-capable" but oh, when EVERYTHING goes JUST RIGHT, what a HOOT to actually USE the fast lane without becoming a speed-bump!
Now serious big-bike riders would laugh at anyone being happy about being able to run with fast traffic, BUT... All you small-displacement scooter boyz and girlz KNOW what I'm talking about... HeHeHe...
Could be the most interesting "factoid" coming from my romp down the freeway was the flawless handling of the smallish 12" wheels. At an actual mph, the aging Grandvista was every bit as relaxing and comfy cruising as my old-days Harley bagger. And that Shinko up front, and the Michelin at the rear were turning some SERIOUS rpms... So long as those small wheels are shod with good P-rated tires, and are properly inflated and balanced, they are NO hindrance to pushing the 92 mph tire speed-rating.  Now, to do something about the putrid, caramel-color the painted rear whitewall turned over the winter... LOL! A little sanding, a little bleach, and a half-hour of slapping on a fresh coat of "Motor City" paint and she'll be good to go for another season!
I know, THIS is probably a somewhat USELESS post, but... When an old geezer has a really great day, he likes to shout about it to his saddle-pals...
Ride safe, and enjoy the ride!
Leo in Texas
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Post by shalomdawg on Mar 23, 2015 18:12:01 GMT -5
howdy and---wheee ! thanks fer takin' me with ya on yer spring springin' ride. i just invested in a ctx 700 dct honda for the ride to idaho and thier 75 mph freeways. the old bv350 will do it but gets a little buzzy and far from a dealer in case of needed repairs. anyway---i hope i wasn't too much of a load for the old minnie moose.
lotsa miles and smiles to ya
ken
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Post by ricardoguitars on Mar 23, 2015 18:51:41 GMT -5
I know that perfect weather you are talking about, I live up a mountain, I usually get that weather early in the morning, just after the sunset when I'm headed to work, I can reach 60 to 70 mph going down the mountain on my 125cc It's different story when I'm coming back home uphill  |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 23, 2015 23:37:38 GMT -5
howdy and---wheee ! thanks fer takin' me with ya on yer spring springin' ride. i just invested in a ctx 700 dct honda for the ride to idaho and thier 75 mph freeways. the old bv350 will do it but gets a little buzzy and far from a dealer in case of needed repairs. anyway---i hope i wasn't too much of a load for the old minnie moose. lotsa miles and smiles to ya ken Ken,
No problem... Glad to have had you along!
That Honda 700 will be perfect for your Idaho trip! They are SWEET! If I was ever able to get back on big bikes again, and could afford one, that Honda would be high on my short list! You just don't need clutch and gears cycles anymore, unless you want them.
Ride safe, and enjoy that Honda!
Leo
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 23, 2015 23:42:56 GMT -5
I know that perfect weather you are talking about, I live up a mountain, I usually get that weather early in the morning, just after the sunset when I'm headed to work, I can reach 60 to 70 mph going down the mountain on my 125cc It's different story when I'm coming back home uphill It is SO great when it all comes together!
70 on a 125 is REALLY a trip! Amazing what just little downhill and tailwind can do! And, yeah, coming BACK on the same road, slightly uphill, with a little headwind the old mouse couldn't do better than 75 on the speedo (an actual 71-72) a far cry from the indicated 92 the other direction! LOL!
Sure a good day to ride though!
Ride safe!
Leo
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Post by SylvreKat on Mar 24, 2015 7:19:08 GMT -5
I know, THIS is probably a somewhat USELESS post, but... When an old geezer has a really great day, he likes to shout about it to his saddle-pals...
Ride safe, and enjoy the ride!
Leo in Texas
I doubt that any of your posts have been useless, Leo. Glad to read what an enjoyable drive you had. Makes me want even more for our winter to finally decide to go away, so I can get Peej serviced and going to work! >'Kat |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 24, 2015 20:18:27 GMT -5
Thanks, Kat...
I guess "useless" isn't quite the right word, but it seems just plain weird to folks, to be amazed at being able to keep up with traffic... LOL! These days, a bottom-end Korean grocery-getter car can do 0-60 in 7 seconds, and cruise all day at 110 mph. Any "real" serious car, truck or bike can do 0-60 in 3 or 4 seconds and cruise at 140... And their drivers just can't fathom why ANYBODY would drive/ride ANYTHING any slower.
But WE ride SCOOTERS... HeHe... NOT crotch-rockets. So, when I can successfully mix with "normal" traffic on a scooter, it's pretty sweet!
I think winter is FINALLY over here... I spent this afternoon cleaning and re-painting that pesky rear (now chocolate-brown) whitewall on "Minnie Mouse". Now, the little rat needs a tea-totaling all-over bath and some wax... and an oil-change!
Spring is HERE and it's time to shine up the old rodent... If yer scoot ain't FAST, at least she can be CLEAN... LOL!
Ride safe!
Leo
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Post by urbanmadness on Mar 26, 2015 9:27:17 GMT -5
I know that thrill, cool air, right road, 150cc of air cooled goodness, 10 inch wheels and 60mph on the GPS... So much fun, probably the most fun I had on a bike before the my "Big Boy Bike".
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 26, 2015 12:53:01 GMT -5
I know that thrill, cool air, right road, 150cc of air cooled goodness, 10 inch wheels and 60mph on the GPS... So much fun, probably the most fun I had on a bike before the my "Big Boy Bike". Urbanmadness,
You're SO right! The only difference between us is that our riding lives are "reversed"... LOL! I learned to ride at 11 years old on a fifties' full-dress Harley bagger... "Suicide" foot-clutch and hand-shift, kick-start and all. (I didn't mention to the owner/neighbor that I as a little nipper, I had never ridden anything with a motor)... DANG! That thing was HEAVY for a little guy to manage... HeHeHe...
It was love at first ride! And I was in love with big bikes for the next half-century. Then, about eight years ago, I discovered SCOOTERS... Woo-HOO! Now I'm in love with the small stuff... go figger... LOL!
Just goes to show that the love of "things two-wheeled" is truly "universal"!
Rides safe!
Leo
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mph! I closed the wide-open throttle just enough to slack the cable and let the variator finish its squeeze on the belt... 89, 
... 92 mph and THAT was all she wrote. WILD! That was an actual 
