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Post by zhan on Dec 21, 2014 4:28:43 GMT -5
I wouldn't lane split here in Texas. A lot of big pickups on the road with big, heavy doors and very territorial drivers. Wheelbender6,
You can say THAT again... LOL! There's nothing like a Neanderthal full of beer and crystal meth, in a truck that hasn't seen current tags since the driver last saw his parole officer, to bring a little adventure to your day. If he's out of rolling-papers, and in a hurry to get home to the trailer-park to beat the wife and kick the dog, all the worse... LOL!
Trust me on THAT one. I've lived in a Texas trailer-park for 28 years. Yup. Ruff place.
My old Grandvista actually has electric-folding mirrors, according to the MANUAL, especially FOR lane-splitting! So, you get your knees broken, instead of your mirrors... Ohh, Kay... Maybe in Taiwan. Definitely NOT in Texas... Talk about ENCOURAGING suicide... HeHeHe... They DO come in VERY handy for backwards-walking the old scoot between my two old cars to put her away though.
Leo (using as much of MY one lane as possible) in Texas
LOL! I've never heard the truth spelled out so eloquently! Good on ya! |
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Post by zhan on Dec 21, 2014 4:15:51 GMT -5
I got a scooter for a few reasons. I've been riding motorized 2 wheelers for almost 30 years. Dirt bikes and street bikes of all sorts. I've never owned a scooter and wanted to give it a shot. I had a job that was about 15 miles from home, and I wanted to save fuel. My wife and I had 2 cars. One that was pretty decent and an old beater. The beater was in need of some work and I didn't want to dump any more money into it. So I got it in my mind that I should try a scooter. I searched around for all kinds of scooters and was VERY disappointed in the cost of a new scoot. Damn! Over $4,000 for a Honda or Yamaha. Over $6,000 for an Italian scoot. For that kind of money I could have just gotten a good gas mileage car and called it good. But I wanted a scooter. So I did some research and found a Lance 125cc scooter made by Sym for $1900 brand new. So I bought it in 2013 and it's been f'n awesome! Great gas mileage. A 1 gallon tank that I fill up about once a week. A top speed of about 60 mph. And fun as all get out. The fact that it has a small carbon footprint is just a bonus. I live in Phoenix, so I can ride all year round. Rain or shine, it doesn't bother me. I bought rain gear to keep me dry, an ice chilled vest to keep me cool in the summer, and a heavy leather jacket to keep me warm in the winter.. I absolutely LOVE my scooter! I'm just sorry I didn't get one years ago.
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Post by zhan on Dec 21, 2014 4:00:07 GMT -5
I love it! I want one!
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Post by zhan on Dec 20, 2014 19:00:07 GMT -5
Wow! That's a formula 1 scoot! Damn! What kind of scoot is it?
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Post by zhan on Dec 16, 2014 17:52:24 GMT -5
The guy who ribbed me most drives an old 1986 Nissan Pathfinder that barely runs. What annoyed me most is that he would set my blinkers on and turn my high beam on so that when I started up my scooter I'd be annoyed. I was annoyed. Anyone caught messing with my scoot will get my size 10 steel toed boot buried so deep in their butt it will have to be surgically removed. Yeah it kinda irked me. LOL
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Post by zhan on Dec 16, 2014 2:41:43 GMT -5
For me the worst part is riding my scoot from June until September in Phoenix where the temperatures are consistently 110 degrees and up to 120 degrees with vicious monsoons in the evenings. On the plus side, I get to ride year round. So it's a minor complaint really.
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Post by zhan on Dec 16, 2014 2:31:14 GMT -5
The Honda PCX 150 was the first scooter I looked at before buying one. I really liked it. Sleek look, fuel injected, bigger wheels, and it's own definite style. I was turned off by the price. $3500 base price, and when they figured in taxes, license and all the dealers other little "fees", it came to a grand total of about $4400 to buy one. I calculated that I would need to ride that thing exclusively all year round for about 6 years for the fuel savings to pay for the scoot. If I could find a used one for about $1500 then I would be in the market for one of them. Though any brand new vehicle you buy causes you to eat a huge amount of depreciation. Whether it's a car, truck, motorcycle, motorhome, etc etc. I say let someone else buy it brand new and let them eat the depreciation. I don't like buying from dealers anyway, just because of all the taxes and "fees" you have to pay. That's my 2 cents anyway.
Dave
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Post by zhan on Dec 16, 2014 2:22:09 GMT -5
Thanks guys! I thought it was just me. Rumors were spreading around my office about me and my scooter. People snickered behind my back and to my face. I'm 43 years old for pete's sake. Been happily married to my wife for almost 10 years. I buy a scooter and everyone starts a bunch of crap. I've decided I don't give a green and purple polka dotted moose twit what anyone thinks anymore. Anyone wanna buy a V Star? LOL! It's great to pal around with other scoot-minded people. Dave  |
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Post by zhan on Dec 15, 2014 4:13:07 GMT -5
Hey guys, how are ya? It's been over a year since I visited the forum. Sorry about that. I bought my first scooter back in May of 2013 and was really excited about it. I rode it up until about April of 2014 when I bought a Yamaha V Star 1100. I let the scooter sit in my garage all the way up until about 5 days ago. The battery was dead, the tires lost most of their air pressure, and the carburetor got gummed up because the fuel went bad. So I took the carburetor off and pulled the pilot jet and found that it was plugged up pretty good. I gave it a good cleaning, and stuffed it back in. I aired up the tires, then I jumped the battery from my big bike. To my amazement the scooter fired right up, but ran crappy because of the bad fuel. Luckily there was less than a quarter of a tank in it, so I rode it to the gas station and filled it up with some fresh gas, then rode home and added an ounce or so of sea foam. It runs like it was brand new! I totally forgot how fun it was to ride. I ran the wheels off it yesterday and put about 50 miles on it in one day. I really get more enjoyment out of the scooter than I do with the big bike. 50 miles and used up about 60 cents worth of gas. The only reason I stopped riding it was because of the ribbing I was getting from some of the people I work with. My brother also frowned on the scooter and didn't approve. I felt pressure to get something more "manly". Hence the V Star 1100. Now I want to sell the V Star and pick up another scoot for my wife. I feel dumb for giving a crap about what other people think. Never again. I ride my scooter loud and proud. Anyone else get a hard time for their scooter? Let me know if I'm the only one. Dave |
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Post by zhan on Jul 7, 2013 3:00:53 GMT -5
I agree with Domindart!! Leave it the way it is! It's a great looking scoot!  |
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Post by zhan on Jul 7, 2013 2:56:36 GMT -5
Wow guys, thanks!! ;D Even with my minor complaints I'm very very happy with the scooter!! All I need now is a scooter gang to join! I watched the movie Larry Crowne today, and I was jealous of the scooter gang Tom Hanks was in. After seeing what fun I'm having with my scooter, my wife wants one now. I guess I'll have to get her one soon!! Thanks for all the kind remarks!! If anyone in the Phoenix/Mesa Arizona area is nearby and would like to ride with my wife and I sometime just hit us up!! Cheers!!  Dave |
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Post by zhan on Jul 6, 2013 18:46:57 GMT -5
Okay guys, I made mention awhile back that I was looking at a Puma Romeo. I finally let myself get talked out of it in light of all the negative publicity Chinese scoots get. (I still wish I'd have given it a shot). Instead of the Puma Romeo, I picked up a SYM Lance Cali Classic 125cc air cooled scoot (seen below). I've put about 250 miles on it, and just changed the engine oil and gear oil today for the first time. I have to say I'm very very impressed with it. It runs like a champ, starts on the first try cold or hot, and runs strong down the road and has no problem carrying my fat 210 pound rear end right down the road. This is the first scooter I've ever owned and I'm feeling a bit of buyer's remorse actually. I'm thinking maybe I should have saved up for a full size motorcycle. The scooter is very fun to ride, and it gets amazing gas mileage, but I have noticed a couple of things that I think could have been better on this scooter. 1st, there is a hump about midway down the seat. I'm sure for a smaller person it would be fine. But I'm 5'10" (not super tall) and rides over 15 miles can be tough because of the hump in the seat. My tail goes numb. 2nd, I'm a little disappointed in the ride I get out of the 12" wheels. I'm starting to think I should have gotten a scooter with larger wheels or just plain a full size bike. I noticed after I changed the oil today that the engine was just a tad spunkier than before. Lots of power on the throttle and it keeps up with traffic with no problem at all. I probably shouldn't complain too much because I only paid a total of $2100 cash for it, and $75 for a whole year of full coverage insurance. Not too shabby! Not to mention I love when I stop to fill the tank and it costs less than $4.00! The owner of the place I got it from says Sym and Kymco are Taiwanese scooters that are far superior to their Chinese knock off cousins. After a few weeks of riding this scooter, I have to say overall I think I got a good deal? LOL! Is anyone here familiar with Sym or Kymco? I hope I don't find out I bought crap!! Ha! Dave Attachments:
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Post by zhan on Jun 12, 2013 23:11:42 GMT -5
[replyingto=spandi]spandi[/replyingto]Hey THANKS for the bandana idea!! I could afford that right now and I did indeed order 2 of em for delivery right away! Good call on that one!! ;D
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Post by zhan on Jun 12, 2013 18:34:14 GMT -5
[replyingto=spandi]spandi[/replyingto]Whoa!! Cooling vests! What a great idea! I will definitely invest in a vest! THANK YOU! ;D
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Post by zhan on Jun 12, 2013 17:51:24 GMT -5
Actually I think Puma Romeo was a copy of the Honda Joker. As is the Lance Cali Classic and several others. Sym just happens to be made in Taiwan and ranks with Kymco. What sold me on the Sym was the 2 years parts AND labor warranty. Couldn't go wrong! I put about 30 miles on it today, and I have to say WOW! Even in the 106 degree Arizona heat, it is a joy to ride. Starts right up, plenty of power and acceleration, handles really nicely, and stops on a dime. I'm really excited to finish breaking her in. I'm commuting to work with her tomorrow. 12 miles there and 12 miles back. The 12 miles in the morning at 6:00am will be far nicer and enjoyable than the 12 miles back at 5:00pm in 109 degrees. But hey.. that's a price I'm more than willing to pay for 80 to  mpg! And a fun little ride!! Why didn't you guys tell me scooters were so damn much fun sooner?!! Ha! ;D Thanks kindly! |
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mpg! And a fun little ride!!