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Post by bluegoatwoods on Oct 30, 2016 10:23:20 GMT -5
I can't comment on the Kymco Downtown 300 since I'm not familiar with it. But it is good looking, isn't it?
But I have a Kymco People 150. I'm not an expert on that, either. But it sure does seem to be a high quality bike.
But, as rockynv pointed to, a bit more foot and knee space would be nice. I have to sit on the passenger's spot to be really comfortable. It looks like I might have to do the same on the Downtown. And that step-seat might make that a bit more difficult.
For referrence, I'm 6 ft, 0 in. A shorter rider might do better. And, for that matter, I might be just a bit out of 'optimum' size for any scooter. Maybe I shouldn't single out Kymco.
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Post by bluegoatwoods on Oct 13, 2016 8:04:21 GMT -5
We're glad you joined up.
I think that the best safety advice I can give your daughter is to think of a scooter as a 20-25 mph vehicle. As opposed to 40,45, etc. At these lower speeds, even if something goes wrong she'll probably land on her feet.
And I might as well acknowledge that this is going to be a minority opinion. A lot of the folks around us want to go faster. God Bless 'Em and best of luck. But this is how I feel safest. And if I need to go faster, then I'll drive.
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Post by bluegoatwoods on Oct 10, 2016 8:56:29 GMT -5
Yep! I got me a scooter.
I actually did mean to ride both scooter and MB. But I found that the scooter is a much more sophisticated machine. I suppose I might have guessed it. The difference did surprise me, though.
I'm probably done for good with gasoline engines and bicycles. Though I am building an electric bike right now. Using the SBP drive-train.
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Post by bluegoatwoods on Oct 5, 2016 9:59:17 GMT -5
Thanks, Navi. I see you're new to this forum too.
I like your bike. That's something new. I don't think it's marketed here in the USA, either. At least I've never seen anything like it.
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Post by bluegoatwoods on Oct 5, 2016 9:54:14 GMT -5
Yup! It's exciting, isn't it?
I've always liked the looks of the Zuma. Those fairly wide and stout tires look as though they'll handle real-world conditions nicely. You ought to have a good time with it.
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Post by bluegoatwoods on Oct 3, 2016 23:44:46 GMT -5
Not an expert here. But the Kymco People could be good for you. They're out of production now. You'd have to go used. But they have 16" wheels. And a People 150 is pretty comfortable at 45 mph. At least mine is.
You might also consider the Lance Cali Classic. I think they have a 150, or even 200, cc model. And their prices are excellent.
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Post by bluegoatwoods on Oct 3, 2016 23:07:01 GMT -5
Yup! Those are all good tips.
Letting larger vehicles run interference is also useful on four wheels in bad weather. During a snowstorm, for instance, I like to follow a semi-truck. If some fool up ahead does something stupid and causes a multi-car wreck, then that truck will clear a nice, safe path for me. Not that I really want any such thing to happen. I drive careful and I'm not likely to cause any chain wrecks. But if someone ahead of me does, then I don't want to be in it.
I also agree with scanning not just the roadway, but all around. Keep an eye on traffic approaching from cross streets, for instance. Looking those people right in the eye is a good idea.
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Post by bluegoatwoods on Oct 3, 2016 22:49:48 GMT -5
Hello, folks! I've spent my entire life riding and driving almost everything from bicycles through motorcycles, automobiles and heavily loaded pickups with heavily loaded trailers, up to straight trucks. But no scooters until recently. I'm a two-wheeler by nature and only drive on four wheels when I must. I've always liked scooters. Just never got around to getting one. But some years back I rented a 50 cc scooter for my wife while we were visiting a place that has such rentals. She loved it. I rode it once, too. It was about as I'd expected and I certainly did like it. I also remember about thirty years ago now driving along and just off the roadway, under a street light, there were parked about a dozen scooters of the Vespa type. The riders were standing around in those long green rubberized canvas raincoats. They couldn't have looked more like the cover of "Quadrophenia if they'd tried. No doubt they were trying. That's exactly what they had in mind. I remember thinking, "I'd like to join those guys!" But I didn't. And I'd still like to even today. About 15 years ago I bought my wife a Honda CM400 motorcycle. She was friendly to the concept. But it was too tall for her and that didn't work out. She will not ride a bicycle. But I've really, really, wanted to get her on two wheels. For more than twenty five years now I've been trying and failing. The last couple of years I'd toyed with the idea of getting her a scooter. Finally this past January I said to her, "You know....I've been thinking about getting you a scooter". She turned to me with the most eager face I'd seen in years and said, "Tell me more!" or something like that. I do remember it was short and to the point. The point was: YES!
We went down to the local Honda dealer the next day. I remember it was January 6. I'll bet those guys didn't expect to sell a scooter that day. They definitely did not believe we'd be riding on that day. We didn't get the bike home until about Sundown. But we were riding that evening. Taking turns. We didn't go far from home, of course. And during the remainder of the winter there were days that she couldn't ride. Too much snow and ice on the roads. But she rode when she could. And when spring actually came she just took off like a Saturn V rocket. She doesn't look for excuses to drive her car. She rides her scoot. Rain doesn't bother her. As a matter of fact, she's just a bit reckless. She'll learn, of course. But I have to rely on the absence of bad luck until she does. I've tried to reign her in a bit. But if I'm too heavy-handed about that, then she'll grow rebellious and it'll be counter-productive. But she's kind of a nut with her scooter. I knew, too, that I'd buy myself one sooner or later. But I didn't expect it to be soon. This is a fairly significant purchase, after all. But just as spring was getting in gear a 2009 Kymco People 150 showed up in the neighborhood, for sale at a pretty darned good price. I couldn't pass it up so I pulled the trigger. I haven't been sorry, of course. My only regret is that I didn't do it a whole lot sooner.
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Post by bluegoatwoods on Oct 3, 2016 20:41:34 GMT -5
Hey, Wheelbender!
I've known you for years on a different forum dealing with a slightly different mode of transportation.
But....anyway......one thing I do as well, concerning hi-vis clothing, is I try to rotate the colors that I'm wearing. To keep those drivers who see me everyday from getting so used to me that they don't notice me anymore.
I've picked up vests of the bright yellow and bright orange style. Plus some vests that have some navy blue mixed in with the bright yellow. And I have different jackets, with some bright colors, that I rotate.
Keep it bright. But also 'mix up' your appearance regularly. I do it week-to-week on jackets. That works well for laundry. Vests get sweaty in the summer. So I rotate them day to day.
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