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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 21, 2018 22:31:44 GMT -5
From what I have read, Poland is a great place to produce vehicles. GM, Fiat, Volvo and some others already have assembly and parts plants there. Fine craftsman they are, I very amateur collect some surplus and have a few pieces manufactured in Radom Poland, the machine is jewelry, the bluing is so deep its overkill for military.. And were I came from it wasn't a wedding without a Polka band, a rocker you may be but a Polka band had to be there throwing down. Uncle Andy or Aunt Mary who had not been out of a chair are slamin shots and WOOPIN on the dance floor..
Those Polish Radom pistols are indeed beautiful pieces (and HIGHLY collectible) considering they're made for war-time use... Sorta 9mm 1911's in dress clothes. If bikes made there are anything like that, they will be excellent. Coming from Chicago, most all my friends were either Black, or Polish... More Poles in Chicago than any other city outside of Warsaw!  And Polka music? Yeah, no matter where you hang your hat you just gotta have a polka band at your wedding! Along with plenty of sausage... I seldom miss the "Molly B. Polka Party" Saturday nights on RFD TV!
I just hope Indian DOES keep the Euro-made bikes IN Europe. Indians made for the USA market need to continue to be made here in America. Ride safe in this heat! I haven't ridden in two weeks, temps being from 105 to 111. First year the heat has affected me. Getting old. Ride safe!Leo in (REALLY HOT) Texas |
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Peej update
by: oldchopperguy - Jul 15, 2018 0:47:14 GMT -5
Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 15, 2018 0:47:14 GMT -5
And (hopefully) the final update. Got to pick up Peej today. And just beat the rainstorm! It was just the bulb. nmaD expensive bulb, once labor got added. But after I watched the vid on getting into the Fly's tail light, and very esp after the guy commented how easy it was to crack the part, it's still worth it to me. I just hope they put in a long-life bulb, like a LED or something that won't burn out for even longer than 10 more years. And now I'm ready to scoot to work. Except sadly, Mon/Tues/Weds all have stuff right after. Esp Weds--I can't see how to haul a bass flute via scooter, along with regular and treble. The picc will fit almost anywhere including under the seat, ha! Fingers crossed that Thur is neither rainy nor too gusty nor excessively insanely hot. And Fri, too. I SO wanna scootie to work! >'Kat .  I must admit I agree with you. I too do NOT like the look of a trunk, but since I use "Minnie Mouse" mostly for errands, it's pretty much a necessity. I even added saddlebags for the extra groceries... Sorta completes the "family van" image... LOL! Incidentally, the matte-black trunks DO blend in with the seat, tires, fenders, etc. and don't look nearly as much like a refrigerator hanging off the back as the nicely match-painted ones... Still somewhat of an "eyesore" though.
That's one of the things that appeals to me about choppers/bobbers... Bare bones. No bolt-on fruit salad. But... Ya can't carry anything but a skinny girl with you.Fifty years ago, THAT was enough... Today it's kitty litter and groceries!  The missus won't let me decorate the passenger seat on the mouse with any skinny girls except my 62-year-old bikini-figured step-daughter... Dang... What amazing things lettuce and sit-ups can do... And she lives in Houston, so we don't see much of her! LOL!That new light should last years! Ride safe!Leo (pondering just where DO you put a tuba on a bike?) in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 15, 2018 0:34:40 GMT -5
Can you post a nice, big pic of your avatar scooter? It's simply one of THE best-looking rides I've seen! Leo in Texas Why thanks Leo for the kudos! Here is a before/after comparison.  and here is a link to download the high-res photo: N.B. Lot's of little enhancements aren't obvious in the above photo. I plan on doing a video "walk around" later this summer -- just need a sweet location (and a video gimbal) to pull it off. I can see the little things... Details make the ride! Red, black and yellow are THE most striking color combinations to be had. You did a nice job on that scoot! Enjoy the ride, and, RIDE SAFE!Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 15, 2018 0:28:50 GMT -5
You want to know what fries my cookies? The headlines read "Clooney suffers MOTORCYCLE Accident". Why are motorcycles getting the credit? Scooters are as dangerous as a motorcycle. Scooters deserve as much credit for hazardousness. Maybe more.
Since most scooters do not have the "escape" acceleration of a big bike, they are also more "vulnerable" to the "Easy Rider Syndrome"... So, ah, well... They're probably MORE dangerous than motorcycles... I've ridden both now for nearly 60 years, and I promise you that you can mess yourself up EQUALLY well on EITHER one... Yup... So RIDE SAFE! Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 13, 2018 10:48:52 GMT -5
mjsfoto1956,
Can you post a nice, big pic of your avatar scooter? It's simply one of THE best-looking rides I've seen!
Leo in Texas
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Great Finds
by: oldchopperguy - Jul 13, 2018 10:31:58 GMT -5
Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 13, 2018 10:31:58 GMT -5
Oh, cookees…
A Kymco "Bet & Win" with 350 miles? THAT one would be worth buying and riding home!
You almost NEVER see a Bet & Win for sale. They are mechanically the same as my Grandvista… But in a sport configuration. Compact size, good acceleration, great gas mileage and 70-75mph capability! FABULOUS scooter and all one could ask for in an old-school, carbureted 250.And who could resist a seller with a garage with a GRASS driveway? LOL! ________________________________________________________________
And the little "200". Appears to be a "People 200" which is really an air-cooled 160. I had one as a loaner while "Minnie Mouse" was in the shop and fell in love with it. It had excellent acceleration, AND would run right up to 60+ with ease. Handled like it weighed next to nothing! It was in essence what tuners WISH they could make their Chinese 150's to be... It's simply a GY6 150 on steroids, with incredible "ease of riding". Perfect choice for a rider who wants a totally non-intimidating ride that can still keep up with traffic and hit over 60-mph.
Both of these are PREMIER choices for the budget-minded buyer, and real scores for first-time scooter riders... ESPECIALLY the "Bet n' Win"! Few riders outside of die-hard Kymco mavens know what this "daddy of the Grandvista" really is, but what a buy! Thanks for posting... Hope some of our forum members snap THESE up. They will surely be happy campers! Leo (LOVIN' that Bet n' Win) in Texas  
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 9, 2018 1:07:52 GMT -5
Woo-HOO boyz n' gurlz…He DID it... times three!  Preparation, a great team and monumental skills honed in Moto-X really paid off!
I am VERY impressed with the Indian flat-tracker. I was amazed to hear it weighs less than my Kymco 250 scooter... Makes me more than ever wish I was a tad more youthful and able to swing a leg over one! Lots of that track DNA in the scout street 750, and even the sweet little Scout 60!THIS event, coming on the heels of Harley-Davidson announcing manufacture of some bikes "in Europe" couldn't have come in more timely fashion for the image of the new Indian. Way to go Travis!
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 7, 2018 20:17:01 GMT -5
Interesting choice!Rocket scientists concoct missiles that can travel to outer-space, OR obliterate entire nations... That's pretty macho: (Remember, just one nuclear missile can ruin your whole day...)  But then, brain surgeons open up folk's heads and rearrange their brains... WITHOUT even using a gun... That's pretty macho too,  Considering the brain surgeon performs potentially deadly activities, but always (usually) with good, medical intentions... And the rocket scientist performs potentially deadly activities sometimes with intentionally death-dealing consequences... For MACHO I'll go with the rocket scientist.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 7, 2018 20:03:53 GMT -5
that's why you gotta stealth it 😑 glue reflective budumps to the top of the curb and scamper off if you do a really crappy job of it it's going the look just like city work
I agree, but at least around here, Big Brother has video cameras at nearly every intersection... Even those in the boonies... You can't scratch yourself without being video-taped.On the "plus side" those cameras DO catch a lot of perverts... Ride safe,Leo |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 7, 2018 19:56:16 GMT -5
Junkyarddog, Welcome to the forum!
I found the same... When I got my old Kymco I was looking ONLY at used bargains. In the process, I found several Vespas VERY affordable. Most had few miles and I would have bought one, except I fell in love with this old Grandvista…
I too ride a scoot because I can't get on or off the big bikes easily, but... It's arthritis I my case.
Thank you eternally for your service and sacrifice! Our country still survives only because of those men and women who serve. May God bless you and yours!
Have a big bone on TheOldChopperGuy!
Ride safe!
Leo in Texas
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Peej update
by: oldchopperguy - Jul 7, 2018 19:42:03 GMT -5
Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 7, 2018 19:42:03 GMT -5
Kat,My old Kymco is "sorta" easy to get to the tail-lights, but HEADLIGHTS?... Forget it!
One of the first things I did on "Minnie Mouse" was to rig a BIG LED auxiliary stop-light on the trunk. My trunk is SO large, it almost blocks the factory rear lights, and having a bright stop-light at windshield-level is a good safety measure, and is there should the factory light go out. I also added aux. turn-signals with the brake-lights. Looks like Vegas on Saturday night!Adding an extra tail or stop-light is very easy. Just splice into the wiring and add a ground. Your dealer can point out the proper color wire for any light you want to hook into. I got prompted to add the higher-up stop-light after being "thumped" twice coming to a stop at intersections by drivers who swear they couldn't see my factory lights... Of course, THAT was because they were about a foot off my rear end...  
You always want PLENTY of light on your tail-feathers... I'm glad you got the dealer to fix yours, and he didn't gouge you. If you ever decide to REALLY light up the rear of Peej, it isn't expensive (a few bucks for LED's, wire and splices) and it's easy to do. Rides safe!Leo
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 5, 2018 23:40:42 GMT -5
Leo, whenever you post about your area, you just make me even happier I live in my area! >'Kat
Life's an ADVENTURE! I admit, 50 years ago, back in the day, in Chicago, it was a lot LESS of an adventure... Not much traffic, most folks made an effort to avoid collisions, and speeds were WAY less than today. Honestly, I'd say riding HERE, in Texas today, is about 60% more dangerous than riding in CHICAGO, in the 1960's... But then, I'm probably 40% smarter now than back then... It helps!
I do my best to enjoy the ride, and the adventure... (as if I have a choice?)  I stay REALLY close to the good Lord, and figure I always have a few jumbo-sized angels between me and what the devil has in mind. And, I don't tempt old Nick like I might have 50 years ago... You know, like, "...Hey! I bet I can ride across the WHOLE river on the handrail of this stupid bridge..." or "I bet I can get through all four gears and still stop before I hit that building at the end of the parking lot..." Nope. Not no more, not ever... 
These days, I don't ride any way, or go anywhere I wouldn't ride or go to with Jesus on the passenger seat... It's worked well for me so far!
The day MAY be coming when I'm no longer safe to ride on two wheels... The old eyes, balance, and reaction times are NOT what they were even 5 years ago. If that time comes, I'll probably go to a trike (or put a sidecar on "Minnie Mouse")… Nothing more fun than taking a hard, sweeping left, going 2-wheeler, and "elevating" the sidecar passenger six-feet off the ground... 
I only got to do that once on an on a pal's old foot-clutch Hog, but I still chuckle when I think about how my gal-friend freaked-out!!!
Being a good steward of borrowed bikes, upon return, I did clean the leather seat in the sidecar and treated my girl to a 25-cent "bath" at the local spray-wash, and, popped for new $6 pair of jeans... Heck, after all, it WAS 1962, and a po' boy could afford such things...
Hoo-HAA, Woo-Hoo and as they say 'round here, well, dog my cats!
Ride safe, and enjoy the ride!Leo |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 5, 2018 23:13:10 GMT -5
Pistonguy,
"This is gonna be good!" Man, you said it! Like many old bikers of my era, I saw Evel Knievel in-person whenever I could. His command of the venerable Harley V-Twin was envied by all of us. We enjoyed his pre-jump performances as much as the jumps.
The fact that this fellow is doing the jump on a V-Twin (Indian no less) makes ALL the difference. Robby Knievel does marvelous jumps, but on a modern bike with HUGE suspension travel, made for "air-time". Those bikes did not exist in his Dad's day. I can't even imagine what Evel could have accomplished on a modern bike!I imagine the Indian used for this jump is slightly better-setup than Evel's old Harley, but not all THAT much. A heavy street/track twin is what it is... a heavy twin with short suspension. A jump that might be "easy" for a pro rider on a modern Moto-X bike can be nearly impossible on a heavy V-Twin with limited suspension.The missus and I are praying for his success. We watch these exhibitions for the skill of the rider, and a successful attempt, not for the potential blood-letting. We hope he makes it, and makes it look easy!
And, what a PR coup d'etat' it will be for the new Indian!Somehow, I do believe Evel would approve... Leo (no daredevil DNA at all) in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 4, 2018 23:11:51 GMT -5
Ok, piston, we had different definitions of slow vs fast passing. "Fast" is what those semis do that tossed even my old wagon a bit. "Slow" is passing a little faster than my speed and not tossing my car like a soda cup. "Irritating git" is lallygagging and not passing but sitting off my dogleg like a bleeding stupidhead hoping you're in my blind spot so I'll change lanes and hit you. Or something similar. Or just plain stupidness. But those gits are more irritating during the day, 'cause at least at night you can see by their headlights that they're driving stupid. >'Kat
Folks in your hood actually use HEADLIGHTS?  Around here, law enforcement says 1 out of 3 cars are STOLEN... Most, driven by illegals 12 to 18 years old. In their pot-fogged little brains, they think if they don't use lights, they won't be noticed... REALLY?Personally, I don't know a quicker way to get "Johnny Law's" attention than to drive around at night, lights out, in that freshly jacked ride...
One good thing about those brain-dead little miscreants, most do NOT know how to drive a stick-shift... Keeps 'em from jacking a LOT of really swell sporty rides!!!Joking aside, I do understand... All too often some cretin (usually in a "monster" 4x4) comes flying by and pulls into YOUR lane before getting QUITE past your scoot... As Dr. Phil says" "...I hate it when that happens...".
Driving in general is a "heads-up" situation, and riding on 2-wheels is much more so...Side note: around here, if you paint a curb, you'll get charged with defacing city property and get a hefty fine along with community service removing paint... That actually happened to a 75-year-old lady crossing guard at an intersection she worked for school kids. Several kids had been hit, so she painted a safety walk across the street... Next week she was no longer a guard, and on her knees in the sun, scraping and painting over her handywork. The CBS news reporter was quite amused... Maybe if it had been HER mother she'd have felt differently... Nah! My neighbor found out that if you complain about totaling your car on a cammo curb, you'll be threatened with a charge of reckless driving. The arrogance of local government is off the meter.
Ride safe, heads-up, eyes-open!Leo |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 4, 2018 21:44:03 GMT -5
At this point in the game it really doesn't seem to matter much where the "origin" of parts is. Most EVERYTHING is made of parts from EVERYWHERE, in places ALL OVER THE PLANET.I've been so intrigued by my Honda Accord UEX that I've done some digging... OK, it IS a HONDA. Made in 2004. Most of the body/interior was made in America. The ORIGINAL factory performance engine, tranny, suspension, brakes, headers/straight-pipes, 200-mph wheels and other components came by order from Honda Performance in Japan. The roll-cage and harness (long since removed) were dealer-installed American aftermarket.
The whole enchilada was assembled in Tennessee... And not street-licensable.When the original owner decided after two seasons on the track, to convert the frisky little hamster to street-licensed status, the street-chip came from Mexico. THAT little piece of legality took her 3.0 VTech motor from around 490hp down to 257hp. Dang! But she DOES give good mileage...The new street headers, mufflers and pipes came from the dealer's stock... muffs marked "made in USA". The interior (all cowhide except for the driver's seat) has some pieces not marked, some made in USA. The lone upholstery exception is the driver's seat, finished in thick horsehide. A teensy tag inside the seat back says: "Performance USA". Fortunately for me, the original fuel-injection, "slingshot" first-gear tranny and boat-anchor brakes from the original build remain... and all work to perfection in street-trim! While being a limited ('03 &'04 only: they just could NOT beat those 656hp Caddies...) and an "unusual" original build for the track, the plethora of countries of origin for parts is pretty vast. When all is said and done, I'm MORE than happy with the finished product. Saved from trashing on the track and morphed into a silent, trouble-free and more fun than a 14-year-old grocery-getter has any right to be ride... I really don't worry about WHERE "Rhonda II" was made. I just enjoy the ride! She'll get a bag of cat food home from Wally World in short order! Once in a while, giving a tuner kid a bad hair day in the process... LOL!I guess the moral of the story is: "If you like it, don't worry so much about where it comes from..." 
Ride it safe! Wherever it comes from...Leo in Texas
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