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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 29, 2017 21:27:25 GMT -5
Leo--my Mum told me when she visited our cousins in Germany, everyone was like "Oh, you're American!" and treated her with extra courtesy. And a friend visited her German friend, who took her to a wedding. Everyone in the wedding was so excited that there was an American at their wedding. I didn't quite understand why the reverence. I assumed it was because we helped get rid of Hitler. I hadn't known about the Russians. It's horrible that military take things out on civilians who had nothing to do with anything, except try to survive. As for the Hawaiian POW camp, I'm not sure I'd sign up. I like having seasons. Winter makes you appreciate spring, and summer to appreciate fall.
Kat,
It IS sad that the military takes out vengeance on civilians. It's just one of mankind's failings... It's been going on since the Old Testament days and is not likely to change... Look at how "Kimchi Yuk" and his North Korean military kangaroo court treated that hapless American who pilfered a Commie poster for a souvenir... and how ISIS, Al Qaeda and their ilk treat civilians...Bullies will always pick on those least able to fight back... Look at your typical "gangsta" car-jacker, rapist, thug, armed-robber, etc. right here in our home towns. They are in their own eyes "military". They proudly wear their "rank" of teardrop face tattoos indicating folks they've murdered for the gang. But... when they encounter an ARMED "victim" or the police, they whimper and moan like a 2-year-old... They think killing helpless folks makes them tough. But if they were REALLY tough, they'd be looking for a gunfight, not a murder...Bullies will always be bullies, and masses of organized, militant bullies are the worst kind.
While American troops have indulged in such behavior, most of the world acclaims us being less prone to that sadistic stuff than anybody else. THAT is something to keep in mind. While so many nations' armies are looking for a chance to mass-murder, America is looking for an honest gunfight with an evil, armed enemy... Way to go USA!
Ride safe as soon as you can!Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 27, 2017 23:31:43 GMT -5
Wheelbender6...
OOHHH... The "Cadzilla" is one of my all-time FAVORITE customs! What a ride!
Yeah, that old Eldo of mine was a gas-hog on steroids. I traded in a 1968 Coupe DeVille on it. That '68 was a real dream-boat... Solid luxury and comfort, and AMAZING speed. Had the old 472" motor, and even gave really decent mileage for its day (14 city and 17 highway). It was all leather and walnut, with hundreds of pounds of chrome... The Eldo was pretty cheesy compared to it, and of course, kept me broke putting gas in it.... I got SO disgusted I traded it in on a new Chevette! Truly miserable little cars, but still good for their day. About 60hp, and 18 mpg city and 22 highway. It paid for itself in short order just in gas savings... Of course, it couldn't get out of its own way... LOL!
I actually ORDERED it from one of my Chevy dealer clients. You could do that back then. I wanted it all black, with AC and 4-speed manual tranny. I even had a "sound-deadening" package ($6.00) and "extra chrome trim" package ($10.00 if I recall)... It was cute! But I still recall taking it to redline in the first 3 gears, and when shifting to 4th, I was burning up the freeway at 38-mph... Absolute top-end was 70. If I was at WOT, at 70, and turned on the AC, it would drop to 55... Any hills or headwind, and I'd have to kill the AC.
Wow, have cars come a LONG way since then!
My "new" old '04 Honda Accord with her teensy 3.0 liter (180 cid) V6 cranks out 250+ hp, gives 22+ mpg city and 28 highway, is quicker on acceleration and MUCH faster top-end than any muscle car I drove as a kid... And does it all in near silence, with cushy leather and ice-cold AC that barely affects performance of mileage...
Yeah, cars have come a LONG way since the seventies!
Ride safe and enjoy modern technology...
Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 27, 2017 23:08:10 GMT -5
Sylvrekat,I'm glad your folks made it out of Nazi Germany before Der Fuhrer obtained full dictatorial power... I spent almost two years in Germany while in the Army, from 1968 to 1970... The German people were terrific. Most of the older ones who lived through WWII had horror stories about the Hitler regime, and even worse stories about Russian occupation. I was stationed in Karlsruhe, and the old timers told me they prayed 24/7 that American troops would arrive before the Russians. They did not. The Russians took vengeance on the civilian population in THE most brutal and horrific manner imaginable. War is a bad business, and it's sad that leaders like Adolf, and today's homicidal maniacs around the world still make it necessary. Ah... Sign me up for that POW camp in Hawaii... LOL!  We could use some Hawaiian weather here right now... I just got back to riding the old mouse, and it's turning sub-freezing! We don't get much below 32-degree weather here, especially this early, but it's here... Burr... Oh well, at least I have a scoot that will reliably START below freezing, with a good windshield that keeps the knuckles warm. In THAT respect, "Minnie Mouse" is far better than the Hogs I rode as a kid! As much as I loved the big bikes years ago, I do believe I'm loving scooters nowadays, just as much! They may not be super-cool, but they are SOOOO practical and affordable! Lotsa fun for the bucks... Stay warm, ride safe! And watch out for those "PC Nazis"... HeHeHe...  Leo (gettin' chilly, and cravin' hot chili) in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 26, 2017 14:10:17 GMT -5
BTW guys, it's a POW camp. Luftstalag 13 to be exact.  POW camps were for captured combatants. Concentration camps were to hold groups deemed unfavorable, or "inferior" to the Third Reich and its Arian model until they could be mass-murdered. Gee, I wonder if Hitler ever looked in the mirror? Based on his own sick criteria, he should have been the first to go... LOL!
My Dad helped liberate some Japanese camps in the Pacific. SO bad he didn't even want to talk about them... I guess even Hollywood couldn't sugar-coat a Japanese POW camp enough to make a sitcom... Same goes for North Korean, Vietnamese and other horror-hotels in places like Afghanistan, Iraq and other places where America and Israel are considered the enemy. These facilities make a Louisiana chain-gang look like a luxury vacation resort. Not funny stuff for sure... 
Ride safe, and keep outa the hands of the bad guys...Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 25, 2017 22:52:48 GMT -5
Yeah, Hollywood can make the sickest stuff seem wholesome and fun. Not only on the screen, but in real life too. The missus and I often are amazed while laughing at some comedy, then realizing we're actually laughing at something totally sick... EEEWWW!
Probably "political correct" thinking originated with Hollywood writers. They are SO good at making sick stuff seem "normal" while demonizing traditional "normal" behavior. The whole shtick of "Hogan's Heroes" depended on the Nazis being brain-dead bozos that could be fooled every day of the week by Col. Hogan's crew. For entertainment value, it was a hoot. But REAL Nazis were NOT brain-dead bozos. Nothing funny about them at all.
As a kid, I remember my WWII vet Dad marveling at how the show actually made a German POW camp "funny" and entertaining. He'd get really ticked off about joking about that subject matter... I also remember "Mad Magazine" doing a protest spoof on the show, calling their version "Hochman's Heroes"... Set in a Nazi death-camp. It DID make one think, but not for long I guess.
The show WAS well done, but I always had reservations about the subject matter. I've known too many Jews who survived the death camps to find much humor in Nazi stuff.
Just me...
Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 25, 2017 22:32:57 GMT -5
I dunno... I had a 1970 Eldorado with the 500 cid 8.3 liter V8 with a double-pumper carb with barrels the size of beer cans, that was fed by 2 half-inch garden-hose sized lines... It WAS fuel-infected for sure...
Raw fuel was everywhere... ESPECIALLY out the twin sewer-pipe sized exhausts... At idle they'd drip wet gas into little puddles under each pipe. Goose the throttle and a spray of wet fuel went into the air. She gave a whopping 2 mpg in town, and 3-4 on the highway. The whole car was "fuel-infected" and reeked of gasoline.
And you thought flatheads were inefficient... LOL!
Ah, the joys of the hapless seventies... LOL!
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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 25, 2017 3:10:02 GMT -5
Gotta go with Sgt. Kinchloe... Fooling with psycho Nazis is more macho than fooling with horny drunks...  |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 25, 2017 2:59:42 GMT -5
it's not that simple to get rid of it, this was my dads, he brought it down, I can't afford to buy another one anyway, i need to put brakes and tires on the truck , besides i like riding in the winter, if it would ever run right again, he rode full size touring bikes most of his life, and this was his last effort to ride, he's 75 now and on blood thinners so no more riding, I can't get on a full size bike, I tried again recently, I was hit head on by a car while on a bike and broke my back, and messed up my hip. I just can't swing my leg over a regular seat, so it has to be scooters
My friend, I can TRULY commensurate with your situation... I guess I fall somewhere between you and your Dad... I'm 71, diabetic, bad arthritis, on blood-pressure meds and blood-thinners. Like you, I just cannot swing a leg over a big bike anymore. It's even difficult to get onto a scooter with the "semi-hump" in the floorboard. I really need a flat-floor scoot. That got me onto the Chinese 150, and now the Kymco 250 Grandvista. While looking for a 250, I noticed several Italian big-wheel scoots with flat floors, along with other Kymco, Buddy, Stella and other scoots. The older models like my GV are getting downright CHEAP... and, they are VERY well-built. I'll bet by mid November, they get even cheaper, too... Even if you keep the non-running one out of nostalgia for your Dad, I'll bet there's a way to get a better ride. I survive on Social Security only, so there is NO money for ANYTHING other than meds... I did some web-graphics, sold some stuff on eBay, sold a couple of old guns I never use... It all adds up. Back when I got "Minnie Mouse" I paid $2,500 which was top dollar back then. Today, one like it could probably be had for less than $1,000. Maybe Much less at this off-season time of year.When you enjoy riding, and are able physically to do so, It's a shame not to be able to. There must be a way to get a better, reliable ride that fits your tight budget. I know how we miss riding... A couple of months back, I went on a group-ride organized by my dealer. Had great time. Then came home, tripped over my own boots and broke my arm... Missed all the best riding weather!!! Cheesh! I'm just now able to get on the road again. As "Red Green" said: "We're pullin' for ya'... After all, we're all in this together..."
Hoping you do get back on the road again!Leo |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 22, 2017 23:51:43 GMT -5
Hey, have a bone on The Old Chopper Guy for your hard effort!I turned 71 myself today, and feel more like a LOT older... Sometimes I've felt the same as you, especially when my old Chinese 150 acted similar to yours. Sometimes these GY6 motors are trouble-free and just fine, but other times they can drive you nutz... I would have chucked the scooter world myself and gone back to big bikes... BUT, old age, arthritis and short budget prevents that. I just cannot climb onto the big bikes anymore. So... I saved my pennies, sold stuff, and finally scraped up enough get the old '07 Kymco 250 I'm riding now. I would suggest you take a break, but also keep in mind that winter is nearly here... AND, the "plethora" of bargain-basement prices on good used scoots from riders who want to get rid of them before having to store it one more season... I'll bet you could sell your troublesome scoot for parts, and find a really GOOD non-Chinese scoot... Japanese, Taiwanese, Italian, etc. at a price you could afford, and end up with a fairly trouble-free bike you will LOVE! My old "Minnie Mouse" is a prime example... 2007 with 18K miles on the clock. I bought her from my local dealer 4 years ago last Christmas. Only repairs ever made were by the dealer before putting her on the lot. They included tires, battery, brake-pads, belt and muffler. She's been reliable as the family sedan now for 4 seasons. No wrenching, just riding, and the 250cc power is a lot more enjoyable than the 150. I can finally keep up with traffic (except for the freeways where locals regularly run ninety+... LOL!) Even there, I can maintain 70, and if I'm careful to watch my mirrors, I can travel the limited-access. If you reflect on your "less than positive" experience, I think you'll find you're not really too old, just have too unreliable a ride. Old age, arthritis, bad backs and bad knees do NOT do well with squatting, laying on your back and endlessly wrenching. It might be a little ray of sunshine, or "light at the end of the tunnel" to ponder the fact that the next couple of months are probably the best time to get a real bargain on an upgrade (even if an oldie) that will provide more reliable riding... Knuckles in the wind, are much happier than knuckles busted while wrenching! Yup! There are a LOT of great reliable scoots out there at affordable prices... Especially if you aren't obsessed with high-tech, fuel-injection, etc. Also great deals on motorcycles should you like to go that route. Depends a lot on how much arthritis you're packing around... LOL!
Hope you don't give up completely just yet!Stay safe, Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 21, 2017 11:46:38 GMT -5
Just saw this post... Have a bone! You MUST have one of the best "handles" on the site! Most of my Jewish friends are pretty super... Haha thanks! turns out the bike needs to top end rebuilt but its ok. I got a rebuild kit for 150 bucks. It is the best of both worlds. you cant tell its got a scooter motor in it!
You're most welcome!
Absolutely, these big-wheel twist-n'-go scoots with the engine hidden and motorcycle-style gas tank look to me to be the best of both worlds. You can add stuff like big trunk, saddlebags, driving lights, etc. and they don't look out-of-place like they might on more traditional scoots. I have no personal experience with them. The only big-wheel scoot I've ridden was a Kymco "People 200" loaner from my dealer while he changed out my tires on the old Grandvista. That ride had 17" rear, and 18" front wheels, but was still a step-through scooter. That "200" is really only a 160cc GY6 variant, but the scooter had MARVELOUS handling qualities. While my little 12" wheels have proven to be fine for me, all the way to WOT near 80, the larger wheels definitely do better on poor roads, washboard surfaces, diagonal railroad-track crossings... (I truly HATE those...) and especially if a tad off-balance. The small wheels absolutely require PERFECT balance for easy cruising above 50-mph. The bigger the wheels, the more forgiving handling they provide... Only gripe I'd have is you just can't find whitewalls for 'em... LOL!
I'm thinking yours would look pretty unique with Indian-style valances (side-skirts) on the front fender... OK, I know, I'm just full of weird old-geezer ideas... When you get that top-end fixed, I expect you'll have many miles of smiles on your little cruiser! Ride safe! Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 14, 2017 21:21:27 GMT -5
It was a pawned item and the owner ended up in jail. The pawn shop owner was selling it for 1k but he just wants it gone so he is gonna give it to me for 700. It needs a new battery but other than that it looks good. 
Superjew78,
Just saw this post... Have a bone! You MUST have one of the best "handles" on the site! Most of my Jewish friends are pretty super... Anyway, I've been riding now for over 50 years (mostly big bikes, with a smattering of 250-300's over the years) so I have considerable experience. I'm now 70, and arthritis keeps me off the big bikes and I've gone to step-through scoots. My current ride is a well-used Kymco Grandvista 250. It is a short-wheelbase scoot with small 12" wheels. (roughly Chinese 150 size, and 360 pounds). It tops out a little over 75-mph on LEVEL road without headwind. However, realistic cruising speed (including hills and wind) is 65, or 70-mph tops. "Minnie Mouse" as I call her will cruise 65 all day long. The short wheelbase and small wheels are no problem, including handling blasts from passing trucks. Unfortunately around here, freeway traffic often runs well over 80-mph so EXTREME care and watching the rearview mirrors is a "necessary evil"... LOL! IF your trips can be SAFELY negotiated at 65-70 you should be OK. A 250 SHOULD be fine if drivers would make even a little effort to keep within 10-mph of the speed limits. Some places they do, here they don't... LOL! I still ride the freeways whenever necessary, I just watch VERY carefully for the bozo coming up on my six at ninety. That bike in your post looks GREAT! Apparently a "twist-n'-go 250 motorcycle". Easy scooter controls with full-size cycle wheels and cosmetics. I'd say that's the best of both worlds. The large wheels ARE superior to small scooter wheels at high speed, and rough roads. The secret to small wheels at speed is to be sure to have P-rated tires, perfectly balanced... Mine actually ride and handle as well or better than my old Harley baggers did "back in the day"...Experimenting with roller weights (or better yet, sliders) can add a little more speed, acceleration and gas mileage. And can be done with simple tools with little mechanical skills. Something to try. I equipped my scoot with the largest trunk, or "top-box" I could find from eBay... It holds 2 full-face helmets or a LOT of groceries from Wally World... I also added "throw-over" saddlebags, again off eBay for times when I need even more storage. Your motorcycle-style scoot would look fine with trunk, and/or saddlebags. With no flat floor to carry stuff on, you'll need some storage for errands. Below are pix of the mouse... If a small scoot can function with trunk and bags like this, your cycle-style ride certainly can do even better... and that trunk is HUGE... "Harley-sized"... LOL!  If your pawnshop prize doesn't need more than a battery, for $700 you will be a happy camper! A 250 can be used on the freeway, ESPECIALLY if 65-mph will be fast enough to be safe. And, in town, it will be PLENTY fast for frisky traffic... I've now had my 250 for 3 seasons and am very happy with it. Ride safe!Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 12, 2017 0:46:07 GMT -5
GREAT PIX!
Have a bone on the old chopper guy!THAT ride looks like it was a LOT of fun! Wish I could have been along... Ah... pretty long ride from Texas though, and my scoot can't swim... LOL!Too bad they don't include 250's and similar. They aren't really all that much more ride than 50's and 150's. With her short wheelbase and little 12" wheels, most folks think my Kymco 250 is a Chinese 150... The saddlebags hide the model badging.
Those pix remind me of back when I visited London WAY back in the late 1960's... I rented a Chevy (American left-hand drive) and about killed myself trying to drive on the left side of the road... LOL! It is SO hard to suddenly drive on the "wrong" side... It just feels SO suicidal WRONG... Of course, everyone I meet here who comes from England, New Zealand, Australia, etc. tells me the same thing...
Ride safe, no matter WHICH side of the road you're on...Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 10, 2017 17:10:30 GMT -5
I'll go with Hobbes... But I think my Wife's cat could lick both of them... LOL!
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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 8, 2017 23:18:33 GMT -5
I'd love to try out a group event/ride sometime, if only they didn't start 30 miles away and go like bats.
Kat,
You'd REALLY enjoy a group ride like the one I posted on. All sorts of scoots of all sizes. Just a leisurely 20-mile jaunt around the lake, with stops at places of interest. Never exceeded 45-mph. Smallest scoot along was a 125, largest was a Kymco 500, and everyone enjoyed the slow pace. The lady on the new Kymco 500 was 70 like me, and SHORT... So short she had to lean over and use one foot "tippy-toe" when stopped. Id' HATE that... But she was game! That "Exciting 500" is a sweet ride, but heavy, and about "crotch-rocket" size... Very tall bike, and she was very short!There were 30 or so riders, and most used their scoots for transportation first, and "fun" took a distant second place. There were a few "enthusiasts" but all had a great time (when they could pry their thumbs from their smart-phones at least...).
I do understand loving your old wagon. I haven't really had a "pet" car in DECADES. Now, our "new" old Honda is REALLY a pet in the highest order. FAST... fun (handles like a GO-KART) Brakes like off a 747... luxurious, silent, GREAT gas mileage... did I mention FAST? LOL! I guess when she "tasted blood" in competition 14 years ago, she got the "hotrod bug" and never got over it... She is DEFINITELY one frisky little hamster... Hard to believe a CAR can be nearly as much fun as a BIKE, but "Lil' Rhonda II" is just that. No wonder Honda advertises the Accord as a car that's "fun to drive"!I haven't seen much of that Vespa snobbery around here, but there are not too many of them around. Most garaged in high-rent neighborhoods I seldom visit...I'm getting the old mouse out tomorrow... FINALLY... Arm is well enough and only need the lefty for brake and blowing the horn anyway... LOL!
Ride safe when you're able!Leo |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 8, 2017 22:56:12 GMT -5
By "car like" I meant the reason they purchased them. For transportation, gas savings or shopping. Utilitarian purposes have nothing to do with "bike culture" or performance as such. I like my 100 miles a gallon, but the gas savings are pretty much wiped out by the constantly breaking parts on the scoot, but I like tinkering with things, just fixed my muffler , installed my new jets, and the ignition fried on starting. so Now I'm waiting on a new coil, and a hard to find CDI box from a china parts supplier, in England, I have some oddball cdi where none of the standard cheap CDI boxes will work on it,if I wasn't a machinist and mechanic, I would have kicked this thing to the curb and bought a different one already, but that would go against anything can be fixed , I cut up the remains of the clogged muffler and it's brackets and welded on a genuine Cherry Bomb lol
Way to go! Have a bone on The Old Chopper Guy...The venerable "Cherry Bomb" muffler is legendary... Back in MY day (like, 50 years ago) I had a pair on my first car, a 1950 Chevy with a '53 Corvette SIX motor... Yes, in 1953/54 Corvettes had the "Blue Flame" 6-cylinder engine. Dual carbs, dual exhaust header and such. Mighty British for an American Chevy... LOL! I think you are right about anything CAN be fixed... It's just how long you want to keep fixing it... LOL! I must admit I kept fixing my first Chinese scoot (a 2007 Xingyue 150) for FOUR YEARS before it finally became reliable. Nowadays, I ride my little Kymco (same year) Grandvista (Grand Dink in Europe) and haven't had to fix ANYTHING in three years... SWEEEEET! Considering the usual weather, you have to be pretty dedicated to ride 2-wheels in England. Lots and lots of rain... Then more rain. I spent an enjoyable week in London back in 1969. Loved the people and culture, and the entire week it was warm and sunny. Blokes I made friends with said if I could bring that weather, PLEASE come back often... 
Ride safe and keep wrenching! Your scoot will finally be reliable...Leo in Texas |
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