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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 26, 2016 0:13:36 GMT -5
I really enjoyed your night ride... and there's something irresistible about a pooch in googles... LOL!  Fifty years ago, I had a wonderful cat, the absolutely "best friend" type of critter. He lived 21 years, and loved to ride in my old-school Harley Davidson horsehide jacket, with his head poking out while we rode my chopper. Animals can be great pals! Ride safe... Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 24, 2016 12:15:16 GMT -5
Nah... I think the color is more like Big Daddy Roth LOL! (Ratfink blue?) Could very well be! Back in 1960, I was already doing art for anybody willing to pay for it (and they didn't pay much, either...) so I got elected to paint Ratfinks on all the guys' notebooks, jackets, cars, etc. I got pretty good at it and earned the nickname "Big Daddy" which I still have over fifty years later. I suppose riding an animal outlaw chopper, and weighing 375 pounds may have added to the name just a little...
My high-school pals who are still alive, still call me "Big Daddy". I'm only "The Old Chopper Guy" on the scooter sites...
Ed Roth was one of my early-on weird-art heroes. I once met him and Norm Grabowski back in the day, at a hot-rod show. Norm is the "father" of the Model-T pickup roadster. And, of course, the ever-present star in every hot-rod teenage exploitation movie made in the sixties! It's said that drag-racer/fellow teenage TV star, "TV" Tommy Ivo actually sneaked into Norm's garage and took clandestine spy-pix of the yet-to-be Kookie car with his Brownie and fabricated one for himself. Tommy surely DID have one almost identical to Norm's in short order.
When the supply of Model-A's got short, and the Deuces totally dried up, Norm built the original Model-T pickup roadster for Ed "Kookie" Burns in the TV detective show "77 Sunset Strip". I could pass on the show, but I watched EVERY second of it hoping to just catch a glimpse of that incredible Caddy-powered T-roadster! (or Connie Stevens in a mini-skirt"...) LOL! Remember, NOBODY had EVER seen a car like THAT before, and, it was WILD! Many of us called it "a chopper on 4-wheels".The rest is history... The Pickup Roadster is as iconic as the Deuce Coupe. Way to go Norm!Every so often, I'm still asked to do a Ratfink... Cheesh! My memory is so slow nowadays, I have to look at one of Roth's originals for reference... Yup... Duh... OK, enough of this old geezer's rambling and lessons on the history of T-roadsters, Ratfinks, Ed, Norm, Tommy and the rest... Just a lot of fun remembering! Hope ALL you fellow riders and riderettes survive long enough to have swell memories like mine fifty years from now... When I head for that big Harley bone yard in the sky, SOMEBODY is gonna have to be "the New Chopper Guy"... or gal, and tell yarns to the electric/nuclear-bike newbies of back in the day, when we rode stuff powered by gasoline engines...
Ride safe, and make good memories!Leo "Big Daddy" in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 23, 2016 22:19:48 GMT -5
Thanks, Leo. When I got started on the 150 I became familiar with speed ratings on tires and upgraded to Pirelli SL 26's. More than enough rubber for that bike. The Xciting has a Shinko up front (120/70 15inch) and an Avon Viper Stryke on the rear (150/70 14inch). Both appear to be in good shape and are S rated. I think I am set for awhile. It has a long wheelbase like my buddies' Burgman 400's and Majesty's but is about 150 lbs lighter. The one thing I knew was off was the speedometer, which kinda waves at me occasionally. I am getting used to guestimating my speed by the tach, and riding with the flow of traffic. Aw, who am I kidding? I blow away anything on four wheels from a stop. I plan on getting a mount for my phone and using that as my speedometer until I get that fixed. No one asked, but if you are wondering after the shop graciously took my Chinese Junk as trade-in I paid $600 for the Xciting 250Ri. Your tires should be fine. My "problematical" Shinko turned out to be VERY old when bought "new". It handled great, and, I chanced a new identical one, but checked to see it was made THIS year... LOL! I doubt you'll be "Jonsing" for wide whitewalls on your sport scoot so you're free to choose any tire you like... Now, maybe a light-up goose on your scoot's nose might be cool... EEEWWWW! Hoo-HAA... Probably NOT so much...
 Tires make such a difference. The speedos on most of these are a tad "optimistic". Mine reads 3-4-mph fast across the board. I just subtract 4-mph to get a true reading. It doesn't matter much since most traffic on both local surface streets and freeways runs from 15 to 30-mph over the posted limit. I just try to keep up! Anything up to 70 is no problem, but on freeways, sometimes you absolutely MUST run 80-mph, to  -mph to avoid becoming road-kill. That's big-bike territory, and that's when I go back to the surface-streets. "Minnie Mouse" is a terrific scoot, a great 65-mph cruiser, but, a crotch-rocket she ain't...I knew the "Exciting" had a longer wheelbase, but I had not noticed the 15 and 14" wheels. That combination should make for excellent riding at any speed she'll run! I'm thinking the CVT and final gear setup is likely identical to the Grandvista. If so, that larger rear wheel should give a little higher top-speed and that would be great!
Again, CONGRATULATIONS on getting a GREAT scoot at a GREAT price.You'll have many, MANY happy mile on that one!!! Ride safe, Leo PS: As a "benchmark" for your reference, my Grandvista purchased new in '07 was used by its original owner for touring. He said she's been from New York to Los Angeles and Canada to Mexico... All riding done near WOT riding 2-up with his missus, and loaded down with luggage. She had 15K miles on the clock with the only repairs done by the dealer before I bought it. They included battery, belt, muffler and brake pads. That's it! And all that good riding on itty-bitty 12" wheels... I've put another 2,500 miles on the mouse, and there is absolutely no oil-consumption, no coolant used, no problems. All electrics, hoses, clutch, variator, CDI, coil, etc. are original and in fine shape. All rubber parts still supple, even the SEAT UPHOLSTERY looks like new, and it SURELY took a beating for 9 years!
That seems the norm with these Kymcos. They last 4-ever...I'm an old die-hard Harley guy, but I'm now also a MAJOR fan of Kymco scoots!
PPS: I just looked closely at your picture. It looks like the badge says "250I". Is it FUEL-INJECTED? If so, that is a major perk. If not, they run great with a carb... |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 22, 2016 20:53:13 GMT -5
SWEEEEET! Another Kymco 250 in the pack!  I believe the "Exciting" is mechanically about the same bike as my Grandvista; just longer, and a lot better-looking. Yup. If you like it as well as I like mine, you'll be one happy rider! They are nearly "bulletproof" mile after mile! I almost bought a Kymco Exciting but my 70-year-old arthritis made it hard to climb over even the "semi-hump" floor, and I opted for the more old-geezerish Grandvista for its flat floor. However... The Exciting is certainly a much sharper ride! And that Kymco blue is a knockout! Danged-near old-school George Barris candy blue.
One bit of advice I can give you from personal experience is this... Do check the tires to see what their speed-rating is. Very often, Kymco 250's are found wearing "J-rated" (62-mph) tires. If so, its WELL worth the bucks to upgrade to "P-rated" (92-mph) tires. I've been happy with the Michelin Power Pure. My obsession with whitewalls put a Shinko on the front, which did not hold up. But in fairness, it was an OLD one before I bought it. It did ride great while it lasted. Your new Kymco should top 70-mph, and some even hit 80 or better (mine will do an honest 82 on the flat, but does have a one-tooth up-gear final drive) and the improved ride and handling the P-rated tires offer even extends to low-speed riding.
Man, are YOU gonna have fun on THAT new Kymco or WHAT? I'm already grinnin' for ya...  Take it from me: going from a Chinese 150 (no matter how much you like it, and I really DID like mine) to a Taiwanese 250 is like going from a Yugo to a BMW... You will LOVE the heavy-duty Kymco ride. Solid as a big Harley. Ride safe, and do make sure your tires are up to the capabilities of your new ride! 250's are "in the middle" between 50-mph 150's, and 100-mph bigger road-scoots. They often opt for lesser tires than they deserve. Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 22, 2016 20:39:33 GMT -5
Nice post! Have a bone on the old chopper guy...
It IS good to have a reliable dealer. I'm fortunate to have MOXIE SCOOTERS here in Texas. They do their customers right. And you're not kidding about not trusting folks to stop at red-lights! EEEWWW!
Ride safe, and keep up the swell videos.
Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 21, 2016 18:47:54 GMT -5
Great video!
Makes me feel like I'm ridin' with you... Around here, we have numerous super-wide multi-lane highway underpasses... concrete and steel all-round and offer a similar "effect" to your tunnels. My old Kymco has a fairly loud bark at throttle, and I too sometimes get a kick out of "tunnel-blasting". These scoots have a similar sound to the old single "thumper" bikes of my youth, only with a LOT more rpm... LOL!
Ride safe!
Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 20, 2016 21:54:09 GMT -5
Is it just ME, or, do the 50cc scoots just look BETTER than the bigger ones?
Really, to my eye, the best-looking scooters are usually the smallest ones. There's just something about their general proportions, wheel-size compared to the rest of the bike, etc.
I ride a larger scoot because I do need more speed for my daily use, but those 50's are irresistible... And, the 2-strokes are REALLY neat. Having ridden a street-licensed mini-bike while still riding my Harley, I have a special affinity for red-hot 2-strokes on small frames. That old mini (Go-Kart/Big-Bear Scrambler) weighed 40 pounds, and with its "animal" McCulloch kart motor would top 100 mph! On 5" wheels... Oh, YEAH! The things we do when we're too young to know better...
Enjoy that neat fifty!
Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 20, 2016 21:39:10 GMT -5
Gotta go with the Klingon... at least good old Michael Ansara. I've always been a fan of him.
I'll always think of him as "Cochise" from the TV series "Broken Arrow". And as "Mr. Genie" as he was married in real life to Barbara Eden. I worked briefly with her in a PR campaign for Chrysler/Plymouth "back in the day". She was THE nicest, sweetest and most humble famous personality I ever encountered. The Klingon should have hung onto her... what a peach!
The thing I remember most about Michael was his disappointment at so often being "type cast" as a native American Indian. He really was an excellent actor, and said he got tired of "looking noble" arms folded and pointing with his chin in stereotype Native American movie fashion... Can't say I blame him. He is of Arab lineage (and a BIG fellow) but dang! He just played American Indian parts SO doggone well!
I guess I'm dating myself just a little... LOL!
Live long and prosper...
Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 16, 2016 23:25:17 GMT -5
THAT is going to be one real HEAD-TURNER! Have a bone!
I too love military-theme rides. My Dad rode a Harley "45" in the Army while fighting in the South Pacific in WWII. The O.D. color really IS just right on your project.
Please do keep us posted as the project progresses! You'll definitely have some fun with this one...
Ride safe,
Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 16, 2016 23:16:05 GMT -5
Skeekers,
Welcome to the best forum around! Have a bone on the old chopper guy!
Hey, a Kymco AND a Vespa... That says plenty... I'm a big fan of both. I ride a well-used '07 Kymco Grandvista 250, and almost bought a Vespa 300 myself.
Both brands are top-quality and pretty much "bullet-proof". Enjoy your rides, and...
Ride safe!
Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 13, 2016 21:30:17 GMT -5
Dunno 'bout onions, but garlic is not an edible thing raw. Gack! My friend told me it was a nut. Drove home with an unhappy mouth full of garlic-taste, and then an unhappy stomach 'cause it never got the garlic cheese bread in it that it assumed mouth had enjoyed.
THAT post deserves a bone! Yeah, that garlic is some pretty macho stuff... LOL!
Ride safe...Leo |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 12, 2016 9:02:04 GMT -5
Close call... HeHeHe... Gotta go with garlic. Roaring-Twenties Goombahs rubbed it on the bullets in their Tommy-guns to increase their lethality! Somehow, I just do NOT see that working, but the IDEA is mighty macho... Both will do major damage to one's breath... LOL! That's pretty macho too. |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 10, 2016 15:27:37 GMT -5
I watched all three parts and liked it. It did not seem too big a ground-breaking a movie but it was informative in a one-sided sort of view. The usual throw it all together, sex it up a bit, and add some sentimentality TV movie. For me, who knew very little about these men, it was interesting. I found some of the corporate intrigue interesting because of my background, but I agree there was probably too much of it. I would have liked a bit more time spent on explaining some of the mechanical ideas in their designs, It seemed like the show was made by people who retold what they heard about motorcycles.
I definitely agree with your observations. The coverage of Bill Harley's designs and interaction with the Davidsons creating their FIRST bikes was GREAT. But later designs were given little attention except for drama value. The view was DEFINITELY one-sided. I do hope Indian was not quite THAT nasty, but it's surely possible. And, the Ford attempt to bankrupt HD to do a primitive version of a "hostile takeover" is probably fairly accurate. Some of THE most intriguing facets of the history of HD however, came long AFTER the docu-drama's ending with the success of the "knuckle-head". I've been a die-hard fan of Harley-Davidson since the early fifties (building and riding choppers and baggers) and the one thing the show did portray well is Harley's long-term affinity for the "outlaw" rider and racer. That factor alone has kept HD in the forefront of the independent rider, separating it from the European and Asian brands. It's a brand-loyalty that is difficult to explain unless you've lived it.
I lived it for many decades, and now, in my old age, it's scooters for me...Enjoy being part of a great site, and... Ride safe!Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 10, 2016 15:14:31 GMT -5
Nice looking scooter! Have a bone from one old coot to another... I've heard good things about those tires. And, I'll double-down on the windshield! It's very much like the one I have on my Kymco. Indeed, it truly DOES block everything! Better than any I had on my old Harley baggers... I can ride without gloves down to below fifty degrees, and remain comfortable with a jacket to near-freezing! Enjoy that nice ride, and ride safe! Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 8, 2016 22:11:21 GMT -5
Well, I watched all 3 parts...
Well-done, but considering the film-makers had SIX HOURS to tell the story... I think the series went overboard on family and corporate drama, and shorted viewers on some important Harley-Davidson history. The baby pig was a "biggie" whose story sort of got lost after "Shrimp" Burns presented the little porker to the Harley boyz... (I'm not all that sure Burns even brought the piggy on the scene, but it makes a good story...). I've always heard the HD team adopted the little guy on their own... But, because of the popular mascot, the HD racing team picked up the nickname "Hogs". In time, the term "Hog" became synonymous with the bikes themselves.
Harley-Davidson bikes have been called "Hogs" ever since.Then, the story morphs from the early 1900's primitive V-Twins right to the "Knucklehead" for the finale. Not a mention of the flathead 45 and 74 twins. The Knucklehead is pretty much an OHV upgrade to the 74 flathead.
The OHV Hogs really were the "death knell" to the big Indian flatheads. Sort of "poetic justice" if the Indian company was really as nasty as the series portrays. With all the time the producers had to tell the story, I had hoped the series would have continued through the 1970's, featuring the panhead, shovelhead and evo motors, AND the future near-bankrupt corporate adventures of HD. A perfect ending would have been when, after the DISMAL early 1970's AMF products... the sacrificial employee buy-back of Harley Davidson took place, and the magnificent resurrection of the iconic company became history. Seems that the story of Willie G. Davidson's masterful creation of "factory choppers" should have been in the story somewhere too. His contributions to the design of modern Harley semi-custom rides was a BIG factor in HD still being alive today.
The advent of the knucklehead, while being a major milestone in HD history, was hardly the end of the story. It was truly the beginning of the modern (WWII and post-war era) Harley-Davidson. A genuine 100-mph big twin ensured HD would dominate the flat track, and the police market for a long, long time. Now, will the new "Milwaukee-Eight" cruiser and the new HD flat-track bike dominate their modern Indian counterparts? Enquiring minds want to know... LOL.  
The saga continues, the road goes on 4-ever... and the party never ends.I did enjoy the show though. Learned a few things about Harley-Davidson I didn't know, too. Ride safe!Leo (Redneck film critic, who retired the Hog and is now ridin' the Mouse...) in Texas ______________________________________________________________
PS: Weren't some of those outlaw racing bikes WAY cool? Oh, YEAH!
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-mph to avoid becoming road-kill. That's big-bike territory, and that's when I go back to the surface-streets. "Minnie Mouse" is a terrific scoot, a great 65-mph cruiser, but, a crotch-rocket she ain't...