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Post by Skunk Shampoo on Jun 18, 2016 4:30:03 GMT -5
You could also sell the tao tao and put the cash towards a different 50.
You might find a good deal on a Japanese or Italian scoot that performs better. That's the route I took, at least. Almost. I haven't gotten around to selling the old scoot yet.
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Post by Skunk Shampoo on Jun 13, 2016 5:19:14 GMT -5
Way to go on that PCX 125. That's one slick scooter. Hows that 100 MPG treating you?
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Post by Skunk Shampoo on Jun 13, 2016 1:51:14 GMT -5
judging by the trunk, it looks like a honda helix. I hear they are an excellent ride. :-)
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Post by Skunk Shampoo on May 20, 2016 2:09:32 GMT -5
Man, you will love it. We've had two in the past and I'm seriously starting to look round for another. The smoothest, most comfortable 49 I've ever ridden, dead reliable and more robust than you might think. A few years back, a young couple rode across Canada - two-up! Yeah, I read about that trip across Canada. Very impressive! It is definitely comfortable. I find it the most comfortable when I sit all the way back in the seat and let my legs stretch forward. Kind of like the way the Harley guys sit on their cruisers. I didn't imagine that seating position would make all that much of a difference, but it is quite relaxing. Maybe a back rest would really bring it to the next level, but I read that those can really mess up your back if you get rear-ended. The scooter is really comfortable as it is though. Looks like I got a really great 50cc here. Everything is smooth about the C3. Not to disrespect older vehicles, but it is nice to ride something made this century . And I can ride it safely on most roads around here! One thing I am concerned about is that it is time for the scooter's first tune-up. I bought it with less than 4,000 miles on it. No knowledge of the scooter's history, so I'm going to treat it as if it was never taken in. Is there anything I should watch out for when taking it into a shop? Awesome!!! I once went 350 miles each way to pick up a motorcycle (rode it home). Probably a bit easier and not as exciting as your trip! That's wild! How long did that take? What make/model?
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Post by Skunk Shampoo on May 19, 2016 15:22:56 GMT -5
Hi guys. I just recently got an upgrade from my old Suzuki FA50. A 2007 Yamaha C3! I figured I'd share with you guys, and yes there's plenty of new-scoot pics. It was a bit of an adventure going down to pick it up. It was a spur of the moment sort of thing (though I've had an interest in Yamaha's C3 for a while). This one was 75 miles south of my home town of Eugene. A long way to go to pick up a scooter, I suppose. Especially if that scooter is only 50 cc and you have no way to haul it back home. I had contacted the owner on Craigslist a few days beforehand and hadn't heard back from him until Saturday night. The way my schedule is, I would only be able to get it on Sunday, or wait another week. I decided to see if I could make it work. My plan was to find some way to get down to Roseburg to buy it, then ride it the 75 miles back home. I gave a quick look on google maps, and sure enough, there were some back roads I could take to make the trip. So, I checked with friends and family and my aunt and uncle were up for it. At the beginning of the day, it was raining. I was a bit concerned but things began to clear up around mid-day. This is the area where I did my test drive. Very beautiful. About 1 in the afternoon, we made it to Roseburg Oregon. The seller seemed nice and the scooter looked very clean (although with a few dings here and there). I was a bit shaky because I hadn't eaten at all that day, and I was nervous about the test drive. The C3 had a significant amount of heft to it compared to my little FA50. Things were a bit rocky at first. I had some difficulty handling it at low speed, but decided that if I'm going to be taking this 75 miles across Oregon, I'm going to have to familiarize myself with it. The scooter handled great and felt much safer on the road than my FA50. The handling was actually very similar to the Buddy 125 I rode for the MSF class. Although the seat on the C3 seemed a tad bit higher making it a bit more cumbersome when I have to put my feet on the pavement. The body of the C3 had a bit more heft to it than I expected. Despite this, I decided to get it. I figured that I would just need to adjust to the heavier weight (especially if I want to upgrade to a touring scoot down the line). My aunt and uncle lead the way in their car, using GPS to take the back roads back to Eugene. About an hour into the journey, I decided it was a good idea to get a fill up. My tank was about half-full at this point (It has about 2/3 of a tank when I bought it). 1 gallon of gas, and $2.50 later, I was back on the road. The scooter was reaching a top speed of 39mph. A bit below what a C3 should be getting from what I've read. I'm pretty light at 130 lbs, so weight shouldn't be much of a problem... But the scooter does have an aftermarket windshield which I read slows it down a bit. That windscreen really came in handy later as rain started sprinkling down. I quickly found I could duck behind the windshield to keep the rain off of my visor. Very helpful . I don't have any photos from the journey home because we wanted to get home before dark, but this is a photo from a few days before. This is what the sky looked like on the way back. The countryside was absolutely gorgeous and the small towns we passed had these amazing old buildings. Some abandoned. We had to pull over a few times to let cars pass by, but the roads were mostly empty. The experience was very freeing. The rain came and went but didn't get too bad. My gear and the windshield kept me surprisingly dry, though the water had seeped through my gloves and my knuckles began to get a bit cold. I made it home safely around 9pm. The 75 mile trip took 3 hours. My back was pretty sore the next day haha. This is what my windscreen looked like when I got home. I was hoping the raindrops would get blown away by the wind after the rain stopped, but they stuck with me til the end of the trip. I didn't like how they obscured my vision when ducking behind the windshield. New scooter selfie . (Yes my teeth stick out pretty bad lol) This was from a shopping trip the next day. Love that underseat storage. My FA50 only holds gas and oil . Well, that's the story of my new scoot. It was a bit of a spontaneous, crazy journey but it actually worked out.
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Post by Skunk Shampoo on Feb 29, 2016 15:29:37 GMT -5
When riding, I wear one of those cheap reflective safety vests over a yellow windbraker, with my leather jacket underneath. I really want to do more to make myself more visible on the road, though. From time to time, I will spot a rider wearing a jacket with unearthly levels of day-glo that can compete with the sun in broad daylight, and I think to myself "that's the kind of jacket I need". Ideally, I would want to wear hi-vis from head to toe with retro-reflective surfaces on everything. I've even considered painting my bike neon and covering it with retro-reflective tape.
This all gets me to thinking. How much is too much? Is it possible to over-do it to the point where I am a distraction to other drivers and a safety risk?
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Post by Skunk Shampoo on Feb 9, 2016 13:16:39 GMT -5
$585 USD. Could you imagine if they offered it here in the States at that price?
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Post by Skunk Shampoo on Sept 30, 2015 22:21:32 GMT -5
This reminds me of the movie, Cars. oldchopperguy Those whitewalls do help you stand out a little more. It makes me wish they came in hi-viz yellow! I'd buy 'em.
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Post by Skunk Shampoo on Sept 28, 2015 11:34:10 GMT -5
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Post by Skunk Shampoo on Sept 28, 2015 11:26:27 GMT -5
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Post by Skunk Shampoo on Sept 16, 2015 19:22:55 GMT -5
wow. 1,000 miles in 2 months! My scooter just passed its 1,000th mile last night. I've only put less than 100 miles on it, myself since I bought it over a year ago, but those miles are racking up since I got my license (I used to ride it around the property when I lived out in the woods lol). Congrats on your new scoots, by the way :-). JerryScript Taking the MSF course was one of the first pieces of advice I got when first joining the forums. Our state recently made it mandatory before you can get your motorcycle endorsement! I am glad they did though. $200 well spent, I'm sure!
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Post by Skunk Shampoo on Sept 16, 2015 7:17:35 GMT -5
Hi guys. I've been ashamed to admit it, at 34 years old I'm pretty late starting in life. I just got my license this last Thursday. This is a huge milestone for me... And also a major challenge. I'm a bit slower when it comes to picking up new things. To be honest, I've been waking up with a sick feeling in my stomach, thinking "I don't want to take that scooter out into that intersection"... Last time I had a recurring feeling like that when I woke up, it was right. There's a few issues with this scooter that aren't safe, but that's going on a tangent. I've got a mechanic looking into them. Better safe than sorry. I think Jimminey Cricket said that. The Suzuki FA50I'm constantly aware of the fact that I'm still figuring things out. Every day I ride, I learn something new. I record the trip on my helmet cam and review the footage at the end of the day. This way, I can look back and ask myself what can be done more safely. My first trip to my friend's house across town. Taking the back roads.I wanted to move up to 250cc's as soon as possible. I got a spot in the next available MSF course which will allow me to get my endorsement, but I think I've got a lot to learn on a 50. From the look of this shadow, you would think I was riding a much bigger bike.Eventually I do want to upgrade and take a road trip across the state of Oregon, but only when I'm ready. Getting on the road is one of the most sobering experiences I've had in my life. It is freedom and a connection with others, but it is also something that is done with a very hefty weight of responsibility for the safety of myself and those on the road around me. Kind of funny to end on a somber note... And this is the last image I have to share tonight. Can't take yourself too seriously Took a selfie. Goofing off.
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yamaha aerox
by: Skunk Shampoo - Sept 4, 2015 13:35:37 GMT -5
Post by Skunk Shampoo on Sept 4, 2015 13:35:37 GMT -5
The Yamaha Zuma is a beautiful rugged ATV of a scooter. I do think it looks better with the vertical headlight setup, though. My main issue with the horizontal setup is that it only lights up one of the lights. It looks lopsided like one of the lights is out. Wouldn't be a problem with the vertical setup. Speaking of buggy headlights That's unfortunate about the Aerox, though. I've heard something about modern fuel injected two-strokes being capable of meeting emission guidelines. Maybe a future version of the Aerox will make its way over.
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Post by Skunk Shampoo on Sept 4, 2015 13:08:29 GMT -5
Wow, that's good to know! I only knew the SSR name. If I were to get a China bike, Znen would be on the top of my list. I hear they are one of the best (That and Ice Bear). That SSR Rowdy 150 was calling my name for some time. Too bad the Honda Big Ruckus had such a short run. Thank China for clones!
It turns out that I could get a used Honda Helix with low miles for the same price (or even cheaper), though. I'm hoping to make the upgrade from my 50cc sometime next year :-).
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Post by Skunk Shampoo on Aug 14, 2015 12:25:05 GMT -5
I agree, the wires and things sticking out doesn't look so good. The pic is something I pulled off of the web. I've just got my Suzuki FA50 for now, but plan to move up to a Honda Helix :-)
I was considering an Elite 250, but I hear the handling is scary at higher speeds.
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