Author Topic: Scooter trash  (Read 17959 times)

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osufz6

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Scooter trash
« on: April 27, 2017, 04:17:13 pm »
Let me preface by saying I was strongly encouraged to post by threat of verbal abuse. No names but the 'Bully" lives in Morganton, NC. Admit it if you own one.  I've owned several beginning with a well-used 1987 Honda Elite 150. Every time a panel was removed I had leftover hardware. Not bad for city traffic although 10" wheels are not forgiving. Needed a little more power. I moved up to a Honda Reflex 250. Sort of a min-maxi scooter. Short stints on an interstate were doable. Nice but perhaps a little more power. Enter a Yamaha Majesty 400. A modern marvel compared to the others. Much heavier than the 250. At almost 500 pounds I had to adjust to the tail wagging the dog. The step-through design came in handy following hip replacement X 2.  The best part is since very little is visible it never needs maintenance! Looking forward to TriStar next month. Great event.

Offline Patmo

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Re: Scooter trash
« Reply #1 on: April 27, 2017, 04:22:57 pm »
See you there!
not all that wander are lost

Offline HawkGTRider

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Re: Scooter trash
« Reply #2 on: April 27, 2017, 04:43:38 pm »
I like scooters too, although I,ve never owned one. I've had day-long test rides on an Aprillia BV500 and a Piaggio MP3/250.
A fellow in the 2001 Iron Butt Rally rode a Honda Reflex from Madison, AL to Denali National Park and back as his choice of routes in that event.
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Offline NinjaBob

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Re: Scooter trash
« Reply #3 on: April 27, 2017, 08:11:27 pm »
I learned to ride on a Vespa 90 on the streets of the big easy back in 66.

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osufz6

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Re: Scooter trash
« Reply #4 on: April 27, 2017, 08:44:48 pm »
Perhaps I'll ride the Majesty to Sparta........ Ain't gonna happen.
 


Offline Brick

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Re: Scooter trash
« Reply #5 on: April 28, 2017, 05:53:32 am »
Curt! Glad you posted. Scooters are great. I have never owned one but did get the enjoyment of riding a Suzuki Burgman Executive part way across the USA. The Mad Maps ladies arranged 5 or 6 new Suzuki motorcycles to ride from San Francisco to Athens, Ga for AMA's Women in Motorcycling conference. Rob Pemble and I escorted them. I on Honda ST1100. So we traded off riding different bikes. I liked the Burgman 650. I hated the C50 and the M109... but that's me.


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Offline STLTHMSTA

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Re: Scooter trash
« Reply #6 on: April 28, 2017, 11:21:57 am »
I had a '10 Honda ST150 for the Mrs. to learn to ride on. Didn't happen. So I started ridding it to work myself and it was quite a hoot. Water called, fuel injected, starts instantly and pulled away from traffic quickly up to 50 mph. Got 85 mpg's. Sold it after a couple years and sometimes wish I still had it.
Background: it was made in Italy, 16" wheels, under seat storage, only imported for a couple-3 years. Was priced kinda high when new (seems to be a Honda trait, think PC800) but I bought it second hand at a good price.   TM

osufz6

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Re: Scooter trash
« Reply #7 on: April 29, 2017, 10:20:49 am »
Fuel injection is the key. The old ones didn't have a conventional choke but rather a bystarter. It was a little probe controlled by a metal coil that blocked an air passage. As it warmed it contracted and retracted. Stupid. Rarely worked and made cold starts difficult. The Reflex used the same system. The Majesty, fuel injected water cooled twin cam four valve motor. Never fails to start. It was eight years old with 1600 miles when I purchased it for $2300 almost four years ago. Replaced the battery and change the oil. As soon as I sell my "spare" Fj09 I'll replace the tires. They're only 12 years old!

Offline Brick

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Re: Scooter trash
« Reply #8 on: April 29, 2017, 04:34:08 pm »
Only 12 years old!?! Damn!


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Offline touringman

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Re: Scooter trash
« Reply #9 on: April 30, 2017, 09:13:28 pm »
Never apologize for being scooter trash!!. I've owned several scooters over the last 5 years, including a Piagio BV500, an Aprilia Scarabeo 500, and an MP3 400.I still have the Scarabeo and the MP3, and love them both. The Scarabeo has been ridden to several MSTA events, and I've had very little trouble keeping up with a mixed bag of bikes on rides. I wouldn't hesitate to ride either of these bikes across country, at freeway speeds. Long live the scoot!! Oh, they are also very comfortable. Syd  ;D
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Offline HawkGTRider

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Re: Scooter trash
« Reply #10 on: May 01, 2017, 02:23:50 am »
And that's another reason why I like our association as much as I do. We pretty much don't care what you're riding. If it's obvious you're enjoying yourself while we all enjoy each other, it's truly all good.
Geoffrey Greene
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Offline doug mcpeek

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Re: Scooter trash
« Reply #11 on: May 01, 2017, 06:38:54 am »
Scooters are fun!  Easy to push to their limits, fun to take it easy on.  I've ridden the old Honda Helix, just about every Vespa and Piaggio in the 4 stroke era and a tiny Aprilia 2 stroke 50 with bicycle-type tires that was a hoot.  Enjoyed them all.  Nothing beat the 1-off magical pink chick magnet Vespa 50, however.  Had they sold it in pink, they'd have sold a million.



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osufz6

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Re: Scooter trash
« Reply #12 on: May 06, 2017, 10:49:18 am »
Perhaps a Cushman Eagle. I saw one at a scooter show with a 750 Honda inline 4. It was a badass ride.

Offline TN2Wheeler

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Re: Scooter trash
« Reply #13 on: May 06, 2017, 05:41:23 pm »
Perhaps a Cushman Eagle. I saw one at a scooter show with a 750 Honda inline 4. It was a badass ride.
My first motor was an Eagle.

Me and my Eagle - circa 1959

Yeah, they handled like sh*t with the stock 8hp "lawn mower" motor. I kinda doubt a 50hp motor would help that much .
« Last Edit: May 07, 2017, 07:48:30 pm by TN2Wheeler »
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Offline stevegrab

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Re: Scooter trash
« Reply #14 on: May 17, 2017, 05:47:38 pm »
Never apologize for being scooter trash!!. I've owned several scooters over the last 5 years, including a Piagio BV500, an Aprilia Scarabeo 500, and an MP3 400.I still have the Scarabeo and the MP3, and love them both. The Scarabeo has been ridden to several MSTA events, and I've had very little trouble keeping up with a mixed bag of bikes on rides. I wouldn't hesitate to ride either of these bikes across country, at freeway speeds. Long live the scoot!! Oh, they are also very comfortable. Syd  ;D
Syd,
Is that MP3 one of those leaning scooters, where the front wheels are not locked (except at low speed)? Recall seeing one at the bike show years ago thought it was an interesting design.
 
And welcome to Curt Chevlen (AKA osufz6)
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