My New DD: A Scooter!

[holtjv]

Who'd have thunk it? My last 2 wheeler was a Ninja 900cc. But that was then..

This is now: we moved our offices to within 6 miles and with several secondary road routes available. This will give me a chance to do all those things to the 911 I've wanted to do, but couldn't get done in a weekend.

It's just getting broken in and hitting 75mpg. Should hit 90+ mpg when I get to 600-1000 miles. It's manufactured by LML, the Indian company that last produced the Vespa P-series. Now, it's sold under the Genuine Scooter company brand, "Stella". 2 stroke, 4 speed (twist grip shift), 150cc, 60mph tops. The 2008 model has a cat so the pollution is not as horrible as a lawn mower, but still bad.




I shall now submit myself to the expected PP hazing. Go for it.

[87coupe]

Nice I like the color combo you chose.

Random scooter pic

[djmcmath]

Excellent. Wish I could commute on a scooter. Instead I have to ride my gas-guzzling motorcycle, at 60+ mpg.

[87911jon]

We have a Piagio 50 and a Bajaj 150, looks much like your stella. Head tucked down, downhill, hits 60mph. Scary. Could use better brakes. After scootering for a couple years, I finally calculated my fuel economy, 92mpg. It's a blast. Previous 2-wheeled toy was a Ducati Paso 750 Limited. Attached is a picture of my daughter on the scooter... happy scootering.

[craigster59]

Nice ride! Looks just like my Vespa. I wish I lived somewhere that I could use it to commute, but where I'm at now I'd get run off the road by a redneck in a lifted F250 with a set of "huevos" hanging off the hitch (what's up with that?)

[HardDrive]

A Bajaj?!??!! Where did you get THAT? My wife is from India, so I have spent some time in the saddle of a Bajaj, dodging death from maniac bus drivers going 80 mph on country lanes in the land of lentils. Can a Bajaj out run a 1200 pound bull? Why yes it can. As me how I know....

Originally Posted by 87911jon

and a Bajaj 150,

[rusnak]

The only people who could get away with riding a scooter around here are old guys who look a little eccentric so people don't bother them, and little girls because they complete the look.

[holtjv]

Originally Posted by rusnak

The only people who could get away with riding a scooter around here are old guys who look a little eccentric so people don't bother them, and little girls because they complete the look.

Nailed it (I'm the old eccentric guy, btw).

And Harddrive, Bajajs are readily available around the states. Apparently more bulletproof than an LML/Stella/Vespa and the new ones are 4 stroke so pollution's not as bad.

[Mo_Gearhead]

QUOTE: "I shall now submit myself to the expected PP hazing. Go for it."
___________________

We will now (sadly) await the future obituary posting (by your relatives).

(At least name it Bruce or Arnold. Stella????)



Just pulling your chain. BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!

[holtjv]

God I hope not (the obit).

I did take the motorcycle safety course, which is a non-trivial investment of $190.00. And I wear an jacket with kevlar pads, full face helmet, gloves, boots, and long pants. I've only seen one other scooterist in Austin kitted out properly.

[Rick V]

If I could get away with a scooter for my DD needs believe you me I would be doing it. Very cool

[Mo_Gearhead]

QUOTE: "I've only seen one other scooterist in Austin kitted out properly."
____________________

Manpurse?

[gr8fl4porsche]

What size panties does one wear while scootering?

Enjoy the new ride!

[jyl]

Check out http://forums.stellaspeed.com/

[holtjv]

Here's the sidecar I'm going to get. This way, I can take my rhodie, Hank, to the dog park. His kit will include doggles. We also got a dane/lab rescue who would look damn good in the green sidecar. I don't think they'd both fit in there..

[pwd72s]

kewl...I recall as a young teen being green with envy over the guys with Vespas...

[nostatic]

Scooters are cool. I wouldn't mind having one of these:



The thing that gives me pause is seeing people with zero gear beyond a helmet on them. Sometimes on the freeway. I know that I ride my bicycle with little more than a helmet, but I always have gloves on (the hands hit first), and top speed on the flats commuting is around 20mph or so. Every 10mph increase brings more pain...

[rusnak]

Yup, sidecar with doggie passenger wearing goggles, full flak jacket kit, I think you are granted amnesty by the laws of our country and the unwritten laws of manhood. You don't harass old eccentric guy because you might become that guy one day yourself. There is an old guy around here who I occasionally see scooting around. He made a paper card shield for his nose to keep it from getting sunburned. He taped it to his face. Later after perfecting the shape, angle and slope for both maximum protection and aerodynamic efficiency, he made one out of aluminum. Now he scoots around with a custom aluminum tent taped to his face.

I say go get your groove on, scooting around with Stella.

Originally Posted by holtjv

Nailed it (I'm the old eccentric guy, btw).

And Harddrive, Bajajs are readily available around the states. Apparently more bulletproof than an LML/Stella/Vespa and the new ones are 4 stroke so pollution's not as bad.

[JavaBrewer]

If I lived within 10 miles of the office and could avoid the freeway I'd ride that Aprilia...or my mtn bike. I think scooters are cool but with those small diameter wheels they can be very dangerous at speeds over 30 mph or so.

An ex Marine on a scooter can still kick 99.9% of your azzes.

Cool ride, Jack!