Our good friends over at Scooter Diaries gave us some good news recently. The famed Lambretta is restored and purring like a kitten.
I have been wanting to read this book but somehow my subtle hint to the girlfriend and my parents of "Hey, I would really like this book for Christmas...for my birthday....because I want to read it" seemed to fall on deaf ears; it appears I will have to buy myself a copy. Truth be told, with everything that has been going on these last few months it was forgotten about.
For those of us that like good stories and adventure, I thought I would share this video with you.
Speaking of Epic Adventures. This is the last day of the 2014 Scooter Cannonball. Congrats to all that made that journey. Have a beer, you deserve it.
It's that time of year again, for the biannual Scooter Cannonball Run. Long story short for those that may stumble on this miserable attempt at writing...the cannonball is an open event for scooters under 250cc. It normally is a ten day event that crosses the country and this years event is, to the best of my knowledge, the first to enter another country (Canada) and is being run from Hyder, Alaska to New Orleans, Louisiana. A distance of some 3500 miles. The "race" this year concludes with the opening of Amerivespa 2014.
It is not a race.
So I thought I do a little public service and include all the web links I could for the individual riders. They are on a hell of an adventure - and I will admit I feel a little envious and then I think..."oh hell no!" After all your going to ride for 350 miles a day roughly on a bike that may only top out at 50 MPH. Their are a few riders who may not even be capable of that speed.
You have to admire the craziness of it, the dedication to spend hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to do something like this. To be on a bike for 8 or 9 hours a day, work on it at night for a few hours and then right back to it again.
It is not a race. It is a challenge. An experience. An insanity.
Last year, two years of ago I would have loved to have done it. Now....while now is a different story.
So here is to the insane ones, the crazy ones. The ones that are pushing themselves, their bikes and perhaps even their luck. Here is to you crazy fools.
Show some love and leave comments on their blogs and Facebook pages. They would appreciate it. Here they are in no order what so ever.
Kick Start Karen - some interviews with the riders and other interesting tidbits from a former Cannonballer.
A lot of the riders are offering real time tracking of their progress as well so you can follow along on the journey. If I missed anyone or anything just let me know and I'll be happy to add it!
Well this year's Scooter Cannonball is in the books. Congrats go out to all the riders that made the journey from Savannah, GA to San Diego, CA. I've a feeling that the 2014 Cannonball will be bigger and better than ever.
It was a lot of fun reading about their adventures on their individual blogs (the links are available on the main page) as well as forums like Modern Vespa and Burgman USA. I know many of the riders have made lifelong friends and at least one had this as a bucket list item.
Again, congrats go out to all the riders and they adventure they had.
Finally got a chance to sit down and discuss the activities of the last few weeks. I've been busy with work, projects and other odds and ends. It's feels good to get behind the keys of the old computer and write a little.
A few things to discuss. I like my new rear Pirelli Diablo tire. I can see why it's the unofficial favorite of riders on the Burgman forums. I've never really noticed how great a difference in tires can make. Change a tire or two in a car and frankly I don't see any improvement in performance. Changing the back tire really did make a difference. Maybe it's just in my mind but the bike seemed to grip the road more. The lean angles seemed more stable. While the bike was up on the rack the mechanic mentioned that the exhaust gasket was going to need replaced. Which started me thinking, what else can I get fixed. The CVT belt has been on for 15K, the owner's manual states it needs replaced at 14K or so. So they ordered that for me as well. The late Gary B and I discussed Dr Pulley sliding roller weights. He suggested upgrading from the factory model to a higher weight as they reduced the RPM's. Lower RPM's of course increase fuel mileage...and since I ordered the CVT belt I figure "what the hell." Just don't tell the GF I'm sinking $100 dollars or more at once into the bike. I've not ordered the parts yet...but giving it some thought. Sadly Gary also borrowed by owner's manual before his untimely death. With the holidays and with everything else I never bothered to ask for it back. I was able to order one via the local Suzuki dealership.
I've been kicking myself over last Saturday's Scooters 4 Hooters ride in Orlando. My girlfriend is a survivor of Ovarian cancer and any group that helps find a cure to any cancer is near to our hearts. I had a rare Saturday night off and learned about this rally to late to do anything about it.
Team Scooter Trash is entering the soon to be famous 2012 Scooter Cannonball. These are locals from the Tampa area and I certainly hope they finish the race and do it in a grand manner. You can follow their progress on their website and I believe they will be making updates to the St. Petersburg Scooter club website as well.
Another Burgman rider and his wonderful wife will also be riding in the Cannonball. Considering how this just might be his last great adventure - he was diagnosed with two serious life threatening forms of cancer. He's bit it so far, but in the end we all know who will win. I would love to give out more information about this but he has asked me not to for privacy reasons and I respect that.
So here's hoping all 60 plus riders return safely and with stories to tell.
