Riding in the hood.

**Bikeguy Joe** · #**151** (**permalink**) 04-10-2008, 06:50 PM

Those scooters are faster for a couple of reasons- the engines are modern, rev a lot higher, and they have a transmission.

Still 45 mph on a scooter with 10" wheels is scary at times, and just stupid others...I love it!

deacon · #**152** (**permalink**) 04-10-2008, 07:02 PM

I dont have any idea how much maintenance they require but every time I go to the bike shop they have one on the repair bench.

**Bikeguy Joe** · #**153** (**permalink**) 04-10-2008, 07:19 PM

Well.....the made in China scooters are terrible pieces of junk and are a horrible waste of money.

I have a Yamaha, made in Japan, and it's quality all the way. there is NO vibration when running it. I have 6000+ miles on it with just a transmission lube change or three, a rear tire, and a couple of brake adjustments.

deacon · #**154** (**permalink**) 04-10-2008, 07:22 PM

sounds like a good deal then. There was a novel a few years back, actually a lot of years back, about two guys who went cross country on a couple of scooters. The ones they used were the italian models but I bet they weren't any more powerful than yours.

**Bikeguy Joe** · #**155** (**permalink**) 04-10-2008, 07:29 PM

Actually....mine is a fairly low powered scooter, they were either on Vespa's or Lambrettas, both of which are about triple the power of mine.

I tried to get several companies to loan me a scooter to ride coast to coast, but none of them (Chinese manufacturer's) would do it. I had backing money, a magazine deal, publicity and some other commercial things lined up if I could get one to do it, but I think they were afraid of the bad publicity when it never made it out of the state let alone across the United States.

deacon · #**156** (**permalink**) 04-10-2008, 07:33 PM

sounds like fun, wait till i get the weed wackers done. We'll take a couple and go about a hundred miles before they burn up. lol

I can call them Made In America with Chinese quality

**Bikeguy Joe** · #**157** (**permalink**) 04-10-2008, 07:39 PM

I bet those weed wacker bikes will go a lot more than a hundred miles before they burn up.

deacon · #**158** (**permalink**) 04-10-2008, 07:45 PM

I sure hoping so. I hope they will be a low cost, reasonably dependable, mode of transportation. I have seen that the china bike has great potential for senior citizen errands. I know most of us think of them as summer toys but I think dressed right and for a short trip they would work great.

Let the kids have the cars to help with the really big stuff, but for the trip to the grocery store, the weed wacker might be just the thing. The china bike sure is for me. I find myself looking for errands to run.

I think the friction drive would be a lot more dependable for a guy with even less mechanical knowledge than me (if that is possible). It seems to me that most of the weed wacker problems come from being stored too long between uses. A bike that is run once or twice a week might take care of that problem too. short trips shouldn't over heat it either.

deacon · #**159** (**permalink**) 04-11-2008, 10:35 AM

Today I ran over to home depot on the bike. I have found to my surprise a twenty minute trip to the store in a car is an hour trip on the bike. yes it takes a few minutes longer on the road. Its a little longer in the store dealing with the helmet, but it is twenty minutes at least talking about my bike.

Today when I came out of home depot with my hand full of bolts, there was a guy my age standing by my bike just looking. Of course he asked all the usual questions. then he told me he had a bicycle built for four. It is french according to him and he wants one of the china engines to ride in the christmas parade. I thought that was a heck of an idea. So of course we had to discuss the nuts of bolts of where to locate the engine ect.

Yesterday it was someone wanting to buy my bike. I have to admit I love the attention and since I'm retired I'm in no hurry to get anywhere.

**Norman** · #**160** (**permalink**) 04-13-2008, 04:07 PM

Deacon
I've got a new bike I'd sell in a heartbeat send them to me. I don't need 3 bikes.