I Traded My Son's Used Laptop For A Whizzer

GoldenMotor.com

5-7HEAVEN

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2008
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I Traded My Son's Used Laptop For A Whizzer.

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This is the 2006 bike I traded my son's 2 1/2 year-old Toshiba laptop for:dance1

whizzer bike

Seller bought it new for $1800, paid $400 more for shipping.


This deal fell onto my lap with an interesting story dating back to 2006. I saw an ad for a near-new Whizzer bike selling locally for $1800. A year later, same bike selling for $1300. Called the buyer, couldn't get together, forgot about it. Two months ago, same bike selling for $900. Called, couldn't get together and a week later it's on craigslist for $1K.

Earlier this month owner offers on craigslist to trade for a used laptop, simultaneously listing it on ebay, starting at $450. No bidders..

Now comes the weird part. We meet at the University of Hawaii campus where I presume this 46 yo man used to attend school. For lack of a safer place to store the Whizzer, he chains, covers and leaves this prize on the students' bike rack behind the Science Building!

This must've turned the few prospective buyers away, but I'm a diehard.

Now the guy attends HCC(my school and my son's school) 5 miles away but regularly visits the U of H library, close to where the bike is kept.

Seller does not have a car or a phone("Cellphone got stolen in the library.") and he arrives on the city bus.

I like the bike, he likes the laptop(Son gets a new computer IF he wants one.). I check out the bike's registration; it's expired so I need to pay $137.

I google the seller's name. It says he's a real estate salesman, but he sure doesn't dress or act like one. His driver's license and ownership/registration papers check out.

Owner shows me how to kickstart. I ask him TWICE not to start the engine, 'cause I'm flushing the tank and adding fresh gas. Owner shows me the "clutch lever" to control the centrifugal clutch. "Without squeezing this clutch, the bike won't move".

"Ohh, you mean this compression release lever?" I asked.

Bike starts easily but moments later spurts gas from the carb's crumbling fuel line.

Guy's in a rush to make the transaction, feels it's unecessary to sign the bill of sale my son is preparing. After a handshake he's gone, leaving the old tarps and plastic he'd covered the Whizzer as trash for the caretakers. (son threw it into the dumpster nearby.)

It took us 90 minutes to wrestle the heavy bike onto my new rack, after removing its fuel tank and loosening the wiring harness. Thankfully it weighs less than my other bike "The Iron Dragon", and not the 130 pounds listed on the registration papers..bld.

What an unpleasant transaction. If it wasn't such a sweet deal for me, I would not want to have anything to do with that seller person.

So now the bike I call "The Whizzard" rests inside my apartment. I replaced all the fuel lines and will do more research before starting it.

My wife and neighbor declare that it's a beautiful bike, and I agree. It needs cleaning, the sheave and chrome pipe is pitting

I never really intended to buy a Whizzer bike. I truly believe this one was looking for me.
__________________
Honey, it's just a bicycle. and i REALLY need it to excercise, and to ride it to work.(hehe)
 

brisbane_boy

New Member
Oct 26, 2008
216
0
0
Australia Brisbane
looks like a very nice bike 5-7.
very interesting story, sound like u 2 were made for each other.
Hope u can diognose the problem quickly and be on the road.
Congratulations.
 
Sep 20, 2008
1,668
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Clearwater, FL
web.tampabay.rr.com
5-7HEAVEN,

Considering the used laptop may have been worth $200.00 you made out real well in that deal.

I know what ya mean about squirelly sellers...I've been there, done that, myself. But hey who cares, as long as the paper work was in order, you'll never see him again anyway. You got a steal on a Whizzer. I would have been right on top of that myself.

Jim
 

Easy Rider

Santa Cruz Scooter Works
Jan 15, 2008
2,145
7
38
Nor*Cal
Sounds like you got one heck of a deal! I just bought a new laptop for my wife yesterday @ Fry's and I paid $550 out the door and it came with a 3 year warranty. I can't wait to see the pictures of your new bike!
 

5-7HEAVEN

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2008
2,661
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brisbane, the bike had been sitting for months in the open. I brought fresh gas, extra fuel container to hold the old petrol, siphon hose and tire pump with me. The bike started easily and the deal was made.dance1

When I reached home I rode the bike in the parking lot with engine off and compression release lever on. All mechanicals seemed okay. Then I replaced the fuel lines.

I'll replace the battery today, as the lights are weak and the horn barely squeaks..bld.

The oil level seems okay, but how do I change the oil?

Thanks for the encouragement, guys. It seemed like an excellent deal with very little mechanical repairs needed. I guess the original owner and the other prospective buyers wanted something they could just hop on and drive away.
 
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5-7HEAVEN

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2008
2,661
240
63
I just can't imagine this bike abandoned for months in a college campus open parking lot.(And the owner doesn't attend this college.)

I keep staring at the bike and the bike stares back with its headlight and chrome clutch cover.

The throttle cable's outer sheath was bent almost 90 degrees, so I lube then repair the cable with a coil spring and fuel hose until I can order a new one.

I say "thanks"...

"The Whizzard" says "no...thank YOU!"

Time for a wash and wax.

I think it's love.dance1
 

5-7HEAVEN

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2008
2,661
240
63
Some thing, some force brought you to the bike.
Someday I'll tell the mysterious way my Whizzer drew me in, not cheap is her love. :D
You got that right. It was a very unusual transaction. Seller had no phone or computer. He called me from a payphone once, then we communicated once every other day by email for two weeks. I missed our first appointment, but he emailed me back.

Son just returned home three weeks ago from L.A., bringing his car, clothes, dog...and laptop. I also wouldn't have been able to load up the bike without him.

Let's hear your story, Weedy.
 

lobsterboyx

New Member
Dec 20, 2008
49
0
0
Los Angeles
lots of whizzers come by horsetrading.

great story. i remember pushing mine home 5 blocks with flat tires and a broken compression release.

i cant wait to find another one!

to change the oil - on the exhaust side at the bottom of the engine case there is a allen bolt, get a funnel or something that you can use to catch the oil when it goes out. let it drain out and make sure you tilt the bike over to get every last drop of it out of there. close her up and go to the other side where the dip stick is, fill her up with 8oz of SAE 30 weight oil.
 
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Weedylot

Angry Old Fart
Jun 12, 2008
453
1
0
Tucson Arizona
A guy that can only be described as a mad genius had a huge collection of "stuff"; Government electronic surplus items , antiques, motorcycles, computers, musical instruments and other items ranging from mundane to bizarre. He offered repair service for electronics as an "income", though he never charged very much. He would talk of cutting edge technologies that I thought at times were bordering on paranoid delusional fantasies.
Among his massive collection was a forlorn Whizzer relegated to back porch status.
The Whizzer had been partially covered and wasn't fully exposed to the elements, but still had some signs of neglect. On my first visit to his home I rounded the corner in his yard and "locked eyes" with this inanimate object that commanded my attention, a black 1999 Whizzer Classic ( still confused of the proper model name) among all the stuff surrounding it , stand out like a black thoroughbred trapped in a junkyard...
somthing has made my cursor go away, I'll continue after posting this Part One of the strang :Detale
 
Sep 20, 2008
1,668
13
0
Clearwater, FL
web.tampabay.rr.com
Weedy,

If you look at the pics close, it looks like it has been sitting out in the weather. The cylinder head has a nice white coating. It will undoubtedly need some work. I'll call the guy and see if he stil has it. We've been wanting to go to the keys lately, for a mini vacation. It's olny about 2 hours from south Miami to Key West. Always love the Mel Fisher museum in Key west.

Jim
 
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Weedylot

Angry Old Fart
Jun 12, 2008
453
1
0
Tucson Arizona
I was about to type the VERY LAST WORD of part two of my Whizzer story and something wiped out or timed out and the entire story is gone. Another mysterious event related to this black siren that calls me hers. I can't explain it quickly enough, but the Whizzer "made" me get her by making events and failures and coincidences that are stuff for a Stephen King story.
I don't believe in hokum like astrology and that stuff, but my paradigm is shifting since I met that machine.
She won't even let me tell my tale! :D
 
Sep 20, 2008
1,668
13
0
Clearwater, FL
web.tampabay.rr.com
I was about to type the VERY LAST WORD of part two of my Whizzer story and something wiped out or timed out and the entire story is gone. Another mysterious event related to this black siren that calls me hers. I can't explain it quickly enough, but the Whizzer "made" me get her by making events and failures and coincidences that are stuff for a Stephen King story.
I don't believe in hokum like astrology and that stuff, but my paradigm is shifting since I met that machine.
She won't even let me tell my tale! :D
Ah yes, timed out, wiped out...know it well.

If you goto MS word, or word pad, you can type a long post without worrying. Once you're done simply copy it and paste it to the forum. If anything happens you still have it and can try again. :D

Jim
 

Weedylot

Angry Old Fart
Jun 12, 2008
453
1
0
Tucson Arizona
Thanks for the tip, I'll try to be swift anyway.
Whizzers have a not so good reputation lately. So far mine has only had a few minor challenges. :D