100 MPG

The blog lives on.

2008-03-08T18:25:00.001-08:00

100 MPG has been a fitting journal of my Metropolitan experience. Now that I'm on to a new bike and new experience, I've started a new blog.

BV 250: the next chapter of scooting

See you there!

It's been real, AND it's been fun...

2008-02-28T18:55:00.000-08:00

And so with mile 1,636

post #34

the 100 MPG blog has come to an end.

But fear not. My scooting days, and scooter blogging, are far from over.
This is the Metro parked in front of our local scooter shoppe, Vespa of the Ozarks. This is where I have just traded up to the Piaggio BV 250:
Five times the engine, twice the top speed, and comparable fuel economy, this upgrade is the next evolution in my scooting lifestyle. Safety is the number one driver in this choice. The Metro is great for moving around town, but the highway to get there is a different story. While I did okay going 40 mph for 20 minutes to get to town, I can now safely get onto the 45 mph highway and stay with the flow of traffic for the 7 minute ride to town. The Piaggio also seats two comfortably.

As for the blog, I plan to re-launch with a new name, because, alas, the BV 250 does not get 100 MPG. I will miss the Metropolitan, it brought me here at 40 mph. But, I am excited about the new ride.

And the pants keep my legs plenty warm.

The most expensive clothes I own...

2008-02-25T18:55:00.001-08:00

...came in the mail today. Armored, insulated, water-proof, riding pants. These bad boys have plastic armor in the knees and padding in the hips and side legs. Not to mention reflective strips, removable liner, and zippered cuffs for easy on/off without taking off my shoes.

Not a bad deal from New Enough.com, the same place I got my jacket. Shipping was free and came in three days. And how much did these bad boys set me back? A cool $125.

But why pants now?

Because I anticipate riding more very soon. I'm going to brave the cold tomorrow and ride with all my insulated gear. Of course, the coldest day for the next 10 days is the morning after I get the pants. I think it's an opportunity to test the gear.

Still Cold

2008-02-16T07:42:00.000-08:00

Note to self in the summer: When you're used to green trees and wearing sandals, occasionally remember the inhospitable cold of January's below-freezing temperatures.

Though it hasn't been more than a few degrees below freezing for a couple weeks, that range keeps me off the scooter. It doesn't stop me from briefly entertaining a thought that the next "warm"/above freezing day could be a scooter day. But, it won't be. "Warm" is relative, and on my Celsius scale, a few degrees above freezing feels like Spring.

The daylight is slowly, literally, minute-by-minute, expanding each end of the day. So, darkness as a safety factor is disappearing. I'm surprised at how on one day, I drive my car as if I never had a summer of scooting. Then another day I will think all day about scooting.

I actually had a dream about it last night. I rode the scooter to a service station to get the oil change. The shady mechanic tried to charge me $200. I got mad and told him the dealership charges that much and I would do it myself. The dream cut to me at home, ratcheting off the oil pan nut with a "gator" ratchet.

Though winter has it's place, I'm checking the horizon for warmer days.

Mid-Winter Post

2008-01-12T18:19:00.000-08:00

I obviously haven't been scooting for some time now. Safety and comfort are the top two reasons here. Winter brings more darkness. I leave for work in the dark, and I come home from work in the dark. That stacks the odds a little too much on the safety side. Also, it's pretty freaking cold when you start cold and accelerate to painfully cold.

Nevertheless, we had a warm January day last weekend. (65F) The dog got out, so I fired up the scooter. After about 10 minutes of idling, I took off. It was great. I realized how far down inside I pushed riding because it was so fun. (I also found the dog.)

So today, a Saturday, I knew the day would start a degree below freezing and top out at a cloudy 50F. But I had two jobs and an aquarium club meeting today and I decided I would go to them on the scooter. Cold be damned!

I suited up in long john pants, the insulated liner, insulated gloves, and a slim fit stocking cap under my helmet. The ride in wasn't too cold, save bracelet sized areas on both wrists where I forgot to tuck in my gloves, and a choker sized area on my neck where the jacket and helmet left the skin exposed. Those areas were pretty much "so cold it's hot and feels like my skin is being sliced open by the wind yet it won't bleed and bring me the relief of hot blood gushing out all over me."

But, my Grandpa had two aircraft carriers sunk from under him in foreign waters, I can handle a twenty minute slight discomfort I brought on myself.

Otherwise, the trip was great. The scooter handled well and I was glad to see familiar places on my route. I rode in both the sunrise and sunset. In my younger years, some evenings brought a pink filter to everything during the sunset. We aptly named the phenomena - the pink time. Tonight was a "pink time". It was further enhanced by the pastel color reflecting off Beaver Lake and the intimate sensation of riding free on the scooter.

Mile 1000

2007-08-10T17:02:00.000-07:00

Today was the day. Mile 1000 rolled over on the odometer. I was riding to a meeting at the Home Office just after lunch. I parked on Executive Row where painted lines kept most vehicles from trying to park. One of the benefits I suppose.

So what do I think of this scooter business a thousand miles into it? I love it. It's such an efficient means of transportation. Coupled with the sheer fun of it, it really makes you wonder why so few people use it.

What's the most fun about it? It's a close race between leaning into curves and feeling changes in air temperature from hills and valleys.

Of course, when you buy a new car, you suddenly see dozens of the same car on the streets. IDK if I didn't notice as much before, or if the numbers are growing, but I'm seeing scooters and motorcycles all the time now. Just today, I met four scooters in traffic. No Metro's. One Ruckus.

Here's to the next thousand miles!

Rebel Alliance

2007-07-28T18:28:00.000-07:00

What better way to show the world that I'm rebelling against the Empire (foreign oil, supersized americans, industrial farming, etc.) than rocking the Rebel Alliance emblem on the back of my helmet?

(for those who haven't memorized every frame of the Star Wars saga, it's the emblem on the Rebel equipment, gosh! And for those who have - don't be jealous.)

More than meets the eye...

2007-07-27T15:57:00.001-07:00

Let me start by saying I was cool with Transformers before Transformers was cool. I'm sure everyone says that, but anyway...

I got my stickers from ebay OC today (whom I recommend). The pic above is my new Autobot sticker. The decision to put stickers on the scooter was weighed for a while. It looks pretty classy as is, and I don't want to mess that up. I removed the Honda sticker from the front the first day I had it.

A friend suggested that I put this sticker somewhere that wasn't prominent to maintain the clean retro look, but add a personal touch. I think this spot works for both.

Prime would be proud.

Alternate Routes

2007-07-23T18:37:00.000-07:00

Downtown Rogers brick streets are riddled with train tracks. I found a smoother intersection that takes me the same amount of time without the daily morning jostle.

On the way home I went down the big hill on the highway because I could maintain the speed limit and caught the other end of the park to work my way out of the valley. Though I didn't see any signs, I'm pretty sure I rode the jogging trail by accident. I won't do that again. The scooter performed well, I just don't think the joggers appreciated it.

On a weird note - while I was waiting in line at the drive thru, a light brown labrador befriended me. He had his tail and ears cropped, and I mean cropped - all the way off. It had to have been when he was young. Probably by someone who had never done it before. It was still sad. He wasn't afraid of me so he probably wasn't beaten. Just a runaway. He smelled my ham, egg, and cheese and followed me around the parking lot. I could tell he was having fun as I rode around the empty parking lot, weaving around the light poles doing figure eights. He chased me and would change direction playfully as I did. If I had a yard for him to live in, I would have a new dog right now. I had to give him a polite beep of the horn to get him to move on. Nice dog.

600 Mile Maintenance

2007-07-18T19:13:00.000-07:00

600 miles has come so fast! Or at about 40 mph. I took the Metro to the Honda dealership for the first oil change and reseating. The oil change seems to be pretty simple, but they also check the brakes and engine seals. I'd also like to have a dealer receipt for the service in case I have to use my warranty later. How much did this peace of mind cost? $109 USD. Lower than the $125 I was expecting.

I told the tech that my top speed slowly dropped from 40 mph to about 38 mph and he said that it might be tire pressure. After the service today, I'm back up to 40 mph.

I had a friend drive me back to the shop to pick it up and forgot my jacket and helmet at the office. This gave me the chance to ride without the gear. The wind in my eyes negated any sense of extra freedom. I now understand why bikers that don't wear a helmet wear a straight face. It's also Junebug season in Arkansas and I popped one on my neck. I think I'll stick with the safety gear.

Photo credit goes to the same friend who gave me a lift. Thanks!

Rockin' the RPD

2007-07-17T17:58:00.000-07:00

This is the scoot parked at the Rogers Police Department last Saturday. I wasn't in trouble, quite the opposite. I'm the Treasurer in my local Aquarium Club and was attending a meeting. I was able to bring a bag of ice and two sack fulls worth of fish stuff! It was a great day to combine two hobbies into one event.

Hot and Humid

2007-07-16T16:23:00.000-07:00

Today was low 90's and I did some mid-day riding. Today was the first day the jacket felt hot. I opened the sleeve vents for the first time (the jacket didn't come with a manual). It made a significant difference. The jacket puffed up as I rode and was a lot cooler. I felt like Marty McFly in Back to the Future II when his clothes auto-dry.

A waitress today complimented the jacket, asking where I got it. I told her New Enough.com.

Drive-Thru

2007-07-15T16:49:00.000-07:00

As a rule I avoid fast food, but every once in a while I'm running late and fast food is, well, fast. The scoot doesn't seem to trip the sensor and I have to drive up to the window before ordering. I sat in line the other day, sandwiched between two mega-SUV's carrying massive payloads of one occupant each. I turned off my engine to save emissions and fuel. As I realized the situation I had to laugh out loud. Crazy guy on the scooter laughing to no one.

If I got my math right...

2007-07-10T19:06:00.000-07:00

The rain has kept me off the scooter for about two weeks. Tomorrow is down to a 10% chance of rain, so I'm planning on riding tomorrow. With all this down time, I've worked some math on the Metro.

Every day that I ride the scooter vs. drive the car saves 12 pounds of CO2 emissions from polluting the air.

I save $20 a week/$80 a month/$481 a season in fuel, oil, and tire expenses that I would have had to have spent on the car. I define a season as six months of comfortable riding weather a year.

And, it's just plain FUN.

Rain delay

2007-06-30T18:44:00.000-07:00

It has rained all week. I'm not complaining though, I don't like to complain about rain. It has kept me from scooting to work this week. The picture is from a day I decided to do it anyway. It's best to keep the Metropolitan on the asphalt.

Another benefit?

2007-06-26T16:34:00.000-07:00

Due to rain, I had to take the car today. As I tried to look on the bright side for the upcoming drive home, I thought - at least I'll get to listen to the radio. When I was in traffic, I had the radio on and it was nothing but commercials. I turned it off in disgust and quickly noticed how much more pleasant the silence was. It reminded me of riding.

I'm saving gas money, CO2 emissions, and now - saving headspace?

Another reason to wear a helmet...

2007-06-25T19:56:00.000-07:00

So I'm stopping at a stop sign in a residential, and when I start to pull away - CRACK! A weed eater throws a rock that glances off the chin of my helmet! I was less than 20 feet away. That missed doctors visit just paid for the helmet. If I'd been going 30 mph and got hit in the face, I'd probably crash pretty hard. Go safety.

Mile 500 was crossed coming home work today. I feel a lot more confident and comfortable on the Metropolitan. I'm impressed with my improved balance and throttle control. A thought stays in my head that says - when are you going to get too cocky and hurt yourself? Maybe I should get some knee protection. I'm tempted to see how far, fast, and long I can lean it.

My wife and I put about 10 miles on the scoot this weekend. Yes, my wife AND I. Simultaneously. This one person scooter will hold two skinny folks semi uncomfortably. The dog got out, and we spent a couple hours patrolling the neighborhood. I wasn't too worried about the dog, so I thought it made a good Saturday afternoon. For those holding your breath, the dog was found playing with the neighbor kid across the street.

Vanity is in!

2007-06-21T19:13:00.000-07:00

I've been out of town for about a week in Lexington, KY. Not much in scooter news from the trip, though we did see a guy on a back county road (paved) on a scooter. While I was gone, my vanity license plate came in - 100 MPG! I love it. It's on an "Arkansas" style plate, though not an official tag. You can see it on the back of the Metro in this overlook I pass by every day. The lake is Beaver Lake, and is wonderful.

Three of a Kind

2007-06-08T20:58:00.001-07:00

What a day for scooting! The weather is warm, the day was sunny. I rode into work minutes after a thunderstorm, so it was a wet morning, but only enough to give the ride a little flavor. I took the Metro across town for lunch, and then made a quick stop at Wal-Mart.

Lo and behold, sitting right up front, was a previous year Metro! It even has the same coloration. I parked beside it for the photo, and the cart pusher comes up to me and asks - Do you know the guy that owns the other one? I don't, and he says, "wow, kinda random." I agreed and went inside. A couple of shopping bags later, I walk out and what do I see...

A third Metro has joined us! I didn't even know it was possible to get it in baby blue. As I got ready to ride, the owner of the baby blue comes walking up and says "hi". It's none other than the blonde barista from Iron Horse Coffee house. (I'm sure she has a wonderful name, but the folks at Iron Horse frown on most conventional concepts like name tags. That's why people go there.)

I used the shopping bag hook for the first time, and it worked well. My bread didn't end up on the street. I cruised over to Lake Atatlanta (yes, that's the correct spelling) for the Relay for Life event, and rode mile 400 in the dark. Again, great day with the scooter.

Share the Road Irony

2007-06-07T17:56:00.000-07:00

So I'm riding home from work, and I come up behind a bicyclist. In the state of Arkansas, a bicycle is supposed to be treated just like a full size car. They're also not allowed on sidewalks. I could easily pass him in the lane, but I chose to putter along behind him. I felt a bit of self proclaimed sympathy for this fellow two wheeler. He turned off in about a block and I continued on. At the next hill, the one that tops the scooter out at 20 mph (a 25mph zone), a motorcycle came up behind me. He didn't even hesitate in the slightest to blow by me in the lane.

I didn't take offense, I just found it ironic.

Alternative Transportation

2007-06-05T19:18:00.000-07:00

Ok, so the Goodyear Blimp isn't exactly scooter related, but it flew over my house the other day and surprisingly, I heard it before I saw it. I thought - do I hear a poorly mufflered motorbike? That's when this huge football came in low over my house.

Also, mile 300 came and went today as I took a new route to get across town. I went through a construction zone. I could hear the workers talking as I moved among them. Traveling is so different on a bike.

It's kind of like traveling in a car is like watching the trip on TV or a video game. Where riding is like you're walking around at the speed limit. What I'm trying to say is that you experience the route "like you are really there", if that makes any sense.

Riding just seems more "real". You're not separated from the wind- no air "conditioning". You can feel subtle changes in temperature from the top of a hill vs. the valley. I see more wildlife on the sides of the road than in a car. I LOVE that you can smell wildflowers, and the changing scents from one neighborhood flower bed to the next. Restaurants advertise with their aroma. I'm never listening to the radio. I'm not talking to someone else on the phone, or with me. I'm paying constant attention to exactly what I'm doing and only that. It has a very meditative quality to it.

What's this?

2007-05-31T19:44:00.000-07:00

This is my faithful Saturn parked in my driveway with a car cover. Thanks to the scooter, I'm giving the car a summer vacation. It looks like an expensive car under that cover. I guess it's because most people put covers on expensive cars. I'd like to see the look on a would-be thief's face when he triumphantly pulls the cover to see the SL1 staring back at him when he thought it was some mini sports car. The cover does have a function though. After the first week, the pollen and bird deposits had the car looking pretty rough, plus all the direct sunlight. The car cover will help with that.

San Francisco Scooters

2007-05-28T07:17:00.000-07:00

I've just returned from a work trip to San Francisco. The good news is that I don't know how many scooters I saw. There were all kinds of styles, helmets, and riders. It's a different world there, and it seems perfect for scooting.

The not-so-good news is that I've been missing my own! I haven't taken a ride since last Monday. Ah well, it's something to look forward to.

Scooting Online

2007-05-21T16:56:00.001-07:00

You gotta love the beauty of the internet! It took some digging, but I have found several other scooter blogs, forums, and yes - podcasts! I've added my favorite links so far on the right hand menu.

Mile 200

2007-05-19T21:27:00.001-07:00

It's come so fast! Mile 200 was on the way to work today. I distinctly remember the smell of a jasmine like flower as I coasted down the hill by the golf course.

Fool in the Rain

2007-05-19T21:12:00.000-07:00

In my enthusiasm to scoot to work in Spring, I decided to risk it with a 60% chance of scattered showers. I mean, c'mon, "scattered" - if it does rain, it won't be where I am, right? Wrong.

At lunch, the sky was getting darker, so I thought I'd make a quick run to the sandwich shop three blocks down before it got any worse. And hey, three blocks - why even bother with the helmet and jacket?

I got to the shop okay, but the line of cast members from the playhouse across the street kept me longer than I'd planned. The sky continued to get darker, and by the time I had my sandwich, it was starting to rain.

I made a dash for it. I got about 10 feet when Noah looked down at all the rain and said with his best Dave Chapelle voice- "D*mn." I found a covered park bench and sat on the scooter eating my sandwich, hoping to wait out the cloud burst. It let up slightly, and I rode back to work.

Rain changes everything on the street. Visibility, stopping distance, mud, cold, everything. Fortunately, I only had to go three blocks, but I haven't been that wet in a while.

Back at work, I immediately ran to the restroom and started drying my hair with the hand dryer. I worked the rest of the day in wet clothes.

Lesson learned: Rain = no scooting.

Leaning

2007-05-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

You gotta lean. It says it in the handbook, and it requires it on the street. I was a bit hesitant at first leaning into (yes- INto) turns and curves. It seemed almost counter-intuitive to FALLING to lean into it. Yet, as I soon found, leaning with the curve is natural to the physics of it, and well...fun! It's made me rethink ordering some armored pants as I learn how far I can safely lean.

It seems that a lot of "what do I do now?" moments can be eased by throttling down. Curves are that way on the way in, but on the way out throttling up carries you on with a sort of "natural order of things" feeling. Of course, we're talking about a scooter here, so we're talking about a 25 mph curve. And, the throttle up is not exactly dropping it like it's hot, but it's still fun.

Mile 100

2007-05-14T17:06:00.000-07:00

One hundred miles has come so quickly! The roll of the odometer was actually driven by my wife on her first time on the scooter. I took her to a quiet, straight, flat piece of turf parallel to a golf course to let her try it out. She did well. I may be taking on another payment sooner than I thought. Ha.

Performance

2007-05-12T18:44:00.000-07:00

43 miles per hour. That's the top speed of this scooter. That's on a slight decline on a straight stretch. I can average 38-40 mph on level ground. Going uphill, it can drop to 18 - 20 mph.

Fortunately, my daily route to work is 98% flat, mostly residential. I take it up to 40 mph for 1.5 miles on the 7 mile commute. I've got a hill on each end. The highest speed zone is 35 mph on the above mentioned stretch.

The acceleration is not "get up 'n go", it's gradual. Though it sounds loud to me on the scooter, it really is pretty quiet. Braking takes longer than I thought it would.

As I topped off three quarters of the 1.3 gallon tank today, I did the math, and yes...it's 100 miles per gallon.

Overall, I'm very pleased with the scooter.

Safety First

2007-05-12T18:29:00.000-07:00

I bought a full head helmet for $100 bucks at the Honda dealer when I got the scooter. I'd planned on getting a jean jacket to complete my ensemble.

I'm glad I got the full helmet. Why? Because over 25 mph in the open air, even with glasses, gets uncomfortable quick. Bugs, road debris, plant matter...any of it hits your eye and you're ready to hit the ditch. Besides, a study found that the overwhelming majority of impacts to motorcycle helmets are on the chin.

So, for the jacket - I consulted the very helpful folks on urbanscootin.com. They recommended that I only get a jean jacket if I want to turn it into a vest on my first crash. They pointed me to New Enough where I got a sweet deal on a bright yellow motorcycle jacket, complete with: elbow, shoulder, back armor; air vents, removable liner, and reflective stripes - a $200 value for $60! (including shipping)I also lucked out on some leather work gloves with an adjustable wrist strap at Wal-Mart.

I ride a lot more confidently with the gear. Not too confidently though...

Arkansas Regulations - Scooters

2007-05-12T18:26:00.000-07:00

If your engine is less than 50cc's and you have an automatic transmission -

No tags necessary.

No motorcycle license required.

Insurance only if you financed it. Mine runs $20/mo full coverage.

New to the Scooter Lifestyle

2007-05-12T18:15:00.000-07:00

Hello all!
I am now the proud owner of a new 2007 Honda Metropolitan scooter. This bad boy has 49 cc's of street cred. I financed $2050 at $65 a month with 10% interest. I bought it from a local Honda dealer, whom I don't recommend because they tried to screw me hard on the financing. Had I not worked at a bank before, those middle-aged punks would have taken me for a ride.
No worries though, I got what I wanted and now I'm ready to enter the world of scooting.