Long trip

On July 25 I made my first unaccompanied really long trip on my scooter. I rode from Tacoma Washington to Beaverton Oregon. I was unsure what to expect, so I spoke with several motorcycle riders that I know, and all recommended that I take a tire repair kit, and a tool kit, I all ready have those.

The Saturday before my trip I changed my engine oil and final drive oil, checked all bolts and threaded fasteners and lights. Every thing was in order.

I used Mapsource for my gps unit and planed my route. Because my scoot is a 125cc I knew that I needed to avoid all freeway. That is one of the custom route planning tools in Mapsource.

Mapsource said it would take right at 3 hours, I was thinking 5. I was planning on maintaining 40 mph average. With wrong turns turns that I made the trip down was 4 hours 44 minutes and 177 miles my moving average speed was 36.8 miles per hour.

On the return trip north my time was 4 hours 14 minutes and 168 miles with a moving average of 40 miles per hour .

In town on my daily commute I average 81 miles per gallon, but on my trip I got 82.6 miles per gallon, with my throttle pined wide open.

I did stop for fuel more often than I would normally because I was not sure where the gas stations were, and my fuel tank only holds 1.2 gallons, thats not room for error.

I want and would do it again if the opportunity presents itself again, it was a blast.

Toys for Tots run.

November 24 was the Legacy Vet's M.C. Toys for tots run in Tacoma Washington, there were about 250 bikes with over 300 riders and passengers. All told just under 2600 dollars and a truck full of toys was raised for Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. I was told the largest bike was 125 cubic inches and I had the smallest at 125 cc, I was also the only scooter there.

Can you find my little piggy there in with the hogs. Photo on right.

The photo on the left shows some of the riders at Mary Bridge at the end of the the ride, I was going to go up on the parking structure and get a better one but my batteries died and i only had one set, live and learn.

It was a fun day with live music, a bar-b-que, and a raffle.

I would like to say Thank You to Destination Harley and all the riders for their support for Mary Bridge.

TOYS FOR TOTS, TACOMA

November 24 is the Mary Bridge Children's Hospital Toys for Tots run.
They start a Destination Harley-Davidson in Fife WA. 10 dollar donation, new toys welcome, [no stuffed animals please], BBQ AT NOON. Reg at 11am ride leaves at noon.
Info: Sgt. Bilko 253 208 7791 or 253 278 9535
Won't my VINO 125 and myself look out of place at a Harley dealer, I will take pictures.
I have personal experance with Mary Bridge with my son, please come if you can.

Rally and adventure.

Saturday June 23 2007. I took my scooter to a motorcycle rally and ride, this one, our first was hosted by the Lakewood Washington Police Department, and was part of Lakewood's Summer Fest. We arrived at the city hall and saw about 60 bikes, mostly cruiser style, and most of those were Harley's, probably 40, then there were the big sport bikes including one beautiful 'Busa.
Also in attendance was a young lady on a 50 cc Aprilla sport bike, and myself and my scooter TANTOR, a 2006 Yamaha Vino 125.
After I registered us, I had a dough nut, it was hosted by a police department after all.
Then they had a small skills test area that lots of bikers were trying, some of the larger full dressed cruiser were having a tough go in making it through, but most made it on their third try, all most all of the sport bikes made it through on one try. I watched for about 20 minutes then I mounted Tantor and took my spot in the staging area, I must admit I had an advantage in not having to use a clutch, I was also the shortest wheel base there, so needless to say I nailed it the first time.
When it was time to go we had a route and safety briefing, then we formed a column of twos and left.

We rode through Lakewood,University Place, and into Ruston,and the Tacoma water front and on into King County, where we had a stretch of interstate 5, about 3 miles.
{ Please note I do not condone taking a scooter with ten inch wheels and a small 125 cc engine out on the freeway and I did so only because we had a police car at the end of our group. I can say it is nice to know that my vino 125 will do 63.4 mph but that is with the throttle pin wide open and turning 8400 rpm which is 100 rpm off red line. There were three such runs in this ride.} Ten inch tires and grooved pavement make for a sphincter tightening ride. The only time that I lost site of the group was when we pulled up an 8% grade, with the throttle wide and motor screaming I went up at 30 MPH but I caught up to them in about 2 miles

The first 72 miles I spent behind a Harley, this would have been more enjoyable if he had been able to corner, I had to keep slowing down as I kept riding up on him because I could corner alot better than he could and I could not pass him as he had 60 to 80 horsepower and I have 11.

The day was fun and I learned alot about my scooter and myself, it's nice to know that that Tantor is capable of short stretches of freeway, I could go off on a longer ride but would like to stop about every 60 to 90 minutes just to stretch and get blood flowing back into my backside, and finally if I stay on secondary roads I can get over 100mpg but the freeway run at WOT dropped my mileage down 90.5 mpg.