Even As A Kid

... I had a bone for scooters.  :)

I'm the rugrat in the middle, in the stylish green v-neck and plaid shorts.

UPDATE: Mom's notes: "July 21, 1969... Camden Park (ed. Huntington, WV)... (ed. R to L) Jimmy, Jeff, Gene Gallagher's girl..."

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Support Your Local Sheriff

I don't write enough about this topic, but it's important to start a discussion.

Folx, please make an effort to support your local scooter dealer. When you find a good one, you really want them to be prosperous and available to you. Their ability to stay in business is what ensures us of quick, quality service on our wheels, accessability to quality parts, and perhaps best of all, free advice and social networking.

It's not always easy. I've bought a few items over the Internet, as you know. I've had some less-than-stellar experiences doing so, too. 

I obviously have a favored dealer in town -- ESS. I bought my first new scooter there, and a helmet, and a few odds and ends, like new tires for the Vino. I've spent a number of hours just hanging out there at various times over the past 18 months, though. From my plentiful observations, I'll say I have never seen anyone leave there unhappy that they've visited, whether they buy anything or not. I've seen them send people to their competition when the customer's needs called for it.

The Duers (who own and operate ESS) are not fly-by-nighters who will say anything to get your money. They're very professional, and go the extra mile to help their customers. Unlike many other dealers, they deal exclusively in filling the needs of scooterists, so they have no distractions or conflicts. They sell Genuine/Stella, Kymco, SYM and vintage Vespa, and they service what they sell. 

They've done a lot for me, for sure. They make me feel like family. 

They have, indirectly, via an unaffiliated local bulletin board, and via their customer e-mail database, kept me in touch with local happenings in the scooter community -- rides, picnics and other events. They've done a lot to foster that community, and it's really an invaluable service to me. I would not have known about the Chuck Mead video shoot if not for ESS letting me know about it.

Every time I stop in, I get a few of their business cards to stick in my wallet, because I give one to anyone who asks me about my scooters. 

So, if you need a cover, a lock, a new helmet, jacket or topbox... go see James and Josephine. If you need service (have you had your valve clearance checked?), or new tires, go see 'em. You'll be glad you did... and maybe you'll want to pass out some business cards too, just to show your appreciation.

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More 圣诞快乐

'Tis the season, an' all that shit. 

A vast majority of this display is LED lights, bless them.

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圣诞快乐

In case I forget.
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Will Not

... be wearing this, and helmet, into businesses after dark. ;)
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Frosty Saddles

Don't forget to put yer covers on!

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Absolutely Bad-Ass

Want-want-want-want-want-want-want-want!

Suzuki Gemma. Probably NEVER to be seen in the U.S. 250cc. Now why can't the People be this ugly-cool?

Send me a black one. AWESOME.

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Sketches of a Frugal Life

Click the image above to see what the latest scooter buzz is all up in heah.



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Friday Night's Beer Run

Remember this sign? Well, the orange numbers on the left now read $1.559.

Not the point. Tonight, as I was pulling out of this Pilot station, a guy traveling east on Centennial decided to hang a left into the station... hurtling straight at Our (stationary) Hero, astride the People 250.

I layed on the horn -- I was as far right in the entryway as I could be, so I had little option for going anywhere but MORE in the way of this fool. He missed me by 12-18", and slowed to a near-stop, right after safely passing me. 

I'm proud to report that a called him a "drunken, stupid fucker," at the top of my lungs.

Not two miles later, I had a guy pull out of a driveway halfway -- not backing out, but in "D" -- when I was but 40 yards away. A judicious application of People horn got him in reverse, while my mad braking skillz saved my skin from ugly abrasions. 

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I Got Nuttin'

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Behind The Video

Hopefully, this betrays no secrets. :)
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Chuck Mead Video: Day Two, II

Oh! You wanna hear the tune?

Go here, and select "I Wish It Was Friday."

Chuck Mead, unrepentant outlaw scooter speed freak (right).

It may be cold, but we're havin' fun!

Chuck (in the tie and leather jacket) and assorted other scooter riff-raff.

The gang's all here. Shooting a music video is 80% waiting for someone to tell you where you need to be. 

Professional lens dood, and scooter minion, reading the script.  ;)

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Chuck Mead Video: Day Two

Oh, man. What an eventful day!  The star of the video got pulled over for speeding on a frickin' 70cc scooter (video coming later!)... and the day ended with me getting a job offer!  Yay!

Scooter hotties.  ;)  Said with respect. Good folx.

Where the magic happens -- the kickass RED cameras.

Franck, my French neighbor, with his awesome Kymco Grand Vista 250. Willie, who used to work at ESS, is behind him.

Baby, it's cold outside.

Chuck Mead, far left. Willie and Jeffraham, right.

More in a bit.

UPDATE: Okay, lots of people wanna know about The Gig. So, here it is. We're sitting at 3 Crow, when a scooter dood walks in, and starts chatting with the rest of us miscreants. Suddenly, he says, "Do y'all know anyone looking for a job?" My hand shoots up.  :)

He owns/runs a restaurant downtown, and they're starting a delivery service... on scooters. They just bought three 2009 Honda Ruckus(es), and just put this ad on craigslist. So, I jumped on that. I'll let y'all know when I find out more.

As for the video, Chuck's folx contacted James at ESS, who then contacted me... asking me to hold off on making the video clip I shot today, public. So, I'm holding onto it until they decide they wanna use it for PR. It would make for some smart, viral marketing, IMO, if done right.

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Billy Bad-Ass

Sharp!

This is a CPI 250cc scooter (although it's not "step-thru"). Flyscooter is reported to be bringing this into the states in a fuel-injected model in Spring, 2009. 

Dang... sign me up!

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Night Train

Okay, it's mid-50°F outside at 11 p.m. I got a wild hair, and decided I needed to push the "revived" People 250; put it through its paces. 

So, I busted it WOT for a few miles on Interstate 40, tonight.

The interstate was pretty well vacant, but I got hit with rain on the return trip. No biggie -- but I gotta say, this bike is a fucking rocket. It's amazing what this scooter can do! It handles like a dream... at high speed, it's as if it were on rails. There's nothing the least bit scary about this machine.

I stopped off and picked up a few celebratory beers on the way back. I feel five years younger, after that ride. I doubt Einstein's theory of relativity has anything to do with that, but y'never know!

Scootin' life?  It's GOOD.

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BRU

... is OTR, again. I think the last time I started it was in September (d'oh!). So, it was hard to start, but my old friend ether helped -- and I didn't even have to take the airbox cover off.

It was low on fuel, so for its not-quite-maiden voyage, I took it straight to the Pilot. Filled it up w/1.932 gallons of 87 for $3.28.

Now, gotta put a couple of ounces of Sea Foam in there...

I'm doing this because I'm considering selling the Vino, and just riding this bike, full-time.

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