Rain Catcher

Say what you will about the Dowco Guardian Weatherall Plus, but it is 100% waterproof.

You're looking at about two gallons (in two different puddles) of partly-frozen water.

The bike underneath?  Dry as a bone.

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Ridin' Weather

First accumulation of the year!

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Buy My Vino!

C'mon, people. My rent's due.

$1000 this week, and I'll throw in my awesome Icon Pursuit perforated leather jacket (size L), very lightly used (a $260 retail value). You'll be glad you did!
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Ain't That America?

Crazy idea.

It seems this guy that's fixin' to take the highest elected office in the land on Tuesday is seeking the public's input at change.gov. Well, it's one thang to have a suggestions box, and quite another to actually act on any of the suggestions that are made, sure. However, it can't hurt to try when they're askin' for it, hm?

Seeing as how I think Congressman Ray LaHood (R-IL) -- Obama's nominee for Secretary of Transportation -- is about as controversial as Norman Mineta, I don't see anyone standing in the way of him sailing through the confirmation process in the Senate.

I'd like to call on my scooter homies to comment here on how they'd like to see scooters proposed to the new administration as at least a temporary, partial solution to America's transportation and energy issues. I want to assemble a report, online, that collects suggestions, data and ideas in one place, and then have all of us contact the presumptive new Secretaries of Transportation and Energy, as well as Mr. Obama and Mr. Emmanuel to let them know we're willing to be part of the solution.

We know of the Great Scooter Shortage of 2008, when gasoline prices soared to $4+/gallon all over the country. We know that a lot of people were looking for a solution, last summer, and a lot of people found a solution by adding a scooter to their vehicle inventories to substitute for a car, partially, at least. Vespa commissioned a study showing the fuel and CO² reductions that could be realized if just 10% of all trips currently made by automobile were instead made by scooter, and the savings were enormous.

Then, we also have the situation with the auto manufacturing base in the U.S., where most of the companies are talking about plant closures or furloughs. These folks could get back to work, building high-quality, low-frills scooters (and other high-mpg vehicles).

Tax credits?  Sure. Great idea. How do we propose that?  Emissions standards?  Yes. Marketing?  Yes. Let's hear what you think.

I think we could be doing ourselves a big favor if we get all our ducks in a row, and present this properly. Think on it, and shoot me your thoughts in the comments!

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Snagged NYC Video

h/t to the Scooter Scoop.

I like it 'cause the first time we see someone riding in NYC here, the rider's on a Vino (but stupidly, sans helmet)! Then, shortly thereafter, someone else on a People 250... in the color I like better than mine. :)
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Night Moves

Actually taken just before dawn, when it's darkest.

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Isn't It Iconic

... don't ya think?

I took this off the back of my Icon Mainframe Halo, since it always wanted to come off, anyway (the front applique is not faring much better; may be a good helmet, but lousy detailing). I'm going to make a custom reflective label to go on the back of the helmet with the sample materials that StreetGlo sent me. 

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Review: StreetGlo Firefly Gloves

I recently agreed to become a product tester/reviewer for StreetGlo products, having been quite happy with my purchase of a custom-made reflective decal from them, last year. The Firefly gloves are the first product they've sent me for review.

The gloves are well-constructed, and have double-stitching on all main seams. The leather looks to be of good quality, and the palms are super thick (great for soaking up asphalt, should the need arise). The gloves are soft, flexible and comfortable (I'm typing with them on, right now, in fact!).

As the photo above shows, the reflective material appears grey in normal daylight, and feels a little like a super-soft suede leather, although I'm sure it's some sort of textured vinyl.

This is a flash photo taken against a flat-white wall. As you can see, the reflective patches throw the light right back at'cha... which is exactly what it should do. Also note the closure tab (Velcro), also with reflective detailing, assuring a comfy fit at the wrists.

Between the fingers, there's a spandex-like material, which allows for excellent finger articulation, and I presume in warmer weather, would also help ventilate the glove to keep them comfortable.

Even though it was only 36°F here when I went to the mailbox, I had to give 'em a try. I rode to a convenience store a couple of miles from home, and back, and yeah -- my exposed fingers were complaining. Once I got home, I left them on for a few minutes, and amazingly, my frozen digits warmed up very quickly, though. In cold weather, I haven't found a glove that can really keep my hands warm -- in fact, this on the left hand, and this on the right is the best solution I've found so far, in that regard. I've been thinking about those sleeves that go on the handlebars, lately.

Still, I felt a lot less vibration through the padded palms (a concern of mine on the People 250), and I can tell that once we get into the warmer weather, these are going to be standard gear for me. I like having gloves I can type or use a pen with, too; since I'm starting a courier business, these will be very handy (to coin a phrase). 

For $13.99/pair ($26.99 for full-fingered), you can't go wrong giving them a try.

UPDATE: If you find the fingerless gloves are a bit snug, here's a tip for removing them...

• Undo the Velcro wrist closure;

• Loosen the thumb area;

• Grip at the webbing between the middle and ring fingers, and pull. 

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The Italians Have All The Cool Stuff

This is an Osbe Tornado helmet, w/Topgun mask. Apparently based on military designs, the visor is movable, sliding between the liner and the shell. Looks like they can be had on eBay from international sellers for ~$250, which is 2.5x more than I've paid for any helmet, but when I hit the lottery...

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Da Bidness

Q'Pon, a Vulcan woman.

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UR Vespas B-Long 2 US

Here's an interesting question: what does American beef treated with growth hormones have to do with the price of European motorcycles in the United States? The answer, surprisingly enough, could be plenty. It seems that the European Union has refused to lift a longstanding ban on the steroid-infused beef from the US despite a World Trade Organization order to end it. In retaliation, the US Trade Representative is considering adding a 100 percent tariff to European motorcycles with engines sized between 51cc and 500ccs.

Learn to love t3h Kymco, kids!

:lol:

Hey, I have a Vino for sale...
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See Ya, Dawgs

After spending a lot of time over the holidays there, I've removed my link to Scootdawg Forum. They have some moderators who're tolerant only of conservative viewpoints, and 110% Chinese scooter support (and by that, I mean it is considered apostacy to even suggest that a Chinese scooter is more likely to need servicing more often than Taiwanese or Japanese bikes), so I'm off to better pastures.

I can't recommend them as an unbiased source for purchasing information, but if you have a broken Chinese scooter and nowhere to turn for support (99.97% of Chinese scooter owners, IOW), you really should look 'em up. Many knowlegible contributors are there, and happy to help you fix a range of problems common to these scooters.

I'll be reading, but not certainly no longer contributing there. It's pointless to offer an opinion that doesn't agree with those who pull the strings (it will be "disappeared"), and that's no way to run an airline.

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