About to pull the trigger on a scooter - Honda Metropolitan (CA)

[Ns1]

so he's dropping it off today ^_^

 

[TridenT]

wat?

Pretty sure, they reduce traffic by not taking a car.

Uh.. A motorcycle or car is not a reliable congestion reliever. They are supposed to be given the same amount of space when you are moving. They can compact up when stopped, but that's not terribly useful...

 

[T2urtle]

so he's dropping it off today ^_^

Enjoy the metro. They are great for messing around. Consider doing a engine swap down the road. 🙂

 

[Fenixgoon]

Can I reserve the right to run over you in my ninja? Should have gotten a real bike, I despise mopeds/scooters 😛

 

[Ns1]

Can I reserve the right to run over you in my ninja? Should have gotten a real bike, I despise mopeds/scooters 😛

For my <5mi rides around my 'hood, it's perfect and dirt cheap.

it will cost me like 7 cents/mile to operate and will only depreciate 10-20%.

I have a short list of actual bikes I want, so we'll revisit that after I get comfortable on the scooter. Looks like I'll be able to get an M-1 with the scooter anyway ^_^

 

[Zenmervolt]

motorcycle or car is not a reliable congestion reliever. They are supposed to be given the same amount of space when you are moving.

Wrong. Motorcycle may ride two abreast in the same lane and are significantly shorter than cars, which increases vehicle density even when following distances are maintained.

Studies back up the position that increased motorcycle use reduces congestion.

ZV

 

[TridenT]

Wrong. Motorcycle may ride two abreast in the same lane and are significantly shorter than cars, which increases vehicle density even when following distances are maintained.

Studies back up the position that increased motorcycle use reduces congestion.

ZV

I thought that depended on the state? :/

Either way, I wouldn't ever ride side by side with a motorcyclist. Someone crosses over in my lane, we're both fucked because I can't get out of the way anymore.

 

[_Rick_]

Especially in congested places, where traffic is slow anyway, motorcycles can clump up much more densely per passenger than cars. Especially if the cars are the more common 5-meter-sedans.
Plus, with lane-splitting you get much more efficient as well. And a scooter will -never- take up the space of a car, unless you leave him 6 feet space front and rear. Which would be ridiculous.
They use up less parking space as well, freeing up roadsides that can then eventually be transformed into extra lanes.

 

[nerp]

Being stuck behind a scooter going 30 in a 45. . . reduces traffic? OK. Got it.

 

[Ns1]

Oh man this scooter is awesome. Need license and helmet ASAP. 100 mpg!!!!!

For my daily commute to work, the speed limit never exceeds 35.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Being stuck behind a scooter going 30 in a 45. . . reduces traffic? OK. Got it.

I don't know of a single downtown area with 45 mph streets...

Also, even the little 49cc scooters like the Metropolitan will hit 40 mph. This is more than enough for urban areas where the speed limits are no higher than 35 mph.

ZV

 

[T2urtle]

I don't know of a single downtown area with 45 mph streets...

Also, even the little 49cc scooters like the Metropolitan will hit 40 mph. This is more than enough for urban areas where the speed limits are no higher than 35 mph.

ZV

Good running scoots can hit 40-45. It might take long to hit 40-45 then it takes to go from 0-30. But a lot of the scooters I've seen in the city aren't properly maintained as they think its just gas and go. Couple winters stoages and those rollers might need replacements.

I know this because I went shopping for a 49cc ruckus/Zuma for a long time. Those 3 year old, 300 mile scoots are very poorly running but people were asking a premium for them.

Its not how fast it can go, its how long it takes to get 45. This is why I believe they need to stay on the side streets.

 

[Ns1]

So the dude bought this thing for 3800 after s/h + fees + taxes (2k from dealer, 800 s/h charges, etc)

He got a tune up before selling it to me and it's pretty damn minty, so when all is said and done this will cost me ~1500 (1k for bike, 500 for registration/taxes)

Might pull the trigger on MSF course after all, it's $250 and waives the "driving" test @ the DMV

Also bought a helmet; hipster++

 

[Zenmervolt]

Also bought a helmet; hipster++

Just FYI, in an actual crash, there's about a 45% chance that helmet will do absolutely nothing because the impact will occur in the open area.

http://dontai.com/wp/2010/05/20/motorcycle-helmet-impact-zones/

ZV

 

[Ns1]

Just FYI, in an actual crash, there's about a 45% chance that helmet will do absolutely nothing because the impact will occur in the open area.

http://dontai.com/wp/2010/05/20/motorcycle-helmet-impact-zones/

ZV

thanks. I just upped my life insurance policy.

 

[TridenT]

Just FYI, in an actual crash, there's about a 45% chance that helmet will do absolutely nothing because the impact will occur in the open area.

http://dontai.com/wp/2010/05/20/motorcycle-helmet-impact-zones/

ZV

OP is a goner for these forums anyway. He's going to crash, not wear proper gloves (Because it's too hot), and have stubs for hands. And, of course, he won't be able to use voice to text because he'll wear that open face helmet... We'll never find out what happened to him. Maybe this scooter thing ain't so bad after all. 😎

 

[Fenixgoon]

Just FYI, in an actual crash, there's about a 45% chance that helmet will do absolutely nothing because the impact will occur in the open area.

http://dontai.com/wp/2010/05/20/motorcycle-helmet-impact-zones/

ZV

the part that cracks me up is that no one on a scooter wears gear (save for a helmet at best), yet they're doing the same 35mph i am on my ninja1000, and i wear jackets, boots, pants, gloves, and a full-face helmet.

 

[T2urtle]

I street ride with a 125-170cc ruckus and a stock 49cc ruckus. They normally at least put their helemts on when I'm with them on my sv650.

 

[Ns1]

the part that cracks me up is that no one on a scooter wears gear (save for a helmet at best), yet they're doing the same 35mph i am on my ninja1000, and i wear jackets, boots, pants, gloves, and a full-face helmet.

Devils advocate here...cyclists ride 25mph++ under the right conditions and they most certainly aren't geared up. I associate 49cc scooters much more with a bicycle than a motorcycle.

 

[TridenT]

Devils advocate here...cyclists ride 25mph++ under the right conditions and they most certainly aren't geared up. I associate 49cc scooters much more with a bicycle than a motorcycle.

Doesn't mean they're doing anything right. Most motorcyclists I see don't wear protective gear during the summer and go well over the speed limit many times. Therefore, all arguments are invalid. 😎

 

[Zenmervolt]

Devils advocate here...cyclists ride 25mph++ under the right conditions and they most certainly aren't geared up. I associate 49cc scooters much more with a bicycle than a motorcycle.

Top cyclists in ideal conditions hit those speeds. The average cyclist I see in the city is hitting maybe 15 mph, tops. Cyclists also generally ride in reserved lanes out of the normal flow of traffic.

Scooters are running around at the same 35 mph as everyone else and riding in much closer proximity to cars.

Frankly, most cyclists are woefully under-geared too but that's a whole other thing.

ZV

 

[Ns1]

Took my first ride today.

0-35mph in never.

it feels just like riding a bicycle...except a little bit faster, with less sweat.

 

[The Stigenator]

sweet.. i need to come ride with you..

 

[dud]

Even in black that scooter looks too feminine. I see women on these types of scooters from time-to-time but never guys.

Why does your scooter have "deathmobile" written on it?

 

[Ns1]

fuck me. After talking to my buddy, I want to be a ricer again.

there's a shop somewhat close to me that does custom work, and evidently there's a scooter subculture.

I wanna (eventually) do something like this:

reliving the TOO FAST TOO FURIOUS days.