Is there some form of baptism-like ceremony that involves maybe
oil, gas, dirt and exhaust ash to initiate a person into the biker world?
(now as a pilot, as opposed to a copilot)


Cause tomorrow I have off and I'm taking the new scooter and
the "bumper-car queen" out for a spin.  Wish us luck.


Oh btw, look what I found in the morning parked somewhere on
my route to work and, of course, I had to stop to take a pic  



...I Spy a Savage



Again, the new scooter (now debadged)



More pics to come 2morrow after the festivities, C'ya.

---

...for those of you who do not understand the term bumper-car queen, go here:
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1301539459

My wife got a scooter last year. Her 1st outing consisted of me riding the scooter to a large paved parking lot where I watched her practice. She managed to get a couple of laps around the lot with only a few wobbles. She stopped stood up and gave a 2x high 5 in victory. Unfortunately when you stand up while straddling a scooter you still need to hold onto the handle bars.  That was lesson# 1.

She  only got out 2 more times last year but is getting anxious to give it a good shot this year. I look fwd to riding with her to a dinner out this year. If she makes it there I'll buy.  

The only initiation I am aware of is when you wreck, drop, lay down, or fall off yours or someone else's bike for the first time. For most that is the first time they get on a bike, like me. The badge of courage received is the blood and scars left over.  

I'll bet that is a Moto Guzzi cafe bike , not a Ducatti. Max

Congratulations to Mrs. Stimpy.. woo hoo
you go girl..
That video brought back memories for me.
I remember being scared to take my scooter
for the first ride.. I felt good if I went 20 mph..  
Wasn't long before I was going 50..
Give her big hugs and keep encouraging her to
stay in the saddle.
Oh and don't forget, that new savage is going to
be just for her.. kim

Update -  I dropped the scooter  

the new "rain" tires got here, yay



Took a solid 2hrs mounting them both (by hand)
since the exhaust had to be removed in order to
access rear wheel.

I have not tested them on wet conditions yet but did put  
about 20 miles on them by diving to work and back to
"loosen them up" .

..the funny thing is that after the 1st mile I fell down on a
roundabout going about 25mph and broke the left break lever
that I had replaced just 24 hrs prior that the last owner broke
as well, it's still usable though; I fell because this scooter has
a very high center of gravity and I was simply too fast with new
tires, lol.

The scooter however is fine, it landed softly because i broke it's
fall and the side of the center-stand did the rest by doing what it
was supposed to by working like one of those slides you find on
track bikes (or the regular foot pegs of any given savage)



About me, (other than my jeans) I'm fine, shoulder and a$$
are starting to hurt a bit but I amazingly decided at the last
minute to wear full gear and knee protectors and because of
this this was one of those falls  you not only walk away from but
actually laugh at, otherwise I might be in the hospital right now
getting knee surgery.


So boys and grls, remember:

1) ATGATT

2) New tires require a solid 50-70 miles to get "scruffy" and you
should under-inflate them a bit at first for best/faster/safer results.


my cheapy knee guards that saved the day btw are called o'neal
"pumpguns", I use to like them but I love them now  


** new update with pics of the new metzeler tires and MacGyver
style brake lever repair solution coming soon, stay tuned!