August 7, 2012
No, not me. I hit that long ago. So far this year I've taken two wheels to work fifty times. The new arrival was the magic machine joining a list that includes my 150cc Chinese scooter, the 250 Yamaha, the 50cc Bashan mini-motorcycle and the Honda Rebel. My minivan has spent a great deal of time parked this summer while we use the two wheel fleet extensively. While fifty times doesn't sound like a lot in a work year of approximately 225 days, it's certainly a respectable showing given the usual length of a riding season here in the frosty north. The mere fact that the average motorcyclist rides about 2,500 miles a year and I've used the bunch for 1,750 miles in commuting alone is nice. I'm hoping for a showing of at least 3,000 miles in commutes. So far the fifty trips represents almost $300 in gas savings over my car and, to me at least, that's not small change.
We've been using the 50cc device with a milk crate on the back for grocery, post office and bank runs rather heavily this summer since it carries a fair amount of cargo and gets 105 mpg. None of the cars is even in the same zip code of that mileage and the mini-bike has become the weapon of choice for short trips. The new addition is a fine overall machine for commuting and has made the run to work six times since I picked it up last week. Weather permitting it will make a marathon trip to Long Island this coming weekend. I checked its fuel mileage on this last tank of fuel and it returned 72 mpg at regular cruising speeds. The 150cc Chinese scooter would only do that ridden judiciously. To say I'm pleased with the performance of the 250cc scooter would be an understatement.
With only a little more than half the summer gone it would seem that almost 100 trips to work are possible by year's end. That and the numerous trips to town will raise the fleet from a collection of toys to serious fuel saving assets in most anybody's eyes.
Posted by Jim Zeiser.
July 31, 2012
As you can see by the site picture I have a new set of wheels to cruise the highways with. It's a 2009 CF Moto Fashion, silly name, and it's already done an epic voyage with me. It was down on Long Island, about 200 miles away, and I had to go and fetch it. Sara drove down with me to Marc's house where it's been stored for the last couple of weeks. We had a lovely brunch with them consisting of the best bagels on Earth and liquids to wash them down. Of course it started to rain as we left but...
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Posted by Jim Zeiser.
July 20, 2012
Pretty soon the picture of the Yamaha will disappear and be replaced with a Chinese scooter. The Yamaha has been deemed saleable and I've purchased a CF Moto 250/Honda Helix clone. Named "Fashion" the 250 is currently down in my friend's garage waiting for me to fetch it. The Yamaha will require over $200 in parts to get running again and then I'd be back where I was with a bike of questionable reliability, worth about $500 if I sold it running, and so far I'm about $800 into it before anothe...
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Posted by Jim Zeiser.
July 3, 2012
I spent last Saturday replacing the scooter's head gasket and did every trick I know to make it bulletproof. It didn't work. The scooter is still leaking and will require replacing the cylinder head, cylinder and piston to make the engine oil tight. I'm not amused.
Today I removed the cylinder head from the Yamaha and the news there is even worse. The valve broke off inside the engine and wedged itself in the exhaust port. On closer examination the camshaft is worn and the rocker arm that ope...
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Posted by Jim Zeiser.
June 26, 2012
While I was in the process of dismantling the Yamaha for its valve issues my Chinese scooter joined in the fun. Its mildly annoying oil leak turned into a full blown hemorrhage. Where it formerly used an ounce of oil every 35 miles it suddenly began to bleed almost a half quart at the same distance. I have the plastic panels off, the engine exposed and parts on order to repair it. The Yamaha sits forlornly in the garage at the moment with pieces removed waiting for me to finish the scooter. T...
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Posted by Jim Zeiser.
June 10, 2012
In the last installment I was celebrating the success of my ancient Yamaha in carrying me back and forth to work. I should have kept quiet. On the hottest day we've had so far this year the engine suddenly locked up and left me stranded about two miles from home. In close to ninety degree temperatures I pushed it home over hill and dale sweating every inch of the way. A short examination, once I could bring myself to face it, revealed an engine valve stuck open and the piston had hit it locki...
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Posted by Jim Zeiser.
May 28, 2012
This past Wednesday I finally took a deep breath and rode the Yamaha to work. While the trip is only a few miles further than the run I made to get it inspected the mileage wasn't significant, it was where I traveled that was. Up here in the boonies we have large gaps in cell phone coverage. You go for miles without a cell tower in sight. My trip to work is mostly in a NO SERVICE zone so if the bike quit on me I'd be up a creek. Fortunately it behaved for the most part and got me to work quic...
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Posted by Jim Zeiser.
May 19, 2012
After spending a great deal of money, having to submit forms to the Vermont DMV and receiving a Vermont registration for the little Yamaha, it's plated in New York. Now begins the long wait to see what havoc the New York Title Bureau wreaks. In addition to having a proper plate I also took the bike down to my local inspection station and it passed. Going there submitted the little thing to its longest ever trip. It went 32 miles from here to Hancock and back. Two things to note. First, this i...
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Posted by Jim Zeiser.
May 10, 2012
I don't know what it's been like where you live but the conditions this week has not been "riding weather". Of course I have had the opportunity between rain storms to use the scooter for runs into Town for groceries but commutes to work have been out of the question. I was hoping to really get heavily into using my two wheeled fleet this month but Mother Nature has put a dent in my plans. So far I'm stuck at unlucky 13 for the number of trips to work but the report for tomorrow is looking go...
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Posted by Jim Zeiser.
May 5, 2012
As you know I've been chasing the stalling problem of the little Yamaha ever since I got it running. Today I think I've finally narrowed it down, maybe even solved it. The ignition switch has always been, as my Dad would say, "a little fluky". Unlike every other bike in the garage it doesn't snap into the start position but rather slides over and never has felt completely right.
One day in the midst of trying to restart it after it stalled on me I twisted the key over and slapped the key down... Continue reading...
Posted by Jim Zeiser.
If you wish to comment my e-mail address is h1500e@hotmail.com. I'd like to hear anything-good or bad-that anyone would like to say. As they said in college, we're all lifelong learners.
