errantember: (Little Cowboy Scott)
I'm drawing a picture of this, but it's taking longer than I thought.

The pipe on the handlebars of the scooter has only a single bolt to lock it in place over the pipe on the front wheel. Because the tolerances are sloppy, the slightest looseness in this bolt makes the handlebars wobble. You can *tighten* the bolt, but getting to it requires remove about nine screws and half the cowling of the bike, and even with a lock washer and a lock nut, it only lasts about 30 minutes before loosening up again. For that thirty minutes, you experience this thrilling, novel feeling like you are almost in *control* of the vehicle. Unimpeded by simple harmonic motion or random Brownian Effects, you can *feel* the road. When you turn the handlebars, the wheel turns exactly the same amount! And *then* the scooter *goes* there! Around the life-threatening 1/2 inch pothole! Past the blind motorist pulling out in front of you! Up onto the sidewalk and over the toy poodle!

It's all very exciting. But then the jiggle starts.
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errantember: (St. Ember)
This is becoming so common I'm thinking the fucking thing will need it's own blog soon.

Today the speedometer stopped working. I suspect this might be because of the banging noises I've been hearing from inside the front faring, where I'm assuming internal electronics are not properly secured.

On a brighter note, the odometer *also* stopped working. Perhaps, since it turned out to be in kilometers instead of miles, it's simply taking a break until the mileage catches up.

Tomorrow I can dig into it and see if something came loose.

I'm legal!

Jan. 28th, 2008 09:13 pm
errantember: (Little Cowboy Scott)
I went down to Fry's Title today to see if I could get the scooter registered. I had the Certificate of Origin, the Bill of Sale, my insurance card, and my driver's license. There was a certain number of strange looks and asking questions of the other employee, but I ended up with a license plate. It's a moped plate, but I'm not quibbling. I've got the license for a true motorcycle, my scooter is electric, and the state has their sales and registration tax.

The crazy thing? Guess who the manufacturer is according the COO?

Fuck! They took it! I should have photocopied it first.

Anyway, it was some Chinese Space Exploration and Instrumentation company! Wild.

I found it! I'm 99% sure it's Nan Fang Space Navigation Science and Technology Company Ltd.


Later tonight I intend to drive my scooter legally for the very first time! YAY!
errantember: (Little Cowboy Scott)
WE ARE PLEASED TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN SHIPPED.

In a few days it will arrive at the Schenker Depot in Sumner, Washington, USA from where it will be sent directly to you by truck with a lift gate.

WheeeeeeeEEEEEEEE!

My Anti-Manifestation Theory that the vehicle (ordered months and months ago) would arrive just in time for the worst possible temperature is precisely correct!

Time to go helmet shopping...
errantember: (Default)
I just sent in my deposit on the R-20, the 45 MPH electric scooter I mentioned earlier. I have no idea exactly when I'll be getting it, except that it's expected to be before the end of the year. They are hand-assembling them as the orders come in.

I got it in silver instead of my preferred red, because it will probably reflect more heat and keep the body marginally cooler on hot days. Assuming we ever have any hot days again.

Time to start thinking about $10,000 of extra chrome, Gothic wings and gargoyles, etc.

I may also have to purchase a Hun Hat.

I went down to Alien Scooters and test-drove one of EVT's 30 MPH models, the EVT 168, to get a feel for their products. I was very impressed by the overall solid feel, acceleration, and control ergonomics. I cruised around inside the parking lot, then headed by way of Kinney to Lamar, where I got to experience the thrill of being on a scooter in traffic for about two minutes. Motorcycle enthusiasts (hell, bicyclists!) will laugh, but 30 MPH seems pretty damn fast when your sitting in a chair 8 inches off the road. I can imagine the pants-shitting fun of going 120 on a crotch rocket. My only complaint was that it's tiny wheels definitely find and transfer the impact of an uneven road to my bony ass, and going over speed bumps was very difficult without bottoming out. We'll have to see if any of these complaints have been addressed on the R-20.

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