BMA Cycles

Last week I rode by BMA Cycles. They are located at 2209 River Rd, Bainbridge, way out on the western side of the county. I was looking for accessories and a friend had said that they were having a great sale. But I was surprised at their selection of scooters!

They had everything from traditional style to racing-inspired looks in a variety of brand names, some I recognized, some I didn't. I can't vouch for the reliability of the scooters or the quality of the service at BMA. But I wanted to tell you about this source of scooter fun.

And speaking of fun, look at that white one on the right in this photo. It has a roof and a windshield wiper! I had seen this model in pictures from a friend's trip to Europe, but I'd never seen one in person. It turns out there is one right here in Lancaster, and it could be yours.

Chutzpah

Sighted this morning...

You have to be either really bold or really clueless to park in front of three No Parking signs.

Dutchland Rollers Bout: TMI Scooter Club coming!

The next Dutchland Rollers roller derby bout is scheduled for Saturday, October 13. Doors at the Overlook Activity Center, 2040 Lititz Pike, open at 5:30pm.

I have it on good authority that members of the Three Mile Island Scooter Club are planning to attend to support their Nuclear Knockouts. Let's show them some Dutchland hospitality by tailgating with them before, and partying after, their whupping.

The Power of the Dark Side

It is normal for people who enter the world of two-wheeled transportation, after a short period of time, to desire more power. In the scooter community, buying a motorcycle is referred to as going over to the Dark Side. It is a good-natured joke, but it is a good analogy.

Motorcycle and scooter riders are both members of the same “religion”. Their fraternity is illustrated by the wave that riders give each other as they pass. It is an acknowledgment that we enjoy the same experience: the joy and freedom of the ride. If riding is the Force, and a 50cc scooter is the ride for a padawan, then motorcycling is the Dark Side. Power comes easy. Perhaps too easily for the inexperienced. And that easy access to power can be corrupting. A young Sith may find himself with a prosthetic limb… or worse.

I recently stumbled upon a great site (without bad Star Wars metaphors) for new motorcyclists. If you are thinking about getting a motorcycle for the first time, check out http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/index.html. The site is intelligent, well-written, and humorous. It includes tips and recommendations for those considering their first motorcycle, and reviews of many models.

After shopping bigger scooters and beginner motorcycles, the right bike at the right price happened to be a motorcycle: a 2006 Boulevard S40. Yes, it is one of the bikes listed on that site for beginners. It’s a lot of fun being able to go faster, but the gears and the weight make it a very different animal. One that’s not as well behaved as a scooter. I have a couple hundred miles on it, and I heartily endorse all the warnings and recommendations on that website about starting with a beginner’s bike.

I kept my scooter, and I‘m glad I did. Riding the motorcycle to work on the highway in rush hour traffic made me appreciate the nimble, light scooter on slower, lightly-traveled back roads. You can’t beat a scooter for practicality, economy, and storage. For these reasons, I’ll still use the scooter for commuting the majority of the time. And the newness of the motorcycle hasn’t diminished the fun of the scooter. I look forward to getting on each, for different reasons. It’s possible to enjoy both sides.

Spur of the Moment Meet

A fellow member (ChelsieLou) of UrbanScootin.com and I are meeting at Central Market this Saturday at 10am to do the 2 Covered Bridges loop. Everyone is invited to join us. We will be meeting on the Market Street side. I'll be there early, enjoying a coffee and some kind of pastry from the Market, if you'd like to do the same.

This ride is about 17 miles and 50cc-friendly. The weather is supposed to be wonderful, so come on out!

Maxi Meet

I rode up to check out the 4th Annual PA Scooter Meet as they stopped for breakfast at the Shady Maple Smorgasbord. The event was organized by members of BurgmanUSA, so it wasn't a surprise that the gathering was dominated by Suzuki Burgmans. It was intersting to see how these bikes, which already have pretty strong styling, had been customized by their owners. The photo to the right is of my favorite.

There were a few other brands there as well... a Yamaha Morphos, a Honda Silverwing and Big Rukus, a cool orange Kymco.

Upcoming Roller Derby Bout

Don't forget about the Dutchland Rollers. They have a bout coming up this Saturday, September 8th, 6:30pm at the Overlook Activites Center. Portions of the proceeds from this Black-Hearted Blitzkrieg will go to the American Heart Association. Lucy van Belt says that 2 of their league members are scooter riders. I wonder which ones...

4th Annual PA Scooter Meet

The 4th Annual PA Scooter Meet will occur on the weekend of September 14-16, 2007, in New Holland. This information came from the BurgmanUSA forum, so the rally will most likely feature maxi scooters. The Burgman is a model of scooter made by Suzuki in 400cc and 650cc sizes. They are definitely the top of the scooter food chain. But when the big dogs are having a party in your neighborhood, the little dogs can't help but sneak around for a peek. I'm planning to ride up to New Holland that that weekend and check it out. Wouldn't it be fun to fill New Holland with scooters?

Long's Park Art Fest

It's Memorial Day Weekend, and that means the Long's Park Arts & Crafts Festival. This annual event is one of the top art festivals in the country, the best in the Northeast. And it's within scootering distance for us! I rode there each of the last 2 days. I parked for free in the special area they had dedicated for motorcycles.

One of the exhibitors knows the value of a scooter for getting around. He brought his Honda Ruckus (pictured above) with him. Judging from the Tennessee plates, I'm betting it was Rey Alfonso.

This year's festival featured Iron Hill Brewery selling beer and wine inside the festival. Iron Hill is opening this fall in College Row on Harrisburg Pike. They had a beer tasting event on Sunday. If you like sweet wine-like beers, this will be the place for you.