Matt and Tom's Night Prowl Through Our Aromatic County

Today we have a Reader Submission by Tom Becker

Under the harvest moon and through the evening air, we scooted. Four intrepid riders were on the bill, but two turned out to be posers. Questioning our friends' claims to family responsibilities, we set out from College Avenue to the hamlet of Mastersonville just to say we had been there.

Having achieved that lofty goal, we turned south toward Mt Joy for a warm-up and beer at Mick's (formerly known as Carlos 'n Charlies and mournfully deprived of great salsa). We then motored to Washington Boro and back home via Charlestown Road, the perfect strip of road for filming a slasher movie.

Our Night Prowl was not difficult or noteworthy, except for the wonderful smells of farmer's fields, sleepy streams and decaying leaves. It was the first of many tours, we're sure. Pictured is my Ruckus and Matt's C3 parked with a Ducati sport bike in Mt. Joy.

A Folly Named Trolley

There is a debate in Lancaster about whether to bring back streetcars to the downtown. It has become an issue in the the upcoming election. I am for alternative forms of transportation, but I don't think this makes sense. Do I wish they had never gotten rid of the streetcars we had? Sure. You can't buy the kind of authenticity a continuously operating line would have. But to tear up the streets now and put the tracks back would be a tremendous cost, both in money and disruption to traffic, both during construction and on-going.

I understand the reasons why some want streetcars. Lancaster is an old city. It is essentially built-out. The streets, which were established before automobiles existed, are narrow and crowded. Parking is scarce. Areas of shopping, eateries and entertainment are sometimes separated by blocks of houses or offices. It is difficult for individuals to avail themselves of all the attractions downtown on foot. People want transportation that is convenient. How are we to solve this problem? If only there were an example we could look to...

Hey, wait, don't European cities have these exact same problems? How do they deal?

photo by Sweetgrzly and nicked from Google Images

Touring Load Capacity

Looking to go big for touring? No need to look beyond scooters. A recent issue of Rider Magazine reviewed the big touring V-twin motorcycles. But a letter to the editor in the November issue points out that the Suzuki Burgman 650 has more carrying capacity than both the Kawasaki Voyager 1700 (379lbs.) and Star Venture (395lbs.). A quick search of the interwebs suggested that both Burgmans are rated for over 900lbs.. (Maybe one of our new Burgman-owning readers can post the real numbers in the comments section of this entry). This would mean that a Burgman, even a 400, is capable of towing any of the flagship touring cruisers, while the reverse is not true! That makes me giggle.

Before you Harley guys start thumping your chests, I just looked up the article in the September issue. The Harley FLHTCU (Ultra Classic Electra Glide) can carry 474 lbs..

Reader Submission

A reader, Jim from Elizabethtown, sent in this picture of his 1965 MOD Lambretta. He says that he has owned about a dozen vintage metal scooters over the course of his life. I guess this area has been into scooters for years!

2010 Rumor

It's been a while since I posted any news about new scooters coming to market. I guess the economy has led to manufacturers playing it conservative. Honda seems to be the only one introducing new models (SH150i and the new 108ccc Elite). So I thought I'd pass along what I've been reading around the internet: Vespa is going to add fuel injection to its models down to the 150cc engine size for 2010. That is going to make the S150 a very attractive scooter.

And, yes, I realize that this blog has been a little Vepsa-centric lately. I'll try to mix it up soon. Try...

Mid-Atlantic Fall Scooter Rally, 2009

Saturday morning, as I was headed up to New Holland for the Mid-Atlantic Fall Scooter Rally, I was reminded of why Lancaster County is such a scenic place to ride. A hot air balloon was flying low over the farm fields of Bareville and Leola. This balloon was just above the rooftops and wires. As Will had said to an out-of-towner the night before, "There's nothing that you can name that we don't have around here."

The day started promptly at 8:30am at the Hollander Motel when Will blew the whistle and yelled, "Mount up!" A New Holland police officer held traffic for us as we turned northeast up Route 23 to Shady Maple for the traditional breakfast buffet. Breakfast was from 9 - 10:30, and you needed the time to pack in the wide variety of meats and potatoes, including turkey bacon and sausages. We would need the nourishment, as we would not be stopping for lunch. Nobody left hungry; just look at these satisfied customers.

Those finished with breakfast early spent time in the parking lot looking at the 57 scooters that had assembled for the main ride.

Most of the scooters were Suzuki Burgmans, which is not surprising as this rally has been primarily organized by members from www.burgmanusa.com. But there were a few small guys there too, like this Zuma 125 and a Buddy 150. I didn't notice either of them having trouble keeping up on the ride, although the Honda SH150i did suffer on the hills, as it was carrying 2 people.

I don't have any pictures of the ride itself, because I didn't want to hold a camera while we were moving. There will probably be more pictures at midatlanticscoot.com. It is quite a sight to look ahead and see scooters as far as you can see in front of you, and to look in your mirror and see scooters as far as you can see in back of you. I hope we didn't disrupt traffic too much. How surreal it must be to have that many scooters suddenly pass your out-of-the-way home. We certainly put some smiles on faces and got many waves from bystanders.

Along the way, we stopped at M&S Suzuki (on Rt. 322, outside of Blue Ball) to thank them for their sponsorship and their having helped multiple rally-goers over the past years. They have gotten more than one rider that limped in on a Friday night rolling by Saturday morning.

We also stopped at Pat Garrett's Sheepskin Shop on Route 183. Even though I believe we were expected, we had to overcome some initial nervousness about the size of our group.

Overall, it was a good ride. We just beat the rain back to New Holland. From there I went back to Lancaster and skipped the rest of the Rally, as I had other plans. But I will definitely go again in the Spring.

On a personal note, it re-affirmed my satisfaction with my Vespa 300 Super. It easily held its own with the Burgman 400's and 650's, while being nimble and light. That last point was reinforced when I saw a Yamaha Majesty and and a Burgman 650 get dropped at a stop sign during the ride. I like a mid-size scoot.

Mid-Atlantic Fall Scooter Rally Begins

The Mid-Atlantic Fall Scooter Rally began this evening in New Holland. A cook-out was generously provided by the Hollander Motel. Between hot dogs and hamburgers, people re-newed old friendships. This rally is held twice a year in the same spot, so many attendees know each other from previous events. People trickled in all evening, mostly on Suzuki Burgmans.

This Honda SH150i was bucking the trend, and not just by parking contrary to everyone else. It was one of the smallest bikes there this evening. But it was ridden by a couple riding 2 up, so it is a capable scooter. I especially like the barrel Prima bag on the back. It brings out the Italian influence.

I expect a wider range of scooters Saturday. Be at the Hollander by 8:30 to leave for breakfast!

Where did the Vespas go?

If you've driven (or ridden) past Keim Pre-Owned and noticed that the scooters aren't on display anymore, don't worry. I'm told that they could only show them for 2 weeks and that the scooters have been moved while Keim continues their application for dealership. They're still moving forward, and they've even placed their first order from Vespa.

York Bike Night

In case you're not interested in the scooter rally in New Holland, this Friday is Bike Night in the City of York. Just head downtown, you can't miss it. I've been before, and it is primarily a Harley event. But it is fun to see the large number of bikes lined up along the curb for blocks in every direction.

Scooters in Lancaster and Bikers in York ... let's hope a new Mods vs. Rockers/War of the Roses doesn't break out.

Reminder: Mid Atlantic Scooter Rally

Don't forget that next weekend is the Mid Atlantic Scooter Rally. Click here for more details.

Putting the Mileage On

The weather this weekend is so nice! I've been trying to put the miles on the new Vespa so that I can get the break-in period and first service out of the way. I took these pictures along the way on Saturday. The iPhone takes a nice picture with enough light and a steady hand.

Does anyone know the significance of the sign?

Three Mile Island

Parade for Auntie Anne's

Ever been to a mall and had an Auntie Anne's pretzel? Well, you and people all over the world. This week, operators of those pretzel stands came to the City of Lancaster. And Tuesday evening they paraded from the Lancaster County Convention Center to the Corporate Headquarters of Auntie Anne's at Chestnut and Prince Streets.

The parade was led by Mayor Rick gray, this time sporting his trademark bowtie. The Lancaster County Catholic High School Band followed him, trailed by three people on Segway scooters from Red Rose Seg Tours handing out flyers.

Then came the conventioneers; hundreds of them from a surprising array of countries. Kuwait, South Korea, Hong Kong, United Arab Emerits, and Northern Ireland, to name a few. And of course, the 50 States. It was really surprising to see the many places that people operate Auntie Anne's franchises. It's amazing to think of all of those places being touched by a little piece of Lancaster County. A butter-soaked piece.

The McCaskey High School Marching Band and a fire truck closed out the parade. Short, but I'm sure that the people who participated got a kick ot of it. Good for Corporate for putting on a celebration that those pretzel makers will remember fondly, and that brought a little life to a downtown Tuesday night.

Wheels 2009 - The Photos

This past weekend was the annual Wheels show in downtown Lancaster. I was wondering if there would be any scooter presence this year, but just as I arrived, I saw Ryan and Lauren pulling in with their friend Mike. All three were riding Hondas. A new aquaintence, Vinny, was also there with a red Stella. I pulled my new white Vespa up next to them to make a respectable representation for scooters.

Ryan and Mike showed their Honda Ruckuses, both of which have been heavily modified. Ryan's midnight blue one was sporting a new set of handlebars since I last saw it, but looking pretty finished. Mike's is still a work in progress, looking for that balance of customization vs. complying with PennDOT's arcane rule book.

You really need to know the configuration of a stock Ruckus to appreciate how much work has gone into these. Mike's guages and lights have all been fabricated into the box under the handlebars. And that box has been given a custom airbrucsh/spray paint job by Derek Cochran. Photos cannot capture the eye-assaulting shade of pink on the rims. But it works well with the white, and it's echoed in the outline of the graffiti.

Compared to the boys, Lauren's Metropolitan is the essence of classic style. But don't be fooled; a lot of work went into this also. Honda doesn't make them look like turquoise '57 Chevys. That's a custom paint job on an '02 (which is where the brown seat, floor and grips come from). Note the paint on the swing arm and exhaust covers, for an extra splash of color. A cavernous wicker basket has been added to the back and the wire basket in the leg shield has been wrapped in that same wicker. On top of the new paint has been added brand new chrome badges from '09. The result is a tastefully refurbished Metro that could be confused for factory new.

The scooters attracted the attention of Mayor Gray and his wife, who stopped to talk to Mike, Lauren and Ryan about their own scooters. The Mayor also mentioned the free scooter parking around the ramp of the Prince Street Garage. He hinted that maybe the rule about registering before using isn't being so closely watched... but you didn't hear it from me ;-). He did say that he hopes to create more official scooter parking around town, but can only do so if he can show the existing spaces are being used: so get to the Prince Street Garage! And remember that the scooterist's friend in City Hall is up for re-election this year, so register to vote.

To wrap up, here are some more photos taken around the festival. Remember, you can click on any of the photos above or below to view them larger.

Wheels 2009

It's been a rainy week, but the skies should clear by Sunday. If you are looking for something to do that day, Lancaster's annual car and motorcycle show, Wheels, will be happening on the first couple blocks of Queen Street from 11am - 3pm. I don't know if scooters will be featured, like they were last year.

Ephrata First Sunday Ride-In, September 2009

I attended the Ephrata First Sunday Ride-In this weekend. There were a few scooters mixed in the crowd, as usual. The most classic I found was this Lambretta, followed by his Vespa friend in the background.

I stood back from my new white Vespa and listened to comments of people of they walked by, as an experiment. I was curious how scooters are percieved by the crowd there. Comments ranged the spectrum. A petite female sport bike rider said to her two male friends, "I wouldn't be caught dead on scooter. It is cute, though..." A burly biker dude told his buddy, "I'm tellin' you, that's the shit. Nice!"

The Wild Hogs Scooter Club showed up with a representative party. The Wild Hogs started in Philly, and has expanded by affilating other clubs, including one in York. The members that made it to Ephrata were riding Asian maxi-scooters by Suzuki, Sym and Kymco.

The most interesting of them was a triked-out Kymco Grandvista 250. This kit adds two out-rigger wheels, without removing the rear drive wheel (technically making for 4 wheels). It looked strangely natural, like it was supposed to be that way. It had a spaceship feel to it. You normally see these kits on bigger bikes. But as a mid-size, it looked fun.