Modern Vespa

It looks like we are actually going to have the 2016 Scooter Cannonball Run. This was posted last night by Maroy. I am going.

http://www.scootercannonball.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=2683&start=270

Wow! 3700+ miles is a frikken long ride. I don't even like to fly that far.

Best
Miguel

its not for the average that's for sure.
You need to know how to wrench , prep, plan and adapt before you think about pressing the starter on the scoot.

Then you need a butt that's in shape for 10 days in the saddle

I wish they did something similar in the UK., I've tried a search but only guided tours seem to come up, or I maybe missing something?

We could make something similar in the UK, if we can find enough like-minded people...

Hi Matt

If you fancy a longer trip some of us "boro" boys would be up for it. Me and Grinner definitely aren't afraid of doing a few miles

P.S I ride the matte black GTS that you will have seen on a couple of the ride outs around "boro"recently !

Tony

Na, not me.

I don't like riding long distance.

Bah !

Bill xxx

You would also have to find 3700 miles to travel....

That would be what, London to Moscow and back?

Maybe London to Palermo Italy and back?

3700 miles in late June. That likely means an overlap with Amerivespa, for better or worse - which is 6/23 - 6/26.

I'm thinking Cannonball is just a pipe dream for me. I love the idea and believe I can do it, but I gotta get to the starting line 1st - and that's the toughest part.

I'll be watching for further developments

we all know that. that's why FroggiePosition did so much more IBs than you.

Tempting........

Teehee 8)

That is pretty much where I am now. I'm a definite maybe, but would put it below 50% likelihood that I do it next year. Depends on starting and ending points, rules, etc., sooo.... maybe.

Cheers Tony I should be getting a bigger scoot in the next few weeks...PX150 or T5 perhaps. So then I'll be well up for some cross country touring! Still keeping my 50L small frame too though 8)

Was it your black GTS at MOD Shoes last weekend?

Sure was Matt, this one

Looks photoshopped ..... but it's not !!



Tony

Yep that's the one I thought you meant! I remember it parked up there, I did give it good look over, very nice scooter 8)

Could someone describe the Cannonball? Is it a race, or more like a ride?

How many miles a day? How many scooters?

Is it a closed event, or can anyone sign up?

Some people are extremely competitive shaving every minute they can by modifications to their scoots (touring tanks, performance modifications), spending hours figuring out the quickest route between checkpoints. Even going so far as to build a scooter from a combination of scooter and motorcycle parts (see the 2012 Scooter Cannonball thread for Frankenscoot references). Others are there to challenge themselves without any real expectation of winning - those like Oz who have ridden 50cc scoots come to mind here. While some consider it more of a tour taking time to enjoy the scenery, take photos or even have a latte in a lovely mountain town. Cutting down on tourists is one reason behind the cc limit so no more folks cruising along on Burgman 650s, MP3 500s, etc. Miles per day vary depending on the route, some have been 300 while others might be 450 or whatever is needed to get between places with sufficient hotel rooms. In 2014 there were 28 scooters at the start. I think it was closer to 40 in 2012 but checking http://scootercannonball.com will give you more info on participants and routes from previous years. Anyone who has a scooter that meets whatever the rules for a specific year's cannonball can sign up. There has been discussion on limiting the number of participants to 50 scooter or some other number but so far that hasn't happened so far.

Nope, it's not a race

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/storydivision/its-not-a-race-the-scooter-cannonball-run-movie?ref=discovery

Is a GTS 300 too big??

FFS, please wait until the 2016 rules, regs and route are announced on the Cannonball site. http://scootercannonball.com/forum/


I strongly suspect a 300 will be too big.



Be prepared to spend at least three weeks of your time and possibly upwards of $6000 on the venture (it can be done for a lot less - but with a lot more time).

Im in. Just need someone to loan me a 946.

The rules, route, dates, etc. all change for each running of the Cannonball. So as JimC said, you need to wait until the 2016 rules are out in full before anyone can really say what scooters may apply. If you peruse the scooter cannonball website for past years' results, you can see what scooters were allowed in each (or rather, you can see what scooters actually ran the Cannonball).

Patience you must have, my young padawan.

Hints so far are Florida/Georgia coast to the Pacific Northwest. More information to come as it is released.

That's all?

Yep, along with the distance is over 3,700 miles.

And the start in late June.
Edit. Start July 5th from Fernandina Beach, Florida.
11 days riding.
Finish July 15th in Mukilteo, Washington.
Lots of great roads in between.
We should know soon about the displacement limits.

Can you ride a "leg" of the Cannonball? I can't invest the time to do 3700 miles, but if it's in the area, I could certainly head up, ride a leg, hang out, and head back.

Or are the checkpoints just a receipt or picture in some location, without "officials" that are actually there to check, like the IBA does?

If they find out you don't intend to run the whole Cannonball, they will unregister you from the ride. At least that was the case in 2012 when several members of our club wanted to go. When they started following our Facebook comments among one another and saw we were looking at it as an extended Sunday ride, they unregistered us. Worked out in our favor as we did a 2000 mile ride to/from the Natchez Trace instead and had a ball!

Read the rules to see what is required at checkpoints.

You can't register for part of the cannonball as mentioned earlier. Folks have met up with the cannonballers at their hotel or a restaurant in the evening on occasion. In 2012 Texas riders hosted a barbeque in Abilene. I believe a few folks were at the start of the 2012 cannonball as well - Sticky I think was one of the. Max and a few others met with us in Oklahoma last year as a couple of examples.

If you weren't going to complete the entire rally why would you enter it to only flake out before the finish ?

I wasn't in it to win it but I was hell bent on finishing.

Bill xxx

C'mon, that's a little harsh. The poster said up front s/he can't afford the time for the whole event. S/he just wants to be social and "hang out." That's been done by many at the beginning, middle and end of several Cannonballs. me, too

I wasn't talking about that post.

It's like entering a marathon and at mile 20 saying na I've had enough.

Bill

Because the Cannonball is run on public roads, and there is no official committee to regulate who rides, anyone can join in on a leg.

Each leg is posted so programming a GPS or carrying a map will allow you to ride the same route.

You will find that nobody who is competitive will ride with you, but enjoying the route and seeing the riders may make it a fun day.

That's what I'm wanting to do. I couldn't care less about registering and saying I "did the cannonball." I also don't want to show up and mess up another group's event. Some people are pretty loose, some are rule Nazi's, but either way, it's their event, so I'll do it their way or I'll just stay home.

Thanks cdwise!

Route (sort of) and dates are posted.

http://scootercannonball.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=2718

Ya beat me to it.

Actually it's more like meeting up with people you don't see often and hanging out and supporting their adventure.

I have no more interest in seeing how long I can sit on a bike. I've done the endurance racing thing on pavement (WERA) and on dirt (GNCC), both solo and with nationally competitive support teams. It was great fun, and I imagine this and other distance riding is, too.

Now, though, I'm content to bring the beer and enjoy the competition vicariously.

As per past years, it looks like the Canonball will be quite the adventure for the riders who'll be entering. I plan on and look toward following vicariously through the various posts and blogs that will go along with the trip.

If at any time a Canonball route comes to an area 'local' to me, this one doesn't however, I'd enjoy an oppurnituty to meet up with any of the intrepid.....

Any word on displacement limits for 2016?