Modern Vespa

Got my Cannonball Tires.

Hopefully you will only need one rear tire per scooter. I can't think of a single time where someone actually needed to replace a front tire. OTH spares are good and it looks like you ready for all sorts of terrain and weather.

I've still got the front tire that I used on the last SCB, but I'm trying a 120/80-12 in front to balance the 140/70-12 rear this time. So basically, I'm way overthinking this.

Even a Pirelli GT 23 lasted 3,300 miles and didn't look too shabby at the end.

The rear was toast.

Not actual toast but "toast".

Bill xxx

I finally got my 2000 Piaggio Hexagon engine cases from the UK. Apparently it's a PITA to ship used cases from one country to another, and I finally found someone on ebay willing to label them as brand new farm inplements. The Piaggio Hexagon was a 125cc air cooled motor, and we are going to turn it into a liquid cooled 218cc Malossi powered beast and stick it in the GT. Funny thing is that the engine cases look exactly like the ones that came out of the Vespa. They are literally identical. What's up with that? But there's a lot of difference between a 2000 air cooled Piaggio 125cc motor and a 2006 liquid cooled Vespa 200cc motor, so that should help massage the handicap a bit? I think it's going to be right around what I'd have on a stock 2005 Vespa GT200.
Still waiting to hear from my new friend in India about the turbo....

Were you the guy that used to teach Esperanto on the internet before there really was an internet?

I followed a six year old 150 scooter going 76 mph downhill on Saturday morning. Razzo was maybe 3 mph quicker. 106 vs 113 on the handicap. Hmmmmm.

Downhill? Don't you mean down a bridge? There are no hills in Florida

...could have been an onramp....

Buckman Bridge, I-295 between Orange Park and Mandarin.
Coming down off the center span.
I was hoping it would be a little faster....but that is what you are for.

Cool perspective, I like the picture.

Fortunately, it isn't against the rules yet, so you can do this in 2016. Put 2 80 lb. bags of cement on the floorboard of the Vespa, and you will go faster down hills. I'm sure after you do it and win, they'll change the rules.

Fortunately I am already carrying a 210 lb. bag of cement, driving the thing.

Ahh, the fencing has begun. This is going to be fun! 8)

Something else that won't hurt your handicap that you might want to try is to get a portable generator you can put in the luggage compartment, and use it to power a 5 gallon wet dry vacuum from Harbor Freight. You point the nozzle of the vacuum forward, turn it on, and the vacuum will pull you towards things faster. If you have room for it after adding the two bags of cement.

Just make sure the exhaust side of the vacuum points backward. Otherwise there will be no gain from this.

Unfortunately, not one of my photos. I got it directly from my google machine.

It's alive.

This is the same engine I have been running during the Gathering rides in NC and GA, but with 2000 Piaggio Hexagon cases. The upgrades are the new Malossi straight cut primary gears, Yellow Contra spring and stainless steel bearings.

I see nothing wrong with this logic.

Do you have a patent on that or am I free to copy it?

That's definitely something I'd like to see Bill install on his Cannonball bike. Technically speaking, because the body of a Vespa is metal, you could get by with only one magnet. as long as it weighs at least 100 lbs.

What I need is the magnet that fits on my scooter, probably Vanessa right now. Then I can follow you out of the hotel and hook it to the back of your million horsepower dragster and have you tow me to the finish line. I probably wouldn't even need to stop for gas.

You would not need to stop for gas, but you would be stopping for gas....

Depends on the size of the touring tank installed on Motovista's scoot.

I want to see the registered bikes and handicaps sooooo bad!

Well doesn't registration end in March so it won't be that much longer before you'll see it all. In the meantime haven't people mentioned what they are riding in rider's forum? You should be able to get a good idea of that info from there.

I registered but with what I'm riding I haven't a hope in hell of winning but then it isn't all about winning is it?

I would be happy to weld a 100 lb. magnet to the front of your SCB scooter in order to test this theory.
If it did work, can you imagine what would happen every time a car went by?
"when I left, he was right behind me..."
"last I saw Bill, he was stuck fast to a truck heading south."
"he flew past me at 130 mph stuck to a Camaro."

If Bill was on Rocket doing 130 mph he would be grinning from ear to ear now matter how he got there.

It all reminds me of Wylie Coyote. Probably buy the magnet from the ACME Magnet company.

is this what you had in mind?

I think he needs a helmet.

Exactly.

Bad news about the Yager.

We were out riding last night, and I was on my stock GT200 because the Cannonball bike has been on the bench for a week, and I blew up the Dragster last Sunday. The Yager was behind me. We went onto the interstate, and I couldn't get away from it. That thing is surprisingly fast, at least compared to a stock GT200.
When we changed out the Variator, we went from the stock 17gr rollers to 13gr. I've been told that it lost a little off the top end from that switch, so we're going to go to try a 15 or 16 gram roller and see what happens. It would not be fun to be on a stock GT200 and look back at a Yager slowly gaining on me.

I don't care. I am going to have fun just participating. If I finish, even better. But if I somehow happen to finish ahead of you...priceless.

Just realized that day before y'day I hauled my new GT200 over the route y'all will take from Montana into Idaho (highway 12, Selway pass). The whole drive I was thinking what a great ride it would be! And then you'll pass about 30 miles south of here. I'll have to come down and wave a scarf at ye or sumpin.

I'm sure that if I do manage to pass you, it will only be because you stopped to smell the roses along the way.

Four short months away. I am looking forward to the, um, competition and seeing you and the others again. It is going to be so much fun.

No rose smelling for me. As fast as I can go every mile. Catch me if you can.

Is this a hint about who's going to play you in the movie?

Best Actor will do. Rocket and Me, The Movie. Coming your way. As soon as I can get around to writing.

By the way, if Rocket can successfully complete a 700 mile ride this weekend, it may be my Cannonball scooter.

Go Rocket Go!!!!!!