Modern Vespa

favorite or not, things are going to wear, rattle loose, break, fail, get eaten, etc. Yes. That what makes it challenging.

edited to add - Even though all Cannonball Runs are challenging, this one seems to be chewing up and spitting out scooters at a faster rate than previous Runs. Best wishes to all the riders and their rides!

37 left out of 73. That's about 50% made it over 50% of the way. Not sure about previous years but that's a lot of attrition. As far as i can tell, no vintage two strokes left.

This now comes on…. When trying to start?

ScooterRaton wrote I did leave my favorite in the garage and rode Steve’s pre dented scoot. So when the wiring harness fried I was only upset I couldn’t continue.

Really you should be putting the scoot on one of these a few weeks before CB kickoff.

Run test to destruction (either scoot or platform).

Wish I knew more about these machines but in Italian cars when we get ECU errors we look to batteries first, any sensor input connections for the management system (unplug and check and re-connect, check grounds, clean any filters (MAF's or Air) anything that can mess up the engine management calcs.

I am not sure what diagnostics you can do like a sensor port, but the last resort is get the codes and or delete them by disconnecting the battery and...see if it helps clear the code.

Good luck, i hope this info is somehow useful.

It looks like #13, “Kraken,” is still in it with a P200, having stopped for the night in Hot Springs, SD.

I did the battery disconnect, it still pops up for after a minute goes away and I can start the scooter. We shall see if it starts in the morning I guess.

A new error code on the diagnostic.

P0130 is the oxygen sensor ( I am sure you know this) are you able to tell it is still connected tight or is there a way to remove it and clean it? There are products that are used to spray it and catalytic converter clean available at some wallmarts and auto part stores.

My google-fu says that P2158 can be related to the O2 sensor!

If that is the issue the "why" your sensor is fouled is worth a dive into. Spark plug doing the right stuff? Different gas across the continent? I hope you don't mind the spitballing. Maybe you are getting help in PM's but I am chilling before I start dinner and want to help. Even if just a sounding board!

You are correct. When i checked earlier today, there hadn't been any points for kraken in days. I wrongly assumed the points tally was automatic as they submit check ins. It seems the points tally is manually entered into site after the fact.

So as of right now, there are 39 entrants still remaining, not 37. Kraken is on a nicely tuned 79 p221 and still kicking! Bravo!

Mucho appreciated… it seems to eventually clear and I can start the scooter, so hopefully it starts tomorrow and finishes another day.

When there is too much electronics this is the first to suffer if vehicles are pushed beyond normal use. :?
Probably the P200 and the like are the toughest scooters for a competition. Otherwise a modern Vespa would have to be stripped of all standard electronics and installed a simplified one (Malossi?) of the type used for track racing.

Wow

Where is that awesome landscape?

Looks like a lot of rough road.

No thanks.

What an amazing thread this is.

I envy you Cannonballers!

Stay safe.

It looks like the road I take with the tractor to go to the countryside ... That's why scooter electronics go crazy ...

PS: I saved the image in the backgrounds for the pc.

PPS: what is beyond the hills visible in the distance?

Yesterday was brutal. Deep fresh pea gravel on sections of the dirt road in Badlands National Park and other dirt/gravel sections resulted in several falls one of the Fireworks girls went head over heals off the scooter with the scoot following her and hitting her in the back. Fortunately that part only resulted in a bad bruise but her right arm broke in their places and will require surgery to line back up. At least one rider who has had no problems so far has decided to call it quits. He left for Rapid City with the intention of selling his SMax to a dealer and hopping a plane home.

Today many riders are bypassing all the bonus photos to avoid the unpaved roads. A few are taking a reset day and going straight ROM last nights hotel to tonight's. If I were still in it I'd be in the checkpoints only group. Last night's hotel was the worst. Not only were many rooms not ready but the owner wouldn't let scooters park under the portico when it started raining. He complained about people working on their scoots. One person had a room full of ants. I could tell more but won't.

I took more photos yesterday but internet connection here won't allow upload right now. Hazy from fired in Oregon so coughing a lot otherwise chugging along. GoPam plans on getting all bonus and checkpoint photos today. GotMojo I believe is doing checkpoints only. WDVL is doing very well. We just crossed into Wyoming.

Kraken is still cracking along.

65 miles of that! yowza!

Appreciate the updates

Damn full black heavy protection. Drink water in that heat. It's dangerous out there!

You don't kill the ancient Vespa easily ...
Rather, the driver must be physically resistant.

Tonight would be a good night to swap in a new air filter!

NEW air filters and other maintenance was done on most scoots last night.

Weren’t a few Cannonballers planning to camp instead of stay in a hotel? I wonder how those people are doing…

One of yesterday’s bonus checkpoints seemed close to Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse statue. Seems unfortunate to be so close to those landmarks and not get a look at them, but maybe someday a few of the riders will return to South Dakota at a more leisurely pace?

All of the previous scooter Cannonball events seem grueling, not just physically, but also mentally. It’s amazing that people will do it more than once, and a few keep coming back <multiple> times!

In any case, thanks for the updates. I’m very sorry to hear about the bruises and broken bones, but, as with so many other scooter accidents, I’m glad that it hasn’t been worse.

Keeping my fingers crossed for all of the riders today, and hopefully the helmets and boots and armored pants and jackets will protect them.

We kept the two track to our barn in better shape than that.

That's my kind of scooter road. As long as I wasn't in a hurry...

But this IS Cannonball, so... yeah. No thanks.

GoPam had a down on the second dirt section. She is fine but her battery draining gremlin is back. After two days of good clean runs. So she has decided to blow off checkpoint 2 with the gnarly dirt and is on the interstate running in front of us strait to checkpoint 3.

DFCC733F-3640-4819-9CBD-8D5F2BE957C3.jpeg

From there she will see how she is feeling about dirt to photo bonus or just straight to the finish.

Last time I checked GotMojo, WBDVT and OAD We're neck and neck with the Taggart's and feb31st in front of them.

Dirt that’s not optional is just messed up! A check in the middle of the dirt is double messed up!

Glad the Cannonballers went across when they did. This could have set things back a bit.

Mackinac Bridge closed to traffic due bomb threat



ST. IGNACE, Mich. (WOOD/WLNS) — The Mackinac Bridge is closed to traffic Sunday afternoon due to a bomb threat.

The Mackinac Bridge Authority said in a tweet that it was notified by law enforcement of a bomb threat on the bridge. MBA then closed the bridge around 2:15 p.m.


A bomb squad was called to the scene, and the Department of Homeland Security is assisting with the investigation, Michigan State Police told News 8.

The Mackinac Bridge Twitter account said they would provide an update when the bridge reopens.

Authorities are asking people to avoid the area at this time.

No bueno!

I’m alive & ok on support truck heading to hotel. Fell in dirt. I’m ok. Bike got mad. Swapped battery. ADD GAS. Me Got confused kept getting on freeway wrong way 25N away from near Laramie Wyoming.

Support truck talk in helmet phone. Gopam completely exhausted & hot, sleep deprived but in Good spirits.

Steve support truck driver yelling cuz wind noise loud in helmet Bluetooth. Get off freeway you’re going N need go S. They guide me to turn around freeway. Then meet them & get off exit 47 from the 25S. Ride that tank to empty. Then need gas. If I stop revving scoot dies. Try to decide whether Cheryl rev my bike while I add gas to live engine again or if I let bike die. Get gas. And change to 3rd battery.
I had to assess body mind & bike. Gopam Hot, dumb, confused, making mistakes. So I called it today.

Had a great day riding solo. I call it my redemption day. Many shenanigans today but laughter through troubles. Same kind of 2018 powder dirt - which I call Santa snow dirt town is what made me dump bike. I was so close to tarmac. Too. One TALL last hill climb away. Rob from Ohio pick gopam up. Jonny support truck help pick BUG off my face - that bit under my right eye while I was telling him I’m fine. He’s following grey scooter who I had JUST thumbs upped to rally past me right before.

I had just peed & was getting ready to jump bike now upright. I say to Jonny in van “I’m fine… AAAAAH” I rip off helmet scream can you help get the stinger out??!!as I run around Vespa in dirt towards his open window. His eyes go wide & he quickly grabs pen and starts scraping my left face which I thought odd cuz right side hurt.
He said it was a fire ant & it was hanging on my left face super hard. So thanks again to everyone. Much love to all that help me. I thanked jonny so much. I told him I didn’t cry when I fell in the dirt. But that damn ant hurt like hell & tears flew out. A quick suck up of tears and a laugh. Also a bite or rash on left hand too. Not sure what happened. Thought I touch poison oak near dirt. It was swelling up. But now in support truck left hand kinda looks ok. So weird mystery.
Nature 3 vs GoPam zero hahaha.

Then gildo & Vespa chef come stop by me. I’m struggling to jump bike they help get me running. I ride that mighty last dirt hill & make it up to tarmac success!!!!

Get to chug water looking for my gas station - need gas—-bike die. So I swap battery - Cheryl Steve give me gas. That full tank was my last riding today….until the gas light. Gopam!!!!!

Called it once made other gas station. Eating room temp food from can for my late late after 4pm lunch soooo hungry. It’s delicious. REAL FOOD

ADVENTURER CANNONBALL!!!!!!!

Yum

Hanging with Xander in support truck. Ever so grateful for my lunch & lift!!

2014 Honda forza 300 if you remove the fuse from the abs - does that affect anything else to hurt the bike?

Or can you just get rid of abs fuse?

Gravel hits =abs sensor malfunctioned.

Want to remove if safe abs ok help please

Social media was showing many reports of cannonballs hitting the bridge.

Better be open Friday afternoon....

Curious question for those of you who know. Is there a decent amount of time to enjoy the road trip across America or is it all stress and worry that you are about to blow up your scooter or have hours of work to do when you get to the days finish?