Modern Vespa

As some of you know, I've been after a scooter for a long time (since February 2007 or so). I got my Class M license in May 2008. But scooter shopping was on hold while we had our house on the market earlier this year.

Well, the housing market is awful right now so after 100 days and only 1 showing we pulled it off the market (they loved our place but couldn't get financing).

The reason we wanted to move is because my wife commutes 104 miles per day to a job she loves. We were going to move to a ever so slightly larger townhouse with a garage (there was a few that would've worked) but only cut her commute down from an hour each way to half an hour each way. The kicker is that this new place would double our mortgage -- the beauty of moving closer to Philadelphia...

So, we decided that rather than move in this dismal market, that we'd reward ourselves with toys that we've been after for a while.

When we listed the house we decided to sell my wife's old upright on Craigslist since we planned to get her a baby grand sometime within the next year after we moved (why move her upright only to turn around and sell it).

Well, if we didn't move, might as well get her a piano now:



It's a 5'7" Kimball from the 1950s that was completely overhauled 13 years ago. It was owned by a piano teacher who played it daily, but it wasn't abused because she had an upright for her students to play. We got an incredible deal and I even had them throw in moving the piano from our current house to wherever we do end up moving to (in writing).

My wife was in tears (of joy) when we left the piano store (late August). We had it delivered on September 12th and she just loves it.

Wouldn't you know it, we had to change our living room around and move the TV to the far wall and had to purchase a separate chair, loveseat and sofa to accommodate the addition of the piano. Don't mind the lack of photos on the wall in the photo -- that's where the TV cabinet was. That rug is new too.

On September 8th I went to test ride a 2005 Kymco Bet & Win 250. I had been after an Aprilia Scarabeo 200, but I always had an affinity for the B&W... With the name of Bet & Win I had always thought that someone should do a gambler themed scooter. Never once did I think that I would be the one doing it!





















The card decals are reflective -- I ordered them to cover up a scuff on the legshied from the previous owner walking the scooter in and out of his inlaws-quarters through a standard width door (the scuff is underneath the heart).



I wanted to do a gambler theme without going overboard... Not everyone knows this is a Bet & Win and I don't want to be a rolling advertisement for Las Vegas. Better shots of my jacket are here: http://www.newenough.com/browse/view_product_images/798





Keychain:

I'm a little tall for the scooter (at 6' w/32" inseam). If I find myself doing more highway riding I'll have to get the hump on the seat taken out so I can slide back a little and use the angled highway footrests.

My favorite things about the scooter are (in no particular order):

1) My XXL helmet fits in the pet carrier!!! No topcase needed (until I want to start going grocery shopping with the scooter).

2) Digital/Analog dash - all kinds of cool info. The clock is even multi-function including a timer and the date (!)

3) Fuel fill-up on the legshield - no risk of nasty spills inside the pet carrier.

4) 19.4 hp from a 250cc liquid-cooled engine.

5) Vents on the legshield that can be angled to redirect the warm air from the radiator towards your legs.

6) Dual-disc brakes - outstanding stopping power (I've already had two panic stops because of inattentive cagers).

7) It's a nice midsize scooter - not a smallframe, but not a maxi.

8) Themed scooters are fun.

9) Handles great! At 2.5 weeks, I still corner like a newbie, but I'm getting better.

10) It's MINE!!! After 18 months of wanting a scooter, I finally have one!

I've put 125 miles on it so far (the odometer measures in Km). My farthest trip so far was 10.2 miles each way on backroads to donate platelets/red blood cells.

I'm getting much better about going faster (55-60mph indicated). I do need to get a windshield - it gets mighty windy above 45 mph indicated.[/list]

So, forget Vespanomics -- the new word is Khappiness. Best when shared, even if it requires multiple purchases (Kimball and Kymco).

Very, Very nice! Both the scoot and the piano. Congrats to you both!

Ride Safe.... and Play Well.

Congrats old chap!

congrats Marcster on getting a ride. We know its not Italian but at least your riding, which is the most important thing. The wife can play you some tunes to boot . Enjoy your new toys and keep posting here I like reading the stuff you have to say.

Thanks, you guys.

I tend to syndicate threads like these. On another forum where I posted this, two people asked for more pics of the piano. Since it's easy to post here too, here they are:





The high soundboard opening will fill the entire house:



The lower soundboard opening actually makes the piano quieter (and less "full"):

Very fine, indeed!!

I hope you both get lots of enjoyment out of your new "toys"

Marcster! I'm sooooo happy for you! There are lots of folks out there who claim the B&W250 is the best scooter ever made. I was just lamenting on the BBS the other day that I missed an opportunity several years ago to buy a new one as a non-current model. It's awesome that you got one. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. I'm looking forward to reading your ride reports.

Again, congratulations! Ride safe.

It's a beautiful piano. I think the piano should be turned around so that when your wife is sitting at the piano she doesn't have her back to the rest of the room. Since it has wheels, it shouldn't be too hard a job, and the sound might be better too. I played a baby grand growing up, but we don't have room for one now - we have a console piano from my husband's parents.

Congrats Marcster, you finally got your scoot!! She's a beauty.
Nice piano as well!

Congratulations Marcster! I'll have a toast in honor of you and your Bet & Win this weekend!

PS. No one's claimed 'Modern Kymco' yet (joking!)


Regards
Harvey

Thanks for the compliments and well wishes everyone!

On Sunday I'm riding with the Wild Hogs scooter club which I officially joined this week (I went to their one year anniversary party last weekend):
http://scooter.meetup.com/250/

We're doing a run to Hawk Mountain ([url]www.hawkmountain.org[/url]) and Cabela's ([url]www.cabelas.com[/url]). It will be my longest ride to date at 18.3 miles each way (my longest ride so far was 10 miles each way). It will also be my first time riding with a group. This should be our route: http://tinyurl.com/44nfl2

On Saturday one of the other members and I are going to go out on some back roads around here...

And on November 2nd, we're doing the Eastern PA Toy Run. http://i38.tinypic.com/29g1nas.jpg

aggieknit -- I don't know, that's where my wife and the piano store owner (who also helped deliver it) decided it would go best. It weighs about 600 lbs. so lifting it off the coaster cups and moving it is reasonably involved, I'm sure.

Harvey -- No one has www.modernkymco.com, but for some reason, www.kymcoforum.com has really never gotten off the ground, vs. http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/kymcoscooterforum. Though I despise Yahoo's groups.

Congratulations on your new scooter! I like the look of that ride!

Nice piano.........does she play??
Ok , just kidding, but it was only recently that I discovered you had been a year and a half on this site and had no scooter
So it's great to finally welcome you as a card carrying member of
Scooterholics

That's so awesome! Congrats to you and your wife both, on the piano AND the scooter!

Congrats on the scooter. I looked at the kymco scoots prior to purchasing my BV500. I originally thought I was going to get the Grand Vista but when I sat on it it seemed really small. The X-citing 500 was nice. I then set on an X-9 before the BV500 and it seemed less heavy. The dealer told me the Italian scooters have a lower center of gravity.

How does your scooter feel? Looks like a great scooter. If it was available new I might have been tempted by that one.

finally!!!

seriously - congratulations

Finally is right! About time you got a scooter Marcster. Nice choice, very reliable scooter and sporty looking, congratulations. I'm sure you'll be very happy with your choice. Nice piano too.

+1

Nice work Marcster, congrats on the scooter (and to your wife on her toy as well). Good looking ride, dig the theme.

Now, ride up to Nathan's and I'll buy you that hot dog....

Congratulations to the both of you, they're both gorgeous!

MARCSTER, you got your scooter

And you are well on your way to 2000 posts. Well that lovely scooter should slow you down a bit so some of us can catch up to your post count. I am really happy for you. So excited I almost posted another of my sorry looking toasters for you, but I will refrain.
My hubby broke down and got a scooter too. A Burgman. So I don't have to make up excuses to run errands and leave him at home. One day we will get around to taking some scooter photos.

Do you still have that "I love riding my new scooter grin" on your face?

HAVE FUN.

And that is a lovely piano.

I think these would be a nice addition to your themed scooter.

http://cgi.ebay.com/BLACK-Dice-Valve-Stem-Caps-2-Schwinn-Cruiser-Vespa-Bike_W0QQitemZ220288630962QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item220288630962&_trkparms=72%3A543%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Very nice Scooter btw! Congrats!

Thanks! I actually bought a pair of red dice as license plate bolts off of ebay. I've been thinking of getting the valve stem covers too.

Woohoo! Congrats Marc, and I like how you did the decals Very tasteful

That looks like expensive wood to me.

Thanks! I didn't want to over do it. I do plan on getting some sort of decal for the back, below the license plate. It's something stained to look like mahogany, it's not actual mahogany (which would have probably cost a heck of a lot more).

Let's get a 2-week update! What's the good word on the Kymco?

It's currently in the shop awaiting a replacement fuel pump (it had bean dripping fuel onto my driveway off and on and then just decided to do it regularly). Should be $80 plus labor (@$65/hour). My driveway was starting to turn into oatmeal -- gas + asphalt do not play together nicely.

10/12 was the last time I rode it of any real distance, during the scooter club ride I outlined here:
Pics from my 1st group ride & I met EternalCity1!:

Very cool pix of your new Scoot, Marcster. I'm curious for the follow-up report of how she handles - and what your impressions are down the line?

But in particular what impressed me in your pictures was the closeups of the speedometer. I owned a Kymco for awhile, a 50cc People which had been hopped up/kitted to 70cc and accelerated like a bat out of hell up to around 40mph but then got a bit slower and topped out at just over 50...or at least that's what the Speedometer said...

And on my Kymco People 50, the Speedo was a weak point - it was vaguely pretty but the numbers on it (both miles and kilometers) were so T I N Y as to be virtually unreadable. But - from the Pix you posted of your Bet & Win - it looks as though it has a nice (L A R G E) legible speedo - does it? When you ride it, is it easy to see at a quick glance down what your mph is?

Update us on how it rides please...

Cheers!

Miguel

I know what's missing from this thread Marc, a photo of you on your scooter! Get clicking and posting. 8)