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Sheesh! Another newbie...
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@irieman avatar
irieman
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irieman
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@irieman avatar
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Hello All- I've been reading up on this forum for the last three weeks, figured I might as well join up. If all goes well I will be picking up a used LX 150 this weekend. It will look like this:

External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

My daily driver is a MINI Cooper. It looks like this:

External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

This will be my first two-wheeler since I was 15 (with an engine that is). I will need a helmet. Any suggestions?
@bagel avatar
bagel
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2010 Vespa GTS 300, 2007 Vespa GTS 250, 2007 Vespa GTV, 2010 Stella 4T #3, and a bunch of broke down vintage scoots
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bagel
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UTC quote
Congrats and welcome! Personally, I would recommend only a full face helmet, or a least a modular/flip up one... anything less just doesn't offer enough protection IMHO. Scorpion makes some pretty good helmets at a reasonable price ($200-$300 range), or you could spring for something more, like a Shoei or an Arai. Be wary of real cheap helmets though, you get what you pay for... try to stick with something that is Snell M2010 certified, that's the latest and greatest safety standard for motorcycle helmets. And be sure to come out to Trials Pub on 1st St on Tuesday nights and say hi to us at our weekly South Bay scooterist get together!
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scootergator
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If I were getting a new lid right now for a scooter, it would be the Nolan N43 Trilogy. Good helmet for these warmer regions.
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Masala
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Masala
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Welcome! Are you picking up your new scoot from a private party or from a dealer? Hope to see you around sometime... A neighbor of mine has a Daring Plum LX150 that hardly gets ridden, but when it does, I always stop and look. That color looks so nice in the sunlight!
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Strick
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UTC quote
Welcome! The daring plum has always been one of my favorite Vespa colors.

Go with a full face helmet if you can. My two cents.
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voneschenbach
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Welcome! +1 on the full face. Are you sure you are getting the right color though? How will it look next to the Mini Razz emoticon
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Vanilla
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GTV 250
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Vanilla
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Welcome irieman!
I, too, drive a MINI as my daily:
External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text[/img]
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OneEyedJack
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scootergator wrote:
If I were getting a new lid right now for a scooter, it would be the Nolan N43 Trilogy. Good helmet for these warmer regions.
I find mine exceptionally hot. Very little air circulation if any. Right now in the 90 plus weather we are having, I always return home with a soaking wet helmet - from my on sweet(sp?). This is without the shield or chin piece in place.
Your mileage my vary

Jack
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TB
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TB
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Welcome to MV!
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Scutrbrau
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The Beer Guy
2010 GTS 300 Super and 2015 Kawasaki Versys 650 LT
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UTC quote
Welcome, irieman.

There's a lot of good helmet info in the wiki: Helmets

Be sure to go to a shop and try on a bunch of them. A large in one brand may be an XL in another. Some will fit your shape head better than others.

I also believe that you should buy the best helmet that you can afford. This isn't a place to get cheap. Head injuries can be devastating and permanent and surprisingly easy to get.

Have fun on your new scoot!
@benito avatar
Benito
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2010 Dragon Red GTS 300 Super, 2018 Grigio Titanio Piaggio Liberty S 150
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2010 Dragon Red GTS 300 Super, 2018 Grigio Titanio Piaggio Liberty S 150
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UTC quote
No no no, you got it all wrong. Your new daily driver is the LX 150. Your ex-daily driver is the Mini. Razz emoticon Welcome to MV.
delta31tangocharlie
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delta31tangocharlie
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Two nice rides
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Camp Freddy
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UTC quote
Welcome aboard.

Is your car's registration SPY CAR? That's smashing.

Just a note, most posters obscure their licence/license plate in photos (like Vanilla has). I'm not sure why because I am thick, but there must be a good reason so you might want to look into that.




Nerd emoticon
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Scott&Nelli
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UTC quote
Quote:
Sheesh! Another newbie...
Hey, Irieman, we were all newbies at one time, both to scooters and to MV (accept for possibly Jimc, can't picture it!). Since you've been lurking for a while, you already know this is a great site to get advice and information, but the best part is joining a community of great people with a common interest from across the planet! Yes, we even have those British folk with their strange language, and some members from exotic places like Australia and New Zealand, and better still, a couple of stragglers from the foreign countries of Hawaii and California (ooops, that'd be you too!). Razz emoticon Glad you've joined, ride safe, and happy trails!
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spartan1984
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Molto Verboso
2017 Ducati Supersport S, 2014 Kawasaki Concours
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Hi,

Welcome aboard and happy scootering to you. Nice to have another SoCal member onboard 8)

spartan
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@irieman avatar
irieman
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irieman
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@irieman avatar
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UTC quote
Thanks for the welcome folks! By the numbers...

Masala I'm getting it from a private party who never rides it. Wouldn't that be hilarious if it was your neighbor?...

Re: paint- I have a friend who does custom work. Already have a few ideas...

Re: plates: Yes, it says SPY CAR- only brits and geeks get it. Go figure. Oh, and I have no reason to obscure the plate- thats what I bought it for (I hear in some countries it's actually illegal to post license plate numbers on the web, even if its your own- go figure!)

Oh and for the record, I recently defected from SoCal to the bay area... (actually I was recruited)

I'm going helmet shopping in about an hour- I appreciate the tips!
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Papa J
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UTC quote
Go on FIT first, snug, to tight with no pressure points.

Personally I really dig the Arai, lots of vent to keep cool, great pin lock anti fogging visor with a nice removable interior. Just find an older model to get the price down.

Good luck with the new ride.
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Dooglas
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UTC quote
Welcome aboard. I really like the look of the "Daring Plum" 150s. Now, on this safety thing - A good helmet that fits comfortably is important, but no more so than the MSF course is for anyone that is fairly new to scooters/motorcycles (or even if you're not).
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Big Foot
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UTC quote
Welcome to MV, Congrat's on your scooter.

As for a helmet, What kind of riding will you be doing?
Highway, Rural roads, Secondary roads, Commuting?

I've been using a Scorpion 3/4 for summer riding,
It gets me through my normal commute quite nicely.

But if I'm on the highway heading off on a long distance jaunt,
Then I'll use a full face, Because you just never know on the highway.
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1drunkparrot
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Molto Verboso
2007 LX150 Dragon Red
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Congrats on getting your scoot.
External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text
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@irieman avatar
irieman
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@irieman avatar
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UTC quote
Update: Went and saw the Vespa- it's got a small but noticeable scratch on the right side; It's got new tires, new battery, and a matching top box. 6500 miles on it and needs an oil change and a good waxing. Speaking of, how do you wax a plastic scooter? I pick it up tomorrow!

Oh, and picked up this helmet today...

External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

(not psyched about the black vents but whatever.) So far so good!
@copper_dolphin avatar
Copper Dolphin
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LX150 Darling Plum; GTS 250 Dragon Red; Honda Big Ruckus Demented Bastard
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Copper Dolphin
Molto Verboso
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LX150 Darling Plum; GTS 250 Dragon Red; Honda Big Ruckus Demented Bastard
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UTC quote
Congrats on the LX150, I have a 2006 Daring Plum LX150. I have put over 11k on her, then I got a GTS250, so I am selling the LX150 to make room for the Big Ruckus I found last March.
Have fun riding that scoot everywhere you can, and there is no reason not to make the LX your daily driver.....

As far as Waxing there is no difference in waxing the plastic or metal parts, as what your really waxing is the clear coat on top of paint. So it works the same, just like your car. So use the same stuff you use on your mini.... and you should be good to go and shiny side up!!
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IBKING
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IBKING
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[quote="irieman"]Update: Went and saw the Vespa- it's got a small but noticeable scratch on the right side; It's got new tires, new battery, and a matching top box. 6500 miles on it and needs an oil change and a good waxing. Speaking of, how do you wax a plastic scooter?

Left hand wax on, right hand wax off. Welcome aboard Irieman.

IBKING
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Br. Don
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2010 GTSie 300 Super
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Br. Don
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UTC quote
An Earlier Piece
Br. Don wrote:
Last week I purchased my first helmet a Nolan (N103 N-Com Modular, Motorad 32). First of all, it fits me very well. Though the helmet is heavy (after all, it is protecting your brain) it is comfortable. There is plenty of padding on the top and sides so that it fits snugly and will not slip if you try to pull it forward.

I have read quite a few posts complaining about the noise of some Nolan helmets, so I have paid special attention to this factor. The helmet is very quiet, almost too quiet. I like to hear the vehicles around me and I must be very careful to concentrate and check my mirrors to validate what I am hearing.

Another comfort bonus are th vents in the front and on the top.

The chin bar flips up easily, even with gloves on. The thumb pulls on a chin latch and the forefinger pulls on the release latch above. Very simple and quick.

This model also has a double flip-up Lexan visor. The visor flips up in "notched" increments. At low speeds flip it up. At higher speeds just a notch will cool you down very fast (I almost got brain freeze!). Breathes well and no problem with condensation in this very hot weather. No distortion and great peripheral view. There is also a flip-down internal sun screen, very handy and operates easily with a slide.

The retension strap is also very easy to operate and adjust while wearing gloves.

I admit I'm a newbie but I haven't found anything about this helmet I don't like and I was averse to the prospect of a claustrophobic full-face helmet.
Forum member supplied image with no explanatory text
@judy avatar
judy
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2007 LX150 Daring Plum Leonardo Da Vespa
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judy
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@judy avatar
2007 LX150 Daring Plum Leonardo Da Vespa
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UTC quote
Aloha and welcome to the forum. Great looking scooter and if it's plum, well that's even better. 8) Biased. Hell yeah Most all of the helmets out there are good. Number one thing is that it should fit you properly. Don't just get one solely because people recommend or it looks good because if it doesn't fit right you'll be sorry. I have 3 a FF Shoei, and 2 1/2 helmets HJC and a Ruby. Good luck on finding one.
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