Modern Vespa

Ok I am planning a route for an event and I need to know how far is to far.
I have a LX150 so its no big deal. I can however far I want. I am just nervous about the mix of 50cc scoots. The route I currently have is 45 miles round trip. So you figure at 35MPH it will take you an hour and a half roughly.

So my question is, is 45 miles to far for a 50cc scoot?

When I lived in Italy in the 70's I met people that bought 50 cc scooters in
Paris, France and drove them all the way to Florence, Italy, It took them awhile though.

Dave

I doubt that it is too far, it just depends on how long you want to ride. Then too, all 50cc scooters aren't equal. Some restricted 50cc scooters have a hard time going 30 mph, then there some that'll do 50 mph.

I'd just throw the ride idea on whatever communication thing you use and let them know how far, guesstimate how long it will take, make sure your route doesn't have a lot higher speed limits than the smaller scooters can do, and see who all shows up. It sounds like fun.

Hello my friend,

You know, we might have to see whose going to come on a 50cc. Those roads you were telling me about sound awesome. I would say if we can keep the stretch through the orchards it would be good. I don't know how long that section of the ride is, but if its a mile or two or more, I think people would really go for that.

Then again, you know me haha. I'll probably ride that area a couple times well before the June run. My guess is you, me and Chauncy will have to...
pre-ride that just to see how it is

The Roadbum

The stretch through the orchards in about 3.5 miles. You got the lake road section that is about 8 or 9 miles. I had to stop for pheasants by the pheasant farm one time because 10 of them were in the road. I think I will go with the suggestion of tossing it out there and doing it. Its all for a charity run anyway. So why not. I am just looking for opinions.

Pheasants???? Like the sun parting the clouds, I now know what the "pet carrier" is for...

Then we'll meet at my place after the ride for some pheasant under glass. Sound good? Just gotta figure out how to mount the shotgun case to the scooter now. ('course if one of us happens to hit one...)

Ahhhh the idea of this ride is getting better all the time haha

The Roadbum

Maximum distance you're willing to travel / 125 * 50 = Maximum 50cc distance.

Haha. Personally, I'd be up for 50 miles on my 50cc.

I would add extra time to be on the safe side. Most 50cc scoots don't have that extra oomph when you have a heavier rider,put hills on top of that,older scoot,you see what i mean. My 50cc is good on flat rides but with my big butt on it, hills just do me in. I like pheasant but love partridge. Used to hunt them on our property when i was a kid. Makes me wish i could come Have fun

We did a ride last year of just over 100 mi. and I rode my wife's 70cc ET 2. I think 40 MPH was probably as fast as we went at any time. 50cc should be no problem-just let all know WAY ahead of time.

Except fot biting down on the occasional piece of buckshot-I LOVE pheasant!

I am liking the feed back that I am getting. That what I love about this place.
By the end of this weekend I should be here telling you all about the ride and the event that we are putting together over at www.stcloudscoots.com. Its all sort of a secret. shhhhhh!!!!!!!!

I still would like to hear about your stories. I have only gone maybe 20 miles max on my 150. I mostly just ride back and forth from work.

I did a ride on Saturday on my derestricted 50cc ET2 with the Magnetos Scooter Club (Auckland, NZ) that went from the city to the west coast (Piha - great surf beach) and back. Whole trip was about 95 km (55 m). I was the only 50 on the run, kept up OK in the town, also on the twisty bits but not on the open road (100kph) areas. I was able to get an indicated 90 kph (long downhill, tucked right in) but mostly cruised at 65 - 75 kph. Not a problem though - would definately do it again.

Sounds like the pace is yours to set....take your time, enjoy the scenery and don't worry about a thing! No, 45 miles is NOT too far.

For a long group ride that includes various sizes of scooters it is always a good idea to have some "sub-rides" for the smaller scoots or inexperienced riders. That could mean a portion of the trip that is a "short cut" along low speed roads while the bigger bikes take a longer, higher speed route before meeting up again. It could also be an activity part way along the route (shopping, the zoo, a tourist spot) where people can kill some time while others go for a longer ride for an hour or two and then come back.

My wife and I went on a ride last year on our 50cc scoots. The round trip distance was about 35 miles. The group stopped halfway and this was a good chance for us to catch up. The only bad thing about the smaller scoots was that we were always at the back of the pack and when we weren't, we were getting passed by everyone else. Also, by the time we got back to the home station, we were at the back of the beer line.

Most of the group, about 100 or so scoots, were vintage. They kept an average speed of 50-55mph. The fastest we could go was 35-40. It was this event that caused us to purchase bigger scoots.

If you have a lot of 50cc scoots, you could have a separate ride just for them. If not, just let them know that the average speed of the group will be faster than they are.

Personally, we liked the idea of a slower ride. In fact, if it were offered both ways, I'd take the slower scenic ride as opposed to the white-knuckled one.

It about the journey, not the destination. Enjoy going slow.

jacqui

Lucky,

did you go on the 55 mile ride for the rally here in the Twin Cities last August?

If so, I can definently point out to you the places where my friend and I had issues. At the time I had a 4 stroke 49cc Schwinn Graduate and she had a 49cc 2 stroke Baron.

No never made it to the rally last year sad I know.
Please tell your story of the longer run. I would be interested in hearing about the issues you had.

Whenever we go on a ride,I tend to hang to the back,seeing as I'm mostly with PX's and vintage lammys.Like I always say,"Fastest at the back,then if anyone breaks down,I can zoom off to warn the others." Usually end up doing 40-45,so a 50cc should do that.

Also,if you're at the back,you know that someone with 40 year old drum brakes isn't going to slam into the back of you.

We generally ride with the fastest bikes at the back. It does seem to be the best way to ride. I haven't done too many rides with vintage scooters yet.

I used to regularly take rides of over 100 miles round trip on my Ciak 50 before buying my GT. My rule of thumb was to only ride on roads with a speed limit of 45 mph or lower. The Ciak (with Arrow pipe) is good for a consistent 45 mph on level ground. I like to keep up with traffic so I rode at full throttle most of the time.

I never felt uncomfortable so I recommend you give it a try.

no distance is too great for a vespa.

Lucky... I've got 55 miles each way for me just to get to St. Cloud if I can make it!!! (that's with the 200cc though) It could be a long day for me!

Let me know the path and the timing as soon as you can.

Yeah my timing was off this weekend. Lost an hour and then Roadbum must have called me like a million times to go for a ride and I did do a very short ride with him. I am in the middle of formating my hard drive so I did not get the time to launch this yet. I love the feed back that everyone has given so far. Makes me feel better about the route.

While I am on brake at work tomorrow I am going to try to finish off the site as much as I can and toss in the final touches before I format the drive.

I feel kinda lame that I do not get out there and ride as much as I should. I like living everyone else's stories so keep them coming.

www.pinkpromotion.com/images/NoDirectionHomeRoute.jpg

My friend and I started out near the front of nearly 100 scoots.
Start at yellow box #1
Fine up until # 7 - #9. in the Lilydale area. hit a big hill and ended up about 3/4 to then end of the pack almost immdiently. Did a switchback after the High Bridge, near Summit Ave and nearly had to get off and walk the Schwinn up the hill.

Long stretches through Falcon Heights, Luaderdale, New Brighton, to St Anthony Parkway that was windy and enough hills. We were already toward the end of the pack when some smuchk told my friend her wheel was about to fall off. (it wasn't, remember she was riding a Baron) She pulled over so naturally I had to pull over also. This now not only put us dead last but also way behind in an area I don't know well. (acutally, I had no idea where we were.) With the help of a guy on a Chetek, we were able to catch up just enough to just barely see the end of the pack

We were way behind all the way through Columbia Heights and the bridge going over the railroad yards (#45) to Marshall Ave pretty much did me in. Over that and all the way down Marshall ave,(#45-#48) even though flat, we had a huge headwind and I was at least a mile behing everybody else. Luckily at this point I knew where we were and where we were headed (Psyco Suzies) I was the very last one there.

There were times when I was barley pushing 15mph up a hill and/or head wind.

My observations/experience from all of this:
this was my first rally ride, in some parts of town I was not famlier with. I think a map of the route and written directions givin out before the ride started would have been very helpful to me. I think it would have been a good idea to have a couple of experienced folk who knew the route stayed at the end to make sure no one got lost or left behind. Maybe a couple more brief stops to make sure everyone got caught up. (there was only a gas station break about halfway through) 50cc 4 strokes just are not able to keep up with any sustained speeds over 30-35mph. The Baron did a bit better because it is a two stroke.

All in all , I still had a great time. Other than giving birth to my two boyz, it was the most exhilarating, fun and scarey experience I think I've ever had.
I am looking forward to this years rally www.rattlemybones.com
Of course I'll be able to keep up now that I traded in that Schwinn for the LX150.
shelli

p.s. Dh already had his Fly at the time, but do you think he even bothered to stay back with my friend and I? Hell no! He says he didn't even realize we got that far behind. Yeah, thanks alot, I love you too.

duh, to answer your origional question "how far is too far?"

That rally ride was about 55 miles. with a gas up about half way. speeds probably averaging 30-35mph. The length was fine for me, I just couldn't keep up.
shelli

That first beer was FREE too!

I do not think it is too far. But remember, old Harley riders have baine dramage.

You are indeed a wise woman Jacqui.

- time is really the only factor, how much time can the group spare, when the route is planned for the bike that enjoys the journey most.
The idea isn't a race, but to enjoy the group atmosphere.

If you want an excuse for a party, then have a party.
but a good group ride is a great ride.

I was thinking Bigger bikes in the back. Give the 50's a good head start and I also was planning to hand a map of the route. There is a few different ways to go once we get there.

So it seems like 45 is not that far on a 50cc then. Just got to plan for it and be ready. I hope I can talk a few people from the twin cities area into coming up. Raise some money for a good cause and have a blast.

Ok its all set up and ready to go. www.stcloudscoots.net

Scoot For Food 2007 Sartell, MN June 2nd

Hey moderators, sounds like Rallies & Events criteria to me What do you think Lucky?
Hmmm, ok let me mapquest this distance, from FL to MN, then add pi to the 5, + torque and compression, then subtract 200cc from 50cc, wait that's not right :? ok then add in the chance to ride with one of my favorite bloggers that I'd like to meet,..Roadbum aka Harv, alright let me add all this up..........still can't make it
Of course, maybe if you guys made it to The Dragon ride later this summer...........

Man I would love to be able to make it out to that. That would just be fun. How many turns did I hear in a 11 mile stretch.

318!!
www.tailofthedragon.com