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03-17-2012, 01:53 PM
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#21
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Rivet Master 
1981 27' Excella II
mays landing
, South Jersey
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,179
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Back around 1964
Good old days
__________________
Sal & Nora
Let us live so that when we die even the undertaker will be sorry. Mark Twain
AIR 42483
TAC N.J. 17
WBCCI 24740
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03-17-2012, 05:50 PM
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#22
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Rivet Master 
1966 24' Tradewind
1995 34' Excella
Lynchburg
, Virginia
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,268
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When I go camping by myself I remove my cap and take my Ducati 750ss with me. It is heavier than a small scooter but is a lightweight by motorcycle standards. It weighs about 420 lbs wet. It fits perfectly in the back of my 6.5 ft bed Tundra because it has a reasonably small wheelbase and 17" wheels. It was one of the criteria when selecting the Tundra and the bed size. It just touches the front of the bed and the tailgate when it is closed. I put the side stand down and strap it to all 4 corners of the bed. The suspension springs are slightly compressed. It is not going anywhere while I drive short of an accident.
I load it by myself using a single ramp and always need to find a ditch or a slope to make it easier to load. My old TV was a 93 Chevy van and it was real easy to load in the back of the van, but the Tundra bed is a lot higher even though it is only 2wd. I walk it up the ramp using the throttle. No problems yet, but it is not easy since I have bad knees. I always look for a spotter if one is around. But if not, oh well. So far, so good.
Here are some photos at Rocky Knob campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway where I stayed to go to the Floydfest Music Festival last year.
Dan
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03-17-2012, 06:01 PM
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#23
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Rivet Master 
1966 24' Tradewind
1995 34' Excella
Lynchburg
, Virginia
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,268
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T7389sg
My first motorized 2 wheeler was a 57 Lambretta (I think) that I bought in 1961 when I was 15 years old for $35. I will never forget the freedom that scooter gave me. I could go all over the city and did not need to pedal. I painted it silver/blue and put some plastic braiding over the clutch, brake and throttle cables and put a coon tail on the back. Boy was I cool. I wish I had a picture of it.
I always wanted a Vespa Scooter. I always felt they were the Airstream of the scooter makers- a timeless design.
Dan
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03-17-2012, 06:27 PM
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#24
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3 Rivet Member 
1991 35' Airstream 350
Laurel
, Maryland
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 222
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I agree Dan. Did yours look like this one?
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03-18-2012, 01:11 AM
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#25
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3 Rivet Member 
2005 25' International CCD
Glendale
, California
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 224
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Quote:
Originally Posted by t7389sg
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thats a beauty.
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03-18-2012, 09:51 AM
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#26
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Rivet Master 
1966 24' Tradewind
1995 34' Excella
Lynchburg
, Virginia
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,268
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Thats it! Yours looks much better than mine did. Mine was a solid color with blackwall tires. It looked awesome to me though. I remember the freedom that scooter gave me.
I grew up in a suburb of Detroit. I could not ride it in the suburb because I was only 15. I would walk it 5 blocks to Detroit proper, and then ride it there to my hearts content.
Thanks for the photo.
I have looked at new Vespas, but I don't like the automatic transmission. All my cars have always been manual shift except for my TV, an 08 Tundra.
Dan
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03-18-2012, 10:37 AM
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#27
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Rivet Master 
1964 19' Globetrotter
South Kingstown
, Rhode Island
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,406
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Doh! I was made to sell my '80 P200E when we moved up here 6 years ago. The money went to new upholstery for the Airstream. You guys are making me miss my Vespa.
__________________
Wherever you go, there you are
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03-18-2012, 10:06 PM
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#28
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Rivet Master 
1957 22' Caravanner
1960 26' Overlander
1963 24' Tradewind
El Paso
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 945
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How about a little Honda ct 70, street legal and fun to ride. Not the fastest thing but a great versatile little bike.
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03-19-2012, 12:06 PM
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#29
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2 Rivet Member 
1971 31' Sovereign
Dallas
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 53
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Man, it's great to see some real scooter enthusiast in this forum. I was Dallas's oldest scooter dealer when there weren't but a handful of the old shifty scoots still around town. I finally sold out in 2005 with Vespa Dallas taking over my old store.
I've sold down most of my scooters but still have a Vespa Rally 200, the PX 150 in my pic above, a Sears Alstate Saber 50, Cagiva Predator(H2O 50cc), Suz Burgman 400 and a handfull of smaller Honda from the 80's.
@perryg114.
We did build a couple of sleeper scooters that would embarrass a stock Harley off the line until they could grab 3rd. One of my customers did put NOX on his Honda CT 70 drag/show bike that was hitting high 9's in the 1/8 mile !
I have an unfinished project in the shop I intend to put a Polaris 400cc 2 stroke motor in a Honda Helix chassis, should be able to get mid 50HP in a high 200 lbs bike.
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03-19-2012, 12:26 PM
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#30
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Rivet Master 
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,149
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I have a Honda CT and an SL 70. I learned to ride on a CT70. They are cool little bikes. It probably would not hurt any of us to pedal instead of ride.
Perry
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03-19-2012, 06:04 PM
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#31
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Rivet Master 
1957 22' Caravanner
1960 26' Overlander
1963 24' Tradewind
El Paso
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 945
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TouringDan
When I go camping by myself I remove my cap and take my Ducati 750ss with me. It is heavier than a small scooter but is a lightweight by motorcycle standards. It weighs about 420 lbs wet. It fits perfectly in the back of my 6.5 ft bed Tundra because it has a reasonably small wheelbase and 17" wheels. It was one of the criteria when selecting the Tundra and the bed size. It just touches the front of the bed and the tailgate when it is closed. I put the side stand down and strap it to all 4 corners of the bed. The suspension springs are slightly compressed. It is not going anywhere while I drive short of an accident.
I load it by myself using a single ramp and always need to find a ditch or a slope to make it easier to load. My old TV was a 93 Chevy van and it was real easy to load in the back of the van, but the Tundra bed is a lot higher even though it is only 2wd. I walk it up the ramp using the throttle. No problems yet, but it is not easy since I have bad knees. I always look for a spotter if one is around. But if not, oh well. So far, so good.
Here are some photos at Rocky Knob campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway where I stayed to go to the Floydfest Music Festival last year.
Dan
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That's a mighty nice setup you have there!
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03-19-2012, 06:07 PM
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#32
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Rivet Master 
1957 22' Caravanner
1960 26' Overlander
1963 24' Tradewind
El Paso
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 945
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bermshot
Man, it's great to see some real scooter enthusiast in this forum. I was Dallas's oldest scooter dealer when there weren't but a handful of the old shifty scoots still around town. I finally sold out in 2005 with Vespa Dallas taking over my old store.
I've sold down most of my scooters but still have a Vespa Rally 200, the PX 150 in my pic above, a Sears Alstate Saber 50, Cagiva Predator(H2O 50cc), Suz Burgman 400 and a handfull of smaller Honda from the 80's.
@perryg114.
We did build a couple of sleeper scooters that would embarrass a stock Harley off the line until they could grab 3rd. One of my customers did put NOX on his Honda CT 70 drag/show bike that was hitting high 9's in the 1/8 mile !
I have an unfinished project in the shop I intend to put a Polaris 400cc 2 stroke motor in a Honda Helix chassis, should be able to get mid 50HP in a high 200 lbs bike.
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I'm having a hard time picturing a CT70 as a drag bike but it sounds like fun! You wouldn't have any pictures of it would you?
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03-19-2012, 06:19 PM
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#33
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Rivet Master 
1957 22' Caravanner
1960 26' Overlander
1963 24' Tradewind
El Paso
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 945
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Quote:
Originally Posted by perryg114
I have a Honda CT and an SL 70. I learned to ride on a CT70. They are cool little bikes. It probably would not hurt any of us to pedal instead of ride.
Perry
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I'm with you Perry, the bicycle is really the way to go.
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03-19-2012, 07:39 PM
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#34
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Rivet Master 
1964 19' Globetrotter
South Kingstown
, Rhode Island
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,406
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It is pretty funny, how many Airsteamers also have vintage scooters, we appreciate cool wheeled objects. I do agree with the last two, pedaling is the way to go, and no two-stroke exhaust.
__________________
Wherever you go, there you are
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03-19-2012, 08:21 PM
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#35
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2 Rivet Member 
Currently Looking...
Thousand Oaks
, California
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 37
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A pal of mine from college got a grant to study in London after we graduated, when he got settled he bought a 50's era Vespa for about $40. Drove it the whole time he was in England including a road/camping trip to Scotland with some his "Mod" friends. Just before he came home, he lost it on a rainy, wet cobblestone street. His Vespa slid under a double decker bus or as he says, an icon crushed by an icon.
I had a BSA 440 Victor single when I was in high schoolanother iconic machine!
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03-20-2012, 01:11 PM
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#36
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Rivet Master 
1966 24' Tradewind
1995 34' Excella
Lynchburg
, Virginia
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,268
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Desertair, Globie & Perry
I also take my bicyle with me for riding around the campground, the music festival (if allowed) and around the city if I take my truck into town. The photo below is at Julian Price Memorial Park on the Blueridge Parkway near Boone, NC.
Dan
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03-20-2012, 01:40 PM
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#37
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Rivet Master 
1954 25' Cruiser
Kyle
, The Republic of Texas
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 612
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Foiled Again
If you're in a nice rural campground? Cycle good. Big city? Death trap. Paula
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Here in the "Hill Country" southwest of Austin, TX the hundreds of lawyers & doctors that cruise the beautiful winding county roads on their Harley's are referred to as "Organ Donars".
Looks like a ton of fun, but not all that safe over time. Accidents happen and when riding a bike sadly you are usually going to end up on the short end of whatever bad happens  . I think riding a little Vespa in an RV park should be fine. But as Paula said, older bones are a real consideration.
__________________
I love that old time rock & roll.
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03-20-2012, 02:37 PM
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#38
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Rivet Master 
1966 24' Tradewind
1995 34' Excella
Lynchburg
, Virginia
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,268
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whitsend
You are sadly correct. I don't ride as much as I used to and only in uncrowded areas, but having an accident is always in the back of my mind even more so with the number of cell phones that distract drivers. Unfortunately it is in my blood, so I still ride, but as safely as possible.
I no longer ride with my wife though. She broke her hip 3 years ago after tripping over some cords on the floor in her class room. I can't even think about what would happen to her bones if we had an accident on the motorcycle.
Dan
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03-20-2012, 06:42 PM
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#39
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Rivet Master 
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,149
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I remember the last time we went camping there was this guy riding a bicycle around with one of those little 2-stroke motors on it. It was starting to get old though about lap number 6.
Perry
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