SCOOTER CHECK-UP

AT 600 MILES THE SCOOTER NEEDED TO GO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THE    BREAK-IN OIL CHANGE AND TO TEAR DOWN THE BIKE TO THE POINT OF BEING ABLE TO CHECK THE VALVES.  THAT MEANS ALL THE PLASTIC BODY PARTS HAVE TO COME OFF AND A SIMPLE OIL CHANGE AND VALVE ADJUSTMENT COMES TO $230.

AFTER THIS FIRST SERVICE, THE HONDA SCOOTER ONLY HAS TO GO BACK IN FOR SERVICE EVERY 2500 MILES, SO I GUESS THAT ISN’T TOO BAD.

THE CHALLENGE FOR MARY AND I WAS IN THE LOADING OF THE SCOOTER ON THE BACK OF THE PICK-UP.  NEITHER ONE OF US IS INTO STAPS AND RACHETS AND TIE DOWNS, ETC.

MARY CAME UP WITH A GREAT SUGGESTION TO DO THE LOADING THE AFTERNOON BEFORE, WHEN WE HAD PLENTY OF TIME INSTEAD OF BEING IN A HURRY TO GET ON THE ROAD TO MAKE OUR SERVICE APPOINTMENT.

WE HAD THE INSTRUCTIONS OUT SEVERAL TIMES TO READ ABOUT PUTTING THE STRAP THRU HERE AND THEN DOWN THRU THE SPINDEL, AND TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT WE ACTUALLY GOT THE SCOOTER LOADED.

ANYTIME YOU START A PROJECT LIKE THIS OUTSIDE IN AN RV PARK, AN OLD GUY FROM THE PARK IS GOING TO WALK OVER AND GIVE YOU HIS FREE OPINION.  IN THIS CASE THE OLD GUY SUGGESTED A  FIFTH STRAP UP OVER THE SEAT, AND RECOMMENDED USING A DIFFERENT STYLE STRAP IN THE BACK.

I PUT DIFFERENT STAPS ON MY VEGAS SHOPPING LIST, AND MARY AND I WERE PRETTY PROUD OF OUR SELVES FOR GETTING THE SCOOTER LOADED FOR THE FIRST TIME.  IT’S SOMETHING WE NEEDED TO LEARN AS WE PLAN ON TAKING THE SCOOTER WITH US ON TRIPS IN THE FUTURE.

WE DROPPED OFF THE SCOOTER AT THE DEALER AND WENT SHOPPING A FEW HOURS WHILE THEY DID THE SERVICE.

WHEN WE GOT BACK THE SCOOTER WAS READY, AND WITH THE NEW STRAPS, WE WERE CONFIDENT AND READY TO LOAD THE SCOOTER FOR THE SECOND TIME.  THE SERVICE MANAGER WALKED US OUT AND OFFERED A HAND IN THE LOADING AND TYING DOWN.

THIS WAS OUR MISTAKE!

WE GOT ONE BLOCK AWAY AND I SAW THE SCOOTER SLIP IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. OMG, WE’RE IN SIX LANES OF TRAFFIC ON THE BOULDER HIWAY AND I’M HITTING THE BREAKS, SWERVING IN THE LANES TO GET PULLED OVER AND STOPPED, HORNS BLARING, THE SMELL OF BURNT RUBBER, BIG ASS TRUCK GRILL IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR……

WE GOT THE DAMAGED SCOOTER RE-TIED AND DID THE ONE BLOCK U-TURN BACK TO THE HONDA DEALER. WE GOT LUCKY AND THE ONLY DAMAGE WAS A BADLY BENT LEFT HANDLE BAR.

MARY AND I ARE BOTH COUNTRY BUMPKINS, AND WE JUST AREN’T CITY PEOPLE. HELL, WE DRIVE 50 MILES OUT OF OUR WAY JUST TO AVOID DRIVING THROUGH KANSAS CITY.  CITY PEOPLE ARE BAD, RIGHT?

LET’S TALK ABOUT PEOPLE FOR A MINUTE. FIRST OF ALL REMEMBER THE OLD GUY IN THE RV PARK RECCOMENDING A FIFTH STRAP OVER THE SEAT?  IT WAS THIS STRAP THAT HELD THE BIKE ON THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AND SAVED IT FROM HITTING THE PAVEMENT AND BEING DRUG DOWN THE BOULDER HIWAY.

WHILE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE RACHET, AND RUNNING THE STRAP THRU HERE, AND THEN THRU THE SPINDEL WITHOUT THE HELP OF THE INSTRUCTIONS, A GUY WALKING DOWN THE SIDE WALK COMES UP AND SAYS LET ME HELP YOU WITH THAT.

NEXT THING YOU KNOW A SECOND GUY PULLS OVER ON THE SHOULDER AND HOPS OUT OF HIS CAR AND IS HELPING SECURE THE SCOOTER.  HIS WIFE SAID IT LOOKED LIKE WE NEEDED SOME HELP…..

BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP THE YOUNG MAN THAT IS THE SERVICE MANAGER, FELT BAD SINCE HE HAD HELPED US LOAD IT.  HE LOOKED UP THE PART (NEW HANDLE BARS), AND SAID IF WE PAYED THE $40 HE’D HAVE IT INSTALLED LABOR FREE.

MAYBE THOSE CITY FOLKS AREN’T SO BAD AFTER ALL.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE LEARNED TO LOAD THE SCOOTER OURSELVES AND TAKE OUR TIME TO DO IT RIGHT, AND IT WAS ONLY A $40 LESSON.  THE BAD NEWS IS THAT DUE TO THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY I’M GOING TO HAVE TO GO 10 DAYS WITHOUT MY SCOOTER, AND OF COURSE THE WEATHER FORCAST IS FOR “SUNNY & 80”, PERFECT SCOOTER WEATHER.