SCOOTER HANDLEBARS ISSUE

YOU MAY REMEMBER MY COLLASPED HANDLEBAR ISSUE AWHILE BACK.

I JUST HAVEN’T BEEN HAPPY WITH THE WAY IN WHICH I HAUL THE SCOOTER ON THE BACK OF THE PICK-UP. MY FRIEND COLE OFFERED TO REVIEW THE RACK AND MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENT.

COLE DEVISED A SUPPORT THAT ATTACHES UNDER THE TRUCK WHICH STABILIZED THE SCOOTER RACK AND REMOVED THE MOVEMENT BACK AND FORTH AND FRONT TO BACK.  HE ALSO ADJUSTED THE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION BY MOVING THE SCOOTER BACK ON THE RACK A FEW INCHES. LASTLY HE CHANGED THE WAY WE USE TIEDOWNS TO ATTACH THE SCOOTER TO THE RACK.I AM VERY HAPPY WITH THE CHANGES AND HAVE 100% MORE CONFIDENCE IN HAULING THE SCOOTER ON THE SCOOTER RACK, AND THANK COLE AGAIN FOR SPENDING ALL DAY ON MY PROJECT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY WHILE ADMIRING OUR IMPROVEMENTS WE NOTICED THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE HANDLEBARS IS BENDING AGAIN.

HERE IS THE PROBLEM, HONDA MAKES THIS SCOOTER IN THIALAND FOR SALE ALL OVER THE WORLD. THE MAJOR SELLING POINT IS THAT IT GETS 100 MILES TO THE GALLON. ALTHOUGH JUST A TOY HERE IN THE US MARKET, IT’S A MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE REST OF THE WORLD WHERE GAS IS $8 A GALLON.

EVERY OUNCE OF WEIGHT COUNTS IN THE ENGINEERING OF THIS SCOOTER TO GET THAT GAS MILAGE. THE PANELS ARE ALL PLASTIC, THE GAS TANK ONLY HOLDS 1.6 GALLONS, IN FACT MOST OF THE WORLD HAS AN ENGINE IDLE/STOP FEATURE THAT TURNS THE ENGINE COMPLELY OFF AT STOPS LIGHTS, ETC.  SO THE HANDLEBARS ARE NOT HEAVY ENOUGH TO USE AS TIE DOWN POINTS.

I CAN’T SEE ANY OTHER WAY TO SECURELY TIE DOWN THE SCOOTER TO HAUL IT THOUSANDS OF MILES AS I PLAN TO DO IN THE FUTURE. ANYWHERE ELSE THE TIE DOWNS WOULD BE RUBBING ON OR BREAKING A PLASTIC PANEL SOMEWHERE ON THE SCOOTER.

AFTER THINKING THE PROBLEM OVER FOR  AWHILE, I DECIDED I NEEDED TO FIND SOMEBODY TO CUSTOM MAKE HANDLEBARS OUT OF KRYPTONITE FOR MY SCOOTER. 

I FINALLY FOUND A CYCLE SHOP THAT WOULD ATTEMPT TO CUSTOM MAKE HANDLE BARS OUT OF SOLID STEEL, INSTEAD OF THE WEAKER TUBING USUALLY USED. SO THE SCOOTER  IS IN THE SHOP THIS WEEK, AND I’M SITTING ON MY ASS IN FRONT THE COMPUTER WAITING TO SEE HOW THE PROJECT COMES OUT.