Moonshine
08-25-2012, 03:52 PM
OK, a few months back I traded in the travel trailer on a Class A motorhome, making me officially OLD. :rolleyes: I specifically did not want a toad (car towed behind the motorhome) because that got me right back into the length/maneuverability issues that were the downside of the truck/travel trailer combo. So, the plan was to drive the motorhome, use it for sightseeing, and just to walk anywhere we wanted to go inside parks. However, on our last big trip through the Ozarks we had multiple times when our hikes were 5+ miles in 105+ temps, including one hike where one of the dogs gave out and I had to carry him the last mile. Not much fun for him or me. As an example, we wanted to go see a waterfall. OK, a two mile hike down a pretty trail to see the waterfall. Only problem was the trailhead was three miles from our campsite, and there was no parking for the motorhome at the trailhead. So, our short hike to the waterfall involved a total 8 mile trek, and that got old quick.
So, I started looking at receiver mounted racks for some form of conveyance. I looked at bicycles, electric bicycles, small motorcycles, and yes, gag....scooters. Truly, the cost was just about the same for any of the options. I did not need anything capable of highway speeds, but I did want something lightweight (due to bus loading and GVWR concerns), and something that could be ridden two up (Except for the bikes. Tandem bikes are a :nono:.)
So, after considering all of the possibilities I ended up selecting a scooter. Yes, an honest to goodness step through, floorboard, full on gayness revoke my mancard scooter. I ended up with a 2010 Honda NHX110 Elite. Found it on ebay with a mere 262 miles on the clock. Used U-ship to get it here (an interesting, but pleasant experience), and now I'm the slightly embarrassed owner of 108 cc's of fuel injected, water cooled screamin' machine making a massive 9 RWHP. Yes folks, 9 whole HP :banana: Careful now, don't let it get away from you. That kind of raw power is good for a downhill top end of 53 MPH. Two up, into a head wind, it's good for 45. However, wet weight is a mere 254 lbs, and fuel mileage is right at 100 MPG.
And it's actually pretty fun to ride. It did call for new helmets to replace my rather funky smelling 20 year old Shoei RF700. And, being somewhat partial to my jaw, I still opted for a full face helmet. So, I look a bit overdressed for the machine.
3908
3909
So, now I'm afraid I am officially OLD and GAY. :icon_rolleyes: First ride away from the house I was dismayed not to get a wave from the two Harleys I passed, but an old guy at the post office flagged me down and asked me where I got that cool machine. Said he wanted one, too. :rolleyes:
So, I started looking at receiver mounted racks for some form of conveyance. I looked at bicycles, electric bicycles, small motorcycles, and yes, gag....scooters. Truly, the cost was just about the same for any of the options. I did not need anything capable of highway speeds, but I did want something lightweight (due to bus loading and GVWR concerns), and something that could be ridden two up (Except for the bikes. Tandem bikes are a :nono:.)
So, after considering all of the possibilities I ended up selecting a scooter. Yes, an honest to goodness step through, floorboard, full on gayness revoke my mancard scooter. I ended up with a 2010 Honda NHX110 Elite. Found it on ebay with a mere 262 miles on the clock. Used U-ship to get it here (an interesting, but pleasant experience), and now I'm the slightly embarrassed owner of 108 cc's of fuel injected, water cooled screamin' machine making a massive 9 RWHP. Yes folks, 9 whole HP :banana: Careful now, don't let it get away from you. That kind of raw power is good for a downhill top end of 53 MPH. Two up, into a head wind, it's good for 45. However, wet weight is a mere 254 lbs, and fuel mileage is right at 100 MPG.
And it's actually pretty fun to ride. It did call for new helmets to replace my rather funky smelling 20 year old Shoei RF700. And, being somewhat partial to my jaw, I still opted for a full face helmet. So, I look a bit overdressed for the machine.
3908
3909
So, now I'm afraid I am officially OLD and GAY. :icon_rolleyes: First ride away from the house I was dismayed not to get a wave from the two Harleys I passed, but an old guy at the post office flagged me down and asked me where I got that cool machine. Said he wanted one, too. :rolleyes: