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I was wondering if it would be completely RETARDED to go from Alabama to L.A. on a Moped? But I would definitly not get on the Interstates, but I was wondering if it would be fun or dumb, and I am thinking it would be the greatest thing ever... I would take back roads the whole way, camp and eat in strange resturaunts the entire way, wouldnt that be great? email me and let me know if this is cool or completely DUMB.... thank you.. josh
I've known people to do this on bicycles, on foot, and perhaps you remember the story from the news in the 1990s about the guy who rode a lawn tractor across the midwest!
It would be brutal to try to cover large numbers of miles on a scooter if you are in a hurry. BUT, if you can take your time, stop when and where you want, it would be an unforgettable adventure, without a doubt. Bob
Well, first off, I know plenty of people who think that people who take trips longer than 300 miles by car are insane, so, who cares what they think?
You can't get on the Interstates (legally). But otherwise, this sounds like it would be a really fun trip, though it might take quite awhile. Be careful of monsoonal rainstorms!
A guy I used to work with drove to work (about 10 miles) on his lawn tractor...at 4:30am. I'm still amazed he didn't get arrested.
thanks guys, I am so wanting to do this, I just bought a Scooter from HONDA, it is called a RUCKUS, and it does about 35mph, but What i planned on doing is camping the whole way at free camping sites, and just having a great time and Enjoying the outdoors. I used to be in a band called trustcompany, and we toured the U.S. many times but it was in a BUS, so I didnt get to see much, so maybe this time i will get to see stuff I didnt get to then. any sites on free camp grounds? or cheap ones? Thanks again guys... josh
You might run an internet search on "free camping" and see what comes up. You probably won't find too many developed campgrounds that do not charge (I'd be surprised if you found ANY), but you CAN often camp on public lands at no charge. BLM and the Forest Service call this "dispersed camping." It'll be like back-packing. You won't have any facilities of any kind, and you carry everything in, and carry everything out. Also, check out the developed campgrounds -- some of the LESS developed ones might be had for less than $10, if you get lucky!
It's not hard to do this -- you have to think about how you will accomplish the necessities in some convenient manner. How will you eat? Where will you take care of a daily shower and shave? Etc. Complicating things for you will be the limited storage capacity you have on such a small machine. However, you can get by with very little and more simply than most folks think is possible -- so be creative and think outside the "box."
My wife and I are planning a trip that's even CRAZIER: Virginia to Oregon via moped. Actually, she'll be on a moped (Yamaha Zuma), I'll be on a pedal bike. (She has bad knees, so she can't pedal.)
We'll be following the Transamerica bike trail, which HUNDREDS cyclists do every year, using maps from Adventure Cycling Association (www.adventurecycling.org). Go to their web site and check out their Southern Tier route. It passes through Mobile, AL on its way to San Diego, CA. Their maps route you along secondary roads, and give food and lodging info.
My wife and I have taken several weekend trips, plus a 530 mile two-weeker. We LOVE bike touring; you get to see the country in a whole new way.
Go for it!
Hey imported_Josh,
How did your Scooter road trip go? I was thinking about going on a scooter road trip once i get my scooter next year.I don't drive and i want to go on road trips. I have 2 dream trips. 1. San Francisco to Los Angeles 2. San Francisco to New York City.
It's so good to see people going on road trips not using Cars or RV.
Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America forum, sologrl.
Unfortunately, Josh has not been active on the forums for a couple of years. I will tell you my one experience with such an adventure. My brother set out to go coast to coast on a small motorcycle (about 250 cc if memory serves) starting from Wilmington, DE. Three days later I got a call from Abingdon, VA to come get him. The cycle had been unable to cross the Appalachians in one piece, let alone the Rockies. As others have pointed out in the thread you exhumed, people have crossed the country on less (I believe, in fact, that despite the romantic image of Conestoga Wagons, most pioneers actually crossed the continent on foot.) you absolutely must be prepared to be stranded in the middle of nowhere if you make such a journey. San Francisco to Los Angeles on CA-1, however, could be a hoot.
AZBuck
AZBuck,
Thanks for the welcome.I had a feeling my 2nd dream scooter trip was too much(Ca to NYC).LOL.I think i better stick with SF to LA.
Hey AZBuck have you even been to the Grand Canyon.
Yes, I've been to the Grand Canyon, both the north and south rims, in various weather conditions and by different modes of travel. It has presented a different aspect each time, but has always awe inspiring, even the quick trip with some foreign guests when it was totally fogged in!
AZBuck
Back in 1974 I took a road trip from Michigan to Idaho to see Evel Knievel fall in the Snake River. We slept under bridges and only ate 1 meal a day. from there we went to Mexico then back Home to Michigan. 6500 miles in 3 1/2 weeks on a Yamaha 650. I was just a pup of 19, we had a BLAST!!!!!!!!!! Go on the trip youll love it. Don
It's a good thing you were only 19.... My back aches just thinking about that... but thanks for the memories and welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum!Quote:
Originally Posted by don_h
Mark
Take a look here:
This is fun story to read
This guy is on the road now with his vespa:
I'm thinking of scooting cross-country and I'm interested in what people may think, in particular with respect to the Honda Metropolitan.
My main concern is that the wheels are small, which makes the scooter rather more unsteady in wet conditions. There's only so much you can anticipate as a defensive driver and I've wiped out twice - both times breaking unexpectedly in rainy condition: the first time a pedestrian darted across against the lights and the second time, the car ahead of me suddenly decided to turn left from the middle lane without signaling. My shoulder took months to heal both times.
Also, we small scooter (50cc and under) folks are a bit in limbo: too small to go on highways but not allowed on bike paths. I wonder if anyone has any thoughts on that...well, I wonder if anyone is still following this thread from a few years ago! :O)
Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!
These scooters were not designed for, are not intended for, and will never be able to complete a cross country journey of the magnitude you are envisioning. It will, I can almost guarantee you and certainly I'm willing to bet on it, break down on you very early in your attempt and leave you high and dry somewhere. This is not a good idea.
AZBuck
Maryland to California - My daughter and I are traveling across country next May 2010 to raise money for her law school tuition and Alzheimer's disease. It has been done several times before, most recently by a group of guys out of New York. It won't take 40 hours, like mapquest says it could, because we're going by way of the back roads. I figure it will take us 9 days, which is how long it took the guys. My daughter's scooter has only 49cc so we can't do the highway. But we are looking forward to the ride and seeing the country. Wish us luck!!!!!
Welcome to the RTA Forum!
Even in a car at highway speeds, you couldn't do the trip in 40 hours like Mapquest says, and even over 9 days, you're looking at a pretty brutal trip. You'll need to cover at least 300 miles a day, which is a long distance on a little scooter like that.
I always wonder how people plan to raise money by taking a vacation, especially when the purpose is a private college fund.
If anybody wants to explain it, I'm gonna go on vacation to pay off my mortgage! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Midwest Michael
Hear! Hear!!Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW Judy
The 50cc machines are reasonably sturdy IF you take GOOD care of them. Most people simply slap em together out of the box and ride em till they fall apart, and then saying bad things about them. I just got through putting a tank tk 50cc back together that was treated this way. Got it all humming after a lot of rebuilding and now it rides with little or no trouble. Long trips are definitely possible if you properly care for your baby. Make sure you carry what you will need to affect repairs on the road.
An extra belt
extra tire if possible
TWO crescent wrenches
small metric wrench set with the common sizes found on your bike
common metric sockets found on your bike
Short flatblade for carb adjustment as well as normal sized flat and phillups drivers
VICE GRIPS <---- always carry these :)
Fix-a-Flat
That SHOULD be good for most small problems you encounter, provided you have a descent idea of how your machine works. That, in itself goes without saying. Know your machine and work patiently. Dont get frustrated or angry. Step back and cool down.
Now that Ive ironed out the bugs, this old tank is running like one. You will find that most of the glitches happen early in its life. Find better ways to fix them so they dont normally happen again and your ride will always get you home. And remember, unlike how mine's previous owners thought about it, SCOOTERS ARE NOT OFFROAD VEHICLES. Respect it and it will respect you.
Now go have a fun trip.
I just got on this forum. It's great to read about adventures of other people. In the past, my husband and family have done a lot of bicycle touring on our own, camping, hostels, inns, etc, fields, too. This time, I'm planning a trip from San Jose, CA to Oregon and across to Oshkosh, WI, skipping Nevada. After Oshkosh, depending on weather, etc, I may want to take the ferry boat to Michigan. My trip would begin around July 7th and would including sightseeing of the various things to see. I prefer not to go solo and my husband would be meeting up with me in Oshkosh. There's a major aviation week long convention that we attend in Oshkosh every year and it begins on July 26th thru August 1st.
I'd like to find someone interested in riding with me. I'm a senior, but I get along well with young people, male or female. I know that 300 miles a day is doable on my scooter, but comfortably, I think 200 miles or 4 hours of riding.
I have a 2.2 liter fuel tank, so getting fuel at 90 to 100 miles out, plus carrying two msr bottles of fuel. So, if anyone is interested, send me a note; if not and you have any suggestions, I'd gladly accept them. Thanks. I'm planning on going on all secondary roads; checking out bicycle maps and motorcycle maps, plus may design my own route on Google.
Well, I just got on this thread. I have a 150cc Aprilia Scooter and I'm considering a trip from CA to WI in July 2010, but would like to find someone to tag along. I'm not a competitive scooterist and plan on doing a little sightseeing along the way. 50cc, well, you can do it on a 50cc, I can do it on a 150cc.
I've had my scooter for two weeks and already have gone over 600 miles on it and spent less than 12 dollars in gas. I live the thing. I am planning on taking it from Bentonville, AR to Memphis, TN and then to Beaumont, TX and then back to Bentonville, AR in a month. I've already got the route planned out and looking forward to it. It was great reading about others doing similar things and have given me some perspectives. Thanks!!!!
Hey Guys,
I'm in the planning phase of a trip I plan on taking from Richmond - Boston.
This will be the longest trip I will have ever taken on the scooter. Any tips for a noob like me?
Places to see? Stops to make? Route planners?
So far, I have been using Google Maps and selecting the bicycle option. Is that a safe bet?
Thanks!
Hi VU , Welcome to the RTA forums !
You haven't told us much, how long you have for the trip, your interests and what type of scooter etc ? It's also not easy to see your map. If you have saved the map in Google you can click on the 'Link' and copy the HTML code and paste it in the 'GMAP' icon that you can find in the 'Go advanced' part of your reply box options.
Check out the Map centre in the tool bar above to make custom routes and find attractions along the way. Once you have had a look around and have more specific questions and details we can help to 'fine tune' your trip.
New to this site , found it by searching "touring on a 50cc scooter" I am retired and had done some bicycle touring but my knees have not agreed with trying a tour across the U.S on a bicycle. I am thinking about maybe touring on a small scooter 50 cc , wanted to keep it slow so I can smell the roses along the way. I can't find much info / suggestions about touring on a 50cc scooter. Been looking at getting a Honda Ruckus 50cc but not sure . Any suggestions/ input would be welcomed. Keep doing good things : Jim
Hi Jim, and Welcome to the Great American Roadtrip Forum.
Bringing back memories. I had a Honda 50cc back in the 60s. Thems was the days!
A friend of mine in St Paul MN bought a Vespa when he retired, did some course to be sure he knew what he was doing, bought all the gear, leathers, helmet, gloves, etc. and has been on many a long trip since. One took him down towards FL, if not all the way, most of the way, then up to Boston and then back to St Paul. He sticks to the minor highways, byways and backroads,and as you say, goes slowly while smelling the roses along the way. And loves it.
Where are you planning to go? Have you decided on what route and what sights you want to see. I am sure members here will be able to help you.
Lifey
Welcome to the RTA Forum, CSMmason!
This thread was originally created more than 10 years ago, and the original poster hasn't been around for a decade, but it does seem to get revived every few years by people who are considering the idea.
I'd say the biggest thing about traveling with a scooter that small is going to be keeping it running. Small bikes like that really aren't designed for long haul travel, so your odds of something breaking while along the way are considerable. If you look back a page or two, you'll find some suggestions about things to bring with you to make at least basic repairs while on the road.