Scooter across america

[don_h]

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

[Mark Sedenquist]

6500 miles in 3 1/2 weeks on a Yamaha 650.

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!

Mark

[illusion]

Take a look here:

This is fun story to read

This guy is on the road now with his vespa:

[cybohemia]

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)

[AZBuck]

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

[Scooter Lady]

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!!!!!

[Midwest Michael]

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.

[PNW Judy]

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! :)

[Lifemagician]

If anybody wants to explain it, I'm gonna go on vacation to pay off my mortgage! :)

Hear! Hear!!

[DrChocobo]

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.