makes you think

[oldscooterbloke]

Hi, just a word /reflection on tuning and scooter speeds now available, when a little vespa goes as well as you make them now its worth thinking about the German guy that was just killed on the isle of wight on his. someone pulled out on him died at the scene.
knob head drivers that don't have a clue can take you out.
had the same thing happen to me in 1968 on a lambretta, managed to survive.
So guys caution. that's why i'm not going the 50 bhp route.

[mark]

Hadn’t heard about this , very sad .
We all go out expecting to come home safely but thanks to inconsiderate and careless people that’s not always the case .
I get a nose bleed over 50 MPH and don’t get back up off the ground like I used to .
As said , stay safe .

[oldscooterbloke]

From what i was told, he was a German scooter engine builder.

[jonnysnatchsniffer]

too much for me too, 20hp smallies are the borderline nice, i like a little more cos im fat so 30hp for me is like 20 to some of you

[oldscooterbloke]

Yep im light so, so even my loo seat gets an easy life.

[gugne]

I'll have as much power as I can handle thank you. It has no bearing on someone pulling out in front of me. Hitting someone at 50mph with 30bhp or 15bhp makes no difference.

[oldscooterbloke]

Don't agree your approaching them at a much faster pace than they may expect.
ie your likely to survive at a lower speed
that's why more motorbike crashes/ deaths than scooters i would say.
50mph  is nothing on a tuned bike now. whos going to do 50 on a 50 bhp scooter.not many.
that's why they want 50 brake in the first place.
i've got a fast bike. you don't have to follow cars or be followed you can overtake them and that's not normal for  a std scooter you just plod along, getting in the way of faster traffic.
i have both so know. both modes bring their own dangers.

[jonnysnatchsniffer]

i agree, my cousin got killed on his bike giving it some, we all do it, whats the point of tuning a smallframe?? 1 its power to weight ratio can be quite extreme
this puts a smile on yr face
its hard to tell how fast something is coming toward you, especially so if accelerating like you wouldnt expect it to, im not making excuses, see something coming you stop, end of,
whether matey has 5 or 500 hp its only the car drivers reactions that were at fault
thats why i drive with main beam on during the day

[gugne]

Yes. They're too dangerous. Get yourself a nice safe car. Stay home. Bed early. Eat no meat. Give up drink. Lots of exercise.

You won't live any longer..... it'll just feel like it.

[oldscooterbloke]

gugne,,You fill your boots, i was highlighting the dangers to remind people, you clearly don't give shit so that's up to you.

[jonnysnatchsniffer]

gunge was only saying the complete opposite to what we do, i think we all understand the dangers of being on 2 wheels, i think new car drivers should be made to ride a moped for 3-6 months before they get in a car, it would sure make them more aware of what the fuck they shouldnt do, i still do life savers in the car lol

[henri]

i noticed when abroad in say france or italy for instance ,where most people ride scooters or small bikes as kids/teenagers .there was much more awareness shown by drivers of riders in traffic .H

[gugne]

Sept 14, 2022 20:12:53 GMT jonnysnatchsniffer said:

gunge was only saying the complete opposite to what we do, i think we all understand the dangers of being on 2 wheels, 

Exactly. Maybe I should have put a wink smiley in my post. 

[oldscooterbloke]

gugne ,apologies if i didn't understood your answer, i had a big one so i know what it feels like. at around 50mph ,no crash helmet as i was late for work so had a bobble hat on instead ( you could back then ) lucky to survive. two broken legs and other injuries.
I have raced cars for over twenty years to 183 mph , put me on a road on two wheels , that's more dangerous as your not always the one that makes the decisions .
the original point was that we are getting faster on scooters and most don't expect it.

[oldscooterbloke]

jonny, yes that would make them aware. they would bloody look then.

[oldscooterbloke]

The point is i love my tuned fast smallie, it's exciting to ride,
will keep it and keep it down in the built up areas and give it beans on the open roads.
The Vape ign gives a great front bright light which i use all the time , and reflective stickers on my helmet , so should help.

[Deleted]

On country/open roads the risks are even greater yet your up for that...?

Ive learnt nothing from this thread other than someone unfortunately died..

Everytime and I mean EVERYTIME you get on a bike or scooter we are rolling dice, simple.

If gambling isn't your thing- maybe knock it on the head, failing that- get them fooking front wheels up people 😎😎

[jbcollier]

I have a 40hp scoot. Can I ride it faster than my 5hp scoot? Yes. Is it more dangerous? That depends on me. Most of the time I make judgements based on conditions, sight lines and other drivers. I assume other drivers will make mistakes and ride and position myself on the roadway to counter those mistakes before the other drivers make them. That covers most eventualities. There is still the other driver who blows through a junction at 90mph which I can't possibly see in time. And there is random execution by roadside animals leaping from cover into my path -- deer are a significant cause of two wheel fatalities over here.

That's most of the time.

Occasionally I ride like a nutter. Even more rarely, but it happens, I do something stupid and it is those other drivers that save me.

All the time, I'm responsible. I don't blame stupid people for being stupid. They just are. I blame me for not riding accordingly.

Getting back to the scoots, I tend to ride my 90ss flat out. It takes time to build speed and I'm reluctant to lose speed that I have already gained. The stock brakes are modest at best. Combine iffy brakes and an overwhelming desire to maintain gained-momentum, and I have gotten myself into a few tricky situations. My mutant 265SST I actually tend to ride conservatively. Speed is never an issue. I can dial in any speed I want with a simple twist of the wrist. Brakes are f#$@ing stunning. I can stop on a dime and have change to spare. Factor in that I'm getting old and no longer trying too hard, and suddenly, I'm a safer rider on the faster scoot.

That's me. If you were dropped repeatedly on your head at birth, and in the years following, if red mist is a permanent condition, and you have seemingly less self-control than the average group of self-pleasuring monkeys, perhaps you should restrict yourself to push-bikes with at least two (2) flat tires?