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The sun is out....LETS GO!

Anthony — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:21:00 GMT

Today’s ride was a long one, the weather had been very ordinary for most of last week and so it had been 7 days since our last ride, but just like yesterday, today’s weather was stunning…..so after work we headed out.

First we headed down Marine Parade, out over the creek to Salt & Casuarina, then out to the coast road for the run back to Cudgen, headed left at the lights onto Cudgen Road and followed that along one of our favourite bits of road to the highway, via the 1.5 km twisty road that we love so much, then headed south to Tumbulgum, turned right and over the river, up the hill to Terranora, then down Fraser Drive and Dry Dock road to South Tweed Heads…..then it was follow Minjungbal Drive to Tweed Heads, cross the border and head through Coolangatta, Kirra and then up the Gold Coast highway to Currumbin, then we headed out to the Currumbin Valley, before heading back to Stewart Road, then onto the M1 for the trip home…..all up it was about 105 km, and great fun. Here's what it looks from space....

It was a great ride and we got to see lots of other bikes, (Chopper, R1, GSX-R 750, Zip 50 etc…) Anthony also got to see a few other riders with the same helmet as he has – the Shoei XR-1000 Rogue…but the best part was seeing a big smiles on the faces of all the riders out enjoying an afternoon ride, whether they were commuting, or just enjoying the sun….days like this are made for riding.

Today’s winner of Derbi’s Celebrity Pillion Passenger is another Brazilian Model, (noooo…she comes from Brazil!!.......) anyway she was born in Salvador in 1981, best known for her work with Victoria’s Secret, as a spokesperson for Maybelline and works for the Elite Model agency in New York.

As of 2007, she is the 4th highest paid model in the world….she began acting in 2001 in various movies and TV series, she speaks fluent Portuguese, English and French, and some Italian. She loves reading, has been romantically linked to Lenny Kravitz and the Prince of Liechtenstein and is due to be married in June 2009.

She loves listening to Beethoven, and she is Adriana Lima.....

Honda ST1100 (Part 3)

E2W — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:02:00 GMT

The work to the Honda St1100 is coming along in leaps and bounds. I managed to get the new fork stanchions installed, fit a new set of steering head bearing and put a new Bridgestone front tyre on today. The fork stanchions are the worst pitted forks I've seen in a long time. The only option was to replace them for new items. For the steering head bearings I opted to go for an after market taper bearing as appose to the genuine Honda part and after a quick call to Link accessories in Melbourne the new ones were on the doorstep and ready to be installed. I also got to use another one of my new tools that I bought for the new shop. A Parks Tool headrace bearing installer. This thing was good to use and of high quality. It made installation of the new bearing very simple to do. To top it off I fitted a Bridgestone BT021 on the front. Handling wise the bike is now sorted. The only items left to do are an oil and filter change and a few minor tweaks and it will be off to the roadworthy station for an inspection for registration.

Honda ST1100 (Part 2)

E2W — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:22:00 GMT

Work on the Honda ST1100 is well under way. The first thing to do was get the engine running. Pulling the carbs off one of these is a breeze due to the big V4 engine giving easy access to the inlet rubber clamps. Once the carbs were off I set about stripping them down to their bare carb bodies and cleaning all the individual jets and galleries. The amount of crap in the float bowls justified spending the time in giving them that extra bit of attention. A couple of hours later and the now clean carbs were bolted back on and ready to be fired up. I drained the fuel tank to get rid of any stale old fuel and poured in some fresh unleaded. Once the brand new battery was connected up it was time to fire it up and see how it went. As soon as I hit the button the bike fired into life with no hesitation at all. It's a amazing how this thing had stood for over 6 years but even right from the first crank of the engine the motor sounded very sweet. Next is to replace the pitted fork legs. I'll make a start on them in the morning.

GSXR1000K6 24,000k service

E2W — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:44:00 GMT

One of my most favorite bikes came through the shop today a Suzuki GSXR1000K6. The K3 model onward hold a special place with me and if money was no object there would be one of these standing in the corner of my garage at home (along with about 20 other bikes and scooters too). The one that was here today was in need of a 24,000k service. This bike got the works and I can't wait until the owner comes to pick it up in the morning to feel the difference in the freshly serviced bike. Everything was done from oil and filter change to checking the valve clearances. When I went for my post service test ride it was hard to come back to the shop. GSXR1000 , bloody love em! Best I buy me a lotto ticket.

Honda ST1100 (part 1)

E2W — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:39:00 GMT

I was asked could I get a Honda ST1100 up and running that had been standing in storage for over 6 years. It turns out the owner of the bike had given up riding the bike a few years ago but couldn't bring himself to sell it until now. The new owner was happy with the bargain that he'd picked up paying only $3000 for this 1998 ex police bike. The only downside was it was going to take a lot of work to get this thing up to scratch again and back on the highway. After a detailed inspection I'd compiled a list of things the bike would need to get it up to spec. One of the biggest issues was the amount of corrosion on the bike. Everything is rusted solid but the biggest drama is the fork stanchions. The amount of pitting and rust on them means that replacement is the only option and fork stanchions don't come cheap. Another issue with the bike will be the carburetors. Due to the way modern unleaded deteriorates pretty quickly the carbs will have to be totally disassembled and cleaned out. Apart from that a new battery plus an oil and filter change and this bike will be up and running once again.

What ecomomic down turn?

E2W — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:14:00 GMT

What economic down turn? I've been watching the news for the past few months with concern due to the economic crisis that's gripped the world at the moment but after sitting down and looking over the accounts for the past few months I have to say I've got nothing to worry about. Business is booming and even with the recent move from the old workshop to the new shop and the disruptions that were encounter it turns out that I've actually had one of the best months on record ever. The new shop front is attracting lots of new custom ranging from small scooters to big bikes all that need servicing or repairs. This has got me thinking! With the financial situation at the moment are people choosing to keep hold of their motorcycle or scooter and have is serviced to get that extra bit of life out of it rather than trade in the old ride for something newer? I can't figure it out. Over the past few weeks I seen everything from a Piaggio Fly in for its first service to GSXR1000's in for a major 24,000k overhaul. Retail, what a funny game it is!

What do you do on your day off when you work in a scooter shop?

Scooter HQ — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:44:00 GMT

In the garage gleaming after a polish was the White Scarabeo 200, outside was lawn in dire need of mowing after some pretty heavy rain, clear skies hadn't coincided with days off. I really wanted a ride, in record time the lawn was mowed & the gear readied for a nice ride through the Gold Coast Hinterland.

This was the Scarabeo's maiden journey through the route chosen, 130kms of twisting winding roads, you go up & down the range we Gold Coasters call the Green behind the Gold several times. The speeds range from 60km/h to 100km/h with 80km/h being the posted speed for most of the journey, except for the sign where it says drive to suit conditions. I'm not sure exactly what that means. This is a riders paradise with enough corners to make you dizzy, only problem was the clouds covering the Hinterland.

The Scarabeo 200 is a new design & technically an awesome machine which is one reason I chose the Scarabeo. It is the same price as the Vespa LX 150 & Aprilia Mojito 125 offering a retro style but the package underneath is a mile ahead. While I really love the look of the Mojito or LX personally I like a bit of technology & like to get as much for my dollar as possible.

The liquid cooled 4 valve 4 stroke 125cc & 200cc (actually 180.8cc) engines are a new generation of scooter engine with a move from single to double overhead camshafts (DOHC) which allows better valve control the engine breathes better producing more power. DOHC engines like to rev which is important with a small engine, the rider can feel this DOHC engine trait in smoother stronger accelleration than their SOHC counterparts. It is a step forward & the power figures show it, Piaggio Liberty S 200 (197cc) 9.32kw of power, Vespa LX 150 8.6kw , SYM HD 200(171cc) 11.2kw, Bug Orion (163cc) 8.5kw, Bug Hawk 250 14.2kw & the Scarabeo 200 (180cc) a phenomenal 14.1kw. Interestingly the 125cc Scarabeo clocks in at 11.18kw.

Off to the petrol station to throw in a massive $5.90 worth of the expensive 98 octane petrol & headed out to the hills. The last set of lights saw a young gent on a CBR 250RR (Baby sports bike) pull up next to me then zoom off up the road. I was out for a cruise not a scratch & let him go. I hit the hills & corners not long after, the 16" wheels of the Scarabeo provided plenty of ground clearance & more importantly stability. We have had some pretty wild weather lately & the roads were showing some scars & debri. The suspension package worked a treat with the Scarabeo flowing from corner to corner. Next thing you know I'm on the tail of one CBR250RR which is now acting as a mobile chicane holding back the flow of the Scarabeo Scooter.

No problem when you've got a good braking package that features a 260mm front disc brake fitted with a three piston caliper & the rear a 220mm disc with twin opposing piston caliper. Didn't take long for the little Scarabeo to nip up the inside under brakes & we never saw the little Honda again. Wonder if he told his mates when he got home...

About 60kms into the ride the rain came down which was fine as I was dressed for the occassion & the screen keep a fair bit of the elements off while still providing some "wind feel" if you know what I mean, the best part about it was ascending into the clouds which is magical experience. It was also an opportune time to see how the little Scarabeo went in the wet. Top shelf Chenshin tyres are fitted standard, only having experienced the budget end of the range I approached the tight wet corners with a bit of caution. After a few minutes I had a fair bit of confidence with the tyre and found myself having a bucketload of fun playing supermotard rider in really tight stuff with the Beo moving around in a controllable manner.

After a bit of a play I sat back and cruised just enjoying the scenery, the road & the scooter. You could smell everything, the rain, grass, trees, flowers, fresh air, the whole lot, I could have kept going all day. Unfortunately the reality of having to pick up the kids from School in an hour & a half kicked in so I needed to get back home jumping on a wet Motorway at Burleigh for a quick 20 km blast. Without any drama she sat on 100km/h & could have easily sat on 120 if it were legal, the top speed I think would be somewhere between 135 & 145km/h.

So a wonderful day in the mountains was had getting better acquainted with the Scarabeo 200, I'm a little surprised at how much I like it. It is small, relatively light, very easy to ride, stable & performs like a 250 & would make a perfect first ride, on top of this it is very capable & will make a great scooter for experienced riders. I've really taken a shine to my Scarabeo 200 that while this was the first mountain ride I've already done two late night rides after work & I haven't had it a week yet.

Must be something subconscious about throwing a leg over a stunning Italian

Pre Learner Training for Victoria

allen — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:24:00 GMT

Hart develop a "Learner to Licence" course to bridge the gap and enhance new rider skills.

Hart Australia

To address a perceived gap in the Victorian training and licensing scheme, Honda Australia Rider Training (HART) have created a new "Learner to Licence" course to enhance the skills of inexperienced riders, and better prepare them for the first few months of riding on the road.

The state of Victoria currently has no mandatory "on-road" component to obtain a motorcycle learner permit or licence, which can be a disadvantage to novice motorcycle riders, according to Mark Collins, HART National Manager.

"We believe the lack of on-road training has left some novice riders in Victoria with very limited riding skills and inadequate hazard perception skills compared with motorcyclists from other states," said Mr Collins.

"The current system is predominantly skill's based, and assumes that car driving experience will provide sufficient RoadCraft knowledge for new motorcycle and scooter riders."

"HART's 20 years experience in Victoria has shown us that many new riders have very poor RoadCraft knowledge when it comes to anticipating and reacting to typical motorcycle crash scenarios in traffic."

"With more and more commuters turning to motorcycles and scooters, we need to make sure new riders are given every opportunity to develop their skills; we believe this course will add value to the current Victorian licensing system," said Mr Collins.

As part of the 'Learner to Licence' course, participants:

learn and develop motorcycle specific Hazard Perception Skills on the HART riding simulators - the only ones of their kind in Australia.
practice additional vital practical skills on the HART training range that go above and beyond the current learner curriculum and testing requirements.
put their new knowledge and skills to use on the road under the supervision of a HART instructor. This instructed RoadCraft session is a great opportunity to practice and receive feedback on the rider's buffering, anticipation and reaction techniques covered in the earlier sessions.
RoadSafe Northeast, Northwest, Westgate, Melbourne Eastern Ranges and Barwon have combined with HART to promote this rider safety initiative. As well as encouraging new riders to participate in the Learner to Licence program, RoadSafe are also targeting returning and existing riders to refresh their skills by undertaking training.

RoadSafe are offering participants a free pair of Dririder summer riding gloves after completing the Learner to Licence, Refresher or Intermediate courses until the end of January.

HART are also discounting theses courses by $25 during this time to encourage rider to participate.

This is the ninth consecutive year that RoadSafe and HART have combined forces to improve rider safety in Victoria. Over this period thousands of riders have benefitted from this association through subsidised rider training courses, discounted safety gear, maintenance and road safety education.

For more information about the HART Learner to Licence course visit: www.hartridertraining.com.au

New Lazer Superskin helmet coating peels back like a real scalp!

The Scooter Scoop! — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:35:58 GMT

Ohhh kay? And besides "sounding really gross" how does that help us? Watch the video my friends. After I saw it I must say I like the idea... but couldn't you just coat your helmet with teflon? Maybe I don't fully understand the mechanics behind it, but if it makes riding safer? I LOVE IT! For a bit more info check out the title link to Scooter-Station. You can also check out the Lazer Helmet site or watch this video on their production facility. One problem, it looks like Brazil...(read more)

Biker vs. Geek - Who's the mouse and who's the man

The Scooter Scoop! — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:33:22 GMT

Austin isn't the only town in Texas putting scooters on the YouTube. Texas motorcycle magazine Texas Iron also has something to say about scooter geeks (like myself). The outcome wasn't quite what I expected considering this is from a site with "bad ass" in their tagline. Shout outs to Texas Iron Editor, Frank T., for sharing this video from their parody series. Yes, I said "series". I'm just thankful that there was no bloodshed. Keep 'em comin' Frank!...(read more)

ASF Endorses Scooter Strategy

allen — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:45:00 GMT

ASF endorses the recent City of Sydney Motorcycle and Scooter Strategy and Action Plan ASF A pioneering recent draft City of Sydney Motorcycle and Scooter Strategy and Action Plan has proposed a number of measures to address problems faced by riders in Sydney, such as motorcycle security, road safety, parking, and the use of ticket parking. It also proposes to advocate for fairer and more convenient tolls, emissions standards for motorcycles, inclusion of motorcycles in the Green Vehicle Guide, and legal changes to allow motorcycle couriers to use loading zones. Safety for riders was also considered as paramount.

In developing the draft Motorcycle and Scooter Strategy and Action Plan, the City consulted with riders and motorcycle and scooter groups, surveyed more than a thousand riders, advertised in motorcycle and scooter publications and reviewed extensive rider correspondence to the City. The City also consulted residents within the Council boundaries. That Draft has now been accepted and enacted as the following Action Plan and The Lord Major of Sydney, Clover Moore said "The Motorcycle and Scooter Strategy supports our commitment to sustainable transport options and the shift away from large, polluting vehicles to smaller vehicles to complement walking, cycling and public transport." Some areas where Sydney CBD motorcycle and scooter riders will see an immediate benefit are: Parking and Tolls

• An extensive revised parking list includes overhauling parking within the City of Sydney.

• Highlighted in the report was a dramatic increase in free parking areas with the CBD. • A reduction in motorcycle and scooter parking prices ‘on the street” and within parking stations.

• Advocating for fairer and more equitable tolling arrangements for riders; Road Safety

• Included were road safety programs for riders and drivers

• Further investigation into opportunities to improve rider and driver education. Security

• The plan will look into trailing on-street devices and providing fastening points at Goulburn Street Car Park. Encouraging sustainability.

• The inclusion in the Green Vehicle Guide

• adoption of the national emissions standard for motorcycles and scooters

The ASF applaud the City of Sydney for their initiative in developing this strategy and recognizing the enormous value of scooter riders to their city The ASF believes this plan is truly groundbreaking and will have Australia wide appeal.

For more information on the City of Sydney Motorcycle and Scooter Strategy and Action Plan visit www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Council/OnExhibition/DraftMotorcycleScooterStrategy.asp

If you would like to speak to a spokesperson from the ASF or have general Scooter related queries, please contact: Libby Ross, Secretariat Australian Scooter Federation info@scooterfederation.com.au or 0402 452 452

Expect a scooter from Kawasaki as soon as the Styx River ice rink opens

The Scooter Scoop! — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:29:41 GMT

( Obiboi ! All that great design seems lost on Kawasaki.) Les amis over at Scooter-Station (title link) aren't the kind of guys to wait-and-see if Kawasaki will surprise us with a scooter for 2009 or 2010... nope, they went straight to Japan and asked Kawasaki's big bosses in person. So, Will we see a scooter from Kawasaki? To summarize their response, "no." Click on the title link to read the whole piece....(read more)

Poll results - Your favorite 150cc from SYM?

The Scooter Scoop! — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:10:14 GMT

The votes are in and it looks like the next SYM 150cc scooter with a chance at coming to the USA is the VS 150 with 67% of the 168 total votes. There are some adjustments to be made caused by 4 votes outside of the USA, but not enough to sway the results in the Fighter's favor. I personally liked the Fighter in black, but I'm feeling pretty good about the VS in white. She got some really favorable reviews outside of the US and I'm impressed by her specs given the fact that she's got...(read more)

Kymco Like 50/125

allen — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 22:10:00 GMT

Kymco to release its own version of retro, the "Like" in a 50 and 125 cc version.

Scootersales.com.au

We have all seen the Fiddle II from SYM and now its time for the Kymco Like, breaking cover on its own interpretation of a classic retro.

The Kymco Like will be available in both a 4 stroke 125 cc version as well as a 50 cc 2 stroke variation. Plans for Australia are still unknown but it would be difficult to think we would not see it here at some stage.

The Kymco Like screams classic from the chrome mirrors to the squared off panels and featured headlamp on the handlebars. Disc brakes front and rear compliment the package.

More information will be provided on this model as it comes to hand.

See Gallery

Survive the Ride Sydney Workshops

allen — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 22:08:00 GMT

A FREE evening of information, discussion and displays on all things scooter related.

Survive the Ride Association of NSW

A series of free workshops have been organised for those wanting to gain a higher level of understanding on all things scootering.

The nights are aimed at providing information for both new and and potential scooter riders along with those just wanting a refresher course.

Topics covered will include;

Risk Reduction Techniques

Basic Scooter Maintenance

Protective Gear Showcase

Plus all your questions will be answered on Sydney Parking, Tolls or anything else you might have on your mind at the time.

See a range of Jackets, Gloves, Pants and Boots from leading manufacturers including ixon, Zues, Falco, Spidi, Nolan, Rivet, Draggin Jeans and Hornee Jeans plus many more.

The 1st workshop will be held on the 1st of December at Scootering, 310 Military Rd Cremorne (next door to McDonalds) with subsequent workshops being held early in the new year in other locations across Sydney.

Registration for the evening is required and you you can do so by using two methods

SMS your name to 0414 190 218

or email your name and phone number to stransw@hotmail.com

Information on these nights will be presented by David Tynan of the Survive the Ride Assoc of NSW.

For more information go to www.survivetheride.org/workshop.htm

When is it ok to speed on a wet road?

The Scooter Scoop! — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:20:40 GMT

When you can ride as good as Kiyonari. Thanks to Tim for pointing out this incredible example of bike control....(read more)

Mr. Projector could use YOUR help

The Scooter Scoop! — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:53:37 GMT

Mr. Projector Benefit at Aurora Theater Hey! What are you doing tomorrow at 6pm? How about attending the Mr. Projector Benefit? Houston Scooterist and all-around good guy Aaron Ball (AKA Mr. Projector) needs your help, so he's throwing a party at the Aurora Theater this Saturday. Proceeds from the event will go towards extensive medical bills incurred by Ball following a recent scooter accident that resulted in open-heart surgery. The benefit will take place Nov. 22 from 6-8 p.m., and will feature...(read more)

Finally a dry road......

Anthony — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:52:00 GMT

There were some large patches of fine weather today which made me think we might get to go out for our usual mid-week ride……and then the weather started turning ugly again, but thankfully the rain stayed away long enough for us to go out.

We headed north for our usual highway run, and then when we approached the airport tunnel we were lucky enough to have a jet land right in front of us, then pass over as we headed through the tunnel. Very cool.

It was a fun ride, especially since we hadn’t been out for almost a week. It was great to zip through the late afternoon traffic and basically leave all the stress of the work day behind.

There were only a few scooters and bikes out today, couple of 50’s and the odd Harley. And as usual there were a few idiots on the road who (a) don’t look for bikes, cars, pedestrians etc… and (b) people who can’t read road signs, speed signs, etc and therefore also get in the way…..thankfully Derbi power allows us to get away from them.

So that’s it for today, hope all is going well for everyone out there, stay safe and I’ll see you next week. Cheers, Derbi.

For this week’s winner of Derbi’s Celebrity Pillion Passenger of the week, we feature a Ukranian born actress…born in 1979, she was then raised by her mother from the age of three, began modelling at age 13 and signed a modelling contract with a Paris-based agency at the age of 17.

She began her acting career in France in 2005, and won an award for her performance in L'Annulaire in 2006, starred in Hitman with Timothy Olyphant in 2007 and most recently she became the latest bond girl, Camille Moses in the 22nd James Bond film, “Quantum of Solace”.

She is featured on the December 2008 cover of Maxim Magazine, she is Olga Kurylenko.

My New Ride

Scooter HQ — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:57:00 GMT

The past 12 months has been a great for the scooter rider. We have had a plethora of new models from most major manufacturers. What was a market leader 2 years ago is now obsolete, we've discontinued more models this year than any other.

This year I've been running the Derbi GP1 250 most of the time, the reasons obvious. It stops & handles like no other scooter plus has great storage, I've also run the Daelim S1 125 & S-five 50 which have proved themselves as the best commuters in their class, the Mojito 50 as it's the coolest retro out there & an absolute joy to ride. We've had others but these really stand out as the scoots I ride the most.

When you commute everyday on a scooter your choice of ride can often have an effect on your state of mind just like your choice of music. Riding the GP1 for me is like listening to pumping techno music, motivates you & can have you punting around town. At the other end of the scale the Mojio is like listening to Bob Marley..a relaxed nothing can bother you ride....just cruising...jah

I was after something different not a sports or a retro cruiser. It had to be versatile & able to adapt to my many, many moods. It also had to be able to cope with the playlist on the MP3 player. No point in playing pumping techno on a Mojito or reggae on a GP1 it's like a beer milkshake, just wrong.

The new ride must be able to fullfill certain tasks such as able to sit on 110km/h on the M1 for those late night return trips from Brisbane SC dinners, be able to punt through the hills on the weekends, commute around town, offer a bit of protection from the rain, a trip meter plus clock, a comfortable seat, light & manouvreable to squeeze through the stationary cagers & I want a little bit of style with it so my 8y/o son will be seen on it (I'm not going to run around on a scoot that's naff either). It has to represent excellent value for money too.

Recently had the first ride on the chosen scooter, it was so impressive that I had to have one. Not many scooters invoke an emotional urge like that & if they do it usually dissapears once you read the technical specifications or price. Not in this case with disc brakes all round, twin shock rear suspension, a liquid cooled 4 valve engine enveloped in a sweet chassis & wrapped in one of the most aesthetically pleasing styling packages out there. It is also a new model.

It should be here Friday when I'll post a photo...Until then anyone care to take a guess?

Poll: Next SYM 150cc Model? You choose.

The Scooter Scoop! — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:54:34 GMT

-OR- (Click to make each SUPER sized) Both scooters are 150cc 4-stroke with very similar performance and specs. Both are from the drafting tables of Nova Design . Both are from SYM , but only ONE has a chance to make it to the USA . So what's it gonna be? You choose. Review of the VS 150 is HERE . Couldn't find an English review of the Fighter, but here's a Video commercial. &amp;lt;a href="http://polls.blogflux.com/poll-31094.html"&amp;gt;Take the poll&amp;lt;...(read more)

The Italian Has Wings.

Dakoda — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:47:00 GMT

Last night, Armani and I created a few new firsts for us.

Firstly we did our first solo ride back from the Gold Coast

Secondly it was done on the Motorway

And thirdly we did it at night.

Surprisingly it wasn't as bad as I first thought, we managed to keep up with most cars, none of them complained, honked or hurled abuse because we were sitting on 100-110 compared to their at times 130+. It was one of those rides where it was actually pleasurable to be doing high end speeds, with the cagers.

There was a moment where I was iffed, some dude on a large Sports Bike came flying past at what had to be 140 or so! But hey that is his drama. Then there was the BMW bike that shared my lane while he overtook a car. He must have saw me jump a bit, as he scared the living daylights out of me, and as he passed he gave me a thank you wave, in which I recriprocated. I noticed he had a Ulysses vest on, these guys seem very respectful to all riders.

All in all it was a good experience, and I will probably do it again. Maybe not in the daytime during peak hour etc, but night time, was very doable.

I did think a few times the bike was struggling a little, and I would look down and notice I was at the 110 mark, and back it off just a tad, so that the accelerator was not fully engaged. Armani was screaming his guts out, but I think he enjoyed it. He is getting a well deserved rest today (apart from quickly going to the shops earlier), if I have to go anywhere today, it will be on the GP1 250.

Note for Denni. The jacket was great. Did not need the liner, was cool enough to keep me from overheating, but was not cold in the least!

Watch out world, here comes Dak & Armani! It has taken us a long time to get here but just goes to show, sometimes you just have to do things wether you like it or now, and it's only then you realise how capable you are. And a push so you have no choice!

And watch out Brendon, I am likely to turn up every day now!!!!!!

And yes I did come off the wrong exit, but I just kept going, and ended up on the M3 towards the city, so just kept going, and let's just say this. I HATE BRISBANE CITY!!! But I got home without too much fuss and bother. Mind you maybe 15mins later than I should have!!!

Major Kong scooter

The Scooter Scoop! — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:31:21 GMT

It's never too late to prepare for next Halloween or even your next rally. Don your favorite cowboy garb and swing yer cowboy hat in the air and hold tight cause it's gonna be a bumpy ride! If Major T.J. "King" Kong is too far of a faded memory, you could always dress as Homer Simpson and reenact a similar scene (which I could only find in Spanish ). I found this thing over at Disaboom.com...(read more)

November is mens health awareness

Scooter HQ — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:50:00 GMT

November is the month of mens health awareness issues. So how on earth do we tie in a mens health issue awareness with scooters? Very loosely - we just applied a bit of lateral thought & came up with our bit for mens health while subliminally advertising scooters.

We came across a news article reporting researchers have discovered that staring at womens breasts for 10 minutes is effective as an hour & a half at the gym. A German study of 200 men by Dr Karen Weatherby uncovered this practice lowered blood pressure, reduced the rate of heart disease & lowered the pulse rate (when not looking of course).

Now gentlemen, it's time for your daily workout...

Jobs for out of work scooters

The Scooter Scoop! — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:42:30 GMT

If low gas prices have you back to driving your 4WD Dually to the office you should consider a career for your out of work scooter. Here's an idea from ace2heart. It's not real, mind you, but a concept called "Sweep-scooter" that he/she entered into the Worth1000 Dream Vehicles 5 contest. Just thought it could give you some ideas to keep your poor, lonely scooter active and engaged during these times of $2/gal gas. Don't worry Scooty! You'll be back to work before you can...(read more)

Out On The Road Again....

Anthony — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:47:00 GMT

This weeks riding has been fun, it started last Friday with another trip down the highway to see Scooter Girl, and thankfully this time, a lot of the bugs that inhabit the late afternoon sky must have had a better offer, and decided not to become plastered across the front of me. There were some that decided to give it a go, and shared the same fate as their departed brothers a fortnight ago. Thankfully Anthony doesn’t leave them there as a deterrent to others that might try and fly into the light……

But it was a great trip down once again, a lot of cloud cover ensured a cooler ride, but it was good fun.

The trip back on Monday looked like it may have been a wet one, overnight rain had made certain parts of the road a bit slippery, but after the half-way point the road was dry, and continued like that the rest of the way home. Like Anthony, I enjoy these longer trips. The chance to stretch the legs a little out on the open road is great. And the looks on the faces of the car drivers as they are overtaken by a scooter is always good too.

Today we headed out after Anthony finished work, headed up the M1 to Currumbin, down Stewart Road to the beach, then back up onto the Gold Coast highway before heading down through Tweed Heads, then refuelled on the way back, before arriving back in Kingscliff.

Looks something like this….

It was a good way to unwind after a busy day at work. This weekend we’ll be out and about, and I’m sure SB & SG will be heading out to cruise around at some point. Hopefully the weather will be warm and sunny. Anyway, that’s it from me today, not much to report, stay safe and have fun, Derbi.

Like Vespa, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and others….this week’s winner of Derbi’s Celebrity Pillion Passenger of The Week is Italian. Born in 1975, she is a TV & Film actress and director.

Born in Rome, she is the daughter of a film director, producer and screenwriter, her great grandfather was also a composer.

She published a book of poems at age 8, and became an actress at age 9, and was cast in one of her father’s films at 16.

She appeared in the music video for Placebo’s “This Picture”, speaks fluent Italian, Russian and English, as well as French.

To many she will be remembered as “Yelana” in the Vin Diesel film “XXX” and she is Asia Argento.