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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Pactnmmt on May 23, 2015, 08:27:33 PM

Title: New to this forum
Post by: Pactnmmt on May 23, 2015, 08:27:33 PM: Hello, I stumbled upon this forum yesterday and thought I'd introduce myself. At the tender age of 62 I decided to buy a scooter. There is a motorcycle shop down the hill from me and they sell Kymcos. For several years I drove by it and finally decided to bite the bullet. Last August I bought a Super 8 150cc, had it one week when my husband (a none rider) said he wished I would get something with more power. So when I took the Super 8 in for its 100 mile "check up" I came home with a Downtown 300. Love it, was happy with it! Then my husband said that as long as I'm going to be out on two wheels and at the mercy of inattentive motorists that he really wanted me to have a scooter with ABS so three weeks ago I bought an Xciting 500i. I looked for a Burgman 400 because of its lower seat but none are to be found in my part of the country (Montana- this is not SCOOTER country).

The Xciting was in Washington State and was shipped here. I love it but it is too darn tall for my short legs so I have to stand on my tiptoes at a stop ( I prefer both feet on the ground at a stop). The second day I had the Xciting, I dropped in in my driveway. Embarrassed? Oh yes! Lost a bit of confidence, yep! But I kept at it. To compensate for my short inseam, I purchased a pair of Lady Star Daytona boots to add some height. Great boots, very expensive - took quite a hit to my pocketbook.

Upon purchasing the Super 8 back at the end of August, I took the MSF course using one of their bikes, a small one a Kawasaki Eliminator, passed it (not a stellar score). I wanted to learn more so the first week of June, I'm taking the next level course using my Xciting 500.

I started riding back in the late 1970's on a red Columbia Moped, then in mid '80's rode a Honda Passport 49cc then stopped as we finally started a family.

I am a firm believer in ATGATT.

I have been browsing through the different categories on this forum and am learning quite a bit.
Title: Re: New to this forum
Post by: 2wheelfun on May 23, 2015, 09:00:10 PM: Welcome to the forum, from many reports the 500 is a great scoot. I thought in Montana you could only ride steers and cowboys, hmm guess not.
Title: Re: New to this forum
Post by: 0BARK4322 on May 23, 2015, 11:29:28 PM: JELLO & WELCOME TO THE LAND OF LEARNING ABOUT SCOOTERS
Title: Re: New to this forum
Post by: CROSSBOLT on May 23, 2015, 11:40:30 PM: Ozark said it so well, so ditto!

Karl
Title: Re: New to this forum
Post by: 2wheelfun on May 24, 2015, 01:54:01 AM: Well hey lucky scoot in Montana, 4th largest state.
Title: Re: New to this forum
Post by: Mscmkr on May 24, 2015, 04:08:25 AM: Welcome to the forum! I'm sure your going to like it here. Really good folks with great info. Post some pics of the scoots when you get a chance. Would love to see them. Also, it must be ridiculous beautiful to ride in Montana so please post some pics of a ride or tow from there. Of course vids would be even better!
Also, not a biggy on your score for the riding course. I was easily the worst student in years in mine. I almost dropped the bike doing the figure 8. Lucky I have strong legs or I would have been thrown out of the class.

Welcome again and ride safe, mscmkr
Title: Re: New to this forum
Post by: Pactnmmt on May 24, 2015, 05:16:18 AM: Many thanks to all for the warm welcome to the forum. Mscmkr, Montana is truly beautiful! It is my hope to ride the scooter in Yellowstone this summer. I only have the one scooter now, the Xciting 500. 2wheelfun, nope no steer riding or cowboys for me, lol. I'll stick with what I have...lol. Thanks again, all, I'm looking forward to learning much.
Title: welcome Pact
Post by: boo on May 24, 2015, 03:03:09 PM: I'm a bit surprised you traded your Downtown for a 500. Most owners that have either the Downtown or the GT hang on to them. Why, great scoots with good power to weight ratio. Will do 90+ mph.
Abs is not that big of a deal to most riders.
Any way, hope you are happy with your new Kymco and have many fun, safe rides.
This is one of the best motor scooter sites around. Many friendly, helpful people here.
Ride safe, boo.

ps: What is the traffic like in Montana?.
Title: Re: New to this forum
Post by: Pactnmmt on May 24, 2015, 06:28:37 PM: Hello boo, thanks for the welcome! I loved the Downtown although I did find the legroom a bit snug, even for my 5'6" height, however, to appease my husband who isn't real happy that I've taken up with riding a scooter, I went ahead and upgraded to the 500 with ABS. (He was a District Judge and adjudicated personal injury cases and saw what happens in some wrecks, plus in the early 70's he was run off the road twice when riding a motorcycle). If Kymco had seen fit to import the Downtown with ABS into the states I would have bought another Downtown. I am happy with the 500 except the seat height issue. I took it to an upholsterer to shave the seat down, who said there was only an inch of foam and he didn't think it should be done. Also the under seat storage of the 500 is not as good as the Downtown.

Traffic in Montana is relatively light. In our town we have a rush 15 minutes instead of a rush hour. Up until the late 90's Montana didn't even have speed limits. The rule was whatever speed was "reasonable and prudent". Many of the secondary roads have speed limits of 60 to 65, no shoulders, sometimes hidden drives. Deer and elk and drunk drivers seem to be the most risk to motorcyclists.
Title: Re: New to this forum
Post by: SUPER 9 MANN on May 25, 2015, 02:17:01 PM: riding scooters is fun so you will have a good time
Title: Re: New to this forum
Post by: GLV55 on May 25, 2015, 02:49:13 PM: Quote from: Pactnmmt on May 24, 2015, 06:28:37 PM
Traffic in Montana is relatively light. In our town we have a rush 15 minutes instead of a rush hour. Up until the late 90's Montana didn't even have speed limits. The rule was whatever speed was "reasonable and prudent". Many of the secondary roads have speed limits of 60 to 65, no shoulders, sometimes hidden drives. Deer and elk and drunk drivers seem to be the most risk to motorcyclists.
I spent the entire summer of 2003 in Missoula and fell in love with the place. Montana is a wonderful state to ride through on a scooter, so get out and enjoy the wide open country! I'm jealous!