KymcoForum.com

Not to keep beating a dead horse... but one cool September evening last Fall I came home from work and changed into my armoured jacket and pants and full face helmet. I was not sure of my decision to get all decked out just for a short ride over on Emerald Mountain. I wore my 3/4 helmet the night before and it was more comfortable but that night I grabbed my full face helmet. Which was a good choice because my face was the first thing to hit the asphalt. I was having so much fun that I stayed out until dark and in my neck of the woods the deer are active and plentiful after dark. When the big doe ran in front of me and froze in my headlight all I could do was hit the brakes and the big Xciting500 locked up on me. (No ABS). I went over the windshield and managed to break 5 ribs, tear my right knee cartilage, and break a bone in my right foot. My jacket and pants were shredded like tissue paper and so were my elbows and knees. I shudder to think if I had been in shorts and a T-shirt. ATGATT!!!

Blue,
I'm a Certified Psychiatric Nurse. I have a deree in Nursing, graduate in Psychology and a PhD in Human Behavior so I guess you can say I'm a Doctor Nurse. Never lived in Michigan though.
Mike

Kiki, Creo que soy mejor en Ingles pero muchas gracias para sue translescion. Tu Ingles es mucho mas mejor que mi Espanol. Te vio pronto tambien mi amigo. Mike

Hi Kiki
Your English is great. I know a little Spainish. I grew up in Central and South America and moved back to the US when I was 15. I'm 65 now and have forgotten most. 2 years ago I spent a wonderful 2 weeks vacation in Begur, Spain. My in-laws and my wife and I went in together and rented a villa up on the mountain there and what a beautiful country. The streets in the towns are small and the roads are all twisties so I can see how a scooter would be so much fun. I know you and your son are enjoying yours. I had the Xciting 500Ri until last month when I traded it for a Can Am Spyder. I really miss my Kymco. It was a big powerful scooter and a pleasure to ride. We always enjoy hearing from our international friends and hope you will become a regular on our forum. Entonces, buenos noches mi amigo, Mike

Vivo,
You're right and I've reached that age and will take all the "safety features" I can get. Turned 65 back in January and I guess "Guru" is just another name for "old fart"? I really miss the skills and thrills of riding a scooter, especially my Xciting 500. That was a really big bike for a novice and I dropped it several times. It became frustrating to see a beautiful new machine get scratches and scrapes on the fairing and sides.But I eventually learned to "trust my left side", (thank you for that advice by the way), and riding became such a pleasure. Maybe some day in the future I can get another one but that's going to take a lot of lobbying with Mrs. Green.
ATGATT,
Mike

Hi Vivo!,
It's got to be around 12 noon in your part of the world. Sorry to hear about another catastrophic storm to hit your beautiful islands. It always amazes me how interelated our worlds and economies are. Bananas are an enormous import commodity to the US and depletion of the crop in the PI will surely cause prices to go up. I hope you are doing well. When I lived in South America the locals had a wonderfull and very civilized custom in my opinion. About 2:00pm all the shops and merchants would close up and go home for a nice lunch and then have a nap, (siesta) until about 5:00 pm and then re-open. What a great custom. Do you have siesta in the PI? I think there would be much less stress and probably more productivity if the whole world took the afternoon off. Take care and have a nice rum for me. Mike

Just got back from a 40 mile after work relaxation ride on the Spyder. Rode over to the Jasmine Hills/Emerald Mountain area that is nothing but twisting steep hills. I really tried to test the limits, (and mine) of this motorcycle and was really impressed. I remember when going down a steep long grade on the Xciting my only option was to apply the brakes. With this bike it will allow me to drop down in a lower gear and the clutch torque will slow it down. It also has a feature, VSS, Vehicle Stability System, when the sensors send configurations to the computer that you're approaching a curve outside of the safety parameters it will apply the ABS and slow you through the curve safely. I call it "Idiot Proofing" which I surely need. I am really starting to enjoy the Spyder as I ride it more. The only downside is the footbrake. I miss the levers. Someday when I have $1000 I will convert the footbrake to a hand lever. The handlebars are also too far away and cause neck pain. A handlebar riser kit is abour $200 and that's going to be my first mod. Thanks for allowing me to share and remain a part of this great forum. Ride Safe,
Mike

Karl,
Please be aware that if this organization prevents one wreck, injury, or loss of life your involvement and support were not wasted. You are now trained and can "carry the message" where ever you go. Back in Sept. I was in a scooter wreck, not with a cager but a deer, and that was the most painfull event of my life. We forget that when we go down and hit the asphalt there is nothing between us and the road. I always practice ATGATT and that saved my life but the impact against the pavement is severe and always dangerous. So thank you for your time and effort.
Mike