I recall about '48 or '49 having the hots for a Cushman with a cast iron Wisconsin engine. Really, anything with an engine was neat, even a Whizzer set-up on a Schwinn! The Cushman was very simple, crudely made of angle iron and flat-wrap sheet metal. It had huge amounts of resonant vibrating metal noise and was very heavy. I think it was fascinating because it was easy for a kid to understand and I thought I could build one given the chance. Glad I never had either Cushman or the Whizzer. Mom and Dad's BSA singles were far more interesting not much later. Unfortunately, they were nearly killed by a farmer on the wrong side of the road (imagine that!) and had to take to a highway ditch to avoid a head on. Dad dove in first and Mom rode in on top of him! They hung it up for many years after that. Until I came home from the Navy with a 250 Honda Hawk.
When I saw the scooters available in 2009 I was stunned! That Kymco Yager was FUEL INJECTED! It was light, powerful and cruised easily to Springfield, MO and back to TN. A whole new world in personal transport had been invented! Different personalities than the BSA but a grace way beyond a Cushman. And they were quiet!
