Pavement scooter

[TPococke]

My wife and I went on a ride in the Colorado mountains on Saturday. Most of the ride was on paved highway but we decided to take a shortcut home. It was a dirtroad heading downhill with some very steep switchbacks. The 500 may be great on pavement but on a steep dirt downhill grade, not so good. There is no low gear to be able to use the engine to slow down. I had to ride the brakes the 5+ mile downhill. And you have to make sure you are going straight when you do apply the brakes. Applying the brakes on a downhill sandy turn is just asking for trouble. Lesson learned.
Now I have to wonder if taking the 500 up the Pikes Peak toll road is such a good idea. The ride up will be just fine but I am worried about the ride down. From 14,110 feet to around 10,000 feet of downhill dirt road.
Any usefull suggestions? I an going to try it anyway, sometime this month.
Tim

[zombie]

You could install a RED MALOSSI torsion spring, and shim the hell out of it to force the torsion controller to stay shut longer. You will need MOST of your throttle to get up the hill (would anyway) but this will give you some control over engine braking

[TPococke]

Thanks for the info. I just have to wonder if the RED MALOSSI torsion spring will be worth installing for the one morning I will use it or if I should just rely on the brakes for the one ride. I can't see myself needing it again but I am a newbie so who knows. Ah decisions, decisions. Thanks again Zombie..

[wordslinger]

Applying the brakes on a downhill sandy turn is just asking for trouble. Lesson learned.

..that's common for all two-wheelers..

..gotta watch the balance between front and rear braking...


 

..without some mods, the x500 ain't the best vehicle to be riding up pikes peak and back...

 

..get you a chain-drive for that...lol...

[TPococke]

Well I climbed the mountain 3 times on foot, twice from the front side and once from the back (before the M.S.). I just gotta do it on the scooter. I got enough scars from the hikes I figure the scooter won't kill me. Just going to have to stop and let them brakes cool down a couple of times.