170 Mile Day Trip Riding Impressions

[Oldscoot]

Yesterday I took a club ride down to the Gulf of Mexico and up the coast to Galveston for BBQ lunch and back to Houston.  We did over 170 miles of mixed highway, local roads and roads under construction.  We rode into 15 mph headwinds all the way down and enjoyed great tailwinds all the way back.  I was glad I had my windshield – though it could have been an inch taller to deal with the headwinds. It worked fine on the return trip.  Our speeds varied between 70 mph to traffic crawl speeds.  The bike was rock solid at 70 even with gusting winds and when applying full throttle it still had decent acceleration.  I weigh 210 – so with you skinny guys/gals you’ll go even faster. The suspension worked well even on the roads under construction.  We rode some twisties on back rodes and the bike hung in on each turn.   I averaged a little better than 70 mph.  I had great confidence in the bike and it reminded me of one of my mid-sized bikes of yesteryear.  When I got home I ordered an Airhawk Cruiser R because my butt could use a little bit of help on the next ride.  It is far more stable than my Vespa 300 GTS at high speed and will be my bike of choice for future road trips.           

[iker]

hi, oldscoot. i also have a vespa 300 and i agree with you. i like my gold 300gt much better.

hows your gas mileage ? i'm 230 lbs and with 1400 miles so far mpg is around 60-65. vespa gets a lot more,but i still prefer the GT300 aka sparkey a lot more.

i rode last two days 160 and 125 miles. lots of winds but temps of 70-75 both days. i have a air hawk and like it a lot.

hows the leo vince pipe working out ? much louder ? what was price ?

[Oldscoot]

hi, oldscoot. i also have a vespa 300 and i agree with you. i like my gold 300gt much better.

hows your gas mileage ? i'm 230 lbs and with 1400 miles so far mpg is around 60-65. vespa gets a lot more,but i still prefer the GT300 aka sparkey a lot more.

i rode last two days 160 and 125 miles. lots of winds but temps of 70-75 both days. i have a air hawk and like it a lot.

hows the leo vince pipe working out ? much louder ? what was price ?

I got a little over 70 mpg on the way back and I may have been aided a little by a tailwind.   

The Leo Vince is fairly quiet - in fact it's quieter than the Leo Vince I have on my Vespa 300 GTS.  It may grow somewhat louder with age.  I like its looks better better than the OEM and it is lighter.  I paid $439.00 plus $19.00 in shipping.  No US dealers carry them and I bought it direct from Leo Vince who shipped it to me from Italy.
   
The Leo Vince part # on my invoice is 3429C.

Which model Airhawk did you get? I got the medium crusier "R".

[iker]

i got the same one, the medium size. since i have the givi screen, which is tall, i'm thinking of putting 1/2 in. of foam under the air hawk. this will give me better leg height to floor.

[fshfindr]

Good to get all the info on the bike.  However, I do believe thet I have a few years on you.  I'm scheduled to take a long ride with a group that I just joined.  So what I want to know is how did Oldscoot do on the trip. 

Richard L.

[iker]

hi, richard. i think oldscoot is 65, just a kid as i'm 77 and have no problems on trips 100-300 miles a day. wx in southern new mexico is getting warmer - at last - but its windy time. people is very stable in the winds. i'm loving it.

[Oldscoot]

Good to get all the info on the bike.  However, I do believe thet I have a few years on you.  I'm scheduled to take a long ride with a group that I just joined.  So what I want to know is how did Oldscoot do on the trip. 

Richard L.

I'm happy to say that the trip, other than some windburn, was lessing taxing on me than doing garden honey-dos for the wife.  Back, hands, neck and butt  awoke the next morn in fine shape.  In May my other scooter club is going to a camping weekend on the Guadalupe River. That's about 165 miles each way and I know now that it will be piece of cake.  Sleeping on the ground presents another set of problems which might be cured by finding a nearby motel.

   

[Cortez]

Someone pass the popcorn!

[boo]

Someone pass the popcorn!

ok   

[Oldscoot]

Someone pass the popcorn!

I'm pretty new to this type of forum.  What does this mean?   

[Cortez]

+1
 

[Oldscoot]

Looking forward to seeing photos and watching. Like going to see a movie. 

+2    I will keep you posted on the progress of this trip.

[fshfindr]

That's good to hear.  I'll be 74 in July and I just joined a group too.  I'll make the first ride a short one.  So far my longest is 70 miles last Sunday and I was fine with it.  It's all good, gettin younger every day.  Oldscoot and Iker, we have to get together some time.  Might be a little tough though, I'm in South Jersey.

Richard L.