Recently I indicated that I’ll be receiving two free scooters. One is the 150cc GY6 fake Ruckus I parted ways with long ago. The other is a Honda Spree. It already runs and rides, it would in theory just need a title issue resolved.
The idea is that one gets sold while the other becomes my two wheel Gambler companion. I shoved the Spree into the back of the Passat on Saturday night.
This thing is so lightweight and so tiny that I carried it up two flights of stairs to my apartment all by myself. Likewise, it can be laid on its side and stuffed into the Passat’s rear end without folding any seats!
In theory, this makes it perfect for my Gambler duties. It already runs and rides, it doesn’t require a trailer to haul it around, I can carry it, it’s tiny, and since it’s technically written off (stolen then later recovered), it’s practically worthless.
But I gave it a light cleaning and sorta put the side covers back on...and darn is this thing so cuuuuute! In fact, so cute that offroading it should be a federal crime.
Alrighty then, the Chuckus is the one heading to Tennessee with me next month. It’s heavier and bigger, but at least it has more power and nobody will care if a Chinese bike gets hurt. The Spree’s going to chill in my living room for a bit while I figure out what to do with it before I sell it. It could be a neat way to teach Miss Beetle some basic vehicle mechanics and teach myself how to confidently crack a scooter engine open. Not often I get the opportunity to learn vehicle stuff from the comfort of a climate controlled space.
The Vespa project is also getting axed. It’s easier to take a scoot that’s already running and riding and offroad that rather than getting that thing even close to ready. I could profit off it but nah, I’d rather just see it go to a good home.
Meanwhile, I went to IMS Chicago over the weekend and was delighted to see Janus Motorcycles. They’re an outfit from Indiana that hand builds these bikes that look straight out of a time machine. I quite liked their fit and finish and they put a lot of detail into these things. Like other motorcycle startups, they source their engines from China and said engines are 250cc or lower thumpers. So...don’t expect to get anywhere quick.
The number plate is actually the bike model’s serial number. This Phoenix 250 is the 33rd Phoenix built.
I also attempted a wheelie at the IMS wheelie demo. I wasn’t great, but not nearly as bad as some of the dudes there. Someone came down so hard they threw themselves off the bike! RIP those fork seals...