Step 1 - Purchase Scooter (Finished)

So I got my new scooter today.

Terrible weather conditions for riding. Rode it for a total of about 75 seconds before I made up my mind. Might sound a little hasty, but I've been researching all about these scooters for about a week now. I kinda knew I wanted it before I even rode it. I mean, come on. This scooter sells for about $1,600 brand new. $400 and a cheap rifle AND free delivery...? Hell yeah I'm going to jump on that deal. This thing is virtually brand new. We're talking less than 300 miles (or maybe its kilometers...) on the odometer!

If you can't tell, I'm very happy about the deal.

But it's far from being ready. As much as I hate to fix something that isn't broken, there is no way I'm going to ride across the country on a stock scooter. Here's my plan.

1. First things first. This may sound like cheating, but I see it as being more than necessary. If I'm going up mountains, and if I'm going to be using my inverter to power my electronics, like this computer and my very necessary mp3 player, then I'm going to need the extra power. There are a few engine upgrades I'm looking at. This is going to be my first choice, as it is the largest power and speed increase for the dollar. $160 70cc cylinder and piston w/gaskets kit. That will give me about 8 hp, which is about double the 50cc's current horsepower. That should put me at about 50mph cruising speed.
2. Secondly, I will need to add a windshield. I'm doing my ride in the winter months. I don't care how south I go, there are going to be some cold nights and mornings out there. Windshield to block wind and rain. A must have.
3. Thirdly, depending on how well the scooter preforms after I install the piston and cylinder upgrade, I will be changing out the final gear ratio. This will put me at about 60mph cruising speed. (Not uphill, of course). That way, it won't take me a month to get there. I will also be able to squeeze out onto a highway or two; if I absolutely must. Not to mention the thrill of going faster than 35 mph. Yes, this will affect my MPG, bringing it down from the stock MPG of about 100-120 around to about 70-80 MPG. Might seem like a big difference, but I'm still doing loads better than my car. My car is actually good on gas, and I can only squeeze out maybe 35 mpg. So I'm not too worried about it.
4. Then it's just down to packing, getting physically and mentally ready, and selling the rest of my things. I think I'm ready. No way to really know until I test myself, which I feel I will be testing myself more than I've ever done, maybe. We'll see.

My Final Answer

That's it. I've decided.

It seems no matter how hard I deliberate on a certain decision, once that decision is made there is no turning back.

Now here I am. I have been trying to imagine how difficult this will be. I don't think I've even grasped the concept yet. I keep saying it over and over in my head. "I am going to ride a 50cc scooter... across... the USA..." And yet every time I think of it I seem to become a 12 year old boy again taking a bike ride just a little farther than he should... At least that's how I feel. The mixture of fear and excited curiosity is quiet addicting. The more anxiety I feel, the more I want to begin my journey.

I know it may seem very far fetched to some of you out there. That is only normal. Most of you have never even considered where your money goes when you travel. I, on the other hand, have become the most frugal of the frugal. Ask my brother, ask my father. They'll tell you. I can pinch some pennies, baby. But that isn't something I was born with. Being cautious with my money is something I had to teach myself. I grew up with a father that spent every dime he had to satisfy other's longings. I learned from him, be it in the way that he would have wanted... probably not. But I did. I learned that if you want something, you can get it. In learning that, I also learned that if someone else truly wants or needs something... they can get it.

So when I see a $250 plane ticket going one way from ocean to ocean, I wonder if I could do that myself. Sorta like how I wonder if the General Tso's Chicken from the takeout Chinese down the street could be made cheaper at home, and tastier (and believe me, it can). I also began to wonder why I am taking the plane in the first place. I have a suspended license which prohibits me from driving. In order to have it reinstated I have to pay X amount of funds and take Y number of classes, which in turn cost Z number of funds. More trouble than it's worth IMHO (Cars are a VERY overrated luxury in the US). So I get to brainstorming and Google-ing. My first thought was to hitch hike there.

I had a buddy in high school that hitched across the US and back. He ended up meeting some very reputable people and posing quiet the charm onto them. One said person actually offered to pay his college tuition completely-- room, food, books, classes... everything. I know how modest Matt is. He obviously refused multiple times. The guy must have been persistent. Amazing, I know. There truly are people out there who care for others. Maybe the world isn't doomed... So yeah. I floated on that idea for a few minutes. Then I realized it's not for me. Maybe I thought it was too dangerous, maybe I thought it was too much walking... Whatever my excuse was, the real reason is because I'm afraid. You hear horror stories about it all of your adolescent life. Just didn't sit right with me.

I went to the next best thing. Biking across America. Loads of people have done it. Why not me? Well for one thing, I'm not a big fella. I'm 5'5" and weigh 145 pounds. I'm physically fit for an adult, but not even close to the shape I would need to be in for that type of journey. Plus, I don't want to spend a quarter of a year on the road. Not yet at least. This is my first adventure, learned to crawl before you walk, ya know what I'm sayin'?

That's how I came to the idea of scootering. By brother had owned a couple scooters growing up, so I was pretty familiar. Scooter Across America. As soon as I thought about it, I became excited. Very excited. Not only had this seemed like the best idea, but it seemed like it would actually be possible! I decided instantly that the best course of action would be to study. I studied bikers articles about traveling long distance, and I even studied other 50cc scooter articles about traveling long distance. My mind was set, and there's no turning back.

Scooters are pretty cheap. I sold my motorcycle a few weeks back, and have the money I'd intended to use on a plane ticket in my pocket. I began searching and researching about all kinds of scooters. What I found out was that scooters came in about 4 different quality levels.

A) Italian Scooters (Vespa, Aprilia)

B) Japanese Scooters (Honda, Yamaha)

C) Korea, Taiwan Scooters (Daelim, Hyosung)

D) Chinese Scooters (Geely, Tank, QJ, Yamati)

Well. This is where I stand now. I've been scouting Craigslist.org's all around my area to find a suitable model. I just can't afford anything nicer than a Chinese Scooter. So I've checked out how long they typically last. They seem to go up to about 10k miles average, if well cared for. Seems plenty for this trip. I'm just lost as to whether or not I should go with a high end model, say a Japanese Honda Elite that is well out of its prime (1986 with 7k miles) Or if I should go with the Daelim A-Four, even though its moderately priced, It doesn't have much of a support group on the web. And of course there are the dozens of 2003-2008 Chinese brand scooters running anywhere from $300 to $900.

I think I've decided on the Daelim, if I can get it. The poster has yet to reply to my message. Just seems like the best idea. They've got a decent track record. Or maybe I want the cheap Chinese one, so that if something does happen to it.. I won't care as much.

Time for another final answer. An irreverseable declaration of a decision-- by me.

Wish me luck. This is a decision that can make or break my adventure.