I just found this photo off the web showing the t-tap wire connectors. Kragen didn't have any t-taps that I need to install the brake light blinker. They only had quick splice ones which will work also, but they aren't easily removable. These t-taps can be easily removed if needed. I figure I might uninstall this when I sell the scooter and maybe put it on my car. I wonder if it would even work. Maybe worth a try. The quick splices should be cheaper, so maybe I'll take that route. I'll see what the local hardware sells them for.Saturday, October 16, 2010
No tap
I just found this photo off the web showing the t-tap wire connectors. Kragen didn't have any t-taps that I need to install the brake light blinker. They only had quick splice ones which will work also, but they aren't easily removable. These t-taps can be easily removed if needed. I figure I might uninstall this when I sell the scooter and maybe put it on my car. I wonder if it would even work. Maybe worth a try. The quick splices should be cheaper, so maybe I'll take that route. I'll see what the local hardware sells them for.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Brake blinker
Another freebie! Got this from Amazon too using my American Express cc points. If I can manage to install this correctly, it'll make the rear brake lights blink before turning solid. This will hopefully get more attention from motorists as I'm cruising in the city day and night. I'll have to get a hold of some wire taps and take the scooter apart a bit to get this wired up. You dad's not much of an electrician, but we'll see.This is what your dad reads
Uncle Simon introduced me to how cool the library is! The SF libraries have very up to date books! Practically everything I'm looking for is there and it's FREE! Can you believe this many books fits in the "trunk" of the scooter? I have three weeks to read all these. Wish me luck. I plan to renew at least once.Jumped the scooter!
I had borrowed my buddy's scoother (Victor) and after 3 weeks of storage since I using it last, it wouldn't start! Ugh. I thought maybe it was the fuse, but it was fine. The spark plug was changed recently. Oil was changed recently and most of that wouldn't have anything to do with it not starting anyway.
The engine would make a clicking sound and then a hum, but it wouldn't turn over! The blinkers worked so I figured the battery was fine. It had to be something else. After researching a bunch online, I couldn't find anything so opted to take it to a shop to have it fixed. Ugh. That's lots of time and more money than the Honda Elite 80 is worth.
This morning I walked (yes, walked) the scooter up hills and across to the nearest gas station (not that far actually) to put some fresh gas in it, hoping that would do the trick. I hear old gas can get gummy and clog up the carburetor. Cleaning it would require much more mechanical knowledge than I have. Gas was worth a shot.
Didn't work.
This time though, the engine wouldn't even hum. The blinkers blinked slowly and then quit blinking all together! That's good news! That means it could be the battery! Bingo b/c that would be the easiest thing to take care of. Calling AAA to pick it up, bringing it to the shop, waiting for it and riding it back would be an all day ordeal.
Pushed the scooter all the way back home again and logged onto the net to check out how to jump a scooter.
I'm new to all this and have heard that using a car to jump the scooter can damage the battery or at least the fuse of the scooter. I heard elsewhere though that it will work if the car engine is not turned on. Too many amps can cause this type of damage but a car that's not turned on should provide sufficient charge w/o hurting anything.
1. Hook up the non-working scooter first (white). Positive end. Then negative end.
2. Next hook up the negative end to the working scooter (blue)
3. Then hook up the positive end to the working scooter.
4. Start up the engine on the working scooter and let it sit. It shouldn't take more than 5 minutes before the non-working scooter gets charged. Start the previously non-working scooter. If the engine starts,
5. Cut the engine of the original working scooter and
6. Unplug everything in reverse order.
WHAT I LEARNED:
1. Don't start the car if you use a car battery to jump a scooter. The difference in amperage is too high and could mess up the battery or the fuse. Jump it with the car off.
2. But since I have my own scooter, that was the safest way to jump it. With a scooter, you do have to start the good scooter engine. Followed the instructions at: http://www.ehow.com/how_4758306_jump-start-motorcycle-battery.html and it worked like a charm! Took it for a 15 minute spin to get the alternator going and the battery charging and when I turned the engine off, it started back up w/no problem!
The engine would make a clicking sound and then a hum, but it wouldn't turn over! The blinkers worked so I figured the battery was fine. It had to be something else. After researching a bunch online, I couldn't find anything so opted to take it to a shop to have it fixed. Ugh. That's lots of time and more money than the Honda Elite 80 is worth.
This morning I walked (yes, walked) the scooter up hills and across to the nearest gas station (not that far actually) to put some fresh gas in it, hoping that would do the trick. I hear old gas can get gummy and clog up the carburetor. Cleaning it would require much more mechanical knowledge than I have. Gas was worth a shot.
Didn't work.
This time though, the engine wouldn't even hum. The blinkers blinked slowly and then quit blinking all together! That's good news! That means it could be the battery! Bingo b/c that would be the easiest thing to take care of. Calling AAA to pick it up, bringing it to the shop, waiting for it and riding it back would be an all day ordeal.
Pushed the scooter all the way back home again and logged onto the net to check out how to jump a scooter.
I'm new to all this and have heard that using a car to jump the scooter can damage the battery or at least the fuse of the scooter. I heard elsewhere though that it will work if the car engine is not turned on. Too many amps can cause this type of damage but a car that's not turned on should provide sufficient charge w/o hurting anything.
1. Hook up the non-working scooter first (white). Positive end. Then negative end.2. Next hook up the negative end to the working scooter (blue)
3. Then hook up the positive end to the working scooter.
4. Start up the engine on the working scooter and let it sit. It shouldn't take more than 5 minutes before the non-working scooter gets charged. Start the previously non-working scooter. If the engine starts,
5. Cut the engine of the original working scooter and
6. Unplug everything in reverse order.
WHAT I LEARNED:
1. Don't start the car if you use a car battery to jump a scooter. The difference in amperage is too high and could mess up the battery or the fuse. Jump it with the car off.
2. But since I have my own scooter, that was the safest way to jump it. With a scooter, you do have to start the good scooter engine. Followed the instructions at: http://www.ehow.com/how_4758306_jump-start-motorcycle-battery.html and it worked like a charm! Took it for a 15 minute spin to get the alternator going and the battery charging and when I turned the engine off, it started back up w/no problem!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Helmet reflector
Free from Amazon! I used my American Express cc points which now can be used there now!It's normally $10 and even if I had to pay for it, safety gear is always worth it. It's a band used to stretch around the motorcycle helmet to increase night time visibility in all directions. There's a rubber textured grip on the inside to keep friction against the outside of the helmet.
It has a pretty clean look. Very light weight. The proportions are perfect. I'm glad the band isn't any wider than it is. I like that it continues the color scheme in the daylight hours.It's just an elastic band. Some owners have complained that over time, it stretches and falls off the helmet and ends up being a reflective necklace. Nothing some velcro or tape can't cure.
It's tough to capture on film, but here's my shot at it from a side view. The band reflects much brighter in real life. At a straight on angle, as it would be seen on the road, the reflectivity is pretty good. I'll have to do another test shot at a distance later on.
This is the view from the back. I added the upper reflective tape earlier. Right smack in the middle. It blends well with the design of the helmet just between the exhaust air vents.It's literally reflective masking tape. $2/roll which I got from my recent vacation in Toronto. Stands out. Better than nothing. The angle of the light wasn't directly on the bottom ring band, so it's not lighting up nearly as clearly as it should.
Close call
As I'm heading into an intersection, I have my head up with my eyes moving a million miles per hour scouting everything around me. Luckily I slow to a halt as I see a van not slowing down at his red light. He goes right by w/o hesitation. If I had maintained my speed, I would have broadsided him or worse - he could have hit me. I saw him in time that my stop wasn't abrupt and luckily there wasn't a driver behind me who could have potentially rear ended me.
Flash flash flash
Gotcha! The red light camera's the witness and this idiot driver should be getting a $450 ticket in the mail soon. Bastard deserves it.
Two more vans cause trouble today:
2. Another van earlier that evening decides not to turn left in the left turn only lane, but instead drives forward in my way. Again, I'm lucky that my habit is to look to confirm that people are doing what they're supposed to be doing on the road.
3. A third van with Oregon plates decides to roll through every stop sign and cut off every driver (two) on a one lane in each direction double solid yellow line street. I stayed back as far as I could. He took his time parallel parking when he finally got to his destination so obviously not in a hurry. He's just an idiot like the rest of them.
Gotta keep my eyes peeled for idiot van drivers. Seriously...
It's true that scooterists need to keep an eye out for vans. Lots of times (twice today), these drivers have more on their mind than driving. Little kids in the back screaming or a delivery that "needs" to be made ASAP. Sometimes it's just an asshole who thinks he's better than everyone else. It's all selfishness and entitlement, the two things that screw up this world for the rest of us. If it wasn't for my habit of continuously reevaluating my environment, I could have been toast.
LESSONS LEARNED?
1. Stay away from vans for three reasons. The typical woman driver can't drive. They probably have kids or a delivery and aren't paying as much attention as other drivers. Vans have a bigger blind spot.
2. Continue riding like I'm invisible and every intersection has no signals. The only way I can confirm someone won't be driving directly in front of me is to see them stopped at their red light or stop light. If I approach an empty intersection, you can bet your ass I'm slowing down to look both ways all while keeping an eye behind me anyone who doesn't feel like slowing or stopping.
3. The situation is inevitable. There will always be shitty drivers out there who shouldn't be on the road. I just want to be sure I'm either not around when they're being stupid or I'm well aware of what's happening either before or while it's happening.
4. I'm glad I signed up for the advanced rider course. Just waiting for the class to start - $125 should be well worth it.
Although scooter riding isn't as dangerous as I initially thought and I'm getting more and more confident each day I ride, it's still a scary world out there. I've decided there's absolutely no way I'm taking anyone on the back of my scooter for more than a joy ride around the block.
Flash flash flash
Gotcha! The red light camera's the witness and this idiot driver should be getting a $450 ticket in the mail soon. Bastard deserves it.
Two more vans cause trouble today:
2. Another van earlier that evening decides not to turn left in the left turn only lane, but instead drives forward in my way. Again, I'm lucky that my habit is to look to confirm that people are doing what they're supposed to be doing on the road.
3. A third van with Oregon plates decides to roll through every stop sign and cut off every driver (two) on a one lane in each direction double solid yellow line street. I stayed back as far as I could. He took his time parallel parking when he finally got to his destination so obviously not in a hurry. He's just an idiot like the rest of them.
Gotta keep my eyes peeled for idiot van drivers. Seriously...
It's true that scooterists need to keep an eye out for vans. Lots of times (twice today), these drivers have more on their mind than driving. Little kids in the back screaming or a delivery that "needs" to be made ASAP. Sometimes it's just an asshole who thinks he's better than everyone else. It's all selfishness and entitlement, the two things that screw up this world for the rest of us. If it wasn't for my habit of continuously reevaluating my environment, I could have been toast.
LESSONS LEARNED?
1. Stay away from vans for three reasons. The typical woman driver can't drive. They probably have kids or a delivery and aren't paying as much attention as other drivers. Vans have a bigger blind spot.
2. Continue riding like I'm invisible and every intersection has no signals. The only way I can confirm someone won't be driving directly in front of me is to see them stopped at their red light or stop light. If I approach an empty intersection, you can bet your ass I'm slowing down to look both ways all while keeping an eye behind me anyone who doesn't feel like slowing or stopping.
3. The situation is inevitable. There will always be shitty drivers out there who shouldn't be on the road. I just want to be sure I'm either not around when they're being stupid or I'm well aware of what's happening either before or while it's happening.
4. I'm glad I signed up for the advanced rider course. Just waiting for the class to start - $125 should be well worth it.
Although scooter riding isn't as dangerous as I initially thought and I'm getting more and more confident each day I ride, it's still a scary world out there. I've decided there's absolutely no way I'm taking anyone on the back of my scooter for more than a joy ride around the block.
GPS
I was too cheap to buy a motorcycle GPS mounting bracket, so I would just do my best to memorize the route while keeping my GPS running in my pocket in case I needed it. I'd pull it out at stop lights to take a quick glance. Probably not the best idea. Again, it's not the best idea to be looking at a GPS screen while on a motorcycle/scooter.
After looking on the web briefly, I found a bracket normally priced for $30 for a discounted $4 shipped from my favorite online retailer - Ebay! Unfortunately after I arrived, I discovered that there wasn't enough clearance beneath the horizontal part of the handlebar stem to mount the bracket. I had to remove the handlebars! I already had the tools, but just needed the guts to do it. I looked up the proper torque and started my work. 4 bolts later, it was off.
The final product looks pretty good. I just need to remember to never ever look at the screen while riding. I'm relying on the sound which I have maximized to hear the directions. I'll glance at it during a stop, but NEVER while the scooter's moving.
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