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From: djw@lanl.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.bicycle,net.cycle
Subject: Re: requesting advice about motorscooters for 16 yr. old daughter
Message-ID: <30489@lanl.ARPA>
Date: Tue, 3-Sep-85 13:19:38 EDT
Article-I.D.: lanl.30489
Posted: Tue Sep  3 13:19:38 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 5-Sep-85 06:38:33 EDT
References: <2036T3B@psuvm> <494@spar.UUCP> <62@l5.uucp>
Reply-To: djw@a.UUCP (David Wade)
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Xref: watmath net.bicycle:1582 net.cycle:1203

In article <62@l5.uucp> gnu@l5.uucp (John Gilmore) writes:
>
>My impression is that a scooter offers more protection in case of an
>accident (and certainly more weather protection) but I have only test
>driven them.  I've ridden motorcycles for about 80,000 miles over 15 years.

I firmly believe that you are mistaken.  When I had my accident the scooter
tried to dive under the car due to the small front tires.  A motorcycle would
have rebound from the bumper in a different manner.  I would be interested
in reading of some tests if anyone has bothered to do them.

A scooter is much more dangerous on a wet street than a motorcycle.  The
scooter doesn't have to lean over nearly as far to have the tires slip
out to the side.

And anyone who thinks a scooter doesn't go fast - hasn't ridden one lately.
That 1961 Lambretta that did my knee in would do a wheelstand if you
inadvertently "popped" the clutch in third gear >45 miles an hour.  A
scooter running down the highway on its back wheel at 45 mph is not very
aereodynamic; you fall away from any vagrant breeze.  I remember rideing
"two-up" ( a practice to be discouraged with extreme vigour ) across the
Oakland-Bay Bridge around 6pm once.  The cars crossed at ~70 mph so the
wind inside the bridge moves from "the city" to Oakland at 70 mph and so
did this little 150cc Lambretta with two 170 lb. adults... Exhilerating
to say the least.

Buy her a small motorcycle ( NOT A MOPED-TYPE ).  This is really the
voice of experience talking.
Dave Wade