Sending Out an S.O.S.

(Save Our Stella, that is...)

So, yeah, wow. It's been over a month since I last posted... And that's mostly because, for awhile, AGAIN, Julep was refusing to start. She stalled out in the driveway a few weeks ago, and since then, nothing I tried would work. Electric start, kick start, leaning her to the engine side, still nothing. So, to say the least, I was a little frustrated, and was starting to regret this purchase. I didn't want to have to borrow Nereida's van and haul the scooter down to Philly Scooters for service... I've heard they take weeks, if not months, to get to work that is not prep and warranty work on scooters they have sold. I know that a good number of Stella and Vespa owners do their own maintenance and repairs, so, I sent out an email to the Hostile City Scooter Club Yahoo group... asking if anyone would be willing to come out and take a look at her. To my surprise, I actually got a few responses – from Joe in South Philly, Curt in Fishtown, and Griffin from Northern Liberties. It took a while to coordinate schedules, but hey, I could wait. I'd be waiting if I took it down to the shop anyway.



In the meantime, I was missing a lot of really nice riding weather... which made me a little sad. But early last week, Kirk rode his Ural Raven to work, and he took me out on a mid-day Taco Bell run. He rode around a bit and actually went out to 130 to give me the exhilarating experience of going 60mph in a side car. It was quite windy – I think I would have appreciated a full face helmet. But it was lots of fun. Thanks Kirk!

Griffin finally came out last night. He came straight from work at 7 and probably left us around 9/9:30. Keep in mind, this guy doesn't know me from Eve. That's pretty awesome. Anyway, he tried to start Julep... and good thing – she wouldn't start for him either. So I didn't end up looking like an idiot. He took apart the carburetor and sprayed in some carb cleaner and it (kick)started on that. BUT, he said, it appeared that it wasn't getting any gas. And trust me, the gas tank was about half full. He lifted out the gas tank and noticed that the gas line looked like it was getting pinched by the seam in the oil tank (which is attatched to the bottom of the gas tank). But he couldnt figure out how to avoid that. There didn't seem to be anywhere else for the line to go. So he fiddled with it and put the tank back in. Tim suggested that maybe if there was more gas in the tank there would be more pressure in the line... That would make sense, since as the level of gas went down, the scooter got progressively harder to start. I then also surmised that the fact that there is less gas getting to the engine, could be why the scooter was seemingly running rich (ed. note – Kirk just corrected me. He said if it wasn't getting enough gas, it would be considered LEAN. Okay, so I surmised wrongly). We wanted to test out Tim's theory, but he was unable to find his gas can.

While Tim was looking, Griffin messed around with some other stuff and then started putting things back together. He had managed to get it started and adjusted the idle speed up a bit (which I asked about before realizing that he had already done it). He suggested that I lay off the electric start and reserve it for if I stall out at a light or something. After getting everything back together (except for that pesky mixture screw plug!!!), he putted off to Mt. Airy. Many thanks, Griffin. We will be heading your way soon with a 6-pack of your choice. :)

Check back soon for a report on Julep's first day back on the road!!!

License (Plate) to Drive

Two big things on the road to legality...

#1: I FINALLY PUT MY LICENSE PLATE ON
So, at last, Julep could leagally hit the pavement... From now on, it's no more grass for her. I took her out on Thursday and Friday. I rode the square block around the HS football field... a fairly quiet area just off the street where she's garaged. I stalled a couple times that first day out, and got honked at by an impatient person when I took too long to take off from a corner. Oh, well. But, there was some attention paid that was not negative... I met Salvatore, Nereida's Italian neighbor, who said he saw them a lot in the old country – he never had one, but his brother had... : ) A pizza guy also stopped to ask me about it... And of course, there are always the little dogs that get strangely excited at the sight of the scooter. Luckily, they were all on leashes this time! Things to work on: getting my speed up more quickly, and matching my gears to road speed (especially when downshifting). Then, I can venture beyond the safe-zone.

#2: I PASSED MY MOTORCYCLE TEST TODAY!!!
I re-took the second session of the rider course this morning. I was so nervous when I first arrived. I was sitting in the car practically shaking. Then I said to myself, "So WHAT if I fail? REALLY?" After that, I went out to meet Dan and Beth. I can't believe how much better this session went. I think it was because of my cumulative knowledge from the previous classes, the experience of riding Julep a bit, and finally getting the friction zone. I think I was scared to use the throttle before, that was why I kept stalling out. I was generous with it from the start this time. I think I may have stalled once (ok, maybe twice). Dan and Beth and I chatted it up between exercises and cheered eachother on and just had a lot of fun. And yay! We all passed!!!

Triumph of the Will

I was out of town all weekend... and it's been raining so far all week. So, my getting out on the road has been delayed... But a highlight of late was my ride on the back of Kirk's Triumph Bonneville, Pistol Pete. It's a nice bike and a was a really nice, smooth (and, not to mention, quiet) ride. Thanks Kirk. Can't wait for a ride in the side car of the Ural!

Other motorcycle news... I had known for awhile that my dad had owned a motorcycle when he was young, but I never knew it was a cool (albeit small) bike. All I know at this point, is that it was a Ducati 350. Based on my internet research, I'm figuring it was a 350 Mark 3 D. I don't know what color it was, but it would have been similar to this:


I think it would be cool to get one at some point. I think it would be a good size for me, even if Kirk thinks I'd be better off with a 750cc Triumph... But I think he's a little biased.

50,000,000 Stella Fans Can't Be Wrong

I went out on the field again yesterday.
Nereida's entire family rode their bikes down to watch me practice. I had to redeem myself in the eyes of the kids, since I had met with the schoolyard fence under their little watchful eyes. And they wouldn't let me forget it.
The family with the two dogs and boys playing soccer was there again. I was not intimidated this time, though. I zipped around the field once, and when I came back, one by one, everyone took a ride with me – from little Jacob, who was scared at first, but who once we got going, picked his head up and exclaimed, "This is awesome!!!"... all the way up to mom. When Tim arrived a little later, I also gave him a spin around the field.

I tested the limits of third gear. With Lani on back, I hit 20 mph (twice!) on the straightaway. And third gear pep allowed us to escape the jaws of the fiesty little terrier who broke free from his owner and ran straight at us... I zoomed away and left that puppy in the dust.

Back in the Saddle (Julep Rides Again)

(Yes, that is, in fact, me, captured on camera phone)

The past two Tuesdays and Saturdays I took the Motorcycle Safety Course. Pete took the class with me in hopes that Nereida will let him get a bike someday (soon!). Tuesday evenings are in the classroom, culminating in a 50-question multiple choice test. Saturdays are on the riding range, and end with the riding skills test. If you pass both tests, you earn your motorcycle endorsement.

I have mixed emotions about the course. I thought the pace was a little fast for someone who has never been on a motocycle before. I went away from the first Saturday of riding pretty discouraged... not to mention, tired, hot and with a throbbing headache. Five hours in 90-degree weather fully covered from head to toe with helmet, long sleeves, jeans, full-fingered gloves, and boots, can do that to ya. But by the end of the second riding class (after not passing the skills test – those dang figure eights!), I actually felt more confident about riding. I was certainly not a pro, but I was learning.

Which brings me to today. After work, Pete and I walked Julep down to a local grass (read:weeds) playing field (Well, really, Pete pushed her, and I just followed leisurely behind). Now, every time we have passed this field, it has been COMPLETELY empty. Of course, not tonight. First, there was someone walking their dog... Then came a family with two unleashed little dogs and two boys kicking a soccer ball around... Needless to say, this got me nervous, because I didn't want to have to try out the book method for averting an attacking dog. (And no, the proper method is NOT to kick it!)

Finally, Pete got tired of my doe-in-the-head-lights stance, and got on the back and made me turn the throttle. And we slowly traveled across the field. After this, I was a little more comfortable with the throttle, and went back and forth a few times stopping at each end of the field. I was going so slowly, that the speedometer didn't even move. Then, I got nervy, and tried my hands at turning (which was where I had my incident the first time I rode). It was fine! Next, I tried shifting into second. After a little nervousness, it was easy. I rode around a while shifting into first and second, stopping, weaving in and out between cans and bottles, and doing crazy eigthts and circles. Then for my last hoorah of the evening, I decided to try out third gear. I rode across the field, shifting into second, looped around, shifted into third, gained some speed, then down shifted before coming to a stop. All in all, I don't think I even hit 15mph.

I have to say, I think the Stella is easier to ride than the motorcycle (I rode a Suzuki GZ 250). I think I already prefer shifting with the left hand rather than the foot. Turning seems easier (possibly because of the lower center of gravity), and overall, it doesn't seem as physically demanding. I feel so much better after tonight. Thanks for pushing me Pete.

To quote Albert Einstein, from the great film, I.Q.,
"Wahooooooo!"

You Can't Start a Scooter Without a Spark

Meet Tim, my scooter mechanic. We replaced the battery and spark plug. We knew the battery was not the reason why the bike wouldn't start, but replacing it would allow me to see the neutral light, and to try out the electric start. So, that would be nice. The spark plug, on the other hand, was our likely suspect.

And yeah, check it out:


The spark plug was indeed fouled (the area in the center is supposed to be a coffee and cream color... it's black). I'm pretty sure this happened when I dropped the bike. So, with the new battery and properly gapped spark plug in place, I turned the key, and tried out the electric start button. And... instantaneous ignition!!! Whoa! That's how it's supposed to work! And adding to my glee, the idle seemed nicer and more steady than it had before, too. Yay!

Only a couple days left to vote in my poll! Make your voice heard!!!

(Can't) Start Me Up

I tried getting on the bike again a week after "the incident". This time, were going to take her to a big grass field to practice... a more forgiving surface to fall on for all. But – big problem – we couldn't get her to start for anything. The electric start had never been an option, since the battery had been essentially dead since we got her. It was the ol' kick-start for Bruiser. So we knew the battery was not the issue. Still, we kicked it and kicked it, but got nothing. So, frustrated, I sat in the driveway, on my lifeless scooter. I practiced pulling in the clutch, shifting into first, and giving it a little throttle. Over, and over, and over, and over...

In the meantime, please take a few seconds to give me your opinion on my survey question to the right:

NEXT: replacing the battery and spark plug...