First review

Real quick:

The PCX 150 handles so differently from the Typhoon 125. Not that the Typhoon is a bad bike, just the opposite. The Typhoon is a great scoot for what it's meant to do. For me the Typhoon was/is a gateway drug into scootering.

OK enough of the Piaggio Typhoon apologetics.

Onto the review.

The Honda PCX 150 handles almost intuitively. I just have to give her a hint of what I need her to do and I'm off. The fuel injection makes her start immediately and when you pull up to a stop she's aching to go. With the Typhoon when the light went green I'd have to rev her up and go, with the PCX it truly is twist and go. I shoot off the stop like a rocket. It's crazy responsive.

Cornering and turning is a bit different on the PCX than the Typhoon. With the PCX you LEAN into the turn. With the Typhoon I felt like I had to coax her into the turns. Yes the tires on the PCX are larger 14" they seem narrower to me, so that is probably why.

I don't have technical terms so I can only discuss the scoots by how they feel while I am riding. The typhoon started off sluggish and I would struggle to get her up to speed. My SO following me on his Yamaha would often ask me how fast I thought I was going. I'd say 45-50 ... and he's say no way I was right behind you and barely able to keep 40. So I wonder if something is up with the speedometer on the Typhoon.

When we went out the other day I was on the PCX and easily hit 45 and I was actually going 45 and up. It felt faster and my SO who rides behind me said he was consistently hitting 45 to 48 following me. Therefore I have to believe the speedometer on the PCX because it is digital is more on the money then say the Typhoon which does not have a digital speedometer.

Stopping on the PCX is akin to stopping on the Typhoon, let go of the throttle to bleed off speed and then use the breaks. But it's the starting off the a dead stop that is so incredibly different. The PCX is so intuitive and the fuel injection makes her jump off the stop like a sports car. The typhoon as a carbed engine would be very sluggish from a dead stop and I'd have to coax her off the line.

All in the PCX is a larger bike which is more nimble/agile and intuitive. The ride is completely different from the Typhoon. Both are sporty but the PCX is definitely a sportster type scoot while the Typhoon seems to be a poser.

more to come.

I've been unfaithful...

I traded in my Typhoon and purchased this baby...


This is a Honda PCX 150. Very sporty. It's the difference between riding a pinto and a 'stang. I'm getting used to riding a 'stang.

So back to square one. Practicing cornering/turning/swerving/etc.

I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. But I'm freeway legal and wine country and exploring the byways of MO is not far off.

Well that was exciting

Ah yesterday, long day at work but the upside it was beautiful out so that means some quality time with my scooter.

Or so I thought. I took off down the street got onto the main drag, was enjoying the hell out of myself when suddenly the scoot just powered down, I could not get the throttle to give me gas. And yes before you ask I have/had 3/4 a tank. Sigh

I coasted to a stop on a busy stretch of road during the end of rush hour. This wonderful cage driver behind me was so close she could have pinched my tush if she was so inclined. I'm doing the universal sign of go around go around, you know the look, arms flailing, looking back over my shoulder, pointing at the scoot and the making the go around movement again.

It took the tush pincher a good minute before she realized oh she's dead in the water and she went around, leaving the line of people behind her to do the same, meaning come up real close behind me, give me the evil eye, realize oh she's stuck and then move on.

Finally there was a break in traffic and I pushed the Typhoon across two lanes and onto a shoulder. /phew

Now I'm standing there checking the gas gauge, yep 3/4 full. Tires are good, engine cut off switch is in the off position. hrm I'm perplexed.

Suddenly a nice man *Hi Dan* runs across 4 lanes of busy road and decides to stay with me until I either figure it out, the tow truck comes or I fall madly in love with him and we ride off on the Typhoon into the sunset.

I chose option number 2. My SO shows up sans tools.. *Really? Why...argh and he goes through the litany of did you hit the engine cut off switch (silly woman) grrr NO... did you run out of gas (silly woman) GRR NO etc. Dan goes oh I already asked her that. Holy crap people just because I have boobs doesn't make me a boob. Dan gets a pass because he was my knight in shining armor. My SO not so much.

After a bit Dan left and a cop shows up who proceeds to ask me the same series of questions. OMG MEN.
Tow truck appears my little typhoon is loaded onto this HUGE truck and off we go to the dealership where hopefully they will be able to fix what ails baby.

Big shout out to my friend and mechanic Joel please fix baby pretty please.
Big thank you to Dan who stayed with me until my SO arrived.
Big smooch to my SO who was annoyed for me since baby only has 100miles on her and his concern shows how much he loves me.
Thanks to the officer who stuck around so he could see the little Typh on the big truck.

Here's hoping everything works out OK. I hate when my babies are sick.

So very spoiled

My significant other *B* decided that my 3/4 helmet just wasn't enough to protect my noggin so he took me helmet shopping. I am now the proud owner of a NEON yellow Scorpion EXO 900 modular helmet.

It matches my scooter which is so very important since not only do I wish to be safe on the Typhoon but I also wish to be fashionable. :wink :smile

He also purchased me Joe Rocket Ballastic 7 overpants. Review will be forthcoming once I wear them more than once. This is our first purchase from Revzilla I've only heard amazing things about them, so I'm looking forward to being yet another satisfied customer.

Wanted to update ya'll on my bat problem. The Scoobies caught it late yesterday and set it free; life is once again less batty. :phew

Sunday morning

I am still learning and going. This morning I took a 45 minute ride, my longest yet. It was HOT out
90 degrees at 9am. Help me I'm melting.

Regardless, I had an amazing time. I explored the back roads to my office, learned that I can handle the main road with confidence. I need to practice stopping closer to the line when stopping at a light rather than farther back.

As I was riding there came a Honda Goldwing. The rider was very cool, he came up next to me, and encouraged me to go faster and we rode next to each other for a bit. What an amazing experience. When he turned off we waved. You just don't get that sort of comaraderie with cage riders.

I cut the ride short due to heat concerns. Tomorrow is another day.

Enjoy the road, keep the rubber side down.

born to ride like an easter egg

Going a little batty

OK this has zero to do with scooters but I need share what happened to me this morning.

This morning I went into the kitchen to start my morning routine when I heard FWAP, FWAP. I initially thought aww bird in the fireplace. So I went over to look at it and encourage it to fly back up and away. Nothing in the fireplace so now I'm confused so I look up and around thinking bird flying in the living room?

NOPE omg A BAT A BAT...I go running and screaming through the house into the bedroom where I slam the door shut and sat there hyperventilating, crying, snot running down my face trying to figure out what to do. BUT all I could think of was: BAT, rabies, disease, my boys. BAT, rabies, disease, my boys. Over and over again. And this all happened in my ex's guest room where he was spending the night because its his weekend. I literally jumped into bed with him and grabbed him screaming in his face the above. So good morning to ya there B. My ex kept asking should I call 911 who has a bat? I couldn't say anything but BAT BAT BAT like the girl in Jaws yelling shark shark shark. My oldest emerges from his room to find out what the ruckus is about and I start screaming get in your room shut the door...he argues. **Grrr** and Sigh 
My ex finally gets that no one has a bat but rather it was a BAT.  **Blush** And he sighs and says OK if you're that afraid put on my motorcycle gear and calm down. So please picture this: I'm in my medical scrubs wearing a full face helmet and mesh jacket. Because THAT will protect me from Dracula.
They couldn't find the BAT. Dude I say what do you mean you can't find the BAT. It was right there fwapping around. He shrugs and says well it's gone. **cry**

However...the guy (or as I like to refer to him Buffy the vampire slayer) said he found evidence of where it came in and expects that is the way it left. He says I've had bats for awhile. OH HELL'S NO!!!!
Buffy went on to explain that bats live in colonies, and sometimes the "teenage" bats leave the colony to sow their wild oats and then go home. So basically my farking house is a "DEN of INQUITY" for horny teenage bats. Sorta like a BAT Rumspringa.
He closed the hole where the bat(s) are coming in and said he could for 800$ fix the outside areas where the bats are coming in.
I'm thinking for 800$ I can buy a hella lot of stakes, holy water, and True Blood...

Oh and guess what? I did make this a little about scooters: I mentioned a RUCKUS and GEAR.
Bringing it all together, oh yes I am.
So how was your morning?

Leaving my worries behind with the road ahead of me

I was talking to an old friend today, while riding in my Kia Soul home from a long day at work and I realized I was exhausted and stressed out. I asked her when was the last time either of us had a moment of peace where we weren't thinking about kids, jobs, bills, and our significant other? She couldn't recall a time where worry didn't motivate her towards a goal. I agreed. We spend so much time concentrating on the future and worrying about our past mistakes that we forget to focus on the present.

I asked her what do you do to destress? What do you do that is just for you? She didn't / couldn't name anything and at first neither could I. Then I thought wait a minute. Every time you are on your scooter you relax. Every time you are on the scooter you twist and go and leave the weight of life's worries behind. It's me time squared.

I can't worry about anything but the road in front of me. I can't think of the deadlines looming, the son who is graduating, the significant other or any bills which may be piling up. I have to concentrate on me and the road. It's a beautiful feeling. It's freeing, it's relaxing and it's my version of therapy.

An hour a day on the scoot and I'm a more relaxed, happier Gail. Once relaxed then I can face the daily stressors with a clearer head. Some people run, do yoga, ride bikes etc and have the same experience that I am discussing. For me the answer to life's stressors is my Piaggio Typhoon 125.

So what do you do?

Learning one twist at a time

I was fortunate today. A friend from Vespa St. Louis came by and helped me work out the kinks of stopping and starting on hills today. Little back story: I live in a hilly subdivision, fun to ride through but as a new scooterist it can be scary to stop mid-hill and feel yourself sliding backwards. I found myself grasping the brakes too tightly and then being terrified of releasing the brake so I could move forward. Rather counterintuitive and obviously I was going nowhere fast.

So I put out a bat signal for help and my cry was answered. J came out on a hot/muggy St. Louis day to spend an hour with me. All we did was go up hills, stop...start rinse repeat. I learned that we have a friction zone. Really I swear we do. I did NOT know this. My MSF instructors told me emphatically that scooters don't have one and I'd just have to muddle through the box. But OMG we do have one. Who knew? Obviously not them.

J taught me if I squeeze the rear brake as tight as possible and then twist the throttle while slowly releasing the brake just a bit the scoot is propelled forward. Guess what! That's our friction zone. Once he explained that the starting/stopping on hills seemed like a no brainer. And once that was accomplished he taught me to use the same technique for the box. That will take a bit more practice but now that I know how to do use our version of the zone I will be able to succeed. Take that biased MSF instructors. We scooterists do have a friction zone. Hah. LOL

OK so I'm a little bitter about the lack of information and bias against scooters in the MSF class I took. However nothing but good things to say about the course in general because I did learn a lot just not what I needed to be effective in tight turns, on hills, and with regards to U-turns.

Huge thank you to my friend from Vespa St. Louis. J you're the best.

Onward with the rubber side down!

Finding the Perfect Scoot

I recently purchased my Piaggio Typhoon 125 from Vespa of St. Louis. I had been thinking about buying a scooter for years, since the price of gas began rising beyond $2.50 per gallon and I finally gave in.

I had a hard time finding a scooter that would fit me comfortably. You see in a family of tall folks I am the outlier at 5'3" on a good day with a 28" inseam. Short with short legs. Perfect combination for finding the perfect scooter NOT.

So I explored my options. I tried the Yamaha Zuma 125, didn't seem tall but the seat is wide so it was tippy toes barely. I then tried the Honda Ruckus but couldn't stop hearing the theme from MASH when I was sitting on it. Vespa and Kymco had my poor little legs swinging in the air.

I really thought I was going to have to put the dream of owning a scooter to the wayside but just as I was about to give up the saleslady at Vespa St. Louis rolled out the Piaggio Typhoon and a new couple was born. Like goldilocks I found a scooter that was just RIGHT and baby came home later that week.

For all us shorties out there please don't give up on your dream to own a scooter look into the Piaggio Typhoon 125 you will not be disappointed.

Piaggio Typhoon 125

Typhoon it's not just a weather PHENOMENA

Introducing my new baby. Piaggio's Typhoon 125.

She's a sweet ride. I'm just starting out having only recently obtained my Motorcycle Learner's permit after failing the MSF exam by ONE lousy point. But I'm not bitter. **much**

My MSF experience was less than ideal. I was given a scooter Yamaha Zuma 125, sweet scoot but much too tall for me. I couldn't reach the ground so during the class I had to have the scoot leaned over as I dragged that pup all over the range because I couldn't power walk it. Funny now, painful then.

I had an amazing time during the class, learned a lot but after dragging / pulling a 270lb bike for 12 hours over the course of two days my poor middle aged back gave out during a counter-balancing exercise and I could no longer even brace myself without pain. I took the test and failed by one point and during the retake I just couldn't push / pull that Zuma anymore and had to stop.  

But that's behind me, and now I'm enjoying my Typhoon and learning to trust my instincts and enjoy the ride.
I am now thoroughly addicted to scootering and have been fortunate enough to meet some really great people who are willing to take me under their wings and bring me up to speed so to speak safely.