Holy crap... What can I say? It's 1:35pm and I still have a hangover. So much fun!
The un-Official FIRST-ANNUAL Honda Ruckus Scooter Meet, Greet, and Drink Party- Extravaganza was an absolute success. I picked up Scooscoot on the way up to the city. He's only been on the board for a couple of weeks, so he was in for a real treat. We met up with Spoonkilla and Smacky in a parking lot across from pier 30. It was nice meeting the people you talk to online and we all appeared to be different people that just happed to have the same scooters (which are all black, but each different). Scoot2 got the itinerary off the Scooter Rage website and said that there was a noon ride. Now I've read a few times that the ruck probably could not handle a ride, but I'll get to that later. Batgirl (big-ruck= mama duck) pulled up just after all of the nps50 owners met, and she said the ride was about to leave. We cruised over to *i forget which shop* and we were all smiling really big, cruising in this pack of scoots. So sweet. And roads were all bumpy so I had to take advantage. I'm sure my bike got off the ground a few times.
When we arrived at the shop there was a good # of bikes there and I thought we were on time, but no. About a hundred scooters left about five minutes before we arrived. But it was good that we had our own ride to break the ice, and get all over the photo-ops. We cruised down the Embarcadero. Did some lane splitting through a few blocks of heavy traffic to show the people what scooters can do?
After the photos, we headed over to Red's on pier 30. The first and last bar I remember from the weekend. When I think about it we probably looked crazy. Our pack of twisted metal pulled in to classic scooter show and every one was checking us out. Some guys thought they we electric because they are so quiet. And some other dudes thought that we rented them, but later on I talked to them at the bar and they just wanted to know cuz their friends scooter broke and he needed something to ride. I did the obstacle course and got a two. The lowest score of the day was a five. I think Spoons putting on the video later. Beers at the bar were $1.50 for a miller- who sponsored the event, but all of the bars had a nice selection of beers. We talked to a lot of random people about our bikes and theirs. I could hear whispers sometimes. *pssst! what's that?...It's a Honda ruckus."
We also got props for being there as a group. People were like- " so you guys just ride around these?" and I said "yeah for this weekend. We just met each other a couple of hours ago". People shot the "edit profanity" drank, drag raced, and played on the 196? Vespa- that would have been a sweet-"edit profanity" raffle prize. We went to the end of the pier for some more photos. That's where we took the Beatles photo with the bay bridge in the bakground.
Eventually, Smacky went home, Spoon left, and batgirl took-off.
But Scootscoot and I were hanging around for the night ride. Oh yes...The night ride. Everyone met at SF scooter center for the 7pm ride. And this was my FIRST scooter cruise as well as scoot2s'.
I need to say:
Even a stock ruckus can keep up the pack. We were on steep hills half the time.
It was so cool. There were ~50 of us mobbing through the city at first scoot and were towards the back, until I came upon a huge revelation. Acceleration means a change in speed whether it going up or down. Our rucks can't accelerate quite as fast, but they sure can stop quickly. Almost all of the Italian bikes have brake pixies that are way beyond the retirement age. So, going up the hills pulled me down to 16-18 from 30-35. I have a cdi and variator installed. But going down the hills, I would pass everyone then stop on one of those Euro pennies at the bottom. Plus scoot2 and I worked our way up to the front for some fresh air. I think the GP line of vespas means gross-polluter, just joking. Then it was me up in front with the ride leader- he was about 55-60 years old and all geared-up. New scoot vs. old scoot. Scoot-o e scoot-o. Then headed up the final huge hill, things started to look familiar- and what was to our right. Lombard Street. Sweet! We jammed that "edit profanity" up. Being up in front, I could look up and see people coming down and it reminded me of going on a roller coaster. You know when the rides over for you and your still pulling in and slowing down, but you see the next car take-off full of screaming people that don't know what they are going to get. All of the tourists at the bottom of the hill were pulling out cameras. A guy on his cell phone hung-up and started taking pictures. What a photo-op. I love the City. I heard there’s an even curvier street that they went down on a ride earlier that day.
After the hills, we were on the Embarcadero, and we pulled up on a group of Harleys, like 6. They looked back and saw about 50 scoots roll up. All of a sudden one dude nodded- they all burst through the red light with their bitches on the back, and jammed the traffic for us and waved us through. Yes! Then the next light they powered past us and jammed the next couple lights. Mind you, there were dudes on scoots that would hold the traffic for us, so we ran every stop sign and light. We only braked for turns, and we hardly ever came to a complete stop. Finally, we ended up at Benders some bands were playing and millers were a $1. Scoot2 and I stayed for about 20 minutes, then said later to all of the people that we met. I'm glad I did not have to come up by myself. Scoot2 was a real trooper. He was in for the day- he's a cool guy. Same with the rest of the crew. All of us hit it off right away. Actually right when I met Smacky I saw his Dio ZX kit on his bike. First thing he said was: "Wanna ride it?" Cool guy. Spoonkillas a pretty mellow guy, and the windshield that Chanito made looks sweet. Spoon tucked and pulled past on a straight section. Batgirls just cool- I'd like to be her co-worker. ;D Igot home around 10:30pm.
Day Two! What day 2, at least for me any way? I bought raffle tickets, I had to go back- only it was a solo trip.
I met up with Batgirl at First-kick scooters. Everywhere that we met had food, and coffee, red-bull, breakfast. Stephan from the Secret society helped me get my scooter out of my truck. At least a hundred scooters were there. Johnny the leader of the day was giving direction from the megaphone that he had strapped to him. Everyone started up there bikes. Some people went and got gas the last minute, and the crowd was getting antsy. The ride was already running late as it was. Tension and buzzing from the 2-strokes was going on. Everyone gathered in the intersection- stopped at the green light and jammed the whole street. Then at the next green. BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ! we took off bleeding through the streets trying to get our positions in the pack. This was a big group and my second ride. It started off going through random side streets. At one point it was all of us in a roundabout making one rotation to tighten up the pack. Very well organized. Then we hit the hills. Uh-oh. The hills keep getting steeper, and steeper. I wore a wrinkled suit to back up my Robo-mod moniker. A lot of people were giving me looks. That's right- the rumors ARE NOT TRUE. The ruckus can hang like a pair of nuts if need be. Anyways I had leather shoes on with no traction. And the hills were getting steeper. But great news- the ruck, on the steepest hill of the day, stayed at 10 mph and carted my "edit profanity" right up that hill. Later I was getting more props from people because they were telling me the VESPAS in the back of the group were slowing down so much that people were getting off and walking them. So I felt good. Our bikes have torque and from what I think- they have great little drum brakes. I'm about 165lbs. The faster bikes would pass me up the long hills though, but then I would pass them going down the hill. There was a great amount reciprocation between the deigns of the scooters. In the end they were very equal. At one point we went through a concrete barricade that had enough room for one bike at a time. Batgirl went around by riding up on the embankment. I love it when people have guts. We went by all of the golf courses in the city. They are in somewhat rural areas for SF. I saw more sites that day. The best tour of City- if they are even comparable. I saw more site and sculptures from photos and books in one scooter ride- it was beautiful. We went around another roundabout at this one historical spot, and there was couple that just got married, and right when they walk out 100 scooters greet them- I'd like that to happen on my wedding day. You could see the city miles off in the distance. I couldn’t believe how far we went, but if you are running every stop sign and light along the way it goes pretty quick. Running the lights was my favorite part. After all of the uphill I thought I would really need my valves adjusted or something. He felt pooped, but it was time to head down hill- fun. He didn’t lose anything. It was just a little workout. Then I saw a sign... it said 45mph I did 40. Whoops- I would not do that by myself but with all of the other bikes it was cool. We drove down the coast- I believe it was ocean beach that we were on. Cut over on a side street then- BAM. Were on Haight st. taking a cruise. Tourist photo-op A dream come true. The final destination was Dylan’s for some carne asada and $1 millers again.
Time for the raffle. I busted out my tickets, while they were throwing out free stuff. A great crowd. Free shirts and stuff, but I wanted that scooter. Guys from a local scooter shop, SCOMO, built it. It's flat black with pinstripes. The handlebar cover is just brushed metal, and it has red rims with white-walls- I want it! Who didn't, I didn'twin though. But I did win twice. YES!
I got a cool bag, some two-stroke oil (both synthetic and regular), a t-shirt from Mom’s tattoos on haight st. and a gift certificate for $60, a starbucks card, a red vespa(tm) half-helmet size medium, a robot, and some picture frames. I gave the oil away, shoot I don't need it, and I gave the helmet to girl that was wearing a bicycle helmet that had the power rangers on it. She needed it bad. Plus I have enough helmets.
I drank one more beer, then Kevin from the SFScootergirls (lol) was going to follow me to my truck to help load up my scoot. As we were getting ready to go I had my scoot running, and some popular people of the group came over to give some last minute props- they're cool cats. Everyone I met this weekend was great. But, one of the guys with one of the fastest bikes there came over and boasted about how he liked it so much. I told him they are pretty cheap used and he said he was going buy one! crazy. One dude that had his girlfriend on the back for picture-taking said it kept up great with the pack and I happened to be in some of his pics. I'll get that link up on here. The acceptance was great.
Kevin mentioned something about a bbq/party over in the haight so we cruised over there and hung out for an hour. Then we packed my scoot in the truck and I bailed.
I hope you made it through the longest post ever. On wednesday of last week I had no idea of how much fun I was going to have. The stigmas about scooterists or motocyclists only come from discovery channel watching, family-men that are all talk and sans-cycle. Go on rides in your area. Make friends online if you can. I was given a few offers of a place to crash for next time. Below is the itinerary for the Rage. The fast rides mean that they are going on the freeway. If they are not going on the freeway- you can ride your Ruckus. At the bottom there are upcoming events. Skutoberfest- maybe. Sam Hain- definitly. If anyone needs a place to crash from out of state it's not a problem.
Rides Rule- Do 'em!,
Robo-Mod
;D ;D
;D
;D
Scooter Rage 19
San Francisco, CA
June 17-19 2005
Thursday
The usual unofficial rally kick off at Dylan's pub (19th @ Folsom). Start the weekend early, wander up to the SFMC clubhouse, work on that excuse for calling in sick on Friday.
Friday
7pm - Meet at Vespa SF (Franklin @ Bush)
8pm - Our famous city ride (guaranteed to be more than two blocks long) to our infamous beer bash at the San Francisco Motorcycle Club this year featuring Medocino Brewery. Dance to tunes by DJs Jono, Giganto, Toto, Gogo
Saturday
10am - Meet at San Francisco Scooter Centre (10th St @ Mission) for continental breakfast, stock up on cables, oil, spark plugs or perhaps a new scooter.
As usual we bring you two rides to choose from...
10:19am - The Adventure ride - Recommended for the capable rider only! Your bike must be reliable, capable of sustained high-speed and you will need to wear your proper riding gear. Cross bridges, challenge the curves, battle cliffs!
11:59am - The Long Slow ride - San Francisco packs a lot into a 7x7 mile square and we'll take you through the best parts of it, always something new for the veteran or the newbie.
2pm - Meet at Red's Java House and the HiDive (next to each other on the Embarcadero @ Pier 30) for the Kustom show, Golf-khana, food and cheap beer sponsored by Miller High Life
6pm - Meet at San Francisco Scooter Centre (10th St @ Mission)
7pm - Night ride, you think you've already seen the city? Think again!
8pm - Meet at Benders (Van Ness @ 19th) for Awards, Beer specials and Free Bands!
sponsored by Miller High Life. Rock and skank to la Plebe, the Impalers and the Reducers. Midnight - Stick around Benders, wander up the street to Dylans or grab some food with a local then hit the scooter friendly DNA lounge for drinks dancing and fun 'til the wee hours.
Sunday - Had enough? of course not!
10am - Meet at First Kick Scooters (8th St between Howard and Folsom) grab some coffee and donuts, buy the cables and oil you needed yesterday or perhaps the new scooter you need today!
11:59am - all scooter, all city, Three Golf Course ride (one stop in the middle).
2pm - BBQ, meet at Dylan's pub (19 @ Folsom) for SSSC's famous BBQ! More Miller High Life specials and win a Kustom Vespa in our raffle (sponsored by SCOMO, Top Oil, Miller and...)
8pm - You're still here? hang out at Dylans with SSSC-SF at one of our exciting club meetings
Upcoming Rally Dates!
Sept 16-17 SSSC-SF XX (San Francisco)
Oct 7-9 Skutoberfest (San Diego)
Oct 22-23 Sam Hain (Marin County)
Dec 16-23 Desert Raid II (Argentina)
But it's miller time
