Mummy Mayhem 2008

Well, friends, last weekend was the first annual Mummy Mayhem Rally...replacing the previous Skull Valley Rally because, well...I guess people were tired of the same route every year.

This year was a little different. We included the Pharoah's Scooter Club in the planning and operation of Mummy Mayhem so we could get a bigger turnout. It worked, too! Certain reports claim around 40 scooters attended!!

The rally began with a meet-and-greet at the Bikini Lounge in Phoenix on Thursday night. I didn't make it. More on that later. Friday morning we met at the 4 Peaks Brewery in Mesa and pretty much took up the whole block then rode down Main Street/Apache Trail (depending on which city you are in...same road, though) east to where it joined with Hwy 60 east. Then we just stayed on that through Apache Junction, Superior, Miami and finally, Globe, AZ. Splendid ride. Then we were led down numerous side roads until we came to dirt. Did we stop there? HELL NO!!! A couple more miles down the dirt roads...one resembled an moderately unused creek-bed to the campsite. The next day was a ride north on Hwys 188 and 288 to the Salt River for tomfoolery then back to Miami where we drowned a cafe in a sea of black Mummy Mayhem t-shirts a frivolity. Back to the campsite for more tomfoolery and jackassery. Sunday morning saw everybody packing up and heading home. This is just the start...details to follow...

Okay, some details as promised. I left Cottonwood at about noonish on Thursday and pointed the scooter uphill towards Mingus Mountain again. Over the hill, down into Prescott, THROUGH Prescott and down through Wilhoit, Peeples Valley, Yarnell, Congress and finally Wickenburg where I finally fueled up. 73 miles per gallon. Cool! Blasted out of Wickenburg and onto Hwy 60, then the Carefree Hwy. then south on Lake Pleasant Road to Bell road. East to 87th and south to Jes' Jim's house. I met the lovely Carole there and she allowed me to offload my gear (I would be spending the night) and I hit the road again. East to the Loop 101 East and all the way across the north end of Phoenix and through Scottsdale then south to Hwy 60 again. I took that to...well, the PLAN was to find Higley and go south to Guadalupe where I would meet the beautiful and enchanting Joni for my first foray into sushi eating.

Well, about a quarter mile from the exit my rear tires lost its air. I ended up walking/pushing it about 3 miles to the sushi place. I went in and washed my hands and joined Joni for dinner. And a FABulous dinner it was!! I particularly enjoyed the mussels!

The sushi place was right next to a Checker Auto Parts store and it was about 8 o'clock when we finished dinner. Walked over to Checkers, fully expecting them to be open since the one in Cottonwood is open until 9. Nope. Closed. So we climbed in Joni's car and went to a local Walgreens and got a can of Fix-a-flat. Squirted it in the tire and discovered the problem was (once again) the stinkin' valve-stem. Crap. Time for a drink. So we went to Molly Branigan's and Joni enjoyed a couple Irish Coffees while I sipped a single-malt scotch. I called Jes' Jim who recommended I call Damn Dirty Dave at the meet and greet, so I did. Just so happened DDDave had a rear wheel from a crashed (multiple times...including one requiring a helicopter ride) Honda Elite 250 that would fit. I told him I had the required tools and he sent the wheel and tire down to me with Jes' Jim in his Volvo station wagon. Yes, this IS an important fact.

Jim showed up and I pulled out my tools and discovered the bolts I needed to remove had been put on with an air wrench and my little open-end wrenches just slipped on them. I, in fact, did NOT have the required tools. Now what???

We decided to put the Helix in the back of Jim's station wagon. Don't let ANYone tell you it can't be done...it CAN!! Well, the Volvo was Miss Carole's and Jim didn't want to soil the carpet and out of the depths of her trunk Joni produced a big piece of plywood. PERFECT!!! Then, the problem was the centerstand digging into the carpet. Joni produced two pillows! Okay...we were set. Closed the rear hatch. Oops...no rope to tie it down. Nope, no bungies either. Joni produced a dog leash that worked perfectly!!

I hugged Joni and we were on our way. Jim suggested Joni needed a scooter to ride with us since she's such a resourceful lass and I told him her daughter has one. AND her son-in-law. He looked at me curiously. I said, "You know them, too...Sammy (Hot Tomato) and her new husband Tryg!!!" I was seriously chastized for not introducing her as such.

We showed up at the meet-and -greet where DDDave had the needed tools and I replaced the rear tire on my scooter in the parking lot at about midnight and we all headed to our respective places for needed rest.

Up early the next morning...Jim and I loaded the scooters with our gear and took off for DDDave and Sandy's place. Showed up in plenty of time to watch DDDave finish putting the engine from his Vespa Sprint into Sandy's scooter. He'd just started the night before!! We got the van loaded with everyone's camping gear and got ready to leave. There were a total of 6 scooters that rode from there to the 4 Peaks Brewery where we were to meet the Pharoahs and the rest of the Scarabs. We had a great time at the Brewery meeting new friends, shaking hands with old friends who we only get to see once or twice a year. Finally, everybody loaded up and headed out. We followed Main Street/Apache Trail (depending on where you are...) through Mesa and all the way out to where it meets up with Hwy 60. Nice little urban ride. Lots of stares at 30-some motorscooters in one group! Once onto 60, we could open them up and well, for motorscooters, fly! Between 55 and 65 mph was the average. GREAT ride. The highway begins as a regular 4-lane, quickly narrowing to a rural 2-lane highway. It courses through the mesquite and sagebrush in the east end of the Valley of the Sunstroke and gradually begins rolling over hills and on into the town of Superior. From Superior to Miami the highway becomes more of a two-lane mountain road with a pretty good climb. All the scooters did very well...no breakdowns and not even much 'holding-up-of-traffic'. Fabulous ride! We cruised through Miami and on into Globe where we hooked a left into downtown Globe, AZ. Some of you might not have recognized it as a downtown area, but those of us from small towns did. All the way through town we rode until we reached a road (I could never find again) that branched off to the right. We followed that, making a few other turns as we went, some 4 or 5 miles back...on both paved and unpaved roads to our campground where we met up with some of our Pharoah buddies who had driven out from Albuquerque that morning. More hand shaking and beer tipping and camp-site set-up commenced. Good times, good times...

Getting Going...MM2008

The Salt River Ride/MM2008

The Campsite/ MM2008

Around the Campfire, MM2008

Messin' Around At MM2008

Mingus Mountain

You know, I've spent a lot of time on this blog revisiting my trips over Mingus Mountain to Prescott and have really failed to post many pictures of the fabulous road that it is! I intend to remedy that situation with the pics you have before you.

But first, a few updates on the Sgian Dubh. I (of course) hated the muffled lawnmower sound of the Helix muffler, so, with drill in hand I attacked it. Two extra holes in the rear gave it just the right sound...at least until I can have a new head-pipe made so I can use a slip-on muffler. That was a good start. THEN I decided I hated the ugly, heavy, restrictive airbox. So I bought a Uni-filter. I removed the airbox and put the Uni on. Ran exactly like crap. So, I replaced the 110 main-jet with a 112.5. Still ran poorly, so I put the airbox back on. Now it ran better than ever. Okay...now what? I made a mad dash to Flagstaff to Northland Motorsports and got a 120 main-jet. Put it in and it bogged badly. Oops...too far. So another trip over to Prescott to Encore Performance and the aquisition of a 115 jet. Put it in, removed the airbox and re-installed the Uni-filter. Wow! NICE!! Except...I could feel that it had more available somewhere. So I took my needle-nose pliers and opened up the air mixture screw 1/2 a turn...had to use the pliers since I broke the head of the screw off... Now THAT'S what I'm talkin' about!! The bottom end and mid range on this thing is more than I had even hoped for! Top end is still where it was...about 72 mph, give or take, but it launches from a stop and keeps hauling butt up to about 65. VERY nice.

Now, back to the trip over Mingus. I just wanted to ride. That's it. And test out the newly jetted and freer flowing Sgian Dubh. I blasted outa town and through Jerome...hoping and praying that the tourists slowing me down up to there would make Jerome their final destination. And it worked. The road was MINE!!!! BWAAaa haaa haaa!!! I cranked up the torque monster (for a Helix) and fairly flew up the mountain. Since this thing has the approximate wheelbase of a Greyhound bus, it won't take the corners like either the Mad Hornet or the Red Baron could, but fast sweepers are LOADS of fun! I topped the mountain...you can see the summit elevation sign in one of the accompanying photos...and cruised down the other side into Prescott Valley. I pulled into Encore Performance and visited with Matt for a few minutes, then on into Prescott. I then hooked a left and chased Hwy 69 south to where it intersects Hwy 169 east. I followed 169 the 15 miles to I-17 where I again took a left, heading north to the Camp Verde exit, which dumps out onto Hwy 260. I met some guys I work with in Camp Verde and we went out shooting for a couple of hours...had a good time. I agreed to buy Mark Tenniswood's Glock 23 .40 cal. for my primary weapon for the Sheriff's dept. and hopped on the scooter and blew outa there.

My wife had called while we were shooting and asked me to bring her an energy drink, so, thinking I needed to ride an additional 50 miles or so, I agreed. North on I-17 to the Sedona exit and onto 179 north through some of the world's worst road construction and tourist traffic. I made it, though...and still had most of my patience!! Ski bought me dinner and after I was done, I went home. That simple. I put on, I'm guessing, about 150 - 175 miles and the Sgian Dubh didn't miss a beat. Averaged about 65 mpg with most of it highway travel with the throttle wide open. Not bad...not bad at all. And it was just as much fun to ride at the end as it was in the beginning.

Okay...I should have another post in the next week or so...the Scarabs are having their annual rally this upcoming weekend. It used to be the Skull Valley Rally, but they tired of the same route, so this year it's Mummy Mayhem, going from Phoenix to Globe (east of Phoenix) then, I think north to Apache Lake...or something like that...I'll let you know. Anyway, it'll be 3 days of riding and camping with my club-mates on some new roads for me. I'll be sure to bring you pics and stories.

C-ya...ride on!

--Keys

A short list...

Just have a few minutes here, so I'm adding a short list of Sgian Dubh updates...

The rear tire was so worn I could see the air through it in a couple of spots, so I bought a new one at D&K. They mounted it and the next morning it was flat. I took it in and it took 4 new valve-stems and most of a perfect riding day to fix it. Even had to push it a mile and a half back to the shop the last time.

I've ridden over to Prescott and back twice and Ski and I rode through Sedona and up Oak Creek Canyon on our scooters last week. Had a nice visit with my friend Donna who works in a time-share booth at the infamous Oak Creek Dairy Queen.

Tried to use a Uni air filter on my scooter...even went so far as to remove the old system. I jetting the carb up and everything, but it seemed to be LOSING power, not gaining it, so I put it back to original...exCEPT!!!

Most motorcycles and scooters manufactured in the 80's were jetted WAY lean to meet governmental criteria, so I left the slightly bigger jet in. Fabulous choice...it runs MUCH smoother now. Original size (factory) was 110...I used a 112.5. Try it, you'll like it!

Also, the day that I had such an issue with the valve-stems, I bought a pair of handlebars from Seth that originally were on a mid-80's Honda FT500 Ascot. I cut my mini-apehangers at the bottom curves and just welded the new ones on. Love 'em!! No more backache!

Anyway, I have a trip to make this weekend to Las Vegas for the nuptuals of Hot Tomato and Tryg. I'm considering riding the Sgian Dubh. Guess it depends on weather. If I do, I'll be sure to post photos...

C-ya...ride on!

--Keys

...a little update.

Not lots to say here, but the epoxy job on the intake manifold of the Sgian Dubh lasted, oh, 13 or 14 minutes. Made it home okay. Made it to the doctor's the next day okay. I actually rode it to Prescott and back last Saturday for a Big Brothers - Big Sisters fund raiser the Sheriff's Office is doing. It did NOT, however, run well. Not particularly slow or jerky or anything...just not right! Letting off the throttle then on again created a hesitation I knew wasn't supposed to be there, along with a few other telltale signs.

So, that night I removed the intake manifold again and sho' nuff, it was ALL busted up. So I used a pliable silicone based contact glue covered with black electrical tape. It worked alright, but I still (in the back of my mind) knew it wasn't right, so I ordered one from HelixParts www.helixparts.com/usa/ for the princely sum of about twenty bucks on Tuesday. They shipped it on Wednesday and it showed up in my mailbox today, Friday!!! Wow!!!

Well, I scurried to the garage and began untaping wires and removing seats and all of that stuff. The swap only took about 10 minutes. Big difference! Starts much easier without all that extra air getting in!!

Of course, with the seat removed I saw a major issue. I had originally bolted the tailight assembly to the seat base using self-tapping screws. They were holding okay, but I knew it was just a matter of time until one or more just dropped out, sending my tailight onto the back tire in a splash of plastic and rubber. Not my idea of a good time. Also, with the tailight bolted to the seat, I could only remove it as far as the wiring would allow, which, inevitably would NOT be far enough.

So, a quick trip to my local ACE Hardware store for a length of steel with holes already drilled in it and some zip-ties was in order. I got home and did a little measuring and cutting and doggone if it didn't just bolt right up! Of course, there was the always time consuming job of locating the correct nuts and bolts in the bottomless pit that is my garage. I know, I know...I should clean it out, but my deal is this; I go in there to fix stuff, NOT to hang out! And if stuff is fixed, I'm riding it, NOT hanging out in my garage. So you see, I just don't have time...

I got the bracket built just fine and with a minimum of fuss, but like always, I see what I could have done either better or differently, so I'll probably have to do it again sometime. Not right now, though...it's time to ride!!!

C-ya...ride on!
--Keys

Big Doin's

Had some big changes here at "Casa Del Keys" this month. I finally traced all my performance issues in the Buddy down to crappy wires. Yep...they just cracked and broke inside the insulation where you just couldn't find the break. Finally got that straightened out with the careful application of quality wire and wiring loom relocation. Apparently, over time, combined with heat, weight and bumpy roads, the seat bucket "settles" and bounces up and down on the wiring loom, thereby breaking individual wires.

Fixed it. Sold it last weekend to a nice young man from Tucson...I hope he's happy with it! Then, THIS weekend, I sold the '53 Allstate to Damn Dirty Dave. I guess forty scooters in his garage wasn't enough.

Bottom line is I took some of the money and bought my dear long-suffering wife some jewelry for Valentines Day (which just conveniently coincides with our anniversary) and spent the rest on my newest project...the "Sgian Dubh" (skee-an doo), which is gaelic for "Black Knife". The Sgian Dubh began life in my garage as a $600.00, 1986 Honda Helix with almost 32,000 miles on the clock and a rear hub in which the drive splines were stripped.

I loaded the Allstate into my pickup for a quick trip to Phoenix Thursday (Feb. 14th). I called DDDave, who met me at Bob's Used Motorcycle Parts (no particular web page, although you can find address and phone by googling the name). He slipped me some cash and I slipped him an Allstate. Then I went in a visited with a nice guy out in the yard who found me a couple of good Helix rear wheel assemblies. I grabbed the best one, paid $40.00 to get out the door and headed home. I stopped at D&K Service in Cottonwood where the Helix was and handed Seth the wheel assembly. He said it'd be done by 5 p.m. and I could ride it home.

Ski and I were going out to dinner, so we got all dolled up and swung by D&K. Seth told me he had discovered a wee bit of problems. No, not the wheel...it turned out fine...the rubber intake manifold between the carb and the head was cracked. Seth epoxied it and so far, so good. Have another on order, though...

I rode it home and noticed it didn't like to turn, but it was too late too mess with it...Alaskan King Crab was calling Ski's name and we had to go!

Well, we got home from dinner about 10:30 and Ski plopped in front of the tube and I headed straight for the garage. I started taking screws and bolts and nuts off like a madman! I removed the entire rear subframe and "trunk" (made my ass look too big, anyway). I removed the windshield. I relocated the tailight. Man, the dust was FLYIN'!!! Good start.

So, this morning, I rode it to a doctor's appointment I had. Did fine, didn't like to turn, still. I checked the air pressure in the tires and sure enough, they had less then 10 pounds in each. Topped 'em off and it handled fine. Started raining while I was at the doctor's office so I got soaked on the way home. Changed clothes and was back in the garage again.

I cut the tailight assembly to a more usable size, then I cut the windshield to a more sporty size...small. Relocated the mirrors for what I think is a sportier look...then came the paint. Yep, my favorite...flat black!! Eventually, I want to highlight it with red wheels and trim, but for now, it's all black!

Ladies and Gentlemen...I present for your viewing pleasure (or fear), the frankenscoot known as the Sgian Dubh!!

Just A Nice Little Ride

Just got home from a nice little ride. I got a call from my friend Jenn who lives over in Prescott and she told me one of her dear dogs had died a month or so ago and she had brought his body to the Humane Society in Cottonwood to be cremated. Well, his ashes were ready to be picked up today and Jenn's truck was broken down and she has been battling illness, so she didn't feel up to a scooter ride to Cottonwood. And of course, she knows my motto; "Any Excuse For A Ride!!!"

I heaped on the clothing since it was still in the low 40's, boots, t-shirt, sweatshirt, my Cortech jacket, gauntlets, balaclava, full-face Scorpion helmet, fired up the Red Baron and pulled out of the driveway. The Humane Society was full of people checking out the pets, but the nice lady at the counter found the time to deliver Bowser's remains to me. He went under the seat and I went on top of the seat and over Mingus Mountain we headed.

It was pretty darned cold out, but the sun was shining beautifully in a cloudless sky and I was just so happy to be riding. The trip was mostly uneventful...nice roads...just a wee bit of ice in the shadows, not enough to keep me home. Bowser and I just kind of did a delicate ballet on the Red Baron and never even slipped. I did, of course, go a little slower than I do when the roads are dry...

I reached the top of the mountain and began the descent into Prescott Valley when my old nemesis, the wind, reared his ugly head. It was coming HARD from the northwest, right into my face and dropped me a good 5-10 miles per hour! We just chugged along, annoying 4-wheelers who wanted to go way over the speed limit, but I didn't mind. I pulled into Jenn's driveway and as I took the package holding Bowser's remains out from under the seat I realized this was both Bowser's first and last scooter ride. I also realized I'd never had a more compliant and genial passenger. I thanked him for his indulgence and handed him to Jenn.

Jenn and I had a nice visit, talking work, scooters, health...you know, the stuff friends talk about and I decided I'd better leave before the roads iced over for the night. The wind had shifted during our visit and was now almost directly from the north...the direction I needed to go! Crap! I got on Fain Road headed north to where it joins Hwy 89A some 8 miles away. The posted speed limit on Fain Road is 65. I was lucky to be able to maintain 55! The wind was HORRIBLE!! After spending half the trip running on the shoulder to allow traffic by, I finally reached 89A. A right turn put me on the path for Cottonwood. I then rode with a severe port list due to the wind. I was going straight forward and leaning at least 20 degrees to the left! Once I made it to the mountain where it blocked most of the wind, I was able to maintain reasonable speeds. I just motored up and up and up some more to the summit, sometimes in the shadow, others in the sunlight...always with a grin on my mug. There was very little traffic this time of year, so I wasn't having to deal with that. I reached the top and eased on down the hill towards Jerome. I caught up to a pickup pulling a trailer, but he was moving right along, so I didn't mind. Just a nice little ride.

I cruised through Jerome and passed Paul and Jerry's Saloon where the new band I'm in will be playing tomorrow. We do sort of a rock/blues thing...shades of Stevie Ray Vaughn. Good stuff, lotta fun!

I looked in the windows of the shops as I passed through town, marvelling at what a dynamic pair the Red Baron and I make. The trip down from Jerome to Cottonwood was again, uneventful and pleasant. The scooter was running well and strong, the sun was shining, it was chilly but I was dressed for it and it was just a nice little ride. Gotta have 'em now and then. Nothing spectacular, nothing dramatic...just a nice little ride. Doesn't get much better...

C-ya...ride on!
--Keys

Nothing much

I know, I know...it's been a LOOoooong time since I joined you here. Sorry. I just had nothing really to say!

It's been too cold here to ride much and the Buddy was still experiencing some issues. I, however, solved them! I brought it home from the dealer since they didn't seem to be capable of finding what the problem was and the owner was too insistant in continuing in a direction I knew wasn't right.

I first checked the carburetion and fuel lines again. They were okay. I did a little fiddling with it and rode a ways and it started acting up again. I stopped and messed around a bit with whatever I could reach. Discovered that when I moved one of the coil wires, the scooter would begin running badly again. I nursed it home and replaced all the coil wires with new wire and new connections. Better.

A couple more miles and the symptoms returned. Coughing, sputtering and generally just sick. I fooled with the airbox a bit...put it back in it's original configuration. Better. Briefly again.

Now what? I called my buddy at Scoot Over, Ron, and he told me he had one in the shop right now with the same symptoms and he'd done essentially the same checks I had; carburetion, air intake, fuel delivery, spark. He was going to try bypassing the evaporative canister for the emissions system and recommended I try it. I did. AND IT WORKED!!! The Red Baron is back!!!

So, anyway, I am still in the market to sell it and get something bigger.

I found a Kymco Bet & Win 250 in Prescott. Somebody has to quit letting these Taiwanese people name scooters for the American market... Back to the story. The scooter is an '06 and has about 1200 miles on it. It sold for about $4500 new and he wants only 2 grand! Hell of a deal...but I won't have that kind of cash unless I sell the Buddy....any takers????

Also found an '86 or '87 Honda Elite 250 in Phoenix for about eleven hundred. I see a lot of potential there...

Got nothin' new for Christmas that was scooter related. Just the luck of the draw, I guess...got stuff related to my job and to my music, though, so that was cool.

Wish I had more to tell you, my friends, but there just isn't much to say. Talk to you later...

C-ya...ride on!
--Keys

Strange brew

To begin with, a lot of strange things have been going on in my world. First, the Red Baron took a crap. Yep, just up and started running badly. I cleaned the carburetor, replaced the plug, set the valves, drained the tank to check for junk, replaced the fuel filter, cleaned the carburetor, replaced all the fuel lines, drained the tank, checked the vacuum petcock, cleaned the carburetor (can you tell I did several of the things more than once???) and finally gave up. Took it to Encore Performance, the closest Genuine dealer, and said "fix it".

After two weeks and much going over what I already did, replacing a broken coil wire, re-jetting the carburetor, trying a new one, doing a bleed-down test to check for cylinder/piston integrity and who-knows-what-all, he finally decided it was MY fault for putting on the SuperTrapp muffler, which incidentally has performed just great for 10 months. I went back, and with the scooter still running poorly, just took it home.

Yesterday, I spent the best part of my day off working on it. I replaced the absurdly huge 100 main jet that had been put in the carb with a more reasonable 95 (the original was a 92). A little better. I then cleaned the carburetor AGAIN and removed the vacuum petcock and drained the tank AGAIN to make sure nothing was plugged. Replaced the fuel lines AGAIN with thicker walled tubing to prevent any collapsing. Rode it. It was better. Not good, mind you, but some better. I then turned around to go back home and it died. Wouldn't start again. Finally, I kick-started it and it sputtered to life, but if I gave it any gas, it would die. Then, while it was sputter/idling, I messed with the coil wires again. Miraculously, it would run good, then bad, then good again...but not good enough to ride. So I began pushing. A friend saw me and stopped. We loaded it in his pickup and he took me home.

I then hooked the battery up to the charger and while it was charging, stripped the wiring harness sheath from the coil up as far as I could go and snipped off what I believe to be the offending wire. I replaced it with new and a new connector. It fired right up and ran just like I wanted it to! By then, I had reached 5 o'clock and had to quit because I had a practice session with the new band I'm in; "The Bo Wilson Band" in which we all play the part of Bo Wilson. Confusing? Guess you'll have to come out to see us to understand...

Anyway, I took a short trip this morning in the rain and it, for the most part, ran well. There was some sputtering still, but I suspect that if I put the waterproof, rubber cover back over the coil wires it may cure that. Also, the dealer had altered the airbox in his quest and I will also put that back to original. We'll see.... It's still raining, so I'm going to wait a bit to do more.

Well, that was PART of my story. The other part involves the Helix. Now, I have NEVER been a big fan of riding the Helix because, well...it just wasn't FUN to ride. Smooth, yes. Fast, yes. Good handling? Like a Greyhound bus. Since the Red Baron was down, I was forced to ride the Helix and discovered (since I hadn't been paying it any attention) it was sporting a set of bald tires. In fact, you could almost see the air through the front one. So I went online tire shopping. I finally went to Tires Unlimited and hunted through their selection of scooter tires for 110/100-12 for the front and 120/90-10 for the back...just like Honda put on 'em. Couldn't find just what I wanted. They were either the wrong sizes or too expensive, so I did a little thinking and decided to experiment. I ordered a Cheng Shin 110/70-12 for the front and a Cheng Shin 4.00 X 10 for the rear. My thoughts were thus; the shorter, fatter sport-oriented new front size would put a little more bias on the front, perhaps making the handling a little more positive and the slightly narrower, taller rear would allow for quicker, less labor-intensive transitions while lifting the hindquarters a bit for less parts-dragging in the corners.

First to show up was the front and it made a HUGE difference. Easy turn in and out and much more confidence in the corners. A week later the rear arrived and I had it put on. I rode it and discovered the Helix was now as fun to ride in the corners as the Buddy!! And maybe even as fast!! At the moment I discovered that, my whole world changed. I was going to Phoenix to scooter shop!

That Saturday, the Scarabs were having a "End-Of-Season-Bowling-Ride", so I decided to go. Discovered I don't bowl any better than I did 20 years ago when I last tried the game. I had a great ride and we had a great time. The Helix easily cruised at 70+ all the way from Cottonwood to the VERY southeast end of the Phoenix metro area where I met Ruckuschick (also known as Pam) for lunch. She is selling a Kymco People 250S which I am interested in. So we looked at it and went up to her favorite Kymco dealer, AZDesertSports to talk financing. They looked at my credit and chased me out with a taser. Well, almost... Bottom line is, I didn't go home on a new scooter. Still looking for just the right deal though.

Along about midnight I said goodbye to Damn Dirty Dave, Sandy V., Hump, Jughead, Cristian, Shannon, Isaac, Marion, Elijah and Hot Tomato (if I left anyone out, I apologize) and headed north towards home. 'Bout froze my butt off by the time I made it, but it was worth it. And a note of record; the Helix was just as fun to ride as I was hoping it would be.

Now, there is a small, local independent motorcycle fix-it place here in Cottonwood named D&K Motorsports and I have some of my work done there and when I was in there with the Helix having the tires mounted I noticed a white Helix in the back of the shop with the rear wheel off. I asked about it and found that someone had replaced the tire at some point and left out some important spacer, allowing the hub to move around. And it did! And it stripped the splines in said hub. Dave, the shop owner, said he had a hub on order and that the guy would NEVER sell. I stopped in yesterday looking for a petcock (which he didn't have) and Dave told me he was unable to get a hub...they are just simply unavailable. So the guy may be interested in selling. Now then, I know where to find a used one.....

So. If you are interested in buying a used Genuine Buddy, let me know. I will make sure it is running well before I sell it, but I'm thinking a Helix just might be the ticket for me right now...

Let's see, new tires, a SuperTrapp exhaust (yes, they have one specifically for the Helix), a new set of variator roller-weights and clutch spring, cut down the windshield and add some lower handlebars and some custom paint...a long, low hot-rod along the lines of a mid-sixties Plymouth with a hemi. Okay, so 250 cc's doesn't quite measure up to a hemi, but you get the idea!

C-ya...ride on!
--Keys

This and that...

I took a ride over to Prescott a week or so ago. Just messin' around. Nice ride. Things changed on the way home, though....

As I was climbing the hill to the top of Mingus Mountain, a white van moved in behind me. About 2 feet off my tail! This guy was SERIOUSLY tailgating...and I was doing about ten over the speed limit!! Well, he passed me on a double yellow line just before a corner, just fool's luck he wasn't head-on'd!! Since he had probably 350 cubic inches under the hood and I had 125 cc's, he disappeared into the distance. I topped the summit and began the fast descent into Jerome, some 6 miles away. I caught up to the van about 2 miles down the road. He was behind a motorcyclist on a Buell who was doing, again, about 10 over the limit. Wasn't enough for the bozo in the van. He was tailgating the motorcyclist like I've never seen before! The Buell would go around the corners and the van was right on his ass, front tires squealing, he was leaned over so far. I surmised the motorcyclist, although he was riding a sport bike, probably didn't have all that much experience since I was easily keeping up with the two of them. He was more than likely scared to death by this moron on his tail light. This was absolutely one of the most dangerous scenerios I've ever seen on this road. If the Buell had hit some sand or a rock or something and went down, that van would have gone right over him.

At the pull off about a mile or so above Jerome the biker pulled over to let the van by and he did...me right behind him. I actually think the driver was suffering a bruised ego or something since he couldn't shake the motorscooter behind him. And NO...I was NOT tailgating him. I was just behind him and going the same speed as he.

He rolled up on a car going about the speed limit about a hundred yards down the road, and you guessed it, passed it on the double yellow IN A CORNER!!! Again, he lived to tell the story. We then entered the town of Jerome and he passed another car in the town limits. There are NO passing zones in the town of Jerome because you can't see around the corners and hairpins in the town. He did it anyway...oncoming traffic be damned.

I was able to keep him in view all the way down the mountain into Cottonwood where I followed the van (yes, I had the plate number) to a local mortuary. I parked and went in where I spoke to the directors about the incident and how their driver was obviously trying to drum up more business for them. About that time, the driver, an older guy, walked up and was confronted by his bosses. He admitted to passing on the double yellow, saying "everybody does it"!! Not true. Admitted to speeding to the point of danger. Claimed he wasn't tailgating the motorcycle. I pulled out my sheriff's department ID and told him he probably wasn't the brightest bulb in the place. His boss told him he wouldn't be driving the company vehicle again and the man apologized to me for his behavior. I left.

TODAY, I drove my pickup over to Prescott (another part of this story) and on my way back, who did I see? Still driving like a bat outa hell? The same guy. Same van. What can you do??

I know he's gonna kill someone.

Anyway, last week, the Red Baron, on the way home from one of my forays into Sedona began coughing and sputtering pretty badly. I pulled over and cleaned the carb out...an easy, quick job. No difference. Now THIS was different. I rode it home, unhappily, and began working on it. First, I checked the spark plug. It was white, meaning it was running lean, suggesting a fuel starvation issue since in the past it's always been a pretty tan...which is optimum. I pulled the carb clear out and cleaned every part of it thoroughly. I replaced the fuel filter with a new one. I made sure the fuel lines were clear. I drained the gas tank, checking to make sure it wasn't full of crud and replaced the gas with fresh. I adjusted the valves (just because I could). No difference. Well, I'd done all I could, so I took it to Encore Performance, a Genuine dealer ( http://www.epfguzzi.com/ ). Jim called me a couple days ago, saying he'd replaced a wire to the coil and he thought it was fixed. So I drove over the mountain this morning to get it and, now it didn't cough and sputter as bad, but the power was down, and when I hit about 55 mph, it began coughing a little. I took it back and Jim pulled the carb and cleaned the jets. Tried it again. No better. Checked the plug. White.

So we found a 95 main jet to replace the 92 that was in it and tried it again. If anything, it was worse. I personally think it was just getting worse as it got warmer. We pulled the plug again and discovered the bigger jet made no difference to the color of the plug. We still had a fuel starvation issue. I left it there. They are going to do a bleed-down test to determine ring/cylinder integrity and adjust the valves again.

Who knows, maybe I just wore the poor thing out...

Also, I have included a picture here of my scooter in it's "Sport Touring" incarnation. For those of you who are new here, the scooter is an '06 Genuine Buddy 125, the rear bag is an S/X item from Scooterwest ( http://www.scooterwest.com/ ), the saddlebags are Dowco Rally Pack bags ( http://www.chaparralmotorsports.com/ ) and the windshield is from Genuine, specifically designed for the '06 Buddy.

C-ya...ride on!

--Keys

Skutergruven T-Shirts

I know everybody's been waiting for the spectacular unveiling of the new Skutergruven T-shirts. What's that?? You say you didn't even know about them??? Whatever.

To make a long story short, they are finally here. I will (eventually) have a web-site with a shopping cart and everything, but well...the guy who's creating it for me got a little behind. So, if you would like one, we're just gonna have to do the unthinkable and trust each other. You send me a check, cash or money order for $20.00 and I'll send you a shirt of your choice in the color (ink color, too) of your choice and in the size of your choice.

I have included here a couple pictures of some of them. These are all custom made to order (hence the big price), so give me a week or so. Just call (928) 274-1837 or (928) 649-0206 to order. If I don't answer, leave a message where I can reach you and we can work out the details. Sorry it's not a fancier way of doing business, but until my web-site is up, this is what I have to do...

C-ya...ride on!

--Keys

Something for Nothing

I've done a bit of riding lately. Mostly short, fast trips through the various canyons or over the various mountains around here. Nothing spectacular...just some beautiful rides of the sort I've described before...EXCEPT...

Last month was the Something For Nothing rally. The rally began (officially) in Flagstaff where we all grouped up and left, heading south through Oak Creek Canyon, into Sedona, south again on Hwy 179 to the Village of Oak Creek. A few miles south, we'd hook a right onto Beaverhead Flats Road for the entire 6 miles of its existance. Another right on Cornville Road would take us into Cornville where once again we'd take a right, this time onto Page Springs Road until it dumps out onto 89A...back to Cottonwood, through town and up to Jerome. Again, through town to the top of Mingus Mountain where an all night party was planned at the campground. Then back to Flagstaff on Sunday.

That was the plan.

Since my cronies from the Scarabs are based in Tucson and Phoenix, we traditionally meet Friday night at the campground, leave about 8 Saturday morning from there and meet up with the Flagstaff contingent at about ten or so and then make the ride back.

Well, that Friday, my new rollerweights and belt came in the mail. Finally. So, with much enthusiasm, I grabbed my new parts and went to where I used to work to coerce the mechanic into loaning me his air wrench. No problem, Roy was more than willing to help. So I took it apart, replaced the 11.5 gram rollerweights with my new 10.5 gram items and swapped out the old belt (which after 13,000 miles still looked brand new) with the new kevlar belt. Put it all back together and took it for a ride. No power. Well, some...I guess, but I was down probably 20%. I took it apart and put it back together two more times. Nothing changed. I made sure I was doing everything right. I even tried my (also new) 15 gram rollerweights. By that time, it was late and I needed to go to bed. Got up the next morning and it was cloudy. WAY cloudy.
I geared up with a leather jacket, full-face helmet and gloves and headed up the hill (slowly) to meet the club. I got to the meeting place before the rest had come down and decided to wait. It started to sprinkle. I moved the scooter under the canopy over a picnic table. It began to rain. Before long, I heard the sounds of the scooter coming down the dirt road from the campground. Still raining, although it had lessened a little. I fired the Red Baron up and we all headed down the mountain.

We all made it down through the rain-soaked corners okay...until Jerome. I was near the front, and just happened to glance in my rearview to see Hump slow his Bajaj down and go back up the hill. Jerome has several hairpin and just tight corners on the main road through town, and the rain had slickened up the old asphalt and yes, you guessed it, someone went down. It was Sandy V., Damn Dirty Dave's sweetie on her sweet little Vespa. It had just slipped out from under her and she'd torn up the palm of one hand pretty bad. Fortunately, the driveway in which we all parked was owned by the town Fire Chief, who came out and tended to Sandy's injuries. I loaned her a bigger glove to fit over her bandages (by the way, Sandy...where is that??) and we were once again on our way. On through Cottonwood and just about a mile out of Cottonwood on the road to Sedona, Mike's sweet Lambretta came to a coughing halt. Some wire had come loose and so he and I spent a few minutes wrenching while the rest kept going.

Mike and I rode together to Sedona and I couldn't believe how doggy the Red Baron was running. It was embarrassing! We caught the rest of the pack in Sedona and we rode the rest of the way to Flagstaff pretty uneventfully. Except my scooter was running like it was a 100cc. I was SERIOUSLY disappointed. I was being outrun by stock Stellas going uphill! This was BAD!

Breakfast and hot coffee in Flagstaff and a lot of catching up with the Flagstaff scooterists whom we only get to see once or twice a year. It began raining again in earnest and we sat it out. When it finally let up a bit, we loaded Sandy's Vespa on the trailer (poor girl was hurting) and headed downhill. Rain off and on all the way to Sedona. We fueled up in the Village of Oak Creek and took off again. At the end of Beaverhead Flats Road, Damn Dirty Dave lost the exhaust off of his Vespa Sprint and it was loaded up. Somewhere along the way, Ian had also lost the exhaust off his Allstate and it too was on the truck. As soon as we turned onto Page Springs Road, the heavens opened up in a spectacular monsoon-style gully-washer! I was following Mike on his Lambretta and cussing my Buddy for it's lack of power as Mike just ran away from me. For a while. Just before Page Springs Restaurant (home of the finest Prime Rib in Arizona) there is a bridge where the water was several inches deep. The Lambretta sucked in a big mouthful of that water and just up and quit. It was done for the day. On the trailer. At least my scooter, though powerless, kept going.

I'd been battling a cold for about a week and the soaking I was getting didn't help, so I headed home when we got to Cottonwood for a hot shower and dry clothes. I also took the transmission on the Buddy apart again. There just HAD to be something I'd done wrong. I was VERY diligent in putting it back together and, damn it, it still wasn't right. I pulled the transmission cover off again and just sat there looking at it for a while. I'd been assuming my problem was in the rollerweights all along. Maybe my train of thought needed to find a different track, so I removed the new, $75 belt and put the old one back on, along with the 10.5 gram weights again. Buttoned it up, took it for a spin and VOILA!! A mighty return of power!! The belt was wrong. It was a MRP product that they were claiming works for the Buddy, although it's not exactly the right one. WRONG!!! More power or not, the scooter stayed in the garage and I drove the pickup to the campground to tell lies around the fire and watch the others get drunk. Sandy said she wasn't in much pain, but her eyes told a different story. Finally, we said our goodbyes and I drove home. Not the best rally I've attended, but I did learn a few things. One; use the factory belts. Two; be very careful on old, nasty pavement that's wet. Three; even when they're not running right, Buddys will just keep chugging along and finish the ride.

Comforting.

C-ya...ride on,
--Keys

Scooter Time Machine

Tonight I had one of the most poignant and meaningful experiences I've had in a long time and I have my scooter to thank for it...kind of indirectly, but it was responsible nevertheless.



It was pretty much a quiet day. My wife had to work at 1:30 and as usual, she slept until 11:30, leaving me to kick around all morning by myself. I went to Hobo Joe's for some scrambled eggs and coffee then rode to a local independent motorcycle shop who mounted my new rear tire for me (the third in a year...13,000 miles will do that). For ten bucks. Nice guys. Then I moseyed home and bounced around the internet for a while. Got bored. Did the dishes. Folded the clothes I'd run through the washing machine last night. Played the piano a little. Went to my sister's house to get my garage workbench and air tank that's been at her place for a couple of years. Went home. About that time Ski awakened and got ready for work. Said our goodbyes and I just looked around. Now what?



So, I trimmed some bushes, cleaned out the garage enough I could fit the bench in and still walk. Swept the driveway where the bush trimmings had fallen. Loaded them in the pickup and took them to where I used to work where there's a big ravine that everyone uses for bush trimming disposal and disposed of them. Moseyed back home. Looked at my scooter. Cleaned the bugs off the windshield. Then, with nowhere to go and nothing in particular to see, I put my helmet and "Wild Man" jacket on and headed out.



I headed northeast on 89A towards Sedona for a mile or two, then hooked a right onto Cornville Road which leads you to (you guessed it...) Cornville, Az. There are a few nice corners and curves on the way and the Buddy was running perfectly. New air filter, thoroughly cleaned carburetor, new fuel filter, new rollerweights in the transmission, new windshield and a new rear tire. I was STYLIN'! I crossed the Verde River in Cornville then went the additional mile or so to KC's Corner where I took a left onto Page Springs Road...an 8 mile, beautifully curvy piece of tarmac just calling my name. I took the corners just as fast as I could...easily doubling the suggested speed limits. Page Springs Road dumps out onto 89A again where I turned left again and neaded back into Cottonwood and home. Fabulous, albeit short (20 miles) ride.



Went home. Repaired the front door. Tidied up the garage a little more. Played some more piano. Was kinda lonely. TV didn't interest me (rarely does). By this time it was getting dark...about 8:00. Okay, time for another ride.



A couple of weeks ago, the city of Cottonwood sponsored a competition/festival/motorcycle rally called "Rythym and Ribs" in which the inhabitants of our small city tasted and declared which restaurant served up the best ribs. And at the same time got to listen to the Marshall Tucker band in concert. All for ten bucks! Anyway, a small place in Cornville named the Grasshopper Grill won the title of "Best Ribs". I voted for 'em. And this was a place I'd never been. Maybe I needed to check 'em out.



Bottom line; I headed for the Grasshopper Grill for dinner. Again I rode the fine curves into Cornville and hooked a left into the parking lot at the junction of Cornville Road and Page Springs Road, parked the scooter and hung up my helmet and went inside and was immediately taken 35 years back in time.



The Grasshopper Grill is a very small place, room for about 12 tables with a few outside in the backyard and a small bar. The decor was straight out of a hunting lodge somewhere in the mountains of Colorado...peeled log railings and walls, laquered wood tables and chairs and bar. Having grown up in the mountains of Colorado, I felt right at home. This was, of course, a Friday night and the place was packed. The great thing was, it was packed with families. Just being families. Over here were three families, including all their children and an extra man friend of the family. Over there were two more...and, well, you get the idea. The men were truck drivers, construction workers, mechanics...the guys who make our lives function everyday. They were out at this little place, eating dinner, having a couple brews and just being families. The men didn't ignore their wives. Nobody ignored the kids. The kids were playing the video games...one that had two plastic rifles where the players "hunted" game and accumulated points. One had card games.



I ordered the fabulous carnitas tacos and just reveled in the ambiance. A couple guys were discussing how to repair a piece of equipment. A couple more were talking about where they'd drawn their big game tags this year. Their arms were around their wives. When a kid came up, they got their hair tousled or got a hug. THESE were families. THEN it was karaoke time. Mostly classic country songs. Some the wives sang. Some the guys sang. A LOT was sung by the myriad of kids...sometimes all at once. I couldn't keep the smile off my face.



Here were people just enjoying a Friday night together. Eating, talking, laughing, singing and loving. This place could have been in Red Lodge, Montana where I lived 35 years ago, just out of high school. Natalie's Cafe was in downtown Red Lodge, where I saw the same things so long ago, and as I thought about those days in Montana and tonight in Cornville, Arizona, I realized that THIS is what the human spirit longs for. And that I'd lost track of somewhere along the way. It's not the big, important position at the company. It's not the newest car or biggest house. It's having a family to belong to. With a tear in my eye, I texted Shelly (my sister) to tell her what I was experiencing and told her she and my niece McKenzie (I call her Mac) should be there with me and we shared, through texting, how important we are to each other and promised breakfast together in the morning.



I left the Grasshopper Grill reluctantly and followed Page Springs Road again to 89A and headed back towards Cottonwood, retracing my earlier steps. About halfway to Cottonwood, I realized I wasn't ready to go home yet and pointed the scooter in the direction of the mountain community of Jerome. I chased the curves up the mountain and through the town to a parking area about 2 miles above the town. I pulled in and parked the Red Baron, pulled my helmet off and leaned against the stone wall, just listening to the night and reflecting on what I'd seen.



A more beautiful autumn evening couldn't have been found. There was a full moon, shaded by some high clouds and faint, cool breezes cascading down from the 7000 foot summit of Mingus Mountain. Every now and then a car or truck would go by on their way to Prescott, maybe...or Cottonwood or Sedona. I could see through the "V" formed by the mountains on either side and be rewarded with the twinkling lights of Clarkdale and Cottonwood and off in the distance, Sedona. With the breeze almost lovingly caressing my face, I considered all the "family" I'd seen tonight. Something most of us don't have time for. Something we allow daily pursuits to get in the way of. Something we let our personal aspiration prevent us from appreciating. These families probably didn't own their own homes or a new vehicle, and if they DID own their own home, it was probably a house trailer. They didn't earn salaries in the 6-digit range. They just earned a living and spent the rest of their lives living. Where is my family, I wondered? Why do I so often feel alone? Where did I slip sideways? As the clouds altered the shadows around me and the breeze brought the fragrance of the cedars to me, I understood finally, that family is what the human spirit longs for. And that most of us push it away, because it is sometimes inconvenient. I realized, that in many ways, Shelly and her kids are the only family I'm close to...and believe it or not, we're not even REALLY family. Shelly and I "adopted" each other as brother and sister about 10 years ago...before I even knew my wife. We understood that that is our relationship and we both need it. And I am blessed to have what family I have.



I smiled at the moon and thanked God for the insight he gave me tonight and for the level of joy I'd seen. My friends, it IS possible. And it IS good.



I, reluctantly again, pulled my helmet on, straddled the Red Baron, fired it up and headed back down the mountain with a little better understanding of what's important.



...and it was a little red motorscooter, always pulling me down the road to new places, that led me to where I needed to be tonight and I am grateful.



--Keys

Promised pictures from last week's trip.

I promised you pictures to cover the trips I took last weekend and here are some from the FIRST trip I took last Thursday from Cottonwood to Flagstaff, up Oak Creek Canyon.

Well, kids, there's the famous Sedona, Arizona. Proclaimed by someone (I forget who) to be the most beautiful place on earth. That person has OBVIOUSLY not been to Colorado. But I digress. The next picture down is just north of town looking to a sort of southerly direction at the spires just outside of Sedona. The next shows the bridge you have to cross to span Oak Creek...WAAAaaaaay down in the bottom. The last picture is from a vantage point under the bridge and looking down Oak Creek canyon towards Sedona, which can be seen climbing the hillside at the end of the canyon.

Pics from last week's trip...

The top picture shows the pretty, narrow, tree-lined road from just north of Sedona to nearly "The Switchbacks". Then of course, in the middle of this little paradise is a Dairy Queen! That is the Red Baron handsomely posing in front. The third is a picture of the people all playing down on the river at Slide Rock state park.

New pics from last week's trip

These pics are from the end of the trip, at the top of the rim. The top pic is at the edge of the rim lookin south towards where Sedona would be. Below it is...well, the Rim! The Mogollon Rim...some kind of volcanic structure. The third pic shows "The Switchbacks" and why they're called that. The one below it is just me standing on the edge looking down. Then the bottom one is looking northwest above the ranger station at Slide Rock state park.