Brought (back) home my Kinetic TFR. I consider this to be the first bike I got. It was a gift from my wife for Christmas. I finally got it started a couple years ago, but never had the time and interest in riding it. So I loaned it to Stephan for he and his room mate to enjoy. Stephan bought a few more jets and found this old 4" headlight to make it street legal. Thanks Stephan.

It started with the first kick, but died out from too much air. Jetting was right, but not for the lack of a filter in the air box. I replaced that and it was golden.

I swapped out the moped style high bars for a flat handlebar from a mountain bike donor and rode it to Kroger for some food items. I had no lock, so I wedged it into the bike rack and hoped no one would take it. It was still there.

So I took it off road. I explored the whole construction site at Colerain and Virginia in Northside. And it kept going. Less the headlight, which was a 6volt item. I replaced it with a 12v bulb, and it works gloriously.

Next up, a vanity windscreen. Cute huh?

Beast of Burden: Grocery Getters

Two pictures I've been unintentionally hanging onto.

Seen outside of the Hyde Park Kroger last Friday.  I love to see people really using their scooters.

I have no idea what the apparatus on the Chinese scooter is for, maybe golf clubs...  that would be some uneven loading, unless you were carrying your comrade's clubs as well.

Gear that Makes a Difference: Full Face Helmet

For the last month I've employed a Bell Star for helmet duties.  The Star is Bell's range topping full face helmet, a stark difference compared to the lower end HJC, and Bell Sprint helmets that I've been wearing for the last four years that I've been riding.  

I'm using the soft pads (it also comes with firm, which I'll try if the soft set breaks in to be too roomy) which have a luxurious feel.  I sized it from the extra small helmets that I wear from Bell, and that was accurate for me.

I decided to try a different helmet after a particularly quick trip on my 400 left me feeling a little rattled from my old helmet (a matte black Bell Sprint) lifting and pressing uncomfortably on my face in the wind.  

The solution?  This helmet has spoilers!  

Aside from looking a lot better, being much lighter and feeling like a  much more tailored fit on my head it has technical improvements to the venting system (that works) and aerodynamics, in fact in my Bell catalog they've got a helmet with strip taped all over it for demonstration purposes.  I don't know what it is actually demonstrating, but I can tell you that this lid is very stable, at least at scooter speeds.

I've planned a road trip on the CBR from Cincinnati to Athens for tomorrow, during which I'm sure I'll do plenty of thinking about my helmet.  I'll try to follow up on this post with those findings.

Already sporting an endorsement for my favorite British motorbike magazine, Performance Bikes.

Metro Scooter Scenery.

The back room at Metro

Not so secret project

Late model KYMCO People 50, derestricted.  

Lots of crashes, stolen twice, recovered in rough condition, 

Given to me.

Lyrical: You don't know me.

I know me, but you don't know me.
Cause I don't know you,

Lyrics from Peter Bjorn and John's new album Living Things. This album took me a second listen, unlike their totally sweet, poppy first release, but is totally worth the effort. The eighties have weighed heavily on this record, a certain song calls Paul Simon to mind.

If you've ever had Young Folk stuck in your head, be aware there are some addictive melodies here as well. Get it, and enjoy.

Friends Bikes: Pat's Katana commuter.

Well worn.














The odometer is beyond it's mechanical limitations (rolled over)and the springs are a bit soft now, but it's still ridden hard.




















Thanks Pat