Random Output
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08/26/2010
I do very little in the way of distance driving these days. Both my sons have now graduated and drive their own cars. When I go to concert in St. Louis or Kansas City it's with friends and I'm happy to pay for the gas and ride with them. Work is a quick 3 miles away from home and my bank is on the way to work. My daily drive would be fast except for driving past two large Shopping Malls with it's traffic. Another 3/4 mile past work puts me at Walmart. A 1/2 mile diversion along that path puts me at a major grocery chain store. Everything that is a necessity or that I use on a casual basis is available to me within a 6 mile radius.
So I've been questioning my need to own a truck. I pay insurance, taxes, maintenance and higher fuel costs for a useful asset, but one I'm not really using and can do without.
I first bought this truck for my youngest sons first vehicle. Small and economical (for a truck) I got it cheap and put a few dollars in it before he decided he wanted a car with an automatic.
For a period of time I considered doing a bit of work and fixing up the little truck. I've already installed drop spindles and lowering leafs. It's in good shape and has just over 105 thousand miles on it's odometer. It's almost rust free for a twenty year old truck and given how few miles I actually drive, it could reasonably last the rest of my life. But as many of you know, it's hard to work on something your also driving.
But the real truth is I don't love this truck and I've come to understand you have love a vehicle you intend to keep almost as much as a spouse.
So yesterday I spent the money to buy a scooter, the model shown above. I enjoy riding motorcycles and even something so small as my son's Schwinn scooter. No taxes, no inspection, no plates. It's 50CCs of cheap transportation.
If you know me you know I cannot go without upgrading this little scooter. It has not even arrived yet and this morning I ordered an high performance CDI. My plans are to install a long case and upgrade to 13 inch rims. Combined with a set of pit bike forks out front this will add to the wheelbase length, making the platform more stable at speed for a minimal weight gain. Larger wheels should also provide lower rolling resistance.
As mentioned my oldest son has a scooter which he uses extensively, my scooter can be the test bed for upgrades to his. As the tinkering continues we will document the progress and failures here. Keep tuned in, this will be a interesting process.