Dorkcycle.

redhandmoto · Post by **redhandmoto** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:33 am

That's right; while I fence-sit around in Buddy Emeritus mode, waiting on more 170i input, I unloaded the modded Z125 and started using my wife's derestricted Met for all my local errand runs.

That was so much fun, I took it on a combo city/country 137-mile plus loop one afternoon last week. It's amazing what 49s can do, and how reinvigorating riding one can be.

The seat on the Met is way too small for me, though, and I had to perch athwart the rear edge most of the time. This left a horizontal welt across the fundament that is only now fading.

But now I wanted another 49 for that sheer original 49 fun-ness. My very first bike had been a 49 - a '64 Honda C110 - and I never lost the love. So, Zuma proceeds in my pockets, I went out and got the last word in seating comfort - a scoot for the Compleat Dork, a Yama C3.

Yesss...a liquid-cooled, fuel-injected padded mobile shoe-shine bench that is the perfect glider through heavy urban traffic; smooth, vibrationless. It looks so weird, so perfectly dorky, that people don't even get annoyed that I'm in front on them. And the seat! The seat is heaven for the haunches.

I got rid of my first C3 in a complicated deal during my transient Big Motorcycle Madness. What was I thinking? I'm keeping this one, Buddy-Lust notwithstanding, as we assemble a new fleet. Maybe it needs some "Polizei" stickers, maybe a shark's fin for the rear deck...

I seem to remember that there was once a C3 forum someplace; I still have the derestriction videos bookmarked...

And it does seem to have quenched the temptation toward that Pamplona 150 on sale locally...

out18law18 · Post by **out18law18** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 11:06 am

www.c3riders.freeforums.org

KRUSTYburger · Post by **KRUSTYburger** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 12:34 pm

haha, I always wanted a C3... but there really isn't anywhere to ride a 50cc around here.

I even had an idea for a retro Cushman C3, I wonder what ever happened to that.

redhandmoto · Post by **redhandmoto** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 12:57 pm

out18law18 wrote:www.c3riders.freeforums.org

Ah, Bless you, M'Lord! And good luck in your quest!

redhandmoto · Post by **redhandmoto** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 1:01 pm

KRUSTYburger wrote:haha, I always wanted a C3... but there really isn't anywhere to ride a 50cc around here.

run you over, would they? Traffic here is so clogged that, as the Mrs pointed out, 'What the hell; nobody else can go faster than 40 anyway, no matter what they're driving."

jasondavis48108 · Post by **jasondavis48108** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 2:03 pm

congrats, I've alwasy loved the C3, it's a great looking scooter in my book. I'd snag one but I just can't justify owning two 50s

Keys · Post by **Keys** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 2:23 pm

For a similar scoot that's a wee bit bigger, consider the SYM Fiddle II. Right Syd?

--Keys

redhandmoto · Post by **redhandmoto** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 2:30 pm

49s are a great obsession: they're cheeep (especially used at end-of-season), they're infinitely moddable, they're unbeatable in maddingly jammed urban streets, and here in the People's Democratic Republic of Tarsnakesatn, they're exempt from registration, tags, etc. (but don't get caught going over 35!). At one time, we had four, both in 2T and 4T.

Another of my personal favorites was a Tomos ST with the A55 engine. Resprocketed, piped, and opened up in aspiration, I didn't even think of kitting it. Mad fun as is.

Now dealing with the Yama-recommended break-in protocol. Impressions to the contrary, I always follow the mfr's drill, but for the C3, it does seem a bit overwrought:

no more than 1/3 throttle for the first 90 miles;
no more than 1/2 throttle from 90 - 300;
no more than 3/4 throttle between 3 and 600.

Still, not a problem in this turgid traffic. I went ahead and got a title and plates for it because once the break-in is over, the restriction washer comes off and I'll start looking at variators and weights.

redhandmoto · Post by **redhandmoto** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 2:36 pm

Keys wrote:For a similar scoot that's a wee bit bigger, consider the SYM Fiddle II. Right Syd?

--Keys

their rep is so good, I always wanted some kind of SYM; by the time I went looking, though, Carter Bros had already developed a solid rep for supply-chain shenanigans, and then had a "holocaust of convenience". worry too much about marque support infrastructure, mebbe...

jasondavis48108 · Post by **jasondavis48108** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:42 pm

hey redhand, I noticed that at one point you owned a Big Ruckus. How'd you like that one? I'm thinking about picking up one used after I pay off my wifes Grandvista.

redhandmoto · Post by **redhandmoto** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 5:07 pm

the Big Ruckus kills. To get the most out of it, it needed the JCosta variator (which was then only imported by Scootertrap, and I think Matt's gone out of business) and an upjet. With the OEM airscoops, that was a true freeway bike. The brakes were dicey and a little underwhelming at freeway speeds, though.

I still see it around town - guy loves it.

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 5:25 pm

redhandmoto wrote:
Keys wrote:For a similar scoot that's a wee bit bigger, consider the SYM Fiddle II. Right Syd?

--Keys
their rep is so good, I always wanted some kind of SYM; by the time I went looking, though, Carter Bros had already developed a solid rep for supply-chain shenanigans, and then had a "holocaust of convenience". worry too much about marque support infrastructure, mebbe...

The Fiddle is bigger, but heavy. Heavy enough that the 125 is slowed by its weight, compared to the Buddy. A 50cc Fiddle might just be the only scoot slower than what I've read the C3 is, I think.

As for SYM's status, it is starting to look like things are clearing up in the west, with Alliance/Lance taking over distributorship for the SYM line. In fact, unless their online mouthpiece is lying, they seem to be doing things pretty smartly - he says they are bringing in parts even before the first container of scoots arrives. Lance was in the upper tier of ChinaScoot-importer-dom, so my fingers are crossed. Even at that, when I needed a part ACF (After Carter Fire), my local dealer was able to get the needed part from Canada in pretty short order, without being too expensive.

If you are in the eastern US, I don't know, and SYM's not talking publicly, what you will do in the future. But I still wouldn't hesitate buying another SYM. I miss my HD.

redhandmoto · Post by **redhandmoto** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 6:19 pm

yep, I'm in the east. just have to sit tight.

the C3, btw, is known for being able to hit 40 out of the box. used to smoke the Met before that got derestricted. Looking forward to mild mods after the interminable break-in...

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 6:24 pm

40? Really? That's what I get for believing something (unattributed) I read online!

redhandmoto · Post by **redhandmoto** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 6:27 pm

yeah, no prob burying the needle right off, but not so good on any kind of incline. but, ya know, it's a 49; born to mbe messed with...

jasondavis48108 · Post by **jasondavis48108** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 3:28 am

redhandmoto wrote:yeah, no prob burying the needle right off, but not so good on any kind of incline. but, ya know, it's a 49; born to mbe messed with...

Amen to that! One of the best things about 50s is tinkering with them to make them go faster. The nice thing is you can mod them out quite a bit without going totally broke.

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 3:32 am

Love your description of the scoot!...Mobile shoeshine bench indeed.

And yes, 50cc scoots are awesome to mod, where else is finding 1/2 a hp so awesome AND REWARDING!?

redhandmoto · Post by **redhandmoto** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 9:49 am

and the cosmetic/bodywork mods! just went throught the 'custom C3s' thread on the C3 forum...slammed C3s, nekked C3s, raised seats...lowered seats...sidepanel cut-outs...whew!

SteveK · Post by **SteveK** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 3:00 pm

That's a cool scoot. It was so attractive at Riverside Motorsports in MA when we were looking at the Zuma's there.

As far as the shoeshine bench comment goes.... beauty is in the eyes of the beholder I agree... My kid sat on the one at the dealer. Unsure of what to expect he asked me to snap a picture on the phone so he could see himself on it. The sales guy said "You look great!" My kid turns to him and said " I look like a freakin' swan!"....heh heh heh good times all around.