Red line on speedometer? Also NBR| what do you do for hair?

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DrScoot
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Red line on speedometer? Also NBR| what do you do for hair?

Post by DrScoot »

Sorry 2 questions here.

I was curious about the red line on the speedometer. I have a buddy 150 and love riding it but have always been hesitant about pushing it past the red line, which for me is around 55mph mark. Is this just an aesthetics thing(huh?) or does this actually represent a mechanical limit?

My second questions is for you who scoot to work and wear a helmet. What do you do if you have to "maintain a professional appearance" aka not have helmet hair? Do you fix your hair before you go and then fix it or do you go to work then fix it? I usually wear a flat cap but I recently got a gig wear I have to go "business casual"(whatever that is :) ).

Thanks!
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KABarash
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Post by KABarash »

The 'red line' on the speedo is a throw back to when the national speed limit was 55 mph. In other words it's saying, uh-huh you're not allowed to go faster than this!

About your hair, there's not too much advise here, wear a helmet liner or fix it once at work or buzz it all off.

Business casual: Dress nice, you don't have to wear a suit and tie.
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tiii
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Post by tiii »

I never noticed it before, are all their speedos adorned with this 55mph mark?

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skipper20
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Re: Red line on speedometer? Also NBR| what do you do for ha

Post by skipper20 »

DrScoot wrote:Sorry 2 questions here.

I was curious about the red line on the speedometer. I have a buddy 150 and love riding it but have always been hesitant about pushing it past the red line, which for me is around 55mph mark. Is this just an aesthetics thing(huh?) or does this actually represent a mechanical limit?

My second questions is for you who scoot to work and wear a helmet. What do you do if you have to "maintain a professional appearance" aka not have helmet hair? Do you fix your hair before you go and then fix it or do you go to work then fix it? I usually wear a flat cap but I recently got a gig wear I have to go "business casual"(whatever that is :) ).

Thanks!
All it means is that if you exceed 55 mph, your MPG will drop considerably, As far as your hair is concerned, I wish I had hair to worry about!

Bill in Seattle 81 years old and soon to be 82
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Syd
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Post by Syd »

I let the people I see worry about my hair. :D
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KrispyKreme
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Post by KrispyKreme »

KABarash wrote:The 'red line' on the speedo is a throw back to when the national speed limit was 55 mph. In other words it's saying, uh-huh you're not allowed to go faster than this!

About your hair, there's not too much advise here, wear a helmet liner or fix it once at work or buzz it all off.

Business casual: Dress nice, you don't have to wear a suit and tie.

Cool attitude.

Something about "business casual" and "scooters" gets me a bit pumped up.

It might be the weather.
DrScoot
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Post by DrScoot »

Syd wrote:I let the people I see worry about my hair. :D
Thats how I feel about the situation, but unfortunately being the low man on the pole I have to suck it up haha.


So its just a signifier of lesser gas mileage? Ive always felt the 55mph mark was a limit and if I crossed it I would explode into a ball of fire. I guess a bit too dramatic eh? :)
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KrispyKreme
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Post by KrispyKreme »

DrScoot wrote:
Syd wrote:I let the people I see worry about my hair. :D
Thats how I feel about the situation, but unfortunately being the low man on the pole I have to suck it up haha.


So its just a signifier of lesser gas mileage? Ive always felt the 55mph mark was a limit and if I crossed it I would explode into a ball of fire. I guess a bit too dramatic eh? :)

Fill the tank up. Take a scenic route, and run it until it is out of gas. Calculate. After that, I will bet my life you will never run out of gas on that machine again.
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Post by MYSCTR »

DrScoot wrote:
Syd wrote:So its just a signifier of lesser gas mileage?
We have not noticed this, we tend to get worse gas milage by my riding style of WOT (wide open throttle) off the line. Any time we ride in a rally we will get upwards of about 20 mpg better and that has a lot to do with very casual starts and never going WOT.

We can only attest to the fact that if you cross that line, you will go faster and if you don't you will never see 78 bmph on your scooter.
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Post by PeteH »

DrScoot wrote:So its just a signifier of lesser gas mileage? Ive always felt the 55mph mark was a limit and if I crossed it I would explode into a ball of fire. I guess a bit too dramatic eh? :)
It's literally a holdover from the old National speed limit of 55 days, back in Energy Crisis #1. Lots of federal regulations: states had to have a state-wide 55mph limit or lose Federal highway funds, manufacturers were forced to mark the 55mph point on speedometers in red. There's no mechanical or vendor-specific significance to this speedo mark.

That being said, I get great MPG at 55mph, far better than in stop-and-go driving. The only exception being in a bad headwind, which forces me to crank more throttle to maintain speed, and my MPG drops significantly. I went on a 320-mile trip last year on a very windy day and had to fill up something like 5 or 6 times (I'll have to go back and check Fuelly for that day).
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sunshinen
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Post by sunshinen »

+1 on the 55 mph speed limit being the source of the red line.

As for hair... this really depends on your type of hair, haircut, and how oily your hair is.

For me, a cut that is meant to be a bit messy works best. Take helmet off, ruffle fingers through hair to unflatten, done.
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skully93
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Post by skully93 »

If you frequently go over the red line, attractive people of your choice will flock to love you....

Hair, it will be messy. I shortened what little style I have considerably.
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Post by pugbuddy »

I've actually found short hair to be a detriment; it gets crushed in all different directions by my helmet and looks ridiculous when I pull it off.

Longer hair lays down better and keeps its shape better when you take off the helmet. Mind you, if you ride for 3+ hours straight your hair is going to be pretty crushed no matter what your hairstyle. At least that's been my experience.
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Raputtak
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Post by Raputtak »

Business casual = mod attire.
DrScoot
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Post by DrScoot »

pugbuddy wrote:I've actually found short hair to be a detriment; it gets crushed in all different directions by my helmet and looks ridiculous when I pull it off.

Longer hair lays down better and keeps its shape better when you take off the helmet. Mind you, if you ride for 3+ hours straight your hair is going to be pretty crushed no matter what your hairstyle. At least that's been my experience.
I was thinking that about the short hair. So far I've been combing it then when I get to hair recomb it and it seems to work so far. It also helps that I can sneak in the back way without the boss noticing my "rough lifestyle". The worst part of riding the scoot to work is dealing with other people. Apparently in Tulsa, people who ride scooters are either "fluffs" or "insane liberals". I find it hilarious and quite enjoyable.
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Post by PeteH »

Heh. My son will be a senior at TU this fall, and has made noises about me letting him take the Buddy to school. He's neither a flaming liberal nor fluffy, so it might be tough for him.... :)
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Post by DrScoot »

PeteH wrote:Heh. My son will be a senior at TU this fall, and has made noises about me letting him take the Buddy to school. He's neither a flaming liberal nor fluffy, so it might be tough for him.... :)
Haha I might see him around. I am at TU for my last year as well. Can't wait to join the rest of the humanity in the "real world" . :)
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Post by KrispyKreme »

DrScoot wrote:
PeteH wrote:Heh. My son will be a senior at TU this fall, and has made noises about me letting him take the Buddy to school. He's neither a flaming liberal nor fluffy, so it might be tough for him.... :)
Haha I might see him around. I am at TU for my last year as well. Can't wait to join the rest of the humanity in the "real world" . :)

Hum?
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Post by DrScoot »

KrispyKreme wrote:
Hum?

As in get out of the college limbo and be able to live like an adult again!
No one else has had this feeling?
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Post by Raputtak »

Since when does 55 on the speedometer equate to an actual speed of 55mph? On every scooter I have owned an indicated 55 usually means I am doing 45 to 50 on the GPS.

The Hooligan is worse of all: 63 on the speedometer equates to 55 on the GPS.
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Post by Tocsik »

Question about the red line has been answered.
My hair gets messed up from the helmet. I have learned not to put any gel in it since that just makes it worse. I run wet fingers through it when I get to work if it's too crazy. Hot weather with my black full face helmet = much matted hair.
Also, if it rains, I get wet.
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Post by george54 »

Can't you just keep a hair brush with you in the scooter and run it thru your hair when you get to work? (asked the almost bald guy)
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Post by DrScoot »

Yeah its tough, especially if you work someplace where they expect you to be well groomed. Ive switched to just doing it when i get to work, although it looks hilarious walking up to work with my hair everywhere.
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Post by KooK »

Yup. Do it when you get to work. I work as a casino dealer, front line, have to look presentable. I have a shag top do and I have a brush in my carrier, brush it when I get the helmet off. Walk into work, then style my hair. I keep a bottle of hair stuff in my locker to juice my hair into my hair helmet for work. And I'm a person who doesn't care what my hair looks like(but I think my hair is gorgeous!! Lol)
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still shifting
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Post by still shifting »

I shave my head. R
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Post by DrScoot »

Its one of those things I never considered when switching from the cage to the scooter. Oh well, gotta protect that moneymaker!(your head) :)
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Post by ScooterDave »

I feel the pain. I spend hours fixing my hair after a long ride.

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DrScoot
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Post by DrScoot »

Haha yeah thanks Dave. Btw that photo would be great for a meme. :D
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Post by bikerbrewer »

I used to have great hair. Then I hit my late twenties (I recommend sticking to the mid-twenties if the option presents itself). Anyway, I just don't bother myself with hair - have you tried http://www.headblade.com/ ?

My wife rides the buddy to work (14 miles each way) and she seems to be fine, though I'm sure she's got a few tricks up her sleeve.
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