'RADIUS OF LAMENESS!!!' - I think this may be a first here.

[Tam Tam]

So, getting slowly back into riding, I scooted to Half Price Books on the Blackjack. (about 2 miles from the house). As I rolled onto the 3/4 full lot, I slipped into a spot next to a Honda Rebel (250cc), not so much out of '2 wheeled Brotherhood', but more like the spot was oddly close to the door.
I was inside for all of 10 minutes (sometimes I go in ready to browse for hours, and sometimes it's more like 'I want this kind of book by this certain author!') So, straight to True crime, grab an Ann Rule, and then check out.
When I head out the door, parked in a spot directly ahead is..a Honda Rebel 250...hmmm, hey that's the same color as the one I parked next to. Rounding the corner of the building, I see my Blackjack parked there, but the Honda Shadow had jumped 30 ft away to a new spot in the 'motorcycle only' parking. I honestly chuckled out loud...someone didn't want their 250cc Honda being seen next to a 150cc motorscooter...hell with it, off to eat a cheeseburger and read.
But I couldn't help myself - on the way home, I pipped by the Half Price Parking lot - and the Honda was still there in it's new spot...AWESOME!!!
I'm guessing it was an employee, who disturbed by the Prima's tinny exhaust, looked outside, and said "*&#%#& IT!!! Not again! Why do scooters have to park next to my Mad Max evil mighty motorcycle? You know what, guys, I'm not gonna take it anymore! I'm gonna move my bike 30 feet away to get it out of this scooter's radius of lameness!!!" (Radius of Lameness - damn, that's gonna be the Subject Line)
Part of me wants to park reeeaaaalllyyy close next to it if it's there whenever I go, but that'd be kinda dick of me...But wow, someone (and on a 250 even) made it point to not be parked next to a scooter. Wonder if he (or she) had been getting clowned over buying what others might've deemed a 'tiny bike'?
That, or maybe when I was inside, the Honda Rebel slowly turned it's forks to sneak an admiring glance at the Blackjack. The Blackjack, in turn, growled very low...but then snapped with it's Prima fury, causing the Honda Rebel to 'YIP YIP Yip yip yip...' away to a safe spot...away from my bruiser, the mean and cruel Sally!

[RoadRambler]

Wow, your scoots lead dramatic lives!

[Mousenut]

What's a "book"?

[Tam Tam]

RoadRambler, they do! (better than mine sometimes, I think) Ever see the documentary "The secret life of plants" ? Very neat, as it made you realize that plants do much more than laze around in the sun...Hmm, 'The secret life of scooters'

And Mousenut, someone else described a book as " a portable data storage device, of varying size, requiring no electrical energy"

[michelle_7728]

...that or he was asked by his manager to move over to the motorcycle only area to leave room for cagers when it gets busy...?

I like your version better though...and odds are that's what happened (your version).

[skully93]

HA!

It would be funny if a 250 (which is probably not that much faster than the blackjack anyway....) found it's younger cousin lame...

[AlleyOops]

Thats pretty hilarious.. too bad you didn't walk out there while he was in the middle of moving it.

[2wheelNsanity]

This fracture between scooterist and those who ride motorcycles is a weird one. Very few motorcycist that I have encountered even acknowledge scooters. In fact my 'new' boss called me scooter trash, just cuz he rides a mega harley that only gets 30mpg (downwind) he is autamtically "cool".
Another funny observation was at the University I just graduated from has motorcycle parking lot (three rows that hold about 20 cycles per row) people who rode motorcycles would park in the first two rows and those on scooters would use the back row. When the first two rows were full and there were empty spots next to the scooters the motorcyclist would rather park on the street then next to a scooter, I would park in the first row just to @#@#$ them off .

My last "scratch your head" moment is when these so called motorcylist have been riding for 5 years and only have 5k on their motorcycle when I have only owned a scooter for 7 months (5 winter) and have 4k on it. So, who rides more and whos skills are more tuned, just because you shift it doesn't make it a superior vehicle (I know some scooters have to shift).
Well thats my rant , I hope I didn't offend anyone.

[skully93]

Indeed!

All the time I get "when will you get a REAL motorcycle?"

Well, mine isn't fake....it's just a different tool in the box. If I was riding coast to coast all the time, I'd get a different tool. my 5 mile commute each way...I would like 80mpg please . Besides...I get to often park on sidewalks.

[k1dude]

I live in an area where there are VERY FEW scooters.

One day I pulled up to a bookstore in a crowded strip mall, and there was a sportbike taking up half of the very first spot. Sweet! So I parked next to the sportbike. I came out about 30 minutes later and the sportbike was gone, but taking its place were 2 more SCOOTERS! It cracked me up. Not only because there were 2 more elusive scooters, but because we managed to fit 3 of them into 1 cage spot and none of us had a problem getting out. It put a smile on my face.

[AWinn6889]

I've found that people in my area love my scooter so much, and think it's SO COOL that they want to park as close as they can to it- in hopes that it's coolness will rub off on their heaps on wheels!
Like this guy, this morning:


No, really, people see one bike in a spot here and figure "oh, that means extra room for my big stupid hunk of junk in their spot!" Every single car that has been parked in that spot today has been either right on the line, or partially in my spot.

I actually left a note on this guy's window that said "I understand that my bike doesn't take up an entire spot, but that is not an excuse for you to park in the spot with me. In fact, there is no excuse to park like this anywhere- EVER. I have a picture of this truck, the "license plate" (which was a paper temp tag from texas that's due to expire tomorrow), and you closing the door and walking away from it. If I see that you damage my bike in anyway upon your exit I will be calling the Sheriff in the mall and the State Troopers down the street. I only ask that you remember this note, maybe keep it on your visor, and make a quick thought before you park next to anyone's vehicles like this ever again. Have a great day! "

But for reals though, there are extremely few scooters around here, there really aren't many motorcycles either do to the nature of NY weather. The only time I end up sharing a spot with any other kind of bike is if it's the bf's Harley, or maybe another friend's bike. Sometimes at motorcycle rallies or classic car shows in the area (Americade and the Adirondack Classic Auto Show are both huge, and lots of fun) others don't care what it is they park next to because there is just not enough parking to go around.
I always leave enough room for another bike to park with me, but I rarely ever see other bikes here and when I do they're usually going to some other part of the mall and try to find a spot closer to where they are actually going. Even at the grocery store close to home, when I park in the "fuel efficient" spots, only twice have I gone outside to find another bike parked with mine.

[viney266]

Yeah, riding motorcycles and scooters i just DO NOT get the devision...It makes NO SENSE to me. Both have 2 wheels, both enjoy and sufer to the elements...

I have been "snobbed" while on the scoot. Laughing in my helmet all the time because they have no idea what else is ion my garage...FOOLS!

[velobuff]

texas

That's all you had to say...

[skully93]

Having lived in TX....

Most drivers fall into 2 categories:

The polite Texan. This kind of Texan acts honorably whenever possible, and obeys rules because 'its the right thing to do'. Usually unafraid to be direct and honest, even if it's not "PC". They are proud to be Texans and their hearts are as big as their smiles.

Other Texans. These are the type of people that make other states want to give the land back to Mexico. In an empty lot, they will somehow make a Ford Escort take up 6 spaces. Using a horn when this person nearly kills you at 75mph, with their 3 young kids in the car not strapped down, will result in them following you to the grocery store and screaming psychotically at you (true story!). Another person in the family cussed me out in the grocery store because I didn't purchase meat.

I'm sure I could find just as horrid a comparison of CA and CO, the other places I have lived

[Mousenut]

Do you think it might be possible he thinks he is helping you by letting other cars know you are parked there in case they don't see you?



Nah, he's just being an ass.

[scootavaran]

I actually been thinking about getting a Rebel for myself. They just look fun to ride. yet I dont think I would act like its some big mean Harley or something.

plus your Blackjack probably could domonate a Rebel.

[kimmiekarma]

How do you know the honda-dude didn't run outtta cigs at his job, ran out to grab a pack of smokes or somethin..... was gone 6 or 7 minutes comes back and finds a spot closer........ I mean Dude....... really...... you don't know, for sure, that he was dissin on your Blackjack!!! Chill-out... Your blackjacks Awesome!!

[neotrotsky]

Eh, I wouldn't worry: A Blackjack easily is faster than a Rebel

I really don't get bent out of shape when people insist scooters aren't "real bikes". I've ridden many bikes and while I prefer scooters, they have to go alot further to hurt my feelings. I have a douchebag roommate who keeps trying to correct me that a real bike doesn't begin until 500cc's and even insists that I not "try" to call my bike a "motorcycle".

I think his FZR has moved 4 times in the 3 months we've lived here. Fair weather riders have zero room

[Tam Tam]

How do you know the honda-dude didn't run outtta cigs at his job, ran out to grab a pack of smokes or somethin..... was gone 6 or 7 minutes comes back and finds a spot closer........ I mean Dude....... really...... you don't know, for sure, that he was dissin on your Blackjack!!! Chill-out... Your blackjacks Awesome!!

Quite right - my assumption was based only on observation. The owner may have popped out for a quick errand. But it was still an odd thing to walk out of a store and see that. At the risk of 'bashing', while I have met and known very zen motorcycle riders, who will say "Your scooter's cool, but they're just not my thing" I have met people who seem very put off by scooters - case in point:
I met a friend for lunch one time at a small restaurant. I'm paranoid about leaving my helmet hooked onto the scooter. I've know folks who have returned to their machines with 'interesting items' inside their helmets, or worse, to find someone has cut the helmet strap and stolen the helmet, so I'll carry mine and set it aside discretely. Anyhoo, as we're leaving, a bartender at the restaurant happens by and says, "Hey, what do you ride?" (I assume he's seen my palming my helmet, a black 'Bell style' helmet with checkerboard stripes and a mirror bubbleshield) I reply, A Stella. He leans in and asks, "A what?" I reply, Oh a scooter, a Stella scooter. Without a word, his face blanks, he pivots on his heel and walks away. Lol, I mean, it was as if my hand had just fallen off from leprosy, or if I'd whipped out an Amway brochure.
Today was an odd day - I saw about 8 scooters out today, and maybe 6 motorcycles. All the scooter gave a discrete wave or nod, but nothing from the motorcyclists. Did it hurt my feelings or bum me out? No, I was out riding and enjoying everything.
Now, i would understand if I'd pulled next to him as he was on his Honda and bellowed "Heey Brother!!! Love the two wheeled life style? yeah! me too! Hey, we're real rebels, you & me! etc etc" and the dude shined me on, 'cause that would be me acting like an ass.
It was just an odd event, and my interpretation may be wrong. But, it is not out of the realm of possibility.

[ericalm]

So, getting slowly back into riding, I scooted to Half Price Books

Totally unrelated: I worked at HPB in Bedford for many, many years.