Any Other Buddies Going to the Royal Bastard Rally in Tahoe?

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 2:46 am

Hey? Any you guys going to the RBSC Rally 8/14-16? They say that you don't have be a RB to go and it's only $20!

I think me and my friend from meet up are going. It'd good to meet some of yous.

Post by **ericalm** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:17 am

I really wish I was going… Still mulling it over a bit. I know a bunch of the Bastards and they're all great and fun to ride with.

Will you be camping out at the site? Got space on a trailer?

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:35 am

Derrick and I talked about riding up with a friend following in the car (not a truck, just a car). Same idea that you guys had with Amerivespa. We'd go halfway on Thursday. Arrive after 3pm on Friday. Yes, we'd camp and that's what would be in the car - gear and what not.

What do you think after the long haul to San Jose and back? Was it too much to ride there, ride while there and then back?

We still have a lot of planning to do but it seems pretty do-able if we really want to put a couple thousand miles on the scoot

Post by **ericalm** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 1:43 pm

It's do-able, but Tahoe is even farther than Los Gatos. The smallest scooter in our group was a Buddy 150. There were a few times when he had a tough time keeping pace on the way up. On the way back, we spent a lot of time on he 101 to make good time on the return (we left late in the afternoon the first day back). The Buddy 150 was at the front of the pack to set the pace but really struggled. It was pretty tough on Skootz who sent much of the trip back in full tuck, wide open throttle.

What route are you taking and where do you plan on stopping?

We were really exhausted and pretty sore by the time we got back. We did a lot more riding while there, but also had the luxury of hotel rooms.

Are there others from SD riding up like this? (There's a long thread about the rally on Modern Vespa…)

I'm really considering going up. Going to need some camping gear…

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 2:10 pm

I'm sure the whole SD RBSC will be going - if they had their monthly ride yesterday I didn't go since the day before was my first group ride since the accident and that was plenty stressful

we're a few conversations from a route. I figured we'd stop near yosemite that first night. I think I've got 8 hrs of on- scooter time per day.

I'm gonna need to learn to change my oil before then since I'll clock a couple of thousand on the road.

I'm excited! I love camping with groups! they say there are plenty of hotels there but I'm on a tight budget.

I do wish I knew someone who could haul the scooters. Rex said a buddy 150 has ridden there and back before so if it's just about will then there shall be a way!

Post by **ericalm** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 2:30 pm

My short-lived plans of going are being squashed by a reality check. Not sure I can swing the time and I spent way too much money on AV.

I did ask about routes on MV. The shortest one, 395, goes straight through the desert. Yikes.

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 7:55 pm

ericalm wrote:My short-lived plans of going are being squashed by a reality check. Not sure I can swing the time and I spent way too much money on AV.

I did ask about routes on MV. The shortest one, 395, goes straight through the desert. Yikes.

Money is going to be my deciding factor too. I have 3 weeks of vacation stored up and if I don't start using it, I stop accruing it, so really, I need to take time off other wise it's like taking a pay cut. But I also don't have a lot of discretionary cash so I have to figure out how much and then just see if I can make it happen.

I took my scooter on the freeway yesterday for 2 short stints. The 101 was closed from my house to I don't know where so I kept having to hop on and off trying to get on the coast hwy. I did fewer than 15 miles on it and only once did I go more than 1 exit. Wasn't my favorite scooting moment. I don't know if it's the "grooves" we learned about in MSF but scootin' at 75mph on the freeway felt WAY more wobbly than the same speed on El Camino Real. And my scooter only did 75mph down hill with the wind at my back, I think 60mph is probably the realistically controllable range for my tires, my scooter and my skill level. Derrick and talked about getting an early, early start on Thursday so we got I-5 past Pendleton. We'd stay coast ALAP before heading east, even though it'd be longer.

Still lots of obstacles to over come. I think we need to take up a collection so So Cal Modern Buddy can buy a truck to use for this purpose. Our state is just too god dang big!

Post by **ericalm** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:45 pm

We learned a few things having Buddys on the Amerivespa trip.

80mph on the Buddy speedo is, in fact, about 71 or so on the GPS. That's about where Skootz peaked on his Buddy 150 with the exception of one raucous and long downhill run. Same went for the Black Jack in our group.

Uphill slopes on the freeways were very hard for the Buddys.

The Buddys got blown around a lot more on the freeway than the other scooters. My LX theoretically weighs about the same, though I'm heavier than Skootz. Still, he got hammered by winds and drafts and it was physically more of a challenge. On the 2-lane highways, we all got it from trucks passing the other direction.

That's not to say that a Buddy can't make it. I think some rode up to Tahoe from SD last year. You may want to check out the MV thread and see if you can find some others to ride in a bigger pack. That definitely helped us out.

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:49 pm

ericalm wrote:We learned a few things having Buddys on the Amerivespa trip.

80mph on the Buddy speedo is, in fact, about 71 or so on the GPS. That's about where Skootz peaked on his Buddy 150 with the exception of one raucous and long downhill run. Same went for the Black Jack in our group.

Uphill slopes on the freeways were very hard for the Buddys.

The Buddys got blown around a lot more on the freeway than the other scooters. My LX theoretically weighs about the same, though I'm heavier than Skootz. Still, he got hammered by winds and drafts and it was physically more of a challenge. On the 2-lane highways, we all got it from trucks passing the other direction.

That's not to say that a Buddy can't make it. I think some rode up to Tahoe from SD last year. You may want to check out the MV thread and see if you can find some others to ride in a bigger pack. That definitely helped us out.

all good tips. thanks!

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:06 am

*BUMP*

Derrick, Able and I are TOTALLY doing this. Taking mostly the 395 up. Going at speeds we want. Seriously folks! Think on it. We're heading out of SD Thursday am - going about 250 miles - camping. then up the next day for about the same distance to meet the Rally at in the early evening. SHOULD BE RAD! $20 to join the rally, free camping space, rides around the lake!

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:12 am

Man... I so want to go...

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:45 am

Skootz Kabootz wrote:Man... I so want to go...

it's SO affordable, what's stoppin' ya? This is all backroads - Derrick's got a Vespa 250 but he's such a doll, he's slumming it slowly with me

Laura · Post by **Laura** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 3:06 am

ericalm wrote:My short-lived plans of going are being squashed by a reality check. Not sure I can swing the time and I spent way too much money on AV.

I did ask about routes on MV. The shortest one, 395, goes straight through the desert. Yikes.

395 is super gusty, Buddy blasting windy. I would not recommend it on a Buddy.

Laura
2006 Buddy 125
2008 St. Tropez
2008 SYM HD 200

San Francisco Scooter Girls

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 3:24 am

Laura wrote:
ericalm wrote:My short-lived plans of going are being squashed by a reality check. Not sure I can swing the time and I spent way too much money on AV.

I did ask about routes on MV. The shortest one, 395, goes straight through the desert. Yikes.
395 is super gusty, Buddy blasting windy. I would not recommend it on a Buddy.

Laura
2006 Buddy 125
2008 St. Tropez
2008 SYM HD 200

San Francisco Scooter Girls

thanks for the tip. We now have a toy hauler in the mix so if it gets too gusty, I can get it hauled

Laura · Post by **Laura** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 4:09 am

jijifer wrote:
Laura wrote:
ericalm wrote:My short-lived plans of going are being squashed by a reality check. Not sure I can swing the time and I spent way too much money on AV.

I did ask about routes on MV. The shortest one, 395, goes straight through the desert. Yikes.
395 is super gusty, Buddy blasting windy. I would not recommend it on a Buddy.

Laura
2006 Buddy 125
2008 St. Tropez
2008 SYM HD 200

San Francisco Scooter Girls
thanks for the tip. We now have a toy hauler in the mix so if it gets too gusty, I can get it hauled

Better safe than sorry,
Laura
genuinescootergirl@y

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 4:29 am

Laura wrote:
jijifer wrote:
Laura wrote: 395 is super gusty, Buddy blasting windy. I would not recommend it on a Buddy.

Laura
2006 Buddy 125
2008 St. Tropez
2008 SYM HD 200

San Francisco Scooter Girls
thanks for the tip. We now have a toy hauler in the mix so if it gets too gusty, I can get it hauled

Better safe than sorry,
Laura
genuinescootergirl@y

is it windy from the front or windy from the side? would a windshield help or hinder?

Post by **ericalm** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 6:35 am

The 99 will fry you. (I think the Sd Bastards are going up the 99… all on 250s.) It's not an easy ride up either way. Hm…

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 6:42 am

ericalm wrote:The 99 will fry you. (I think the Sd Bastards are going up the 99… all on 250s.) It's not an easy ride up either way. Hm…

I figure we'll stop frequently since we're both on air cooled bikes. I feel WAY better now that there's a toy hauler with us. I don't think Tahoe will be as bad as getting there and since we're only going 250 miles a day, we can take all day to do it. I swear this is going to be F-U-N

Post by **ericalm** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 6:55 am

jijifer wrote:
ericalm wrote:The 99 will fry you. (I think the Sd Bastards are going up the 99… all on 250s.) It's not an easy ride up either way. Hm…
I figure we'll stop frequently since we're both on air cooled bikes. I feel WAY better now that there's a toy hauler with us. I don't think Tahoe will be as bad as getting there and since we're only going 250 miles a day, we can take all day to do it. I swear this is going to be F-U-N

I'll just say that some of the people who rode up to San Jose in our group are still talking about it enthusiastically and have definitely been bitten by the long distance bug.

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 4:33 pm

ericalm wrote:
jijifer wrote:
ericalm wrote:The 99 will fry you. (I think the Sd Bastards are going up the 99… all on 250s.) It's not an easy ride up either way. Hm…
I figure we'll stop frequently since we're both on air cooled bikes. I feel WAY better now that there's a toy hauler with us. I don't think Tahoe will be as bad as getting there and since we're only going 250 miles a day, we can take all day to do it. I swear this is going to be F-U-N
I'll just say that some of the people who rode up to San Jose in our group are still talking about it enthusiastically and have definitely been bitten by the long distance bug.

While there's a long list of bugs I don't want to get bit by, the long-distance scoot bug is one I'm trying lure my way and have it sink it's teeth in!!

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 5:36 pm

ericalm wrote:'ll just say that some of the people who rode up to San Jose in our group are still talking about it enthusiastically and have definitely been bitten by the long distance bug.

Hmmmmmm... whoever could you mean???

enzomatic · Post by **enzomatic** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 8:07 pm

This is definitely a trip I want to do at some point, I don't think this year is the year though. I just had to take burning man off the table and that's much higher on the list. It just seems like the climb up to tahoe would be such a drag and the higher altitude won't help either. I would love to get a trailer ride up then ride down myself. oh and some advice, if your front breaks start feeling gushy, the fluid may be boiling, slooooooow dooown.

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:45 pm

Skootz Kabootz wrote:
ericalm wrote:'ll just say that some of the people who rode up to San Jose in our group are still talking about it enthusiastically and have definitely been bitten by the long distance bug.
Hmmmmmm... whoever could you mean???

how big is the bug? Does it itch, sting or tickle when it bites?

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:48 pm

enzomatic wrote:This is definitely a trip I want to do at some point, I don't think this year is the year though. I just had to take burning man off the table and that's much higher on the list. It just seems like the climb up to tahoe would be such a drag and the higher altitude won't help either. I would love to get a trailer ride up then ride down myself. oh and some advice, if your front breaks start feeling gushy, the fluid may be boiling, slooooooow dooown.

I'm hoping ignorance is bliss with me not knowing the topography. Derrick's enthusiasm is infectious. He could totally ride up with Rex and others along the 5 but he's taking the back roads with me so that we can go together. He and Able are two really awesome dudes! The fact that Derrick's mom is meeting us in Bakersfield with an "out" in the form of Toy Hauler, is just the icing on the cake. While it seems less and less likely I'll meet any of you MB folks on my first rally, a girl can still dream, right?

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 1:09 am

jijifer wrote:
Skootz Kabootz wrote:
ericalm wrote:'ll just say that some of the people who rode up to San Jose in our group are still talking about it enthusiastically and have definitely been bitten by the long distance bug.
Hmmmmmm... whoever could you mean???
how big is the bug? Does it itch, sting or tickle when it bites?

Ohhh how it tickles... it tickles me to my bones! I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more scooting!

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 1:18 am

Skootz Kabootz wrote:
jijifer wrote:
Skootz Kabootz wrote: Hmmmmmm... whoever could you mean???
how big is the bug? Does it itch, sting or tickle when it bites?
Ohhh how it tickles... it tickles me to my bones! I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more scooting!

could a cowbell suffice?

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 3:27 am

jijifer wrote:
Skootz Kabootz wrote:
jijifer wrote: how big is the bug? Does it itch, sting or tickle when it bites?
Ohhh how it tickles... it tickles me to my bones! I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more scooting!
could a cowbell suffice?

I gotta have more scooting!

toneyl · Post by **toneyl** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 2:35 pm

Bump! It's coming up soon... I'm trying to go but will most likely take my LT. Love the BJ but I think the big wheels are better on the highway.

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 4:59 pm

toneyl wrote:Bump! It's coming up soon... I'm trying to go but will most likely take my LT. Love the BJ but I think the big wheels are better on the highway.

I'll see you there - probably one of few buddies. I'm baby blue with bird decals!

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:11 pm

**BUMP**

Oh Yeah! Just about set to take off. Who wouldn't want to see Lake Tahoe via a scoot! C'mon. This is the stuff dreams are made of!

enzomatic · Post by **enzomatic** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 7:04 am

I really would be going if my stupid friend wasn't leaving for Spain, I'm even getting the itch to prep my scooter in case by some chance I'm able to go.

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 8:54 pm

enzomatic wrote:I really would be going if my stupid friend wasn't leaving for Spain, I'm even getting the itch to prep my scooter in case by some chance I'm able to go.

SCRATCH THAT ITCH!

n2tattoos · Post by **n2tattoos** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 3:58 am

on the return trip, we stopped at NoHo Scoots...just to say we've been there. Just our luck that Eric was available to take us on a nice, scenic ride. Thanks Eric!

we stopped for lunch on the Santa Monica pier and they took a free pic.

and then Scootz Kabootz caught up with us and took us on an amazing ride along the coast.
thanks Skootz!

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 4:31 am

so glad you scanned that! we look like civilians sans all our scooter gear. Little did Marisol know they had 3 San Diego Scooter Squadron members in the mix

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 5:43 am

Ohmygawd that postcard is hilarious.

It was free, but then they of course tried to get us to pony up for $20 of I don't know what. Ah, memories.