2021 What are you Doing Scooter Wise.

[XP500FUN]

Well don`t mean to be at all negatvive here but I wonder what others are planning on doing in 2021 Scooter wise.

My scooter needs a new belt, tyre and a few other more awkward things doing like fork oil etc.

Its just hit one of those spots work wise, alot needed.

So wondering am I going to go for it this year.

Or sell up or moth ball ? or do it all in March, March already !!!!

It is starting to look as if the hoped for vaccine roll out ( with only one dose ) and reopening rather quicly again and the variants etc might not be going well, so looks like another very tough and strange year.

I did do 3000 miles last year, but kept my visor down and wore a couple of layers of cloth as well.

But things do look a bit sat on an edge again, and not sure why Schools don`t go back after Easter etc.

So are you going for it this year, or sitting it out with just a few walks etc ?

[StephenC]

I still have the Forza on finance which includes the annual service due in May. I also need to go into the office every now and then again so I'll be keeping it for sure for now.

What I do have to decide on before May next year is what to do once the finance is done - at the moment given that my annual mileage has dropped from 8k down to maybe 3k, do I need to have another scoot then or keep this one? After all, it won't be on anywhere near the mileage one of my bikes would be after 3 years....

[Rocketman122]

no plans for the next year. to much uncertainty. not sure what the year will hold but I have a feeling for me its going to be an uphill battle.

[MrGrumpy]

Well....I just want to get back to what I was doing before, though frankly the pandemic hasn't changed my lifestyle that much. But it'd be nice to go further than the local area and I want to visit the Scots Borders again.

[capitano]

It is starting to look as if the hoped for vaccine roll out ( with only one dose ) and reopening rather quicly again and the variants etc might not be going well, so looks like another very tough and strange year.

There is reason to be cautiously optimistic.

1. The vaccine programme has been hugely successful in terms of roll out.

2. The vaccine efficacy is better than anyone hoped to predict.

I didn't do that many miles last year, and since May 2020 I've been working flat out, in other people's houses (following Government guidelines.)I also cycle more local jpurneys now and will undoubtedly continue to do that as I have plans to do a long cycle trip by folding bicycle in 2022 (my 60yj and my old Brompton's 20th year)and I need to be reasonably fit for that.

Personally, if I'm confident again that I can ride distances without spreading anything to anyone vulnerable (who have hopefully all been vacc'd by the Summer), I'll take a couple of trips to see my Dad and my Son, both of whom live some distance away.

I picked up a covid-bargain bike last year, and sold the little Burgman when furloughed workers were buying scooters to do Deliveroo. I've no plans to buy anything else nor sell anything ... as yet.

[Sylar]

I do not know about anyone else but i have been out riding two to three times every week all the time. I have my silverwing 600 and my Cruisym 300 and i alternate between them. I never stop at the regular bike meets as i prefer to be alone. I recently did the belt and sliders change on the cruisym. To me it has made little difference to the way i ride. I have had my first jab and am sure the second jab will be done soon. I thnk the police think because iam on a scooter and wear my Sam Brite belt i must be a deilvery rider so, ignore me.

[Stephen]

Hav’nt been out much on either machine for months,would normally meet a motely crew on a Saturday morning for breakfast then a bimble usually ending up at a motorcycle shop for a brew,but all the cafes we use are obviously closed and showrooms only want you in there if your getting a service,so I guess November was the last time i was out,tested positive 3 February,so have been confined to barracks,i am much better now and took the chance on booking the tmax in for its first mot which ran out 6 March,got it booked in for today,booked it on line and printed out the appointment in case one of our friendly police officers stopped me,checked the weather forecast first and today looked to be good,i also felt the best i have for weeks,Covid left me with fatigue and lack of energy problems,Max passed the mot without any advisories,took the Tmax for a nice 30 mile ride which was excellent medicine for me,as the scoot lives outside and has never been plugged in to an optimate of any description i needed to replace the battery,3 years outside,not used daily and the dreaded datatool alarm i suppose aint bad.

Arrived home cuppa tea,then as it was still nice I uncovered the ADV and took that out,the mot for the Honda is due 18 March,found a place in town that supplies and fits motorcycle tyres,knowing the front tyre was dodgy to say the least i took it in for them to check,rear tyre has plenty of meat left,front tyre is indeed s******d,so waiting for a price,still took it fora little ride,was just a bit more sensible,nice day and roll on the summer,when hopefully our cafes are open and i can meet the lads again...

Steve

[MrGrumpy]

took the Tmax for a nice 30 mile ride which was excellent medicine for me,as the scoot lives outside and has never been plugged in to an optimate of any description i needed to replace the battery,3 years outside,not used daily and the dreaded datatool alarm i suppose aint bad.

Its not entirely clear from that whether the 30 mile ride is medicine for you or the Tmax or both! But I do find trips out very therapeutic, even in normal times let alone these times! I feel strongly that if you really did stay at home all the time and only left your house for absolute essentials, then you would completely crack up and would leave you more prone to disease / depression etc. A good ride with a good walk can really lighten your mood, so I've never taken the stay at home command seriously. I do avoid people when out though, though as a sociopath, that's not hard for me!

Anyway, the legal situation is murky. The actual law - the only thing you can be prosecuted for breaking - says you may leave your home for exercise, and that's as far as it goes. Its very far from certain that guidance issued by ministers etc regarding frequency or length of exercise or any of the other crap they speak about has any legal import.

[capitano]

The situation under the present restrictions is different from that under the restrictions of March-May last year.

A lot o that has to do with a better understanding of the virus and how it spreads. This has, thankfully, disseminated from the scientists to he authorities and to the general public.

Hence, the feelings towards road journeys , particularly by motorbike, are a lot more relaxed, and rightly so.

Yes, there is still the emphasis that more miles = more risk of an accident, meaning unnecessary pressure on a already busy NHS.

Yes there is still an increase in risk due to increased contact with more people when refuelling.

However, these are recognised as a lower risk than, for example, social contact in an unventilated indoor space.

Hence, taking a 30-40 mile ride on your scooter in the fresh air is of less risk to you, and to others affected by the spread of the virus, than visiting your elderly parents sitting in their unventiated living room, and having a cup of tea and some cake.

[MrGrumpy]

Hence, taking a 30-40 mile ride on your scooter in the fresh air is of less risk to you, and to others affected by the spread of the virus, than visiting your elderly parents sitting in their unventiated living room, and having a cup of tea and some cake.

There again - my mother is 98 years old, lives alone, has basically zero mobility and her health is unsurprisingly declining. The lockdown has made life even harder, with the few callers she had not being able to call, only carers and helpers rushing in and out. She really does appreciate the visits of my brother and I, even though these are illegal! Especially as she was vaccinated fairly early on, I think the benefits of visiting her outweigh the risks.