Not much to stop and look at in Knights Landing, so…we didn’t.  Instead, we buzzed right through, choosing instead to enjoy the other portions of this scenic route. May’s shop ride led scooterists north out of West Sac along River Road which winded it’s way up the Sacramento River as cool water breezes and warm Spring air made for a delightful cruise. Our group just brushed the outskirts of Woodland as we turned north and headed along Road 102 toward Knights Landing. We then scooted back over to the river’s edge and hopped up on the narrow, but peaceful levee road.  After winding our way into Knights Landing, we headed back to base at The Scoot Shop.

There were zero breakdowns or mechanical issues on this ride and were it not for a vintage running out of fuel (in town so not a huge issue), this was a near perfect ride. The pace was good and the ride leader carefully briefed all the aspects of the route to be aware of before we departed. When the riders returned to the shop, they were rewarded with a special deal just for them - - a little thank you for participating in the ride. Several riders took advantage of a deep discount on our popular Mad Maps, which detail dozens of scooter and motorcycle routes across Northern California and the Sierras. We like the idea of a "Rider-only" "Ride-day" special and plan on continuing the new tradition for our future months’ rides.

We hope to have all our riders back for next month’s ride and are always eager to see new faces, as well. Between now and then, stay safe and get scootin’!

The route that Theron planned for the group this month was stellar. It featured rolling hills, twist & turns and some open country roads. Definitely our most challenging ride yet; everyone did extremely well. Scott Road should be renamed "Scoot" Road as it is one of the most exciting strips you can find, close in.

Afterwards, many riders hung around the shop to continue chatting with their scooter brethren. Several riders took advantage of the spectacular savings on Racer gloves and Prima saddle bags - - both a "rider-only" - "one-day" special.

There’s bound to be a lot going on next month in Sac Town,  but stay tuned to www.thescootshop.com to see what The Scoot Shop has in-store for scooterists in July. Until then, stay cool…and get scootin’!

Most owners are largely concerned (and rightly so) with getting the most mileage out of their tires. Tires and tire changes aren’t free. We’ve seen quality, name brand tires wear out in as little as 3000 miles. But keep in mind that, generally speaking, the longer a tire lasts, the harder the rubber. And hard rubber doesn’t tend to "grab" the road as well as softer rubber. Additionally, how you ride can impact your tire’s lifespan, as well. A 30 mile daily commute, straight shot down Highway 50 is going to wear your rubber faster than short trips in town to the store or even a weekend ride in the "twisties".  

So, as with many aspects of scootering, the "right" tire comes down to a matter of what kind of riding you are going to be doing. Again, generally speaking, your scooter’s manufacturer matched your scoot up with the best type of tire for the particular application. It’s best to consult the experts when considering switching tires. Now, how do you tell when your tire has reached its limit?

There are a number of factors and indicators to look for. The first is the tread-wear indicator that’s built into your tire. Typically, there is a small arrow (a triangle shape, usually) that is raised on the sidewall that points across the tread face to "bars" of rubber between the tread. When this bar is even with the surface of the tread, you’ve reached the recommended minimum tread depth. Most often, tire manufacturers recommend a minimum tread depthof 1.5mm. You can check this depth with a depth gauge or the old trick of taking a penny and turning Abe upside down and sticking him between the tread. If the top of the tread doesn’t come to the top of Abe’s head, it’s time to replace your tire.

Another thing to look for on your tires, especially on an older bike, or when considering purchasing a used bike, is cracking. Tires begin "off-gassing" the second they come off the assembly line and the rubber continues to degrade and breakdown forever. Eventually, as the rubber becomes dry and brittle, small cracks will form, usually on the sidewalls and along the tread valleys. This is bad and is a sure indicator that it’s time to replace your tire.

For this reason, the lifespan of a tire, regardless of mileage, is generally no more than seven years. You can actually check the date your tire was manufactured by looking for a 4-digit code on the sidewall. This code is stamped on the tire and is usually found near the D.O.T. stamp. The first two digits represent the week of the year the tire was manufactured (52 weeks in a year), while the second represents the year. So, "3808" would be the 38th week of 2008 (or the week of September 15th, 2008).

So, we know age and mileage wear out tires. What else do you need to know? Tire inflation, either over-inflation or under-inflation can cause uneven wear to your tires and reduce their service life. Under-inflation, in addition to making for poor fuel economy, will cause the face of your tires to "cup". The outer portions of the tread face will wear faster than the center strip. These outer strips are often softer rubber than the center strip (remember that it’s the outer strip that’s maintaining contact with the road in a corner). Under-inflation is often the cause of premature tire failure.

We see it all too often. Customers will bring their scoot in for service, only to find that they were 10-20 psi low or more. Often times, the air gauge actually reads zero! Yikes! It’s so important to check your tire pressure often. But many of us don’t think about it or don’t want to fuss with it. Not to worry. There is an easier way. Special valve stem caps (available at your favorite scooter shop) are designed to instantly show you, at a glance, if your tire pressure has dropped 2-3 psi from the recommended pressure. Trust me, they’re worth every penny.

A safe scooter starts with a good set of tires. Stop in today for a free tire inspection. We’re more than happy to do whatever it takes to keep you on the road and as safe as possible. Now, get out there and get scootin’!

While not bone dry, several more scooters this year have come in with dangerously low oil levels. In these cases, catastrophic damage may have been only a few miles away. No oil? How could this be? Oil is the lifeblood of any combustion engine. Everyone checks their oil, right? Wrong. 

We understand that, as with cars, not every scooter owner is interested or inclined to check their own fluid levels. And for the most part, that might be fine as long as you are bringing in your scoot for service on a regular basis. We’d love to service your scooter for you, but there are some basic checks that should be performed periodically at the user level. Checking your engine oil level is one of those basic checks. "I didn’t even know where my dipstick was," is not an ok response to dangerously low engine oil.

Motor oil performs five basic functions: lubricates, cleans, seals, cools and protects. Typical scooter engines utilize a wet sump oiling system where engine oil collects at the bottom of the crankcase. When the engine is running, an oil pump circulates the oil throughout the engine by way of a series of ports where oil squirts out onto the moving parts. Most oil pumps are "constant displacement" which means that in order for oil to be pushed out of the pump, oil has to be sucked into the pump (thus "displacing" the oil in the pump).

If your engine oil level is too low, you may not be getting oil to the key places in your engine where it is needed. The oil will not be able to do its job. It won’t be able to reduce friction (lubricate), thus causing excess wear to critical components like your piston, rings and cylinder walls. It won’t be able to keep the engine cool, which not only risks seizing your engine, but affects the ratio/mixture of air and fuel in your engine.  It won’t be able to protect the metal from corrosion. It won’t be able to seal the cylinder as the piston moves up and down, thereby creating a loss of power. And it won’t be able to keep your engine clean by removing harmful particles to be suspended and filtered out by the oil filter.

OK, so I’ve convinced you that its vitally important to check your engine oil. So now the question is, "how" and "how often"? To find the answers to these types of questions, the first place to look is always your owner’s manual. As a general rule, I would say you should check your oil at least once a month.  The easiest way to get into the practice of checking your oil is to make it a habit. Find a set time each month, say… every Friday before you ride home from work or every pay day, that you will always check your oil. You could keep an oil rag in a ziplock baggie under the seat. Plus, stash away a couple of Grease Monkey wipes for quick and easy clean-up. Lastly, how you check your oil is also important.

Again, always consult your owner’s manual first. The customary way to check your oil is to let your engine warm up to operating temperature by letting it idle for about 15 minutes. Then, cut the engine and with your scoot on level ground, you can remove the dipstick. Wipe the dipstick with a clean, no-fiber cloth (you don’t need lint getting in your engine). Now, this is where you really should consult your owner’s manual, because most dipsticks are designed to be inserted back into the hole, but not screwed down when checking the level. In that case, simply push the dipstick back down the hole and pull it back out. There should be markings on the end of your dipstick indicating the low and high oil level marks. For safe operation of your scooter, the oil level (as indicated by how high on the stick the oil is) should be between those two marks. If you are low, add the recommended oil for your scooter. If you are high, call us so we can assist you with that.

Congratulations! You just preserved the life of your two-wheeled little buddy. Now get out there and get scootin’!

No frills for this event - - just fun, food and friends. Of course, what scooter event would be complete without a scooter ride? However, this time, we decided to mix it up a bit. This time, the group ride…was a scavenger hunt ride!

The staff had been looking forward to this for weeks. Finally, the day was here. We randomly put the riders into teams of 3-4. Then, with some brief instructions, we sent them out with a list of riddles that led them to various Sacramento landmarks. A strict time limit was set and prizes were awarded to the winning teams. The overall winners demonstrated their superior knowledge, cunning, determination and bravery (well, not really bravery, per se).

That afteroon, we served up some burgers and brats as "family" members caught up with their scooter kin after a little hibernation this past winter. Many of the guests took advantage of some amazing one-day-only specials on gear and apparel, too. Finally, we held a drawing for the latest winner of The Scoot Shop Family Tree scooter tag contest. Way to go, Megan!

We hope to see everyone again next year and look forward to seeing some new faces as our scooter family continues to grow. Thank you to all those who attended the event as well as all those who have supported The Scoot Shop over this past year. We are excited for the upcoming season and wish everyone safe riding. Now… get scootin’!

The orders were placed, and the waiting began again. But, as of today, the first shipment of jackets is HERE! We have many sizes and styles available in the shop now, and as always, we will be more than happy to place a special order for whatever you’re looking for if we don’t have it.

These jackets really Go-Go the distance when it comes to providing style and safety to women riders. All of the styles are fully armored with CE certified armor, yet made in such a way that the armor is virtually invisible, making for a clean and stylish look that you can proudly wear anywhere. There is always a layer of abrasion resistant fabric sewn in-between the outer shell and the inner lining to provide extra safety in the event of a spill. All of the jackets have been enhanced with reflective details to make low light riding safer and they all come with a one year warranty!

We’ve had the jackets only a few days and already sold through many of them, so come in soon to take a look at what is sure to become your go-to jacket for every season!

The next morning, over 175 scooterists gathered for what many would soon claim was one of the best rally rides, ever! After a lap through downtown SLO to announce our presence (and to show all the bystanders what a fun time they were missing out on), we were winding our way up the hills to the west. The group paused for a few minutes to look out over the Pacific from our lofty vantage point. The route continued to excite us, winding its way through the rolling coastal hills, while letting us soak up the glorious California sun along the famed Pacifc Coast Highway.

The ride ended at a park where we were treated to some authentic Santa Maria-style BBQ. Lunch featured mouth watering tri-tip, seasoned and cooked to perfection by the renowned crew from Strange Brew scooter club. The customary rally raffle saw tons of cool merchandise and apparel given out. Even more amazing was the marriage proposal that almost 200 scooter enthusiasts got to witness. But the grand prize was a fully restored custom vintage Vespa smallframe scooter - - just amazing. Nice work, Bullet Proof Scooters!

For the final event, riders gathered on Sunday morning for a leisurely ride along the back roads between SLO and Pismo Beach. The weather was again, unbeatable as we rode to Giuseppe’s Cucina Italiana restaurant for lunch.

Our thanks go out for all the hard work put in by our hosts. Though it’s always tough seeing a great rally come to an end, riders always have another rally just around the corner to look forward to. And with ROM setting the bar high this year, rally-goers have a lot to look forward to.

My visit to Arizona would not have been complete without meeting up with a member of the Sky Island Riders scooter club and going for a little ride across the Tucson desert. When I arrived at Howard’s house, I saw two scoots sitting in the driveway - - a Buddy and a Stella. The Stella was already warming up and the Buddy knew it would be his turn soon. Howard let me ride his Buddy while he rode the Stella. After only a few words and once suited up, we were off.

Howard led me to the Saguaro National Park-East entrance where we proceeded to wind our way through some of the most beautiful desert in the country. The road was one-way and there was not a car to be seen - - just scenic vistas of the valley floor and the city of Tucson.

As if that wasn’t fun enough, we then proceeded to head up Mt. Lemmon. Oh, no scoot fans… Arizona is not flat. Mt. Lemmon rises over 9100 feet above sea level. Only time held us back from continuing to the top of this beautiful and snow-covered mountain.

And of course I had to check out Scoot Over, Tucson’s premier scooter dealership. What a fantastic, first rate operation. James and Beth were very cool and I got a chance to poke around the place a little bit. Thanks guys!

Last, but certainly not least, Howard led me on a little detour back to his house. Let’s just say the route was also, “scenic”. So, if you ever get the chance to ride with Howard and the Sky Island Riders, be sure to ask for, “the short cut.”

“Before I came to intern at The Scoot Shop, I thought nothing more of scooters then them being “cute”.  I didn’t see them very often mostly because I didn’t know what I was looking for.  Having never been exposed to the Scooter world before, I didn’t know there was much else out there other than the traditional Vespas.

Thank goodness that all changed about 4 months ago, when I took my first steps into The Scoot Shop.  I am now fully aware that scooters come in all different colors, shapes, sizes, makes and models.  Plus, there are tons of accessories from gloves and jackets to cup holders and bungee nets! 

I love being here!  The people we meet are amazing, and the stories we hear are incredible.  I think the most important piece of info to pass on is always, always, ALWAYS wear a helmet!!!

I look forward to riding a scooter of my very own so I, too, can know what it’s like to scoot.  I can’t wait to be part of the scooter movment.

I wanna Ride!”

Destiny Marrison

While in SF, we met with several members of the Ultra Motor team.
We are confident from our experiences with Ultra Motor that they offer the highest level of customer service as well as excellent dealer support. We got hands on technical demonstrations and, of course, tested out the different models. The Scoot Shop will start with 3 electric bikes, the Portia, A2B Velociti and A2B Metro. We have several colors in stock and can easily get anything we don’t have so you can get on the road fast. Once you try one of these A2B bikes, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without one.

Offering another option for scooting around Sac, the A2B electric bikes also have optional accessories, making them the perfect commuter vehicle. You can load it up and go. With the ability to peddle or use the throttle it’s up to you how hard you want to work to get there. Heavy on the torque, the A2B can pull you up a hill if you get tired or just help you get where you’re going faster. We are very impressed with the build quality and fantastic modern design of the A2B products. We’re told by the folks at Ultra Motor that electric bikes are popular with couples looking for a fun activity to do together. With the holidays quickly approaching, consider a pair of A2B electric bikes. Come by The Scoot Shop and see them for yourself, they’re even better in person!