Kymco Xciting 500Ri Maxi-scooter

While I still have a few things to say about our Oregon IMBC2010 trip last month I wanted to divert your attention to my lonely scooter which has been just sitting in the corner gathering dust.



I have been using my Suzuki V-strom nearly exclusively since last year. I have been in the habit of always plugging it into a battery tender and last year when it went to sleep for the winter, I filled the tank and ran fuel stabilizer through the FI system. A couple of months ago I was thinking of insuring my scooter but summer was slow to arrive and by the time the good weather came it was time to prepare my Wee for the trip to Oregon. I couldn't see any sense in insuring the machine just to leave it parked. I ride nearly year round depending upon ice and fog and my Wee is my commuter machine.



Then I got to thinking that perhaps I should insure it for a few months. Here in British Columbia, the shortest insurance period is 3 months. I thought that it would be better to keep things operational or things inside the engine would dry up and seals in the braking system would fail due to non-use. Being a long holiday weekend I decided to re-insure my Kymco X500Ri on Sunday. I came home to give it a wash and went for a little ride.



I decided to go downtown to the Vancouver Chinatown night market. It is difficult to find parking but you can always tuck your scooter behind the telephone pole in the laneway.

I left and went for a little ride around the Strathcona area, came back and parked on the other side of the market where I found street parking between other parked cars.



I parked behind the Porsche Cheyenne Turbo while I notice another Vespa scooter parked in front. This is the smaller of our two night markets, which only operate during the weekends but parking is easier. The larger market in Richmond has more limited parking and 2 wheeled vehicles have to pay the same $5. fee to park.

Like other major cities, parking fees contribute to the city coffers and in this depressed economy the City of Vancouver needs every penny they can muster. All parking meters are in effect until 10pm every night, 7 days a week (includes Sundays and Holidays), NO exceptions. I think in the Downtown area you are being charged around $6.50 / hour. Bikes can share spaces with cars, but if the meter is expired, you both receive tickets. You are allowed to put as many bikes in a space as will fit, but all will get tickets if the meter is out of time.



As I am riding around I just noticed that it was nearing sunset so I try to find a spot to take a few shots of my bike. I parked my scooter in front of the Scooter Hive for a photo and see the note that Christian has written on the door to his scooter repair business. Congratulations to Christian and Natashia for their new baby.



I find my way to the road which follows the waterfront and get a skyline shot



I head east to the cannery and just catch the remnants of the magic light



From a different angle I manage to capture a little more of the building and wharf



As you follow this road westbound you travel under Canada Place and come up on the other side of Burrard Street



I am too late for the sunset. By the time I arrive at Granville Island it is nearly dark but I pose my scooter for a few final shots with the Burrard Bridge in the background



I take a frontal view of my bike with the Granville Bridge behind



After a few miles I got used to the automatic CVT. The seating position is lower than my V-strom and the CG is much lower which makes it feel like a sports car.

I had an enjoyable ride and took home a few photos for my trouble.

Little did I know at the time that this was going to be my LAST RIDE . . .