Not quite down-to-the-wire, last-minute, or even eleventh-hour, but still cutting it closer than is good for my blood pressure… I brought the new scooter in for service today.  New scooters are supposed to be returned to the shop shortly after purchase for a special “first service”.  This is required to maintain the 2-year warranty, and involves an oil change, adjustments, and checks to make sure everything is breaking in properly.  For example, I’m told the initial break-in process can leave teeny metal shavings in the engine oil, which you don’t want to ride with very long.

The standard recommendation is to have first-service done at 500 miles.  For some people, that’s a few months after purchase; for me it was a few weeks.  My odometer was accidentally disconnected for at least 100 miles, but it read “400” this morning, which means I was right on time.  If I’d waited until after this trip, I’d be at around 2,000 miles, which is way too long.  It probably wouldn’t wreck the engine, but it could take miles off its lifespan.

When he was finished, the mechanic said that all looked well, and sent me on my way.  But not before finally replacing the temporary black front fender he’d given me during the switch-over, because the red fender from my old scoot didn’t fit the new one.  Flash II is now all set to travel: properly insured, registered (custom plate: FLA5H), red-paneled, and (mostly) broken in.

Supposedly he’ll continue to gain some power as break-in progresses, but I’m not even sure if I’ll notice. I’ve only ridden him wide-open a few times, mostly just to see what it’s like.  I did it today because I was already taking a 2-hour lunch break to have him serviced, and wanted to cover the 25-mile round trip as quickly as I could.

Also I am legally set to travel: my motorcycle-endorsed driver’s licence arrived in the mail the other day. The photo on it looks disturbingly like my father 😉 but should otherwise serve me well.

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