breaking a thousand

after two commutes to work last week, I've rolled the scoot over a thousand miles. Gone is the "what if I don't like it?" fear, as is nearly all memory of my little 50 cc Honda Metropolitan. I've ridden more miles in 6 weeks on the Vespa than I did all last year on Pete Lee. So, it seems like a keeper.

Using RoadTrip for the iPhone (version 1.3.2.22) lets me monitor my gas mileage and other handy statistical features about my scooter. I'm getting 68-75 miles per gallon, with a high of 77 MPG on a day that was mostly highway driving. At current gas prices, it costs me $0.031 per mile to scoot versus $0.084 per mile to drive my 2005 Ford Escape. I'm saving more than 5 cents per mile!

gas mileage update

Filled up my tank for the first time in ’09 this weekend. Total MPG is up to 111 miles per gallon! How’s that for fuel efficiency?

First Fill-Up

Odometer: 92.5 miles

With 90+ miles on the old odometer, it was finally time to put gas in the scooter over the weekend. The gas tank on the Metropolitan is on the floor board, just next to where your feet go while you are riding. To open the tank, you press the button to pop open the lid, and then insert your key while turning to take off the gas cap. Apparently, Honda thinks that some thieves like the challenge of stealing gasoline one gallon at a time. So, thank heavens for the key lock!

Though I was told that filing the scooter would be like putting gas in a lawn mower, having never actually put gas in a lawn mower before I was uncertain whether the pump would automatically switch off like it does for a car or whether I would have to keep an eye on it. I ran my credit card and started pumping – lucky for me, it switched off automatically because it was full in a jiffy! At $3.89 per gallon, the total tab for my 92.5 miles came to $3.45. The gas pump clearly didn’t believe that I was finished, because it refused to give me a receipt. I guess in this day and age, the practice of “putting a few bucks in” at the pump is nearly impossible. Except on a scooter.

When I got home, I did the math:

$3.45 = 0.871 gallons = 106.1 miles per gallon

Holy cow! That’s even better than the 100 MPG that the salesman claimed. In my 19 MPG Ford Escape (not a hybrid, couldn’t stomach the extra $10K at the time), the same mileage would have run me 4.868 gallons, or nearly $19. Total cost savings so far: over 15 bucks. Not too shabby.

MPG Report & Security Measures

Odometer: 67

Pete Lee is one week old today! Sixty-seven miles, and the gas gauge on my 5 liter (1.32 gallon) tank is still more than half full. This may be one of those vehicles where the needle drops from half full to “E” in no time flat, but so far the gas mileage appears to be as promised, 100+ miles per gallon.

I also picked up my scooter cover from the Honda dealer yesterday, a Covermax Scooter Model, part number 10-7531. The cover is lightweight and sized to fit a small scooter without a trunk or back rack. Seeing as how I ordered a trunk (on backorder, which seems to be the norm according to everything I have read online), I’m not sure yet whether I will keep it or try to find something larger. After a substantial amount of messing around I decided that the tag labeled “Back of Scooter” actually goes right about the front tire. A bored factory worker’s idea of a joke? Nevertheless, the cover fits snugly – much better than the grill cover that I’ve been using for the last few days.

Since I live in a townhouse community with no garage, keeping my scooter covered and secure is important to me. I’ve figured out two places to keep it: 1) in the parking lot, lashed to my car; and 2) on my front porch, secured by a heavy-duty cable to the pillar. Both work out pretty well, though I still to need to use the car from time to time. Getting up the front steps to the porch is a bit of a hassle, though a few custom-built ramps have helped the situation immensely. I’m also now grateful for the mutant hydrangea, which provides good cover while my scooter is on the porch. So far I’ve not had any problems with this security method, and though insurance is not required in Maryland I have purchased it “just in case.” Total cost: $176/year, or $14/month.