Seen on scooters in Raro

[Oakie]

Just returned from spending 8 days in Rarotonga. There was the obvious 'no-helmets' thing but the locals have upped the ante a little by carrying odd stuff while they scoot. From memory I saw:

> Quite a few texting while they scooted
> Numerous with the shopping held in a plastic bag in their left hand
> Several 'mamas' with their very small children hanging on for dear life on the back (think koala in reverse)
none of these score points for originality. However ... special mention to:

> the guy with a 2.4 metre length of timber balanced on his left hand and shoulder
> the guy balancing an LPG cylinder on the left knee
> the chappy whose passenger was carrying a loaded spear gun
> the woman who had a huge cardboard box sitting between knees and chin

The winner though was ... (drumroll please.........)

> the guy who was scooting while balancing a large chainsaw across his lap.

Happy days.

Got my little scoot up to 70kph one day before coming to my senses.

Actually there are quite a few 'proper' bikes over there now. Honda 125s and 250s (I think). Also a lot of these http://www.tradekey.com/product-free/id/4933436/Robinson/showimage.html Look quite nice but are branded 'Robinson' and not Piaggio. (Chinese manufacture)

[Akzle]

dear lawdy! somebody issue some infringement notices before the sun implodes!

[Maha]

Island Styles, can't beat it. While there on a scooter I turn my cap around, shirt undone, in shorts (sometimes wet cos' of the impromptu swimming along the way) and of cause ... jandles. I also have a couple of drinks along the way around the Island.
But stuff carrying a box that's just dangerous.

Pic two is why you stop and take a swim.

[Oakie]

dear lawdy! somebody issue some infringement notices before the sun implodes!

Not judging ... just sharing.

[Tazz]

Got my little scoot up to 70kph one day before coming to my senses.


Really? They're good for 120kph :lol:

[SVboy]

dear lawdy! somebody issue me some infringement notices before the sun implodes because let's face it, I really am a fuckwit!

Edited for accuracy.

[Oakie]

Really? They're good for 120kph :lol:

Yeah, I noticed that the speedo on mine topped out at an ambitious 140kph. I think you'd reach the suspension limit on most of the roads before you hit the performance limit. There is that nice km or so of road at the eastern end of the airport though that is as smooth as a smooth thing. Even Mrs Oakie got a bit free and easy with the throttle on that particular piece.

[caseye]

So its a uni amonis mouse then, all who go to Raro and make use of their great little bikes, do a Maha type thing, I know I did, loved it, yes Maha I stopped for the odd swim to, just too much temptation abounding over there, this is one place wifey and I are going back to and for at least another 8 days.

[Autech]

Yeah, I noticed that the speedo on mine topped out at an ambitious 140kph. I think you'd reach the suspension limit on most of the roads before you hit the performance limit. There is that nice km or so of road at the eastern end of the airport though that is as smooth as a smooth thing. Even Mrs Oakie got a bit free and easy with the throttle on that particular piece.

I will be in Raro in November, I will endevour to top out the beast and report back. Mrs rides a scooter every day so I will have to race her of course

[Maha]

So its a uni amonis mouse then, all who go to Raro and make use of their great little bikes, do a Maha type thing, I know I did, loved it, yes Maha I stopped for the odd swim to, just too much temptation abounding over there, this is one place wifey and I are going back to and for at least another 8 days.

What we did every morning was put snorkelling gear/towel from the Resort, under the seat and spend the day out and about, making sure we were back in time for half price drinks. Rinse and repeat daily.

[hayd3n]

Actually there are quite a few 'proper' bikes over there now. Honda 125s and 250s (I think). Also a lot of these http://www.tradekey.com/product-free/id/4933436/Robinson/showimage.html Look quite nice but are branded 'Robinson' and not Piaggio. (Chinese manufacture)

one of the local photographers has a buell there :) :)

[240]

Scooters ,no helmets etc yep that's what they do

[f2dz]

When I was filling up at the gas station I saw a guy pull up on a scooter carrying a baby on his scooter.

The little GN I hired was pretty damn fun. Topped it out alongside the airport straight, got to about 70kph too. Also did a bit of offroading in the middle part of the island. Good times.

Was so jealous of the KLRs the cops were riding around though. Would've loved to blatt around on one of those.

[rastuscat]

Friend of ours lost their 23 year old son Nick in a scootor crash in Thailand a couple of years back. Head injuries, no helmet.

We live with a "it won't happen to me" attitude so much that the risks we take seem so innocuous. When we take a risk and don't have an adverse outcome what we learn subconsciously is that the risk is manageable, so not really a risk.

Trouble us, it does happen to someone. Like Nick.

[awayatc]

sorry for Nick's parents.

But living is fatal........

No amount of helmets or cottonwool will change that...

[Oakie]

Friend of ours lost their 23 year old son Nick in a scootor crash in Thailand a couple of years back. Head injuries, no helmet.

We live with a "it won't happen to me" attitude so much that the risks we take seem so innocuous. When we take a risk and don't have an adverse outcome what we learn subconsciously is that the risk is manageable, so not really a risk.

Trouble us, it does happen to someone. Like Nick.

Indeed it does. As we checked in to return home we found ourselves behind a guy who had obviously slid down the road a bit on his left side. Needed a wheelchair in the end as his slow hobble was holding up the queue.

[switchMode]

I did the same thing on a GN by the airport! When I was there they had safety videos in the police station trying to persuade people to use helmets.. I take it they didn't get very far.

Also saw a brand new ducati monster when I was there, seemed a little bit overkill. I mean it would probably get around the island in 20 minutes but who would be in that much of a hurry?

The inland roads are fun too, went up a path to a reservoir before an intimidating number of probably guard dogs came sauntering out of the bushes.

[Maha]

I did the same thing on a GN by the airport! When I was there they had safety videos in the police station trying to persuade people to use helmets.. I take it they didn't get very far.

Also saw a brand new ducati monster when I was there, seemed a little bit overkill. I mean it would probably get around the island in 20 minutes but who would be in that much of a hurry?

The inland roads are fun too, went up a path to a reservoir before an intimidating number of probably guard dogs came sauntering out of the bushes.

We went up a road which turned into a dirt track and finally came to a paddock with a dozen or so Islanders with machetes, looking for the waterfall. We did find later but what a fail, it was trickle at best, a seasonal waterfall perhaps?

[Oakie]

We went up a road which turned into a dirt track and finally came to a paddock with a dozen or so Islanders with machetes, looking for the waterfall. We did find later but what a fail, it was trickle at best, a seasonal waterfall perhaps?

Was like this when we popped up there. Damned sandfies were brutal there.

[Oakie]

Also saw a brand new ducati monster when I was there, seemed a little bit overkill. I mean it would probably get around the island in 20 minutes but who would be in that much of a hurry?

Saw the island's only Harley when we were there. Apparantly there is also a BMW.

[Gubb]

Island Styles, can't beat it. While there on a scooter I turn my cap around, .

Worried about sunburn on that exposed noggin?

[Maha]

Saw the island's only Harley when we were there. Apparantly there is also a BMW.

Spied a cruiser on our first trip up there, was at the markets having a look around and saw this...reminded me of Waylander at the time (if anyone remembers him?)

Worried about sunburn on that exposed noggin?

It's a heat exchanger. Not the bike, my head.

[The Reibz]

If you think any of thats bad, try ballancing a crate of DB draught on top of your tank after you have had a few.

[Oakie]

Spied a cruiser on our first trip up there, was at the markets having a look around and saw this...reminded me of Waylander at the time (if anyone remembers him?)

May have seen that bike myself. Saw a really ratty one at the far end of the markets (Muri end). I think it only had half a sidestand as the guy had a big block of wood on the ground for what was left of the sidestand to rest on. I assume he took the wood with him wherever he went?

[Autech]

Got back a few weeks ago. I would like to add my silliest spotting was a troop of tourists in convoy (about 10) of scooters, 3 of the 10 had spear guns, loaded, balanced on their shoulder as they rode. DUH!

Hired two scooters (one for myself and wife), what got amused me most was that we both asked for and used helmets. $1 a day, bargain!
Now we both ride so are less likely to fall off, unlike 90% of other tourists there without helmets who probably have very rarely been on motorised two wheels, if ever! Anyone who has been to the Laura Ferguson Trust would never ride without a helmet, seeing what a head injury can do, no thanks! That said I did ride once without one, felt fecking weird!

[Akzle]

pussy .

[Mo NZ]

The locals on Raro do it well but come a distant 2nd to the Thai's.

[madbikeboy]

Yeah, I noticed that the speedo on mine topped out at an ambitious 140kph. I think you'd reach the suspension limit on most of the roads before you hit the performance limit. There is that nice km or so of road at the eastern end of the airport though that is as smooth as a smooth thing. Even Mrs Oakie got a bit free and easy with the throttle on that particular piece.

There is an unofficial Isle of Manatonga speed record for a lap of the island. The local police are mostly fellas with a few fellessa's that look like fellas. Don't get caught riding enthusiastically, or you'll end up married to one.

[Oakie]

There is an unofficial Isle of Manatonga speed record for a lap of the island. The local police are mostly fellas with a few fellessa's that look like fellas. Don't get caught riding enthusiastically, or you'll end up married to one.

And they have Kawasaki 650s (?) so they will catch you!

[Mo NZ]

You guys are doing it all wrong. 2nd or 3rd gear, just above idle. Chill out and relax. Relax. Cruise about and enjoy the Island.

[madbikeboy]

And they have Kawasaki 650s (?) so they will catch you!

They'll never take me alive! Plus I always end up passing go and collecting $200 worth of Coronas at that stupid two story bar in town.