First Ride on Silverwing

The foot of snow finally melted from the driveway and it was close to 50 deg F today in Massachusetts as I get home from work. I figure this is as good as its going to get for now, it is time to fire up that new to me '04 SW sitting in my barn. She came down off the center stand after a few tries. Now I paddle her around the barn getting the feel of the weight (I have only ridden the wife's 250 pound TaoTao 50 up to now). Now back up on the center stand, a little trickier motion but I think I got it down. I am so wired that I try to start it like a car (duh!) then I remember the button. Off the stand and here I go!

It is rush hour so to speak on my 40mph road. I throttle her up a bit and I am doing 40mph like it was nothing (the TaoTao is WOT always on this road). I get a tailgater and I give her some juice - YOWZA! Whatever sliders are in this CVT are going to be just fine for me!

I take her down a straight flat country road and open it up again just to feel that power. I would like to practice some slow speed turns but it is getting dark and I am freezing my face off in the open helmet. Back in the barn to wait for warmer weather!

I envy you that warm weather. Denver got up to 15F today and even if it wasn't for the cold, I still wouldn't be riding due to the snow and ice covered roads.



Here's to many more pleasant rides and may each ride be even more fun than the last!!!

clay_in_co wrote:

I envy you that warm weather. Denver got up to 15F today and even if it wasn't for the cold, I still wouldn't be riding due to the snow and ice covered roads.

Totally understand that. Snow and ice covered roads for us are the exclusive province of my truck. even though the wife's car is FWD, prefer the truck for it.

If it's any consolation: over here snow, ice and freezing temps, too.
No SWing weather whatsoever

Guess we have to be patient and wait till mother nature decides its scooter time again....

It might have a belt drive but it is no snowmobile!

I was really lucky to get a quick ride, many winters my gravel driveway is covered with a layer of ice until well into April and I wouldn't even want to walk a heavy scooter over it.

Gary M

I have been most fortunate this season. Have probably done a couple hundred miles since the first of Jan. I do however have the luxury of the gerbings heated stuff which really takes the bite out of 18 to 20 degree days. I would caution others though, that all the plastic is very brittle in the cold, and can crack or break easily when one gets too throttle happy speed wise, and hits a sharp bump in the road, similar railway crossings and etc. One of several reasons Corvettes become scarce in cold weather

We're expecting our first snow of the season early tomorrow morning (most years we don't get any worth talking about). The county is in panic mode so I will see if the SUV (Land Rover Freelander) comes into its own again. I'm keeping a watch on out Met Office rainfall radar ...

Our second or third snow of the season melted off and now it's nice again. Rode into work this morning, 18F, but will be near 50 this afternoon. At least we don't have the rain that many of you folks across the pond get. Here on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, it seems like it rains about three times a year. We have to replace the wiper blades on the car once a year or so when the dry rot gets too bad.

Snow's here! We got about 6". Usual chaos ensued.