Danimal aka DanB is back

It seems as though I’d joined this forum back in 2015 when I bought my 03 SW under user name DanB. When I tried logging on yesterday I’d forgotten my user name and password and so here I am using the name given to me by another rider when I used to ride with a group of road bikers (bicycles). I was the old man in the group that could smoke the young whippersnappers on the hills. They’d attack it to early and too strong and I’d just pass them every time as they were spent. For that, I earned the name Danimal (btw I’m 72).

So, what brings me back? Several years ago my wife had breast cancer and survived but her health isn’t the same now and can’t ride with me anymore. I’d lost interest and my SW just sat in storage and decided recently to sell it. What a shock that was as all I got was low offers. I’d recently sold my Kymco 250 and made more on that sale than what I was being offered for the SW. At 46,000 miles on my 03 SW, the mileage was killing me in the sale and there were lots of SW’s locally for sale, much newer with low mileage, going for only a couple grand. I just couldn’t bear to just give it away and when the fuel costs broke 4.00 a gallon in East Texas a light bulb lit up for me that said; geez dude, you’ve got a 50 mpg vehicle that can save you a ton of money on gas.

So, yesterday I got the bike insured again, inspected and new tags and proud to say I’m back in the saddle. What a joy it was to ride my beloved SW again and bring it out of retirement. I’m a self employed General Contractor and often don’t need my pickup truck for doing bids, inspections and errands. Previously, I had been a licensed home inspector and would do home inspections on the bike. Those telescoping ladders fit nicely on the back seat. I’m even considering a trailer to wag for light duty home repairs.

The long and short of it is that I’m back now in the saddle on my SW and back here to connect with you guys again.

Dan Bowman
Troup, Tx (East Texas)

Here’s my 03, she’s a beauty for 19 years young.

Welcome back and thanks for the little bit of History!
As I get older and have time to think, I wonder sometimes what has happened to fellow-riders who disappear from forums I frequent.

Welcome back, Dan! Enjoy the fuel savings!

I'd say there's many reasons from forums, they lose interest, get banned, they aren't part of a clique like on a couple of forums I can think of. Then there's declining physical strength mobility and general health problems of maxi riders who are usually getting on a bit or retired


Members occasionally spit the dummy out over disagreements and comments and sulk off elsewhere. Then there's the ones that only join forums for the sole purpose of getting advice for mechanical problems and afterwards are never heard from again.

Would you ever know if  a long time member and irregular poster hangs up his helmet forever and shuffles off to the great greasy spoon in the sky. Most of the members on here that are having birthdays listed I've never heard of, and I doubt if some of the more elderly ones are still around.


In some cases members return under another forum name, Facebook now has maxi scooter groups covering all sorts of interests and it's easier to post and upload photos.

Welcome back. Had my SilverWing out last night and thought, why do I have other bikes. The Swing does it all imo. Paul

Welcome back to the board Dan.