1) I got married to Anne.
2) Sold the Vespa.
3) Bought a Triumph Bonneville.
4) Got a new job.
5) Bought a place in Brooklyn.
6) Watched entire “The Wire” series.
7) Saw an industrial accident.
Did Brumm’s invites.
9) Went to Greece.
10) Saw a guy pee on a Land Rover.
11) Became a Godfather.
12) Other Stuff…
Coolest thing about the new “Street View” feature of Google Maps?
You can pay a visit to my Vespa!!! (Take a look around…)
I’m sure it won’t be long before someone actually finds a pic of themselves!
It’s been a bit since I’ve last posted – and I hope to change that.
I hope have some fun and entertaining stuff up soon as well as the obligatory information about me (like the fact I’m getting married!)
But first, some geeky technical stuff for me and my fellow Vespa enthusiasts….
Here are some upgrades I recently made to my Vespa GT200 – I did all the work myself. Unfortunately, it took a lot longer to do than I wanted due to the fact I split the end of my thumb open 5 minutes before I was supposed to start working. I should have held off on starting the project, but I was so excited about working on it. I taped up the nasty gash and got to work.
Everything was relatively easy to do - even with the out of commission thumb - and after an afternoon of tinkering, the mods were done.
I think the bike looks better and SOUNDS great. The Scorpion pipe is much louder than the stock pipe, and was a bit surprising at first – but after my first test run, I was loving it. I’m going to post some video with sound for those considering getting this pipe.
The Scorpion is MUCH lighter than the stock GT pipe. I felt like I was removing a dumbell as I took the stock pipe from the back of the bike.
And again - the pipe is loud. On the tight streets of Manhattan, the growl really resonates off all the buildings.
A word of caution regarding the Faco cowl protectors!!!
The front and rear end brackets that attach the chrome to the bike have been notorious for having a “design flaw” which places the brackets too close to moving components on the bike. “Moving components” in the sense they move up and down as part of the independent rear suspension/engine of the bike, and the brackets are “stationary” - attached to the main chassis.
I wish I did some research and knew this before I installed them.
On my way home from work the other night, I hit the lip of manhole cover at a relatively high speed – and heard a loud BANG! as it felt like I bottomed out in the suspension a bit.
My first thought was the pipe bracket broke - but I didn’t hear any difference in exhaust sound (which would change if the header pipe was signifantly damaged), or any sparky dragging of a dangling pipe.
At the next light, a green liquid squirting from beneath the bike indicated damage that was possibly worse. I was close to home, so decided to get it there.
I kept my eye on the engine temp and managed to get the bike home. In hindsight, I should have killed the engine and walked it…
A survey of the damage - a broken coolant hose AND smashed air intake. (Pipe was fine…)
The clearance tolerance of the Faco brackets is quite tight. By tight, I mean almost nonexistent.
I should have noticed this when I installed them – but followed and trusted the Faco install directions and figured all was well. I’ve since discovered the subsequent damage is a “common” problem in some of the Vespa discussion threads and this is something you should watch out for.
I like the bars and think I can take the brackets to a machine shop for some slight bending and modifications to clear the inside of the engine. It’s also been suggested to add some washers to help move the brackets out a bit more as well.
I’ve been told you can zip tie the hoses back and away from the bracket – but the contact point of where the bracket hits is right on the nozzle coming from the engine – so this may not help much.
I now know what to look for and can make some mods and tweaks to get the bars just right. The Dremmel my fiancé Anne got me can help fix the air intake, in lieu of getting a new one – and I have already ordered the new hose.
I also have some Bitubo shocks on the way - I will probably have the shop install those as I lack the lift and tools to pull it off.
I‘ll have more pics once the shocks are installed – and I’ll share my Faco Cowl Protector bracket modifications. It may save you the pain and suffering I want through…
And the wounded digit…
Come see me and some awesome people do wicked good stuff.
Tuesday December 5th at 7pm
and
Tuesday December 12 @ 7pm
$5 cover
The Peoples Improv Theatre
154 W 29th st NY NY
“Satisfaction somewhat guaranteed”
Nov11_0002
Originally uploaded by bryandangermurphy.
Chinatown - New York City
For some reason, I often come upon abandoned wheelchairs or discarded crutches.
I find them discarded in random places, and often dirty and trashy (like the above photo). While I find these scenes a bit ugly, I also find them absolutely beautiful. They are, after all, remnants of a wonderful miracle that has taken place.
“A miracle?!” you ask?
Think about it. One minute you are disabled and confined to life in a wheelchair. Seconds later, a miracle just happens out of nowhere and you can suddenly walk.
You’re not going to think about what to do with your weelchair or crutches. You’re going to just toss them aside, leaving them behind as you jump up and run down the street screaming “HOLY SHIT! I CAN WALK! IT’S A MIRACLE!!!! A MIRACLE!!!!
Why else would you find dirty cruches and wheelchairs just abandoned in random places?
It’s for this reason I point to these abandoned items and say, “Look. Another miracle.”
To the previous owners of these weelchairs and crutches - I’m happy you have been blessed with a miracle and no longer suffer from your disability. But please, take care to pick up after yourself and dispose of your weelchair or crutches in a resonable manner. While it took a miracle for you to walk - it shouldn’t take a miracle for you to be a bit considerate of other people and pick up after yourself.
Originally uploaded by bryandangermurphy.
