Thinking about weather conditions and following the way of others I decided to buy " a winter hack". Basically a cheap, easy to handle scooter to use during the winter, saving my main scoot for summer touring and long rides.
After looking around and checking eBay I decided to choose a cheap Chinese scooter from a trusted bike dealer I'd known for years. The scooter I bought was a Keeway 125. Never heard of it? Neither had I. Seemed ok though a bit of aged technology - hub rear brake, even has a carburettor! Just the kind of technology that can be sorted out if anything goes wrong. No need for computers or diagnostic machines to deal with this machine.
Here's a picture. Not the biggest of bikes,
easy to manhandle, a top box that will hold a tin of beans and underseat space that will hold a small set of spanners. The best techie bit is the metal inserts on the footboard.
On the way home with the bike I found I had a problem. Though my legs are long enough on the Burgman they weren't long enough for the Keeway. When I stopped at traffic lights or junctions I had a problem "touching down". I returned to the dealer and the mechanic adjusted the suspension to attempt lowering the seat. Seemed to gain a little bit but not enough. Taking my Burgman for its annual service and MOT, at my local bike shop, I told the shop owner of my problem with the Keeway. He suggested a little outfit called "Cutting Edge" owned by Phil Edge. He tailored car seats, bus seats, bike seats.
I tracked Cutting Edge down and Phil said he could help me. Several days later, Phil called me to say my seat was ready. He had managed to lower the seat by a full inch and narrowed the seat. He had made a beautiful job of it.
Fixed the seat back on the bike and now only need some "fair" weather for a road test.
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