I guess I'm a scooter flipper now? ¯\_()_/¯

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart) 07/28/2018 at 13:35 • Filed to: Two Wheels Good

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Last night I sold my Gambler 500 project scooter for more than I asked for. I replaced it with this 2012 Ruckus clone that needs some minor work, but is otherwise ready to roll. By all accounts, it was a nice set of transactions. I really only paid about $100 for the Chuckus. That is, until a message this morning...

The Gambler scooter’s new owner told me that my hunch about the dirty gas tank was correct. He temporarily hooked up an external tank and the scooter immediately fired up without issue. He showed me a video of it running and I’d lie if I didn’t shed a tear at how beautiful it was.

He’d keep it, but he doesn’t really want to deal with the process of registering it. S o he wants to sell it back to me for the price he paid, plus a few dollars for the price of the solvents he’ll use to clean the tank. He’d rather see my Gambler project finished than keep it for himself.

Normally I’d tell the buyer that they agreed to the terms of the deal when they forked over the cash. I don’t do returns o n eBay or in real life. However, this guy’s a microcar enthusiast like me (I mean, he knew his Mirage’s engine is in the same family as my smart’s) and it’s awesome he’s doing this for me. I mean, he could just turn around and charge me much more because it’s running now. But he genuinely just wants to help me finish the Gambler project.

So, I’ll take the scooter back. However, this now means I’m up a scooter and out of the money I expected to make by selling the Gambler project. The money isn’t an issue as I’ll just offload another computer from my hoard (I *still* have too many computers I just do not use).

From my short inspection last night, the Ruckus clone needs :

1) Battery.
2) Maaaa ybe carb cleaning/new carb (they’re only $20).

And to really flip it for some decent dough , I’ll want to (but the bike will work just fine without them) :

1) Replace brake levers for new ones. These factory ones are made of a material I could only describe as “Chinesium”.
2) Touch up rusty bits in the paint .
3) Replace the turn indicator and brake light housings.
4) New handlebars (see: “Chinesium”).
5) New seat (factory one looks boring).

The only thing I’m scared of is that I may like the finished product more than my Honda Rebel...in which case I’ll end up selling the Rebel and that’ll   still end up with me flipping a bike. Oh god, am I evolving from Oppo’s David Tracy equivalent to.. ..Tavarish!?!??

In the end, I’m mostly just happy that my Gambler project is running. Now I can get to the stupid mods and build the ultimate “Battle Scooter”. :D

bob and john > Mercedes Streeter 07/28/2018 at 13:44

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nah, i’m pretty sure me and decay had the bike flipper titles 

Mercedes Streeter > bob and john 07/28/2018 at 13:52

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That is actually true! And flipping bikes seems to be an expensive hobby. I hope to be back down to just three two wheelers asap. lol

UserNotFound > Mercedes Streeter 07/28/2018 at 23:22

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Flipping 2 wheeled vehicles is great fun.

I got an ‘01 R6 from a doctor who never rod e it for the 2 or 3 years he owned it and didn’t want to take it to CA when he moved. Cleaned it up, returned it (mostly) to stock, ride it for a year, and sold it. Just about b roke even (including insurance for the year).

Frenchlicker > Mercedes Streeter 07/28/2018 at 23:52

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The worst part about cheap scooters is the batteries, they almost doubled the cost of my cheapest one. 

Decay buys too many beaters > Mercedes Streeter 07/29/2018 at 21:12

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It’s only expensive if you do it wrong! I’m net positive on the addiction  so far (if only just)

Decay buys too many beaters > Mercedes Streeter 07/29/2018 at 21:14

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God damn, awesome! You basically have the same scooter that all the ruckus guys build for $$$$... for $$$

I see a kick start... why not run no battery? Weight reduction!

Mercedes Streeter > Decay buys too many beaters 07/29/2018 at 21:36

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Shhh don't enable me!

Decay buys too many beaters > Mercedes Streeter 07/29/2018 at 21:43

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Shit, did I say net positive? I meant “ lost thousands and thousands of dollars” , you really shouldn’t start flipping bikes, terrible idea.

Mercedes Streeter > Decay buys too many beaters 07/29/2018 at 21:50

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Aside from just getting it running, here is a s hort list of mods I want to do:

1) LED t urn indicators and brake light (I need to change the lenses, anyway).

2) RGB lighting.

3) New exhaust.

4) Plasti-Dip the wheels .

5) New seat (current one looks boring).

6) New handlebars and brake levers.

7) Replace the missing engine cover.

8) Fix the rust spots.

The hard part will be selling it. If the end result is as imagined, I'll want to keep it! lol

Decay buys too many beaters > Mercedes Streeter 07/29/2018 at 22:09

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Ahh.. Then yeah, battery is needed to run all the lighting! 

Also... I’m not the right person to talk to about cutting vehicles loose :p

I’m going to sell the vtx after my trip. I’m going to sell the vtx after my trip. I’m going to sell the vtx after my trip.  I’m goi ... (repeated quietly to myself many many times)