So I picked up a NOS garelli ssxl frame from a fellow out in Ohio (thanks for the tip brandon!). It’ll be here soon, then its going to chillax for some time. It may be nos, but that won’t stop me. Expect to see a gerbi later on. Probably won’t really begin to happen until summer, but I’d getting all the bits lined up. Its going to be radical regardless.
Filed under: Uncategorized
tom got a new toy today. West Coast Ben’s derbi is now his derbi. Its going to get even crazier.
i went to moped monday yesterday in sf. I dunno where everyone was, but maybe 10 people showed up to ride. Noah let me borrow his bike (thanks!) but the throttle cable broke right as the ride started. So I went back to the shop with tommy and fixed it up, then played some pool with joey, flynn and lee. We then relocated and did the same at another bar. Overall a fun night.
Looking forward to a rematch with joey (don’t lose to yourself) and mike down in cupertino over thanksgiving. rad.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: dellorto, derbi, derbi spacetronic, derbi tt, homeot 4p, tomos
so we all like riding our mopeds about, but only one of us really depends on one for day to day transportation (meaning this is how he gets around, without it its really tough). Mike rides his derbi everywhere. School, work, work, to the library, and to our houses to hang out. He also has a smiley, but the clutch starting plate is busted so that doesn’t work at the moment.
When the derbi started acting up, then finally stopped working, he had to bike everywhere. He was biking 15-20 miles a day, late at night, in the rain, no lights and a busted rear wheel. Fortunately matt figured out the seal was blown, so he replaced it and now mike can get around a bit easier again. Now he just needs a spare smiley motor.
For those curious how to make your piston port derbi pretty badass for under $150, here is how:
Get a tomos homeot 4p pipe
Get a 15 or 16 sha body
Install both, and remove the restrictor and one of weights from the variator
Now enjoy the boost, from 25-28 to a flat out 35, and 40+ down hills, and mean acceleration to boot! So fun, so easy. This setup is why I love derbis.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: cuperteens, derbi, derbi spacetronic, garelli ssxl, gerbi, magnum
Well maybe you have, but whatever, these are probably the coolest 2 bikes, both built by Matt. He worked as a mechanic for Skip Barber racing school for a few years, then came back to cupertino to hang out with us losers.
His first build is this magnum. MB5 forks and wheels, Unported Gila’d e50 with HPI, custom simonini pipe, 17×36 gearing. He was clocked at about 68 in sac, but went even faster in LA. He was pulled over on our ride last night blasting a line of cars, but turns out one was a cop! She looked at the bike and gave him a warning. The bike is a tank, and has survived countless rallies, and has gone strong for almost 2 years now.
His other bike is the Gerbi. Garelli SSXL frame paired with a derbi flat reed motor. 75cc metrakit, zen pipe, lomat 4-petal, 24 mikuni, HPI, and some stiff polini clutch springs. This thing is finally done (conveniently after race season), but its rad. Its got a 17″ puch 5 star with the 16″ puch 5 star hub (derbi owners take note, a good rear wheel solution).
And here is the (grumpy) man, fixing yet another derbi.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: c5, cracks, derbi, derbi spacetronic, diablo, moped
So today I decided to begin pulling the derbi apart after the crank managed to bend itself up really good in atwater. I began pulling the polini, the ignition, and other stuff, but then matt came over with an impact, and I noticed I had another piston port motor (which managed to look brand new under the covers), so I figured I’d throw it on the variant. Upon pulling the sad motor I found this:
I dunno if that should worry me.
So I pulled the pulley, put on the little plastic guides for the swingarm mounts, and bolted the motor up. After about an hour messing with the stupid throttle cable and hooking up the electrics, I had a rad-tastic running derbi. The C5 pipe is certainly a nice touch, I’m sure you will agree. Its all stock, so its slow, maybe 30 on flats, 35 downhill, but whatever, it runs. I’ll probably phbg it, add cdi, and some other crap and I’ll have a sweet moped for around town. I think its awesome. Skid-zies and stoppies all over town. Oh yea, it’s got the super rare Spacetronic Ignition System. So rad!
you probably missed it. We ate pizza, then hung out, then justin’s moped broke (newb!), he coasted down to the bar, we continued to ride through the hills at night. Amazing views and super fun. Only a few almost crashes because it was really dark. Some doubles blasting down big hills and dangerously high speeds were reached. Overall: awesome.
Maybe next time you can show up. We are tentatively planning some sort of rally (maybe mini) for late december/early january. If its raining it won’t happen, but its not going to rain, so don’t worry. This will be in cupertino and beyond. Get your camping gear and dance moves ready.
be there. Its going to be fun. 23 miles of hills, turns and amazing views.
rad
if your coming, meetup at cheeseboard at 7pm. We’ll leave sometime around 7:30. We don’t believe in moped time. We believe in eating then leaving.
so apparently we are having a mini rally (this should read RIDE) on friday the 16th. I don’t know too many details, but I do know this will take place in berkeley. We will meet up and eat some delicious pizza at cheeseboard, then go ride around (amazing scenery, get ready!), then probably end up at a bar or two. I think there will be a hill climb challenge (impossible to complete, probably), and then thats it. I have no idea where people will stay, if anyone comes, so figure that out. Parking shouldn’t be an issue as its after enforced permit hours. I’ll add more details as justin tells me whats happening. Don’t bring crazy fast bikes unless you want to ride them kinda slow.
Also, my big midterms are over. Despite all the distractions over the past few weeks, I still did alright (these were my first “real” exams, at a top notch school as well). I got a low B in econ and a high B in stats. Well above average on both. So maybe racing the day before is a good idea? I dunno, but now I’ve got a few down weeks, so I’m pumped. Now I just gotta hope the tarp over my moped keeps it dry and our driveway doesn’t flood (not looking good).
Ok, thats all.
