DC has now put meters in where I used to park on M street so that's no longer convenient. [bang] Anyone have any parking advice in this area? There are two parking garages under my building. One wants to charge me cage-price to park in an unusable corner and the other is hit or miss (depending on who's working -- one guy is cool and lets me park free or cheap, the other doesn't want me at all) so I need to look around a bit while my building management tries to set something up with the parking people (which doesn't seem super-promising). There's an alley behind my building I might try, though I think building management will catch on pretty quick... They don't have assigned spots in the garages so I can't rent one and split it with other bikes or talk a cager into sharing (both valet garages). Walking a few blocks is fine with me, covered would be nice :)
Maybe this will help:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=114066583653466842962.000455105473895cf9dc9 (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=114066583653466842962.000455105473895cf9dc9)
Thanks that's a super-handy map. I just looked through it and unfortunately all the spots are either metered or too far away.
I used to park here and found it fine and it offers 12 hour parking for $4 bucks.
2100 Block Eye St., N.W.
Quote from: MadDuc 20/20 on September 27, 2011, 04:08:57 PM
I used to park here and found it fine and it offers 12 hour parking for $4 bucks.
2100 Block Eye St., N.W.
yes sirrr....
Guess its meters then. I'll have to go stock up on quarters [bang]
Or use parkmobile. They have an iPhone app too.
Quote from: bikepilot on September 27, 2011, 05:30:00 PM
Guess its meters then. I'll have to go stock up on quarters [bang]
Just thinking outside the box here... have you considered a scooter? Get a de-badged 125cc and use Velcro to hold the tag on. Lock up on the sidewalk and take your tag with you. Or, if you live close enough, you can get away with a legit 49cc.
Plus, if you get the right mirrors, you can lanesplit between anything.
There's free m/c garage parking near my office at M & 25th.
I've seriously thought about a scooter and just might do that. If I could find a dragster 180 I'd buy it right away :D short of that I think an SR50 with the 70cc kit and a chamber would do the trick. I'd have to alter my route a little to cut out the freeway bit, but that wouldn't add much, if any time. 100 days of parking at the rate they wanna charge me here would pay for the aprilia.
M & 25th could work -- a bit further than I'd rather walk. Sweet deal though. I'll see if I can figure out parkmobil as well -- I'm alergic to iphones, but maybe it'll work with my old BB [laugh]
Quote from: bikepilot on September 28, 2011, 04:40:10 AM
short of that I think an SR50 with the 70cc kit and a chamber would do the trick...
I'm a big fan of the Minarelli engine. Lots of options. Little fuss.
Some come with that Minarelli engine and others with a Piaggo engine right? Know any more about them or which years come with which engines? I read on AF1 a little and was a bit lost on that topic. I do see that they've got both carbd and fuel injected models - I'd rather fancy the FI I think. There's an '07 Factory on CL for $1500... Going to give the parking thing a bit and if that doesn't work I just might sell the DR250 and buy a scoot.
Quote from: bikepilot on September 28, 2011, 04:25:17 PM
Some come with that Minarelli engine and others with a Piaggo engine right? Know any more about them or which years come with which engines?
I don't know off the top of my head, but I know a guy that does. Let me track him down... My best guess is whenever you read, "horizontal single cylinder two stroke", it's the horizontal Minarelli. But let me confirm.
Quote from: bikepilot on September 28, 2011, 04:25:17 PM
I read on AF1 a little and was a bit lost on that topic. I do see that they've got both carbd and fuel injected models - I'd rather fancy the FI I think.
My experience has always been with the air-cooled, carbed flavors. You can get an extra 20 MPH out of a scoot with that engine for ~$250 (including some transmission and exhaust tweaks).
Quote from: bikepilot on September 28, 2011, 04:25:17 PM
... I just might sell the DR250 and buy a scoot.
Let me know if you get serious about parting with the DR. (http://d26ya5yqg8yyvs.cloudfront.net/y0!.gif)
Tricking up scooters, ah the memories! [evil] Epresso cup sized pistons revving up to 20,000 rpms loud as hell and smell of 2 stroke oil everywhere! [laugh]
Motorini truccato bellissimo polini malossi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef9xm-5qfEw#)
Will do! For now I've found a spot to hide the big bike near work, we'll see how long it lasts. [Dolph]
Something funny, the big buell gets 50mpg pushing itself along at 75+ mph on the freeway, but gets in the high 30s for mpg in the city. The wife's little monster gets almost 60mpg on the same commute but seems to do a bit worse on the freeway (haven't run a full tank on the slab yet to really say). The buell's suspension soakes up the DC road bumps a whole lot better though!
Quote from: The Mad King Pepe' on September 29, 2011, 11:30:41 AM
Tricking up scooters, ah the memories! [evil] Epresso cup sized pistons revving up to 20,000 rpms loud as hell and smell of 2 stroke oil everywhere! [laugh]
...Motorini truccato bellissimo polini malossi...
This thread just got serious. Here's an older Yamaha Vino with a Minarelli in it. Just a little inspiration...
Yamaha Vino test run II (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R24p70vlvrs#)
BTW, this is a bad idea for something with 10" wheels and drum brakes.
Quote from: bikepilot on September 29, 2011, 01:20:58 PM
The buell's suspension soakes up the DC road bumps a whole lot better though!
+1 When I had mine I'd aim for the potholes because it's the only bike that didn't slam my spine, so it was big fun. City-boy version of offroading.
Well looks like I'm loosing my current alleyway parking spot. I looked up the DC scooter/moped parking rules and looks like they don't get a break either. Anyone have FHE parking a scoot or ped in DC? I see them on the sidewalks pretty often, but don't know if they get impounded shortly thereafter...
I see scooters on the sidewalk all the time. I didn't think there were any laws against parking them there. I also regularly see them parked in front of my condo building in DC overnight. I have no personal experience with this though, so I can't comment from that regard.
I know in VA that 50cc and under can park on the sidewalks, don't need a moto endorsement on your license, registration/plates, nor motor vehicle insurance. Basically VA treats them like bicycles for most accounting.
I'd wager that DC is similar. So if you've got a 50cc scoot, or something that can look like one (Debadged Vespa for instance) then you should be cool.
Yeah VA is cool, I pulled the dc regs and its officially a $100 fine for sidewalk parking, even for a "motorized bicycle" as best I can tell (its a bit muddled). My only chance is if its not enforced I think. I'm also meeting with the building management in the am to see if they can work something out re the parking garage. Such a hassle, I can't wait to get out of this hell-hole that is DC.
Quote from: bikepilot on October 19, 2011, 12:45:22 PM
Such a hassle, I can't wait to get out of this hell-hole that is DC.
Welcome to the club! [beer]
I've been telling the boss we really need a san diego and/or denver office. The idea has been most popular with the other associates, but not so popular with the boss-types [laugh]
I've been parking a scoot on DC sidewalks for 10 years without any hassle; here's my heads-up...
- Avoid locking to meters
- Avoid locking to sign posts
- Okay, there's nothing else to lock to...
- Choose sign post over meter