I think we all like to hold on to things from our past. It's one thing to keep an old pin in a jewelry box or a box of greeting cards in your closet but it becomes another issue when your sentimental attachment takes up substantial space and has a horn that beeps like a roadrunner.
In short: My father fixed up then gave me his now 28-year old moped. It died two years ago. Then he died last year.
The moped sat in a shed while I tried to figure out what I wanted to do with it. I finally had to do something when I moved a month ago. I decided to take it to a small engine repair man with a good reputation. I told him if it cost over certain amount to repair it, that he should dispose of moped (either way, I was going to pay something). I completely forgot that I did this, which is why I was surprised by his phone call yesterday.
For less than $300, Mr.Repairman is confident that it could be up and running no problem. "It only has 1500 miles on it." He said, clearly impressed with its condition other than needing a few small replacements. Sentimentality won out and I told him to go ahead and fix it. Here's why (besides sentimentality) I decided to resurrect the moped:
1. It was my dad's, and that is really important to me.
2. It gets about 100 miles a gallon, which will come in handy commuting this summer.
3. A new moped (which I’ve considered for awhile) would cost me way more than $300.
4. Since it is 28 years old, it should be cheap to both insure and register.
5. It's small and light enough to be stored in my basement until spring.
6. It's totally retro, and as you see it's totally “me” (it looks just like this except it's blue).
7. Mr. Repairman isn’t someone who is trying to screw me over, at least not according to my sources.
So within the next couple of weeks, I will be a two-car household. Here's hoping that future sentimental attachments won't be as odd… I doubt that any them will be this fun.
*Bim is Nicole's father's nickname. Nicole took to calling him "Bimmer" in her adult life, which he thought was funny.
Image from classicmopedparts.com
LOVE the moped! My grandparents had a red one AND a blue one just like that one. The blue one had a little kiddy seat bolted to the back of it for me.
You will need to share pictures of yourself on it once you have it on the road (next summer – I wouldn’t want you to freeze your bum off right now. lol).
Oh my God! I remember that one time we went to your house after school when we were in high school and we decided we were going to ride around the “loop” with those things! haha! That was so much fun. I didn’t care if i was wearing your mom’s purple or pink bike helmet! I do remember stopping in the church parking lot to show off our great rides to our fellow loopers…Ahh memories…I;m glad your having it fixed. Its such a fun thing to drive!
As if the moped itself wasn’t a treat, now Robby’s mention of “the loop” has me in hysterics.
Do the kids still do that? (God, that just made me feel REALLY old!)
that moped is totally sweet. i’m jealous.
Ahhh, ye olde mopeds, I remember her & her sister well. A number of years ago, after several adult beverages, your folks and your old aunt, my first wife, and me took turns going for a spin up and down Page Ave. on those babies. I managed a few “power doughnuts” before getting the look of horror from the women folk…
Getting the old stuff to run again is one of my favorite pass times as you know. Next time your up, how about a few doughnuts in the old yellow convertible?
U Bill
I loved that thing. I sooo glad it’s found a home with you. Memere and Pepere had a couple at house at one time if I remember correctly, however I way to much of a clutz to take it out into traffic.
Oh my God! I completely forgot about the moped! You have no idea how tickled I am that you’re using it again.
And just picturing you & Rob doing the loop on those things (especially with Robby in a pink helmet) totally just had me in hysterics.