LakeErieLoop – The Results…

There were 17 riders in Bill’s class.  Bill rode with a friend who was on a Honda 200.  Bill tied for 4^th in Class III (bikes up to 200cc for new bikes, or up to 225 cc for vintage bikes).  That’s right, Bill Murar and California Scooter placed 4^th in a major endurance event with a motorcycle that has only been in production a few months!!! (against the likes of Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, etc.!!!)  Wooo Hooo!

Bill told me that on the first 200 miles (when he left Wellington heading west to Toledo), he rode into a stiff headwind and had to downshift to 4^th to hold 50 mph.  Towards Detroit, Bill picked up a tailwind and he really flew.   The first 200 miles took 5 hours, the 2^nd 200 miles took 3.5 hours, and the 4^th 200 miles took 3.5 hours.   Bill averaged 57 mph for the last 400 miles.  This was on a stock CSC motorcycle…the only options were the 28T rear sprocket, a windshield, and an auxiliary gas tank!

Bill used this event to get the bike ready for the Cannonball Run (www.scootercannonball.com), which goes from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Portland, Maine.  The Cannonball Run is September 9^th through the 18^th, and we are proud to be sponsoring Bill for that run, too! 

This is very cool stuff.  As a guy who’s been around motorcycles for a long time, I can tell you this is an outstanding showing for a new bike, and it speaks volumes about the engineering of this fine machine.

Bill told me he’s plenty tired.  Hey, I’ve had 650 mile days on big street and touring bikes, and it wiped me out for days afterward…I can’t imagine what it must be like to do it on a 150cc bike. 

Bill’s a trooper, and he sent a few photos of his California Scooter LakeErieLoop adventure….so here we go, with Bill’s captions…

The bike at 5AM race day. I attached a small magnetic tank bag to hold my passport, cash, St. Christopher’s medal, etc. Just kidding about the medal.

At the starting line awaiting our 0602 wave off…

Welcome to Michigan. Could be the first time a CSC has been ridden in the state??!!

Leaving the US via the Ambassador bridge between Detroit, Mi. and Windsor, Ont. We filled up both tanks once into Windsor.

Self portrait at 60mph… 

Heading back into the US via the Peace Bridge between Ft. Erie, Ont. and Buffalo, NY…

Taken by one of the chase vehicles that was hauling 2 bikes and riders who broke down. There were several DNF’s…

Bill is an interesting man and a serious distance rider.   His big bike is a BMW GS, and he told me he seldom leaves home without Max, his traveling buddy…you can see Max peeking out of Bill’s tank bag in the photo below… 

Bill, you did a great job, and all the guys and gals at California Scooter Company wish you the best!  We’re proud to have you as our factory rider!