amcn.com.au 61
THIS WAS THEmost ridiculous and possibly
the most risky part of the project – riding a 50cc
scooter around the foreshores of Newcastle.
This little hummer has a top speed of around
60km/h and normally fulfils its duties as a pit
bike at racetracks.
At the track, its novelty nature is quite a laugh
and its character tends to bring out people’s
inner child – buzzing around, pulling wheelies
and sometimes even hanging a knee out are all
ludicrous on a bike this size.
Riding it around Newcastle was risky for a
couple of reasons. First, it’s only really safe to
ride it in 40km/h areas such as roadworks and
school zones. Secondly, looking like a gorilla on
a bicycle, riding a pint-sized purple scooter in
public could be a real credibility killer. Luckily,
I don’t have much to start with.
The plan involved a leisurely ride around the
foreshore of Newcastle where the speed limit
is mostly 50km/h. Drink a few lattes, enjoy the
ocean view, have a quiet laugh and then hide
the scooter before anybody recognised me.
Cruising along and taking in the view
of the Steel City beaches from Nobbys,
past Newcastle, Bar Beach and then onto
Merewether was manageable on the high-
rev ving little scooter, even if it did handle w ith
the finesse of a shopping trolley.
The route included riding through King
Edward Park, formerly the venue for the iconic
Mattara Hill Climb. Although the route has
been shortened due to erosion, it was still a
laugh, both for me and picnickers who mustRight:Hot Dog? Or
chicken? You choose...Below:AMCN does not
condone riding scooters
on race-tracks without
glovesWhipper
snipper zipper!
1990 SUZUKI AE50have thought they’d heard a fast-moving
whipper snipper.
Getting over to Honeysuckle Drive meant a
quick dash down Hunter Street, the city’s main
drag, so it was head down, knees in and throttle
to the stop to squeeze every ounce of power out
of the little engine, just to keep up w ith traffic.
The ride around the Honeysuckle harbour
area was more relaxed, with less traffic and
slower speeds. This scooter-friendly area
is quite trendy w ith plenty of cafés, bars,
eateries and micro-breweries. But it’s hard
to beat a stop at Harry’s Café de W heels for
a pie and coffee. Street cred and motorcycle
pride was challenged by parking next to
a Ducati Panigale and greeting the riders
with a grin that was part mischief and part
embarrassment. But hey, the day was hardly
about serious motorcycling.
Although riding the AE-50 in traffic was at
times a little risky, exposing the little scooter to
the ‘big bad world’ was definitely entertaining.
And who can’t love the optimism of something
called Suzuki Hy per Scooter? Beam us up
Scotty, and engage the warp drive.