Cabo San Lucas on California Scooters!

Reader Contribution by Joe Berk
Published on September 27, 2010
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Editor’s Note:

Long-time Motorcycle Classics contributor Joe Berk has returned  from a 2,000 mile ride from Southern California to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and back aboard a 150cc bike. Now that he’s back, he’s been kind enough to share stories and photos from the trip. Enjoy! -Landon Hall

A group of five riders recently rode 150cc California Scooters from the San Diego area to Cabo San Lucas and back, a 2,000-mile ride round trip covering the length of the Baja peninsula. “We wanted to see how the Scooters would perform under demanding riding conditions, and have lots of fun doing it,” said Joe Berk, a California Scooter Company representative. California Scooters are Steve Seidner’s retro-styled modern versions of the 1950’s Mustang motorcycle.They are scooter-sized with a traditional motorcycle layout. The bikes entered production earlier this year.

The group included a virtual “Who’s Who” of accomplished small motorcycle and scooter riders.Arlene Battishill, President and CEO of Go Go Gear (and one of the first to purchase Seidner’s new bike) rode her custom-painted California Scooter.Battishill’s Los-Angeles-based Go Go Gear firm manufactures women’s riding apparel. John Welker, international motorcycle traveler and Chief Flight Test Engineer at Edwards Air Force Base, rode a black California Scooter Classic. Welker usually wrings out high performance military aircraft at Edwards’ Flight Test Center; the company wanted his test engineering and riding experience to evaluate the California Scooter.Simon Gandolfi, a British novelist and small motorcycle adventurer (he took a 125cc pizza delivery bike to the tip of South America) rode a pre-production California Scooter. J. Brandon, President of American Sahara, is a communications consultant specializing in the adventure travel industry.

The ride was tougher than usual, as September is Baja’s hottest month. The group crossed the Tropic of Cancer on their way to Cabo San Lucas, and they experienced daily temperature swings in excess of 50 degrees. Temperatures were well above 100 degrees on most days.

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