In October 2008 I bought my first scooter. I received an e-mail through craigslist asking $300 for a 1981 Honda Express NC50. The guy said the scooter is in good cosmetic shape, starts every time, and has no major mechanical issues. He also said that if I wanted the scooter, I had to come pick it up that night.
My roommate and I drove 40 minutes to Fishersville and met the guy at a little automobile shop. He immediately started up the scooter and simultaneously began rocking it violently back and forth. He said this is just "what you gotta do sometimes to get her goin'." I didn't think much of this at the time, considering the age of the scooter and the time that it has most likely spent collecting dust in someone's basement.
I rode the scooter around the parking lot a few times and thoroughly enjoyed it. Everything seemed okay to me, granted I knew practically nothing about small engines or scooters/mopeds at the time. We eventually settled for $240 in cash, and we were on our way. The scooter barely fit in the back of my Jeep, leaking gas and oil all the way back to Harrisonburg.
It was dark outside by the time we got back to our apartment, and despite the frigid climate we rode the scooter practically all night, taking turns and eventually both riding it at the same time.
For the next few weeks, the scooter ran great. Although I often had to rock her back and forth for a minute or so whenever I was first starting her up, everything still seemed okay. Everyone loved riding my new NC50.
