How Stella Got Her Vroom Back

After a turbulent separation, the Frankenstella and I are reunited.

I know what you're thinking. I'm clearly involved in an abusive relationship and need a hearty dose of Co-dependents Anonymous. Over and over, I just keep going back to her. No matter how terribly she treats me. I can't help it -- I love her.

The scooter was gutted by Jeb at Sound Speed Scooters, and he rebuilt me a shiny new Vespa engine and replaced my stock exhaust with a turbo-grumbling Sito pipe. The Stella no longer purrs -- she grrrowls. I nearly got whiplash this morning taking off -- she grabbed the pavement and surged on like her tail was on fire.

So pretty much the whole bike was royally fucked, and the pistons fried into oblivion, because the new replacement oil tank put in by Ducaca was not connected properly and so no oil to the engine means melting and seizing and general mayhem. The one thing I thought they had done properly turned out to be amiss as well -- Jeb had to re-attach the windscreen they installed a few weeks ago because they put the hardware on backward and the mirrors showed only a clear reflection of my shoulders -- while the view was attractive, it was not exactly safe. The only part I'm waiting on now is a new clutch (which may or may not have to do with the new clutch cable they "installed" at Ducaca), which may take a couple of weeks, but she runs fine without it as long as I let the clutch out slowly. If I let it out too fast, she pops a wheelie and I nearly land on my ass behind the scooter. I speak from experience.

Last night on my way home from the shop I gave her the ultimate test -- my Mercer St. nightmare, where the scooter died every single time in the past. Not only did she start on the hill, but she took off with such growly force that she almost left me sitting on the pavement at the light.

The amount of money I have now poured into this machine is staggering. When it came to the rebuild, I thought -- I could just sell the scooter, losing at least $1500 off what I paid for it (and likely $2000), or sink in another $1500 and at least still have the scooter. Jeb has assured me she will go 5,000 miles without a hitch, save for general maintenence. I think I made the right decision; I woke up this morning and upon remembering that the scoot was parked outside waiting, a huge smile broke across my face. That's worth the extra cash. I'm so Stella-whipped. It's not even funny.