Monday, May 3, 2010

2000 - The scooter idea

I had 14 years old...
As any teenager when you see something and you think: "that is really cool" next you wish somehow have a chance to try and have one. That was what happened with me...
I already had seen before on TV, but on that day I saw one pass by. At the same moment I told to myself and after to my parents that I wanted one for me.

As I realized later, most of the times we just give value to things when we have to "fight" for get it...I'm not saying that I didn't deserve it, but it was a matter of education gave from my parents that I didn't like at the time.As we grow up life changes as well the way that we see things. Nowadays I really appreciate and I understand purpose for that.

I could tried wait for my birthday or Christmas to beg for one, but it wasn't guarantee that my parents would give me one because it was kind of innovation at the time, and usually innovations are expensive. Also my birthday and Christmas were far way, so I decided to make one:

  • The Process:

With the small budget from my savings I bought an old motor from a motorcycle like this one:



I decided for this one because my father had one Puch (this motorcycle model) and I new that had a really good fuel consumption and enough power to have fun (40km/h).
I sought for this kind of engine and I bought an old one for €25. So with the main part (motor) already in my possession I started thinking on the shape and buying the other parts that I couldn't make.

I think with any prototype, doesn't matter who creates it...will have problems that have to pass through. I had those kind problems because I didn't have any professional experience (even with professional experience there are always new problems that people doesn't expect).

My abilities were limited with my 14 years old of age, but I got some extra "experience" just watching and asking older people with experience on the field (bicycles, motorcycles, mechanical...) why they did that on that way and no in other different way...and I started learning with others experience's.

With access to my Father's Factory that he already sold "Julio Ramalho S.A." I had access to welding machines and steel to model the frame and finish my so wanted scooter:


The following two pictures show the final result of my scooter:








Its a average quality cellphone video (2012) :


After 10 years of use it's still working good!

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