www.Treatland.tv

Today's post is about Benji. If you ride a moped, then you probably already know who that is (or at the very least, know his ebay store "Treats HQ.") Recently he launched his own webstore: Treatland.tv . So, I thought I would take this opportunity to say a bit about him, and while I'm at it, possibly promote the shop. For those who don't know about Benji, he is in possession of some serious otherworldly voodoo. A good example of this is his uncanny ability to have things at your door the moment you realize you need them. No joke. Anyone who has bought more than a few things from him can attest to this. His ability to get parts that no one else can, or sometimes, even is aware of, is also clearly the work of magic and shamans. My favorite Benji story would have to be one I heard at Gender Bender this year. I'll spare you the details, but it started like most moped stories, with a moped breaking down. It ended with one of my favorite quotes ever though, "Benji touched my moped... and it ran." Like Benji is some sort of moped Jesus. His new site kind of acts as an embodiment of how awesome he is. (Check it out if you have not already: www.treatland.tv) He even went as far as to hook me up with a mechanic friend of his, Jimmy, who was able to rebuild my dead Za50. That might not sound like a lot, but anyone who has one of these engines can tell you, finding someone to work on them is NOT an easy task. So, in addition to heading the leading "moped discount super disco" (as the website calls itself), he also leads the treats, a ragtag bunch of rock stars, drop outs, and ne'r do wells (sp?). The last couple times I was in SF, they welcomed me into the HQ, despite the chaos of keeping up with all his orders. We talked about (and over) Chicago style pizza, super strong, methed-out espresso, Mopeds' African roots, early LA punk, and the origin of the treats. I got a taste of formal moped education, and when all was said and done, I left with a big bag of treats, an inexplicable good mood, and some new friends. If you're reading this, big thanks Benji and Stoney and all the rest of the Treats. That said, the only way you can really know what I'm talking about with Benji and the Treats is to meet them, or failing that, cruise their site and chat with them a LOT, as I have. (haha a LOT.) I'll leave all you out there in blogoland with this little tidbit of comedy from the treatland site.

Go to this page and look under "categories"... keeping in mind that this is a moped parts site (primarily).
http://www.treatland.tv/Ticket_New.asp

Here is what I wrote Benji on the subject of "love and life."

Hey Benji. Longtime listener, first time caller. Love the site and the treats though. Well, the reason I'm writing is my girlfriend is moving in. Don't get me wrong, she's great and I love her a lot, but I'm starting to feel like she's getting between me and my true love, my mopeds. How do I slow things down? Maybe Stoney can address this.

(Margaret, if you're out there reading this... I love you. This is completely for laughs sake.)

AND here is the response I just got:

well how long have you been with her?
how much are you willing to loose youself.
always remember to wear pants with a hole in the ...
is your rent reduced.
do you have to ride doubles more...
i live with 2 ex girlfriends and 1 girl who is pretty much in sain.
my last girlfriend abandon my moped in the middle of the haight st.

living with your girlfriend until or after your 29 is strickly forbiden to enjoy your life...
bad sentence structure

make lots of food and fuck like rabbits.
if she dosent like to go fast .. then you might wana rethink...the only girls that inspire are true genuine thrill junkys
speeding up
or slowing down.
is a girlfriend marriage
if so then rephrase the question.
dont do it
or go 100% with it.

Treats = Win.

Psssshhhh. Rent?

So I got my racey 70cc ripperrrrr engine from Jeff (of Choke Motorcycle Shop) last night. Rather than being happy about it though, I'm worried about rent. It ended up costing me a bit more than I thought it would and now it looks like rent is due soon. (Since when was rent due on the first anyway?) Ahh the life of a moped addict. Pics of the engine to follow.

Madness in the Coming Months...

Winter for mopeds usually means a nice spot in the garage until Spring, but not in California. Here in Los Angeles, we're ramping up the madness at a dizzying pace. For one, the Los Angeles Latebirds are throwing their second annual rally at the end of March. I personally can't wait. Last year I tried to go on the slow ride on my stock Garelli (31mph max), and was so slow that I got to the starting point too late. So this year should be way different. In fact, I'm actually trying to get some of my extra peds going fast enough for the Latebirds to lend out to out of town friends. At this rate though, I'll be lucky if I have enough for myself, My girlfriend (Margaret), and my friend Al, who is coming out from Chicago, to ride.
SOOO, that's at the end of March (details to be announced shortly), but then, a week later, The Polini Cup starts. For those of you who don't know what this is, it's set to be a moped race league. It's going to take place over the course of a couple months this spring and is at an actual race track in Northern California. Pretty much as soon as this was announced, last November, it seems like it's all people can talk about. There isn't even a prize that I'm aware of. People are just that hungry to have the "fastest moped" bragging rights. I know at least six people from Los Angeles alone that will be competing. Here's a rundown of the competitors so far. I'm going to try to be careful not to spoil any of the tricks they have up their sleeves, so forgive me if some of the info is sketchy.

The Choke/ Latebirds/ Black Widows riders include:

Nick Freightus (sp?)
Nick will be riding his modified "Mopedtard." (A "motard" is a modified, street legal dirtbike... thus the "mopedtard" is a dirt bike frame with Tomos moped engine on it.)

Nick Jung
The Latebird and "Swarm" publisher is building a bike based on Shaw's Arciero from what I gather. (See pics of the Arciero below.)

Tommy "Freebird" or "Latebird" Erst
All eyes are on Tommy on this one. Famous for his 70mph Magnum build, he's got some things to prove on the track after his drag race defeat at Gender Bender to Elliott of The Creatures. Despite that loss though, people seem to still see him as the one to beat. Just look at this recent ebay auction to see what I mean.

(Sorry, you'll have to copy and paste, as I don't know how to link on here yet)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=150322159131 scroll down and read the product description

Tommy will be riding a 70cc Honda Hobbit with one particular modification (Something to note: Tommy's bike was WAY faster than Elliott's. Elliott just had better acceleration on account of his bike having a variator.) According to Tommy though, there are two people from LA that racers should be wary of before him. I'm assuming he meant these next two.

Shaw Milner
Oh man. If you don't know, look him and his bikes up. This is the guy to watch... or rather, Le Monster is the bike to watch. I'd put money on this guy if I could. He's got the experience and know how. I've heard a saying that it's 15% bike and 85% rider though, so anything could happen.

Jeff Johnsen
Owner and proprietor of Choke Motorcycle Shop here in Los Angeles, Jeff is a feared competitor on the racetrack. He's an awesome mechanic, and from what I've heard, he's an equally awesome rider. I've heard Nick (Jung) call the Derbi that Jeff will be racing the "most intense moped" that he's ever ridden.

Team Bully

Woolly Bully Mike
Last but definitely not least is my good buddy and fellow gang member, Mike. He's in the process of making his Morini powered Sebring into a 90cc monster. He's hoping what it will lack in acceleration (due to it's relatively heavy frame), it will make up for in top speed and handling. I'll be rooting for this guy, and if they allow pit teams, I might even crew for him. Anyway I can help at least...

Ok well that's it for Los Angeles racers (at least that I know of.) I guess today's post wasn't so much about MY moped madness, but rather, the general madness in the air these days. Check back here often for updates, and I'll see you at the races (AND rally.)

I almost forgot: For more info on the Polini Cup / Moped racing go to:
http://www.mopedarmy.com/forums/discuss/read.php?f=1&i=646049&t=615934

Diary of a Moped Mad Man

Ok. So introductions aside... let's get into the good stuff. Here's what's going on with my mopeds.

I recently blew up my custom built ZA50/ Metra65 magnum on my friend Chris' birthday ride. It's waiting in his garage, sadly, but Jeff at Choke is building me what should be a 60+ mph 70cc ripper e50 with a ported TCCD I bought from Tommy Latebird. (Thanks Tommy! Check out the blog on his hobbit build. I've linked to it on the my profile page.)

Also, taking up the backseat of my car right now is a rare rigid freespirit Kromag frame that I brought out from Chicago. That was supposed to be my next project but as the Magnum bit the dust, and I have a couple things in the pipeline... it looks like it will be taking a figurative backseat as well.

On top of all that, a few months ago I bought a 2001 Hero Puch from Harold of moped army fame. It was too odd and rare a bike for me to pass up but I've yet to be able to grab it from him in Arizona. It will be headed to me in late March though when Harold comes out for the Latebirds rally. I don't really see myself holding onto this one for very long, but it will be fun to try to make fast. Once I do that, I think I'll probably just sell it.

THEN... on top of the top of all of that, I have what I was referring to above when I said "in the pipeline." I've only disclosed what this is to a few select people, namely the other Woolly Bullies and Jeff at Choke. They will be here next weekend I'm told. Once they are in my hands, I'll post all the info here.

So those are just my active projects. I also have 2 matching newports (one in chicago and one here) AND a blue Maxi that my girlfriend and I will be rebuilding for her.

PHEW!! I think that about sets the stage for all the madness that will be ensuing in these blogs in coming months. Check back for all the updates!

Moped Madness Defined.

I'm starting this blog to document the depths of my depravity. In the coming months you will watch as I spend ungodly amounts of time, effort, and most of all, cash, feeding my addiction to these two-wheeled contraptions. At current, I have 7 complete bikes and 1 in pieces spread amongst 4 states. My apartment, my storage space, and now my car, are all filling with parts and various moped items at an alarming rate. On a monthly basis I spend pretty much all my money outside of rent on my mopeds. At least with this blog going I figure I can look back and see where all the money went.

Here's some pictures of me and mopeds and moped peoplezz to get the blog rollin'

(I don't know why these are getting cut off on the sides... but click the pic for the full view.)

My Magnum (pre-Za50 explosion!)


The Arciero... a 65MPH 49cc Shaw Bike (click the pic... this is NOT supposed to just be Chris' crotch.)


Captain Bully, Chris and the Mopeds that made it 100 miles out to the Lancaster Ranch (notice my bike is NOT in the pic...)


Gender Bender 08 (Best time of my Life!)


More of the SF Rally


Chris and Mike Rafter @ Gender Bender


Woolly Bullies Mike & Jose


One of my many moped benefactors, Jimmy