> > > 11. If you rent a Kawasaki motorscooter with which to tour NZ, make sure to dismount on the left-hand side of the cycle. Dismount on the *right-hand* side, and you'll get second-degree burns on your right leg from the hot muffler.
>
> That would never happen on a Cushman. You can get off and on from either side. However, the custom of mounting and dismounting on the left reflects the days of horses. I've found that horses will give you a dirty look, a hoof, and maybe a horse cuss word if you try to mount from the right.

> > 12. It was surprising how many people in the Auckland Airport were walking around with bandaged right legs.

> That's because they weren't riding a Cushman.
>
> > 13. Local mail in NZ towns is delivered house to house by bicycle.

> And the mail person doesn't barbeque a leg.
>
> Tell me about the cost of renting a scooter in New Zealand. Everywhere I've been they cost way more than a car. And I've been to a lot of places where motorscooters are the primary means of transportation.
> Howard

Hehe. I thought that part would pique your interest, Howard. Barry tells me that these were very large motorscooters -- sort of like small motorcycles. And having the muffler mounted on the outside was just really rotten design... Years ago, when he had a Lambretta scooter, the muffler and exhaust were mounted *underneath* the body, not alongside the pedals. Betty happened to get burned on her last day in NZ.

The rental agency warned them about the muffler, but I can't help thinking it's strange the agency would dare to rent scooters with such a well-known defect, especially when there are other models that don't have that problem.

Cost of renting a scooter is $100 NZ per week. They could have shopped around and gotten a better deal in the Cook Islands for $12 NZ per day (or $84 per week).

Wolfspirit