Coop's Corner: The Morphous finally arrives

Saturday, April 7, 2012

The Morphous finally arrives

I say finally because this particular Yamaha Morphous (2007 model) was owned by some friends and at least as I remember things, mention was made to them a couple of years ago that if they were ever in the mood to sell it, to please let me know. Over the winter, an email arrived wondering if I was still interested.......I was and responded to confirm. We decided that we'd wait for better weather and a couple of weeks ago, that weather arrived. With a visit during the week and today's License Center transaction, the deal was complete.

Our daughter came along (early) up to Diamond's with me for traditional Saturday coffee so that I could ride the scooter home, she following in the car. After the normal lies and old, told-as-often-as-required stories, the two of us left for the southern suburb, arriving at the agreed upon time for the official transfer process. Last minute info was shared about the scooter's few quirks and highlights, I then suited up for the rainy, 50 degree ride home.

The Morph made the trip with aplomb, never missing a beat and handling the blustery south wind very well. The tall Jurock windshield shook a bit in the blasts but provided much appreciated coverage. I left my earplugs home, deciding that this one time I'd ride without to listen for any suspicious sounds, heard none, deciding that going without the plugs was a mistake. Once on the 4 lane highway, I maintained the posted 65mph no problem, being passed by many, the prevailing speed seemed to be 70 or more. We stopped at the half way point for lunch, then made the rest of the 60 mile trip home after our hot soup.

Impressions from the hour's ride mostly match my short test ride mid-week on the quiet suburban residential streets. The Morph feels smoother, a bit quieter, geared slightly taller ( maybe it's just a higher redline - 9000 RPM?) with slightly less weather coverage than my Helix. Seat of the pants power feels about the same, but I'll be a better judge of that after spending more time on roads that better reflect my normal riding.

As mentioned above, the only optional equipment is the taller Jurock shield. I'll add a couple of power outlets for my GPS and tender/heated gear/charger access. A luggage rack for this one isn't in the cards; my MotoFizz bag should supplement the underseat and trunk storage just fine.

3650 miles on the odometer today, ready for many more.

Links
Just Gotta Scoot's review of the Morphous

Scootdawg forum comparison Morphous vs. Helix

6 comments:

ChipApril 7, 2012 at 7:23 PM
"I'll be a better judge of that after spending more time on roads that better reflect my normal riding."

There is nothing "normal" about your riding, Mr. Cooper. I have tried to follow you to no avail. Good luck with your new baby. :) Chip
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LSGiantApril 8, 2012 at 10:01 AM
Very cool ride. Nice to see you to are helping the economy. Do you still have the Helix? I rode to Canada via the North Shore yesterday. I needed a photo in Canada.
http://bigmoneyrally.com/2012/?author=109

I only had rain on the way home from Two Harbors to south of Duluth. The rest of the day was clear but windy and cool. I had forgotten how beautiful the ride along the lake can be.

Wish you the best with the new ride. Hopefully we can hook up sometime soon.

Jeff
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AnonymousApril 8, 2012 at 11:43 PM
Where's the engine?
Brad
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Coop a.k.a. CoopdwayApril 9, 2012 at 4:29 AM
The Reactor is just below that bump on the front part of the seat.
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"it was auspicious to approach any situation from a deferential, inquisitive place. Conceding that there is much to learn is the best blueprint for discovering something new." ----B. Fuller

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Then she walked down the farther side of the slope and was gone. ------Margaret Snyder from A Chosen Valley

Fall was the end of harvest, end of the growing season, a burst of color and sun-warmth before killing frost turned the land gray and cold. Fall was a moody time, full of both life and death, a time when we were reminded of the power outside of us, reminded that the seasons happen to us. We do not invite the change to come.-------Ben Logan, from The Land Remembers

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We were also cautioned about journeying far from home. As an example of the dangers, the town had a badly crippled lady named Lucy, who as a girl had traveled to New York City. As she traveled along a sidewalk, sightseeing, she was struck by the outstretched hand of a suicide who had leapt from high above. Her spine had been shattered and for the rest of her life, she was to walk bent forward at the waist, tapping the sidewalk with two black canes. Whenever the subject of travel to a big city was raised, someone would say, "Just remember what happened to Miss Tripp." ---- Ted Kooser, from Local Wonders

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As the very proud father of three former ponytail wearers, hopefully I can get away with this....."For the past few years it's been fashionable for young women to wear ball caps and to snap the strap on the back under their ponytails. I like the looks of that, their shiny ponytails jauntily swinging, but it's hard not to think of the rear ends of horses. There's a piece of harness called the crupper that goes just under a horse's tail to keep its nose down. If the horse lifts its head to look for a way out of whatever predicament it's in, the crupper tightens and hurts the horse. But it's foolish for parents to think that a ball cap might keep a young woman from running away. Anybody can see they're made for running." ------Ted Kooser, Local Wonders

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