Crazy for Cushmans
Old motor scooters carry enthusiasts to bike museum
By Scott Rochat
Monday, July 9, 2007
By ones and twos, the Cushman motor scooters rolled up to John and Carolyn Kuhn’s bicycle museum east of Emporia. Thirteen ... no, fourteen ... no, fifteen scooters had made it there, the halfway point of a nearly 100-mile Saturday trek for the Kansas Cushman Club.
“We thought this was going to be 47 miles,” said John Brockway of McPherson, standing by his 1962 Cushman. “It turns out the newsletter meant 47 miles one-way. But that’s all right. It’s more fun.”
Cushman hasn’t built scooters since about 1965. But that hasn’t stopped fans from finding them and riding them. As of last year, more than 5,000 people belonged to the Cushman Club of America and this year the Kansas chapter by itself counts about 175 members.
The bikes are small — usually 250 to 335 pounds — but comfortable and efficient. Mark Unruh of McPherson, the Kansas club president, said he once managed 75 miles on a single gallon of gas. His is the oldest bike of the group, a 1948 model that’s usually given a five-mile head start before the rest of the group takes off and catches up.
“We do about five meets a year where we go out, find a country road and ride for about 75 or 100 miles,” Unruh said, “We’re not as visible because rides like this one are always back-road rides.”
Don’t underestimate the Cushman, though. Brockway’s put more than 30,000 miles on his, including one memorable ride where he and two friends drove their scooters from McPherson to Casper, Wyo. After successfully completing that 775-mile jaunt, the group continued up to Yellowstone National Park and then turned back. The group had driven for 1,250 miles before Brockway’s scooter finally broke down northwest of Rock Springs, Wyo.
“Our wives were following behind with the Suburban and a trailer just in case something broke, and sure enough, it did,” he said.
Even after a less heroic ride, a smart Cushman owner will spend a fair amount of time on maintenance. A 100-mile ride usually means about two or three hours of work later, Unruh said.
“If you own one, you’ve got to be able to tinker,” he said.
But nobody was complaining, especially on a sunny Saturday with a clear road ahead. The run, hosted by Bud Redding from near Waverly, would also take in Olpe, Madison, Lamont, Gridley and New Strawn before starting to wrap things up for the day.
Jesse Moege of McPherson was already looking ahead to lunch at the Olpe Chicken House.
“We’re always in search of a good restaurant,” he grinned.