2007 Riders Choice Awards Voting Now Open!

From now until March 12th public voting for the 2007 Riders Choice Awards is now open. These awards are sponsored by Motorcycle Bloggers International, an organization of bloggers creating original content from around the globe. It is a chance to vote for the best and worst of the motorcycling world for the year 2006. You go to your voting ballot click HERE.

Now I feel weird saying this next part. Scooter in the Sticks is a finalist in the Best Motorcycle or Scooter Blog category this year. Many thanks to those of you who nominated me! The competition is good with some exceptional motorcycle sites on the ballot. I feel fortunate just to be in the running as a writer about my Vespa riding experiences.

Check out what's on the ballot!

Latest Ride


I managed to get out this past Monday for a last ride before the snow started to come down yesterday. I planned to do a non-stop 60 mile run to test the effective duration of my non-electric riding gear but the temperatures soared to 29° F and I already knew it would be fine at that temperature all day long at 55 MPH. I want to try it around 15° F though.

The reality of my riding is slow with many stops to take pictures. I almost never ride continuously. I am always stopping to take pictures or look around so it is hard to know how good my gear would be for a long-range commuter.

Until the temperatures drop I will continue to ride through this area to get a better feel for the GTS and slowly work my way through the 600-mile break in period. The sun was out and it was a relaxed ride.


I did manage to get the scooter stuck in the snow at one point trying to run down an unplowed farm lane. I felt kind of stupid for a second thinking I would not be able to get it out. Kicking snow and pushing instead of riding did the trick!

Farms are Cool

Pushing the pen across paper while my dog noisily gnaws on a large Milkbone makes it really difficult to attend to my writing. Farms are cool places to look at and the surrounding landscapes are my favorite photographic subjects. Mountains, old growth Pacific forests, Yosemite, the ocean----they are all beautiful. But I am disconnected from them because I live here. Photographing those traditionally beautiful places leaves me with postcard images. I never have time to get close enough to see past that pretty veneer. And it would take months, maybe years.

On the ride home from work my instrument panel showed 23° F. With the sky clear and the sun bright as it headed for the horizon it was warm enough for a detour through the landscape I love to look at. Almost immediately after leaving the main road I came upon Meyers Dairy Farm. Those red barns just glow in strong sunlight. The remainder of the ride home was a slow puttering event that allowed me to be a tourist again in my own neighborhood. I didn't have the big camera with me but plan to haul it out this morning.


Arriving home I decided to do something about the salt and grime that has been collecting on the Vespa for the past two weeks. With a sponge and bucket of really hot water I was able to remove a lot of it. Perhaps today I will do a bit more.

A few have inquired about my non-electric solution to staying warm---especially my hands. I wear expedition grade Black Diamond Mittens with a pair of thin polypropylene gloves underneath them.


I added the gloves because I needed to slow down the chilling of my hands when I stop to take pictures. The metal body of the small Canon S50 digital camera is like holding a small block of ice. The thin gloves slow down the numbing effect on my hands. If I fiddle too long with the camera I will warm my hands on the headlight before slipping them back inside the mittens. Once my hands are really cold it is difficult to bring them back without returning to a heated area.

After a bowl of cereal I'm going to head out on a photo ride. No idea where I'm going or for how long. Most likely my hands will dictate course and duration. It's 14° F right now with a promise of higher temperatures this afternoon. After a check of oil levels, air pressures, lights and things I'll be off.

Cold Commute

Nine degrees for the ride to work yesterday morning. A number of people at work commented on how cold I must have felt but the truth is I was overdressed and should not have worn a long underwear top. That item rode under the seat on the way home, considerably warmer at 18° F but then I did take the freeway home for a 70 MPH spin.

Riding again I realize that the cold is more a mental than physical challenge. Looking outside after I get up, checking the temperatures, the resistance I feel is related less to the data in front of me and more to my desire to still be in bed. The actual ride to work has no bite of cold, no numb hands, nothing like that. What it does have is the exhilaration of riding found anytime of year. And the bracing air I feel when I crack open my visor at a stop sign or traffic light just reminds me how great it is to be able to do this.

The thermometer shows 12° F for this morning's ride. Saturday looks to be the same with temperatures rising to 25° F by afternoon so I may try a longer ride on the GTS.

Photo Project Update: February 7, 2007

The weather has not been the best for riding. Any plans for photographing the wanderings by Vespa will have to wait until the frigid temperatures rise and snow and ice clear from the road surfaces. Adhering to my modest plan to shoot a roll of film each week I managed to carry the camera along during walks with the dog. I remember not so long ago when I had a camera with me always. Making photographs was second nature. Recapturing that habit is difficult. My brain resists the discipline of shooting and instead spends its time generating reasons to postpone or short-circuit any photographic activity.

I'm not seeing much now and that's ok. I made this photograph of my dog as she inspected an old farm building. The more I shoot the easier it will become to engage the process and the more times I trip the shutter the more I will see. It is a simple idea and I have seen it work over and over again. Photography by the pound.


The forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with temperatures rising to 20° F in the afternoon. I may brave the 5° F temperature in the morning to commute to work. And maybe I will take the camera with me. I need to get into the riding habit again. The snow has made me lazy and diminished my energy to ride and photograph.

A Search in the Cold

Opening the online version of the local newspaper this morning revealed 10° F. Hardly the riding weather of choice. I decided to take the dog for a walk instead. Didn't take long to confirm the paper's temperature indication especially since they neglected to mention the wind. During the walk a young dog appeared and followed us along hoping to get Essa to play. Noticing his lack of identification or license reminded me that my own dog was illegal.

By the time we got home the sun was bright in a clear blue sky and my dog needed a license. The temperature has risen to 15° F. After a moment of mental wrestling and q quick examination of the road I decided the Vespa was ready for a trip to the hardware store for a license.

Rolling through the unshovelled driveway (the has to melt that snow soon) I thumbed the starter and the GTS came to life unaware of the near zero temperature it has slept through last night. The air temperature readout on the instrument cluster flashed 18° F. I moved out onto the road with feet down to test the surface. Some icy patches but generally clear. I would have to monitor the road surface carefully and adjust carefully. A few miles from home I realized my usual dog license supplier had gone out of business and I would have to ride farther to get one. The well-traveled roads were generally clear with only scattered snow or ice mostly where wind would continue to deposit new coatings. As long as I was upright and traveling in a straight line I was fine but curves, especially blind curves, had to be handled more slowly than normal and in several instances taking them so slowly that the scooter didn't lean.

A long loop south of town took me through open farmland where the wind blew steadily. The scooter handled the wind and road surface challenges well and my comfort level is growing with each ride. I stopped at a local pet supply store for the dog license only to be told they were sold out. From there to another place that didn't carry them but offered directions to a place ten miles away that surely would have a dog license. Rather than ride the back roads I thought it would be a good time to try the new Vespa on Interstate 99. I stopped at the ramp to view the road surface and it was clear and dry, at least what I could see. Still in the break-in period I had no trouble maintaining an indicated 70 MPH, well under the Piaggio admonishment to keep the scooter under 80 percent capacity for extended periods. I did twist the throttle once to bring the GTS to an indicated 80 MPH for a few moments with throttle left. The Vespa is surprisingly smooth and stable at that speed even with a crosswind. I was extremely pleased in the performance of my First Gear Kilimanjaro IV Jacket and Black Diamond Mittens. Running along at 70 MPH in 18° F air I was warm and toasty until I returned home after almost two hours on the road. And I was reminded once again how much I enjoy riding in cold weather.

I'm sure I made the right decision to move up to the bigger Vespa. The increased power and weight will expand the things I can do on the road. I never did find a dog license though. The last stop at Tractor Supply Company was a bust. So I suppose I will have to ride farther to make my dog an upstanding member of the community.

No Riding, No Writing

My dog enjoys the snow. She'll happily lie outside until she's covered in snow. I'm coming up empty though. Neither motivation nor content for any new posts. Other than this picture I made last Sunday during a snow squall I have not been riding.


My Ford Ranger faithfully transports me to work. The Vespa sits in the garage because snow on the ground, snow in the air, the threat of snow, and temperatures in the teens and single digits conspire in my head. A quick check of the weather report this morning shows 16° F and snow for the next five days doesn't have me pulling on riding gear. While I might have ridden the old scooter on one of these days I don't trust myself yet with the GTS. And come to think about it I don't want to ride in snow or when there is the threat of snow. So where does that leave me?


I've never been good or overly interested in scouring the Web for interesting material to post here. If I stumble across something I will share it but I would rather ride and write about riding. My riding. It's unique to me and to you if you're interested.

The ride on Sunday followed a short nearly snowless ride on Saturday. Sunday found snow in the air and for a while snow everywhere on the road. It didn't take long for things to melt leaving just a beautiful landscape to ride through.


I tested the GTS as best I could in the snowy areas and it seemed to perform OK. I am comfortable that if I were caught in the snow I could slowly and carefully negotiate my way to safety. But I would not want to routinely venture out knowing there would be snow.



So that's where I am, waiting like many of you for the weather to improve. Right now if the roads are dry and the temperature is above 15° F I will ride to work. If the temperature rises above 20° F I will consider a trip. For the past few weeks I've been looking for clear pavement. No end in sight for snow free forecasts and even though on many days we don't get the snow I don't want to chance it. I'm beginning to think the bigger scooter has robbed me of something...

Shiny Scooters and Snow Don't Mix

The weather broke, or perhaps my resolve to keep the new Vespa GTS clean, safe and off the road until it was completely dry. Either way I was on the road again yesterday. The temperature was 31° F when I left and had risen 10 degrees by the time I returned home. The roads were clear and damp without ice or slush. I had hoped to see what the GTS was like in snow so I turned off into a shaded parking lot that was still snow covered. It was a gravel lot so traction is much better to begin with but there were a few areas packed smoothly that would simulate snow on the road.

The Vespa GTS feels more stable in the slippery stuff than the LX150 did. The advantage of the smaller scooter is that it's lighter weight makes it easier to physically wrestle if the wheels should slip out from under you. A foot down on the ground and holding the handlebar can keep the scooter from falling to the ground. I didn't push the experiment with the new GTS though---I'm not ready to see it fall down yet. Maybe after it gets dirtier. For this experiment I was content riding in circles, stopping, trying to slide, and generally increasing my comfort level with the new handling characteristics.

Still being in the break in period of operation I didn't push the scooter too hard on the highway and kept my top speed below 65MPH. Acceleration is smooth and positive and the increased weight makes for a more stable ride. Handling on turns and curves is smooth and the GTS feels almost as nimble as the LX150.


More snow is called for today so I'm not sure yet if I will ride or not. Part of my concern is doubt in my familiarity with the new scooter but a big part does not want to get it dirty and covered with salt spray. As I ride more the scooter will become less precious and allow me to use it as I want.

Road Rage, 7 degrees , and the Vespa GTS

I'm getting frustrated. We have had consistent snow and cold. The Vespa GTS is too shiny and new for me to take out in the mess not to mention I do not feel comfortable enough yet to brave the snow with only 60 miles under my belt on the new scooter.

In my non-riding frustration I came across this road rage device. Maybe one for two-wheeled vehicles will be available soon.

Click HERE to view the great road rage tool! You'll need the QuickTime movie plugin to view it.

For more Trunk Monkey enjoyment check out the other Trunk Monkey videos HERE

A Riding Photo Project

Committing to a photography project is difficult. Mental gymnastics intended to clarify and focus a direction generally leave me thinking that every photograph has been made and adding to the sum total of human expression is a pointless exercise. Every mundane chore or diversion looms larger and the camera sits quietly in the dark. My brain really makes it difficult to start.

The images I make of the Vespa while riding are easy. The rides are fun and I like the way the scooter looks. I can pull the digital camera out of my pocket and in a few seconds I'm done. What I'm talking about now is a body of work related to the scooter only because the scooter may be transporting me to the location in which I would photograph. The Vespa is not a subject. Perhaps the ride is the subject. The photograph above was made during the last ride of my LX150 shortly before permanent mechanical failure. It is the sort of image I might make as part of this project. Whatever the subject is what is clear is that I have not been able to sustain action or production. I do a lot of thinking. Thinking is good, just not for photography, at least not for me.

During a phone conversation last weekend my friend Gordon, also a photographer, suggested we get together periodically to help each other along through doubt and motivation, to prod through support or shame the production of new work. Friend Paul was added to the group and Kim took part in our first meeting on Monday night.

I'll share my part in this. I agreed to shoot two rolls of film, process, contact and make two work prints to show when we meet every two weeks.


A quick calculation in my head shows one hour to process the film and two hours to make the contact sheets and prints. I can't estimate the photography time. The above contact sheet shows images made during the last ride of the LX150.

I need a carrot but more often I need a stick directed at me to get me moving. Thinking about photography doesn't get me any farther than thinking about riding does. In each case I need to just get in motion. Things only happen when I am engaged in the process. I'm hoping that combining the camera with the Vespa will make something happen. I have faith in things happening when I am in motion. I've decided to share this journey in Scooter in the Sticks. I'll allow you to see the process and the rough results as I haul my camera around. If I am really lucky I'll feel guilty not keeping up with my photo production goals. So look for some black and white photos to appear at least every two weeks. Give me hell if I drop the ball.

Wind and the Vespa GTS250ie

Just a quick update.

Wind was coming out of the west at a steady 20 to 30 miles per hour yesterday with gusts to 40. With temperatures hovering around 29° F for most of the day and calls for snow showers I finally left the house around 2PM for a long loop around town and then to Barnes and Noble for hot chocolate. Simple plan, simple ride. Stopped near a local quarry to see if there was anywhere to ride the Vespa that I hadn't found previously. Enough No Trespassing signs dissuaded me from any of those routes.

The Vespa GTS responds more slowly to the wind. Where the LX150 is jerked around on the road the GTS feels like it has been slowly pushed making it feel more stable in the wind especially crosswinds. Because I can ride faster I end up feeling just as beat up as on the smaller scooter with the wind hitting me squarely in the chest. I suppose the smart person would consider a windshield. I'm not ready for that yet.

The road surface was dry but there seemed to be a lot of salt dust considering we have had no snow. The road crews must be bored enough that they salt each time a snowflake is threatened. My route wound back and forth from one side of town to the other trying a variety of streets and roads. The GTS does everything the LX150 does and more. If I find fault with anything it is the smoothness (or lack of) of the ride. While smoother than the LX150 the front end seems to vibrate as if the tire balance is off. I can't tell if I am expecting too much, the road surface is rough, or the scooter is actually generating the vibration. I'll figure this out over time.

Rode past Beaver Stadium, home of the Penn State Nittany Lion football team. The sun was shining down on Happy Valley so I had to take a look.


Eventually arrived at Barnes and Noble along with every other person unwilling to go outside so I scrapped any plans to hang out in that crowded venue. Made my way home and there the scooter has remained. This morning the temperature was 15° F with wind and the threat of snow. I had enough to do today that I never got out to ride before the snow came down. The weather forecast calls for snow and freezing drizzle overnight so I don't expect to be on the road. I'm getting antsy to go. A long trip. A long winter trip to parts unknown....

Looking for Risk

As I do every morning I look out the front door to see what the day has in store for me in terms of riding. I may walk outside to test the road surface and I'll always look at the weather forecast. I'm looking for risk. I don't mean I am seeking out ways to put myself at risk. I just want to know what risk I'll be facing. Physical and performance differences between my new Vespa GTS and the LX150 I used to ride force me to make different choices. Because I am still unfamiliar with the handling characteristics of the GTS I'll conservative in my decision-making.

Dry snow on the road, temperature hovering at 15° F, an occasional snow shower predicted, windy with 40 MPH gusts, I would take the LX150 to run errands. I'm comfortable handling it in these conditions and readily accept the risks presented by the road surface and weather not to mention the other drivers. I won't accept the risk with the GTS though because there are too many unknowns right now simply because I don't have enough experience on this scooter.

Dan Bateman over at Musings of an Intrepid Commuter is a master at assessing risk and offers us an opportunity to learn how to manage safely while riding. I thought it would be a good idea to point out one of his posts titled "Why am I Here?" This thoughtful piece provides riders and commuters with something that makes you think about where you are on the road and how the decisions made set you up for success or disaster. It is definitely worth reading and thinking about. If I have learned one thing from Dan over the past year it's that the longer I ride the more I realize I don't know. His writing makes it easy to put my pride aside and make myself a better rider.

The wind is blowing hard now and my dog is antsy for a walk. The GTS is going to have to chill in the garage a bit longer today. The extended weather forecast is calling for similar weather for the next five days so I am going to have to be patient...

New Ride Home

The roads are the same but the ride is different. My wife Kim says the asphalt carpet been rolled out for me. Someone at work asked why I'm smiling. I think it’s the new Vespa GTS250ie in the garage.

After signing my name to the pink slip at Kissell Motorsports I was entitled to sound the brass gong to signify another scooter about to take to the road.


Cody Kissell handed me a sturdy mallet and I applied a firm strike to produce an unexpected GONG that resonated through the entire building. My friend Paul Ruby who made this picture said it sounded like something from a Hollywood movie. A nice touch to signify a new adventure despite shining the grin of a five-year-old on Christmas morning.

Kissell’s has known for a couple days that I would be picking up the scooter so everything was ready to go.


Sparkling clean, everything as it should be, full tank of petrol, and Service Manager Casey Flynn giving me a quick overview of the scooter before I rode off. I can't say enough good things about the Kissell Motorsports dealership!

Completing this transaction during my lunch break meant not having much time to try out the GTS but I did take a quick spin out of town to get a feel for the throttle, brakes and handling characteristics. It only takes a moment to sense the difference between the LX150 and the GTS. Astride the GTS you’re aware of the increase in mass and size that makes the scooter feel more “present” on the road. I’m sure I’ll have more to say about this in coming weeks. The most obvious difference is at the throttle. The response and power are immediate and I found myself at 60 MPH in the time the LX150 would be at 35 MPH. The speed is deceptive and I understand now why people get speeding tickets with these Vespas.

Photographically I think the GTS will have some presence. I haven’t found the sweet spot angles yet but it is a handsome machine.


It looks just as good in the rural landscape as the smaller scooter did. Work beckoned so I had to wait until the end of the day for anymore riding. I didn’t bring my heavy mittens either so the 32° F air bit into my fingers until they were painfully numb.

The temperature gauge on the GTS showed 29° F when I mounted up for the ride home. It rose two degrees when I got out of the shade and into what remained of the sunlit day. Don’t ask me why but what I really wanted to test on the way home was the handling characteristics of the scooter on gravel. Short review: Pretty good. Definitely more stable that the LX150. Maybe the bigger tires or extra weight.

Arrived home as the sun was setting and I looked at the GTS in the driveway before putting it in the garage.


To the casual observer it looks the same as the LX150. It’s a fine machine and I am looking forward to riding again. The weather looks promising for the weekend with temperatures rising into the 30’s even though my morning departure will find things at 15. I can handle that. Worst case is I’ll have to stop at more eating establishments to keep my hands warm.

Imaginary Rides

Walking through the fog on a mountain road this morning with my dog I realized my daydreaming was about riding and not wrenching on a scooter. I've been trying to convince myself that I'll find fun or satisfaction on the floor of the garage surrounded by Craftsman tools.

Whatever happens now lies ahead and around a bend. I don't know how I am going to get there or where it takes me but somehow a scooter is involved. I've had many kind offers of support and of engines but nothing has felt right. I extend my thanks to all of you who have posted or contacted me. I've eliminated all of the repair or engine replacement options and now have my brain wrestling with how I will come to be on the road again.


Imaginary rides visit often during quiet moments. Perhaps a strategy will present itself that will put some sort of scooter in the garage that runs. The mental momentum is building, the spirit is willing and the flesh is too. The wheels are turning---something is coming!

Riding Withdrawal

For many riders this is the season of non-riding. Temperatures drop, road surfaces lose friction, and bike and scooter gas tanks brim with Stabil or are drained to desert conditions. Others have suggested what I try and tell myself---it's pretty normal to not be riding now and once the weather warms then you'll be riding. This conversation is predicated on me getting my Vespa in running condition again and that it is probably going to take weeks and months rather than hours and days.

The unseasonably warm weather doesn't help. Driving my truck to work for the past couple weeks through perfect riding weather did not go unnoticed. And I define perfect riding weather as anything above 20° F and the roads are dry. It hasn't dropped below that temperature yet and we've have snow on the road for a few hours on one day. So the winter has been continual riding weather. And I sit in the cab of a Ford Ranger listening to the Beach Boys thinking about riding.

I haven't despaired over the loss and the search for options and engines is not without a great deal of interest and excitement. Sort of like a scavenger hunt and I am amazed at how many people have come forward to help in the search. I really appreciate it and am reminded of how many things in life I have to be grateful for. Amidst this gratitude flickers a flame that seeks nothing other than to be on the road, moving through the landscape, riding on a scooter. Desire seeps into night dreams and day dreams, doodles in meetings run through cost figures and ride routes. This must be the onset of riding withdrawal for a year round rider.

The reality of driving a cage has already assaulted my fiscal sensibility. A parking permit adds $36 a month not counting parking fees at garages and meters. I've taken for granted all the free parking for motorcycles and my $24 per year parking permit. And my insurance will rise now that I am a cage commuter. The rudest and largest insult occurred at the fuel pump when I pumped $39 into a gas tank not even empty. And now it is almost empty. I didn't put that much fuel into the Vespa in a long, long time. Insult and withdrawal.

A course of action regarding the Vespa has not been determined. I have four options that appear on scraps of paper and in my head. Even while I write this I am thinking of them. I have many other things I can do beside ride the scooter, but the enjoyment and fuel for living well I get from riding is unique and I feel its loss. I don't know how those of you who have parked your rides for many winters do it. It's time now for me to climb down out of the pity throne and take the dog of my dreams for a head clearing walk!

Non-Riding Adventure

These could be things like getting thrown in jail for speeding or having your scooter or bike stolen I guess. Or having a dead scooter that is entirely the result of your actions. I raise my hand and accept responsibility for what has become "Dead Scooter in the Sticks". So I apologize to all of you who visit here looking for writing about riding through the sticks or seeing pictures of the Vespa in whatever landscape I happen to be in. Believe me - I miss it too.

I received the diagnosis from Casey at Kisselmotorsports yesterday concerning the starting problem I had. It appears I was barking up the wrong tree and what's worse I caused the problem. When I replaced the drive belt I misaligned a washer when I reassembled the variator assembly and that allowed for enough play on the drive shaft to have the driven half pulley wobble itself and the splines on the drive shaft in oblivion. You can see how the center is smooth instead of being splined. And the evident grinding as it worked its way off the shaft and into the transmission cover. Don't ask me how I didn't hear this happening.


The adventure continues as I consider my non-riding adventure options:

1. Have the crankshaft replaced along with the other pieces and gaskets necessary. This is a complicated job and will run $1200 -$1500. That's around half the value of the scooter. Think about the value of your car and spending half of that to repair it. Sounds like a total loss with no insurance.

2. Abandon repair, part out the scooter on eBay or other places and hope I have enough money to buy another scooter.

3. See if I can make a trade-in deal with the Vespa dealer since their cost to repair the scooter will be considerably less than what they would charge me perhaps I can recover some value towards a new machine.

4. Find and install a "new" engine from a scooter that has been in some collision or other unfortunate mishap.

Right now I am pursuing option 4. Time and patience will reveal the feasibility of this course.

Again, sorry you can't be reading about a fine ride through the winter landscape. It was snowing last night and I would have loved to ride through the snowflakes. The current situation is another adventure though. It's the sort of thing that I used to rail against. Today I am better able to see it as just something that happens. No amount of railing will change it so I'll move on to the next thing I can do.

I still have ideas for things to post. I have a riding video in production from last summer that I never finished. Stay tuned.

MBI Awards Nominations Open

The 2007 Motorcycle Bloggers International Awards nominations are now open to the public for the first time this year. You'll have a chance to vote in 17 categories ranging from Ugliest New in 2006 Motorcycle to Best Motorcycle Blog. Take a few minutes to visit their site! Nominations are going on right now. If you register to vote an email will be sent to you when the time comes to vote.

To see the award categories and other information click HERE.

Vespa Sleeping with Ducati

Ly LX150 is spending the night with a Ducati GT1000. I hope they're careful. The unlikely pairing came about after I delivered my non-starting scooter to Kissell Motorsports for diagnosis of the problem and a repair estimate. Over the past week I've heard or read a range of horror stories of dealer and repair woes so I thought I would give everyone a chance to follow the unfolding of this particular repair story. I'll start by saying I've always been pleased with the service and support given by Kissell's and don't expect this experience to be different. If I have any apprehension it's with the cost of the repair.

Paul Ruby and I transported the scooter in his truck to Kissell's brand new facility. I spoke with Casey, their service manager, and asked that they determine what the starting problem is and call me with a repair estimate. I turned the red and blue key over with the suggestion "don't lose the red key". He smiled and agreed. The Vespa was brought around back to their service facility - WOW! What a nice place. Brand new, bright light, white walls, new Snap-On tool chests and machinery, wooden butcher block-topped work benches all working together to create the proper stage for shiny new Ducatis and Triumphs to keep my scooter company. This place reminded me of a NASCAR garage I visited. Professional.


Their new showroom is full of things to covet. A special section for Ducati's that just gleam and sparkle. A long line of Triumphs and a bunch of Vespas. Kawasaki cruisers and sport bikes. To make the experience complete they have an espresso machine. Once can only assume that they'll have tea for the British bike buyers and chocolate milk for the kids buying Ninjas.

I didn't ask when the call would come with the repair estimate. I guess I like surprises. With the Vespa gone maybe I'll organize the garage, put tools away and try and make the place look more like Kissell's place. I'll wait out the lack of riding as productively as I can. I'm pretty relaxed about it all.

With all the unseasonably warm weather we've been having here (almost 60 today) I've started wondering about the wisdom of having a second vehicle. Any suggestions or experience you have in this area and want to share I would appreciate it. Especially the argument you use to convince others of the merits of this sort of plan.

Mechanical Lessons

No Riding!

The scooter has been in my garage since trucking it home last Friday evening. It will not start. I've worked hard to diagnose the problem and get it back on the road. And I've learned a few things--about the Vespa and myself.

I am not a mechanic nor particularly mechanically inclined. Turning wrenches doesn't bring joy or satisfaction, particularly in a cold, messy, poorly lit garage. Making the decision to try and fix the scooter grew out of a desire to not feel helpless or vulnerable should the Vespa die on a trip. Like it did--last Friday.

I have the Piaggio Shop Manual for the LX150 and a Haynes manual too. The Modern Vespa forum is a great source of information and assistance, as well as my friend Paul. I assumed that the worse case would be to haul the broken scooter to our local Vespa dealer for repair.

My first lesson began at Modern Vespa. Searching posts on non-starting scooters eventually led me to post a request for help. Their Technical Moderator Gary, a motorcycle enthusiast and career engineer from New Jersey, took on the role of master with me the student. Troubleshooting a problem is not rote operation. At least not for me. Gary patiently instructed me on how the various components work together and generally demystified the mechanics of each step of diagnosis. His instruction allowed me to remain mostly free of fear, frustration and cursing. And witness the miracle of a functioning vacuum fuel tap and the free flow of petrol (thank you Mr. Charpentier) from the fuel line as I humbly sucked on the associated vacuum line.

My lessons were many but here are a few of the mechanical processes I now can engage:

1. Test functioning of vacuum fuel tap
2. Remove and install sparkplug
3. Test to verify functioning of starter relay
4. Test for spark
5. Test cylinder compression
6. Remove carburetor, remove fuel bowl and verify free flow of fuel through primary and main jets
7. Test high voltage coil
8. Test for spark while plug is in cylinder and firing under compression using an induction timing light
9. Assessment of battery voltage and grounding

Gary was extremely patient, available and able to provide expert information and instruction. I don't expect to any time soon be doing the Darth Vadar thing indicating I was once the student but now the master. Maybe in another life. Thank you Gary!

I worked on the scooter a little at a time over five evenings. Some other things I've learned is Kim is not turned on by a man wearing the engine, oil and petrol fragrance. And she is actively opposed to starting ether wafting through the house. Paul also helped me with moral support and to manufacture a crude scooter compression gauge from one designed for those big sparkplug holes of an automobile. Thanks Paul!

Riding experience has reached into the garage. The patience learned on the road was accessible during these mechanical lessons. I was able to pay attention and as thoughtfully as my skills would allow work on the scooter. And when things didn't go right or the thing still wouldn't start I would just move on to the next test.

I would like to announce here "The scooter starts and it is back on the road!" Sadly that is not the case. I have exhausted all things I can test and everything is pointing to a faulty CDI box. This is the electronic box that control ignition. Can't be tested, just needs swapped out and hope that solves the problem. I'm comfortable that I've exhausted all the things I can do and will haul the scooter to the dealer for this expensive bit of work. Bad luck on my part that none of the more common failures were in play.

Should you attempt this work on a scooter or motorcycle? Depends on you, depends on the scooter or bike. The Vespa is quite simple, doesn't require a lot of expensive tools, and information is readily available. The key is yourself. Do you want to do this? For me it was a good experience and I will turn the wrench again. I definitely feel I could fix a lot more things in the field now than I did last Friday. So for now I am on a holiday from riding in the sticks.

A Deer and Riding Story

Morning Fall

Since my Vespa is still in my garage as I narrow down the potential problems I wanted to share this video with you. The landscape reminds me a a forested area near here that I ride through and has many deer. While I slow to almost a crawl I have seen groups of riders fly through the area seemingly indifferent to any danger the deer pose. This film is a reminder for the need to make good decisions while riding.

The film, Morning Fall, was written and directed by Edward McGinty and submitted to the Moving Pictures Short Film Contest.

Karma and a Riding Misadventure

Maybe I watched too many episodes of My Name is Earl. I figured if I did something nice for someone Karma would take care of me and that winning lottery ticket would blow up against my riding boot. Sitting on the back of my friend Paul's truck at the end of the day 60 miles from home I was rethinking the Earl model.

I have been on vacation during the holidays but until yesterday didn't really take a long ride and with the weather warming into the 40's I figured now was the time, especially since I just did all the maintenance on the scooter. I departed around 9AM under cloudy skies and a 28° F temperature. The grass and cars were covered in frost but the road was dry. I bundled up in my riding gear and was off. I had my Mamiya 7 camera along to shoot some black and white landscape pictures --- the official start of a new project. The plan was to explore some really open spaces along Nittany and Sinking valleys. The sun was trying to push through the cloud cover creating a glow in the sky and on the frost covered fields.



While shooting this picture a gentleman from a nearby home trotted over to ask about the Vespa and share that he had an ET4. What better omen for a great ride than running into a fellow Vespa owner! We talked for a few minutes and then I was off towards the more remote sections of the valley.


The light continued to glow and warm. Stopping to take pictures, pulling off my mittens and exposing them to the cold air was taking it's toll on hand warmth though and it wasn't long before I would preheat them on the headlight before pulling the mittens back on. There were a lot of neat little spots along the way including this old garage covered in signs and license plates.


I have passed it many times and always wanted to stop to make a picture. And these silos seemed to jump out at me when I went by requiring another stop for the big camera and a quick snapshot with the digital camera too.


I had decided to ride into Tyrone for lunch when a tractor-trailer driver flagged me down. He had a paper in his hand so I figured he was more interested in directions than in the Vespa. Two Vespa encounters in one day were too much to expect. The driver and his 14000 pounds of seed were lost and worse the place he was trying to find was about as hidden away as possible around here. I lent him my cell phone so he could get directions and as I watched his look become more puzzled and frustrated I asked for the phone. After a few minutes I determined exactly where the delivery point was and that this guy from Indiana would never find it. What else could I do but volunteer to lead him there. It was only about 10 miles in the opposite direction that I was now headed but heck I am always up for a change in plans. So he jumps into the cab and I get on the scooter and hit the starter button and it just whirrs. "Dead battery" flashes in my head. I get off and hit the kick-starter (yes, the Vespa LX150 still has a kickstart) a few times and the engine starts and off we go.

It was a nice ride especially with an eighteen-wheel escort behind me that didn't want to run me down. Once we hit the dirt roads though I was kind and he had a hard time keeping up. I had to stop a few times to make sure he was still there. We arrive at the agricultural enterprise and they are glad I led the truck there. It occurred to me then that they would have come and got him if I hadn't volunteered to lead him. Turned out that I was glad I did because I found some roads and places that were fine riding and offered lots of photo possibilities for my new project. The farmers have put up their snow fences but we haven't had any snow yet. They do make for nice pictures.

Lunch was out of the question now until I got to Altoona that lay over the far ridge and 12 miles to the left.


I was smart enough at this point to not shut the engine off when I was taking pictures. I figured I would check things out when I got to Altoona. The really smart rider would have ridden home to troubleshoot in his or her own garage. An hour later I pull into my in-laws driveway and go inside for a fantastic meatball sandwich.

The fun begins now as I try and get the Vespa running for the trip home. I had it in my head that the starter would not engage because the battery was low. Swapped the battery from my father-in-law's ET4 and the same thing. And my battery started his scooter fine. At this point I ask to use the computer and post on the Modern Vespa site for help and receive immediate help from the Technical Moderator Gary that I should run down the ground to make sure it is solid. He helped me troubleshoot but as the afternoon waned I figured it was time to truck the scooter home. I called my friend Paul who graciously offered to drive his truck 60 miles to get the scooter and me. Here you can see Paul on the left with my father-in-law Bob.


They both did a lot to try and get the Vespa running. We loaded up and headed for gas and a bite to eat, the least I could do.

It was dark when we left and suddenly we have no headlights on the truck. I'm beginning to wonder now what I'm being punished for. Karma is not with me. It wasn't until we got home that Kim put things in perspective for me. It was a great ride, I did a good deed, I met another Vespa rider, I had the opportunity to be with family, a good friend showed his friendship, I was home safe, and perhaps there was a reason for not riding home. Kim pointed out what I couldn't see because I was focused on what I wanted---the scooter to start---and wasn't seeing the bigger picture. This wasn't a misadventure but another adventure. It's all in the way you look at things.

The scooter is in the garage and the heater is running. Another adventure awaits.