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.

Motorcycle Maintenance: To Zen or Not Zen

New drive belt, roller weights, spark plug.

After planning this work at 7500 miles I finally forced myself to do it at 8200. A friend commented that I did this for fun right? Fun? I can't remember the last time I had fun with a wrench in my hand but I bet it was in the 1960's. The only other reason would be to save money. It certainly saves on out-of-pocket expenses but once I factor in the time it takes any savings seems dubious. I'm not good but I am slow.

So why maintain the Vespa myself?

I've asked this question more than once lying on the cold concrete floor of our unheated garage trying to position my bifocals so I could see or each time I didn't have the right tool or part. Why do this work when it would be easy to schedule our local Vespa technicians?

I had to revisit Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig to find a more eloquent way to express the reasons I've engaged maintenance of the scooter. Chapter 2 is a great chapter wrestling with the idea of doing your own work. Pirsig writes:

"Here is the machine, isolated in time and in space from everything else in the universe. It has no relationship to you, you have no relationship to it..."

Pirsig rejects this notion and outlines the contemporary relationship most have towards their vehicles. A motorcycle or scooter is personal in a way a car can't be. Perhaps it is the inherent risk in riding, the physical exposure or vulnerability or the heightened awareness of the world that makes the machine more connected to me. I entrust my life to my scooter in a real sense and having a basic understanding of the basic mechanical functioning and maintenance seems a reasonable step to ensure a successful relationship. For me, I believe performing routine checks and maintenance of the Vespa keeps me honest, it keeps me paying attention, and it keeps me safe. And it makes riding richer. It makes sense to me in my head. Time will tell if it works in practice.

I'm no mechanic either but I don't want to feel helpless on the road should something happen. And I want to be able to repair failures myself on long trips that otherwise would spell the end of an adventure. Tires, drivebelt, ignition, cables, brakes, things that wear out or break. With the right parts and cooperation of a service station I could keep the Vespa on the road. The mechanical adventure. Not for everyone but I merely suggest you consider it. When I started this work I figured the worse that could happen is I would have to haul a half torn apart Vespa to the dealer to save me. A lesson in humility.

I'd like to say I enjoy this work but right now it is a challenge. Many years of greasy work under rusty old cars that I could not afford to have professionally repaired has soured my sense of mechanical adventure. But I won't let this stand in the way. The Vespa is a simple machine and almost any repair is within my ability with a bit of support or research. I purchased the Haynes manual for my Vespa and I also downloaded the Piaggio service manual and parts manual and had them printed and bound at Kinkos complete with waterproof covers that I can clean after using them.

The Modern Vespa forum is an extremely helpful place. More than once I've gotten stuck somewhere in the process, posted my question, waited ten minutes, got the answer, and went on my way. It's like having a mechanic on call! Check out this POST on changing roller weights. Towards the end you can see my frustrated self appear begging for help. And you can download all the service manuals HERE. I can't say enough about everyone who is part of that forum. Gary, the Technical Moderator (aka addicted), not only has extensive experience but he also provides therapy for the fearful as he lately did with me! It's worth joining if only to make it easier to follow the posting or do research on your Vespa or Piaggio dreams.

I did take the scooter out for a short test run and all is well. Stopped by this big willow tree to make a picture.


Now it's time to test the Vespa some more!

Merry Christmas!

Some part of me expects to find the landscape covered in snow on December 24rd. It's hard to listen to Dean Martin on the radio singing "Let it Snow" or Johnny Mathis doing "Sleigh Ride" when it was 50 degrees and sunny yesterday. I didn't grow up on "Christmas in Dixie". The little kid in me wakes up and won't go to sleep during the holidays. I rent all the classics at the video store. My daughter and her boyfriend invited me to go with them to see "A Christmas Story" on the big screen at a new theater in town. It's still a thrill to bring home and trim a Christmas tree. Family and friends will gather this evening to spend time together in the best spirit of the holiday. It's from this place I want to extend my best wishes to all of you for a Merry Christmas!

Over the past year I've watched the number of visitors to Scooter in the Sticks grow and I am grateful for the network of riders who share their experience where and on their own sites. It's been a positive experience, a gift from all of you who read and post here. Thank you!

It's Christmas Eve and the Vespa is sitting quietly in the garage after carrying me yesterday on last minute errands before Santa arrives. Other than a brisk wind the riding conditions were perfect. I stopped along the Linden Hall road to make a photograph of the rural area I enjoy riding through.


Again, I wish all of you the best for you and your families.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Spirit vs. Riding Safety

Two days until Christmas. Everywhere I see bright faces and smiles, people shopping, families with children looking at decorations. Consumed by the magic of the season. Maybe the commercial part but I’m sure there are some more spiritual experiences too. Either way people are rushing, working, laughing, planning, buying, wrapping, talking, singing, and driving. Yes driving. After riding into town today I have to believe the heightened Christmas spirit and driving don’t mix too well with riding safety. Or maybe I am merely experiencing what is normal everyday life for those of you in more urban settings.

I left the house around 9AM this morning. The temperature was about 40° F and it was raining. Not hard but enough to keep the roads wet, generate a small bit of fog and mist to paint the world from a grey template. A fine day for a ride and an excellent chance to test the waterproof characteristics of the rain cover for the MotoFIZZ bag I now have on the rear rack. Riding down the road from my house I see a car coming down a side street to my left that ends at a stop sign. I have the right-of-way, I see the driver looking at me but the car is not slowing down. I ease off the throttle and cover the brakes as he rolls through the stop sign at 15 MPH and onto the road in front of me. I follow him down to the traffic light where he pulls up behind a truck waiting to turn left. I glide by him on the right and make a right turn onto the highway going towards town. I see in my rear view mirrors that the car turns right instead of left. I’m riding on a four-lane road with many connecting roads, lanes, and driveways and I always pay careful attention to everything on this stretch. Two miles down the road the car catches up to me as traffic slows for a series of lights. He is in the left lane and I in the right. Another half mile up the road he decides he wants to be in the right lane so he can make a right turn. I am presented with my first spiritual decision of the day. I can continue on the course I am on and effectively block his attempt to turn right. None of the cars are inclined to let him in. Or I can slow almost to a stop to let him in. I can tell you that in the past, in the pre-scooter days, I would not have let him in. Especially after the stunt he pulled earlier. I slow and let him in, he turns right and I follow him along up the hill. We continue on for about two more miles until he signals that he is going to make a right turn into an office complex. I have to go to the same place. I’m thinking he is worried now that some big mean scooter rider is going to pummel him in the parking lot. I smile to myself and go about my business without any further interaction or notice of the offending car.


Later as I am riding in town I feel as if I am dodging people and vehicles constantly. Everyone is talking and laughing and not paying a whole lot of attention to the road. I see a young driver in a white Ford Explorer chattering away on a cell phone as they pull across my path from an alley. They really looked happy, eyes all aglow, full of the Christmas spirit. Near disaster later as I am leaving town and a Jeep Grand Cherokee runs a stop sign at 35 MPH on a really busy street and me only 20 yards from the intersection. It was a surprise seeing that Jeep rush past in front of me, driver’s left hand holding the phone to their ear talking I’m sure about whether to buy the heating pad for Uncle Owen or just get him a pound of fudge. I’d take the fudge.

The real news here is not that drivers, pedestrians, and dare I suggest riders don’t always pay attention to the road. The more important news is that I don’t get angry anymore about these things. And not so long ago I could really generate some grudge and rage fuel from these sorts of things. While riding I have become more accepting of the inconsistencies on the road, and that generally it’s not personal. I have some expectations of drivers and riders but if they aren’t met, well, that’s OK. And I accept what those shortcomings could mean to my own wellbeing. I don’t really know if all those people are full of the Christmas spirit or not. But I know that I’m feeling it and it makes it pretty easy to be generous on the road.

The waterproof rain cover kept everything dry. I had a bit of difficulty at first figuring out the best way to cinch it over the pack. I left it sloppy in the back but by the end of the day I figured out how to have it nice and snug. I did worry a bit about leaving the scooter parked in the parking garage wondering if some enterprising thief would grab it for a present for some rider thief. After a few moment of consideration I decided that it’s only a bag and if it is going to be useful I will have to leave it on the scooter. When I returned it was still there. It was a good day.

Pre-Christmas Wandering

I've taken a few vacation days this year to have some time before Christmas to indulge in all the holiday business in a slower and more manageable manner. With the tree behind me and all the lights up on the house I've been focusing on last minute gifts. I don't want to share too much about that in case Kim should read this before the magic morning.

Yesterday morning it was sunny and 27° F, perfect weather to take the scooter out for a few errands. I really did have good intentions to take care of some business but the road has a way of drawing out the wanderlust in me and I had to take a few detours. I sort of rationalized that I might find an antique store in one of the rural communities I could ride through but when I turned off the paved road to follow a dirt road up on to the mountain I knew I was just having fun. The bright sun, cold clear air and the fragrance of conifers made the slow ride up the mountain a dream.

I should add here that this was also the first test of Kim's Christmas present to me --- a MotoFizz seat bag just recently arrived from AeroStich.


I opted for the folding rear rack on the Vespa rather than the hard topcase. But there are times when I want to have a little extra protected storage space and after a long search decided on this one. And Kim checked the naughty and nice list twice and determined I should have it. I first saw these bags on the Adventure Rider site and it seems perfect. This is the small version and has plenty of space for camera, windbreaker, gloves, thermos, and other odds and ends. Tiny compared to some of the saddlebags and hard cases I see on motorcycles but for the simple minded (that doesn't sound right) it is perfect. There is a good review of the bags by Bob Stokard of City Bike --- READ THE REVIEW OF MOTOFIZZ BAGS

Riding over the mountain and back down the other side I decided to take a route I had never visited on the scooter. I remembered this part of the valley as isolated and a place where failed farms had been absorbed back into meadows and woods. As I rode along it didn't take long to see a different transition in progress --- meadows and woods turning into homes, small estates and gentleman farms. One in particular had hundreds of acres of empty pasture fenced with 12-foot high fences. Seems this particular place had elk.


I only saw three in the whole place but the land did run over a ridge so there could have been hundreds somewhere I suppose.

This trend remained the rest of the ride. The sprawl of development just keeps growing and growing. As the roads get wider, smoother and straighter the easy of commuting makes homebuilding in more distance places palatable I suppose. There is still a lot of rural space around though and it makes scooting in the sticks a lot of fun!

Hauling a Christmas Tree by Vespa

I had been thinking for the past few weeks that I would bring my tree home on the Vespa this year from the local Christmas tree farm where we always get our tree. Or almost always. One year Kim and I decided we wanted to populate our yard with many Christmas trees. We didn't want to spend the money on balled and bagged live trees so we improvised. The students at our local University would be leaving for the holiday break and that departure would leave many beautiful Christmas trees on the ground next to dumpsters at the dorm complexes. A simple drive in the truck allowed a collection of about 10 trees. Some post holes dug around the yard and as if by magic a Christmas tree forest. But I digress.

Back to the wisdom of thinking I could transport a tree home on the Vespa. I rode out to the Tait Farm to choose this year's tree. When I pulled into the parking lot I was the only Vespa and my arrival triggered a friendly conversation about the wisdom of dragging a tree home on the scooter. I was not to be dissuaded. After all, I was only going to get a small five-foot Christmas tree. They sent me over to aisle 1A because this year I wanted a Fraser Fir. It didn't take long to find the perfect tree but it did take a bit longer to saw it down. The warm weather had the sap running and the handsaw kept binding in the wet wood. And aside on motorcycle riding clothes is in order. I have been riding for many months with the First Gear jacket and Tourmaster Overpants in all weathers and conditions but lying on the ground to saw down this tree made me dirtier than all those months of riding. I did the best I could to clean the mud off when I got home but I'm afraid the bright yellow of the jacket will show the battle scars of getting a Christmas tree. Again I digress.

The friendly folks at Tait Farm cleaned the tree up nicely on the tree shaker and then pulled it through something that compressed and wrapped the tree in twine. This was a first since in the past I just threw the tree into the back of the truck. The real fun started when it was time to leave. Everyone was laughing about me taking the tree home on the Vespa --- the good kind of laughing. I was asked if a picture could be taken for their Web site that I happily accommodated.


Now it was time to load the tree onto the scooter. In picking a tree I went with one I liked and it turned out to be seven and a half feet tall rather than five. No matter though, still not as wide as a Ford Excursion. The tree went on the rack easily and it took only two bungee cords to secure it in place and head home. I have to admit that it felt a little exciting, like I did when I was a kid and went with my parents to get a tree. More riding magic I guess.

Lots of smiles and waves as I rode out towards the highway. I had to make a choice here based on the tree. Turning left would be the most direct route home but would take me for a few miles in traffic wanting to go 60 MPH. Turning right would take me to a farm lane in a few hundred yards that would allow me to travel at a more reasonable tree transport speed. I chose right.

Out on the highway I did the few hundred yards at 50 MPH. Had I not seen the shadow of the tree on the road I would not have know it was back there at all. As soon as I turned onto the farm lane I regretted not taking the faster route.


The gravel road had been partially graded and had some really large loose gravel on it. The Vespa doesn't do well in that so I slowly rode along with the wheels floating in the gravel. Eventually the surface returned to its more normal packed gravel. When I got on the paved road home I easily managed 50 MPH and could have done so all day and the rush of air didn't seem to harm the tree needles. There was a lot of smiles and pointing from on coming traffic and I was glad I could spread some Christmas spirit.


A stop at the Pump Station Cafe for hot chocolate before going home was in order and gave me a few moments to reflect on what is sure to be a new Christmas tradition at our house. I'm hoping that next Christmas Kim and I will both be riding out to Tait Farm on our respective scooters!

Pulling into the driveway revealed the Vespa to be the growing workhorse in the family and by mileage along it is out in front of the car and truck. So, for any of you scooter or motorcycle riders who still need a tree and feel inclined to contribute to the Christmas spirit, grab a few bungee cords and head to your local Christmas tree enterprise and maybe you'll get to experience some of that magic reserved most of the time for kids!

Wrestling with Bumps in the Road

Some days something small can trigger an unexpected line of thinking

Life unveils bumps in the road and regardless of preparation it's hard to know how a person will react. The monster under the bed came become real. With riding it is the mishap on the road, the near miss, the crash, the untimely demise of a stranger focuses attention on the dark side of riding. Riders deal with these events in a variety of ways --- training, rationalization, denial or some combination that allows the ride to continue. Or not.

I know the risks in the same way a climber, scuba diver, or backpacker does. Careful preparation, assessment of skill and risk, and decisions made with my eyes open is what I try and do in riding and any other activity that moves me away from the relative safety of home. What I find curious is what happens after an unfortunate event, the kind that would have me asking, "Do I want to keep riding?" I believe I can manage the risk I assume to be safe while riding but I wonder how I would feel if something happened. I know more than a handful of people who have stopped riding after their first accident. I wonder if they suddenly became aware of new information or had they never really accepted the risk? Or was the prospect of riding again too frightening?

When I passed the half-century mark I began to wonder how many years I had left and what would I do if my health or well-being were threatened through accident or illness. I want to believe I would have no regrets and made my decisions with my eyes open. There remains a part of me though that wonders if I am kidding myself. I know we are all riding to the same place but it's easy to keep that destination hidden from view, from thought, from consideration.

The culture I see in magazines and television offer a bright, carefree and positive road for me to ride on if I want to pay the price. The sun always shines on that road and it's easy to believe only good things will happen. If I am honest about the risk I assume while riding I know that the sun doesn't always shine on the road. The possibility exists that I could pass under a gray cloud. There was a time that I would probably consider this subject morbid and not suited for polite conversation (or blogging). That thinking has given way to something different, an understanding that a ride down the road with my eyes open and mind fully aware of the good and bad is more human and alive than any yellow brick road I can conjure.

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE!
When I got up this morning I looked at the Midwest Scooter Enthusiast blog written by Roadbum. He has an excellent post that talks about learning to be still so you can pay attention to the world and your thoughts. I wrote about some of my thoughts while riding but Roadbum has really put his finger on something bigger. Take a few minutes to look at Sit Down and Shut Up.