Not really saving up but something that just sort of percolated to the surface. That “interesting” scooter image on the brochure sort of triggered it all. Look forward to your more expanded comments….

hrw115, (Hannah)

Riding a scooter can be dangerous but so can riding a bike, car or truck. The experience riding is different than driving. You really must pay attention to everyone and manage your actions to account for so many possibilities. For instance, anyone waiting to turn or pull into a lane in front of me I have to always assume they might. I slow or postion the scooter in a way to give me options to stop or swerve. I ride as if I am invisible.

I watch the rear view mirrors carefully and find that many times I will not turn left if I have to stop in traffic but instead turn right and come around with a traffic light. I am not a car and I do not ride as if I am one. Just like I have to dress in a way appropriate to riding I must handle the scooter in a way appropriate to the road.

I don’t feel unsafe and I think the risk is reasonable and manageable.

Get one. They are loads of fun and a cool way to get around.

Bryan,

Thanks for the kind words and the mention in your blog. Your “2strokebuzz” site is really great!

Gary,

I wonder if there is some hidden commonality between couches and scooters…..

steve

One of the things that has always scared me a bit about vespas or motorcycles is their lack of protection. While I think that people on vespas, etc. can be very good drivers, I can’t think of how many times I have been a passenger in a car when the car to the rear of me has hit our bumper because the driver was coasting or reaching for their cellphone on the floor, etc. Generally being a j*ck*ss driver. I’m not sure I understand how vespa riders feel safe in heavy traffic situations. People drive like nutcases around here.

I find it incredible that it resonated with hardcore riders like Irondad and me, as well as hrw115, owner of what I assume to be a particularly fine couch…?

That’s amazing!

My encounters with the Scooterati have shown me a mirror of how I was, waaay back in my early Harley Davidson days. And now your post brings the whole plot up-to-date.

Bravo!

Ride well,
=gc=

Right-on. nice post.

While I myself do not have a motorcycle, vespa, or anything that requires a key to turn on actually – I do invest quite a bit of myself into other things that I like – furniture for example.

I am an owner. The Gustav Stickley settle in our living room, prairie style, quarter sawn oak, onondaga finish, and authentic Silver Studios ‘berry pattern’ fabric is a monument of my good taste. It is art for my ass. I adore the hard geometric lines of its back the way you adore the soft curvature of the vespa. And yet, at the same time – I am also the ‘rider’ as you have described it. I have bought this couch because it fundamentally agrees with those things that I value in life. I believe that I can hold on to this couch until I die – I won’t have to replace it. It is something that I want to use and enjoy. I do not worry about every time the cat pukes on it, or how many scratches it has in its surface. It will always continue to function as a couch so long as it doesn’t recieve any undoable damage, the house burns down, etc.

I think that you yourself are both the owner and the rider at the same time – despite your analysis. You look upon your vespa almost with the classic “effects of the male gaze”. It is something you watch after, contemplate, and adore. It allows you to own it. And yet, it doesn’t matter how many times you wreck – or how many times you wash it, the aging of the machine is just a part of the journey of you being the rider. For whatever reason – I think it is still a means to an end for you. It keeps you in motion.

There’s more I want to say about your post but the best compliment I can give is that I want to go think this over a while. Awesome post. Bravo, my friend.