While the Vespa GTS 250ie and I may look at home off the pavement at least one of us is not. This post is more a commentary on my riding skill than any inherent capacity or deficiency of the scooter. And it’s probably fair to say that the word Vespa is not often uttered in the company of words like Husqvarna, Dakar, KTM, Baja, and others synonymous with off-road racing and riding. A lot of things working against us.
Devils Elbow Road winds down from the Appalachian Plateau, a narrow, loosely packed gravel road with lots of washboard areas on the steeper sections. The Vespa feels like one or both of the tires could slip out at any moment as I proceed along the smoother sections at 25 MPH. I have to fight the urge to put my feet out as outriggers like I do in the snow. I keep telling myself to keep my head up and throttle even. The wheels still feel as if they are sliding around.
While trying not to picture the paint after a drop I throttle back to 20 MPH, which turns out to be a comfortable speed for me. I try hard to remember what my old Kawasaki dirt bike felt like on similar roads but my memory isn’t that sharp.
I tempt fate by throttling up for short periods or stop suddenly to gauge the traction the tires have in the gravel. None of this affords any additional riding confidence. I’m running the stock Sava tires and 3000 miles has squared the back one off making it a candidate for replacement. A more aggressive tread might help but I wonder how much of this riding I would actually be doing and why 20 MPH isn’t just fine. Then I picture a 40 mile stretch of this sort of gravel.
The Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry is big on crushed limestone road surfaces. Sometimes they feel unstable when I walk on them so I guess I should be happy with the progress the Vespa and I are making. At one point the road is just packed clay and dirt and I am able to easily move at 40 MPH making me wonder how well a KLR would perform on the loose and at times deep gravel. (Gary, this is your cue.)
The jury is still out on the Vespa’s off-road capability. I can say it’s not and off-road racer in it’s stock setup and judging by it’s performance on the washboard surfaces I would not want to challenge the suspension on anything rough at speeds beyond a crawl. But I was able to travel and get where I was going. At a leisurely pace it will go all day. Perhaps with a bit more practice the Vespa (or me) will become a reasonable traveler off the pavement.
Steve, the KLR does just fine on slippery gravel, as long as the right tires are mounted, and the rider knows what he is doing.
The Savas on the GTS would probably have performed a bit better, and given more confidence, if you had reduced the air pressure in them somewhat.
I know you carry a tire plug kit, but that has CO2 cartridges for inflation, right? If you are going to do a lot of this kind of riding, you might want to consider a bicycle pump as well.
You should consider the Kenda K761s for replacements, and I’m not just saying that because they sponsor me. They really do work well on all surfaces.
I’m not going to do a lot of dirt roads on my Vespa. I’ve got Frogwing for that, and I need some practice.
I’ve just turned 2,300 miles on Rose, and her rear Sava is already looking rather tired (pun intended). Time to see what Kenda has to offer in the sport tire range…
Ride well,
=gc=
i didn’t really get the GT do go off road, but i like to hear the further adventures of literally “Scooter in the Sticks” 🙂
Gary: I have looked at the Kendas and they look pretty agressive and are available in the sizes I need.
Since most of my riding is still on the pavement I was wondering how loud they are? I always ride with earplugs so it probably won’t matter. And are they good on wet surfaces too?
codyandmichelle: Riding off the pavement has taken a toll on the finish a bit where the gravel and dirt chew away at the paint underneath. I was looking the other day and I see it is time for some sandpaper, primer and paint.
Steve,
I just wanted to drop you a line to let you know that I love your blog. I visit everyday and use your pictures for my desktop wallpaper. I would love to live where you do and have all those beautiful places to ride.
I just got a Lance Interceptor 150cc (see http://www.lancepowersports.com/150cc-lance-interceptor-150-moped-scooter-p-446.html?osCsid=37d800eb13779c66e9e1d4b7f8c73652). It’s a nice economical scooter made in China I got off the web at http://www.scootersfactory.com. It’s a starter scooter for me. I was looking for a way to beat the gas pricing and I always wanted to have one when I was a kid, but never got one. I am reliving my childhood dream at 32 LOL. I plan to get a Vespa next summer.
Keep up the great blog as it is very informative and inspiring.
-Matt
Hi Steve, really enjoy your blog and great pictures. You and Gary helped make up my mind to trade my big bike in for a new red Vespa 250 now two weeks old today. I’m very pleased indeed with this wee bike fitted with high screen and my old top box. Coming from a small place (Eastlothian Scotland) it amazies me the miles you guys do when you go for a run, but I love your writing and pictures. All the best, Bill F.
I took my wife on a dirt road with the Reflex on her first big ride. There was a 4 mile stretch and she took it in stride and didn’t fall or panic. I was proud of her. So, even for a novice it can be done.
I’m getting less interested in trying that stuff on the LX anymore. Maybe if I had something bigger it would be a more pleasurable experience but lately its been a bit of a pucker to ride some of those roads around here.
Harv
matt: At some point I am going to pick out some of the images I shoot and make a desktop background page and maybe some screensavers. Lots of people have asked for bigger versions than I post. Once more thing to do on my list!
Central Pennsylvania is a beautiful place. I keep telling myself that almost everywhere is if you really look but I haven’t ridden anywhere else so it’s just a theory. Where do you live?
bill f: East Lothian Scotland! What a beautiful place. I had to do a search in Google just to see some pictures. Your Red Vespa will take you anywhere in the UK. I would love to spend months riding around your part of the world.
And congratulations on the move up to a scooter! Keep us up to date on your adventures.
joe: It definitely can be done. Just a matter of patience on a scooter. I can’t wait until my wife starts to ride. I have visions of long, long, long trips….
Harv: The GTS is definitely easier on the gravel roads than the LX150. The extra mass and slightly larger wheels help. I used to run the LX 150 through alfalfa fields and corn rows though. It would go almost anywhere I asked of it.
Steve, have enjoyed reading your blog – this may not be the perfect place to ask this but close enough – what is your opinion on the GTS vs the LX150 – generally but also from this perspective: does the GTS take one away from the slow and easy style of riding that the LX150 would almost dictate? I don’t see taking the LX on an interstate – it forces you to go secondary roads while the temptation to jump on the slab with the GTS is always there. Is this something you have run into at all?
PaleoMarco: For trips on secondary roads where the traffic isn’t extremely heavy at speeds over 55 MPH I think either Vespa will function fine. As I have said in the past had I not damaged my LX150 doing maintenance I would not have switched to the GTS and would still be able to take all the trips I am taking now.
The big difference is in the range of things you can do with the GTS. This means higher speeds. As you wonder does this ability force one to go faster and take routes that you wouldn’t on the smaller scooter?
Depends on the individual. I like secondary roads and I like going slow. However, with the GTS I can jump on the interstate and go somewhere if I want and I have done that if I am in a hurry.
I try not to be in a hurry. Whether you can control the impulse to go fast is something you need to decide.
Mechanically they are both solid machines. Since I put more than average miles on the Vespa I think over the long haul the water-cooled 249cc engine will be a wise choice. That said I have heard of people with 50K miles on their ET4’s….
As an all around small scooter the GTS for me is perfect. Summer, winter, gravel road, interstate highway…. It will do it all.
where’s devil’s elbow rd?