Comments on: Keeping Up with the Big Machine https://scooterinthesticks.com/2007/08/keeping-up-with-big-machine/ Exploring life on a Vespa, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Honda Trail 125, and a Kawasaki W650 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 21:50:44 +0000 hourly 1 By: Demonio Pellegrino https://scooterinthesticks.com/2007/08/keeping-up-with-big-machine/#comment-1463 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 12:40:00 +0000 http://69.195.124.229/~scootet3/?p=569#comment-1463 Owning both a scooter and a “real” motorbike, I strongly believe that the sensations that you get from riding the two are largely similar, with a few exceptions.

If I had to choose, I would say that my preference would go for riding slowly on a motorbike. That’s when I get the most out of my rides. because while I enjoy, I also know that I have the power to overcome sudden obstacles, or go home to my loved one faster. That’s the only difference i can see.

]]> By: Steve Williams https://scooterinthesticks.com/2007/08/keeping-up-with-big-machine/#comment-1462 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 03:06:00 +0000 http://69.195.124.229/~scootet3/?p=569#comment-1462 eldercattus: I’ve helped a few turtles across the road including one sizable snapping turtle. Gave him a big branch to snap on and dragged him across.

I’ve seen people pick them up by their shell and tail but I value my body parts too much to slip up with a snapping turtle.

]]> By: Eldercattus https://scooterinthesticks.com/2007/08/keeping-up-with-big-machine/#comment-1461 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:32:00 +0000 http://69.195.124.229/~scootet3/?p=569#comment-1461 I’ve been known to stop my car or bike and pick up & carry a turtle over to the side of the road. That said, I remember when I tried that with a snapping turtle. It jumped straight up, spun around in mid-air, and bit 6″ off the end of my walking stick on the way down. Needless to say, he didn’t get my help across the road.

]]> By: Steve Williams https://scooterinthesticks.com/2007/08/keeping-up-with-big-machine/#comment-1460 Mon, 06 Aug 2007 23:45:00 +0000 http://69.195.124.229/~scootet3/?p=569#comment-1460 gary: Paul is a photographer himself and when I go with him on a photo trip in a car he drives slower than I ride. So he is endlessly patient with stopping for pictures.

phil: Thanks for the kind words and I am glad you find enjoyment with the pix!

kano: As I understand it the stray rocks are leftovers from the retreat of the last big glacier age. They really look out of place and make for cool pictures.

dru: The GTS can defintely keep up at legal speeds. The problem is that many people ride and drive far beyond that not considering any desire to see things.

I’m more and more comfortable riding my own ride.

ale: I’ll send you an email in regard to your request for an interview piece. You raise some interesting questions and it would be fun to try and answer them.

]]> By: Ale- https://scooterinthesticks.com/2007/08/keeping-up-with-big-machine/#comment-1459 Mon, 06 Aug 2007 22:08:00 +0000 http://69.195.124.229/~scootet3/?p=569#comment-1459 hi Steve,
sorry to be writing here but i can’t find any email address to write to…
I was wondering ’bout an interview. as I’m a Vespa rider, and a photographer (though hobbyist) like you, it would be fun to me to write sort of an interview/comparison between us and publish it on each weblog.
would you like to help me suggesting questions or anything else?
I thought about these ones:

What’s your name/nickname?
What kind of Vespa are you currently riding?
Why did you start bloggin’about it?
What do you use your Vespa for?
What about photography, then?
How do Vespa and Photography mix, so?
What photographic gear do you bring with you when you go out for a ride?
Did your Vespa change the way you perceive the landscape around you?
Do you have any suggestion for the Vespa riders and/or the photographers?

feel free to correct my awful english, and to suggest any other question. it would be nice to publish the results!

you’ll find my email browsing my profile or my personal weblog.

ciao

Alessandro

]]> By: dru_satori https://scooterinthesticks.com/2007/08/keeping-up-with-big-machine/#comment-1458 Mon, 06 Aug 2007 17:20:00 +0000 http://69.195.124.229/~scootet3/?p=569#comment-1458 Steve,

I love the pictures, always do. It’s interesting that so few seem to ride mixed rides. It’s really all I ride, because there are so few scooters out my way.

In my experience, the folks that think of a scooter as not being able to keep up are at fault, because on anything but a wide open highway, if you are pulling away from a scooter, you are taking too many risks. But there are always people willing to take big risks for marginal gains.

It’s much more fun to slow down and enjoy the scenery isn’t it?

As always, thanks for sharing!

]]> By: Kano https://scooterinthesticks.com/2007/08/keeping-up-with-big-machine/#comment-1456 Mon, 06 Aug 2007 05:29:00 +0000 http://69.195.124.229/~scootet3/?p=569#comment-1456 As always great pictures and post Steve! The pic with the big rock in it caught my eye. How did it get there? I have seen what is called Glacial Erratics. Rocks that had been carried by glaciers and left behind when they thawed. Is that what it is?

Anyway, my Brother In-Law used to own a Concours and I rode it several times. I never did get comfortable with it. It was just too darned fast for one, the riding position for another and it felt awkward to handle at low speeds, such as in parking lots. Other than that, for the Sport Touring types, the Councours is a very affordable bike to get used. It has been around a long time, so all the bugs had been worked out, so it is a very reliable machine. This year they came out with a much updated 2008 version.

]]> By: Phil https://scooterinthesticks.com/2007/08/keeping-up-with-big-machine/#comment-1455 Mon, 06 Aug 2007 04:13:00 +0000 http://69.195.124.229/~scootet3/?p=569#comment-1455 Your pictures are fantastic and very much appreciated..I use them on my laptop desktop screen. Your pictures reminds me how much I enjoy scootering and picturelog review.

]]> By: gary https://scooterinthesticks.com/2007/08/keeping-up-with-big-machine/#comment-1453 Sun, 05 Aug 2007 13:16:00 +0000 http://69.195.124.229/~scootet3/?p=569#comment-1453 Back during “The Baron in Winter” project, I did a mixed ride like this with my friend Mark Foster. He was on his Honda Trans-Alp, and of course, I was on the 150cc Baron SX.

It would seem like a mismatch, but the roads we were on, and the icy conditions, served as a great equalizer.

It’s great that Paul has the patience to put-up with your photo stops. Mark was the same way, though perhaps I didn’t impose quite so much… ;^)

Nice post, Steve.

Ride well,
=gc=

]]> By: Paul https://scooterinthesticks.com/2007/08/keeping-up-with-big-machine/#comment-1452 Sun, 05 Aug 2007 04:58:00 +0000 http://69.195.124.229/~scootet3/?p=569#comment-1452 Hi Steve. That was a long ride and you got a lot of worthy photos. I love the one of me kicking wood. I put that on my website. Thanks. That ride blew the cobwebs out of my head. As you noted riding your scooter can be therapeutic.
Conchscooter: “Slow ride”…the national anthem of State College. Actually any song by Foghat is the national anthem of State College…”I’m a full for the city”
irondad: There is an RPM range on my 1964 Vespa and the 2000 concours where a harmonic vibration sets up. If you drive through it though it stops buzzing.The Kaw buzzes at 63mph but it stops buzzing at 70mph. At 60 it’s smooooooth. The front fender on my old vespa buzzes like the dickens at 42mph. At 50mph it stops doing that. So I rode 50 back and forth to the garage this evening. Put the clutch back into my car.

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