Comments on: Pre-Dawn Departure https://scooterinthesticks.com/2007/08/pre-dawn-departure/ Exploring life on a Vespa, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Honda Trail 125, and a Kawasaki W650 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 21:50:33 +0000 hourly 1 By: Timothy Bath https://scooterinthesticks.com/2007/08/pre-dawn-departure/#comment-1512 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:15:00 +0000 http://69.195.124.229/~scootet3/?p=565#comment-1512 Steve,

Nice post, nice pictures.

Have you ever thought about a larger CC scoter? I ride a Burgman 650 (due to my larger than most size/weight). There are also 250cc, 400cc and 500cc scooters in many different brands.

Same wind, still shiftless, still good to great mpg.

]]> By: Zizikos https://scooterinthesticks.com/2007/08/pre-dawn-departure/#comment-1510 Thu, 23 Aug 2007 13:02:00 +0000 http://69.195.124.229/~scootet3/?p=565#comment-1510 Steve, do yourself a favor and remove the exhaust, it’s only four screws, twisting it to come out, then push the gasket all the way in. They never do it right, and it happens again and again…

I had a friend come over yesterday with a damaged brake line from this, exactly as I had read in MV… No rear brake, coming fast in a toll booth, road full of bumps!

]]> By: Steve Williams https://scooterinthesticks.com/2007/08/pre-dawn-departure/#comment-1509 Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:13:00 +0000 http://69.195.124.229/~scootet3/?p=565#comment-1509 gary: I have the Vespa back from the shop with the upgraded exhaust parts and it is nice and quiet again. Not sure what the next ride will be.

I like the pre-dawn departures in part because it makes the riding day longer.

demonio: You raise an interesting point about having power in reserve. I am going to have to think about that for awhile….

matt: Seems like you ought to be able to ride away from the city and find some more reasonable places to ride? Either way be careful out there.

cody: Most people find the cold to be the limiting factor in riding. For me heat is the ride killer. Can’t imagine riding in the heat and humidity of Florida in the summer….

mj: Thanks for your kind words. I plan to see more sunrises on the scooter!

]]> By: MJ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2007/08/pre-dawn-departure/#comment-1508 Wed, 22 Aug 2007 23:49:00 +0000 http://69.195.124.229/~scootet3/?p=565#comment-1508 Steve,

I so enjoy your blog. You encapsulate the scooter experience and I love experiencing the sunrise with you and your scooter.

Scoot on!!!

]]> By: CodyandMichelle https://scooterinthesticks.com/2007/08/pre-dawn-departure/#comment-1507 Wed, 22 Aug 2007 21:18:00 +0000 http://69.195.124.229/~scootet3/?p=565#comment-1507 Hey Steve, looking at those photos makes me miss NC so much more! I haven’t really ridden at all since returning to FL, it’s so darn hot:(…..and flat.
Thanks for the comments and the votes on my blog. I posted the winners the other day. Of course I had to just do a collage for all the scooter shots and count that as one :).

]]> By: Silouan https://scooterinthesticks.com/2007/08/pre-dawn-departure/#comment-1506 Wed, 22 Aug 2007 04:01:00 +0000 http://69.195.124.229/~scootet3/?p=565#comment-1506 Steve,
I would just love to have the kind of solitude you have on the scooter where you live. Here is St. Louis you just can’t find that kind of experience on our chaotic roads. One day I would like to move to a more rural area. My in-laws live in West Virginia and it is very scenic there with many beautiful vistas to explore. I would love that quite time alone just riding through and experiencing nature.

-Matt Hoefler

]]> By: Demonio Pellegrino https://scooterinthesticks.com/2007/08/pre-dawn-departure/#comment-1505 Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:19:00 +0000 http://69.195.124.229/~scootet3/?p=565#comment-1505 It was the same doubt you have about whether or not upgrading from a scooter to something bigger that pushed me to buy my motorcycle. I had been driving motorcicles before, but had passed to a scooter 4 years ago…well, this year I bought a new Suzuki V-strom 650, and kept the scooter for city riding and commuting.

My “leisure” riding habits did not change. I still cruise around 60-80 km/h on beautiful roads, like I was doing before. But I know that if I need power, I have it. If I need to overake a big track, I can do it. I feel a lot safer on the v-strom than I feel on my smaller Honda Forza 250 cc…

]]> By: gary https://scooterinthesticks.com/2007/08/pre-dawn-departure/#comment-1504 Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:28:00 +0000 http://69.195.124.229/~scootet3/?p=565#comment-1504 Another excellent post, Steve. Love the photos. I’ve got to try a pre-dawn departure, next time I head out on a roadtrip. Maybe this weekend! Thanks for the idea…

Oh, and since Rose has the upgraded headpipe already, I kept the old gasket in there for her 3,000 mile service. It was undamaged, and looked like new. No problems now over 4,300 miles of mostly high-speed operation.

Ride well,
=gc=

]]> By: Steve Williams https://scooterinthesticks.com/2007/08/pre-dawn-departure/#comment-1503 Mon, 20 Aug 2007 11:42:00 +0000 http://69.195.124.229/~scootet3/?p=565#comment-1503 conchscooter: The good thing about the failure was that it seems to be slow and gives you ample warning. Riding near home would allow a rider to get it to the dealer. If I were 500 miles from home it would be a problem though. Would probably be stuck at a non-Vespa dealer having something Fed Exed to make the repair.

The dealer told me some other electrical part was recalled as well and would be replaced at the same time. didn’t even ask what that was but will let you know when I pick it up. Maybe it has something to do with the failed valve??

michael: It is unusual for us to have temperatures in the 50s but it does happen. Dressed appropriately it is not a problem at all.

Maps! I’m with you. Stranded on a desert island give me an atlas!

]]> By: Michael https://scooterinthesticks.com/2007/08/pre-dawn-departure/#comment-1501 Mon, 20 Aug 2007 10:02:00 +0000 http://69.195.124.229/~scootet3/?p=565#comment-1501 Hi Steve,

Wow! Your summers are almost as cold as our winters! Glad to read that you’re getting out there and enjoying it.

Incidently – I know what you mean about maps. I think if I was ever trapped somewhere and someone gave me an atlas, I could just dream away hour after hour thinking about countries, borders, roads and landscapes!

Cheers,

M

]]>