0 points – Sanity is possible
5 points – you did the test wrong
10 points – chain your scooter to a post in winter

Tim: I’m not much for fashion. I was thinking more along the lines of having some chocolate at every stop…

phil: Being noticed as a rider is a good thing. I suppose there is a line somewhere for each of us. Great comments you have. I like the Vespa for many of the same reasons you outline.

jz: Careful in the fog!

conchscooter: Passion indeed! Hope you find it renewed with your new Triumph!

aggieknitter: I think protection is always important on two wheels regardless of how short a ride you are having. It only takes an instant. Helmets, protective gear, gloves, boots, it is a good habit to get into. It takes some time to adjust to feeling all bundled up, especially in summer, but we are adaptable creatures.

If you want to see how fragile you are, go out in the driveway in short pants and a t shirt and throw yourself onto the ground. Even not moving it hurts. Add 10mph and a little dragging force and it gets worse.

I’ve talked to scooter riders who don’t wear any gear including helmets and they tell me that they like the freedom, the air, and such. But when I press them they all believe they are safe riders, they ride slow, and they will never crash. I can believe the first two things but not the last.

I’m not saying I ride thinking I will crash, but I accept the possiblity that it could happen however remote. I am not willing to expose my body more than necessary. And I would be pissed if I did crash without say a helmet, or gloves, or boots and really screwed myself up.

Talk about regrets….

snarequeen: I’ve seen the Daring Plum scooters and they are elegant looking machines. I wonder if dogs have a color preference when chasing Vespas?

cody: I hear you! I continue to try and reduce my judgment levels though. I have enough things to tend on my side of the fence.

kano: I know quite a few people now who said they’ve bought a Vespa because of what they’ve read or seen here. I don’t think my riding life matches Vespa’s branding goals though. I’m not gregarious enough or in a city. I’d entertain some sort of interaction with Vespa though. In the past they supported artists and photographers who used the scooters in their work.

doug: Got me. I always look at my reflections. Hell, I even remember where they are. I always find it sort of weird to see myself—I don’t look like I think I do. That awareness gap has produced quite a few self portraits.

I don’t think I’m going down the Dakar sticker and aluminum paniers route anytime soon. I can see myself using bungee cords to attach a big duffle bag though.

irondad: Yeah, I know.

ale: People do look at the scooter. Sometimes when I am at a cafe I can see people walking by the scooter and looking at it. Mostly older people though. The young kids walk right by listening to their iPods on their way to a World of Warcraft event…

I doubt that there is a rider around who, when riding past the mirrored windows of a large business, has not sneaked (snuck?) a sideways glance to see how he or she looks astride their machine. We’re all posers to at least some small degree.

When the posing becomes the point then you’ve become a poseur instead of a poser.

I’m not sure how someone would be a poseur on a Vespa, they are too, too honest, too lacking in pretense. There is no huge “pretend” to go with the Vespa image as there is with some motorcycles.

I suppose if you decked out your LX150 with aluminum paniers and Dakar Rally stickers but only rode on the road that might do the trick though (or get you into a BMW club). 😉

Doug

I think everyone is, if not overtly then secretly concerned about how their ride looks and how they look on it. It’s just a matter of how much one cares.

I look a lot better with a helmet on than off!

With and new to me vintage bike I’m a little worried about the poser factor myself. Then I rode through a 10 mile fog bank on Saturday morning.