With the arrival of warm weather comes the spring Vespa service event made more noxious by the corrosive effects of winter riding coupled with a reckless disregard for all things mechanical. The garage is a disaster, toolbox a jumble, and the Vespa resembles some of the heaps I used to covet as a teenager with dreams of the Baja 1000 spinning in my head.
Those dreams have faded into distant memory along with the youthful thrills of wrench turning and trips to the parts store. The Vespa service list is a torture of task and lack of riding.
1. Remove snow tires, mount new set of warm weather tires.
2. Remove exhaust system, remove rust from muffler, repaint with high temperature black paint.
3. Repair seat latch system.
4. Remove seat, clean rusty hinge, repaint.
5. Repair rust on front body panel joint.
6. Replace battery.
7. Wash, clean and wax scooter.
9. Replace air filter.
10. Replace front left reflector.
Looking at my work schedule it will be snowing again before I get this done…
Rode into town this morning to talk about photography with Paul Ruby. The single cup of tea tastes different when it comes after a ride. Took time to savor that hot brew…
As the days warm the world begins to grow green as does my desire to ride. Better planning would have finished spring service sooner but my distaste for working in an unheated garage slowed things down.
Hoped to actually get some work finished today but instead kept wandering and postponing the mechanical activity for another day. Part of me wishes I had the love of tinkering I see in other scooter and motorcycle riders. Most of me doesn’t. So strong is my distaste for fixing things that I almost pulled the trigger on a new scooter. A sort of Vespa equivalent of trading a car in because the ashtray is full.
A quick stop after exiting the expressway and I was reminded of how versatile the Vespa GTS 250ie really is. It goes fast, goes far, and functions fine in town and on the road. Every time I think about buying a bigger motorcycle or scooter I end up asking the same question, “Why?”.
Can’t seem to come up with a good answer EXCEPT it would be nice to have something to ride while the scooter is under repair. But then upon further evaluation I would probably choose another Vespa. And it would probably be silver — for photographic reasons.
Maybe tomorrow I’ll pull the exhaust and the tires…
must…overcome….wrenching inertia….your scooter will thank you.
Charlie6: You never experience wrenching inertia do you?
Steve, inertia? No, impatience to get tasks done? always. Sometimes though, I fix things till they break…. 😉
Charlie6: I’ve watched you fix things and have followed your mechanical adventures. I can only dream about ever acquiring those skills or temperament.
Steve, not really skills, good luck in having friends with said skills willing to teach me.
I keep hearing the logic of having a backup bike but every time I think about it I think of double the repairs. The second bike thought disappears quickly.
RichardM: Same here. The fantasy of a second machine is that it’s always ready and doesn’t cost a cent to own.
“Part of me wishes I had the love of tinkering I see in other scooter and motorcycle riders. Most of me doesn’t. So strong is my distaste for fixing things that I almost pulled the trigger on a new scooter. “
Steve, ask yourself how old you are in chronological years? Now if you were say twenty years less of said age, would your attitude be different? Perhaps with one big caveat. Your physical being would be more able to deal with correcting the winter related problems with the Vespa. As we age everything takes longer for us in a physical and I guess in a mental sense too. Your brain is twisted back and forth at work and when the weekend arrives you just often want to stop. Junior’s needs are not included. You could drive the Honda Fit and open the sunroof if you purchased with that option and wrench on the cold wet evenings as this current week promises. But when you come from work do you have a desire to work on the Vespa or relax with Kim and play with Junior?
See? The decision to stay inside where it is warm and comfy wasn’t that difficult. And some of those tasks can always be put off for another evening when it is warmer
and JUnior can be your watchdog.
I too understand. Was offered at the last week a lovely sidecar Goldwing combination for reasonable money. But then thought of the future mechanical problems and this and that and decided, nope, the Honda pick me up truck is far more preferable for me at this time in my life.
Maybe your slowdown and do things for you time of life as harrived???
Steve:
can’t blame you for wanting to ride and photograph, rather than get the tool box out. Never know how long the sun is going to shine
bob
A weekend photographer or Riding the Wet Coast
Bryce Lee: Say it ain’t so!
Not ready to throw the towel in just yet but I am more aware of my decisions as they relate not only to time but to the physical energy I have available. I can still get around ok but just am not motivated to do the physical work I once did.
Am currently finishing up an overhaul of my darkroom and soon to engage the 8×10 view camera again and am wondering if I’m nuts. A look at a few contact prints though makes it all ok.
So no Goldwing with a sidecar?
bob skoot: I know exactly how long the sun will shine!
Thanks for your use full tips 🙂
Steve,
Reading this reminded me of the long list of things needing to be done and knowing they will have to wait until another time. I think everyone has one of those lists. Do we ever really get to the end of them? Not really, so I cast it aside again.
Two scoots, there is much to be said for having two scoots. I do. A Vespa ET2 and an Aprilia Mojito Custom. The Vespa has been in the shop getting his beauty spa treatment for the last two plus weeks. I rode the Aprilia in the mean time. Was nice to have that choice BUT I tend to compare one to the other…BAD scooter parent. I am ashame but I do have a bit of a favorite. Glad the Vespa will be coming home again on Thursday! I, of course, will be $600.00 USD lite. Like you, fixing things is not my strong suit and the shop bill for his Spring Spa Treatments were anything but cheap. Always the Cost=Safety+Pleasure factor I guess.
Pamela K.