Soon, perhaps this evening, I’ll start removing things from the Vespa; front rack, windscreen, mirrors, and more in order to install heated grips. The task has been postponed a number of times since the accessories arrived due to the flimsiest of excuses. Too cold, too tired, Leonids meteor showers, hangnail, dog ate the instructions, possible plague, the usual things.
I’ll say it though, or write it actually, I HATE WORKING ON THE VESPA. Hate may be too strong. Loathe could be more accurate. Maybe even despise. Regardless, I’m not one of the scooter or motorcycle owners who thrives on the prospect of servicing the machine. And it extends beyond the scooter. I don’t like mowing the lawn, paying bills, doing laundry, washing cars, and on and on.
Maybe it’s the weather that’s got me worked up. Regardless, there are just some things in life you have to do and the less time complaining and the more time doing then things will get done and a person can move on.
I keep telling myself that.
Late this afternoon I rode down the street to the Pump Station Cafe for a few treats. Seeing the scooter standing alone in the parking lot triggered some tiny desire in me that I should do more work myself. Not just maintenance on the Vespa either. Things like remodeling the bathroom or repainting the inside of the house. If people actually turn over in their graves my father has had to do so many times watching me reject the kinds of things he loved doing, and taught me to do.
Unfortunately whatever gene or DNA sequence that programmed my father into a maintenance/remodeling/building machine was not passed on to me. He provided me with the knowledge, information and training to do an awful lot of stuff. I just don’t like doing it. And the older I get the more I dislike doing a lot of things.
Still I’m going to install the heated grips despite my strong resistance. Perhaps I’ll find some serenity in the process much like I do washing dishes by hand.
I’m stretching.
Stay tuned for news from the reluctant Vespa mechanic.
Revealing my complete lack of experience working on Vespas here…..why do you have to remove the windshield and front rack? I would think all the wiring is behind the front fairing of the scooter?
You’re going to like the heated grips and grip covers combination hopefully, this assumes the Vespa can deliver the power required.
You have to remove all that stuff to be able to remove the headset where the wires from the heated grips will run. Easy to remove that stuff. I just am not sure if I understand the electrics clearly enough to hook them up.
Everyone says I’ll love the heated grips and grip covers. I sure hope that’s the case!
I prefer heat gloves since the can also hook into a heated vest under your jacket. Riding on really cold days with heated grips seems like the heat is on the inside (palm) of your hand while the other side begins to freeze from wind.
Without the Tucano Urbano grip covers you would be right that the cold wind would quickly freeze the outside of my hands. Everyone tells me the grip covers will allow my hands to remain toasty. Oh, I hope that’s the case.
In terms of gloves and a vest — that would be a little too much for the Vespa generator.
Hi, Steve,
I can’t help snickering about this latest blog. Like you, I was ” trained” by my father about doing all sorts of things…unlike you, I think, I have actually put a lot of those training hours to use in my earlier years, especially. How can I forget the many hours spent Simonizing a car ( the family car), 2′ X 2′ at a time, and then, years later, proudly telling my father about my latest waxing of my car and having him tell me he hadn’t waxed a car in years!
Actually, changing the oil and filters or checking tire pressures on my scooters is rather fun, except for the dreaded rolling around on the cement garage floor and then awkwardly pulling myself up numerous times.
I hate to admit it, but that is a truism of growing, shall we say, more mature. I can’t believe the fact that my muscles have almost given up the ghost when it comes to anything related to work!
So, other than the fact you’re years younger than I, we certainly share some of the same dislikes. But the rewards are certainly there also.
Regards,
Karl U
My dad taught me much about cars, carpentry, concrete, household electrical work, roofing, the works. And I’ve done a lot but I just have developed a block. Maybe when I retire that will change!
Good luck with the installation Steve.
Thanks David. I’m following your lead but realize you are far more industrious and careful than I.
Steve I too had a father who thought, even if I was a girl, I should know how to “do those things.” I have to admit there was a time when I delighted in proving to the world that I could “do those things” but I’ve matured. Now I delight in letting the world know I have people to “do those things” for me. Enjoy your mucking about with tools.
The best part of mucking about with tools is the frequent need to go and buy more tools!
Okay you got me there Steve. There’s nothing better in the world than the smell of a hardware store, even better if they carry lumber.
I can still remember the smell of the local hardware where I grew up. It had a pervasive aroma of fertilizer through the whole place. Lumber yards have their own aromatic pleasantry.
I think that “trained” may be too strong of a word. I prefer apprenticed. I learned a lot about construction (all aspects carpentry, plumbing, electrical, foundations, roofing, etc.), electronics, automotive repair, etc. from a variety of people including my dad over the years. Mostly by hanging around and paying attention to what and why they did what they did. What that gave me was a willingness to dive into almost any project confident that even if I didn’t know exactly what I was doing, I could probably figure it out.
How has this worked over the years? Good enough to not kill myself so I guess good enough…
Good luck with your project. I think that you’ll be amazed at what a difference the heated grips and grip covers make.
I’ve gone from hanging around and watching so I can do things myself to just asking others to do things…
Hot grips. They better rule.