Yes, that pretty much sums it up Brent!

Really well put…I have always though of my small scooter as flying also. It is so smooth and magical. It is more of a magic carpet feel not so much a machine as my sportbike is.
Brent

The immersion in an action is a wonderful place. I’ve met many who share the experience you describe.

Steve, it wasn’t until after I came face to face with my own mortality that I took up riding (seriously.) Inside the helmet, travelling alone, focused on the road, immersed in the journey … it is a place I didn’t know I would enjoy so much, but I do. You are not alone.

I share your observations regarding twist-and-go and a conventional shift motorcycle. For me I always know I am astride a machine when I’m riding a motorcycle. The shifting, noise and general physicality of it scream “machine” for me. That’s not bad and I usually enjoy riding them. But the Vespa is an entirely different experience that I can only equate with flying. It’s so smooth and effortless that I feel as if I’m part of the air. Makes it really easy to connect with the experience.

Riding a twist-and-go scooter is certainly less involving with the machine than a conventional motorcycle, but conversely it allows for more involvement with one’s surroundings.

Nice to have a choice of both in the garage.

Riding is a full immersion activity if you want it to be, desire it to be. But there are plenty of ways to minimize the immersion — drinking, preoccupation with problems, drugs, music, and more I suppose. Keeping things simple might be best. Makes me think of the old joke about why Honda Goldwing riders don’t wave — they can’t find the autowave button.

I love the phrase Jim, “After being a rider you’re not the same as other people.” Your description of what we see must be pretty universal. And you’re right about the mobile livingroom. I won’t ask about automatic transmissions though…

I think I’ve become more patient on the road generally because I see the traffic differently and have low expectations of behavior now. If it worked like that for all riders then more of us would lead to a more civil society. Unfortunately I think things are going the other direction…