Thank you for your kind words about my musings. While I’m firmly planted in the Vespa world I’ll always have a wandering eye for a motorcycle in the garage. Perhaps when I retire and have more time to ride I can manage two machines. Or rather, one machine and a Vespa. For me, at the most basic level, that is the difference between a Vespa and everything else. The Vespa doesn’t feel like a machine. Especially compared to a Sportster or URAL.

You’re probably right in your feelings about Vespa issues. There have been some but nothing major in my mind or difficult to deal with. But I think the Vespa can feel like more issues because of the rapid replacement cycle of the tires. If you ride a lot it seems like you’re constantly changing tires. But all of that is incidental to the experience for me. The best bet for you would be to find an opportunity to put 20 or 30 miles on one cruising through some nice winding road.

Thanks for the head’s up on Whitehorse Gear. I’ll check them out.

Ride safe!

Hey.
‘Love your musings on the scooter/ motorcycle juxtaposition. I’ve recently given up my longtime friend: BMW R1100RS bagger, to someone else (due to a relocation and loss of parking situation. Great bike, 65k miles, few problems ever, great allrounder. The scooter world intrigues me, albeit perplexed by Vespa’s issues compared with the other scooter manufacturers. I too, am an aficionado of Sportsters; have owned three from 1974 on with no problems what-so-ever. The most recent was a 50K mile/ 5 year relationship with a 2003 model. Only less than adequate in carrying capacity . ‘Great bikes if you have the taste for them; it’s a better motor than the Twin Cam. The only 4 cam under-head, hydraulic lifter, pushrod motor. I imagine the “rubber mounted motor, fuel injected ones are even better. A great compromise w/ BMW’s RnineT would be theHD XR1200 model. And uno one says they need to be loud.
That being said; I’ll be giving up my car and going the Ural sidecar/ Aerostitch route shortly. With perhaps a side of Vespa, Stella,Bicycle, ?? for the short jaunts.
Thanks again for your blogging. You might checkout Whitehorse Gear for motorcycle tire studs if you continue winter pursuits.
T.

Our lives are short so it only makes sense to make the most of them. Whatever that is. Finding time in this busy world to engage in introspective cogitations as you suggest just seems to get harder and harder to find the time or opportunity.

Aging is a funny thing. I hear so much weird stuff about what it means, what you should and shouldn’t do, how to act, dress, speak. Sometimes I think our country just wants to treat older people like children — seen but not heard. I have no plans to go down that road. It’s my life and my choice. And the choice now is to ride. Glad to know there are other fools to commiserate with!

Astray is a great place to visit.

Often.

Life is short and I feel the temporary nature of being around. I just want to make sure having a second machine around won’t make things worse rather than better. Life with the Vespa is already sweet!

Right now there’s no master plan for a motorcycle. I have so much “stuff” that I’ve acquired on a whim that turns out that I not only don’t use or need it but it sits around taking up space sucking out my soul. Right now, at this moment in time, I want less stuff to deal with and a motorcycle falls squarely in that space. At least until I actually have time to utilize it. I would hate for it to sit beside my 8×10 view camera gathering dust just because I wanted it…

With the access you have to try out such a range of bikes, I’m surprised you haven’t taken the plunge yet. Have you ever ridden one of the Honda nc700’s with the storage where the gas tank usually is? Might be nice to stash your camera….but a Harley would be so cool…. All good choices! No guilt in getting something to keep the scoot company!

I think a motorcycle/scooter combination might be the perfect answer!

Life is short and getting shorter-go for it!

I’ve always enjoyed my visits to Astray, that most exotic of lands. Though I’m not sure that I remember every visit, or clearly, or accurately… But that’s ancient history.