Comments on: Vespa Scooter in Rain

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Tue, 17 May 2016 03:50:32 +0000

In reply to len.

Perhaps your brother is just too sweet. Sugar melts in the rain.

Pioneering joy — that’s a big part of it sometimes. A feeling of meeting a challenge and overcoming.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Tue, 17 May 2016 03:45:49 +0000

In reply to maestro.

The mold release compound on the new tires makes the surface slippery. Put it on wet pavement and it’s like they’ve been greased. You need to run some miles — I try to go 50 to 100 to get the rubber roughed up. I’ll post something on the new tires.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Tue, 17 May 2016 03:44:18 +0000

In reply to Mike.

I could probably use a bit more deliberation and wimpiness in my decision making regarding weather and riding. I have to watch that my decisions are hastily colored by my love of riding.

The Vespa is horrible in wet mud…

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Tue, 17 May 2016 03:42:20 +0000

In reply to charlie6. Or rain with hail. I don't like to be cold or wet. But properly geared the rain is fine for me. Handling the machine can be dicey at times though.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Tue, 17 May 2016 03:41:16 +0000

In reply to G.Dennis Robertson. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to let go of stuff and just ride...

By: Tball

Tball — Sun, 15 May 2016 00:25:45 +0000

In reply to maestro. New tires still have a coating of a mold release agent on them. Its slimey when wet. It rubs off with miles. It should be noted that the normal contact patch when going straight rubs off first and when a banked turn occurs, the non rubbed edges come into play and can still be slimey for lack of contact during routine leisurely pace. Purposely scrub your new tire edges.

By: len

len — Fri, 13 May 2016 07:09:56 +0000

Hi Steve,

I get a feeling of satisfaction from it, even if I was ill prepared the joy of getting where I needed to regardless of the weather and actually enjoying the moment is so rewarding.
Once home and very wet I park up my valiant steed and get a shower and dry off….you feel a sense of accomplishment….it really isn’t a big deal and if people embraced it more rather than moan about it not being dry they too would learn to enjoy the moment and feel that feeling of some sort of pioneering joy that I get from it.

The moaning about the weather bit was kind of aimed at my brother who I know looks over your blog!!
He does not like getting wet!!

Regards

LEN

By: maestro

maestro — Thu, 12 May 2016 23:23:51 +0000

I wanted to ask about something in an earlier post regarding new tires — is it your belief that new tires somehow have less traction in the rain than do tires with a few hundred miles on them? Perhaps I misunderstood but I had not heard this before and I wonder if you would consider posting further on this question.

Thanks!

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 12 May 2016 23:14:29 +0000

I don’t like getting wet on the Vespa though it is a little more sheltered than some motorcycles. Even worse on a wet muddy track. I try to avoid all rain and take to four wheels. Like flying I look at weather reports then out the front door and only after that take the decision. Don’t mind being a wimp.

By: RichardM

RichardM — Thu, 12 May 2016 17:44:39 +0000

The only part of riding in the rain I don’t like is the high humidity fogging the inside of the visor. The vents on the helmet just don’t move enough air to keep it clear. And this is with a pinlock shield installed in the visor.