Escape
After a long day, as the day slows but the head still spins, a ride on the Vespa makes a world of difference. Doesn’t matter where I go or what I see — just the sensation of movement and air flowing across skin — that changes everything.
Made this photograph two miles from my front door. I watched the sun fade and the evening deepen. Rivers of cool air crossed the low spots in the road. I forgot who I was. I didn’t care. The feel of my hand wrapped around the throttle made me feel organically connected to the machine. And I wouldn’t let go until it was dark.
It was a ride to nowhere to leave behind everything.
Sometimes shedding the noise of the day is all that matters. Riding makes it simple to achieve.
Why aren’t you riding?
Wow! Sold! Yet another irresistible description of the lure and joy of riding, and such beautiful images as ever. Thank you.
“Riding makes it simple to achieve.” I’ve got to agree with you there, Steve. I’ll go further and suggest that riding a scooter makes it even simpler. Just twist and go. The Vespa is your friendly, fun facilitator.
I really must make room for another T&G but before that I’ll be trading my ’13 Tiger 800XC for a pristine ’92 BMW R100GS Paris Dakar. It’s an itch I had to scratch and a post heart attack gift to myself. Any excuse. Then it’ll be Scooter Time (wife permitting of course…) but at 6’7″ I’m undecided on which one to get.
I’m rambling now…
Safe roads, Steve, and keep ’em coming!
Keith
This is for Keith, at 6’7″ what is your weight?
I stand 6’8″ in height, weigh close to 400 pounds, however my physical height is from the bottom of my feet to my knee, close to 32 inches.
Hence i sit on my friend’s Vespa, and the handlebars simply are unable to turn, add in the boots I’d be wearing, and most any machine of the current generation is well nigh impossible to mount and ride. Oh and have had major illnesses in the last ten years so am
currently without wheels; perhaps once medical bits setlle, back to three wheels, ie motorcycle and sidecar. At chronological age 70 am not holding my breath.
Hello Bryce
In answer to your question, I am 64 and now weigh 229lbs (I weighed 259lbs before my heart attack of 9 weeks ago). I have a 34″ inseam.
I was fairly comfortable on the following maxiscooters: Piaggio X9 (though kneeroom was minimal) , Aprilia Atlantic and Suzuki Burgman 650. I also owned a Honda SH300 and a Piaggio BV300, both of which accommodated me fairly well. I found that the smaller scooters (like the SH and BV) were easiest to deploy but they seemed to me somehow to lack an indefinable character. So, I would give anything to be able to ride a Vespa comfortably but so far I have had no opportunity to try one out for size. I fear that I too will experience FKBI (Frequent Knee-Bar Interface) crises.
I hope that your various health issues are soon resolved, Bryce. It doesn’t matter what you ride as long as you ride!
Keith
Thanks for the kind words about the post. Sorry it has taken two weeks to respond.
I’ve thought a lot about the twist and go feature of the scooter and what it enables version the actions involved shifting a motorcycle. The freedom it affords in not constantly attending to the engine’s needs is subtle yet powerful. And having two hands at the brake levels is far superior in my opinion to the footbrake. Judging by how tiny it is on some motorcycles it almost seems like it’s not important.
I love the Tiger 800XC. It’s a fine riding and handling machine. But I understand the lure and romance of the Dakar.
My friend Gordon is almost 6’6″ and seems to navigate fine on his Vespa 300 GTS. Good luck in your search and keep the heart healthy!
“Why aren’t you riding?”
A great question. I didn’t ride anywhere yesterday. Not even to the coffee shop. I guess I don’t feel that same feeling you do when out riding. Yes, riding is fun, it’s a great way to travel but to me it’s a conveyance not an escape.
Hi Richard,
At least you admit it can be fun but I realise sometimes a conveyance may not be, especially on days you have to cope with bored or angry people. Surely you are saying that at times it can be both.
I note you follow this blog with many other like minded people. That makes you a brother so you can ride on in the best company.
Where are these bored and angry people you speak of? We have none or either here in the states…
That makes you truly lucky. We have them here but they are almost exclusively in cars, one sees them most days unfortunately.
I’m sure you jest?
Yes, I’m jesting. We have our fair share of bored, angry and distracted drivers. Sometimes I think the worst of people comes out on the road. Certainly fuels a lot of YouTube and COPS show video…
You’re more experienced than I am. More miles. Your in a mature relationship with your machine. I’m still in the honeymoon stage…
Beautiful photo Steve. I found your blog few days ago and I can’t stop reading it. I contacted you through your contact us page so I hope you don’t mind me being meticulous send this to you through the comments. Just trying to make sure you received this message.
Just a quick email to let you know that I featured you in a recent article named:
Top 25 Motorcycle Bloggers You Need To Follow Right Now.
Here’s a link to the article:
http://noplacelikeout.com/top-25-motorcycle-bloggers/
Hello Max. Thanks for the head’s up and sorry for the delay in responding. I appreciate you including me on the list. I’ll contact you via the contact page connection.
Best,
steve
There are seven “motorcycles” in my garage.
Three of them displace 1500cc’s or more.
One of them is a 250 with two front wheels, made in Italy.
Guess which has been ridden every day this week while the others sat unused?
And like the Ural, I have to add 15-30 minutes to my expected trip time because someone always wants to stop and chat about it.
I feel bad for the poor “cage people” !!
Three of those motorcycles have bigger engines than my Honda Fit. And like you, the 250 gets more action.
People really like your MP3 huh? It’s a cool machine. Very stable at speed and great with gravel and other unexpected loose stuff on the road. Looked at your blog a bit but didn’t see that machine. Spent some time with a Huey and a Bulldog though.
Those “escapist” moments are the best and are a reason a lot of us ride on two wheels, I think. Kudos to putting words to it and a picture to boot. A short ride at dawn or dusk can really change my perspective, especially when I bring my camera and shoot a few pictures.
Yeah, the simple, quiet rides are easy to come by and have a lot of power. If it weren’t 1am right now I might just go for a ride. I’m getting too old and tired for that night time madness though.
For me, every ride – even the mundane, need-to-get-something-done rides – hold therapeutic value. And, yes, even though I’ve known my way around a five-speed manual bike in my distant past, the Vespa’s “T&G” operation certainly he;ps facilitate the “magic carpet” effect.
My mission for the very immediate future: schedule second road test, pass it, then actually make the time to take at least a third of the rides I’ve mapped out for myself. Our house reconstruction/extension project has eaten so much time away until just now. Life does that sometimes, no?
Work around the house, especially any sort of construction project, could have a dramatic impact on riding. But eventually it will pass and you’ll be on the road again and finding therapy and the magic carpet…
Life has a way of moving along a course indifferent to our plans. I try to just enjoy the ride regardless of what happens…