I agree with your comments about the 300 GTS. It’s a fine bit of engineering. I’m still enthralled with my 250.

It does seem perplexing to me when I think about the speed and distances covered by some. Doesn’t matter if it’s a motorcycle or a car — when you’re going fast you just can’t absorb or see as much. But it’s entirely possible that there are other things driving those decisions. To each their own.

I’m with you though — I love to be able to slow down, stop and just look around. And you’re right — those rides don’t usually qualify as high art on the ADV forum!

The lesson for me in all of this stuff is that riding, the ride, and all the choices we make on machines, routes, style, gear and whatever else — it’s supremely personal and unique to each of us. What works for one rider may be a complete failure for another. The challenge for each of us it to figure out what we really need and want. I know if I can be open and honest, I can discover things — like how much fun the Vespa is. Or that I don’t really like really heavy machines. Or that I don’t care what my friends are riding.

We’re created as unique individuals. It’s fun to embrace that right?

There’s nothing like a scooter or motorcycle ride to find time to think and contemplate things. There are many reasons to ride and different benefits. Like you, I’ve taken advantage of the isolation more than once.

The Adventure Rider forum is full of reports of long rides. Riders that devour hundreds of miles each day and cross the whole continent in no-time,, whether it’s on big bikes or 50cc scooters. While I admire their ability to sit on the bike for hours upon hours and see so many places, the question comes (as you indicate) what do they really see while they travel?
Don’t they have to sacrifice the details in order to reach their destination?
It seems to me they can appreciate the shape of the landscape, the terrain, but they don’t have the time to pay attention to much more.
Perhaps that’s the price we have to pay if we want to see more of this continent – the distances are so huge.

When I ride and see a nice creek (for example) and can stop and explore the area, and see/smell the flowers, it brings a great joy. If I have to ride at 50 mph, or even faster, I can’t notice many things like that
Of course, a shortish ride and smelling flowers don’t make an impressive post on advrider.

There was a time, when I lived on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, when I’d spend my Saturdays and/or Sundays taking my road bicycle on an early-morning, 60-mile round trip upstate to Nyack, NY. In the beginning, it was about exploring new territory and the out-of-city experience, which was itself exhilarating. After a while, after geeing a handful of rides under my belt, the ride became about speed: I’d gotten my riding legs (and, apparently, lungs as well), and since I was actually able to go faster at this point, well, that became the point. The road, the countryside, the towns I passed through – those became the big, multicolor blur between Point A and Point B. And, for a while, this was fun – I don’t berate the occasional jones for the visceral thrill of moving swiftly along, then or now. But after a while, I felt the need to slow things up just a tad, here and there. Feeling the velocity of the air was nice, but I needed the texture as well, the scents, the subtle changes from cool to warm, the breeze, not just the blast. The bike rides vary a lot more now, although the distances are a bit shorter…and, now that I’m on the Jersey shore, a good deal flatter.

As I’ve written here before, the Vespa wasn’t my first choice for something with an engine in it – it was going to be something along the lines of a Suzuki SV650. My Sig. Other (now wife) gently nudged me away from going the MC route and toward a scooter, which I first balked at, but then discovered (rediscovered, actually) the Vespa, and then discovered the GTS. I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything at all now. Within reason, I can do whatever comes to mind on it. It’s really All That. What you’ve written here puts it quite beautifully.

Absolutely — riding is the goal!

Exactly right Mike. There are a multitude of paths to the same destination. The challenge for each of us is to find what’s right for us. The Vespa continues to be the right choice for me at this moment in time.

I’m sorry to hear of your loss Phil. Riding in her honor and memory, conducting your life on the road in a manner that would make her smile, none of us could ask for more as a living memorial.

The path from non-rider to rider can be exciting. You’ve obviously taken an informed and thoughtful path to make sure you’re prepared and safe. Best wishes on your Vespa adventures. Check in from time to time and let me know how things are going.

Thank you Bill. In terms of Vespa’s marketing — I get the feeling they try and position the scooter as an urban lifestyle accessory. The fact that it’s a riding machine capable of extensive riding challenges never seems to rise to the surface. I could be wrong but I’ve not been in touch with anyone from Piaggio in almost 10 years now.