Riding in the Quiet Landscape
The Vespa’s exhaust is louder than normal. The low hum through the earplugs has a sharper note with a noticeable rapping. The sound of a failing exhaust unit gasket. Hot gases escaping before they should and threatening damage to the scooter. It’s all getting in the way of the quiet of the road.
I make no thunder in the valley.
Riding, especially alone, is a perfect prescription for someone seeking solitude and space to think. Even if it is about mundane concerns like exhaust noise. A few days ago the morning offered the familiar fog that comes with melting snow — a fine backdrop for my simple rides of late. Standing in a field, looking at the scooter, peering at the horizon veiled in mist with my thoughts.
That’s why I ride. That’s how I meditate. In the quiet of the road.
An Island of Dreams
I’ve photographed this group of trees many times over the past thirty years. A photograph of this place by my friend Paul Ruby graces the cover of Common Wealth, a book on contemporary poets of Pennsylvania. I’m grateful that this place, along with many others that have become visual friends, have avoided the developer’s bulldozers.
Riding in solitude provides a solid foothold to appreciate the world and life. Seen through the helmet visor, there’s sanity on the road.
And dreams.
The Vespa Experience
I’ve convinced myself that my scooter is a critical component of the riding experience. Nothing else will do. While I’m open to the notion that I’ve idealized the machine, I’ve ridden enough other scooters and motorcycles to know it’s different. And more importantly, strikes a powerful chord of connection and contentment.
Seems like description more common to a lover than a machine.
There’s some small anxiety chewing at me since I’ve learned Kissell Motorsports is no longer a Piaggio dealer. They’ll still work on the scooter but at some point technician turnover will mean none will have the factory training that helps diagnose and fix these models of Italian engineering.
The quiet of the road has some new conversations concerning the level of mechanical maintenance I’m going to assume. And more bothersome, will a Vespa persist in my life moving forward? Doesn’t matter today. But thoughts on the road have a way of seducing serenity to an anxious party.
Riding in the Free World
There are roads to ride. Places to see, life to live. The Vespa takes me there now but I know there are other machines that can make the trip. Until the time comes to change, and perhaps it never will, I’ll ride as I can, see what I can, and try and appreciate the free world of the road.
Understand well “the quiet of the road” — today I leave on an 18 day road trip to New Mexico to visit my brother in Santa Fe. Ellen can’t seem to understand my wanting to drive there and back, but I know what it’s like to to be out there with cameras at ready as I drive the backroads for about 2000 miles each way. While I’m not against traveling with another photographer (or at least a person that understand the photographer’s need to stop often and make images) it is nice to get away, watch the world drift past the windows of my Jeep, listen to a little music, and sample foods or each region. See you on the back side.
Your extensive photographic travels have provided you with a clear picture of how unique it is to be on the road where destination isn’t always the primary goal.
You’ve likely already passed by us. I’ll wave for show. Good travels to Santa Fe. Hope to see you again sometime soon Frank.
Steve,
The photography in the fog captures the image of quiet and solitude. I especially love the depth of field in the last one. Thank you for allowing me to tag along vicariously.
Thank you for your kind words about the photography. Fog and a winding road make easy subjects. I never tire of seeing them.
Glad you are about again. What is your regular camera when you ride out?
If I’m out on an ordinary day (clear skies, bright sun, postcard settings) I usually take the Canon G15. It’s a point and shoot camera though fully featured, nearly indestructible, and has large apertures that allow for shallow depth of field.
If the situation is foggy or elementally unusual, I take my Nikon D3300. The files are great and allows for big enlargements should I need it. And I have a much longer telephoto lens with that kit.
So far the Fuji X-Pro 1 and the 4×5 view camera stay at home on ride days. That may change at some point but not yet.
Nicely phrased and loved the imagery. Perhaps bolting on the Akropovic exhaust may add to the Vespa experience. Takes about 30 minutes, sounds great, adds power, and looks good. Glad you were able to get out on the road. We dropped the latest podcast and mentioned your blog, btw. Hope all is well.
An Akropovic exhaust? That would just scare ghosts and dogs away. I like the relative silence of the stock exhaust. If I could get something even quieter I would. Bodes well for any future shift to an electric scooter! I have ridden a scooter with the Akropovic muffler, and a few Ducati’s with them as well, but find the sound too self conscious for my taste. People would look at me when I would ride by. That doesn’t happen with the factory exhaust.
I’ve not listened to the podcast yet. Or another other for a few weeks now. Will check it out today since it’s raining hard and so easy to melt into the recliner…
Ha—got it. I may have a used factory exhaust off my older 250 available if you get stuck. Same weather challenges here in the nw.
Nice to see you out and about. I totally enjoy the solitude of riding alone. Even when riding with those few riders that understand my need to do U turns it is not the same as being all alone. Once, in Vietnam, we had a driver for a month roaming the countryside. He spoke little English, but when I asked him how long it would take to get to our destination he communicated that it depended on how many times I said “stop, stop, stop”. Sorry, I can not just let the world pass by, unless I am looking out the window of a train.
Steve, sorry to learn of Kissell Motorsports leaving the Piaggio family, but unfortunately not uncommon. My first Vespa 150 I purchased from JMR Honda on Cape Cod, a longtime Vespa outfit. I later traded that scooter in for a 300GTS just like your ride, which I purchased in Newport, RI. Unfortunately now both of these dealers have left the Piaggio umbrella. They both claim they couldn’t sell our “pricey” Vespa’s amongst their cheaper Honda, Yamaha, and Buddy’s. I too am concerned about future maintenance on my ride, as the only remaining Piaggio dealer resides in downtown Boston, and his Vespa dealership is fairly new to go along with his 25 motor vehicle offerings. Time will tell…
Such “peaceful state of mind” invoking imagery….
Hi Steve. This is my area. The “no dealer close by problem” is found only in the ether. The problem I mean. I have a collection of scooters and cars where there are no factory qualified mechanics to service them. There is no problem. I guess to repair one of them I have to get involved. It’s not like dropping a Honda Accord off at the dealer and tossing $100’s at the service managers head until it’s fixed. The service and maintenance is just handled differently. Amen, Om, Regards, Dude
Wander and ponder seems to work well for me too. Two wheels or two feet it seems not to matter. Shame about your dealer situation though similar situation here in South Central Ontario. Should I ever venture down the Piaggo path my dealer would be no less than fifty miles away at best? Love the misty photos.
Your description of your rolling meditation is always soothing to read.
Beautiful photos as well; I especially like the Vespa with the road snaking out behind it.
Wow Steve – written so well as to bring a sense of calm over me just reading it! Thank you and the pictures are terrific. Your writing, your scoot’ and your photos take me to where you are. So – I thank you!
Thanks for another thought provoking post.Pics are always superb. Is Vespa leaving the U.S. Dealers seem to be closing all over the place.Hope your wife is finding each day better. Peace and Safety from NH.
Hmm first Kissell moves to a new location, then the shop was sold (correct me if I am wrong) and now your home town (more or less) Vespa dealer no longer services your Vespa. Think of all those individuals who at one time drove a Saab (before it became
part of the General, which itself subsequently failed). Saab is just different enough that
parts are difficult to obtain. And then there are those owners who drove Citroen and similar…gone.
As another person has posted there now only three Piaggio dealers in the province of Ontario: one in Cambridge, one north of Toronto and one in west-end Toronto.
ironically there are scads of dealers in Quebec. I have a good friend who has a GT300 as well as the three wheeled Piaggio (he calls it the donkey). The dealer in Burlington shifted his business to Toronto .
Thankfully my friend is a reasonable shade-tree mechanic; he also has a stable of immaculate Jawa motorcycles. His comment about Piaggio, ” very expensive machines to ride and to purchase parts for same.: He goes into Toronto to purchase his parts.
I’d suggest that Steve get his Jawa in for service sooner than later, and while there, purchase a shop manual for his machine, if it is still available.
Scooter man…Not sure what “Piaggio” u have….but an old Kissell employee, Justin, is selling Scooters in the Nittany mall…..yes they are are Chinese…but after living and working in that part of the world for half a decade…they KNOW scooters….
Its a way of life….on a daily basis there….all 4 stroke now….for the EPA blessings.
Great name too…”WOLF”.
Dealer has long motorcycle roots in Central PA….be strong…ride on.
I remember Justin. He used to work on my Vespa. Regarding Chinese scooters — there definitely are some reliable brands. Unfortunately, the Vespa ride feel and style are unique to it’s steel mono frame. No other scooter I’ve ridden is like it. So I’ll hold on to the Vespa brand for awhile despite the dealer void.
Ultimately Piaggio will have to adapt to the market here or move on-again. The scooter market is now dominated by 50cc sales. Let me lay a number on you. Bintelli scooters, obviously Chinese, has 97 franchisees nationwide and continues to grow. According to the owner their dealers report that 80 percent of the sales are 50cc. Piaggio can either allow their dealers to sell Chinese scootes from reputable sources (Bintelli, Wolf, Lance) and capture the people wanting to step up to something bigger with Piaggio or Vespa scooters or watch their dealer network disappear. Chinese scooter parts are easy to find now and easy to work on. They will also keep the service bay busy.
Piaggio has probably recognized the very narrow niche for their product. It’s expensive and they seem to want to focus now on large urban markets. Too expensive to service little dealers in rural or smaller markets I guess. And my kind of riding is decidedly NOT their marketing goal.
I don’t have a crystal ball about the future of a Vespa in my garage. But I’m fairly confident I can keep one going.
I like the new masthead photo for your blog, Steve. The Termoscud apron caught my eye.
Kissells confirmed the Piaggio change with me when I rode down last week to see their new shop. I get it, but am still disappointed.
The ease and joy I’ve experienced in darting around campus and town on the Vespa has made me wonder many times why there don’t seem to be more scooter riders within our university community. I began to hope that an uptick would occur in the near future, but perhaps the Kissell change signifies that was just wishful thinking.
Glad to see the beautiful photos again. You have quite an eye for composition and a way with the camera. Fog definitely helps.
As for the loud scooter. I was riding with Lostboater recently. His Vespa GTS 300 developed the same noise, the telltale sign of a bad exhaust gasket. Ken replaced it in the street within minutes. I don’t know if you do this yourself, but if not, please know that it is a very easy repair.
The lost Piaggio dealer is a shame, but common in the US.
Most American scooter riders are more interested in getting a cheap scooter than a wonderful scooter. It might be the Walmartization of the citizenry.
Vespas have it all for me, speed, quality and charm. Americans don’t get it and choose a scooter with none of these characteristics to save a few bucks. They don’t know what they are missing.
People who are enthusiasts will agree with you Bill. People who want a small scooter to travel five miles to the train station or work won’t. A 50cc Vespa costs as much as a Yamaha SMax and you know how well the Yamaha works. Piaggio actually controls the larger scooter category but have to get new scooter riders there. A 50cc Typhoon is in the same range of cost as a good Chinese scooter. They should be doing more to point that out to prospective owners.
Thanks for the kind words Bill. I would like to ride more and make more photographs but circumstances continue to limit time on the road.
I did make the repair to the exhaust gasket. I’ve done it a couple times before so I was familiar with the process. Sounds great again.
I agree about how people think about and make decisions regarding scooters. Not going to change though. We’ll remain odd, not real riders in many minds. Even if Piaggio packs up in North America the opportunities to get parts online will allow enterprising riders to keep riding for years to come.