So true. Such simple changes make all the difference in the feel of the machine on the road.

I think you guys are having more fun than you’re entitled too. Man, what an adventure.

I like the silver body of that electric scooter. The slightly better than 50cc performance and a 62 mile range leaves something to be desired.

Squadra Lumaca (Team Snail) consists of me on Vanessa, Walt on another New Smax and Ken’s brother, Scott, riding Ken’s Big Red (Vespa GTS 250). We will gave the world’s coolest support driver in Ken.

It is not like he is missing any scooting as he just flew back from California after a two week ride out there. After driving back out there, then following us back, he is flying back out to ride home. Busy spring and summer for him.

Here’s the new 2018 electric Vespa:

https://newatlas.com/vespa-elettrica-electric-scooter/52117/

I can’t imagine being in an accident now. Running into a table in the house seems a catastrophe. Landing on the pavement would be a nightmare. And taking a blood thinner would complicate any injury further. So far none of my doctors have suggested stopping riding. But I haven’t had any accidents to fuel concern.

I kind of admire people who can get by without driving. Seems a monumental task in my mind. Seems impossible in a rural area where there is no UBER, bus or options. The Amish manage but their world is small. And they have horses. If I grumble cleaning snow off the car I think I would grumble more hitching up a wagon.

Vespa has an electric scooter in the works. Can’t remember the mileage range or charge time but it seemed adequate for urban use. I’m sure a reasonable range will evolve. And if battery swapping ever becomes a reality — if manufacturers can standardize the batteries — then range will become less of an issue. I should live so long…

The new Vespa scooters are getting a little more complicated with traction control and ABS. But I think the drivetrain is much the same and most work short of an engine rebuild is within the realm of possibilities for me. Motivation to learn and do may not be though…

You sir take on some serious mechanical work. I’ve seen the pictures. Unless URAL starts placing sensors throughout the machine that control who knows what, you should be in good shape for most of the work. The computer stuff though — that’s the tough part. A company makes a diagnostic tool for my Vespa for about a hundred bucks that would allow me to read the codes on the scoot. But not sure how necessary that is. My learning is only beginning. And delayed a bit because I have some other irons in the fire at the moment.

Whenever I think of scooter longevity you and Rocket come to mind. And your maintenance and repair stories leave me with a positive view of the future of my own Vespa. Still, the insidious fears arise — irrational no doubt and based on feeling rather than any reality regarding the problems. But the way the scooter feels on the road is more important than I realize. It’s kind of like when I wear an old pair of tennis shoes too long and I suddenly realize my feet hurt and I can see my toes. Same happens with the Vespa. Only difference is you can’t repair the shoes.

I can do some basic repair. Had planned to do the belt change myself but just couldn’t get it together. Next time. Whether the work makes me feel better about ownership — I’ll have to let you know.

My friend Paul echoes your thoughts about not needing a dealership. He has several vehicles that he has to fend for himself — a 62 Mercedes, 75 Ferrari, and a 64 Vespa. Dealers won’t work on those. Time will tell.

The Cannonball Run is starting soon. You and Ken are involved right? Ken riding and you doing support this year or something like that??

I. was. having a coffee with a friend of similar age the other day. He stopped riding about a year ago after a rather spectacular accident on two wheels; a lorry slide into him on a wet road, he is still hurting and his Goldwing is no more. At age 75 is wondering if he should buy another machine, however his doctor has told him if he does so, he’ll have to find another doctor; he had too many injuries and broken bones, and walks with a cane.

To continue he was mentioning his two grandsons in two families have no interest in obtaining either standard motor vehicle licenses to drive a car nor drive a motorized two wheel vehicle. They ride bicycles everywhere or walk. They both attend university in far-flung places from home and find if they really need to go somewhere there is Uber or a coach or a train or similar. Neither can see the need
to drive something that clogs the air, be it petrol based or electric which still uses some material to make the steam to drive the turbines to produce the electricity.

They do have a point. Is a proper electric Vespa in the future, with a long-life electrical storage capacity which will allow 150 mile trips?