Love at First Sight in 2007
Doing a little housekeeping in Adobe Lightroom, I stumbled upon the first picture I made of my 2006 Vespa GTS 250ie scooter. It was shot in the shop at Kissell Motorsports, prepped and ready for me to take it home. One of the cool things about going through digital images, or any photographs for that matter, is finding the past.
My friend Paul had driven me to pick it up and was admiring a Ducati motorcycle — a family of machines that he would eventually buy into to the tune of at least three different motorcycles I can remember.
For me, I was smitten by the lines and shine of the Vespa scooter. And committed to a long term relationship because of how it was to ride. I still have the scooter, a little less shiny and rougher around the edges, but I’m still in love.
Some Things Don’t Change
Less than a month after buying the scooter I was riding in the cold, a continuation of the frozen commutes I would make to my office at Penn State. Riding at 9F was common and with some days traveling at temperatures well below 0F.
While finding the past I realize I’m supporting the future. The aspects of riding loved so much back then still exist today. The thrill, yes thrill, of being able to endure the stress of cold weather riding is still with me. A physical challenge that for some sick, twisted reason, energizes me. Despite however much I protest acclimating to the cold at the beginning of the season.
So far this year I’ve ridden twice with temperatures below 50F. I’m slowly wrapping mind and body around the cold weather so it becomes much easier to walk out the door when it’s really cold.
Finding the past, interesting in as much as it provides the road to the future…
Steve, I picked up my 2010 300ie Vespa (same color as yours) on my birthday, November 18th, 2011. I’ve put over 18,000 miles on it since then and and am still in love with the lines, the power (blows anything away from a stop light), the charm (rarely do I not receive a compliment, smile or question when parking it) and the reliability.
My wife and I have enjoyed several week-long vacations on Silver (Hi Ho Silver is his full name) and he’ll do 65 all day with the two of us and way too much luggage (top case plugged, front rack same and the ubiquitous hook loaded with a bag). But I purchased Silver for the back-roads here on the Central Coast of California and he and I are happiest in the 35-45 mph range, there we have more time to safely enjoy the sights, smells and temperature of the roads we’re travelling.
I’ve owned (and sold) 3 different motorcycles during this time, looking for something “better” I suppose. All the while, Silver, in the shadows, showed no jealousy and never has skipped a beat while the latecomers came and went as I (re) discovered there’s no other vehicle on the road that can compare with a Vespa.
Your connection to your Vespa and the things it can do are similar to my own. And like you, I’m happiest on roads where I can travel in that 35-45mph range. Lots of places around here like that. I’m a perpetual tourist.
I’ve spent far too much time thinking about motorcycles and “something better” than the scooter. I suppose I’ve known all along what I have now is perfect for me. But there’s always that sense in my head whispering of better. Different I can believe. But better?
Hope you and your wife have many more miles of fine riding.
I thought I was the only person in the world who regularly looks at old pictures. I the past year I’ve covered a couple of previous decades. Haven’t yet looked at slides from 1970’s 80’s, much more difficult to set up. Anyway, the concept of keeping one special, dependable bike while others pass in and out, as Will Hesch mentions, is one I support. You know my DR.
I have a lot of old slides. No projector though. And not sure what condition they might be in either after all this time stored in the basement.
Whenever I think of you I think of the DR. It’s your Vespa.
I haven’t had my scooters as long as yours, but yes, the love never grows old. I’ve finally “let go” of my original LX, but it’s my wife’s occasional ride….and I’ve added a Beverly to the stable.
Leaving the house this morning geared up to ride to work, my wife made some comment about being used to my craziness (at least the cold weather riding part). While I love the coziness of my tall screen on the GTS this time of the year, I decided to give it a go on the BV….colder with a short screen, but hey, it might hit 50 today! Was getting a bit chilly after the 5 mile run, but something in me was wishing for another 5…..
Not everyone is interested in cold weather riding. There must be something to the craziness that has us riding when others have already drained the oil from their machines. And I know what you mean about wishing for another five miles…
From one crazy to another — ride safe!
The beat does go on.
September marked my third year with Melody, the black 2015 GTS 300 Super that became a large agent of change in my transition from lifelong city slicker to Jersey Shoreman. My excitement on that first day of riding her home was palpable, one of those sweet highlights of my life; the truly beautiful thing is how this feeling hasn’t diminished a bit since then. Obviously (and also happily), it appears I’m hardly alone in this.
Oh, and about going through old photographs? I now have three film scanners at the ready for all the archive-poring I’ll be rolling up my sleeves for soon. Yes, it’s work, but the kind of work I relish.
Jersey Shoreman. That’s an image.
I think riders of all types feel the excitement. The range of what they’ll ride in may differ, but if bitten once, it doesn’t easily go away. They’ll either drop out quickly at the beginning, or age out against their will, or an accident or fear inducing event pushes them away. Not sure what will pry the Vespa key from my hand.
Three film scanners. You have a lot of work ahead of you. I’m just going through digital files at this point. Have the heat on in the darkroom and will be mixing some HC100 Dilution B after I have a bite to eat.
I love your blog, your love of Vespa and sharing your joy of riding. Please keep writing!
Thank you for your kind words about Scooter in the Sticks. I appreciate them. And I plan to keep writing as long as I have something worth sharing.
Steve, was wondering if you could enable reblogging, as I’d love to share your blog on my own. Cheers.
I looked into the reblogging feature on WordPress.com. Pretty slick. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be available on a self-hosted WordPress site like mine. You’ll just need to manually share out a link to the blog I guess. I’ll keep my eye open to see if it does become available through the JetPack suite of WordPress tools that I can access.
My last New bike was my 79 KZ1000st. I rode it around the Great Lakes four months after I got it. Thirty-five hundred miles in six days with a couple of six hundred mile days. It did zero to sixty in four seconds in the magazine’s but not under me. I kept it for 125,000 miles with zero problems. It was absolutely breathtaking on the showroom floor. I bought it the minute I saw it.
I share your passion with Vespa except, as the add said, I’m the Kawasaki kind.
Jim
My first and last new bike is a KZ1000LTD, I still have it today and ride not as often as I like but cold/hot/windy/rainy/sunny can all happen in the same day in texas. I have had multiple others but this one just keeps me going.
Steve
Your photography is just stunning, I also want to get back to a ground glass camera that i used in the 70’s in college, reality is I will probably stick with my digital that can do way more than i can. Keep up the great work and just ride.
It’s a big step to return to a view camera these days. Costs all around are higher than they were. And processing is a challenge unless doing it yourself. And then a challenge to patience after using a digital camera with instant results. From the time I expose a negative until I see the results is measured in days and not seconds.
It is fun though!
That Kawasaki always reminds me of the look of a classic BMW R motorcycle. Sounds like it was a lot more reliable though. When you visually connect to something, you can’t not have it I guess. I look at the new motorcycles all the time. Nothing has caught my eye…
Hello Steve, was wondering how many miles do you have now on your fantastic scooter..Don E.
Hello Don,
I have 39,700 miles on the Vespa GTS. It still runs as well as it did when I got it. Just some wear and tear cosmetically from my less than gentle use of the machine.
Hi Steve, it’s been a few months, but it feels good to be back. I would like to please ask for a post summarizing your life with the Vespa from the practical viewpoint, talking about ergonomics, maintenence, reliability, ownership cost, etc. Anything aspiring modern Vespa owner should know. I’m thinking about getting used one, in this engine size nothing else looks as good and gives such a joy. My first street bike was new Kawi 750, fun, but eventually to fast and heavy, then Piaggio Fly 50, too slow two up, then one Genuine Stella Auto for each my wife and me, too unreliable… missed motorcycle so got Suzi tu250x, but keep thinking about scooters. Now is the time to buy 😉
You’re suggesting some great ideas for a valuable post. I’ll work something up soon in that regard. I did a 5000 mile review of first Vespa — an LX150. It’s still one of the most viewed pieces on Scooter in the Sticks. Something similar for the GTS makes a lot of sense.
Real quick here in answer to some of your questions — ergonomically the Vespa GTS is the most comfortable two-wheeled machine I’ve ridden when considering comfort and weight. Maintenance wise I’ve only had two issues that fell outside routine. The fuel pump failed at around 25K miles (I think) and a fused link failed at around 20K (again, guessing here). Otherwise it’s been tires, oil, belts, and such. Also, the valves have never been adjusted. The Vespa technician keeps saying they’re fine. Ownership cost is low compared to an automobile in terms of fuel. At 65mpg I get three times as far on a gallon of gas than my cars. Tires wear quickly — rear gets changed between 3K and 4K miles. If you do it yourself it’s not bad but at the dealer you can expect $100 or more for a tire change. Insurance is low.
Reliability — mine has only left me stranded three times. Once I ran out of gas. Once because of the fuel pump. Once because of the fused link failure. And once because the spark plug lead came loose from the plug. The gas and the spark plug were my fault. So two things. Not bad in my mind.
Finally, the reason why the Vespa GTS scooter is so perfect for me is that it can do anything and everything except ford streams. It’s quick and agile in town, able to maintain 70mph all day on the freeway, and the perfect partner for quick and easy stops, u-turns, and other slow moving chores. It’s so unfussy, quiet and nearly invisible to me while riding that I feel like I’m flying. On a motorcycle I always know I’m piloting a machine.
It’s a joy.
Hope this helps until I post something.
This is fantastic, thanks, Steve! I remember you worrying about the expense of replacing some suspension parts some while ago, not sure if it wasn’t last year already 😉 I started looking for a used one on CL and wanted to have reference as to the miles on it I can still buy with peace of mind. So I am guessing under 20k should be fine and inexpensive, I would only put less then 5k on annually.
I just changed my front and rear shocks at about 35K miles. Some change them sooner but to be honest I couldn’t tell a difference with the new shocks. Lots of Vespa riders are well past the 50K mark before any major engine work. There are always exceptions but all in all the Vespa is pretty solid.
I should add that I had the underside of the scooter repainted last December because I had some concerns about rust. All surface stuff resulting from years and years of winter salt.
When it’s time to get another scooter, unless service becomes an issue, I’ll buy a used one on Craigslist or something like that. Lots of lightly used ones out there for under $4K.
Steve,
I got one! Just bought it today, in Madison, Wi. 2012 GTS300ie with little over 3,100 miles on it, blue with beige saddle. I’m third owner, paid a guy $2850 (plus still gotta pay tax, title, registration and insurance) who bought for wife about a year and a half ago and only put 600 miles on it, they bought it used from Vespa dealership who took it in as a trade-in.
So excited, very much un-zen like 😉
Congratulations on joining the Vespa world. As much as I sometimes try to convince myself otherwise, the Vespa GTS scooter is an exceptional machine and has provided me something that’s nothing short of transcendent. But enough of that.
I hope the scooter provides you with the thrill and joy mine continues to provide. Make sure you get everything ship shape before you ride a lot. Depending on how long it has sat in the low mileage realm — tires can dry rot, etc. Most low mileage Vespas I seen though have been in pristine condition.
Keep in touch and let me know how things are going with your scooter.
The voltage regulator was changed also.
Yeah, you’re discovering how little concern I pay to the details of ownership. I know some people save every detail of maintenance. I’m tossing the paperwork as I walk out the door…
Thank you, Steve. I forgot to add that of course it is in no small part your fault, blamed it on you when justifying it to my wife. She just shook head with big grin like she does at all my antics. Thank you for the well wishes and advice. I will be happy to post in comments on my progress.
Tell your wife you’ll be a better husband, a better friend, a better man when receiving recurring doses of scooter riding!