I’ve never aired down the tires but I have been aware that it could help. Laziness on my part I guess. Next time I have the Himalayan somewhere dicey I may do as you suggest.

Since I decided to keep the Himalayan, at least for now, and I have concerns about being able to pick it up, I purchased an Eastbound MotoWinch. I’ve not tested it with the bike but put it together in the living room and it appears entirely able to perform as advertised. So that will ease some of those concerns a bit.

Kim has told me to buy a Garmin InReach Mini2. It wasn’t a suggestion. So it may soon appear in my life.

Life is an adventure!

That was certainly the line of thinking I was pursuing. Let go and move on. But I started riding it more and was paying close attention to what was going on in my mind, with my emotions, my body, and the performance of the motorcycle. Turns out that I was identifying some real issues related to riding — slippery surfaces off-road in the winter — and using my emotional reactions to paint a portrait of the Himalayan as more of an issue than it really was. A false reality.

After a handful of rides off-road both on slippery surfaces and typical non-wet dirt and gravel I found myself without any anxiety or concern. It’s not that I’ve grown too fat for my suit but rather I had kind of convinced myself that I would get in trouble if I wore it. Whatever that means.

I’m going to keep it for now, improve the tires, buy a jack, and keep on riding until a risk emerges that isn’t related to poor road conditions. There are plenty of dry days where I can still comfortably ride the Himalayan. That’s my story today and I’m sticking to it. Now on to the return of my Vespa GTS!

I’ve watched some of the stuff on the Motorcycle Travel Channel. The guy who produces the content is the cinematographer for the BDR films. He has some first rate stuff. I watched him ride his CT125 into the Arizona mountains. Another fine example of the utility and capability of this little motorcycle.

Central Pennsylvania has incredible places to ride. I am indeed fortunate to live where I do with such easy access to both paved and unpaved adventure.

Best wishes for successful and uneventful knee replacement surgery and the subsequent therapy that can lead you back to riding. An Arai helmet looks good on a Vespa 300 rider!

You’re right on all counts Don. It just has taken me some time to sort through the noise in my head to get to that point.

I now have a plan and I suspect the Himalayan will remain part of the fleet..

For $185 plus shipping from the UK I think it’s a good value. And a good tool to strap on the motorcycle for the reason you shared.

I understand the sentimental value with the Vespa. The Garmin InReach Mini is really the state of the art at this point. And I just wanted to take the opportunity to point you to an interesting YouTube channel called Motorcycle Travel Channel (you can google it). Three of his most recent videos (Going Nowhere, I’m In Love, and Not What I Expected) show him riding his 125 and talking about his experiences with it in southeast AZ. I think you’d like them and the perspective they offer about the Trailrider (not to mention the performance of the bike!).

My pleasure! I enjoy your writings and I am seriously jealous of your riding area.
Just to reinforce my comment on creeping decrepitude, I am going to Montreal tomorrow to get both my knees replaced(!) However, in anticipation of a better life, I just bought a nice Arai helmet to wear after rehab, to continue the journey. Now all that’s left is to trade in the 150 on a 300…