There is so much focus in the motorcycle world on long rides covering hundreds or thousands of miles, rallies drawing riders from across the country or adventures crossing continents that the small, ordinary moments on the road are overlooked or dismissed as meaningless. For many, their motorcycles or scooters don’t exist as part of their day-to-day life. For the past week and a half I have been without my Vespa as the dealer works to solve a rear brake issue. I miss riding, the road unwinding my head and revealing its secrets. I just need to listen. I stopped to make this picture just a few minutes before leaving the GTS at the shop. Traffic rushed past while I looked at the sky, watched the weather move across the valley and thought about how much I miss in the truck.
Earlier in the morning I was at the library returning books. Another mundane task transformed into a minor adventure solely because I am flying on two wheels. I shake my head in continued amazement at what I find in the most ordinary rides.
Tomorrow morning I should be able to retrieve the Vespa and perhaps find time to ride a bit over the weekend. Right now a low, thin strip of fog hugs the landscape while stars shine brightly overhead. I can feel the draw of the road as the midnight hour approaches. Perhaps it’s a good thing I don’t have the scooter tonight.
You have inspired me to write a new post about another malady that sometimes infects Motorcyclists and Scooterists, alike, “Two Wheel Withdrawals”.
Ride on,
Torch
(Is Scooterist a word? LOL)
Steve:
Your rear brake problem reminds me to mention that my friend also had a GTS and on a long day of continuous riding on the highway there was a problem with the Exhaust gasket failing which caused the hot air to come in close contact with the rear brakes, causing it to fail. The exhaust gasket was covered under warranty.
Hope you get your wheels back soon. The weather here is nearly perfect too.
bobskoot: wet coast scootin
Glad to hear you got the call your Vespa is ready (again)! I “drove” over to my Genuine Buddy 50 dealer last week (about 115 miles: I live 1/2 way to Canada on the Vermont Border of New Hampshire; my dealer is on the Seacoast-near Massachusetts), and had almost as delightful a time as you did returning library books! Glad you’ll be getting the Vespa back.
Torch: I’m familiar with the malady. Looking forward to reading your views on the subject.
bobskoot: I replaced the standard exhaust gasket with a brass one made by Amore. It solves that burn through issue that could leave a rider with no brakes or a burning scooter. The problem with my rear brake initially was a leaking master cylinder but it took several attempts to bleed all the air from the brake line. For whatever reason the GTS has a lot of places to trap air I guess. Brakes seem fine now…
Bob Olcott: Your errand sounds far more intense than mine! Most of the time I welcome a nice 100 mile ride but in this instance I’m glad the dealer is less than 10 miles away.
Have fun riding in the warmer weather!
Riding a bicycle will enliven more of your senses. You will see, hear, smell, and feel even more than on your scooter.
I guess the proponents of walking would say the same to a cyclist.
One step further. Crawl!
(The Party is never over when it all exist in you head.)
Good luck getting the Vespa going again.
Dear Steve:
I regret the necessity of having to have your machine off the road for 10 days to go through the mundane task of getting the brakes bled.
My GMC Surburban has over a quarter million miles on it. It has broken down three times in 16 years. It runs forever on oil changes. By contrast, my K75 stopped running due to a snaped clutch cable, but it gets more preventive maintenance than an ICBM sitting in a silo. What amazes me is that bike repairs are seldom bolt-off and bolt-on, require a fortune teller to diagnose the hard stuff, and cost a mint when it comes to parts.
Still, this is the life we have chosen for ourselves.
Have fun now that you are back on the road again.
Fondest regards,
Jack
Twisted Roads
Angelo: while I would agree that walking enlivens the senses I have never found that to be the case on a bicycle. That has always just seemed like work to me. Perhaps in a flatter landscape it would be different. And you don’t get the feeling of lightness and flight on a bicycle like you do on a motorcycle or scooter.
If only riding counted as exercise…
Jack Riepe: I’ve come to accept that maintenance on two wheels is just different. I’m going to head out shortly and see if I still have brakes.
Even with the departures for repairs I still love the ride!
You have to love the ride. My 24,000 mile service for the Triumph cost $1,000 which includes a change of brake fluid and adjustment of six of eight double overhead cam valves. Anyone who rides to save money will get a shock.
Off topic for a bit; just want to announce that I have started a blog of my own.
http://cpa3485.blogspot.com/
It is a start for something I have been thinking about for some time. Would appreciate it If you would visit me there and make comments and suggestions on what you might think. Many of you have inspired me and I would appreciate your advice. Thanks in advance!
Steve,
I agree that some motorcyclists–and others–are focused on the miles and miss opportunities to embrace the small things easily missed when sailing by. I guess it takes all kind to find what makes us ‘go round. I sold my car last year and use my motorcycle for all my transportation and get away needs.
I don’t want to say never, but I don’t plan to own a car again. I joined a car sharing group and that’s the best way to go for me. Sometimes I ride for my motorcycle for the miles, distant places that it can take me far far away a limited amount of free time available to me. At other times, I travel close, along back roads near my suburban home, away from the city. Sometimes I seek those roads 300 miles away. For me, my two wheel travel serves many, multiple needs. Fulfilling both my need for occasional speed and my need for reflection and long slow weekends with myself.
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– Doug Just Doug