Looks as if the year will end without snow so I had to go digging in the archive for Vespa riding in snow. This photo was made on Christmas Eve in 2013 in nearby Rothrock State Forest.
Haven’t put the Heidenau snow tires on the scooter yet. Looks like I can wait awhile longer.
Looks like Christmas Eve this year may get near 60F. That sounds more like Florida than central Pennsylvania.
I’m so sorry you haven’t gotten to ride in the snow Steve—Not. Since you’re South of me I get the same snow you do, only worse. As it is the New York DOT crews were so hungry for overtime to pay their Christmas bills they came out on Saturday morning during the flurries and plowed. In addition they threw down their usual truck loads of salt and now my bikes are stuck until the salt powder washes off. Snow, Bah Humbug.
I saw a couple PENNDOT trucks with plows on the road but certainly no need to do anything. Probably repositioning them in preparation for the eventual snow.
I bought a new snow blower a month ago. Doctor said I shouldn’t shovel anymore. And the temperature started going up. If I put oil and gas in it we should have warm weather until February.
If you’re concerned with the physical state of your scooter than riding in the winter with salt on the road won’t make you happy. It tears them up cosmetically and eventually physically.
Come on out to Colorado Steve, I believe we can accommodate you and the Vespa…..
You’ve had your share of snow already. Thanks for the invitation but I’m afraid work and family will confine my winter riding to Pennsylvania.
Don’t worry, it’ll be there before you know it. Do the Hiedenau snow tires work well on wet roads?
The snow tires have outstanding performance on wet roads and cold pavement — noticeably better than regular tires. They do take some getting used to though because they are more “sluggish” than regular tires. You can flick the Vespa around with regular road tires but not so much with the Heidenaus. They have enough extra grip that they just respond slower to handlebar inputs.
Hey Steve I plan on riding Christmas Day. Even though I’m a bit further North than you. It will be a gift to me. Hope you get out. This week looks wet up until Thursday or Friday; maybe the rain will wash away the salt.
Brent
The weather here will be unseasonably mild. I hope to get out but won’t know until the day arrives.
Be safe and have a Merry Christmas Brent!
“If you’re concerned with the physical state of your scooter than riding in the winter with salt on the road won’t make you happy. It tears them up cosmetically and eventually physically.”
Yes, I’ve heard that. I follow a Blog called “Scooter in the Sticks” and the guy who writes it had pictures of his Vespa corroding at the seams and rusting his muffler among other things.
I’ve heard of that guy. He seems like an oddball with little regard to the delicate engineering of a Vespa. He treats his scooter like some old Chevy pick-up truck. I’m told he comes by it honestly though. His father used to haul wet concrete in the bed of his new truck, or throw old shingles off a road into a shiny new truck which just scratched the heck out of it.
Let’s hope he attends to the rust and corrosion before he needs to buy a new Vespa.