A friend brought me this brochure from a Rome scooter and motorcycle rental place. The image on the cover made me think about how people have reacted to my scooter and the ideas they have about people who ride them. Reactions range from those people who think it is a neat little toy to scoot around town to near revulsion by others (men) who appear to be deeply threatened by the very existence of such a machine. Perhaps they believe a scooter fundamentally defiles the idea of machine as an example of man’s dominance over the world.
The other thought that comes to mind is there is a difference between riders and owners. I draw a parallel in my experience with photography. There are many people who own and talk about cameras but seldom, if ever, make photographs. They find immense satisfaction in deep consideration of every tool and toy related to cameras and photography. And often they have a deep, deep belief in a particular camera and no other will do or compare. This same pattern exists with many scooter and motorcycle owners—Vespa, Lambretta, Harley, BMW, etc…..
And then there are riders. There are people who own cameras so that they can take pictures. They may spend lots of money and buy fine equipment but they have it as a means to an end. They use it. The camera is not only a sunny day instrument. It can get wet and marred and scratched by use. The lens won’t quit performing due to specks and spots or cleaning marks. The same thing happens with riders. The ride is the goal and the machine is the vehicle to experience it. Use brings wear and tarnishes the possibility of maintaining a pristine state. Miles add up. A scooter or bike shows its age.
I’m not saying that one path is better than the other, they’re just different. But I am always a bit surprised at the dismissive attitudes people can generate against something they don’t (can’t, won’t) believe or accept. I smile or don’t say anything anymore when someone tells me what I need or should have in a camera, scooter, home, job, clothes, investment, food, whatever…. I know what I like. All this from little brochure from Italy. And this is the kind of stuff I write when I’m not riding. Haven’t been on the scooter since Saturday. Will ride tomorrow morning.
Man, have you been saving up! This is a totally insightful post. You have hit the nail on the head with owners and riders. I just wish I had thought to write this first.
There’s more I want to say about your post but the best compliment I can give is that I want to go think this over a while. Awesome post. Bravo, my friend.
riders and owners.
While I myself do not have a motorcycle, vespa, or anything that requires a key to turn on actually – I do invest quite a bit of myself into other things that I like – furniture for example.
I am an owner. The Gustav Stickley settle in our living room, prairie style, quarter sawn oak, onondaga finish, and authentic Silver Studios ‘berry pattern’ fabric is a monument of my good taste. It is art for my ass. I adore the hard geometric lines of its back the way you adore the soft curvature of the vespa. And yet, at the same time – I am also the ‘rider’ as you have described it. I have bought this couch because it fundamentally agrees with those things that I value in life. I believe that I can hold on to this couch until I die – I won’t have to replace it. It is something that I want to use and enjoy. I do not worry about every time the cat pukes on it, or how many scratches it has in its surface. It will always continue to function as a couch so long as it doesn’t recieve any undoable damage, the house burns down, etc.
I think that you yourself are both the owner and the rider at the same time – despite your analysis. You look upon your vespa almost with the classic “effects of the male gaze”. It is something you watch after, contemplate, and adore. It allows you to own it. And yet, it doesn’t matter how many times you wreck – or how many times you wash it, the aging of the machine is just a part of the journey of you being the rider. For whatever reason – I think it is still a means to an end for you. It keeps you in motion.
funny you’d use a camera for a metaphor because i’ve become one of those people that owns scooters and rarely rides, yet talks about them all day, but i’ve recently got into photography and found photographers to be obsessive, nerdy, pointlessly brand-loyal, and opinionated, just like vintage scooterists (me) and they seem to put too much emphasis on bragging about their equipment and not enough emphasis on actually using it.
Right-on. nice post.
Steve, this was an inspired post!
I find it incredible that it resonated with hardcore riders like Irondad and me, as well as hrw115, owner of what I assume to be a particularly fine couch…?
That’s amazing!
My encounters with the Scooterati have shown me a mirror of how I was, waaay back in my early Harley Davidson days. And now your post brings the whole plot up-to-date.
Bravo!
Ride well,
=gc=
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Man this is a classy looking website. I bet you didn’t anticipate this level of involvement when you first bought that scoooter. It sure looks like it has grown in importance to you too. I can see the therapeutic benefit to it all. – Paul
I just have to ask….
One of the things that has always scared me a bit about vespas or motorcycles is their lack of protection. While I think that people on vespas, etc. can be very good drivers, I can’t think of how many times I have been a passenger in a car when the car to the rear of me has hit our bumper because the driver was coasting or reaching for their cellphone on the floor, etc. Generally being a j*ck*ss driver. I’m not sure I understand how vespa riders feel safe in heavy traffic situations. People drive like nutcases around here.
irondad,
Not really saving up but something that just sort of percolated to the surface. That “interesting” scooter image on the brochure sort of triggered it all. Look forward to your more expanded comments….
hrw115, (Hannah)
Riding a scooter can be dangerous but so can riding a bike, car or truck. The experience riding is different than driving. You really must pay attention to everyone and manage your actions to account for so many possibilities. For instance, anyone waiting to turn or pull into a lane in front of me I have to always assume they might. I slow or postion the scooter in a way to give me options to stop or swerve. I ride as if I am invisible.
I watch the rear view mirrors carefully and find that many times I will not turn left if I have to stop in traffic but instead turn right and come around with a traffic light. I am not a car and I do not ride as if I am one. Just like I have to dress in a way appropriate to riding I must handle the scooter in a way appropriate to the road.
I don’t feel unsafe and I think the risk is reasonable and manageable.
Get one. They are loads of fun and a cool way to get around.
Bryan,
Thanks for the kind words and the mention in your blog. Your “2strokebuzz” site is really great!
Gary,
I wonder if there is some hidden commonality between couches and scooters…..
steve