Scooter in the Sticks

Exploring life on a Vespa, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Honda Trail 125, and a Kawasaki W650

Embracing the Risk of Riding a Motorcycle or Scooter

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Morning Fall — An Cinematic Reminder of Risk

I’ve posted this video many times over the years. In part to remind readers of the risk of riding. But mostly as attempt to keep myself honest about it. Especially as I get older. It’s easy to slip into complacency and pretend the risk isn’t really there. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t dwell endlessly on it but I pay attention. Recently I found myself riding more often without the usual protective gear. Plain jeans. A denim jacket. Reading a few interviews with men and women suffering from severe road rash reminded me that as I approach my 72nd birthday I probably won’t heal as quickly as I once would. And it’s easy to mitigate. I’m afraid I’ve leaned too hard towards the irrational wisdom of “Dress for the ride, not for the crash” rather than the original slogan and it’s nod toward risk management — “Dress for the crash, not for the ride.”

A quick visit to Revzilla had me ordering some armored riding jeans. I already have one pair and they look and feel pretty much like regular jeans. Now I will have a choice of two. Just a little thing that hopefully will never been needed. I already have some impact and abrasion protection in jackets with my Merlin Hixon II leather jacket, and for hot weather my KLIM Induction jacket.

For cold weather there’s a gap though. And a few days ago I bit the bullet hard and ordered an Aerostich Darien jacket complete with back armor. I figure it an early birthday present as I prepare to celebrate 72 years around the sun. It will be 10 to 12 weeks before it arrives but in time for the cold weather this fall. All that’s left is a decision on whether to buy the Darien pants as well.

“Morning Fall” is a quiet, elegant, almost lyrical look at what an accident on a motorcycle might be like. I’ve watched YouTube videos of crashes where the feel is catastrophic impact and power. They’re mechanical and disconnected from any feeling of the crash. This video is different. It’s not scary or adapt to have you looking away. But it has a powerful resonance that for me at least, makes me consider not just the risk of riding a motorcycle, but also stimulates me to act.

Embracing the risk of riding a motorcycle or scooter is something I learned while taking my first Motorcycle Safety Foundation riding course. The idea has stuck with me and I actively apply what I learned about being a rider. Be safe on the road. Come home to those who love you.

Reminder: Be Safe on Your Scooter or Motorcycle

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Accepting Risk While Riding a Scooter or Motorcycle

I’ve posted this video titled “Morning Fall” by Edward McGinty before as a reminder as the spring riding season (pandemic allowing) gets underway. It’s always seemed prudent to me to be honest about the realities of the road and the risk I’m willing to assume. What made sense last month, last year or decades ago may have no bearing on reality today. What matters now is to be safe on your scooter or motorcycle.

Every time I watch this video I’m reminder of aspects of riding I hold important — helmets and protective clothing, boots, gloves, and the haunting specter of deer on the highway. And I’m also reminded of the strategies I employ to make the most of the risks I take on.

As a video, this piece is well-produced and delivers an unexpected turn at the end. I hope you find some utility in watching.

https://vimeo.com/bossboyd/morningfall
“Morning Fall”
Cast: Zia Harris
Written & Directed by: Edward McGinty
Produced by: Suzi Yoonessi & Ben Odell
Director of Photography: Adam Silver

Be smart and be safe as you embark on your spring rides. If you’re like me you’re itching to take advantage of the restorative powers riding can bring to the table.

And if you have parked your machines until stay-at-home orders expire or you just feel comfortable on the road again during this COVID-19 pandemic, let’s all hope we can ride again soon, safe from a virus, and with the best skills and strategies to return home in one piece.

Vespa Drop

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Vespa GTS scooter in a farm fieldIdyllic Scene to a Vespa Drop

Moments after making this photograph I dropped the Vespa.  First time in ten years.  The first time was inexperience in the snow.  This time stupidity.

I had ridden off the road just a hundred feet on a little shale covered farm lane.  Other than the steep rise when leaving the pavement it was a farm lane like dozens I’ve ridden on before.  A few pictures, a look around and then back on the Vespa to be on my way.

Simple.  Predictable.  Nothing unusual.

Error Number 1: Saving time.

Instead of following the lane to it’s natural connection to the road I decide to take a shortcut and descend down the side of the lane to the road.  This will save me 15 seconds.

Error Number 2: Miscalculating traction.

The descent off the side of the lane was steep and the loose shale and my street tires combined to create a nice sliding experience.

Error Number 3:  Not paying attention.

I didn’t recognize the slide.  As I was descending and turning I was late to realize the front wheel wasn’t really turning but sliding down through the loose shale.  And the scooter was moving toward laying on it’s side.  Put my foot down to keep the scooter up but at this point it was too far over and too heavy to hold up.  I just gently lowered it to the ground.

Result:  Some adjustments in my future.

The scooter was barely moving during this entire event.  Virtually stopped when I eased the Vespa to the ground.  I remained standing throughout.  Picked up the Vespa and put it on the stand to assess any damage which I assumed would be negligible.

I was wrong.

At first a couple more little nicks on the paint.  Nothing new or special.  Right mirror needed to be adjusted.  Engine started right up so I figured all was right with the world.

I was wrong.

Damn if the front wheel and handlebars were out of alignment.  When the wheel was straight the bars turned noticeably to the right.  Not sure whether this happened on the way down to the ground or picking the scooter back up by the bars.  Both trips involved a lot of pressure.  Straightened it a little on site but will need to loosen the headset to fix.

Rode another hundred miles or so and the scooter felt and performed fine.

Lesson:  It’s the little things that get you.

I replayed the event in my mind.  If I had only just followed the lane to the road instead of taking the short cut.  If I had more aggressive tires.  If I had been paying more attention. If I had been riding a KTM. If I had a rule to never ride off the pavement.

One thing’s for sure — this was a rider induced event. I can see how even at a very slow speed a lot of things suddenly unfold that quickly become manageable.  It’s important to think about how the same can happen at speed on the road.  Best to make good choices instead of bad.

The first time I dropped the Vespa was similar in that things developed so quickly.  I’ve linked to that story below.  I was inexperienced then and riding in the snow.

This time I have no excuse.

Bad Vespa rider…

 

Winter Riding Story: First Drop

Pretending You’ll Never Crash

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MSF info graphic on riding gearWhile I don’t believe it’s inevitable that every motorcycle or scooter rider will have a crash, I also don’t believe any rider can say they’ll never go down either.  I’m not sure what others believe in this regard.  What I do know for sure though is there is a range of belief and action in regard to utilizing protective riding gear.

Do you find yourself pretending you’ll never crash?

I saw this infographic yesterday via FirstGear’s Facebook feed and it reminded me again of the risk involved in riding on two wheels and the things that can be done to mitigate some of that risk.

You can download a high resolution PDF file of the MSF poster if you want to make a big print.

In the spirit of open disclosure I have to admit that I don’t always adhere to the goals outlined in the poster.  I’ll ride with jeans sometimes in warm weather and neglect pulling on the abrasion resistant armored pants hanging next to my riding jacket.  I lie to myself that they offer protection but the truth is they don’t offer squat — I’m just lazy.  A slide down the road will shred them in a hurry to get to my tender flesh.

And that would be a sad event.  It makes me think of Brittany Morrow — founder of the Rock the Gear website and all the gear all the time (ATGATT) evangelist.

Have a look at her video and then ask yourself what you’re doing:

How to Avoid Skinning Yourself Alive – Brittany Morrow from Brittany Morrow on Vimeo.

Rock the Gear Inc. is a national, not-for-profit organization that focuses on safety apparel education and provides a community of support for those who want to learn more and/or become involved. Brittany Morrow is the President and Founder of Rock the Gear. This is her story.

Visit www.RocktheGear.org to learn more.

This video is intended for informational purposes only. Visit the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s website to get trained and licensed and learn more about what it means to be a good, responsible rider. www.MSF-USA.org

Music: “Who Says” by Selena Gomez & The Scene. Music copyrights belong solely to the original artists and producers.

Works Cited:

Haynsworth, Leslie. “My Volvo, My Self. The (Largely Unintentional) Existential Implications of Bumper Stickers.” Fourth Genre, 2008.

Hurt Report. Traffic Safety Center, University of Southern California, 1981.

Motorcycle Safety Tips

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Do you see yourself in this video? There are some important motorcycle safety tips in it that are fun to watch and important to remember.

While watching vintage training films can be fun, there are some important approaches discussed that have value for the thoughtful rider.  Motorcycle safety is not about getting out of trouble, it’s learning how to not get into trouble in the first place.  That’s an entire different state of mind.

This film was made for the United States Air Force in response to a growing number of servicemen and civilian contractors getting hurt or killed on motorcycles.  While it’s over-acted at times and the dialogue a little too perfect in places, it’s enjoyable to watch and provides some excellent instruction on how to be a defensive rider.

At one point in the film a doctor who is struggling with how so many highly trained professionals are getting killed learns a key fact — no matter how successful you are in one career with extensive training, it doesn’t mean squat in terms of your skill as a motorcycle rider.

It’s not just like riding a bike.

And if nothing else, you’ll learn the important art of kick starting a motorcycle.

I wonder how many riders today know how to do that?  I kick started a scooter just a few weeks ago but it’s nothing like kick starting a Harley!