Scooter in the Sticks

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

Tiny Rides

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Vespa GTS 250 scooter along a rural road.
Pausing to admire the world.

What is a Tiny Ride?

It would be nice if every ride could be a grand adventure. Days or weeks exploring, unfettered by the weight of duty and the responsibility of maintaining a life. But ask yourself, how many of your rides fit into that specific category of two-wheeled activity?

A lucid look in the mirror draws a confession — only a small fraction of my rides are grand adventures. Most of them are tiny rides, rides that are part utility and part therapy. They don’t appear special in any way. Experience reveals they in fact have a powerful influence on the quality of my life. Those low miles, short time in the saddle rides are the medicine that keeps me smiling, pulls me out of bed in the morning, and have me muttering, “What a wonderful life.”

The utility aspects of tiny rides are easy to comprehend — errands, transportation, an alternative to the cage. But what exactly comprises the therapeutic aspect of a tiny ride?

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Embracing the Honda Trail 125 Adventure Machine

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2024 Honda Trail 125 motorcycle parked in a driveway.
Loaded and ready for adventure.

Unexpectedly Sexy

Not sure sexy is the correct term. But unlike almost any other motorcycle or scooter on the road the Honda Trail 125 gets first, second, and often third looks and comments. Often seen as cute it doesn’t seem to intimidate or trigger indifferent reactions that bigger, louder, and frankly gaudier motorcycles can do. If engagement and ego stroking is important you won’t go wrong with this machine. And if you are looking for adventure, don’t underestimate this little machine.

The adventure ahead on this morning was simple — a wandering ride on backroads, dirt, and gravel to breakfast. A quiet hour on the road to cover 26 miles. Perfect for embracing the Honda Trail 125.

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The Honda Trail 125 — A Small Joy in a Riding Life

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Paul Ruby performs the Crane pose on an old stump
And with the Crane comes danger…

Discoveries

The most dangerous part of this ride was Paul on a old stump teetering on one leg to strike his favorite pose from the Karate Kid. Problem is he’s no kid and a fall from that stump would test the SOS feature on my iPhone.

I purchased the Honda Trail 125 (CT125) because I had grown uncomfortable riding the Royal Enfield Himalayan off road. Alone. In places with no cell coverage and little traffic. While those fears have been sorted I’ve come to discover a special joy in riding the Honda.

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Into the Mountains With the Honda Trail 125

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Scenic view of Bear Meadows Natural Area.
Bear Meadows Natural Area as seen from a Honda Trail 125.

You See the Nicest Things on a Honda

After wrestling with the idea of needing a lighter motorcycle to ride in the mountains of Central Pennsylvania I purchased a 2023 Honda Trail 125. Based mostly on reviews, reputation, and a gut reaction to its appearance. How bad could it be? Besides, I can adjust to anything. So the first ride off the pavement provided a glimpse of whether I would be smiling or growling when I got home.

Just seven miles from home is the Bear Meadows Natural Area. A destination that seemed a good first stop for my friend Paul and I to test our newly acquired machines — the Honda Trail 125.

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Scootering Tomorrow

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Vespa scooters on a rural road.
Enjoying the central Pennsylvania landscape.

COLD MORNINGS

A conversation with a friend this morning reminded me of the powerful influence my body can have on my emotional and spiritual well being. A sore back transports me to decrepitude and despair. Burning neuropathy in my feet can engender belief that my life is in decline and only hopelessness and death await.

Winter makes things worse. The cold can no longer be held at bay as it once could. Now it flows through bone and sinew causing me to shrink into the warm spaces of home, the heated places in my mind. I grow more and more immobilized by thought and circumstance.

And then a text arrives, “Scootering tomorrow?”

I’ll soon be 69 years old so it may be hard to believe those two words have power to energize an old man. I can’t, It’s still strange to for no other reason to suddenly be excited, lighter in spirit and hopeful of the day. Just at the prospect of going for a ride.

My friend Paul and I decided to ride our scooters to breakfast. He’s not usually a cold weather rider so I was surprised he was willing to go early when the thermometer would be pointing at 34F. I stopped along the road to make a photograph. He didn’t get off his scooter and I learned later he was discovering that wind penetrates zippers on jackets.

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