Scooter in the Sticks

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

Upgrading to an Aerostich Darien Riding Jacket

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Man wearing an Aerostich Darien jacket standing with a Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle.
The Darien jacket is a fine companion for the Himalayan.

Biting the Bullet

Here I am sporting a stiff, shiny new Aerostich Darien jacket. I’ve been aware of Aerostich since I began riding again in 2005 but at the time it seemed an extravagance I neither needed or afford. After the first time I dropped my Vespa LX 150 during a snowy ride to work and felt the how hard the pavement felt I knew that proper riding gear was important. From that point I diligently purchased riding pants, jackets, gloves, and boots to protect myself from possible future encounters with the road. I didn’t buy cheap stuff but I also didn’t open my wallet for Aerostich.

So what changed during the next 21 years?

I was going to take the Himalayan on a ride to a new breakfast place my wife discovered for me and try out the Aerostich jacket and review a little of my thinking about protection.

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A Jaunt in the Rain

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A 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan parked on a wet driveway.
Almost escaped before the rain fell hard.

Breakfast Ride Rained Out

The plan was to ride to breakfast. The weather report the night before indicated rain later in the morning. I had the Himalayan in the driveway and ready to go when it started to rain. Gently at first but then falling heavy enough that rain gear would be needed. I’m getting too old to intentionally head out in the rain, especially when I just want to get something to eat. So the bike went into the garage and the trip to the restaurant was made in my friend’s bright red Jeep Wrangler.

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Discovering New Places

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A 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan along a rural road in farm country.
Few things as pleasurable as finding a new road to ride so close to home.

Overlooked Places

Just a mile or so to the right in this photograph is a road I’ve ridden or driven a hundred times or more. Somehow I never realized another world existed just over the hill. Sitting in my living room the previous evening with my good friend Google Maps I discovered some roads I didn’t know existed. It’s a little unsettling to discover new places just 35 miles from home. A fine day to do a little exploring on the Himalayan.

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New Tires for the Royal Enfield Himalayan

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Set of two new tires for a Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle.
The tires finally arrived after an extended search.

Indecision and Extended Searching for Tires

At the last Pennsylvania Safety Inspection for my 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle the mechanic pointed out cracks in the rubber and let me know that next year they wouldn’t pass. Two trains of thought immediately ignited. The first, driven by a sometimes irrational frugality, urged me to keep riding and wear them out despite already recognizing the rear tire no longer had the bite it once did. Especially on muddy roads.

The second train of thought led immediately to searching for the perfect replacement tires. An exercise that can easily become obsessive as I race from site to site, review to review, in the mistaken belief that there is a perfect tire. The whole time blind to the fact that my barely amateur wanderings on the bike mean that pretty much any tire with suffice. But the belief that there is a singular best choice can really dog my thinking.

Eventually two Dunlop Trailmax Mission tires arrived at my door.

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Frustration and Gratitude

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A 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan parked along a road.
A substitute for my injured Kawasaki W650.

The Mental Merry-Go-Round

Over and over I’m reminded that there’s little profit in holding too tightly to my plans. It was demonstrated again as I prepared for a long ride with my friend Paul and proceeded to rip the tire valve from a rear tire of my W650 before even leaving the driveway. Hugely frustrating because I had planned so carefully, visualized the map, and imagined how it would feel to be on the road with a friend on a leisurely ride to breakfast.

The frustration was strong and dominating my thoughts which in turn robs me of some of the riding experience as I replay events in my head, continually kicking myself for the stupid mistakes I made leading up to having to replace the W650 with my Himalayan. Gratitude was nowhere to be found despite the gift of having an alternative machine to ride.

Frustration was ruling the moment and blinding me to anything good or positive. A sad way to leave on a ride.

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