Himalayan Archives - Scooter in the Sticks Exploring life on a Vespa, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Honda Trail 125, and a Kawasaki W650 Fri, 18 Sep 2026 02:00:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 71084491 Upgrading to an Aerostich Darien Riding Jacket https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/09/upgrading-to-an-aerostich-darien-riding-jacket/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/09/upgrading-to-an-aerostich-darien-riding-jacket/#comments Fri, 18 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=12053 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 […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/09/upgrading-to-an-aerostich-darien-riding-jacket/feed/ 12 12053 A Jaunt in the Rain https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/09/a-jaunt-in-the-rain/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/09/a-jaunt-in-the-rain/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=12032 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 […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/09/a-jaunt-in-the-rain/feed/ 4 12032 Discovering New Places https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/08/discovering-new-places/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/08/discovering-new-places/#comments Fri, 21 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11978 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 […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/08/discovering-new-places/feed/ 10 11978 New Tires for the Royal Enfield Himalayan https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/08/new-tires-for-the-royal-enfield-himalayan/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/08/new-tires-for-the-royal-enfield-himalayan/#comments Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11965 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 […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/08/new-tires-for-the-royal-enfield-himalayan/feed/ 5 11965 Frustration and Gratitude https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/08/frustration-and-gratitude/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/08/frustration-and-gratitude/#comments Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:00:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11913 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 […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/08/frustration-and-gratitude/feed/ 6 11913 Fog, Fuel, and a Long Ride to Breakfast https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/fog-fuel-and-a-long-ride-to-breakfast/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/fog-fuel-and-a-long-ride-to-breakfast/#comments Fri, 10 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11783 Morning Fog A few things were different on this ride. It was the first foggy morning in a long time. I love riding in fog. Mostly because photographs appear more dramatic and ethereal. I wasn’t sure how Dave felt about it but since he was waiting on his motorcycle when I arrived at his house […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/fog-fuel-and-a-long-ride-to-breakfast/feed/ 13 11783 Aging and the Desire to Ride Motorcycles https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/aging-and-the-desire-to-ride-motorcycles/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/aging-and-the-desire-to-ride-motorcycles/#comments Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11762 As Old as I Think The air was clear, the light brilliant as my friend Dave and I started our ride to breakfast. I can’t count how many times I’ve stopped at Wampler to take in the view, thrilled that the only evidence of civilization are motorcycles and the path carved from the side of […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/07/aging-and-the-desire-to-ride-motorcycles/feed/ 8 11762 Is 24-Horsepower Enough for a Motorcycle? https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/06/is-24-horsepower-enough-for-a-motorcycle/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/06/is-24-horsepower-enough-for-a-motorcycle/#comments Fri, 26 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11719 Enter the Era of Downsizing Motorcycles YouTube is currently full of content declaring the virtues of moving to smaller machines. The reasons vary but the changes are happening. Mostly because so many riders are older and perhaps feeling how much heavier machines are feeling. I’m familiar with those feelings. The median age of an American […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/06/is-24-horsepower-enough-for-a-motorcycle/feed/ 8 11719 Little Juniata Machine and Cycle https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/05/little-juniata-machine-and-cycle/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/05/little-juniata-machine-and-cycle/#comments Fri, 15 May 2026 15:38:19 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11521 Service Completed I dropped the bike off on Saturday. The service was complete of Monday. I was thrilled to get the message. Being able to have the Himalayan worked on locally was something I wished for but firmly believed I only had three choices — haul the bike to the dealer a hundred miles away, […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/05/little-juniata-machine-and-cycle/feed/ 14 11521 Is It Time to Surrender the Royal Enfield Himalayan? https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/05/is-it-time-to-surrender-the-royal-enfield-himalayan/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/05/is-it-time-to-surrender-the-royal-enfield-himalayan/#comments Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11482 A Workhorse Make no mistake, the 411 version of the Himalayan is a unique motorcycle. It looks different, sounds different, and acts differently than any other motorcycle I have ever ridden. Even with a meager 24 horsepower it far exceeds most of my riding abilities. And for the kind of rides I make it’s a […]

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