Scooter in the Sticks

Exploring life on a Vespa Scooter and Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle.

Notes from the Sticks

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Two Belgian Sheepdogs resting in the grass.
Lily and Aiden resting during their (almost) daily three mile walk.

Daily Rituals and Riding

Our dogs are demanding of food, attention, and walks. They express those needs in various ways, usually quietly and patiently, but they do not forget. At times I wish I was more like them. Diligent in focus and caring for my needs.

Spring brings with it a raft of extra duties and chores which requires some balancing acts to make sure things don’t fall through the cracks. Things are finally slowing down though not without some failures to find time or energy to embrace certain things. Like riding, making YouTube videos, or posting here.

As a friend reminds me, I do this for fun and purposes of self discovery. They aren’t jobs and I don’t have to do any of it. Still, things feel a little off when I neglect those outlets.

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Rotating Through Scooters and Motorcycles

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scooters and motorcycles in a garage
My little fleet of scooters and motorcycles.

Too Many Scooters and Motorcycles?

How did I come to have five two-wheeled machines in my little one-bay garage? For fourteen years I was content with a single scooter for all my riding. At least that’s what I told myself, an unconscious dishonesty masking my true feelings and desires — a machine for every riding occasion I might engage.

I can be impulsive buying things that suddenly seem essential to my well being and quality of life. There’s a trail of impulsive purchases through my life from cameras to guns and fountain pens and books. Rather than deal with whatever emotional chaos that’s in front of me I seek the quick and exciting fix of buying things.

Looking at the scooters and motorcycles in my garage, frequently looking and thinking about them, only one borders on an impulsive purchase — the Honda Trail 125. Unlike other impulsive purchases that still sit unused in their box, the Honda has turned out to be a welcome addition to my riding life.

On the other hand, having five machines brings with it expense, maintenance, and other issues of ownership.

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UPDATE: A New Year, New Challenges

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A metal sign about aging and riding.
An anonymous gift…

Aging and Riding

This metal sign was delivered to my home. From who I don’t know. But I have to think it relates to a video I posted recently on YouTube that explores the question — When is it time to stop riding?

That video seemed to touch a nerve as thousands watched it and hundreds commented. I’ll post the video below.

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Fixing My Vespa GTS Scooter

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Vespa GTS 250 scooter being hauled in a pick-up truck.
On the way to to being redeemed and restored.

A Decision Made

After months of trying to decide whether to repair or replace my Vespa GTS 250 scooter I made the decision to just have Tim Papinchak of Windber Cycle Works repair everything. Fixing my Vespa GTS scooter just seemed the right thing to do.

A long list of services and updates:

  1. Replace the upper and lower steering bearings and races.
  2. Replace the front shock.
  3. Replace the rear shocks.
  4. Check/adjust valves
  5. Replace exhaust manifold and O2 sensor
  6. Replace rear brake caliper
  7. Replace oil and filter
  8. Replace hub oil
  9. Flush brake lines
  10. Replace coolant
  11. Replace spark plug
  12. Replace drive belt and rollers
  13. Replace hoses/fuel lines as needed
  14. Generally check for other issues

Time will tell whether fixing my Vespa GTS scooter was the right decision. So my friend Paul and I hauled the scooter to Windber, Pennsylvania along with $750 worth of parts. 

Full flounder ahead!

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Installing GIVI Engine Guards on 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan

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Super sturdy GIVI engine guards

Three Bolts — How hard could it be?

I learned a few things today while installing a pair of GIVI Engine Guards on my shiny new, 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan. First, I’m no mechanic. I may improve with practice, but whatever skills I had at 17 rebuilding car engines and transmissions has evaporated over the last 50 years. Second, patience brings its own rewards. There was a moment during the installation that I had a pair of side cutters in my hand and I was seriously contemplating cutting the rubber hose in half that ran from the brake reservoir to the master cylinder. And last, I was reminded of the power of asking for help. (It’s like asking for directions only better.)

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