Exploring life on a Vespa Scooter and Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle.
The plan was to meet a friend for breakfast as the Sunset West Diner. Watching the weather forecast and the predicted low temperatures I wondered whether I could ride my Vespa GTS Scooter at 6-degrees Fahrenheit. I’m older and less tolerant of the cold. And my mind doesn’t see the same exciting challenge in facing adverse weather as it once did. Still, I have my moments.
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Age wreaks havoc on the plans and actions of youth. Gone are the days when choices of clothing and activities had little to do with the weather. Walking out the door into snow was a time to make snowballs and see how well my old Ford would do on roads clogged with ice and snow. Time has changed me. And with it my reaction to a cold morning. To continue to ride through the winter will require annual adjustments in mind, body, and spirit. Despite having ridden through many winters, it hasn’t become any easier to begin.
This is the beginning of my story on preparing for winter riding.
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On this day it was the Kawasaki W650‘s turn for a ride. With five machines in the garage I have had to set up a rotation to keep them all working, the fuel fresh, and the moisture driven out of the oil. Fifteen to twenty miles is usually enough to do the trick. And it helps me keep my head on straight.
Paying property taxes is an annual August event. Pay the total by the end of the month and you save a few dollars. So that’s what I do. Any excuse to go for a ride at the end of summer.
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Of the scooters and motorcycles in my garage, the Vespa GTS scooter is my first choice for running errands. Why? Because it is utterly simple to use and it has more than enough power for any situation I will encounter. And among all the things it is good at, it is the perfect chore running machine. And on this day I had four chores to accomplish.
By the time I arrived at the bank to deposit a check I was already appreciating why the Vespa GTS scooter was the right choice.
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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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