Scooter in the Sticks

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

How is a Scooter Different from a Motorcycle?

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Putting on motorcycle boots.
Every ride begins with boots.

Boots for Every Ride

Whether on a scooter or motorcycle my rides begin the same way by putting on boots and other riding gear. Then checking out the machine to make sure everything is working as it should. I’ve met more than a few scooter riders who believe a scooter is inherently safer than a motorcycle. All I can say is if you come off the scooter at 35 MPH the pavement doesn’t care whether you were on a Harley or a 50CC scooter. It’s perfectly happy to grind away your flesh and break your bones. Personally, I treat the preparation for a ride the same on my Vespa GTS 250 as I do for any of my motorcycles. In that regard a scooter is no different than a motorcycle.

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An Ordinary, Mundane Ride

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A 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle on a gravel forest road.
Familiar, frequently traveled road near home.

I’ve Been Here Many Times Before

Expectations can trip me up if I cling to them too strongly. Thinking a ride has to be some sort of exceptional adventure is the sort of thinking that can rob me of opportunities that are anything but an adventure. Those days when I only have an hour to ride can seem not worth the effort to gear and and go. Especially if I am just going to retrace roads that I’ve literally ridden a hundred times before.

Recently I forced myself out of the house and onto the road on the Royal Enfield Himalayan for an, ordinary, mundane ride.

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Confidence Inspiring Motorcycle

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The Honda Trail 125 motorcycle parked on a trail.
Embracing the promise of adventure.

The Honda Trail 125

Drivable Trail signs make me a little nervous when I’m riding my Himalayan. Unless I’m certain of what’s ahead, and especially if I’m alone, I generally don’t ride on past those signs. That’s not the case with the Honda. I almost can’t conceive of a road or path that I won’t happily ride on. It’s a real confidence inspiring motorcycle. Great to have when your 72nd birthday is just around the corner.

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Riding and the Meaning of Life

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A 2001 Kawasaki W650 motorcycle parked along a highway.
Alone on the road, I don’t often know where my thoughts will lead.

Why We Ride

A fine marketing slogan that swept through the Moto-world a few years ago with the predictable declarations of freedom and escape. I don’t deny those things for they are certainly present, but there is something larger at work as I ride.

On the surface, I rolled the Kawasaki W650 motorcycle out the door to ride to breakfast. Alone, on a hot day, by myself. A simple act with nothing much on my mind as I pulled the choke and thumbed the machine to life.

And almost instantly I was climbing up the Allegheny Front on a road I generally avoid.

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The Power of Fog and Riding

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Cows resting in a pasture on a foggy morning.
The world is simpler in the fog.

Powerful Motivator

Fog still has power over me. Awakening at 5:30 AM and catching a glimpse of that magical murk drives the sleep from mind and body and I am ready to ride. Or more precisely, ride so I can document the world I seldom see. The one shrouded in fog and stripped of the noise and clutter of too much stuff.

I was surprised how quickly I could get up, take care of the dogs, and get out the door on the Vespa. The power of fog and riding to motivate and inspire hasn’t faded.

Note to self: I’m not old yet.

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