Scooter in the Sticks

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

Winterizing My BMW K75 Motorcycle

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BMW K75 motorcycle in a rural landscape.
Taking advantage of a cold, sunny day.

Winterizing Doesn’t Have to Mean Storage

I’ve never “stored” my Vespa scooter for the winter — draining fuel, adding stabilizer, or pushing the machine to the corner of the garage to wait for warm weather again in the spring. Riding had become too much fun, too important, an obsession that I wasn’t willing to surrender because of winter. So I rode when the roads were clear, piled on protective gear and tools to stay warm, and pushed against the elements in ways that may have been a stretch in terms of risk.

So now I’m looking at how to manage “winterizing my BMW K75 motorcycle.”

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A Time Machine

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I invited my friend and fellow Vespa rider, Andy Heckathorne, to share something about his rides. Writing about two-wheeled adventures beyond straight documentation of destinations is a challenge. I asked Andy to explore what was going on in his head. Beyond that, I left things up to him.

Steve Williams

I’m grateful that Steve Williams continues to create and faithfully maintain this trusted space, Scooter in the Sticks. Steve, your photography and insights continue to inspire us – your readers – to look more deeply and more fully appreciate life on two wheels, and life in general. Thank you.

And thank you for the opportunity to share some of my own thoughts and images. I truly appreciate it.

Illustration of Andy Heckathorne
Heckadude Morning Coffee. By Andy Heckathorne.
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Reflections on Gratitude

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A man and his dog.
It’s the simple things that give life meaning.

Thanksgiving. Given the choice between tradition and reality, I choose the latter. And for me, reality means processing the notion of gratitude and giving thanks. Turkey, football, family gathering; a nice traditions but they don’t necessarily translate into anything beyond a formal escape from the trudging of daily life.

For my part, I’ll remember the good in my life and the gifts I’ve received both large and small. As I sit in the garden as I often do, my dog Junior reminds me that my needs are not great, and my blessings expansive beyond what I deserve.

I wish each of you a good Thanksgiving Holiday however you may celebrate it (or not). And if you’re on the road riding, be safe.

For those of you looking for stories and pictures of rides — there’s much to come once I sit down and write.

The Road

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BMW motorcycle along a road.
Riding a motorcycle on the long road is a gift to relish.

The Long Road

The road is a text, a dense book waiting to be discovered, examined, and evaluated. Riding opens the door to a learning process that promises a rich reward of experience and insight.

At least that’s how I see it.

I know riders who experience none of these things. Their motorcycle or scooter may be a means to invoke an adrenaline rush. Or perhaps an excuse to socialize. Or posture and strut. While I’ve felt the thrill of adrenaline, interacted with others, and have proudly displayed my hi-viz jacket, none of those actions are what motivates me to ride.

The road is a landscape for learning.

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The Scooter ‘Zine

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The Scooter 'Zine
I contributed a story to Issue #11 of The Scooter ‘Zine.

Supporting The Scooter ‘Zine

I’ve been mostly a loner when it comes to scooter culture. Aside from occasional visits to the Modern Vespa forum I’m pretty disconnected from other scooterists and the state of the scootering world.

Back in August, I was contacted by Howard Rains, the editor, publisher, and self-described janitor of The Scooter ‘Zine magazine.

He said he was always looking for scooter riders with a story to tell and after following Scooter in the Sticks for a while was wondering if I might be willing to share some thoughts about the blog.

It was an honor to be asked and a distinct privilege to share some small part of my own scooter story in the magazine.

I also am aware of the passion and drive necessary to create a magazine and wanted to do some small part in helping such a creative enterprise thrive. Scooter riders, and scootering in general in all it’s various forms, makes up a tiny part of the two-wheeled riding universe. I felt good about contributing and subscribing to something that reflects my own interests and to help reach others who don’t know the magic of scooter riding.

Howard has permitted me to publish the text of the piece in the magazine. You’ll have to subscribe to see all the photographs. There are 10 published in the magazine.

After reading the text, you’ll have a better idea of how Scooter in the Sticks was born, what reasons I could possibly have to blog, and what the future might hold.

Click the “Continue Reading” bar for the entire text.

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