Scooter in the Sticks

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

Thinking and Riding

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Vespa GTS scooter parked at a quarry.
Overhaul the scooter or just ride it?

Pondering Maintenance

The GTS is running great. But I’m doing a lot of thinking and riding. Thinking I should do some serious service on the scooter yet riding it gives no clue that it needs much of anything. And with 45 thousand miles on the clock and on the road since January of 2007 I wonder if it’s worth doing much of anything to it.

What have I been pondering? Well, a valve check for one. It’s never had one. Ever. It starts fine. Runs fine. Why bother even though it is suggested to check them every 6000 miles or so.

New front shock maybe. New steering bearings. New rear brake caliper. The list goes on and on as my logical mind runs down an engineering checklist.

My free spirit brain says ride it until it explodes and then buy another.

Thinking and riding is what I do. I would like to do less thinking about service and maintenance.

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Scooters, Dogs and Motorcycles

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Vespa ET4 scooter along a wet rural road.
Riding in the lush wetness of summer.

Riding in the Rain

There has been ample opportunity to ride my scooters and motorcycles in the rain this summer. In past years everything would be dry and brown in August from hot weather and too little rain. But rain this summer has kept everything lush and green.

I have to confess that my normal summer doldrums in regard to riding has eased because of the rain. Lower temperatures, less sunshine, and some mild rain has gotten me outside.

Both my Vespa scooters are well suited for jaunts in gentle rain. And the lightly traveled roads add to the gentle and relaxed riding I’ve come to expect from my Vespa scooters.

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Loving the Royal Enfield Himalayan

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2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan along a rural road.
A calm, quiet, unassuming motorcycle.

A Peaceful, Easy Feeling

My 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan never startles, surprises, or scares me. It’s so easy to ride and the feeling I get moving down the road is almost as if the machine has me in a relaxed, safe embrace. Granted those feelings are in my head and I fully realize the risk involved in riding this or any other motorcycle. But there is something special about riding a motorcycle the gets me from point A to point B without inviting me to taste its power or speed. In the end we both are content to wander along seemingly without a care in the world.

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When the Road Ahead Changes

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Vespa ET4 on a long rural road.
Along a road in Penns Valley Pennsylvania.

Sometimes the Road Ahead is Straight and Familiar

I’m not talking about the pavement. Or dirt and gravel. The change I refer to is when life disrupts my routine and expectations. When I ride I seem more aware now of those changes and the potential impact they have on the journey forward. Even little things stand out and leave me confused about what’s ahead. What will happen next.

During a recent ride to breakfast with my friend Paul I found myself thinking about the road ahead and the things that are changing.

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The Differences Between a Scooter and Motorcycle

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A scooter and motorcycle parked in the Pennsylvania Wilds.
My friend Paul and I stopped during a motorcycle/scooter camping trip in the Pennsylvania Wilds.

Scooter or Motorcycle

A recent comment about why I’m riding my Vespa ET4 when I have a Vespa GTS got me thinking about that choice. And not just the choice between the two scooters, but the differences between a scooter and motorcycle in general. Those questions have been floating around my head and I think I’ve come to a few simple conclusions.

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